Wednesday 27th April 2016

World Bank Raises 2016 Oil Price Forecast to $41 per Barrel Offers to support Nigerian govt

Obinna Chima in Lagos and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Amid improving market sentiment and a weakening dollar, the World Bank has raised its 2016 forecast for crude oil prices to $41 per barrel from $37 per barrel in its latest Commodity

Markets Outlook, stating that oversupply in markets is expected to recede.

Brent crude futures were up $1.30 or nearly three per cent, at $45.78 a barrel

yesterday. Oil markets rose about three per cent as a tumbling dollar boosted commodities denominated in the greenback after bets that the Federal Reserve will

hold US interest rates where they are.

The crude oil market recovered from a low of $25 per barrel in mid-January to $40 per barrel this month,

following production disruptions in Iraq and Nigeria and a decline in non-Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries output, mainly US shale.

FBN Holdings' Profit Falls by 82% to N15.1bn... Page 50

A proposed production freeze by major producers failed to materialise at a meeting held in Doha, Qatar mid-April.

“We expect slightly higher prices for energy commodities over the course of the year Continued on page 8

Wednesday 27 April, 2016 Vol 21. No 7671. Price: N250

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House Summons DG, DSS over Enugu Killings, Ugwuanyi Sues for Peace

MASSOB issues 30-day ultimatum to Buhari to end attacks

Senator Iroegbu, Damilola Oyedele in Abuja, Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

FORTE OIL MEETS ITS SHAREHOLDERS

L-R: Director, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Anil Dua; Company Secretary, Mr. Akinleye Olagbende; Chairman of Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola; and the Group CEO of Forte Oil, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, when the company held its 37th annual general meeting in Lagos… yesterday

Following the alleged murder of about 48 persons in Ukpabi, Nimbo community of UzoUwani Local Government Area in Enugu State on Monday by

Buhari Meets Saraki, Dogara, Reaches Truce on Budget Continued on page 8

C’ttees set up to harmonise grey areas, bill will be ready in days for assent Pro, anti-Saraki protesters clash at N’Assembly Legislative commission rejects directive on clerk Tobi Soniyi and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja In line with the National Assembly’s resolve to meet

with the executive to iron out the differences over the 2016 Appropriation Bill, Senate President Bukola Saraki last night met with President

Muhammadu Buhari to reach a truce on the budget.

His meeting followed a similar one held yesterday afternoon between the

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and the president on the budget.

Emerging from his closed-

door meeting, Saraki informed State House correspondents that the National Assembly and the presidency had found a way of resolving the impasse

over the budget.

He said the executive arm of government and the National Continued on page 8

Falana Asks President to Investigate Unlawful Killings by Security Forces...

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PAGE EIGHT BUHARI MEETS SARAKI, DOGARA, REACHES TRUCE ON BUDGET Assembly agreed to set up committees that would work together to harmonise areas

of disagreement.

Saraki said: “We just finished a meeting with the president and the vice-president. We came to work out the solutions that we found in moving the budget process forward and we are happy to say that we have agreed on the way forward, and we believe that this process will be completed in a matter of days rather than weeks.

“So it is good for Nigerians and for all of us, we have found a way forward and in a matter of days, the budget will be ready for the president’s assent.”

When asked what the way forward was, he said: “We have committees that have been set up on our side and also on the executive’s side, we will engage over the next few days, to just tidy up a few loose ends and ensure that the outcome is satisfactory to everyone.”

On if the budget would be signed this week, Saraki said: “You heard what I just said, I said in a matter of days and not weeks; so you can start counting the days which means that between now and Monday or Tuesday, I’m hopeful that the budget will be signed.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who was at the meeting, said: “We have agreed to work together to resolve all issues in the next few days and we have also agreed on the modalities of doing so, so it was a very good meeting, very positive and within the next few days all issues will be resolved.

“We are working together, both the executive and the legislature, to sort those things out and within the next few days all matters will be resolved.”

Earlier yesterday, the speaker met behind closed-doors with

the president on the same matter.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, were present at the meeting with Dogara.

The president’s meetings with the leadership of the National Assembly came on the heels of the move by 77 first-term senators, known as the G77, to resolve the budget impasse

by Friday.

Briefing newsmen after its meeting in the National Assembly yesterday, the group said the protracted controversies over the budget had become embarrassing to the nation, adding that the group was committed to bringing the impasse to an end by Friday.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its chairman and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, added that the group was formed to promote good governance and simultaneously provide meaningful support to the president with a view to guaranteeing the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

Akpabio, who dismissed a media report that the group was formed to serve as a platform to confront the president, added that the group was committed to ensuring that the budget is quickly re-examined and sent back to Buhari for his assent.

He added that the objective of the group was not driven by political affiliation but targeted at deepening democracy.

He said: “All the social media reports that are thinking that this group is meant to confront the executive or ranking senators those reports are not true.

“As I speak to you, outside these 77 senators, most of my colleagues who have been in the Red Chamber for a long time are applying to join the group. And they want to move

it to G90 so that we can always speak with one voice.

“The lingering issue on the budget is something that we feel is embarrassing to Nigeria, not just to the National Assembly.

If we had a group like this, by now that issue would have been brought to an end.

“But just to reassure you that Mr. President will have his budget, and we are doing everything possible to rejig the details of the 2016 budget for Mr. President to sign as soon as possible.

“We hope we can finish that by this Friday so that things can take off in the Nigerian economy.

“The group is apolitical and cuts across the Labour Party, PDP and APC. We are all senators of the Eighth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are not interested in political parties, we are interested in Nigeria and we will only be discussing national issues.

“We are not set to confront any executive, rather we will work with the executive. The intention of this group is to deepen democracy, ensure the sanitisation of the Senate and to shore up the image of the Senate and most importantly to give the president the needed support so that at the end of the day, we will have a better country for all.”

Earlier, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said the National Assembly leadership and the presidency had scheduled a meeting on the budget crisis for 3 pm last Friday, but the meeting was cancelled because the information was circulated after most lawmakers had left Abuja for their various constituencies.

He assured Nigerians that the meeting would hold this week, but dismissed speculations that a letter had been sent to the Senate by Buhari on the “grey areas” in the budget.

Ndume added that since appropriation was the business of the National Assembly, no one should have expected that the budget would have been returned to the executive without being tinkered with.

Also yesterday, the National Assembly Service Commission rejected the order from Saraki asking it to reverse the appointment of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, as the acting Clerk of the National Assembly.

The commission last week announced the appointment of Sani-Omolori as replacement for Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa, who would proceed on terminal leave on May 14.

But Saraki ordered the reversal of the appointment, saying it did not follow due process because the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Benedict Efeturi, is the senior officer to Sani-Omolori.

However, in a letter addressed by the commission’s Executive Chairman, Adamu Fika, to Saraki, the commission explained that Efeturi was not appointed as Maikasuwa’s successor because it is against civil service rules to appoint an officer whose terminal leave is around the corner in an acting capacity, pointing out that Efeturi would also proceed on terminal leave on August 2.

“In the light of the foregoing, Your Excellency will agree that reversing the decision of the commission appointing Mr. Mohammed A. Sani-Omolori as the acting Clerk of the National Assembly cannot be tenable in the circumstances,” Fika said.

Meanwhile, protesters clashed at the National Assembly complex yesterday, when proSaraki and anti-Saraki protesters stormed the parliament and respectively demanded the continuity or resignation of the Senate president.

While the pro-Saraki’s

protesters first arrived at 10.30 am brandishing different placards with inscriptions: “Stop witch-hunting (sic) Saraki,” the anti-Saraki group arrived 30 minutes later under the aegis of Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS).

Saraki is currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for alleged false declaration of assets between 2003 and 2011 when he was the governor of Kwara State.

The pro-Saraki protesters rejected the ongoing trial of the Senate president, describing it as nothing but an attempt to muzzle the Senate.

They called on Nigerians to resist any attempt by those they described as enemies of democracy to halt “the progress the Senate has made in defence of democracy”.

However, the anti-Saraki protesters who were mainly youngsters and clad in T-shirts with the inscription, “#Occupy National Assembly,” vowed to sustain their protest until Saraki is ousted from office. They vowed to besiege the National Assembly for four days.

The protesters attempted to force their way into the National Assembly complex but were prevented by security agents who quickly shut the main gate of the institution and stopped exit and entry into the National Assembly.

The development forced staff and visitors into the National Assembly to make use of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s (SGF) gate to gain entry and exit.

Other than demanding Saraki’s resignation, the antiSaraki protesters also said they were occupying the National Assembly for alleged padding of the 2016 budget, a situation which they said was responsible for the delay in the president’s assent to the document.

According to them, the delay has resulted in untold hardship for hapless Nigerians.

Some of the inscriptions on placards carried by the protesters included, “Enough is Enough,” “Occupy NASS to Stop Corruption,” “Legislating, Yet, Legislooting, No,” “To Keep Nigeria Going, Nigerians Must Stand Up.” Reacting to the protest, Ndume described the “Occupy National Assembly,” action as a dangerous trend not healthy for democracy.

According to Ndume, only constituents who elected lawmakers into the National Assembly have the right to demand their ouster through a process of recall.

He said: “That is why we are not trying to say anything about them because what is happening out there is a very dangerous precedent that we are trying to set and I want to even say that it is something that if you are right, you have to be able to prove; Nigerians and you too the press will have to be able to help to define these rights, know where your rights end and my own starts.

“I contested to be senator for Borno South. I did not force myself on my people and therefore somebody out there, especially the one that did not elect me, cannot force me out because I didn’t get here by force.

“I came in by the ballot, not by the gun, not by placards. I have posters but not placards.

So if for example, I am short of performance and my constituents feel that they don’t have time to waste, there is a clear cut process to collect signatures and ask for me to be recalled.

“That is the democratic way, not by coming in here to stand and say you want to occupy National Assembly.”

the Nigerian government to accelerate its goals, thereby creating jobs for its citizenry.

Indrawati, who is responsible for the World Bank’s operations worldwide, noted that the bank was also paying very close attention to the war-torn North-eastern section of the country.

She disclosed this on her arrival in the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, at 13.09hrs GMT.

The World Bank official, who also was in Cameroun on April 24, flew into the country from the Younde Nsimalen International Airport via Asky Airlines.

Indrawati, while speaking with the press briefly, said: “This is my first visit here in Nigeria. And as you know, the World Bank is supporting very strongly the Nigerian Government in trying to accelerate goals, in restoring goals in order to create jobs.”

According to her, “We are also

paying very close attention to the North-east area, the development there so that we can address the issue of insurgency and conflicts. We will discuss with the government and I will give you the statement when we finish.”

After her arrival, she went into a closed door meeting with the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and promised to issue a statement on her visit after her meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

intervention.

The governor, who broke down in tears upon sighting the fresh corpse of one Mr. Ugwu Ogbu said to be a teacher from Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North council but was posted to Nimbo community, also donated N5 million as immediate relief to the community.

Ugwuanyi, who was in the company of Senator Chuka Utazi, the GOC 92 Division, Enugu, Major-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and the Police Commissioner, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, among other security and government officials, also visited the three hospitals where the injured persons were being treated and undertook taking care of the hospital bills of those injured during the attack.

“We are going to seek for God’s intervention in this matter. It is my belief that this too will pass away. The entire people of Enugu State are with you in this moment of grief,” the governor said.

The governor, who further explained that upon receipt of the report that there were plans to attack the community by

the herdsmen, alleged to have been recruited from Nasarawa State, an emergency security council meeting was summoned

WORLD BANK RAISES 2016 OIL PRICE FORECAST TO $41 PER BARREL as markets rebalance after a period of oversupply,” senior economist and lead author of the Commodities Markets Outlook, John Baffes, said in the report released yesterday.

“Still, energy prices could fall further if OPEC increases production significantly and non-OPEC production does not fall as fast as expected.”

All main commodity indexes tracked by the World Bank are

expected to decline in 2016 from the year before, due to persistently elevated supplies, and in the case of industrial commodities – which include energy, metals, and agricultural raw materials - weak growth prospects in emerging market and developing economies.

Energy prices, including oil, natural gas and coal, are due to fall 19.3 per cent in 2016 from the previous year, representing a more gradual drop than the

24.7 per cent slide forecast in January.

Non-energy commodities, such as metals and minerals, agriculture, and fertilisers are expected to decline 5.1 per cent this year, a downward revision from the 3.7 per cent drop forecast in January.

Also, the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Bank, Ms. Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has said that the Bank would support very strongly

HOUSE SUMMONS DG, DSS OVER ENUGU KILLINGS, UGWUANYI SUES FOR PEACE suspected cattle rearers, the House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, over the incessant deadly attacks carried out by unidentified marauding herdsmen in different parts of the country.

This is just as a motion on the massacre in Enugu again brought to the fore the opposition to the proposed Grazing Bill from the executive arm of government meant to provide hectares of land as grazing reserves for the nomads.

The motion named: “The Invasion and Senseless Slaughter of Persons in Ukpabi, Nimbo Community of Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State by Unknown Herdsmen” was brought before the House yesterday by Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam (Enugu PDP) as a matter of urgent public importance.

Ujam lamented that the invasions by herdsmen were becoming a recurring issue across the country, and constituting a threat to the

security of the nation.

“These attacks are beginning to gain momentum and have the potential of escalating into an existential crises as farmers are compelled to resort to self help in a bid to stay alive,” he said.

Having raised the motion, reactions flowed from other members who all condemned the wave of attacks by the herdsmen and expressed their opposition to the Grazing Bill.

In his contribution, Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, condemned the attacks in Enugu and other states, but noted that the proposed solution by creating grazing routes or grazing reserves would not guaranty peace.

“We have to bring in modernisation. The idea of moving from one place to another with cattle should be discouraged. Everyone who wants to raise cattle should have his own farm or reserve,” Ogor said.

Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Abia PDP) said the Grazing Bill would die in the House, vowing that the lawmakers would not allow it pass.

“When you take land from

the people and give it to cattle rearers, what will happen to our cassava or yam farms?

Are we going to live on meat alone? Let them buy ranches and rear their cattle there,” Onyejeocha said.

Speaking earlier with THISDAY, Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta (Abia PDP) said the attempt to pass the proposed bill at all cost was a misplaced priority and was capable of compounding the clashes between farmers and the herdsmen.

He said that it would impoverish the people whose lands would be forcibly taken away, adding: “A situation where a council is being proposed in the bill with the power to seize land deemed suitable for grazing without the owners having a say is draconian.

“Cattle rearing is done by private persons, so why would government be seizing or acquiring land for such a venture. We are already crying that the Land Use Act is not good anymore, so Mr. President should declare his interest in pushing the bill, which would favour people

who are probably not even Nigerians.”

On the possibility that the marauding herdsmen may not be Nigerians was corroborated

by Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari (Sokoto APC) who described the Fulani as peace loving people.

Shagari said some foreign elements had invaded the country under the guise of being Fulani herdsmen through the nation’s porous borders aided by the insecurity in the country.

Shagari, a Fulani man, called on the security agencies to quickly arrest the situation before innocent citizens get killed in reprisals.

Hon. Chika Adamu (Niger APC) also said that there was a high likelihood the marauders are not Fulani, as there were hardly traces of their cattle in places they were alleged to have attacked.

As the House debated the rising incidence of attacks by the so-called herdsmen, the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, visited the community where he sued for peace and two days of fasting and prayers to seek God’s

Continued on page 9

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

NEWS

Nigerian Academic to Deliver Key Lecture in University of London, Breaks 187-year-old Record Gboyega Akinsanmi A Nigerian academic, Prof.

Abiodun Alao, will today deliver a professorial inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London. This makes him the first black African scholar to deliver the inaugural lecture since the institution was established in 1829.

Alao, a professor of African Studies, was conferred with a professorial title about two years ago alongside his Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre, Prof.

Funmi Olonisakin, making them the first black Africans to attain the professorial cadre in King’s College since its establishment.

The appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s president and principal, Prof. Edward Byrne

AC, which justified their elevations at the instance of their contributions to African peace and security.

Alao’s lecture titled, “Africa: A Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” will be delivered at the Edward Safra Lecture Theatre at the college’s main campus.

The lecture will be attended by people from different parts of the world including the United States, Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.

Alao has published several single-authored books, wellresearched articles in journals and occasional papers, among others, which findings and recommendations “have largely helped to establish peace and boost security in many African countries”.

In an institution that has produced 12 Nobel Laureates among its professors, a

statement yesterday said Alao distinguished himself, citing about 100 widely recognised academic articles and Encyclopaedia entries he had published, all of which were assessed to accord him the professorial tittle.

Aside from his academic contributions, Alao joined the long list of globally renowned academics King's College has produced and whose research works have produced answers to different challenges facing humanity and society since its establishment.

Ranked among the top 20 universities in the world, King’s College, London, holds a unique position in global scholarship, as evident in the landmark research works the institution’s professors and alumni have conducted since its establishment several decades ago.

Alao

HOUSE SUMMONS DG, DSS OVER ENUGU KILLINGS, UGWUANYI SUES FOR PEACE on Sunday where far-reaching decisions were taken to ensure that lives and properties were

protected.

“A combined team of police, soldiers and civil defence operatives were despatched to the community but on Monday, we heard that they still carried out the threat resulting in the situation we are presently facing.

“No matter what, we are hopeful that God will save us from the present situation and that is why I’ve declared fasting and prayers in the state for the next two days,” he told his audience.

The governor, who also visited the traditional ruler of Nimbo community, Chief John Akor, lamented the loss of lives and destruction of properties as well as the burning of the Christ Holy Church in the community by the attackers.

While suing for peace, the governor assured the people of the community and the state that efforts were being made to find a lasting solution to the problem.

He appealed to the people, especially the young men, not to take the law into their hands by engaging in any form of reprisals.

Responding, one of the community leaders, Dr Ajokwu George, appealed to the state government to come to their aid, as his community had become a hunting ground for the herdsmen.

“We are not really happy because our community is under threat, we have been burying our loved ones. We are more worried because in this case, we even alerted the security agencies that these people were planning to attack us but nothing was done.

“As we speak, we've recovered over 20 corpses and we are still recovering more. Several others are in the morgue and in the hospitals.

What did we do to deserve this?

“We are really pleading that something be done.

Our women have been raped and killed and nothing has happened.

“What has happened is just a tip of the iceberg because we know they will come

again. The way they invaded our community and raped women before their husbands is worrisome.

“We need security here not just for a day or week but for months to protect us. We thank you for coming to empathise with us and we want you to deliver our people from this problem,” he said.

Similarly, the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, expressed shock that several hours after the attack, no arrest had been made.

He warned that if the relevant authorities failed to curb the activities of the nomads, they would ban them from rearing their cattle in the zone, saying apart from stopping them from rearing their cattle, they would also mobilise Biafra agitators against the herdsmen.

The cleric insisted that herdsmen were more violent than the Biafra agitators and called on South-east governors to rise up to the security challenge.

“I feel bitter, I feel aggrieved, I feel sad that the APC government at the centre cannot protect us. We call on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Igboland over the herdsmen threat to security in the zone or else we will declare war against them.

“I feel sad that the APC government at the centre cannot protect us. Failure to curb the activities of the herdsmen will make us ban them from rearing their cattle in the zone. Any attempt to harass any Igbo youth, any community will not be taken lightly.

“We will not tolerate it in Igboland. We are declaring war against the herdsmen.

We are calling on Northern elders to caution their people and government should speak out against this menace.

“On the failure of the Southeast governors to rise to the security challenge, we will pass a vote of no confidence on them. Where did the herdsmen get the AK47 riffles?

“We will bring our own

Ogbunigwe out to defend our rights. We will match force with force. Herdsmen come to Igboland and ravage our farmlands and rape our women is unacceptable. That we were defeated in the last civil war does not mean we will remain slaves forever even in our land.

“We will defend our land with our blood and anything, including Ogbunigwe. Why was there a security lapse?

The DSS and other security operatives alerted the government, yet they went ahead with their threat by unleashing mayhem on the villagers. The Fulani herdsmen are more violent than the Biafra agitator,” he said angrily.

Also, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) hit hard at the federal government over its inaction at reining in the blood thirsty herdsmen.

MASSOB, in its reaction, issued a 30-day ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari to end the incessant massacres by the herdsmen across the nation or face the wrath of the pro-Biafra movement.

The ultimatum by MASSOB was handed down by its national director of information, Sunny Okereafor, while addressing journalists in Aba yesterday, following the sacking of the rural community in Enugu.

He decried the failure of the federal government to checkmate the atrocities of the herdsmen despite the destruction of lives and properties, raping of women, armed robberies and kidnapping that have become their trademark in recent times.

The MASSOB spokesman accused Buhari of protecting his kinsmen, adding that the federal government has been “playing with fire” over the murderous activities of herdsmen and that MASSOB would not fold its arms and allow the herdsmen to have a free day in destroying lives and properties in Igbo communities.

“MASSOB is worried that the herdsmen have become very daring in their attacks since President Buhari came

to power. We are not saying Buhari is their sponsor, but his silence over the attacks is suspicious.

“MASSOB is giving Buhari a 30-day ultimatum to stop the attacks or face our wrath,” he said.

While warning the herdsmen and their sponsors “to withdraw from Biafra land (and) count Igboland out of their Islamisation policy” MASSOB called on Ndigbo “to remain at alert as these Fulani herdsmen are terrorists posing as herdsmen”.

Okereafor said MASSOB had set up a committee to monitor the activities of herdsmen in Igboland, warning that the group would be forced to drop its policy of non-violence in order to protect Biafrans if the federal government continues to look the other way while herdsmen continue to go on the rampage.

“Soon, they (herdsmen) will pay for all their atrocities against the people of Biafra,” MASSOB warned.

In its reaction, IYM recalled that herdsmen had in the last 10 months killed over 710 Nigerians in 48 recorded incidents (excluding the Agatu killings) and wondered why the federal government and its security agencies have refused to take any action to stop the atrocities.

In a statement by its founder, Elliot Uko, the youth group regretted that the only time the DSS showed interest in the South-east was when it accused IPOB of killing five herdsmen.

IYM pointed out that now that the herdsmen had visited their bloodbath on Uzo Uwani communities “Nigerians do not expect any positive reaction from the federal government and the DSS for obvious reasons” as the herdsmen conduct their atrocities with impunity, knowing that the federal authorities are looking the other way.

The group said: “This bloodletting which began since the new government took power is interestingly, redefining how much faith large sections of Nigeria should have in the ability or willingness of the federal

government to protect them from this Fulani warriors, who clearly act as if they know that the federal government cannot (or is it, will not) save the helpless victims from their attacks.”

It said that the “ongoing war by the herdsmen has only confirmed” the prophecy of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, “who saw tomorrow and correctly predicted over the Radio Biafra, what the Fulani would do to the Middle Belt, South-east, South-south and the South-west”.

“The serial slaughter by the Fulani, the intimidation by the security agents and the disturbing silence of the president, who incidentally is also Fulani and the life patron of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, have put Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the league of avatars, who correctly predicted events before they happened.

“This development has also greatly increased Kanu’s popularity, especially amongst the oppressed, suppressed and consistently attacked populations, who now see him as a hero and legend. This has resulted in huge sympathy towards the gospel of IPOB and its leader,” said IYM. The group further added that “when you add this to the excruciating pain and suffering, citizens have been subjected to in the last 10 months, these unnecessary killings and destruction only lead the victims along one line of thought: The Fulani herdsmen are making Biafra a very popular option”.

Meanwhile, the federal government has ordered all security agencies in the country to crush and deter all crises that have the potential to breach peace and national stability in the country.

The Minister of Defence, Mr. Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali, gave the directive yesterday in Abuja at a seminar on “Media Management in Crisis Situations for Information Officers of Military, Security and Response Agencies” organised by the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) with the support of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the Nigerian Stability and

Reconciliation Programme (NSRP).

Dan-Ali stated that while the government’s first priority is to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry, all socio-economic activities in the country must continue to thrive without any hindrance from criminal elements and terrorists.

He said: “All security agencies in Nigeria have been called upon to crush and deter the threats of crisis and conflicts that have the potential to disrupt the peace and security of our country.

“Our security and response agencies are constantly engaged in the essential tasks required for meeting the internal security objectives of ensuring safety and security of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, its population and all the critical infrastructure. Our government will not relent in this primary objectives.”

The minister added that the government would continue to acknowledge the sustained efforts of the various military, security and response agencies, which in spite of the odds, constantly and significantly mitigate the challenges and consequences of violent eruptions and crises across the country.

He pledged the continued support for all the agencies, particularly those battling the insurgency in the North-east so that they can effectively deliver on their mandates.

On crisis management, DanAli tasked information officers of the various agencies to be patriotic and professional in the discharge of their duties.

“You must bear in mind that our dear country is currently confronted with several challenges which demand every sense of professionalism in the way and manner information is to be managed.

“You have the responsibility to manage sensitive information at your disposal with all sense of patriotism and to relate with media and the general public with utmost sense of professionalism, taking into cognisance the importance of our cherished national interest and national security,” he charged.

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NEWS

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

Again, Nationwide Power Generation Drops by 1,585.7MW Frequent system collapse raises concern over integrity of transmission network Fashola: Only 50 of Nigeria’s 140 turbines generating power

Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Chineme Okafor in Abuja Total power generated by Nigeria’s power stations for transmission and distribution to homes has again dropped by 1,585.7 megawatts (MW) from 3,701.7MW that was achieved as peak generation last Monday evening, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered from the daily generation report of the Nigerian System Operator which was published yesterday that as at 6a.m. yesterday, the country only had 2,116.0MW to transmit to the 11 distribution companies (Disco) for onward distribution to homes and offices.

The report also showed that there was a time on Monday that just about 301.3MW was generated into the system. This, a Disco source said, was because of a partial system collapse which was recorded in the evening last Monday.

The source also stated that generation gradually began to come up early yesterday morning. It was also learnt that the Abuja Disco, for instance, had only 135MW to distribute in the morning, some increase from about 50MW that was given to it last Monday.

The source’s claims were buttressed by that of another source in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) who told THISDAY that the generation companies last Monday reported that they was short of gas to power their plants.

THISDAY could not reach the Managing Director of the System

Operation Department of TCN, Mr. Dipak Sarma, to confirm the situation.

His phone numbers were switched off and no response to the text message that was sent to him either.

The TCN which reported a partial system collapse last Saturday due to poor gas supplies, had earlier stated that once power generation goes below 3500MW, the possibility of a system collapse would be inevitable owing to the fact that Nigeria currently has no spinning reserve again to jump-start the system.

This development is even happening at a time the government is having issues with electricity workers union, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), over the outstanding settlement of disengagement benefits owed to former workers of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as well as government’s recent takeover of PHCN corporate headquarters building in Abuja which the union has frowned at.

While workers of the TCN is Abuja headquarters have been locked out of their offices since last week, NUEE last Friday night directed its members in all of TCN offices across the nation to commence strike.

The strike was however called off at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.

However, it was learnt as at the time of filing this report, that the union was in a meeting with both the ministry of power and

We’ll Rationalise, Not Reduce Nigeria’s Foreign Offices, Says Minister The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama has said the federal government will “rationalise’’ and not reduce the country’s foreign missions and embassies.

Onyeama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that the rationalisation of the foreign offices would be with a view to maximising the use of resources.

President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the ministry to come up with a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing the country’s foreign missions. Onyeama said the government was planning to establish a `one-stop shop’ for Nigerian businessmen in 119 countries where Nigeria has foreign missions.

He said: “Reducing our foreign missions abroad is not a total contradiction to our ambitions outside, and foreign ambition and the number of missions we have.

“I think rather than reducing, I will say rationalising.

“You know it is on how we use our resources to the optimum level targeted and that is really what we are going to be much more engaged with rather than reduction

in missions.

“And then you know we have one or two missions that are really not serving a great purpose at the moment, these are the very few ones that will be targeted.

“But there will not be any sort of large scale reduction of our missions and embassies abroad.”

The minister said government was also planning to explore business opportunities in Africa by enhancing free movement within the continent.

He expressed concern that the level of trade within Africa was low and stressed the need for economic diversification to expand the country’s trade relations.

“To promote our economic relations, we are looking at strategies targeted at a number of countries in Africa.

“We want to have agreement with those countries either collectively or individually to have free movement of goods and people.

“That will enlarge economic space for Nigerian businessmen to visit those countries to explore business opportunities,’’ Onyeama stated.

labour to settle the disputes.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s electricity transmission system collapsed last Monday, bringing the number of collapses to three within a short period of four weeks and raising concern on the overall integrity of the country’s transmission network.

THISDAY gathered that before the latest collapse, there was a total collapse of the system on March 31, 2016, and a partial collapse on April 23, 2016.

The development has fuelled

calls for the privatisation of the transmission grid, as the commitment of the Manitoba Hydro International of Canada to effectively manage the grid has been called to question.

The previous data from TCN showed that there were 22 collapses in 2013, nine in 2014 and six in 2015.

A source close to the distribution companies has also pointed fingers at former staff of the defunct PHCN, who have issued a threat over non-payment

of their severance packages.

The spokesman of the Nigerian System Operator, Mr. Clem Ezeolisa, could not be reached for comment as his phone was switched off as at press time yesterday but another official of the company confirmed to THISDAY that the system breakdown occurred around 3p.m. last Monday.

“There was system disturbance around 3p.m. yesterday (Monday) and supply dropped to zero. Initial efforts to restore the system before

12 noon failed but our engineers have been working round the clock since that time to address the situation and restore supply,” the source, who opted not to be quoted, said.

However, power supply was yet to be restored as at press time yesterday.

The official said the system collapsed after a 330kv transmission line tripped with sudden loss of over 200 megawatts

Cont’d on page 55

WELCOME TO NIGERIA

Managing Director, World Bank, Mulyani Indrawati (middle), being received by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Mahmoud Dutse(secondleft)andotherofficialsoftheministry,attheArrivalWingoftheNnamdiAzikiweInternationalAirport,Abuja...yesterday

PDP Spokesman, Metuh Rushed to National Hospital Anambra PDP peace meeting deadlocked Chikwe bows out Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, was yesterday rushed to the National Hospital in Abuja after the swivel chair he was sitting on caved-in, forcing him to fall and spraining his waist in the process.

The incident occurred just as the party National Chairman, SenatorAli Modu Sheriff, was about to inaugurate caretaker committees for the Borno and Yobe States chapters of the party.

Metuh, who was said to have complained of a reoccurring pain in his spinal cord area, sat down on the chair oblivious of its faulty state and immediately crashed to the ground.

In the ensuing pandemonium, his aides swung into action and helped Metuh into a waiting car which took him to the National Hospital.

THISDAY gathered that the PDP spokesman was immediately moved into the intensive care unit of the hospital for medical attention.

As at the time of filing this report, the PDP spokesman was still receiving treatment.

Ahead of the party’s congresses in Kebbi and Borno States, the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mandated that the party’s new membership cards will be used in the states.

The national chairman of PDP, stated this while inaugurating a nine-member caretaker committee each for Kebbi and Borno States.

Speaking during the inauguration of the caretaker committees, Sheriff charged them to be upright, steadfast and impartial in their assignments.

He charged the congress committee to ensure that the exercise is conducted in a free and fair manner.

Sheriff who warned against disenfranchising party members at the congresses, added: “Because of the volatility of the states, we will use the existing membership register but with new cards.”

He said it was the hope of the

party that the new executives would work to reposition the party, adding that the party selected the right calibre of personalities that will deliver results to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of members of the committee, the chairman of the Borno State caretaker committee, Alhaji Rilwan Dauda, assured the party that they will take charge of the responsibility assigned to them by conducting free and fair party congresses and ensure that the party moves forward in the state.

On his part, the chairman of caretaker committee, Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, said: “We are going to take charge of the responsibility bestowed on use and ensure that we carry out the exercise to the best of our capability . We will ensure that at the end of the day the overall interest of the party is achieved in the state congresses.”

Meanwhile, a peace meeting of Anambra State PDP stakeholders held at the party’s national secretariat yesterday failed to reach a truce as

most of the party leaders from the state left the venue not satisfied.

It was learnt that the leaders of various factions of the party in the state could not hide their long drawn acrimony as they had fierce exchanges during the meeting before the situation was calmed down

by Sheriff.

Addressing the members, Sheriff warned that the national leadership of the party might be forced to wield the big stick if efforts to reconcile the factions fail.

He urged the stakeholders to sheathe their sword and accept to work together in order to achieve a peaceful congress ahead of the May 21 national convention.

Similarly, the national woman leader of the PDP, Dr. Kema Chikwe, has said she will not seek reelection ahead of the May 21 national convention of the party, to be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

She said the party had made a lot of impact in its effort to mobilise the womenfolk to participate in politics and affairs of the country.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Hearing on Ibori’s Confiscation Case Adjourned Till June, Gohil Files Appeal Agha Ibiam in London The lingering confiscation of assets hearing of former Delta

State Governor, Chief James Ibori, in London which was listed to commence in May has now been adjourned to June 6, Mr. Bhadresh

Court Grants Bianca’s Application to Reopen Evidence in Suit against Ojukwu’s Family Davidson Iriekpen Justice Abdulfattah Lawal of a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere has granted the application filed by Bianca, the wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, to re-open her evidence-in-chief in a suit she instituted against her husband’s family.

Bianca had on behalf of her two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants), instituted the suit against Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL) and seven others before the court over an alleged attempt to eject her sons from the company’s property located in Lagos.

The company (OTL) and its property belong to the father of the late husband.

Other defendants in the suit are: Prof Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr Patrick Ojukwu, Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs. Massey Udegbe (doing business under Massey Udegbe and Company). The widow who had earlier testified before the court in two separate applications she filed seeking the leave of the court to allow her amend her writs of summon, statement of claims and also to re-open her evidence-in-chief.

All the respondents in the suit did not object to the applications.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Justice Lawal granted all the prayers of the applicants and ordered her to re-open her evidence-in-chief on June 3.

She had earlier in her evidence

informed the court that she was the only wife that was legally married among Ojukwu’s wives, as she engaged in court, church and traditional marriage.

Bianca had also told the court that she knows one of the wives of the late Ikemba Nnewi, who is still alive.

She told the court that some of the OTL property in question had been in the possession of her late husband before his demise, adding that the rent of those property was being collected by her husband.

Mrs Ojukwu had also told the court that neither her nor her children are shareholders or directors in OTL. In the suit, Bianca and her two children had in their statement of claim, prayed the court to declare that the threat of forceful ejection from 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street by the defendants is illegal.

She is also asking the court for a declaration that her children are entitled to possess the following property, namely: No. 13 Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now known as No. 13 Ojora Road; No. 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; No. 30 Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 30 McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.)

The claimants stated that throughout the period their father was struggling to retrieve the property from the government, the second to seventh defendants “never played any role in the struggle nor contributed financially or otherwise to the realisation of the struggle.”

However, the matter was adjourned till June 3, when the claimant would give evidence.

UI Shut Indefinitely after Violent Protest by Students Ademola Babalola in Ibadan Following two days of violent protest by the students of the University of Ibadan, the institution was yesterday closed indefinitely.

The protesting students, had last monday and through the early hours of yesterday protested against the suspension of a union leader by the Student Disciplinary Committee. Other things protested against were lack of power and water among other municipal needs on campus.

The students protest led to chasing of other students out off lecture rooms with canes while entrance gates and roads within the university were put under lock and key and barricaded.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Abel Olayinka, who announced the closure of the institution, said the decision was necessitated by

the need to check the uprising on campus, adding that the protests had led to a situation where life-threatening acts and text messages had been sent and received around the campus with some students allegedly covering their faces during the protest.

He added that the students were to leave the university campus by 4p.m. yesterday, stressing that any student found on campus would be expelled.

According to Prof Olayinka, the university management reviewed the situation on campus and realised that it owed a majority of the students responsibility to ensure their safety, adding that threats of violence against law abiding students cannot be condoned.

However, the leadership of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) was seen addressing students not to leave the school premises as at the time of filing this report.

Gohil, the former governor’s lawyer has said.

This is the second time that the hearing would be adjourned due to technical hindrances.

Ibori is currently held at Huntercoombe Prison in Oxfordshire United Kingdom, and his earliest release from the prison will be upon payment of any amount ordered on the confiscation, Gohil hinted.

Also, Gohil, who yesterday filed fresh appeal papers in the UK Court of Appeal seeking to quash his convictions in both the Ibori and VMobile cases, revealed that there was nothing straightforward about the case.

“The confiscation proceedings will now start on June 6. The prosecution recently confirmed that they were not going to call any witnesses to support the case but were intending to rely on documents alone. This is surprising because the last confiscation hearing in October 2013 was adjourned specifically for the prosecution to call witnesses.

“This was the three-week hearing, which heard the

testimony of the former Cchairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, and various police officers now implicated in the UK police corruption scandal, and therefore the judge (Pitts) was unable to reach a decision on the benefit figure,” he said.

He said it would be exceptionally interesting considering that the Ibori’s team produced evidence that none of the funds could be traced back to Delta State.

Though countering that statement, Judge Pitts had told the court that since Ibori was convicted by his own plea based on evidence, he was not going to call for the retrial of his case.

However, it would be recalled that it was Judge Pitts, the judge in-charge of the £89million confiscation of assets hearing of the former governor, who put the hearing on hold due to his (Pitts) ill-health at that time.

As it is, Judge David Tomlinson might be presiding over a case that would take him time to

comprehend, more so now that the Crown prosecutor, Shasha Wass, and Esther Schutzer-Wisemann, are now at large on the case they had more evidence than any other incoming Crown prosecutor.

Filling his appeal yesterday counsel for Gohil, Stephen Kamlish QC, set out in detail the two primary bases of this first phase of the appeal.

The grounds he said are the police corruption existed at the heart of the Ibori/Gohil and linked prosecutions.

Secondly, that the British Prosecutors, Sasha Wass QC and her junior Esther ShutzerWeissman, deliberately misled the Court of Appeal at the last hearing at which Gohil sought to overturn the convictions.

The appeal also sets out the staggering and ensuing coverup engineered by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Metropolitan Police (MPS) and Wass QC by deliberately suppressing vital evidence from the various defence teams.

Kamlish maintained that there existed a corrupt relationship at the

heart of the police investigation.

He said the Metropolitan Police anti-corruption officers uncovered evidence which compellingly demonstrated that there had been a corrupt relationship between the officers investigating the Gohil/ Ibori case, in particular, DC John McDonald - the officer who headed the Ibori/Gohil investigation and RISC Management Limited, a private investigations company.

“Evidence now shows this corrupt relationship involved the passing of information about the police investigation to RISC in return for cash payments but more critically for Gohil, it was in fact RISC that was from the very beginning unlawfully passing confidential information about his case to police,” he said.

But a law expert who refused to disclose his identity said Ibori’s case is not over yet until final verdict is heard. He said whether the hunter would be hunted in this case is a matter of time, adding that there is no way Ibori will be totally free without having some assets and investments to spare.

ISTHIS YOUR FACE?

Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam (right) in a handshake with his Adamawa State counterpart, Senator Mohammed Bindow Jibrila, during a meeting between the North-east governors and World Bank officials in Abuja...yesterday. With them are Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State (middle)andGovernorMohammedAbubakarofBauchiState(left).

Court Rejects Kanu’s Application to Stop Trial, Pending His Appeal Tobi Soniyi in Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the application of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, for a stay of proceedings, pending the determination of his appeal.

Kanu is standing trial on charges of treasonable felony.

He had approached the appellate court challenging the earlier decision of the court which upheld the prosecution’s request to shield their witnesses from members of the public during trial.

Trail judge, Justice John Tsoho, held that the application for stay of proceedings lacked merit and ordered that the trial would proceed in the mode earlier directed by the court.

Kanu and his co-defendants are standing trial on a six-count charge of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

Tsoho relied on provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits courts from entertaining a motion for stay of proceedings with respect to criminal cases.

The judge rejected the arguments of Kanu’s lawyer, Chuks Muoma (SAN), and held that the provision of Section 306 of ACJA could not deny an accused person fair hearing.

The judge held that the provision of the ACJA was to enhance the right to speedy trial guaranteed an accused person in the constitution.

``Section 306 of ACJA removes hitches to speedy trial which is component of fair hearing,’’ Tsoho held.

The judge also distinguished the trial of the Biafra agitators from that of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

In Saraki’s case, the Supreme Court last year, after the advent of the ACJA, granted an order for stay of proceedings in his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Tsoho held that the prevailing circumstances informing the decision of the Supreme Court to grant stay of proceedings in Saraki’s case was not available in the instant case.

He said in Saraki’s case the issue of whether the cases entertained by

the CCT were criminal in nature or not was still to be determined by the Supreme Court was not available in the case before him.

He explained that it was not in doubt that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear criminal cases.

“It is moreso, given that the application for stay of proceedings is not founded on lack of intrinsic jurisdiction of this court but on mode of procedure to be adopted in the trial.’’

The court after dismissing the application held that the trial would proceed in the mode he had earlier directed on March 7 which was to shield witnesses from the public but not to wear mask. The case was adjourned till June 20 to June 23 for trial.

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Falana Asks Buhari to Investigate Unlawful Killings

by Security Forces PDP raises the alarm over alleged plan for more military action in Ogoniland Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt abd Gboyega Akinsanmi in Lagos A human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the extra-judicial execution of criminal suspects by officers of the Nigeria police and alleged unlawful killing of unarmed civilians, including children and women, by officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Falana said if the perpetrators of the killings “are not prosecuted, the federal government is likely to continue to pay damages in billions of naira awarded by the courts.”

He made the call in a statement he signed, noting that many highly placed officials of the government might be tried or prosecuted before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity if the federal government does not prosecute the perpetrators of ‘unlawful’ killings.

In his statement, Falana pointed out the military invasions of Odi in Bayelsa State in 1999, Zaki Biam in Benue State in 2001 and Gbaramatu in Delta State in 2009, noting that the federal high court “condemned the illegal involvement of armed soldiers in the maintenance of internal security.”

Consequently, he said the court awarded a total sum of N166 billion as compensation “to victims of the illegal military attacks. Also, the federal high court has awarded about N25 billion against the Nigerian police for unlawful killing of unarmed citizens and other human rights abuses in several parts of the country.”

Falana acknowledged Buhari’s commitment “to end the entrenched culture of impunity in the country, though there have been reported cases of gross abuse of human rights of the Nigerian people.”

He explained that having undertaken the move to end impunity and violations of human rights, Buhari’s administration “owes it a duty to ensure that the life of every person living in Nigeria is respected at all times.”

The senior advocate thus noted that he was compelled to request the Buhari administration “to institute an inquiry into the reckless killing of people by security forces with a view to prosecuting the culprits.”

He cited different cases of extrajudicial execution and brutal killings allegedly perpetrated by officers of the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Armed Forces, which he said, took place before, during and after the 2015 general election.

Falana acknowledged that

the 2015 general election was successfully conducted, though it was on record that scores of people were killed in political clashes in different parts of the country.

He thus cited a report, which the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) authored, showing that over 100 people “were killed in Rivers State alone. The recent rerun legislative elections in the state also witnessed wanton killings and destruction of property.

“Apart from thugs and militants who have continued to unleash mayhem on innocent people, the Joint Task Force has been indicted in the unlawful killing of members of the public. On February 22, a platoon of soldiers invaded Ogoniland in Rivers state and killed three unarmed youths.”

He said violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers “have resulted in mass killings in the last few months. For instance, in Benue and Taraba States not less than 500 farmers were recently killed by armed herdsmen due to negligence on the part of security forces.”

He noted that the federal government should be commended for the success recorded so far in prosecuting the war on terror, but the failure to sanction the army officers and soldiers who allegedly engage in the unlawful killing of innocent people in the North-east region “has been condemned locally and globally.”

Meanwhile, Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has uncovered

a plot by some All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians of Ogoni extraction to cause the military to use helicopters to bomb some parts of Ogoni communities suspected to be hideouts for those perceived to be opposed to their political ambitions.

The PDP alleged that some APC stalwarts in the state held a meeting with top leadership of the party in Abuja, demanding that the Presidency approves the use of military helicopters to bomb areas suspected to have provided cover for certain individuals considered not cooperating with them.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday on behalf of the state Chairman, Felix Obuah, by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, the

party said the real motive was to eliminate those opposed to their political ambitions.

“The information has it that the operation will be carried out in the guise of raiding criminal hideouts but the actual motive is to target and eliminate those perceived to be stumbling blocks to the realisation of their political aspiration and victory of the APC in the area,” the statement said.

The PDP also said, “While we, as a responsible and law-abiding political party will do nothing to jeopardise the peace and security efforts of government in the state and across the nation, we condemn the reckless, illegal and selfish politically motivated military raids in parts of the state by self-seeking political actors.

Kachikwu Targets Local Refining of Aviation Fuel Chineme Okafor inAbuja The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has disclosed that Nigeria’s refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna will soon begin production of aviation fuel as part of efforts to make the product available in the country for her aviation industry.

Kachikwu according to a statement last night in Abuja from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, stated that the federal government was determined to make the product readily available in country irrespective of the fact that it is deregulated.

The statement which was signed by the ministry’s Director of Press, Mr. Idang Alibi, stated that he made this disclosure in a meeting he had with the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika on shortage of aviation fuel in the country.

Kachikwu said he would in the interim call a meeting of stakeholders to understand the consumption pattern of Jet A1 by aviation industry operators,

as well as the cost of the product.

His comments were also captured in a similar statement from the Group General Manager Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Garuba Deen Muhammad.

Most importantly, the minister stated that as a long term solution, efforts are being made at the refineries to enable the production of aviation fuel before the end of the year.

“The immediate action point for now is to meet with all the importers of aviation fuel, we want to understand the consumption pattern and also look at their cost to ensure that they are not profiteering excessively,” said Kachikwu.

Sirika on his part attributed the collapse of many airlines in the past

to their inability to access cheap aviation fuel.

He noted that 40 to 50 per cent of the cost of airline operation was on aviation fuel and therefore critical to the sector.

He also noted that accessibility to aviation fuel at a cheaper rate will bring some sorts of operational relief to operators and air travel passengers as it will bring down the cost of tickets and facilitate other things especially now that a national carrier is coming on board.

The statement equally quoted Sirika as calling for the use of pipelines as a means of transportation to ferry the available aviation fuel to the needed users, as well as verification of their quality to guarantee the safety of air travels.

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2016

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T H I S D AY •

COMMENT

A , APRIL

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

WHERE ARE THE MEN?

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Men and women should see themselves as partners in progress, writes Sonnie Ekwowusi

en are missing everywhere. Evidence of this is the palpable absence of men in many families and homes. While some wives complain that their husbands are hardly visible at homes, others complain that their husbands are unable to pay school fees and meet up with other family responsibilities. Even when some husbands are physically or bodily present at home their souls are somewhere else. At the International Conference on Women and Children held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, last November, many women came out with the verdict that most husbands are becoming irresponsible. They shirk their family responsibilities. They are arrogant and boastful.

They inflict physical, emotional and psychological violence on their wives. They come back home late at night oftentimes drunk. One woman narrated how her unemployed husband beat her up one day and collected all the monies she had saved to invest in her business and squandered it in inanities. In tackling these vices, the Lagos State government, which towers above other states in enacting revolutionary women human rights laws, has enacted the Lagos State law on child abandonment and similar laws aimed at bringing husbands who wilfully commit injustices in their families to justice. The Office of the Public Defender Lagos State Ministry of Justice is at the moment battling with many cases ranging from fathers fleeing their matrimonial homes to sexually abusing their daughters and sons.

The questions are: Where have all the men gone? Why are men missing or invisible in many homes nowadays? The answers to these questions are rooted in the 1960s feminist movement and the offspring of liberalism that has led to the death of masculinity.

Today the promotion of radical feminism or the feminisation of the masculine has completed the job: it has destroyed masculinity and masculine roles. Feminism holds that women’s oppression is founded in patriarchy: male-dominated institutions and male-defined assumptions. The “global right to choose” (in contrast with the “universal values” and concept of equality recognised by the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights) is the keystone of the new culture today. Unfortunately the “global right to choose culture” has made egregious women human rights issues are top priorities in the world to the neglect of men’s. Gender equity, gender mainstreaming at the United Nations, Beijing and gender, the so-called women’s reproductive rights otherwise known as abortion rights get accelerated hearing nowadays. Despite the fact that men are increasingly dying we hear so much these days about maternal mortality. Nothing is said about paternal mortality. In her book, “The Feminist take-over: Patriarchy to Matriarchy in Two Decades,” Betty Steele, persuasively describes how the revolution by the Women’s Liberation Movement in Canada has brought about a full-fledged matriarchy and has even spawned hate speeches against men. She also laments that the lesbian influence has fuelled the hate and vengeance against men.

Paul Joseph Watson has faithfully chronicled 10 ways in which war is waged on men and masculinity. He regrets that the war on

A WORLD WITHOUT MEN IS AN INCOMPLETE WORLD. THE GENDER WAR IS UNNECESSARY. IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO AN END

masculinity has never been as brutal as it is today. He believes that it is a war not directly waged by women but a war waged from the top. Men are facing a full frontal assault on their rights, health and culture like never before, he says, and nobody seems to be concerned about it. For example, Watson writes that despite the fact that domestic abuse against men is a huge and growing problem in the United Kingdom it is hardly reported by the media.

In the United Kingdom, says Watson, 44 per cent of domestic abuse victims are male. More married men suffer abuse at the hands of their spouse than married women. But inexplicably, while domestic abuse against women is constantly highlighted by the mass media, domestic abuse against men is neglected or underreported. Watson also blames the disappearance of men on cultural Marxism.

Cultural Marxism states that oppression of women is embedded in patriarchal society, and not the state. This is why men and masculinity are under assault on every level. This is why women fight back against this common enemy called man that oppresses them.

We need to bring back the missing men. A world without men is an incomplete world. First, men should help themselves. They should work hard through practical deeds to restore their integrity.

Integrity is earned not imposed by force. The gender war is unnecessary. It should be brought to an end. The gender war is fought on the wrong assumption of the cultural Marxist and western libber creed that all frustrations of women are not caused by men. But all frustrations of women are not caused by men. And all men are not women haters as many radical feminists would make us believe.

Therefore, women should regain confidence in men. Watson has warned against the danger of degradation of positive masculine role models in the entertainment industry especially in Hollywood.

He says that young men consuming this content on TV will probably grow up thinking that the masculinity is evil or might even become afraid of expressing their masculinity. He writes that “radical feminism deliberately confuses gender roles and makes young men apprehensive about exercising their masculinity for fear of being seen as overbearing or aggressive towards women”.

Watson is right. Instead of focusing on the negative, that is, on the non-existent conflict between men and women, we should focus on the fact that men and women are complementary by nature. There is a core biological reality in being a woman, and likewise, there is a core biological reality in being a man. In today’s quest for “political correct” this reality should be respected. The challenge is help both men and women to flourish equally as individuals and members of society. In assessing how to achieve this goal, we must always promote not just the human rights of women but the human rights of men as well. We should not demonise men. Neither should we demonise women. We should crave for the time when the mutual suspicion between men and women would cease and when men and women will start seeing themselves as partners in progress.

SITUATING WIKE AND AMAECHI

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Andrew Otiteh argues Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, is on the side of the people

he riotous atmosphere that held sway in Rivers State over the conduct and outcome of the March 19 re-run elections had a number of dangerous dimensions.

But one was particularly telling. It had the potentialities of presenting both the good and the bad in lurid colours. That was why the combatants were labelled as violent even though one may have provoked the other into taking precipitate actions.

It is already a well known fact that the battle for the soul of the state was essentially between Governor Nyesom Wike and Chibuike Amaechi, the Minister of Transport and former governor of the state. While the battle lasted, the gladiators threw brickbats at each other. Wike and Amaechi were at daggers drawn. Each had unpleasant word for the other. None was prepared to be outdone. Their lieutenants did not help matters. They unleashed terror on one another, both in words and in action.

The impression the situation easily left many with was that Wike and Amaechi were birds of the same feather.

But now that the storm has abated, we can begin to separate the grain from the chaff.

Those who have had close association with the duo will readily tell you what marks each of the two men out. Both, truly, cut the image of aggression. But while Amaechi cherishes and flaunts rascality, Wike is a rebel with a cause. Whereas Amaechi will scream to high heavens in order to gain attention, Wike could yell occasionally but for good reasons.

Wike, it will be recalled, was, sometime in the past, Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt. That was while Amaechi served as governor. During that period, it was Wike who organised Amaechi and his office. He gave the

office of the governor a meaning through his administrative skills. While Amaechi delighted in showmanship and braggadocio, Wike bent over backwards to manage government business. He moderated Amaechi and his rascality.

And when, at the end of Amaechi’s tenure he ran into trouble with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a situation that led to his disqualification as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2007 governorship election, it was the likes of Wike that pulled Amaechi out of despondency and despair and gave him the courage to challenge his wilful loss of the PDP ticket to Celestine Omehia.

Then, while the case went through the courts, Wike was the leading light that Amaechi needed for direction. He gave Amaechi the much needed emotional stability that he lacked very sorely.

Indeed, it is a well known fact that if Wike had not stood by Amaechi during those trying times, Amaechi would have collapsed like a pack of cards even before the trials began. It was therefore to Wike’s credit that Amaechi became governor under the circumstance in which he found himself then.

After his tour of duty in Rivers State, Wike was appointed Minister of State for Education. While there, Wike distinguished himself. He worked very harmoniously with Professor Rukayyatu, the then Minister of Education, because of his wealth of experience in government. Wike used his experience to ensure that government policies were translated into action.

It should be noted that Wike worked hard, even from Abuja, to help Amaechi to put his government on a good footing. The cordial relationship would have continued had Amaechi not tried to overreach himself. As a minister under the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Wike was ill at ease with Amaechi’s

reckless opposition to Jonathan. Wike was not alone in thus worry. All well meaning Nigerians were taken aback by Amaechi’s demonisation of Jonathan for no just cause. The overriding opinion then was that Amaechi was being most unfair to Jonathan. He was prevailed upon to respect Jonathan and the office he occupied. But he rejected all the wise counsel that came his way. He was roundly condemned for opposing his kinsman. Wike worked hard to broker peace but Amaechi could not be contained. In the end, he fouled up the relationship between himself and President Jonathan.

It is significant to note that Wike remained steadfast and faithful in the face of the trial brought on him by Amaechi. Going by Amaechi’s disposition, Rivers State was supposed to play the role of an enemy to their kinsman who was president.

But Wike stood against that thoughtlessness. That marked the point of departure between him and Amaechi. While Amaechi did not care a hoot about throwing Rivers State into presidential enmity, Wike played the role of a rescuer. Today, Rivers State is the better for his stabilising role.

Strangely however, Amaechi was not done. He took the fight a notch higher. He set out to do battle with the people of the state during the general elections of 2015. He stood against the will and wish of the people. He was bent on stopping Wike on his tracks. He was determined to achieve his objective at all costs. But the will of the people prevailed.

They stood on the side of truth. Wike was their trusted ally and they gave him massive support.

But Amaechi and his cohorts would take none of that. They approached the courts and got the elections cancelled. But the highest court in the land played the rescue role by confirming Wike as validly elected by the people of the state. That was the essential Wike. He respects due process and the

rule of law. But Amaechi felt otherwise. That was why he waited for the re-run elections to inflict maximum pain on the people of the state. Whereas Wike and his PDP prepared for the elections, Amaechi and his APC chose to rest on their oars.

They wanted to procure victory by hook and crook.

But the hard fighter in Wike would not allow that.

He rejected the politics of might which Amaechi was playing.

As things stand today, Wike has carried the day.

Amaechi is seeking for cover. As someone who is on the side of the people, victory has gone to Wike.

But it did not come easy. Victory was achieved because Wike is a man of courage. He refused to be intimidated or cowed by the federal forces which Amaechi massed up against him. His victory is significant. It shows that it is right and proper to be on the side of the people. Wike is that man, and history will remember as the quintessential man of courage who stood up to be counted when it mattered.

As for Amaechi, the time has come for restitution. There should be no grandstanding any more.

He should climb down from his high horse and face reality. And the reality is that there is life after public office. There is always time for pay back. As a politician, Amaechi must recognise that he has a pact with the people. He will always return to the people to seek their support. For that reason, Amaechi should remember that the battle is not yet over. The day of judgment is still ahead. In order to avoid the people’s wrath, Amaechi should begin to seek the face of justice and fairness. It is in his own interest to show remorse for his misdeeds. The people will forgive him if he repents. This is the time to make amends.

Otiteh, a professor of Linguistics, wrote from Port Harcourt

T H I S D AY •

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EDITORIAL MUCH ADO ABOUT THE NAIRA/YUAN DEAL

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It is still difficult to situate the economic value of the currency deal with China

he exact deal President Muhammadu Buhari struck with China during his recent visit is still shrouded in speculations since officials continue to contradict one another. But what is very clear is that in the attempt to find short-cut solutions to the current economic challenge that manifests in an unstable foreign exchange market, the administration is looking towards China and its currency, yuan. Yet there are too many questions left unanswered on the whole issue.

China has historically been accused by Western nations of artificially weakening the yuan to encourage exports, implying that a weaker yuan gives China an undue advantage over other stronger currency nations. The converse will also be correct: a weaker yuan will discourage imports of foreign goods into China as their prices would become uncompetitive. Therefore, in the event of a swap deal, will Nigeria also fall prey to a relatively weaker yuan especially given the current balance of trade in favour of China?

THE RIGOUR REQUIRED For sure, a curTO BUILD A PRODUCTIVE rency swap would ECONOMY WITH A mean that the STRONG EXPORT BASE, Chinese yuan would WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY begin to rank with STABILISE OUR CURRENCY, the dollar, euro and CANNOT BE ESCAPED BY A to a lesser extent, the CURRENCY SWAP pound sterling as a second currency in Nigeria, the local currency, the naira, being the first.

It also means that Nigerian banks can open letters of credit in yuan instead of the dollar, euro or sterling.

Theoretically, this deal will enhance trade between the two countries. From a currency risk management perspective, by including the yuan in our foreign reserve basket, we reduce the exposure of our foreign reserve to the volatility risk of any single currency, especially the dollar.

However, China is a trading partner in the purchase of our crude oil, which is responsible for

Letters to the Editor

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over 80 per cent of our foreign exchange earnings.

If China now pays for that with yuan, our stock of yuan increases while our dollar receipts will decrease by the same amount. But the relevant question here is: given the balance of trade between China and Nigeria of over US$14 billion and growing, will the yuan supply gap in Nigeria not imply an upward rate push eventually of the yuan, thus bringing us back to square one? gain, if a lower foreign currency rate implies encouragement of imports rather than exports, why are we so stuck on a stronger naira which translates to export of local jobs as we import goods from foreign lands?

Besides, from where are we going to get enough yuan to stabilise the naira and keep it strong since that appears to be the main economic objective of the administration?

Put differently, we must do something to earn yuan except we are borrowing from China; and if we borrow, we must pay back someday. If we don’t, then we must sell something to China to be able to trade in that currency. The point we are making is that other than oil, we have nothing more to sell to China, but we buy so many things from them.

Even though a currency deal with China signals politically to the West that we “belong to everyone and we belong to no one”, it is nonetheless still difficult to appropriate economic value to such a relationship. But what has become very clear is that the rigour required to build a productive economy with a strong export base, which will eventually stabilise our currency, cannot be escaped by a currency swap, whether with yuan, euros or dollars.

If we endure the sacrifices that pursuing the necessary monetary and fiscal policies that will ultimately help us to rebuild the productive sector we,require, it will serve the nation better in the long run. We are quite aware that the time to do all these was yesterday. But it is better late than never as we urge the current administration to put in place policy instruments that will help create job-led growth.

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

AMBODE AND LAGOS’ WHEEL OF JUSTICE

democracy consists of three vital organs of government namely the executive, legislature and the judiciary. The legislative arm formulates policy and enacts it as law, the executive carries out policy in action while the judiciary applies the law according to rules of procedural justice and resolves disputes. To guarantee freedom, which is the hallmark of democracy, these three arms must be separated as much as possible and balanced against each other. For a successful democracy, the existence of a free and fair judiciary is a must.

It is in view of the significance of the judiciary in a democracy that the Ambode administration has embarked on critical reforms geared towards oiling the wheel of justice in the state.

One of such is the establishment of mobile courts. The introduction of the courts is one way the state government planned to ensure preservation of civility and peace in the society. The courts were inaugurated to summarily try traffic as well as environmental offenders and mete out immediate punishment to those convicted. This is also a way to decongest the courts and not add to inconclusive cases that have been in courts for years.

The courts have since been operating in line with the constitution, thus dispelling residents’ fear about transparency and lack of bias in the prosecution of offenders. Consequently, justice is being dispensed at mobile courts with respect to the fundamental human rights of defendants arraigned in the courts. Starting with five vans, prosecution of offenders is being handled by lawyers in the State Ministry of Justice, while lawyers from the

Office of Public Defender (OPD) responsible for provision of free legal services to the residents, are available to defend offenders who so desire.

To further underscores the fact that Lagos is in the lead in legislation and law reform initiatives in Nigeria, the Ambode administration has launched the ‘Revised Laws of Lagos State.”

The need for legislation to be up- to- date and relevant cannot be over-emphasised in ensuring the necessary legal infrastructure for socio-economic transformation. Lagos as the commercial capital of Nigeria faces enormous challenges in ensuring the security and economic well-being of its residents.

The publication of the 2015 Laws of the State, marks the beginning of the process of continually making the laws accessible to the general public not only in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole, but also beyond its borders globally. It highlights the resolve of the Ambode administration to make the laws of Lagos State available online and accessible from any part of the world. To this end, Lagos State Law Reform Commission is at an advanced stage of developing an online platform for accessing the Laws of the State and downloading such laws.

The online platform will also provide access to all the laws that have operated in the state since inception in 1967. This will fulfill the obligation of the Lagos State Government to create easy access to the Laws of Lagos, thereby promoting a platform for accountability and responsibility.

More importantly, creating an online access to the Laws of Lagos State will be of a great service and benefit to investors and would be investors in the state. Not only will such a

platform enable investors to make informed decisions about investing in the state, but it will also help them to appreciate the various legal protections available for their persons and investment.

Furthermore, the publication of the Laws of Lagos State is a step in the direction of the justice and security sector reforms which the present administration promised it will pursue in order to strengthen the rule of law in Lagos State.

Another decisive judicial reform of the Ambode administration is the availability of all Lagos State Laws online. Hence, lawyers, investors and the public can now have access to all the laws of the state. This is a reflection of the commitment of the administration to drive governance and administration of justice in the state through innovation and technology.

This innovative digital platform is the first of its kind and another proof of the tradition of excellence which Lagos is known for. Lawyers and the entire public could, therefore, now visit the site at www.laws.lagosstate.gov.ng to view the laws and make their purchases.

Having the Lagos State Laws available online offers everybody access to search, view and download the laws anywhere in the world by just the click of a button. The online platform is set to fulfil the obligation of the state government to create easy access to the laws, thereby promoting accountability and responsibility, and to enable investors to make informed decisions about their investments in the state.

Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

Umar vs Saraki: Trial of the Judiciary The many twists and turns in the ongoing trial of the president of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is looking more like the judiciary itself is on trial, writes Shola Oyeyipo

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he on-going trial of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged false assets declaration has given rise to shades of opinions from across the length and breadth of Nigeria and even outside the country with quite a number of Nigerians and Saraki himself attributing the trial to political persecution.

While not a few Nigerian are of the opinions that Saraki’s trial is predicated on his attaining the senate presidency as against the will of some forces within the ruling party, recently, Saraki came out boldly to say his real sin was that he opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which was initially mooted to field the duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and a former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu as the APC president and vice-presidential candidates respectively during the 2015 general election.

Responding to a write-up published last Saturday by Dele Momodu in his Pendulum column, Saraki said standing against a Muslim running mate for President Buhari was the real sin leading to his trial.

“What they say to themselves, among other things, was that ‘if he could conspire against our ambition, then he must not realise his own ambition as well.’ For me however, I have no regrets about this. I only stood for what I believed was in the best interest of the party and in the best interest of Nigeria.

“We have got to that point in our country when we no longer believe that anyone could stand for anything based on principles and convictions alone. Moreover, in the growing culture of media crucifixion and presumed guilt, it is rare to find a voice like yours that calls for fairness and justice,” Saraki alleged.

This kind of arguments and other issues that have been raised by pro-Saraki commentators on the matter have brought the judiciary itself under close watch by Nigerians, who are itching to see if the alleged underbellies would subject the most vital organ of government – the judiciary – to fear, intimidation, blackmail or serve as the preserver of justice, the rule of law and the last refuge for all Nigerians, regardless of class and status.

Given the sustained claims that the entire trial is politically motivated, many are of the opinion that it is important to pay special interest to the judiciary on the case because of some suspicious activities that have characterised the process and which are the basis upon which the Saraki group are questioning the ongoing litigation against the Senate President as one that may have discountenanced the tenets of fair hearing.

For instance, it is no news that Saraki’s trial is being handled at a tribunal chaired by Mr. Danladi Umar, who himself was hitherto on administrative bail from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corrupt practices. And there is also the aspect that members of the tribunal did not take judicial oath, an action that disqualifies them as judges, yet they are empowered to adopt criminal procedure and even handle what the Supreme Court now called ‘quasi-criminal’ cases.

If truly there is political undertone to his trial as he has continued to allege, it would then seem as if Saraki has been entrapped in a trial perfectly designed to hack him down at all cost, because even though tramping on the face of the provisions of the principle of separation of power, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the tribunal are under the Secretary to Federal Government – directly under the presidency and would hardly act against the presidency.

Saraki...will he get justice.

Another question is what should be expected of Umar if the EFCC that has kept his case file open is also the one providing the witness in his court while the presidency supervising him is also the one prosecuting Saraki?

There is no way Saraki will not continue to score points in his argument that the judiciary is being prepped to hound him and eventually oust him from the number three position in the country considering that a judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu-Kafarati hurriedly withdrew from the case seeking an order to stop his trial for false assets declaration before the CCT. “If I grant the prayers of the applicant, the reading public will say yes, the judge has been

This kind of arguments and other issues that have been raised by proSaraki commentators on the matter have brought the judiciary itself under close watch by Nigerians, who are itching to see if the alleged underbellies would subject the most vital organ of government – the judiciary – to fear, intimidation, blackmail or serve as the preserver of justice, the rule of law and the last refuge for all Nigerians, regardless of class and status

Umar...can he give justice.

compromised. If I refuse the prayers, they will say the judge has been threatened or intimidated.

The most honourable thing for me to do is to disqualify myself from this case. I hereby disqualify myself from this case and the file is returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment,” Kafarati said.

He therefore excused himself from the case on the day he was to give judgment because a prominent online news medium had reported that N2 billion was found in his account and that the money was a bribe received to rule in Saraki’s favour. But when the judge later gave his judgment after about four weeks, he dismissed Saraki’s application.

Normally, when things like this happen, it is an indication that there is considerable pressure on the judges and it could be from both sides.

But in Saraki’s camp, the feeling is that there had been pressure on this very judge and possibly an underhand during the four weeks period that he dropped the case.

Some of the posers related to this include the fact that if the judgment Kafarati read on April 15 dismissing the application by Saraki was what he wrote four weeks earlier, why didn’t he read it then if only to prove that he did not collect money from Saraki as alleged?

Even at the Court of Appeal, the drama ensued there too, when judgment was to be delivered in the Saraki case. While the lawyers to the plaintiff were in court, the Defence team was absent and some few minutes to the time for the judgment, a court clerk announced that the judgment had been postponed indefinitely!

This also solidified the feeling amongst pro-Saraki lawyers that it was an ‘arrested judgment’ because according to them, only that would explain why an appellate court would halt judgment some minutes before it was to be delivered. When the appellate court later gave its judgment, it was a split decision against the Saraki.

There have also been claims that the trial of Tinubu in 2001 and the present case against Saraki is one and same and that the judgment meted out to Tinubu should be given to Saraki if the tribunal

is fair, since it is the same court and judge. In a case considered as sheer political persecution of Tinubu back then, the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government accused the APC stalwart of defaulting in his asset declaration and the current vice president, Prof. Yemi Osibajo joined 68 other lawyers while Umar presided over the trial.

Tinubu was discharged by the CCT chaired by Umar because the condition precedent was not fulfilled before the charges of false declaration of assets were filed against the former Lagos State governor.

This was why the lead Counsel to Saraki, Kanu Agabi insisted that for the purposes of equity that the Senate President was not invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in the asset declaration form submitted to the bureau.

Agabi told the tribunal that up till now, Saraki as a defendant has not made any statement to the Bureau upon which he can be effectively put to trial.

However, it is worthy of note that as the case lingers, Nigerians are gradually getting inundated by the worsening economic situation in the country, which some attribute to the no love lost relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government by the Saraki trial, which many of his colleagues in the upper chamber of the National Assembly see as political.

To many of them who have continued to throng the court with him on many occasions, Saraki had won the election to become the Senate President and should be left to serve his term and if his fellow senators don’t want him, they should be left alone to get rid of him while government should work harder to reverse situations leading to long fuel queues, depreciating naira, insecurity, helping hapless IDP’s in the North-east and the growing low power supply so that the much desired ‘Change’ which Nigerians voted for is not slaughtered on the altar of politics and seemingly intractable internal politics of the APC.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

The Conflicting Evidence against Badeh The conflicting evidence emanating from the trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd) over his alleged conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force is getting more intriguing, writes Alex Enumah

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he federal government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on February 29, 2016 filed a 10-count charge against a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh Badeh and Iyalikam Nig Ltd, a company believed to be owned by him at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He is being accused of diverting funds from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force and used same to purchase choice property in Abuja.

The charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/46/2016, was signed by the Deputy Director of Legal & Prosecution Department at the EFCC, Mr. Aliyu M. Yusuf. The firm, Iyalikam Nigerian Limited, purportedly owned by the Ex- CDS was equally cited as the 2nd defendant in the charge.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh (whilst being the Chief of Air Staff, Nigerian Air Force) and Iyalikan Nigeria Limited, between January and December, 2013, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did use dollar equivalent of the sum of N1, 100, 000, 000.00 (One Billion, One Hundred Million Naira only), removed from the accounts of the Nigerian Air Force, to purchase for yourselves a mansion situate at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Off Danube Street, Maitama, Abuja, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of proceed of unlawful activity (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) of Air Chief Marshal Alex S. Badeh, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act”.

The former CDS however pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted bail in the sum of N2 billion and two sureties in the sum of N1 billion each by the trial judge, Justice Okon Abang on the 10th of March 2016. Trial finally commenced with the prosecution calling on its first witness, who testified on how he used to give N558m monthly to Badeh from the accounts of the NAF. The Prosecution Witness 1, (PW1) Salisu Abdullahi Yushua, a retired air commodore and a former Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigeria air force Headquarters, also alleged that the former CDS, while he was Chief of Air Staff (CAS), instructed him to buy houses on his behalf and two of his sons in an highbrow area of Abuja.

Yushua told the court that sometime in 2013, Badeh requested him to get a house in Maitama area of Abuja, where he would like to retire to after retirement from service. He said he then contacted one barrister Hussein Umar, who helped him get some property for the former CDS to choose from.

“We inspected three properties and he selected the one at Ogun River Street. He asked Umar to find out the price get across to me so that I can pass the information to him. Two or three days later, Umar came to me and said the house was 1.1 billion naira. Following, I told CAS. He agreed to pay the amount and instructed that we carry out necessary search and commence process of payment.

“Sometime in 2013, when I was taking the usual amount I used to send to him, he directed that we should pay for the house.

He brought the balance in dollars and made up the equivalent of 1.1b naira. I took the money to Umar and directed him to pay for the house”.

But a new twist evolved during crossexamination, when the main witness told the court that he could no longer remember the exact amount of money he gave the former CDS monthly. In addition, he stated that he did not also have records of the money he personally handed over to the former CDS. Yushua had previously told the court during

Badeh...the changing stories for the gods

testimony that he personally handed over the amount of 558 million naira not just to A.S Badeh but to his predecessor Air Marshal MD Umar.

But under cross-examination by Counsel to the defendant, Akin Olujimi SAN, Yushua said he could no longer remember the exact amount in US dollars that he personally handed over to Badeh from October 2013 to December 2013.

He also said he could no longer remember the amount for any specific month within

The twist further deepened when on April 19, 2016, the next adjournment date, Yushau under crossexamination admitted error in his evidence. In his earlier statement with EFCC, he had claimed that the money for the development of the Shopping Complex was paid in dollars at once, but later admitted it was an error…‘I cannot remember saying ‘once’ but if I said so, it was an error’

the same period.

Yushua confirmed that he personally gave the money to A.S Badeh, but did not have any record showing that A.S Badeh received money from him.

Olujimi however referred him to the statements he made with EFCC on 28th January, 3rd, 4th, 11th February and 10th March. He claimed his statements to the EFCC were response to questions asked by them. He confirmed to the court that those were his statements and were freely made by him.

Olujimi further referred to page 86 of the proof of evidence, where in his statement to the EFCC on the 4th February, 2016, in the last 6 lines where he wrote that “the dollar so changed was used for payment of estacode and other sundry payments like servicing of jets etc.

He also said “these funds were from left over of salaries i.e after payment of Salaries”.

In his statement to EFCC he said “quite a number of welfare and operational projects have been executed through this.

Such projects include the completion of NAF aeronautical Center, Construction of officer and air men accommodation, equipping of NAF hospitals in Abuja, Lagos, Jos, Makurdi and Kano”. He confirmed that all these were done through the same left over salaries, which he claimed he gave to Badeh.

When asked how the annual budget of the Nigerian Air force is prepared, the former DFA said the budget office was not under the DFA but the responsibility of the Chief of Policy and Plans. He told the court that it was the deputy director of budgets and not the DFA that was in charge of preparing the NAF budget, adding that, “I only made inputs just like other directorates”.

He said at the end of each month, they

retire all monies to the accountant general and auditor-general of the federation and that the task was usually carried out by the pay and accounting Unit in Ikeja. When asked if the records consisted of amounts received and payments made, he replied that each command unit made its own retirement of funds released to them.

According to him, funds were not released to the DFA but to the NAF headquarters. He claimed that when allocations were made to all NAF formations, the money was disbursed to all and his deputy was in charge of their own allocation. He informed the court that if there was any need for funds, the deputy wrote and approval was given by him, then they proceeded to the Headquarters to collect from their own votes.

The twist further deepened when on April 19, 2016, the next adjournment date, Yushau under cross-examination admitted error in his evidence. In his earlier statement with EFCC, he had claimed that the money for the development of the Shopping Complex was paid in dollars at once, but later admitted it was an error.

“I cannot remember saying ‘once’ but if I said so, it was an error,” he said, admitting that the shopping complex, which he told the court in his testimony was bought in the sum of N650,000 was not captured in the statement he made to the EFCC in details.

“I cannot remember everything I said in my statement to the EFCC because I was answering the questions based on how they were being put across to me by investigators. I know that it is not everything I am telling the court here that was captured in my statement but the fact is that everything I told the EFCC was within my knowledge and the records are there.”

Asked the reason he left out substantial part of the evidence when he made the statement, he claimed that his answers were only based on the questions he was asked at the EFCC. Also, when he was asked whether he told the EFCC that he had more to say during the interrogation then, and the EFCC did not oblige him, he said “no”.

On the balance of payment for the land acquired for Shopping Complex, he admitted instructing the Command Finance Officer (CFO) of the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, captain Sinni to pay the remaining balance, but maintained that he never instructed that the money be transferred in naira to Ryte Builders technologies Limited account.

“I was aware that N558 million was in NAF account when I instructed the CFO to pay after he was supposed to change it to dollars.

Instead, he transferred the money in naira into the account of Ryte Builders. I did not ask him to transfer the balance in naira,” he said.

He also admitted that he did tell the EFCC that Captain Sinni paid the money in dollars but that he had already made his statement before realising that it was transferred from NAF account to Rytebuilders account.

“That statement was given before I knew that my CFO transferred the money in naira instead of paying him in dollars,” Yashau maintained.

On the property at No. 6, Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja, a property purportedly owned

by Badeh, the witness admitted knowing one Umar, a lawyer, who on the instruction of his boss, Badeh, was used to buy the property.

He said when Umar got a choice property, he took him and his boss to inspect the property before it was purchased. But when asked if he included such in his statement with the EFCC, he said ‘no’.

“In your statement with EFCC, did you say you went with Badeh? He replied: “I did not say so”. The defence Counsel also put it to the witness, that all he said in evidence in court were not stated in his statement with EFCC, to which he affirmed.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

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EVENTS&REPORTS

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Adeyemi Gets a Broom Former Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT and a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Smart Adeyemi, recently altered his political trajectory, following his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Yekini Jimoh reports

Adeyemi with Faleke and other members of APC at his declaration

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oday, in Kogi State, the name Smart Adeyemi has become a household name, not only in politics but also someone, whose contributions in journalism as a former President of Nigeria Union of Journalists improved the image of the profession.

Before and after last year’s governorship election in Kogi State, there was intense pressure on the former Senator to defect from PDP to APC, as various interest groups called on him and the need for him to join the winning party, especially when it became obvious that the PDP was losing grounds in the state.

Among the groups were politicians from the ‘Smart Adeyemi Political Family’. The politicians, under Kogi West Progressive Group (KWPG), had asked Adeyemi to defect to the APC, citing the fact that PDP leaders worked against him during the general election as reason for the call.

The group made the demand in a communiqué signed by J.M. Omonuwa (Bunu/Ijumu/Kabba Federal Constituency); Chief Ayo Olorunjuwon Tana (Yagba Federal Constituency); Alhaji Haliru Idris (Lokoja/ Kotonkarfe Federal Constituency); Sadi Uba Inuwa and Alhaji Ibrahim Adoba.

“The meeting was attended by over 200 political associates and followers of Senator Adeyemi, including past and present council and party chairmen and executive members, councillors, special advisers, senior special assistants and opinion and community leaders from across the seven local governments in Kogi West Senatorial District.

“The meeting examined, among other things, the eight years of Senator Adeyemi in the Senate, his representation/achievements and juxtaposed same with past and present representatives at that level, the PDP-led government in the state in the last 12 years (2003-2015), the political future of the group and of Kogi West and the state.”

The group’s leaders claimed Adeyemi’s defection would be in tandem with the wind of change in the state, which led to APC’s victory during the governorship poll through the Audu/Faleke ticket.

“The group noted with satisfaction its decision to support the more promising and reliable Audu/ Faleke candidature in the last governorship

election that gave victory to the APC, the first time another party other than the PDP will win a general election fairly in the district since 1999,” it said.

Another group, Kogi West Progressive Group also appealed to Adeyemi to as matter of urgency, take a critical look at his continuous membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and consider renouncing same in the interest of the people of Kogi West.

In their communique signed by Honourable Sadi Uba Inuwa and four others at the end of their meeting held in Iyara, they added that since politics is all about physical and human development, his continued stay in the PDP which has not fulfilled their people’s aspiration has become tenuous.

After due consultations with both local and national leaders across my state and the nation, we have come to the realisation that we have to take a major decision in the best interest of our people. Politics is essentially local. Therefore, in the light of the sincerity and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari, his strength of character and support of eminent personalities… we have decided to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today, being the 8th of April, 2016 by the grace of Almighty God

According to them, they were satisfied with Adeyemi’s eight years representation in the state as his performance as seen in his contributions to the proceedings of the House at plenary and committees are second to none.

“Senator Adeyemi’s loss in the last senatorial election would appear to be with the connivance of some PDP elite with the opposition.

His loss at the tribunal was intriguing; re-runs were ordered in similar cases in the Kogi State Central and Eastern Senatorial District, but Senator Adeyemi’s case was turned down! The group believes that he has won in God and people’s court,” it stated.

The group, therefore, appealed to him to remain in active politics and be focused, adding that his services are needed at this crucial and critical stage of their political development as he remains a pillar of strength for the downtrodden, who believe in his leadership.

They also claimed to be satisfied with its decision to support the more promising and reliable Audu/Faleke candidature in the last governorship election in the state, which gave victory to the APC, the first time that another party other than the PDP won a general election fairly in the district since 1999.

And finally, he succumbed to the pressures from his people and left the PDP for the APC. Briefing newsmen in Abuja during his defection done in company with Senators Abu Ibrahim, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, and other APC big wigs, he said he was defecting because the PDP in his opinion failed to keep its promises to his people.

Adeyemi, who fought all the way to the Supreme Court against Senator Dino Melaye, has urged his supporters to follow suit en masse. According to Adeyemi, who made the declaration at his Maitama, Abuja residence, his decision to defect to APC was because politics was essentially local. He therefore had no choice than to bow to the pressure of his people to leave the PDP. He said his defection had nothing to do with survival politics but that Nigeria’s future is brighter under Buhari.

Apart from Senators Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Abu Ibrahim (a staunch ally of Buhari), the declaration was also attended by Chief J.B. Arojojoye and his other supporters from

Kogi West.

“After due consultations with both local and national leaders across my state and the nation, we have come to the realisation that we have to take a major decision in the best interest of our people. Politics is essentially local. Therefore, in the light of the sincerity and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari, his strength of character and support of eminent personalities such as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the leader of men, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the support of the leadership of the ruling party towards the reconstruction of the socio-economic fabrics of our nation, we have decided to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today, being the 8th of April, 2016 by the grace of Almighty God. “We hereby urge all our supporters and patriotic Nigerians to support the effect of a new socioeconomic order of this administration,” he said.

Last Saturday, Adeyemi was in Iyara, his home town in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State to formerly register as APC member, where he was given his APC membership card. Among those who graced the occasion were Chief James Faleke and many APC supporters from Kogi West and East.

Addressing his supporters, Adeyemi promised to always be ready to represent his constituency whenever his services were needed. He advised his people to work for the success of the party and give total support to the administration of President Buhari, adding that the President would do his best to move the country forward.

Meanwhile, some political big wigs, who spoke to THISDAY on the development, said it was a good move for Adeyemi to join the APC, because according to them, the way and manner he lost the senatorial election was an indication that some forces in PDP worked against him and that his eight years in the Senate was a blessing to the state and his constituency in particular.

Some political stakeholders in the state were of the belief that his coming to APC would bring more dividends of democracy to Kogi West and the state in general because of his connections and contact with other politicians across the country. The occasion was witnessed by thousands of his supporters.

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PERSPECTIVE

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Ogun APC’s Failed Reconciliation The recent attempt to achieve peace in the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress failed to yield results owing to the absence of the real gladiators, writes Sarah Olabimtan

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siwaju Bola Tinubu is someone I hold in high esteem. I respect his foresight and political strategems. His incisive thinking and doggedness mark him out as a gift to Nigeria. Although I have never met him, his track records, both in politics and in commerce, endeared him to me. I defend him stoutly any time he is being disparaged.

However, I am still numb by Asiwaju’s involvement in a gathering recently. Asiwaju, along with some politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC), met at the Ikoyi home of Pa Olusegun Osoba, a former governor of Ogun. Of course, nothing is amiss with that except that the purpose of the meeting was to reconcile Osoba with APC. Maybe that is equally not too bad since there is no permanent friend or foe in politics. But what saddens is the curious absence of the real gladiators in the face-off that precipitated Osoba’s exit from APC at the parley. Neither Governor Ibikunle Amosun nor any member of the EXCO of the party in the state was present!

The meeting regrettably forgot that you cannot clap with one hand. They practically tried to shave the heads of Ogun APC members without the members’ presence. Those at the meeting were alien to the crisis.

Nigerians have short memories and this is what our leaders exploit todefraud us. Let me reboot your memories. Baba Osoba decided to dump the APC because he couldn’t get total control of the party in Ogun. He loathed the idea of Governor Amosun putting his mouth where his money is.Although Amosun funds activities of the party in the state, Chief Osoba forgot the age long adage that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. Osoba craved 100 per cent control of party, whose funding comes from elsewhere.

Chief Osoba couldn’t get his heart’s desire and so dumped the APC. He exited the party, when he was most needed ahead the 2015 historic election. I still recall that Pa Osoba, at a meeting with his supporters, vowed in the name of Jesus never to have anything to do with Amosun politically again.

He was quoted to have vowed: “In the name of Jesus Christ, whom I serve, I am promising all of you that I will have nothing to do with Amosun again. If any kabiyesi begs me, I promise not to accept. If anybody appeals to me in the name of God, I promise to decline such appeal...I will have nothing to do with Amosun again until I teach him a bitter political lesson...”

Osoba was also quoted to have confided in some aides that he would do everything within his power to destroy APC as a party, lamenting that the party hierarchy betrayed him during his spat with Governor Amosun.

I still recall vividly that everybody that is somebody in the APC project as well as apolitical elements in the South-west, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Awujale of Ijebuland and the Oba of Lagos – all pleaded with Pa Osoba to have a rethink for posterity sake and for the continuation of the good work Amosun was doing in our state.

On the political field, Atiku Abubakar, Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu and Chief Odigie Oyegun – all begged Osoba but he bluntly refused. He insisted that he must be handed 100 per cent control of the party in Ogun or he will quit. He couldn’t get his heart desire, so he left the party.

Strikingly, what Pa Osoba demanded of Amosun is far greater than what he and other Governors of Alliance for Democracy (AD) rejected from the leadership of Afenifere, when he was Governor between 1999 and 2003. At that time, Afenifere leaders merely wanted to ensure compliance with AD’s manifestoes. Afenifere leaders weren’t asking for control of the party

Osoba and Tinubu at the reunion and reconciliation meeting some weeks back

in the various states, but adherence to party manifestoes!

While his face-off with Amosun was on, he demonstrated his resolve to sever all links with the party by destabilising the state APC. He evicted the party from a property he gave the progressives during the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD). The party had to hurriedly secure another secretariat nearby. Such was Osoba’s bitterness and determination to wreck the APC in Ogun.

He left APC and teamed up with the Goodluck Jonathan campaigners to spite the

But what saddens is the curious absence of the real gladiators in the face-off that precipitated Osoba’s exit from APC at the parley. Neither Governor Ibikunle Amosun nor any member of the EXCO of the party in the state was present…The meeting regrettably forgot that you cannot clap with one hand.

They practically tried to shave the heads of Ogun APC members without the members’ presence. Those at the meeting were alien to the crisis

APC hierarchy. But as fate would have it, Jonathan lost the Presidency to APC’s Gen. Muhammadu Buhari while Amosun retained his seat as governor in Ogun.

However, the true political worth of Chief Osoba was highlighted with the manner he equally failed to return his son, Olumide, to the House of Representatives. Osoba’s son got less than 6,500 votes across three local government areas of Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta North and Odeda.

Equally, Osoba’s governorship candidate, Akin Odunsi couldn’t garner up to 16,000 votes across the state. Such was the humbling defeat Pa Osoba suffered. Indeed, the crushing defeat was a strong reality check of the acceptance and popularity of the former governor by Ogun electorate.

Conversely, Amosun was returned victorious having scored the highest number of votes among all the gubernatorial candidates but he also replicated the 2011 electoral feat of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria in the state. All these happened under 12 months. It is against this background that my heart bleeds, when I saw my Asiwaju and the highly revered Chief Bisi Akande at Pa Osoba’s house reconciling him with APC while his immediate constituency and the people he initially rejected were nowhere near the meeting venue.

Why is Pa Osoba changing his mind now after he has been politically exposed at the polls? Is he telling us he has reversed his avowals? If Pa Osoba wants to return to his vomit, must Asiwaju and Pa Akande stake their own integrities for him? Several questions keep running through my mind.

Has Asiwaju forgotten that every politics is local and that you need your constituency behind you to be proclaimed a leader? Are they saying Osoba will now play his politics in Lagos? How will Pa Osoba operate amidst those party men he had so disparaged

publicly? What will be his relationship with the executives of APC in the state, whom he evicted from his property during the face-off? How will baba Osoba relate with the governor he once vowed never to have any dealings with again? Who controls the party now?’

My take is that the meeting and the outcome is part of the impunity still prevalent in the land even with this CHANGE mantra.

How can some party leaders from Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states meet and decide to shave the heads of APC members from Ogun by re-admitting a member who, willingly, left the party and hasn’t shown remorse to those he hurt before he left?

Again, the timing of the meeting is suspicious. I wonder why the gathering is coming this early in 2016, when partisan politics is still faraway? Why must Asiwaju alienate one of APC’s performing governors like Amosun but rush to the embrace of a fading politician, who couldn’t deliver victory to his own blood in an election? Was that meeting designed to distract Governor Amosun? Maybe! Or could it be there is a hidden agenda on Ogun State ahead of 2019?

My humble submission is that that illconceived re-admission, if I may call it so, will have more damaging effect on APC cohesion in the state. It is a time-bomb that promises to throw Ogun back into the hands of the PDP. The seed of fresh bickering has been sown, and my hunch is, the effect this time will hurt APC. Indeed, the leadership of APC should start having a second thought about retaining Ogun State in 2019. Ogun state is too sophisticated to be toyed with and I pray the much feared APC, indeed Asiwaju’s political meltdown won’t start from my state.

-Olabimtan, a public commentator, wrote from Ota in Ogun State

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

Kicking out Rape Rape is an offence against humanity and it is condemned in all societies. Amby Uneze captures the activities of a non-governmental organisation in Enugu State fighting to stop the scourge

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hen the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), a non-governmental organisation that champions the rights of women, children and windows with base in Enugu State, decided to initiate and champion the campaign to stop rape which is another horrible act perpetuated against women and children, it knew that it was an initiative that was not going to be easily achieved. However, the challenges did not deter the organisation that is globally known for her astuteness, doggedness, and result-oriented body.

TAMAR SARC, which is an acronym of Sexual Assault Referral Centre is a joint initiative of WACOL in partnership with the Enugu State government represented by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development. It is also supported by the Justice for All (J4A) programme of the Department for International Development (DFID).

The centre is a gender justice responsive project set up to provide rapid holistic and high quality free medical, counselling and other support services to victims and survivors of sexual assault in Enugu State and beyond. The one-stop centre has a team of passionate women and men rendering professional services to victims/survivors of sexual violence.

Its goal is to render without discrimination confidential and high quality medical, counselling and other support services to victims and survivors of sexual violence, especially women and minors, by supporting their recovery and encouraging increased reporting of rape and other sexual assault cases.

As part of her campaign to enlighten the society and the need to press for urgent end to rape and other child sexual abuses, WACOL/TAMAR SARC on March 8, 2016 as one of the activities to mark this years’ A rape victim

The Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr.

Cecilia Ezeilo, enjoined everybody to imbibe the discipline of protecting women, especially the minors from rape, urging those who may have the tendency to involve in such wicked and deadly action to have a rethink and avoid anything that would lead them into such embarrassing and shameful act

International Women’s Day unveiled a giant billboard mounted at a strategic location at the centre of Enugu city, precisely at Ogui Road, as well an arts exhibition at Alliance Francaise, Enugu. All these activities/programmes were to promote gender equity and eradication of rape in the society.

While unveiling the billboard, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr.

Cecilia Ezeilo, commended the effort of the founder/initiator of WACOL/TAMAR SARC, Dr. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo for championing the cause and welfare of women and the widows in the society. The deputy governor expressed satisfaction on the achievements so far recorded by the organisation in her quest to stop rape in the society.

Ezeilo enjoined everybody to imbibe the discipline of protecting women, especially the minors from rape, urging those who may have the tendency to involve in such wicked and deadly action to have a rethink and avoid anything that would lead them into such embarrassing and shameful act.

Speaking, the Executive Director of WACOL/TAMAR SARC, Dr. Joy Ezeilo, said that there is need to mobilise the communities both the older and younger generations to be part of the sensitisation so that the message of stop rape today campaign could permeate into the psyche of people. “Rape is a felony against the

state, so people should be discouraged from settling the case outside the police. Rapist should be meant to face the law, and the punishment for rape is life imprisonment”, she stated.

She however, encouraged the victims not to be blamed themselves: “you should break the culture of silence, don’t allow the stigma to weigh you down, you should speak up.

We have to report the perpetrators of this crime, you are not to be ashamed. It is the perpetrators that should be ashamed when they are reported. Don’t allow the criminals to go unpunished.

“We are telling people to stop blaming the victims, to stop stigmatizing them. You should encourage the victims to speak out, you should join hands to break the culture of violence in order to end this sexual violence”, she advised.

In her submission, the Regional Coordinator of Justice for All (J4A), the organ funding WACOL to implement the TAMAR SARC project, through the partnership of DFID, Mrs. Josephine Onah said the unveiling of the billboard was aimed at sensitising the public to come against rape in the society.

According to her, this is just one programme to conscientise the public to join in the kicking out rape in the society.

The unveiling of the billboard was graced by the Enugu State Commissioner of Police who was represented by ACP

Michael Odo, Margareth Magboh of the Child Protection Network, Enugu, Dr. Lizzy Oji of FIDA, Ebele Okiche of FIDA, Mrs. Olachi Chucks, Regional Coordinator of DFID, South-south and South-east, and Kobi Ikpo, State Coordinator of Voice for Change.

However, hearing the victims/survivors lament their ugly and horrifying experiences, one can only but have empathy on them.

One of the mock trials from the office of the TAMAR SARC reads thus: On the 23rd day of April 2014, client Number 005 came into the centre accompanied by the brother at about 9:40am with a complaint of being raped on the 18th day of April 2014 on her way back from the market.

In her narration she said she went to the market on the 18th day of April which was on Good Friday to repair her phone that was given to her by her brother as an Easter gift. On her way back she met one of her town’s boys with his friend who offered to give her a lift back to her house. She agreed to the offer not knowing that the boys had bad intention. She got on the bike and instead of going home they moved through another route, but she did not complain because the route still leads to her house.

The unimaginable happened when they got to a school and her town’s boy stopped the bike, the next thing she saw

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FEATURES

was that she was being dragged into an empty classroom. She started pleading with them to let her go but they refused insisting that they have gotten hold of her today, all the while she has been feeling untouchable and would not yield to their request.

She pleaded desperately with them to let her go, they dragged her into the classroom, the other boy held the door telling the second person if he needs help he should let him know and if she refuses to yield to their request they will be left with no option but to kill her and do away with her dead body. They also threatened to deal with all her family members if she ever reports the incident to the police.

Leaving the client with no other option she started screaming for help unfortunately help was not forth coming as the path was lonely and schools were on holidays for the Easter celebrations.

She fought and struggled with the boys as her strength could carry her but they beat her up leaving her with a lot of bruises all over her body. When they saw she was not giving up they decided to tear off her pants and her clothes, one person held her while the other took advantage of her. When he finished the second boy was warning up to take his turn when she got space and took to her heels screaming for help.

A passerby took her to the police station and she reported the case.

The brother took her to a hospital in their town where she was referred to TAMAR SARC for treatment and psycho-social support.

These other two stories below are so touching because one involved life while the other was also a matter of life and death. A nine-year-old Evidence Ode met her untimely death on the 8th of August 2014 in the hands of a security man (Mr. Gideon) who leaves two compounds away from theirs. Mr. Edwin Ode, the father of the deceased could not hold back tears when he walked into TAMAR SARC office in company of a friend to narrate the ugly incidence.

Mr. Edwin, a gardener was working across the road on that faithful day when his sons came to tell him that Evidence was missing. He did not believe it because

You should break the culture of silence, don’t allow the stigma to weigh you down, you should speak up.

We have to report the perpetrators of this crime, you are not to be ashamed. It is the perpetrators that should be ashamed when they are reported. Don’t allow the criminals to go unpunished. We are telling people to stop blaming the victims, to stop stigmatising them.

You should encourage the victims to speak out, you should join hands to break the culture of violence in order to end this sexual violence

Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Cecilia Ezeilo (right), cutting the tape to unveil the billboard on rape while Dr. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, watches

Dr. Joy Ezeilo (5th from right) and staff of WACOLTAMAR SARC standing under the billboard

he said that the little girl was playing with Gideon that afternoon when he was going out to do his menial job. He rushed to their compound and asked Gideon about his daughter’s where-about but he (Gideon) replied that he finished playing with the girl long ago and she went out.

He became apprehensive when after a long while there was no sign of the daughter returning home, he went in search of the little girl all to no avail. He reported to the chairman of the vigilante group who joined in the search and thereafter to the Abakpa Nike Police Station, in Enugu. The search intensified until fall and yet the little girl was nowhere to be found.

The next morning he got into an empty plot of land close to his house, there he saw the lifeless body of his daughter lying with stains of blood on her legs, injuries on her face and neck and worst of all the body was already infested with ants. He could not bear the sight of what he saw, he ran to

his house brought a bottle of disinfectants and sprayed it on the corpse to chase the ants away and then called for help.

He alerted the police who came and took the corpse away to the morgue. When confronted by Mr. Ode, the security man accepted he defiled the little girl but he had no intention of killing her. In his words ‘I no know say she go die’. He said he dumped the girl there to cover up for his deeds when he saw that she was no longer breathing.

With the help of TAMAR SARC, an autopsy was carried out on her and the case brought to the attention of the Commissioner of Police who took it over immediately and handed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police. The case was later charged to court and the perpetrator remanded at Awaiting Trial. Unfortunately, little Evidence has since been laid to rest in her home town Benue on the 23rd August 2014.

The other story was a 14-year-old girl

raped and infected by an HIV positive man. It was not easy for the little girl of 14 years when it was reported that an HIV positive man raped her. The blameless girl lost her father while the mother remarried and abandoned her and the younger sister.

The guardian was devastated and by the time she brought the girl to the office, five days for administering of prophylaxis drugs had elapsed.

As usual the centre intervened and the man was arrested and arraigned in court.

He is awaiting trial at the moment.

With the various programmes mounted by the WACOL/TAMAR SARC over the kick out rape in the society, it’s therefore expected that the NGO is gradually winning the war. What is left now is for individuals and governments to ensure that everybody assists in spreading the message, while governments at levels should accord it top priority in making sure that the society at large imbibes the culture to kick out rape.

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L-R; Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Governor Olusegun Mimiko, his wife, Olukemi, Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, and his wife, Alhaja Fatimat, at the inauguration of the new Local Government Chairmen, in Akure,...recently

L-R; Director of Admin and Finance (G.H), Alhaji Yusuf Garba Manjo, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Quadir Wahab Oba, Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed and Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Abdulfatai Adeyemi Ustaz during the flag-off of the 1st Edition of Maigida Closed Tennis Competition among officers in Government House, llorin.....recently

L-R: Past Chairman, Business Education Services / Training Unit, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje; President, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande; Representative of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Wale Shado; and Head, Entrepreneurial Unit, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Lagos State, Mrs. Abiose Taiwo, at the LCCI mentoring programme foryoung entrepreneurs in Lagos... recently.

Etop Ukutt

Governor of Abia State, Dr., Okezie Ikpeazu (R) and Dr. Nasiru Deen Usman during the visit of delegation from the Institute for Policy and Strategic studies, Kuru to the governor in Umuahia....recently

L-R; Former Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Director, Information Systems, Globacom, Ajay Satyarthi and Head, Prepaid Products, Sola Arowogbadamu, during the presentation of the GSM Company of the Year Award to Globacomat at the Beacon of ICT Awards in Lagos...recently

L-R; Global Chairman of Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO), Gilberto Crombe; President EO Abuja, Mr Rotimi Martins; President EO Lagos, Vincent Molokwu; Pioneer President EO Lagos, Asiwaju Abdlrazaq Shittu; Doyen Forum Chair of EO Lagos, Mr Sunday Gbenjo; Chairman EO West Africa, Anthony Okoye; and EO Global Growth Task Team, Jamie Douraghy, at the Learning Event of Entrepreneurs Organisation in Abuja...recently

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BRAINSTORMING ON GLOBAL ECONOMY

L-R: Governor, Reserve Bank of lndia, Raghuram Rajan; President, World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim; Co-chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates; and Secretary of State for lnternational Development, United Kingdom, Justine Greening during a conversation with top development and finance leaders on how to reshape the development landscape for delivering the world free of extreme poverty at the lMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC …recently abiodun ajala

Banks Record Lower Impairment Charges as Risk Management Improves Goddy Egene Banks have started improving on their risk management leading to a lower impairment charges and cost of risk (COR) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016, THISDAY checks revealed on Monday.

Huge impairment charges on delinquent loans as a result of the decline in oil prices and general economic headwinds affected the profitability of the many banks in 2015.

However, there appears to be an improvement going by the Q1 results.

An analysis of Q1 results released by four top banks-

BANKING Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Zenith Bank Plc- showed that while total loans and advances increased in Q1 of 2016, the impairment charges reduced indicating improved risk management.

The four banks gave out total loans of N5.778 trillion, up from N5.677 trillion as at December 31, 2015, while impairment charges fell from N11.826 billion to N9.364 billion.

Zenith Bank loans stood at N1.928 billion, up from N1.902

trillion, while Access Bank Plc advanced N1.438 trillion, compared with N1.366 trillion in 2015.

UBA’s loans rose from N1.037 trillion to N1.049 trillion. However, GTBank recorded a lower loan of N1.363 trillion, down from 1.372 trillion.

In terms of impairment charges, only Zenith Bank Plc recorded increased provision from N2.577 billion, up from N2.090 billion. But GTBank recorded impairment charges of N3.386 billion, down from N3.526 billion, while UBA ended the quarter with impairment charges of N1.003

billion, down from N2.342 billion.

Access Bank Plc recorded impairment charges of N2.398 billion, down from N3.868 billion in 2015. Analysts at Cordros Capital Limited, an investment banking firm, said the improvement recorded in impairment by Access Bank drove the bank’s COR lower to 0.6 per cent, which they said was significantly behind their 1.3 per cent estimate.

They noted that Access Bank Plc Q1 results generally outperform their estimate.

Continued on page 24

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EromoseleAbiodun The persistent macro challenges have negatively affected the real estate sector, resulting in a slowdown in activities, THISDAY checks have revealed.

Also, the monetary policy tightening, which resulted to the hiking ofthe monetary policy rate (MPR) by 100 bps to 12.00 per cent by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is hampering the growth of the sector.

Following the shocking inflation data for March released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN resumed tightening by hiking its monetary policy rate.

The MPC had in its meeting in March, raised the Monetary

ECONOMY Policy Rate (MPR) otherwise known as the interest rate, to 12 per cent from 11 per cent.

It also increased bank’s Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) to 22.5 per cent from 20 per cent, in a move aimed at tightening liquidity, which the central bank blamed for the current pressure in the foreign exchange market with a strong pass-through to consumer prices. Inflation in the country rose to 11.4 per cent last month, effectively exceeding the CBN’s inflationary ceiling by 240 basis points.

The MPC had also kept liquidity ratio unchanged at 30 per cent, and further resolved to narrow the asymmetric corridor around the MPR from +200 and -700 basis points to +200 and -500 basis points

respectively.

The situation may become worse in the weeks ahead of the statement credited to the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele is anything to go by.

Emefiele had hinted at the weekend in Washington that the dire inflation report for March may well lead to another rate hike.

For the most part, analysts believe banks would have passed on the March increase to borrowers (real estate developers and mortgagors inclusive).

Analysts at FBN Quest told THISDAY that foreign exchange sourcing challenges have put a strain on the sector as difficulties in securing imported building materials have led to higher costs in developing housing units.

“Based on a recent survey

carried out by a domestic financial advisory institution, the number of properties up for lease in Lagos was more than double the number put up for sale in March. The latest national accounts from the NBS show that in 2015 gross domestic products (GDP) growth in the real estate sector slowed to 2.0 per cent y/y from 5.1 per cent recorded in 2014. As for construction, the sector grew by 4.3 per cent y/y in 2015, compared with 13.0 per cent y/y the previous year.

“At the National Economic Retreat which took place in March, President Buhari reiterated the administration’s commitment to deliver one million housing units per year. This is no easy feat as Continued on page 24

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Nigeria with large expanse of arable land ought not to be spending huge amounts of money importing food items at the expense of other competing needs

CBN Governor Mr. Godwin Emefiele

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BANKS RECORD LOWER IMPAIRMENT CHARGES AS RISK MANAGEMENT IMPROVES “Access Bank’s PAT surged by 42.1 per cent (outperforming our estimate by 37.5 per cent) and improved by 9.5 per cent q/q. Annualised earnings per share (EPS) was N2.40, outperforming consensus estimate of N1.72. Return on Average Equity for Q1’16 came in at 20.7 per cent (significantly ahead of our forecast of 14.6 pe cent) and slightly higher than the 20.4 per cent recorded in 2015 full year,” they said.

Group Managing Director/ CEO of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said the bank would will continue to uphold the highest standards of risk management in order to sustainably maintain asset quality.

“We are encouraged by these results, and in the coming quarters, we will intensify the implementation of our strategic cost reduction initiatives in order to improve our bottom-line.

We will also explore and activate other innovative avenues to expand our digital banking proposition so as to achieve improved revenues and deliver sustainable shareholder value in the long term,” he said.

MACRO CHALLENGES HURTING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR million housing units per year. This is no easy feat as only 250,000 units are currently delivered annually.

The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, disclosed recently that a new housing model designed to supply 17,760 flats across the country is underway, “they stated.

Financing, they pointed out, remains a major bottleneck as mortgages continue to account for a low single-digit percentage of banks’ loan books.

The analysts added that until this is adequately tackled, the housing deficit in the country is set to remain substantial.

Kwara Communities, IBEDC at Daggers Drawn over Power Outages Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and 30 communities in Ilorin metropolis in Kwara State are now at each other throats over continued power outages, which the affected communities have been subjected to .

The communities under the auspices of the Joint Communities Development Association, had declared “NO LIGHT, NO PAYMENT, NO DISTRIBUTION OF BILL” rule against IBEDC since October, 2015.

The affected communities are: Adeta, Bani, Oloje, ItaMerin, Anifowoshe, Olomoda, Tegbesun, Agbarigidomo, Abayawo, Ogidi, Temidere, Gaa- Osibi and Daada.

Others are: Foma, Baba Alaje, Sakale, Alfa Yahaya, Aromaradu, Alore, Ajetunmobi, Alubarika, Oke- Ebo, Gaa Oke- Idiemi, Irewumi, Odo- Ire, Ajegunle, Ayekale, Madina, Owode and Amusa Agbarigidomo.

The spokesperson for the 30 affected communities, Salman Yusuf, vowed that they will not rescind their decision until the management of IBEDC accede to their request.

He accused the management of IBEDC of using divide and rule tactic to polarise the as-

sociation by supplying some of the affected communities up to eight hours electricity in a day while other areas were subjected to complete black out.

He said the supply to Oloje feeder, which is serving the affected communities, was not

evenly rationed among them.

The community said the matter was reported to the Consumer’ Protection Agency and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU),after several meetings with the authority of IBEDC failed to yield any

positive results.

The community vowed to mobilise against any attempt to distribute bills for electricity not supplied to them until IBEDC do the right thing.

An official of the electricity company, who spoke on the condition of anonymity

because he was not authorised to speak with the press denied the allegations.

He said the company only rationed what it got among the communities, adding the refusal of the communities to pay for electricity bills was wrong.

PROMOTNG GOOD LEADERSHIP

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, Director, Unity Bank, Mr. Gboyega Asabia, when the management of NSE visited the bank in Lagos...recently

Katsina to Provide Platform for Foreign, Local Investors Martins Ifijeh The Katsina State government has pledged its commitment to providing the needed enabling environment for business to thrive.

The Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Mustapha Mohammad Inuwa, who made the pledge during a press briefing in Lagos yesterday to announce the State’s forthcoming economic and investment summit, said the state government has resolved to link up with investors in other parts of

the country, as well as harp on the economic potential that are available in the State.

According to him, investors would find Katsina State good for business because of the natural resources that abound, adding that, the state meets the sustainability, risk-adjusted returns and political-risk ratings that are fundamental requirements for economic growth.

He said: “We produce one third of the sugar cane consumed in this country, and we are one of the highest producers of tomatoes as well

in the country,” he stressed, adding that, “from agriculture, banking, transportation, housing, small scale enterprise and trading, and the enormous natural resources available to us, we believe we have all it takes for investors to make return on their investment.

This is why we are calling on the investing public to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Inuwa said this was why the government was putting the summit together, it has been billed to hold between May 9th to May 11th at the

State capital.

Lending his voice, the Chairman of the Summit Committee, Ibrahim Tukur Jikamshi, explained that the expected participants at the three-day summit include, agribusiness entrepreneurs wishing to network with potential partners; producers and investors who want to explore new opportunities in agribusiness; investors in solid minerals, power, property development, tourism, transportation, hospitality, and creative arts industries; investors, fund managers seeking

solid investable projects and banking executives and other financiers.

Others, according to him, include captains of industry, professionals and entrepreneurs, and other well-meaning Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, the President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; as well as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefile.

Cloud Solutions Will Transform Business in Nigeria, Says Huawei Emma Okonji Group Business Editor

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Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solution provider, Huawei, has said it has studied the Nigerian enterprise terrain and defined its cloud transformation agenda along four segmentations, which it said, would boost businesses in Nigeria.

The firm, which unveiled the segmentation at the weekend, said the four segmentations include DC modernisation; internal Information Technology cloudification; telecoms business cloudification; and Business to Business (B2B) cloud service The firm said traditional telcos services were now considering the move into new generation business models, and carrier chief technology officers were

considering different approaches for core and mobile businesses, as well as telecoms value-added services. It added that it was therefore conceivable that carriers would take advantage of new cloud services and migrate telcos value added services into cloud platform.

“This means that the future telecom core services or VAS services will be deployed like today’s Internet services and ultimately quicken service launch,” the company said in a statement.

“Cloud B2B service is a new market opportunity for carries to sell IT resources as well as IT applications. Carrier chief marketing officers can approach different enterprise segments by understanding government policy on ICT such as Industry

4.0, Internet +, Industrial Internet or market solutions,” the statement added.

“Vertical cloud is suitable for local companies who demand local carrier service support, data localisation and data privacy.

The CMO can use simple IaaS features with specific PaaS & SaaS applications to offer local companies self-service opportunities from their web portal to use IT on-demand, online and real time basis,” Huawei said.

According to the firm, carriers can use their worldwide sales operations to support and bundle together with VPN, lease line and telecoms services to form enterprise ICT bundle services.

“Vertical markets and government segments are very different

from enterprises; they require industry knowledge and fairly high standards to support them,” it said.

It identified the advantages of carriers selling to them to include established market reputation, network and IT infrastructure readiness, trusted business partner, existing support and service infrastructure and expertise, adding that carriers can also up-sell NBN and National DC solution to help government to formulate National ICT policies and to plan for e-GOV strategies for G2C, G2B and G2G. “In the four segmentations for cloud transformation, Huawei offers carriers the business visualisation on how to transform from existing DC infrastructure to Cloud DC.

Huawei also offers strategies of how cloud resources can improve business operation efficiency, and what new NFV infrastructure to adopt to evolve cloudified telcos services for launch into different enterprise segments.

“We will go through product capabilities, solution approaches, business consultation and enterprise architecture to actualise carrier cloud transformation.

“Huawei has been named several times by different carriers as the prime partner in cloud transformation; DT in Open Telekom Cloud project has stated publicly that Huawei is ‘excellent’ in Technology Knowhow, R&D Capabilities and is an Efficiency Leader for the expedition of the public cloud project launch.”

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Union Bank’s Smarter Banking Mantra Continues to Pay off The 85 per cent growth in profit after tax recorded by Union Bank of Nigeria in the first quarter of 2016 has raised the hopes of its shareholders for a bounteous harvest at the end 2016, writes Goddy Egene First quarter results UBN sent positive signs to shareholders through its impressive Q1 results. The bank ended the Q1 with interest income of N21 billion, up from N20 billion in the corresponding period of 2015. The bank’s interest expenses went down by 16 per cent from N7.9 billion to N6.6 per cent driven by deliberate effort to manage funding costs.

Net interest income rose by 19 per cent from N12.1 billion to N14.4 per cent, while impairment charges reduced by 53 per cent from N2.4 billion to N1.1 billion. The bank’s interest expenses went down by 16 per cent from N7.9 billion to N6.6 per cent driven by deliberate effort to manage funding costs.

Profit after tax soared by 85 per cent from N2.5 billion to N4.6 billion.

Customer deposits grew by nine per cent to N587 billion, up from N539 billion in 2015, on the back of growing customer confidence in service and product offerings. The bank’s contribution to the economy in terms of loans also improved from N375.6 billion to N383.6 billion.

Before the banking crisis of 2019, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc was among the top financial institutions in all ramifications.

However, UBN lost its top position as a result of the financial crisis that led to the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Although the bank has returned to profitability, it recorded a dip in 2015, a year that many banks witnessed dismal performance.

However, the financial results of the UBN for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 released last week, has raised the hopes of investors for a better full year performance and resumption of dividend payment soon.

Corporate background Union Bank was established in 1917 and is one of Nigeria’s long-standing and most respected financial institutions. Following the banking crisis in 2009 and the intervention of the CBN via Asset Management Corporation (AMCON), the bank was recapitalised in 2012.

Union Global Partners Limited( consisting of African Capital Alliance, Standard Chartered Private Equity, African Development Corporation, Corsair Capital, FMO (Netherlands Development Finance Co.), and Chandler Corporation) holds 65 per cent of UBN shares. Atlas Mara controls 20.9 per cent, while other diverse shareholders control 14.1 per cent. With new leadership, UBN has redefined its ambition and mapped out a strategy to be a highly respected provider of quality banking services.

Execution of this strategy is underway, leveraging a robust transformation team largely focused on people, processes and technology.

UBN Cyril Odu as chairman while Emeka Emuwa is group managing director/CEO. Executive directors include:Ibrahim Abubakar( Public Sector); Kandolo Kasongo (Chief Risk Officer);Oyinkansade Adewale( Chief Financial Officer); Chukwuemeka Okonkwo ( Corporate and Investment Banking); Adekunle Sonola ( Commercial Banking). Non-executive directors are:Dick Kramer; Nike Akande; Adeyemi Osindero; Mansur Ahmad; John Botts; Richard Burrett; Ian Clyne; Beatrice Hamza Bassey; John Vitalo and Arina MacDonald.

According to the bank, having divested of almost all non-banking subsidiaries, it is now focused on banking as its core business, with a subsidiary in the United Kingdom.

The bank launched its new identity in 2015, showing a simpler and more energised brand.

Emuwa

“The new brand identity positions the Bank competitively in the industry with better opportunity to deepen existing customer relationships and attract a new base of customers,” UBN said.

Six-year journey UBN has passed through a journey that has led to its current state where it is set to deliver returns to shareholders. Between 2009 and 2012, the bank went through stabilisation and recapitalisation. That period saw the appointment of a new management. From 2013 and 2014, UBN deifned a strategic direction, sold non-banking subsidiaries, refocused on core banking and position as right-sized organisation fit for purpose and growth.

In 2015 and beyond, UBN it is repositioned as a highly respected provider of quality banking services, put in place an enhanced technology platform and operations, robust and modern distribution network and consistent delivery of high quality customer.

Management comments Commenting on the Q1 performance, Chief Executive Officer of UBN, Emeka Emuwa, said: “Our first quarter results reflect steady progress on the execution of our strategic priorities. The Bank’s core PBT in Q1 2016 is up significantly by 85 per cent to N4.7 billion compared to N2.5 billion in the same quarter last year.

With the sale of non-banking subsidiaries near completion, the bank is now focused on growing and delivering results through its core banking business. Customer deposits grew nine in the year to March 2016, compared to March 2015, reflecting increased customer confidence in our service channels, new product offerings and a re-energised brand identity,” he said.

Emuwa noted that the priorities of the bank is to sustain growth in 2016 remain focused on growing its deposit base and new customer acquisitions, as well as driving gains in transactional income.

“We will continue leveraging the technology and operational platform we have invested in whilst proactively managing our risks and operational,” he stated.

Speaking in the same vein, Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Oyinkan Adewale said: “The bank delivered strong results this first quarter. Our focus on customer deposit growth

PBT & PAT (₦'Bn)

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has led to 16 per cent interest expense reduction as we rely more on low cost deposits to fund the bank. This trend is expected to continue and should moderate funding costs and improve net interest margins for 2016. Non-interest revenue continues to grow, driven by securities trading, e-business and other transactional fees.

Excluding 2015 one-off gains, we were able to grow core revenues by nine per cent.”

She stated that given the bank’s continuing investment in technology and network infrastructure, “we have seen a slight increase of three in operating expenses this quarter compared to Q1 2015. This short term increase is expected to normalise over the course of the year.”

Addressing the capital market community at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos during the bank’s “Facts Behind the Figures” presentation”,Emuwa said the bank would sustain the improved performance recorded in Q1 through cost reduction strategy.

According to him, the bank would further reduce its cost to income ratio (CIR) by the end of 2016, noting that the bank will ensure client retention and acquisition, risk management and recoveries as well as cost management.

Emuwa added that the bank would also embark on strategic partnerships to ensure sustained growth in 2016 and beyond, just it would improve its business process and branch network and channel optimisation to sustain growth and development.

Ambition and strategic pillars Looking ahead, the UBN boss said they aspire to be a highly respected provider of quality banking services.

“We will improve on the quality of our customer experience, quality of our client base, quality of our talent, quality of our earnings, quality of our banking platform and quality of our professional standards,” he said.

He said the bank would be a leading mid-tier bank by 2018 on a a trajectory to become top tier by 2020.

According to him, the robust transformation plan will hinge on portfolio enhancements, enhance business model and drive market penetration.

“We will develop focused strategy across retail, commercial, corporate and treasury. There will also be enhanced targeted product offerings (retail products, trade, transaction services & value chain, treasury/foreign exchange). Grow public sector business service delivery,” he said.

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Boost for Economic Diversification Obinna Chima examines contribution of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, a development finance initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria towards the federal government’s drive towards economic diversification

Rice plantation

Since the inauguration of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the focus has been on how to diversify the country’s source of revenue. The need to develop other sources of revenue for the country became very necessary following the sustained slump in the price of crude oil, which is the country’s major source of foreign exchange.

The fall in oil prices also implied that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) monthly foreign exchange earnings had fallen from as high as $3.2 billion to an all- time low of $1 billion. This also made the central bank to introduce measures aimed at preserving the country’s external reserves.

Therefore, in order to develop other sources of revenue for the country, the federal government is giving the agricultural much more attention, because of its potential to create job and also boost the country’s foreign exchange revenue.

That was why the president recently stressed the need for agriculture to cease from being treated as development programme, saying the sector must be treated as business. According to him, the federal government was focusing on the development of agricultural value chain.

The president pointed out that agricultural value chain allows the intervention of segments of the value chain such as production, processing, storage and marketing.

“Our goal will be to pursue government

supported private sector agriculture value chain to make agriculture more productive, efficient and competitive. To provide enough

The programme is aimed at creating an ecosystem to link out-growers (small holder farmers) to local processors, increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector enhance capacity utilisation of agricultural firms involved in the production of identified commodities and as well as the productivity and incomes of farmers

food for domestic supply and create jobs through agriculture value chain,” Buhari had said.

Clearly, this was what prompted the CBN, with the support of the federal government to design the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) for rice farmers. The pilot phase of the programme that commenced in Kebbi state has proven to be a success with the federal government currently making arrangement for an extension of the ABP to other states.

No doubt, the importation of rice remains the greatest challenge to the country becoming self-sufficient in the production of the commodity.

Rice importation is the worst nightmare to local producers of rice. Indeed, imported brands of rice enjoy greater patronage in markets and stores across the country, which has also remained a source of concern to farmers.

Available statistics showed that the country spends more than N300 billion annually importing rice, a situation both the fiscal and monetary authorities are no longer comfortable with.

That was why the ABP programme was designed to assist small scale farmers to increase the production and supply of feedstock to agro-processors.

The programme is aimed at creating an ecosystem to link out-growers (small holder farmers) to local processors, increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector enhance capacity utilisation of agricultural firms involved

in the production of identified commodities and as well as the productivity and incomes of farmers. The anchor borrowers’ programme is also a platform to build capacity of banks in agricultural lending to farmers and entrepreneurs in the value chain, reduce commodity importation. It is also expected to reduce the level of poverty among small holder farmers and create jobs while assisting rural small-holder farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

Journey So Far According to report by the Development Finance Department of the CBN, as at April 22nd, 2016, the total number of farmers engaged under the Kebbi ABP was 78,581, while total disbursements so far was put at N4,936,321,400 . A breakdown of the disbursements showed that while under the state government - N2, 971,532,000 (Labour related) had been given out; disbursements under Umza was N1,224,289,400 and disbursements under Labana was N740,500,000.

In addition, the total numbers of farmers supplied inputs so far was 73,001 and total number of farmers enrolled under the bank verification number (BVN) platform was 70,871.

Similarly, the total number of jobs created and Continued on page 27

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saved (direct & indirect) was put at 573,958.

“At least seven indirect jobs created per hectare of rice farm (land preparation, nursery, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, threshing, transportation etc.). Total Hecterage 78,581(dry season). Maximum of one hectare per farmer and expected output estimated at 5.5mt/hc : 432,195 mt,” the report added.

In terms of the modalities for implementation, the programme was hinged on three pronged approach namely the out-grower support programme; training of farmers, extension workers and banks; and risk mitigation. In addition, the major stakeholders in the agricultural value chain worked with financial institutions, including the insurance industry and CBN, to create the linkages required to sustainably ramp up production.

The second leg was the training of farmers, extension workers and banks. The training component involved customised value-chain finance modules for banks and an agribusiness training protocol for farmers that is consistent with the aspiration of the ABP. This was a bullet training mechanism that ‘bundles’ Farm Business School (FBS), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Cooperative Management in a coherent and seamless manner.

The central bank also explained that a comprehensive risk mitigation strategy had been incorporated into the ABP. The stakeholders in the selected value-chains worked closely with financial institutions, including insurance companies, NIRSAL and the CBN, to create the linkages and transparency required to sustainably ramp production of the identified commodities.

The operating model defines key roles, requirements and obligations of stakeholders in the Programme. The key stakeholders includes the CBN, NIRSAL, federal ministry of finance and agriculture; state governments/ agric. development programme (ADPs); an-

Emefiele

chor companies; financing banks; insurance companies; development partners; farmers/ out-growers and project management team.

The ABP is expected to be taken to 14 states namely Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Zamfara, Admawa, Plateau, Lagos, Ogun, Cross-Rivers and Ebonyi for rice and wheat farmers to advance their status from small holder farmers to commercial or large growers. Under the programme, the CBN had set aside N20 billion of the N220 billion micro, small and medium enterprises development fund to be given to farmers at single digit interest rate of maximum nine per cent per annum, in line with government’s aspiration to achieve food security.

Looking Inwards CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, who went on an assessment tour of the farmlands under the ABP in Kebbi recently, described the current scarcity of foreign exchange confronting the country as a good riddance,

In terms of the modalities for implementation, the programme was hinged on three pronged approach namely the out-grower support programme; training of farmers, extension workers and banks; and risk mitigation

saying local production of various essential goods are now being given top priority.

Emefiele stated that the commitment of stakeholders and expected output from Kebbi state alone had proved critics of the central bank’s policy measures wrong. Emefiele who was full praises for the farmers and the Kebbi State Government for their determination and commitment, noted that with the level of success attained with the pilot project in Kebbi state in addition to what he saw at Sunti Golden Sugar Estate in Niger state recently, it is now a reality that the country can produce enough to feed itself and even export in no distant future.

The CBN governor reiterated that agriculture being the bedrock of genuine economic growth of any nation and that Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“As such, Nigeria with large expanse of arable land ought not to be spending huge amount of money in importing food items at the expense of other competing needs,” he added.

The CBN governor stated that the success recorded by the rice farmers in Kebbi state has rekindled hope in the ability of Nigeria to be self-sufficient in rice and wheat production. He noted that with the sum of N210,000 granted to each farmer, they were able to cultivate a hectre of rice.

He disclosed that with the 78,581 farmers mobilised in Kebbi state under the ABP, the country is already looking forward to a total of one million metric tons rice this year.

Speaking further on what the programme has been able to achieved, the CBN governor stated that with the disbursement of N4.9 billion as loans to the farmers, over 570,000 direct jobs have been created and saved with the multiplier effects, 70,871 rural farmers now own and operate bank accounts and captured under the BVN project.

According to Emefiele, the performance

of the programme has also vindicated the stance of the central bank that when given incentives and the necessary support, Nigerian farmers would be able to fill whatever gap that exists between the demand and supply of agricultural products like rice, wheat, cotton and palm produce.

On his assessment of the programme, the Minister of agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, said the level of activities in the rural areas visited by the team have shown that with Kebbi State alone targeting one million tons of rice out of the projected seven million tons required by the entire country, self sufficiency in rice production was very much at sight by the time other twelve states identified as rice producing belts harvest their produce.

He commended the efforts of the CBN for reinventing agricultural practice into profitable business venture.

The minister further stated rural areas remain the catalyst for viable economy development as such, deliberate efforts are being directed at opening up the rural areas just like what was witnessed in kebbi state.

On his part, the kebbi state Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu said that farmers in the state had been adequately mobilised towards the attainment of the one million tons of paddy by providing them with necessary inputs as and when due. He also noted that with assurance of availability of market for the produce, farmers in the state were already looking forward to the repayment of the loan facility extended to them at the beginning of the farming season.

While acknowledging the pivotal roles of the both the CBN and the Kebbi state government in the provision of loans, irrigation equipment and fertilisers, the farmers look forward to a bumper harvest this season. They also appealed for an appreciable increase in loan facility to enable them to cultivate more land and maximize output.

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Akpoveta: Businesses Must Constantly Reinvent to Stay Relevant The Chief Executive Officer of Olive Blue, a global change management consultancy firm, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta spoke to Goddy Egene on what leaders of companies can do to survive the challenging environment and the forthcoming leadership retreat in Toronto, Canada The current business environment is posing serious challenges to many chief executive officers (CEOs) of companies. How do you think these companies can survive?

Simple as it may sound, the survival of organisations will require strong leaders. Leaders who able to successfully lead change, innovate and diversify, be responsive to change, mobilise, engage and motivate employees, are swift in making critical decisions, and many more skills and focus. That is why we are putting together the ‘Change Leadership Executive Roundtable’, which provides a forum to help and equip leaders to successfully lead change in times of economic uncertainties, and achieve higher levels of success, growth and market leadership in their respective sectors, and increase return on investments.

How receptive are Nigerian companies or CEOs to Change?

There is the saying by Heraclitus, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher that change is the only constant in life. Whether or not we are receptive to change, has never stopped it from happening. In my experience Nigerian companies understand this philosophy of change. From the banking to the telecommunications industry, taking on tremendous change in the past 10 years, constantly reinventing themselves to stay relevant and some doing so successfully over the years. While some may fall through the cracks or struggle to remain relevant and successful, by and large every organisation is in the business of succeeding, and therefore needs not only to be receptive to change, but embrace it. This roundtable is an opportunity to bolster our effectiveness in leading change to drive higher returns on investment and collectively move the Nigerian economy forward. And one of the ways this can be done is through effective change leadership.

You have a programme on to empower leaders and organisations, can you tell us more about?

The Change Leadership series is a Pan-African corporate and entrepreneurial sequence of events that is held annually, and is aimed at driving positive change by empowering leaders, entrepreneurs and corporations to become effective change leaders and to lead transformational change.

For successful change to occur, it takes strong leadership and commitment, and strong leadership requires growth and continuous learning.

‘The Change Leadership’ series meets these needs and provides a forum to help leaders and organisations become more effective in driving results, achieve higher levels of success, growth and market leadership in their respective sectors, and increase return on investments.

Does your programme recognise the fact that change management involves identifying and adjusting to some form of cultural norms from country to country? How do you adapt that to individuals or companies from different regions of the world?

The Change Leadership series definitely recognises the need to tailor our content to fit the respective nuances and culture of its participants. The aim at the Executive Roundtable being held for Nigerian business leaders in July is to strive for the leaders to learn from one another on how they have been able to achieve success and manage challenges within the Nigerian context and culture.

Your firm OliveBlue is a global change management consultancy, which notable companies have you worked with previously and what did you help them achieve?

OliveBlue Consultancy and our consultants have worked with JPMorgan Chase, Loblaws, General Motors, Delta State Government, Phillips Consulting, Royal Bank of Canada, Deloitte & Touche, The Project Management Institute and British Telecom to deliver training, as well as strategic and business critical

executive leaders, and senior management of organisations to senior public sector leaders in Nigeria focused on leading transformational change.

In attendance also at our opening cocktail reception and dinner gala will be Canadian business people and government officials, and members of the Nigerian and African Diaspora.

Akpoveta

projects. These include transformational projects such as organisational restructuring, mergers and acquisition, business re-engineering, regulatory, and technology implementations.

The change leadership executive roundtable is billed to hold in Toronto this year. Can you tell us more about it?

The Executive Roundtable holding in Toronto will take place from the 6th - 8th of July, 2016.

It is an exclusive event that will bring together 50 executive and business leaders to mastermind with each other on leading change, innovation and exploring opportunities for diversification, and to also learn from the number one global leadership expert, John Maxwell. Other notable guest speakers include: Foluso Phillips, CEO & Chairman, Phillips Consulting Nigeria; Jeremy Gutsche, award winning Innovation expert; Segun Agbaje, CEO GTBank Nigeria; Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora; Arole Oodua Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife and an astute Real Estate mogul; and Samuel O. Oboh, an accomplished Architect in Africa and Canada, and 2015 President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) who is the first Canadian of African descent to occupy this position in the 108-year history of the Institute, and President of INSPIRARQX. Why did you decide to have it Toronto.

Doesn’t it seem a bit far from global cities like

New York, London Lagos or Johannesburg?

Toronto was chosen as the location for the executive roundtable to provide something different, as well as provide untapped opportunities. Also, Toronto and Canada provide the following:Toronto is the business and financial capital of the country and one of the world’s largest financial centres.

Nigeria is one of Canada’s largest trading partners in Sub-saharan Africa, with growing opportunities for bilateral trade. Canada has cultivated relationships in Africa for over five decades working with countries to boost development outcomes including promoting economic opportunities.

Canada is the best country in the G-20 to do business with according to Bloomberg. Canada led all G-7 countries in economic growth during the past decade according to the World Bank. Total business tax costs in Canada are the lowest in the G-7 and the country offers the lowest business costs in the G-7 for Research and Development intensive sectors according to KPMG. -The World Economic Forum has declared Canada’s banking system to be the soundest in the world for the seventh consecutive year. In 2015, Toronto was ranked the best overall city in the world and the fourth most livable by the Economist. It was also named the hottest luxury real estate market in the world by Christie’s International Real Estate.

Who is the primary target for attending this event?

The executive roundtable is primarily targeted at bringing C-Suite executives together. This encompasses a range of leaders from CEOs,

Give us a brief background on some of the major speakers that will be at the event.

We have a great line up of speakers but we would like to emphasise that this not a conference where speakers talk to you from a podium. This is a roundtable focused on bringing to the table, hands on strategies and experiences to create a collective agenda to move their corporations and the Nigerian economy forward.

To this effect our line up speaks to individuals who have over time through experience gained strategies to lead change and innovative practices that work in our unique environment. These leaders are here to share and impart knowledge as well as receive from their peers so there is something for everyone. On that note we have John C. Maxwell, who is a number one New York Times bestselling author, coach and speaker and is called America’s top leadership authority. He is founder of the John Maxwell Company, the John Maxwell Team and EQUIP and has trained more than five million leaders in nearly every country of the world. Foluso Phillips is the CEO and Executive Chairman of the Phillips Consulting Group Nigeria, a business and management consulting firm with offices in Nigeria and South Africa. He sits on the board of several organisations and companies including the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Jeremy Gutsche is an award winning Innovation expert and CEO of Trend Hunter, the world’s largest and most popular trends and innovation website. He is also author of a New York Times bestselling book, Better and Faster: The Proven Path to Unstoppable Ideas.

Segun Agbaje is the Managing Director and CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Nigeria. In addition, he sits on the Boards of Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana, Gambia and the UK and is a Director on the MasterCard Advisory Board for the Middle East and Africa. Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa is the Senior Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora. Prior to her appointment, she served for 12 years in the country’s House of Representatives representing the people of Ikorodu division and chairing the House Committees on Media and Public Affairs and Diaspora Affairs. Arole Oodua Adeyeye Ogunwusi is the current Ooni of Ife and the Founder and Chairman of Gran Imperio Group, the holding company of Real Estate and Construction, Manufacturing, Facilities Management, Leisure and Tourism companies in Nigeria. He sits on the Board of several companies and is also the Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Samuel O. Oboh is an accomplished architect and was the 2015 President of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the first Canadian of African descent to occupy the position. He has successfully designed and managed projects of significant magnitude in the public and private sectors in Africa, Canada and globally.

How can Nigerian companies take advantage of this event and how will this event help to attract investments to Nigeria?

The event provides not only the perfect platform to collaborate with other forerunners on how to effectively lead change in periods of economic uncertainties and drive higher return on investments (ROIs), it also provides an opportunity to meet with Canadian government officials and businesses who are keen to work with emerging markets such as ours. The Change Leadership invites notable and forward thinking leaders who desire to explore investment and diversification opportunities, innovate, and lead their organisations to achieve remarkable results in spite of the economic uncertainties.

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Fostering National Unity via Unity Dolls Eromosele Abiodun takes a look at Auldon’s efforts at fostering national unity, its buy Made-in-Nigeria products campaign, and the company’s enduring goal of drawing attention to the African girl-child via its Unity Dolls Going beyond a product or service function and becoming a set of values, symbols, and icons that target consumers can relate to, is a key goal for brand owners. This is a relationship building function that needs to evolve along with culture, society and changing preferences. In most developed countries, companies create unique products that reflect the identity and culture of their country. Most times, such companies end up as multinationals and buyers from other countries opt for their products.

In Nigeria for example, people prefer imported products to what is made locally, a situation that has brought the nation’s manufacturing sector to its knees resulting in massive unemployment in the country. While it is difficult to change adults, experts believe early child education is what can remedy the situation.

This aptly captures the status of the unity range of dolls since it was launched into the Nigerian market two years ago by Nigeria’s foremost toys dealer; Auldon Limited. Today, the company is very much on course to fulfilling every timeless dream of the Nigerian girl and by extension, every African girl child who has held the doll and learnt the key lessons of culture and in the process, is being shaped to improve her society.

From the onset, the company’s vision was to promote girl-child education and inculcate in her, positive African values and ethos, like feminine decency, commitment to family, respect for elders, hard work, honesty, arts and crafts, unity of purpose, etc.

All these are geared towards uniting Nigerians and delivering social change within our communities.

Auldon’s commitment to the development of education for the Nigerian child, through a handful of empowerment programmes has been unwavering.

Little wonder, the company’s range of dolls and toys continue to record note-worthy success becoming the most preferred dolls in the Nigerian market. Realising the impact the dolls have made with the first Nigerian themed dolls, Unity Girl dolls, again introduced a new range of Dolls, with an expanded focus targeting an enhanced mission of uniting Africans.

Just like Unity Dolls, which quickly captured the Nigeria doll market, the new Malaika Unity Girl doll for Africa, a more Afrocentric doll range from Auldon is set to capture the rest of Africa.

Malaika is a 14 inch tall doll, beautifully dressed in local African attire and particularly fashioned out to depict Africa’s rich culture, lifestyle and values. According to the company which trades its toys with the brand name Auldon Toys, the introduction of Malaika Unity Dolls will further spread the social relevance and impact of Unity Girls’ dolls across Africa. This it plans to achieve through its strategic partnership with some major South African chain stores, in view of the unity dolls’ popularity and spread across the continent.

Detaching Unrealistic Psyche The Chief Executive Officer of Auldon Toys, Paul Orajiaka, speaking on the introduction of Unity and Malaika dolls range into Nigeria and the rest of Africa respectively, said: “When we first conceptualised Unity dolls, our intention at that time was to carefully detach the unrealistic psyche of some very popular brands that impacted no cultural or moral benefit to the Nigerian girl child.

More importantly, the unity dolls are packaged with the intention of influencing a more tolerant society and by extension, continent united in diversity.”

He Continued:“Now taking into consideration, the remarkable success we recorded with the Unity Dolls range in Nigeria, we decided to replicate that same success with the purpose of ensuring we equip the African girl child with the right values needed to take Africa to the height we all envisage.

Our model is based on the idea of harnessing the power of buyers who want to make an impact with their purchases.

“We have portrayed the Unity Girl, as far more than a doll, with a brand identity, which represents the social concern bordering around the challenges of the girl child, particularly her education and ware-fare in Nigeria and the world at large. Currently, it has become a household name among Nigerian parents and now we are

Unity Dolls

working hard to push this further across the entire African continent. This is why we are planning on stocking the shelves of major chain stores across Africa with Malaika Unity Girl.”

“Acceptance of these dolls and our other toys all over the country has been massive, I can tell you because of a handful of reasons, namely; affordability, premium quality, availability, uniqueness and most importantly the educative value the dolls offer. So it is safe to say we are a market leader with strong prospect for increased growth. Currently, we distribute to all leading retail outlets and supermarkets across the country, namely Game, Shoprite, Spar, Next, Park n Shop, Sahad Stores, Ebeano among others.

“Our visibility level is very high and that’s because there is a growing level of attachment between the dolls and our target market which are the girl child ranging from age1 - 10 and their parents. Unity Dolls has also started a fan club for the girl child where they can be groomed with positive key values needed to grow, and it is open to all children who fall within the stipulated age, 1-10. All they need do is register or have their parents register for them to become members on the Unity girl Facebook page. We also hope to increase distribution and presence over a period,” he said.

Teachers, he added, also appreciate it for the educational value it gives and the fact that children learn faster when they are taught with fun things that easily captures their attention.

“That is why, If you observe these days, most things in nature are replicated in toys. For instance, when teaching a child about fruits, say an Apple, you show him a replica of that fruit, so he/ she can grasp easily, same goes for animals, e.g.

Zebra, you must show the child a zebra toy because children no longer go to Zoos to see animals. In the same vein, you find children learning how to become engineers by dismantling and assembling toys.

“That’s why I always appeal that parents buy educative toys that possess good quality for their children. You need to be sure of the quality. Toys should be safe for children to play with. We want to be sure that children play with toys that have social relevance and not ones that teach violence.

That is why if you go around our shops, you will never find a gun toy in whatever form. We do not even sell toys that have violent features. We ensure that our toys are 90 per cent educative. We deal more in educational toys because we believe that aside being in business, we want to impact positive

values on our children,” he explained.

Training Employers of Labour Also, the company has taken further steps to train Nigerian students on the act of manufacturing doll to reduce the unemployment situation in the country.

Recently, Auldon Nigeria Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).

The partnership is intended to empower graduate apprentices of the board with sustainable source of livelihood immediately after graduation, by making them gainfully engaged.

Also the initiative, under the Graduate Apprenticeship Programme in dress making, the graduates have been hired to make 40,000 pieces of unity doll dresses for the entire project in batches of 5,000.

Under the contract, which is supposed to be executed within four months, 40 per cent mobilisation fee has been released while 60 per cent cost of the project will be paid upon completion of each batch of 5000 clothes.

Speaking on the MoU, Executive Secretary of the board, Mr. Olawunmi Jasper, called on other corporations and multi-nationals to emulate Unity Dolls by using direct skilled labour, in order to grow the local economy.

Jasper noted that the only way out of the nation’s economic quagmire is for government to, not only create the ideal environment for artisans in the real sector to thrive, but also for manufacturers to employ indigenous skilled labour.

He pointed out that expatriates in the engineering, construction, home services sector, are carting away all the opportunities at the detriment of Nigerian artisans.

He, however, thanked Orajiaka for the confidence reposed in the nation’s real sector, particularly for believing in the graduates churned out by the institution, and contracting a project of that magnitude to them.

He assured the company that the graduate apprentices would do an excellent work with the dress making contract comparable to any standard in the world.

Orajiaka agreed with the LASTVEB boss that the continued patronage of local products skill and service is the way to go in strengthening the nation’s economy and currency. He also assured the institution that the contract will not be a one off and would be continuously renewed, especially

as unity dolls is a product in high demand, both locally and internationally.

He expressed joy that the contract will have a positive multiplier effect on the local economy as other locally manufactured products will be purchased for the project, a cycle that will support many families, by putting food on their tables.

Taking Over Nigeria Meanwhile, the company is making effort to ensure that every part of Nigeria feels its touch in terms of the quality of doll and the message they portray.

According to Orajiaka, we are currently brainstorming on a number of ideas on how to best ensure that Unity Dolls are present in every home in the country two years from now.

“Also Auldon is hoping to strategically set up offices and retail outlets in the 36 states of the country most importantly satisfying our ever increasing demand for the dolls. New educative features that would engage and thrill children are also in conceptualised by our research team.

“In the next five years we are planning to replicate a family fun resort, in the mould of Disney, after which our eyes are set on expanding to other frontiers, both Europe and Africa. Already there has been significant level of demand for Unity dolls, in Europe and Africa, Particularly Africa.

What we hope to do in those places is to first of all gain significant presence in select countries in both climes, particularly Africa, especially where demand is highest after which we would then start customizing/ adapting the Unity Dolls into their own culture. We would love to one day be like ToysRus, the world’s leading kids store for all kind of toys.

“Another thing Auldon is considering assembling toys in the country so that it can create more jobs for people. Nigeria does not have the expertise to manufacture world-class toys, so what we plan on doing is get Completely Knocked Down Toys (CKGs) that will be assembled here in the country,” he said.

He added that to this effect the company has set the ball in motion to partner LASTVE , where they can teach the students the process of assembling CKGs after which they are employed after graduation.

“Having attained this height with Auldon, especially with your history of starting from a humble beginning, are there CSR initiatives you intend to embark on that will see you give back to the society or the less privileged,” he stated.

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Financing SMEs in Nigeria

Broad street, Lagos Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) contribute to improved living standards, bring about substantial local capital formation and achieve high level of productivity and capability.

They have also been identified as a vehicle for employment generation and providing opportunities for entrepreneurial sourcing, training, development and empowerment. Developing nations such as Nigeria characterised as low income earners by the World Bank, value SMEs for several reasons.

Nonetheless, Africa over the past decade has become the world’s most exciting economic frontier and offering hope to a new generation of accomplished and engaged youth. By 2035 the number of Africans joining the working age population will exceed that of the rest of the world combined, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But José Filomeno of the World Economic Forum identified the boom in small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) as the success story of the continent.

Today, these small and growing businesses create around 80 per cent of the region’s employment, establishing a new middle class and fuelling demand for new goods and services, Filomeno pointed out.

Even the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa had predicted that: “Over the next 20 years … sub-Saharan Africa will become the main source of new entrants in to the global labour force.” This is an emerging Africa that is absolutely determined to succeed.

As a follow up to their bold commitment to infrastructure investment, African governments have now turned to entrepreneurs to support future growth.

However, in Nigeria, because of some challenges in the economy, a lot of SME operators in the country find it very difficult to effectively play their role. Some of these constraints have been identified to include competition, infrastructure, taxes, accounting, management, marketing, economic, planning and finance. In Nigeria, poor economic conditions, which also implies poor finance and inadequate infrastructure, have been identified as the most crucial factors.

No doubt, access to finance at relatively cheap cost, is also one of the most crucial problems hindering SMEs to have significant contribution to national output in Nigeria.

Despite these challenges, financial institutions such as Skye Bank Plc have continued to support SMEs to flourish.

The Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, explained that the bank has continued to organise various forms of training for SME operators as part of its contributions to the development of the entrepreneurs in the country Oguntayo described SMEs as an important sector as it provides more opportunities and employment than the mining, oil and gas sectors. Indeed, the sector can increase economic

Oguntayo opportunities for those who have not been able to participate directly in large-scale projects.

“Without doubt, the SMEs sector has the capacity to drive and encourage indigenous business and rural economic development such that the whole country can be transformed to create productive economic activity for the people through which they earn their living and contribute to national development,” he said.

According to him, with over 32 million Nigerians involved in the sector, if properly developed, SMEs have the capacity to solve the unemployment problem in the country.

SMEs constitute an important vehicle for national development as they have the capacity to integrate a large segment of the populace in productive economic activities.

SME Footprints Some of the bank’s footprints in terms of support for SMEs over the years include funding for Marine Platform, Main One, Beloxxi Confectionery, Sweet Sensation, Tantalizer, Serve Air. In terms of the funding of the sub marine cable project, Skye Bank Plc and two other financial

institutions had sealed a loan agreement with Main One Limited for the financing of the sub marine cable system which was expected to lead to improved internet access and telecommunication services in the country. The bank was the lead bank/fund arranger while two other financial institutions provided part funding for the project.

During the signing of the agreement, the bank had restated its commitment to financing big ticket transactions in the critical sectors of the economy, saying the project had provided yet another opportunity for the bank to showcase its commitment to the nation’s economic development.

It had also said it would continue to leverage its project financing skills as well as lead the effort to transform the economic fortune of the country.

The Chairman of Main One, Mr. Fola Adeola had commended Skye Bank and other banks involved in the project for making it possible to actualize the vision of the company’s promoters and for positively identifying with the Nigerian project.

Also, following support he received from Skye Bank for supporting the expansion and growth

of Beloxxi Industries Limited, the President/Chief Executive Officer of Beloxxi, one of the largest biscuit making companies in the continent, Mr. Obi Ezeude had commended the bank. Skye Bank had granted the biscuit maker credit lines amounting to N1.7 billion. The Beloxxi boss had said the facilities from the bank which covered both the cost of construction of the factory, and working capital had helped the company to stand on its feet at that crucial and difficult part of its existence.

In the same vein, as part of its effort to boost local content in the nation’s oil and gas industry, Skye Bank last year increased the capability of one of Marine Platforms Limited. The bank funded the acquisition of a multi-purpose support marine vessel that provides offshore support services to the Oil and Gas companies. Marine Platforms Limited is a frontline and the biggest indigenous service provider in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, providing wellbore clean out, subsea solutions and vessel chartering services in Nigeria and across the continent.

Oguntayo had said the bank was happy to support indigenous participation and local content in the nation’s oil and gas sector, particularly the upstream end. He had promised the bank’s continued partnership with and assistance to the company to enable it fulfil its vision and corporate objective of being an industry leader in the provision of support services to the oil & gas companies.

The Chief Executive Officer of Marine Platforms, Taofiq Adegbite had said: “Skye Bank has been helpful from day one; they have provided us with the financial muscle needed to succeed in our line of business.”

In order to ensure that SMEs don’t fail, the bank explained that it has developed a pool of well-trained employees whose mandate is specifically for customers in the SME segment.

“Our track record in this area, coupled with our exclusive training and re-training structures had enabled our employees to have a best-inclass understanding of the SME market. Our employees and executives have developed close relationships with the major promoters of businesses in this segment. Such close affinity has continued to place us at vantage positions in the face of competition.

“A testimony to our focus on this segment is clearly demonstrated by the creation of a dedicated SME department at the corporate Head Office, in addition to SME desks in all our branches nationwide. This enables us to anticipate our clients’ needs and provide commensurate services for mutually beneficial relationships.

“This unique structure and focus puts us at a major advantage in the SME segment above the bigger banks that mainly focus on the large corporate segment. Far more than any other bank in Nigeria, Skye Bank has a proven track record of taking relatively unknown SME start-ups from obscurity to relatively significant market share and public acclaim,” it added.

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Irene: We Have Gone Far in Repositioning IEI The Managing Director of International Energy Insurance Plc, Mr. Peter Irene, leads a team that was sent by the National Insurance Commission to rescue the oil and gas insurance company. Irene talks on the changes made by his team and other issues in the insurance industry. He spoke to Ebere Nwoji difference. The foreign one is not as good as the one you bring from village. But our people prefer foreign things. But what I found out is that our young people don’t want to work. They prefer to sit down and wait for government’s money. Sitting down waiting for alert, they are no longer working.

We should improve productivity in order to save the naira. Why are we importing rice, you think Americans will come to Nigeria and start importing rice, we have a lot of land in the north we can use for rice farming we even have them in the South so everybody should learn to be productive.

Can you please tell us about your professional background?

I am a chartered accountant by profession as well as a chartered insurer. I actually started my career in insurance in 1978, with Phoenix of Nigeria Insurance as a senior staff member but the company has now been acquired by Royal Exchange Assurance .I spent more than 20 years there, then moved to Union Assurance as a pioneer staff member and left as Executive Director Finance and Admin before coming to IEI. So I have spent over 35 years now in insurance .I equally spent some years in the manufacturing sector having worked with some manufacturing companies. I have double portfolio anywhere. I am a chartered accountant and a chartered insurer. Because of my professional double barrel qualification, I am able to understand insurance more than many of my colleagues in the industry. Sometimes, core insurance professionals don’t really care about finance but finance is the soul of any business be it banking, insurance and what have you. So, I am technically sound and also know much about accounting and it has been helping me.

Let’s talk about insurance business this year. What was the performance of your company in the first quarter of the year like?

Well, for the industry, I cannot tell the experience.

The figures are being collated and most insurance firms have not published what they have, but from the experience we are having here, it is not so bad.

We are meeting our budget between 60 and 80 per cent. So by the time the figures are collated, we will be in position to know the industry’s performance.

But I think the government is helping us now, recently, President Muhammadu Buhari issued a directive to government parastatals and MDAs to try and insure their properties in accordance with Insurance Act And am sure with that directive, the insurance industry will benefit. But a major problem to the industry and to the economy in general is non-enforcement of compulsory insurances. Recently, we heard stories of houses collapsing and people who lost their lives in the incidents. But the law says that it is compulsory for the builders of such structures to insure them. If the laws have been taken seriously, apart from compensating the victims, it wouldn’t have happened at all because the government agency in charge will make sure the structures are properly supervised but people are not complying with the laws. They take laws into their hands, most compulsory insurances, even motor insurance, is not complied with by Nigerians. They prefer to take fake insurance but I think the NIA is handling that.

It is high time people should know the value of insurance because insurance is the heart of every economy and that is the problem we have in Nigeria today, because people are not taking insurance into consideration, we cannot save for the rainy day. You see celebrities, their houses were burnt and they went to government asking government to compensate them, is government insurance company? See NYSC , see their candidates being killed in the course of carrying out their primary assignments, even the public doesn’t know about insurance. NYSC supposed to make insurance arrangement for corps members and parents themselves don’t want to insure the lives of their children. If NYSC had from, its inception in 1973, built insurance arrangement into its system, by now, corps members would be entitled to free medical treatment because a lot of funds would have been accumulated. See the candidates that died and those that sustained injuries, the Director General only went there to condole with the families and perhaps made presentation of a token. That is not what is required and it doesn’t pay the family.

But with little amount, may be N5000 contributed by the NYSC on behalf of the members or ask parents to pay for it, after all, they ask them to pay for their children’s registration so why not ask them to pay for insurance and the parents themselves don’t want to pay so the candidates suffer. But generally, people don’t want to hear about insurance.

Let us tell people the elementary meaning of devaluation, what does it actually mean to devalue the naira against dollar or any other currency?

Devaluation is the amount of naira that can buy one dollar. For example, If you can use less naira to buy more dollar , it means that naira has increased. For example, if you use N200 to buy one dollar today, then next time you use N300 to buy, it means naira has devalued, then if you use N200 to buy and next time, you use N150, it means naira has increased.

Irene

So , are you saying NYSC should arrange for insurance package for the corps members?

Yes, because of the insecurity in the country. They can come up with a policy that can cover everything like personal accident, when somebody is dead, it is even better than when you are permanently disabled.You can imagine, a young man or a woman that has just left school to become permanently disabled, you know what it means. I saw some of the ugly pictures of NYSC members that were involved in the last political incident that happened recently. If every Corps member contributes N5000, per annum, am sure with their number, insurance companies will be able to cover them because insurance has to do with volume or number. The parents themselves, always say“no we don’t want insurance but when something happens you will know that N5000 is nothing.

In my own thinking, it is the duty of government to arrange for their insurance cover during the service year not the parents since they are working for government, or don’t you think so?

Actually it should be the duty of government but look at it this way, recently, intending NYSC members were asked to pay N4000 for registration, if government cannot pay for registration, is it insurance? Somebody is asking you to come and serve and you are asked to pay money for registration.

Ideally, in a more civilised society, government supposed to arrange for their insurance,but you know in Nigeria, you have to contribute to everything.

This takes us to the question on the much argued devaluation or not of naira. As a professional accountant and chartered insurer, are you for or against naira devaluation?

Well, nobody can be certain. Both have advantages and disadvantages. As you rightly mentioned, foreign investors are leaving because they are not sure the money they brought here whether they can take it back or not. To me, since we are running a market economy, I think I tend to support that we should devalue because if you don’t, you discover that certain things are suffering. Because we are running a market economy. See the way the value of stocks has fallen and foreign investors are going.

I am sure if you devalue, it will not be up to N320.

I am sure if dollar is N250, foreign investors will

come back because they will be sure the foreign exchange risk will not be too much.

But on the other hand, just as people from the other side are saying, if you devalue, you will punish other people but the problem is that a lot of money has been stolen from this country and people are waiting to release the money once it moves to N 1.00 to a dollar. So we have to balance it. If oil price improves, am sure there will be no need for devaluation but if it continues to go down, then we will have no option than to devalue.

So they are holding on, but the truth is that we have already devalued because for anything we are buying now, we are using the fair price of dollar. If you are depending on the official price, you cannot make profit, you won’t even get it. If you devalue to an extent, at a time, it will fluctuate and the prices will come down on their own. Again, if you devalue, prices of things will increase and the demand will also decrease because people will not be able to buy and the prices may go down. It is just a question of demand and supply.

I think government is much afraid of inflation that may follow the proposed devaluation Or don’t you think devaluation will put inflation on the rise?

Well, in a market economy, there will always be inflation. Some years ago, how much was a tin of milk? I mean when we were in secondary school, and how much is it now. Then, when you were given five shillings, you will buy a lot of things, but now,where are we? With that, what can you buy now. It must always be like that .The only thing is that in third world countries, inflation is much higher. I can remember that in the 80’s when I was doing my professional exams,(ACCA) with N600,you can go for shopping in UK, then, a pound was equivalent to one naira not dollar.

The dollar was less than 50 kobo. But it cannot come to that again because we too are not honest.

You can imagine people going abroad with very huge amount. We are also not very honest. Many Nigerians are too ambitious, they want to subvert the system, they want to have everything.

Again is the issue of consumption of local production. Local consumption too is low. But myself, I don’t consume foreign rice again. They are not even good. Last week, the rice I always bring from my place finished and I bought a bag of foreign rice , once you test the one we cultivate here and test the foreign one, you will see a big

Let’s come to IEI. The board of the company was suspended by NAICOM because of some corporate governance issues and currently the commission is working to reposition the company and that is why the commission sent you here, where are we now, I mean at what stage are you in carrying out this assignment?

Well. Where we are is that we have finished the major work here .Our major job was to do a forensic audit and report to NAICOM. We have done the first phase of it and we gave them a preliminary report and we submitted another report. We gave them another final report again, the fall out of those ones is where we are now.

When we came here, we actually met a lot of corporate governance problems on ground. For example, when we came, 2013 account was not approved. It was submitted but not approved by NAICOM, 2013, 2014 and 2015. But as am talking to you today, they have approved 2013 and it is published, 2014 account, has also been approved

by NAICOM and 2015 for the first time, you know due to corporate governance issue, auditors of the companies often come every July, whereas this is a quoted company that supposed to submit its account by March 1. For instance, in 2014, auditors did not come until July because I interviewed the auditors. But under this administration, by first of February, we have invited our auditors because we have stable board and they have completed their audit and by next week, we will be able to submit that is 2015 account.

Well within the period, because of some issues on ground, our intention was to make sure we beat t the 1st of March deadline. If we are still here by next year, our plan is to ensure that by 1st of March, we would have published our account.

So, I think to that extent, we have done a lot of things. We have done some reorganisation, Abuja for example. We have merged two branches in Port Harcourt too, we are moving staff around, training them.

We emphasise on training because what I learnt when we came here was that there was no training.

Where it was done, it was haphazardly done. You know there is nothing you can do if you don’t train your staff. But here, in finance department for example, there was a lot of deficiencies because the problems we met on ground was mainly financial in nature not technical. Even the technical aspect, we have to deal with them trying to streamline.

Trying to put polices in place and change some policies because without policy, people will behave as they like. I think we have done a lot generally.

We have gone far in reviving the company even though we are losing some businesses, the company is a very good brand, people like to deal with us to my surprises. The company was having more than N12 billion share holders’ fund but because of the quarrels that erupted, it went down and we are here to find out the cause of the problem.

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Industry Stakeholders Charged to Support Girls in ICT Emma Okonji Stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have been advised to encourage young girls to be part of the ICT revolution currently going on globally. This is necessary to ensure a wider spread of digital literacy in the country.

Convener of the eBusiness Life International Girls in ICT Day Celebration, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro gave this charge while speaking on the forthcoming event, which will hold in Lagos,

Nigeria this week. It is a global event initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to encourage young girls and women to pursue careers in ICT. According to Emuophedaro, studies showed that there are not enough women choosing careers in ICT, hence the need to expand the local technology talent pool to include more women with ICT skills can help fill this gap.

She called on other stakeholders to join hands to further invest in girls and young women by supporting the Girls in ICT campaign

and empowering them, giving them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers.

She noted that jobs in ICT often offer higher salaries and lower gender-based pay gaps than in other fields.

“Girls in ICT Day events make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about the sector and inviting them to envision their future as ICT creators,” Emuophedaro said.

The ITU, in initiating the campaign had noted that encouraging

women and girls to pursue ICT careers also fosters a more dynamic technology sector, posing extensive benefits for companies. It states that a more gender-balanced workforce reflects the customer base more accurately, enhances productivity and innovation and leads to better financial results of any company.

ICTs drive growth and innovation worldwide, infiltrating all aspects of life. These ongoing advances in ICTs effectively make digital literacy a prerequisite for employment and entrepreneurship

opportunities and are leading to a projected shortage of at least two million ICT employees worldwide by 2020.As more companies partner with eBusiness Life to ensure the success of this year’s event Marketing Manager, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Anne Ihugba, said:“The company is concerned about the future and welfare of the young girls. It is not about us, or the companies participating, we want to make sure the children get the best.”

She stressed the need for corporate organisations to join

hands and make a success out of the children.“Partners should be committed. It is a platform for competition,” she added.

The event will also form a platform for participating companies to network and find areas of complementarity.

As part of this year’s event, there will be App development and quiz competitions between female students from select secondary schools, round-table discussions, interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, among others.

Coca Cola Launches Global Campaign in Nigeria Few weeks after a new global campaign was launched for Coca Cola brand in Europe and the Middle East, handlers of the brand in Nigeria has unveiled the campaign in the country. With a new tagline, ‘Taste the Feeling’; the company is inviting consumers to relive pleasant feeling experience as often.

Like the one before it, ‘Taste the Feeling’ is another ingenious marketing adventure that captures the Coke experience and awakens the different emotions and feeling that is often associated with an ice cold bottle of Coke. With this new campaign, the soft drink giant is highlighting the core values of the Coca Cola brand beyond the liquid content; using simple relatable and emotional storytelling long associated with the brand.

Taste a feeling is clearly another attempt to reposition the brand as a premium product that is on top of current trends and understands the market dynamics. The message is also a bit tweaked in favour of the youth market which often set trends that are adopted by other demographic groups and are most demanding as far as creativity is concerned.

The campaign was designed to refresh consumers’ memories of their love affair with Coke and how the brand embodies great taste, refreshment, happiness and is also loved globally.

“The campaign is meant to remind consumers about the product and the brand they love, and to reiterate our belief in Nigeria,” Patricia Jemibewon Marketing Director of Coca Cola Nigeria said.

Underlying the taste a feeling campaign is Coke’s new ‘one brand strategy’ which was adopted upon the appointment of its new global Chief Marketing Officer Marcos De Quinton. The new strategy is a significant shift in Coke’s global marketing strategy. This means all Coke trademark brands will be united in one global creative campaign: ‘Taste the Feeling.’

The global ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign was unveiled at a media event in Paris by De Quinton who said that the strategy was adopted in other to extend the equity and iconic appeal of the Coca Cola brand to all its sub brands. “We are reinforcing that Coca-Cola is for everybody.

Coca-Cola is one brand

with different variants, all of which share the same values and visual iconography. People want their Coca-Cola in different ways, but whichever one they want, they want a Coca-Cola brand with great taste and refreshment,” he said.

The launch of the ‘Taste a Feeling’ campaign in Nigeria is coming almost four months after the global launch in Paris.

Jemibewon said it is strategic, because every country has got its launch date. And the Nigerian launch date was fixed for April 15.

As part from the media launch, various television commercials and an anthem were launched. The commercial shows a series of different emotionally charged moments in which Coke is enjoyed and finishes with all the Coca-Cola products uniting under the red Coca-Cola disc. The adverts are based around a core message that the simple pleasure of drinking any Coca-Cola makes the moment more special.

Jemibewon explains that the anthem highlights those emotions and functional moments that come with taste of Coca-Cola.

On the anthem for the campaign, the marketing director said it highlights those emotional and functional moments that come with the taste of Coca-Cola. “Music has always played a key role in Coca-Cola communications and “Taste the Feeling” is not an exception. The Taste the feeling anthem includes a new audio signature inspired by the sounds of enjoying a Coca-Cola – the pop of the cap, the fizz and, ultimately, refreshment.”

Speaking on the campaign, the Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Clem Ugorji explained that the ‘Taste the Feeling’ campaign is an offshoot of Coca-Cola’s new ‘One Brand Strategy’ which marks a significant shift in its marketing approach and for the first time unites all Coke Trademark brands in one global creative campaign. “This approach brings the spotlight on all variants of the Coke trademark such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, etc. and underscores our Company’s commitment to choice, offering consumers options in taste and with or without calories, so there is a Coke for anyone”, he said.

THANKS FOR VISITING

L-R:Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, presenting a souvenir to Director General Securities and Exchange Commission, Mounir Gwarzo when DG visited his office in Abuja... recently

Rosabon Celebrates 23 Years Anniversary, Empowers Women As part of programmes to mark its 23rd anniversary, Nigeria’s award winning nonbanking finance institution, Rosabon Financial Services has entered into a strategic partnership with a non government organisation called Mamamoni, to empower 23 women with soft grants and capacity building.

The partnership, according to the firm, was part of its efforts to encourage women empowerment and promoting indigenous production. The women who are involved in various crafts including farming, fashion designing, soap making, fish farming and other chemical productions got the grant to

further expand their businesses.

Rosabon has consistently played a critical role at driving Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) growth in Nigeria, a trend that earned it an international recognition recently, by winning an award as Nigeria’s ‘Best SME Financial Advisory 2015’ from CFI.co.

The training and provision of grant to the select women, is part of Rosabon’s commitment at supporting local business to boost local production and grow the economy.

At the cheque presentation at Satellite Town, Lagos, recently, the 23 women expressed gratitude and satisfaction for the

support received from Rosabon.

Speaking on the empowerment initiative and partnership with Mamamoni, Rosabon’s CEO, Chukwuma Ochonogor said they were inspired by Rosabon’s passion for deepening access to financial services, especially as a means to tackling the menace of poverty among the unbanked.

He noted that the company championed financial inclusion in Nigeria through its several innovative products targeted at the non-banking population, adding that the partnership with Mamamoni is to continue its drive at deepening financial inclusion in the country.

According to Ochongor, “Women are becoming great players in the economy, so it is very important that they get the right empowerment.

At Rosabon, we have a societal outlook and recognize the importance of working together for the greater good. We are fully committed to this project and will keep it on for as long as possible.”

He added: “This anniversary celebration is more about reflecting on our past and realizing what the future has in store for our great company while making our communities better places, hence the need for this project.”

Sidmach Wins Software, Innovator Awards Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, won awards in two categories of this year’s Beacon of Information and Communication Technology (BoICT) awards held in Lagos.

During the ceremony Sidmach Technologies was presented with ‘Indigenous Software Company of the Year and ICT Innovator of the Year.’

The company is an indigenous ICT company, providing innovative integrated solutions to customers across the public and private sectors of the economy.

Speaking on Sidmach’s achievements, deserving of the awards, The Editor In-Chief

and Chief Executive Officer of CommunicationsWeek Media Limited and the organisers of the awards, Mr. Ken Nwogbo, said that over time, Sidmach has distinguished itself in the Nigerian ICT sector, setting clear path for technological revolution in the country.

Nwogbo added that the testimonies about Sidmach’s innovation can better be told by the education community in Nigeria where the company has helped organisations including Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) achieved greater effi-

ciency and improved operations.

The company also partnered Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to deploy the e-Curriculum Portal, transforming teaching and learning in Nigeria. “The Company has set a clearer path for ICT innovation to restore the dignity of education in this country. We are proud of them as an indigenous company that defies all odds to add value to the system. We are not surprised that Sidmach emerged winners in these categories of the awards.

Sidmach provides ICT solutions that address the needs of its customers in today’s highly

competitive business environment. The solutions are adaptive, scalable, secure and easy to use and support,” he said.

Receiving the awards, the Managing Director of Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited, Chief Peter Arogundade, expressed appreciation to all customers, who made this possible. Arogundade said these awards are dedicated to Sidmach’s highly committed staff who never relent in developing simplified ICT solutions to highly complex problems, thereby making it possible for easy solution deployment for our customers.

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Minister Commends Mutual Benefit Assurance for Contributions to Sports Devt Ebere Nwoji The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalong, has commended Mutual Benefit Assurance plc for its contributions to development of sports in Nigeria.

Dalong, who made the commendation during the commissioning of 22 canoes/ kayak boats donated to the Nigeria Rowing Canoe and Sailing Federation, noted that Mutual Benefits, had over the years, shown great love and support for the growth of sports in Nigeria.

He observed that the support of the company was not limited

to football alone but to Rowing Canoe and Sailing, Badminton and other sports.

He promised that the company that his ministry and the sports industry would continue to work and collaborate with its management and the industry in general, adding that the sport industry needs the support of all sectors of the economy to ensure better life for Nigerian youths across the country.

In his welcome address at the event, the Group Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance, Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, said the company’s brand thrives on making insurance service relevant and value-

adding to everyday living.

He said the two drivers of its pioneering entrepreneurial initiatives, which have made Mutual Benefit leader in Nigeria and Africa insurance industry are the drive to bring tailormade value-adding services to the door-steps of citizens in countries where it operates and to promote a new era of using retail outlets to deliver insurance services to every nook and cranny.

“Our activities in Mutual have created massive employment, empowered citizens by focusing on initiatives to develop the wealth at the bottom of the pyramid also effectively

impact positively on rural/ urban drift. For instance, Mutual’s marketing and development initiatives led to the employment of over 5000 Nigerian youths and more than 250’within our operations in Federal Republic of Liberia and Niger Republic, “he added.

According to him, the company has not left out sports in its area of creative and value-adding influence and promised to continue to engage the youths in economic development and growth.

Ogunbiyi, took a critical review of Mutual Benefit’s influence and value addition to sports

development in the past five years, saying Mutual Benefit, supported the National sports commission, in pioneering the Youth Games in Abuja in 2013.

He said over 4000 participants, between ages eight to fifteen from over 21 states, participated in the programme.

He also said Mutual Benefit, served as the official insurer, for the 2013 Police Games in Port Harcourt , Rivers State, where the company donated the sum of N10 million and provided N 1.5 million Group Personal -Accident Cover for officials and participants at the games.

According to him, the com-

pany, paid claims to 10 trauma cases that emanated from the games .

Ogunbiyi, also said Mutual Benefit,donated N256 million Olympic size Badminton Complex sited at the police college Ikeja Lagos as well as sponsored the Youth Demonstration Competition organised

by Nigerian Canoe and Sailing federation, Jabi Lake,Abuja .

He assured the Sports Federation and the ministry that the company would continue to support the growth and development of sports in Nigeria within the limit of its ability through collaboration and engagement

Leaders Aim to Put Price on Global Carbon Emissions Ten leaders, including Chan- Lagarde, California Governor cellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, have laid out goals in a joint vision statement to expand carbon pricing to cover 25 per cent of global emissions by 2020, and achieve 50 per cent coverage within the next decade.

Currently, some 40 governments and 23 cities, states and regions put a price on carbon pollution, accounting for 12 per cent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. This marks a three-fold increase over the past decade.

And as Bank Group President Kim noted at a high level assembly on carbon pricing, at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group recently, more action is needed on carbon pricing to help halt global warming and spur more investments into clean technologies. “ The current situation won’t put us on a pathway to limiting global warning. We need greater ambition, and greater leadership,” Kim said.

The latest call for action was being made by members of the Carbon Pricing Panel, including the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia Hailemariam Dessalegn, President of France François Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, together with Bank Group President Kim, IMF Managing Director

Edmund G. Brown Jr., Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.

A Vision Statement accompanying their announcement charts out three steps that need to be taken to widen, deepen and promote global cooperation on carbon pricing. First, the number of countries and businesses that participate in a carbon pricing system needs to increase. Second, prices need to be significant enough to account for pollution as an operating cost, and incentives for investments in low carbon solutions need to be established. And third, better links between the various regional and national pricing systems already in place need to be set up.

Speaking at the high level CPLC meeting, the IMF’s Lagarde emphasised the value of cutting emissions.

“If the top 20 emitters in the world were to impose carbon charges that reflect only their domestic and environmental benefits, this would already reduce global emissions by over 10 per cent,” she said.

United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-Moon also said: “We must put a price on pollution and provide incentives to accelerate low carbon pathways. Market prices, market indices, and investment portfolios can no longer continue to ignore the growing cost of unsustainable production and consumption behaviours on the health of our planet.”

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R: ormer Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Senior Manager, Infrastructure, Sidmach Technologies, Ugochukwu Udaya, and Marketing Manager, Sidmach Tecnologies, Funmi Lawal during the presentation of ICT innovator of the year award to the company at the 2016 Nigeria CommunicationsWeek Beacon of Information and Communications Technology Awards in Lagos…recently

Sovereign Trust Boss Recommends Use of Marketing Communications in Insurance The Managing Director/CEO of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr. Olaotan Soyinka, has stated the need for insurance practitioners at top management level, to give marketing communications a pride of place in their efforts to promote and entrench insurance culture among Nigerians.

Soyinka, who stated this at a marketing parley with members of the sales team of his company in Lagos, said the importance of marketing communication, in promoting insurance in Nigeria, cannot be undermined and should be given a place of priority by practitioners especially

those at the decision-making levels.

According to him, this will help in winning more customers for the industry.

He said that the industry is capable of generating figures in trillions but insisted that this can only happen when practitioners, collectively approach the business from the standpoint of each-one-tell-one in spreading the gospel and which is what marketing communications is all about.

“We can never go wrong in investing in marketing communications either at individual companies’ level

or as an industry. The time to act is now; a stitch in time saves nine.

“The role of marketing communications cannot be undermined in the scheme of insurance business or any business at that, if the business must outlive generations upon generations. We must take advantage of every money invested in marketing communications as sales executives whenever we are on the field’ he maintained.”

He further said that if the insurance industry is to grow beyond what it is today in the country, managers of the business, especially those at

the helms of affairs must make conscious efforts at promoting their products and services for patronage in the marketplace in finding a voice and place of recognition in the financial and economic space in Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, the Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management of Sovereign Trust Insurance, Mr. Segun Bankole, said: “Until we begin to have deliberate and conscious provision for marketing communications in our annual budgets across board, we might still be far away from getting to the promise land.”

Premium Pension: Why Our Campaigns Were Targeted at Youths Premium Pension Limited, one of the licenced Pension Fund Administrators in Nigeria, has explained the reason why the first phase of its social media campaign on pension tagged: ‘Reward4DHustle’ was targeted at the youths, saying the company believes in catching them young.

The company, during the campaign, which ran from

February 15 to March 19, 2016, on the social platform- Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook anchored by Alder Consulting Limited, wooed youths into participating in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) instead of targeting at “soon- to- retire workers.”

Addressing the public on the campaign, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Wilson Ideva

explained that the campaign provided an opportunity for the company to address public enquiries and requests through the instrumentality of modern information technology and also contribute to the generation of public awareness as to the workings of the CPS. Ideva explained:” We believe in catching them young; that’s why we opted for the social

media which is very popular with the youths.”

He reiterated the need for massive public awareness with regard to the CPS, while conferring on the winners, the status of brand ambassadors of the company. “You are now our brand ambassadors and you must project the image of the company positively and continue to propagate among your peers

the immense advantages of the new pension scheme,” Ideva stated.Premium Pension dished out four categories of prizes to winners in the competition.

Mr. Kofoworola George-Taylor, a Lagos -based event manager won prize on Instagram and received a prize of a fully-paid Project Management Course and international travel while Olanike Oyediran, a Lagos-based lawyer

won on Facebook opportunity to undergo a fully-paid Project Management Certification Course while another prize went to Idris Ab ub a k a r S a d i q .

A c om put er en g i n eer/ teacher based in Kaduna, won a home office laptop, print er and modem, while Ogbonna Kingsley Leo, an Enugu-based nurse won on Instagram and received a laptop.

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CCD Superstores Opens New Outlet in Ogba Sunday Okobi Consumer Commodity Distributors (CCD) Superstores Limited, a subsidiary of the Nosak Group Limited, has inaugurated its new outlet in Ogba, Lagos to cater for its numerous customers in the area.

At the inauguration ceremony recently, the Executive Director of CCD Superstores, Mrs. Iyobo Innih, said opening the second superstore in Lagos was a way to launch the CCD brand to the world as well as give back to the society which has given them so much.

Innih stated that the dream of

the company was to provide all consumers’ needs under one roof and to make their shopping experience delightful, convenient, fast and easy.

She added that the whole idea of the company was to make CCD Superstores a one-stop neighbourhood store where all categories of household needs could be bought under one roof.

On how the concept of CCD Superstores was conceived, the ED said the idea of the outlet was born about 23 years ago by her mother, Mrs. Risi Ogunbor. She said they decided to come to Ogba as a way of

reaching out more to people who may not have the time to embark on long trips to find a big superstore where they can get all their household needs in one place.

“With the superstore in Ogba now, our customers would get everything they need conveniently and fast. The concept was actually started by my mother, who has always wanted to give back to community and provide them with commodities whenever they want it. The idea started 23 years ago in Ogudu area of Lagos, and since then, we have been expanding in all areas of retailing. We decided

that we should build and reach out to other communities in the state which why we berthed in Ogba. Furthermore we are looking forward to taking the chain store outside Lagos to other cities, and give Nigerians a new scope in shopping,” she said. Innih explained that superstores are renowned key players in the fast moving retail industry in Nigeria with notable big players like Shoprite, Adedide Stores among others opening many branches across the federation, adding that CCD Superstores hopes to follow suit in this direction by opening more branches in the

near future.

The event also doubled as the grand opening of promo with various items for customers from April 16, 2016 to May 31, 2016.

A raffle draw will be held at the end of the promo period for customers who spend a particular amount of money on a single day.

According to the Corporate Director of Nosak Groups, Osagie Ogunbor, “We are also pushing our loyalty cards, so that if people shop, they can earn their rewards and redeemed in the shop.

He said the first prize is a side by side refrigerator for a cus-

tomer who spends a minimum of N20, 000 in shopping, the second prize is a 64gb Apple Ipad for a customer who spends a minimum of N10, 000 while the third prize is a 40-inch flat screen television for a customer who spends a minimum of N5,000 at a shopping.

He state that the more a customer shops, the better the chances of winning, adding that Goodie bag is also given to the first 50 customers to spend a minimum of N5, 000.

“Besides that we also have some discounted products which is open to everybody to shop,” Ogunbor said.

Membere-Otaji Lists Gains of Business Luncheon President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji has described the upcoming business luncheon as a commitment to business and economic excellence. He said the programme will enrich businesses, promote networking on a broader platform and provide interactive opportunities for sectoral players to key into vistas of economic opportunities.

Membere-Otaji, who made the assertion at media parley on the upcoming business and economic event, said Port Harcourt is the best destination for corporate bodies, captains of industries, MD/CEOs, government and its agencies among others to take advantage of the top of the bill business event.

The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon is expected to kick off on April 28, 2016 at the main auditorium of Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt. According to him, the event will attract key players

in public and private sectors of the economy including top government officials, captains of major industries in the state and key federal agencies like Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEXIM Bank, Bank of Industry among other high profile participants from government and the private sector.

The Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike shall be the Special Guest of honour at the event with the theme, “Business Opportunities in Nigeria – Beyond Oil”, and shall be delivered by industrial economist, Chairman Phillips Consulting and former Chairman/ Current Director Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr. Foluso Phillips.

The business luncheon has as its sub theme: “The Ease Of Doing Business in Rivers State”, which is expected to be presented by Special Adviser to Rivers state Governor on Investment, Mr. Isaac Okemini.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

L-R: Immediate Past Chairman, Odigbo local government, Ondo State, Mr. Joseph Ikumamoyi; Chief of Staff, Ondo state Governor, Dr. Bola Ademutimi,; Secretary to the Government, Dr. Rotimi Adelola; Chief State Head, Ondo/Ekiti state, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC), Ernest Edgar; Chief Technical Officer, Ashok Acharya, and Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade at the signing ceremony of an agreement between BEDC and Ondo State on power restoration to indebted councils held in Akure…recently

NABG Coordinator to Speak on Foreign Agric Investment The National Coordinator, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Emmanuel Ijewere, is set to discuss how to attract foreign investors to the nation’s agriculture sector.

He is one of the key resource persons billed to speak at the agritech fair, an international agricultural exhibition designed to support the changing operational needs and growth objectives of Nigeria’s dynamic agribusiness industry. The event scheduled between June 15 and 16 will take place at the Old Parade Ground, Garki ,Area 10 ,Abuja.

The summit will bring together key figures from across the food industry, including investors, start-ups, technology companies and food and ingredients manufacturers. With a common goal to meet the food challenge, the event will create a forum for networking, debate, discussion and learning – showcasing the technologies and championing the innovations which have the potential to transform the sector.

According to the Executive Director, Remick Promotions,organisers of the fair, Mrs. Remi Agbowu, the event was designed to help Nigerians secure a more prosperous future by increasing household incomes and employment, nurturing competitive small and medium enterprises and promoting a vibrant agricultural sector.

She said agritech fair will attract Nigerian and international professionals from the agricultural food production, fishing and aquaculture and food processing industries.

Attendees, according to her, will have the opportunity to source and buy the latest products, equipment and services to enhance their production productivity from the field to the processing plant. She said: “They will have the chance to interact with both domestic and international investors, understand the market appetite for their products and understand the best channels for delivery to market.”

She explained that delegates at the conference will benefit from a mix of seminars and interactive workshops providing unparalleled, highly valuable face-to-face learning opportunities.

A premium line-up of national speakers will present their knowledge, experiences and solutions on all aspects of farm management - productivity, food quality, nutrition and R&D, strategy, animal care, livestock management and agricultural investment. She listed them to include the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Governor of Sokoto State,Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola;Director–General West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Ekpo, the Harvest Plus Nigeria Country Manager, Paul Ilona, among others.

Rosabon Celebrates 23 Years Anniversary, Empowers Women As part of programmes to mark its 23rd anniversary, Nigeria’s award winning non-banking finance institution, Rosabon Financial Services has entered into a strategic partnership with a non government organisation called Mamamoni, to empower 23 women with soft grants and capacity building.

The partnership, according to the firm, was part of its efforts to encourage women empowerment and promoting indigenous production. The women who are involved in various crafts including farming, fashion designing, soap making, fish farming and other chemical productions got the grant to further expand their businesses.

Rosabon has consistently played a critical role at driving Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) growth in Nigeria, a trend that earned it an international recognition recently, by winning an award as Nigeria’s ‘Best SME Financial Advisory 2015’ from CFI.co.

The training and provision

of grant to the select women, is part of Rosabon’s commitment at supporting local business to boost local production and grow the economy.

At the cheque presentation at Satellite Town, Lagos, recently, the 23 women expressed gratitude and satisfaction for the support received from Rosabon.

Speaking on the empowerment initiative and partnership with Mamamoni, Rosabon’s CEO, Chukwuma Ochonogor said they were inspired by Rosabon’s passion for deepening access to financial services, especially as a means to tackling the menace of poverty among the unbanked.

He noted that the company championed financial inclusion in Nigeria through its several innovative products targeted at the non-banking population, adding that the partnership with Mamamoni is to continue its drive at deepening financial inclusion in the country.

According to Ochongor, “Women are becoming great players in the economy, so it is

very important that they get the right empowerment. At Rosabon, we have a societal outlook and recognize the importance of working together for the greater good. We are fully committed to this project and will keep it on for as long as possible.”

He added: “This anniversary celebration is more about reflecting on our past and realizing what the future has in store for our great company while making our communities better places, hence the need for this project.”

Also speaking, Founder, Mamamoni, Nkem Okocha said: “We are very delighted that Rosabon Financial Services chose to give 23 of our women business grant to grow their businesses. With this money, they can buy raw materials in large quantity to increase their supply and this will increase their livelihood income. My prayer is that Rosabon will continue to partner with us, so we can reach more women and help them break the cycle of poverty.”

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PERSPECTIVE

The Case of an Integrated Tax Administration System

President Muhammadu Buhari Chinedu Ezomike It is no longer news that the Nigerian Government is experiencing an acute reduction in revenue due to the plunge in the international market price of crude oil. As is usually the case when the country encounters such a challenge, there is now a renewed debate on the urgent need to diversify the Nigerian economy. This is a predictable response.

Unfortunately, history has shown that we do not learn from such events, as the Government usually forgets the call for diversification once oil prices rebound.

Meanwhile, an analysis of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures shows that the Nigerian economy is already well diversified and the oil and gas sector contributes only about 11% to the GDP. However the sector still accounts for about 70% of the Government revenue and over 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, the focus should not just be on diversifying the economy but on diversifying the source of Government revenue and the external sector generating foreign exchange for the country.

There has been a renewed focus on developing the solid minerals sector so as to increase the source of government revenue. While this is a laudable idea, the aim should not be to simply extract and export the solid minerals as we currently do with the crude oil. Commodity prices are usually susceptible to shocks in the international markets, therefore exporting the raw minerals is not the long term solution we need, as the country can still be exposed to revenue shortages as is being presently experienced.

A sustainable way of ensuring steady revenue flow for the government is to put in place an effective and efficient tax system which will enhance the efficiency of the tax collection process and encourage voluntary compliance by taxpayers

Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler who are currently non-complaint. This is in line with the cardinal principles of taxation which encourage ease of compliance and efficiency of collection.

Such a system will, in effect, ensure that taxation becomes the “new crude oil” as far as funding government expenditure is concerned.

The Nigerian tax to GDP ratio is presently about 7% (4% for the non-oil sector). This is abysmal. A review of the tax to GDP ratio in other jurisdictions show that United States has 27%, United Kingdom 39%, France 46% and Sweden 45%. Even African countries, such as Tanzania, 12%, Togo 14%, Ghana 20%, Cameroun 18% and Burkina Faso 11.5%, fare much better than Nigeria.

This clearly shows that ours is a grossly undertaxed society and there is a clear need for increased tax collection.

It must be emphasized, though, that the call for increased tax collection is not synonymous with harassing existing taxpayers with ridiculous tax assessments as the tax authorities usually do. The main focus should be to systematically expand the tax base and ensure that more taxpayers are brought into the tax net so that all taxable persons will contribute to the revenue base.

To achieve this expansion, there is need to revisit the Nigerian tax administration system and seek ways to simplify the compliance process.

Integrated Tax Administration System In 2013, there was a lot of buzz about the imminent implementation of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS). The ITAS is a comprehensive tax administration solution which will enable the tax authorities streamline and automate the tax management processes.

If properly implemented, the ITAS has the potential to revolutionize tax practice in Nigeria.

Under the proposed ITAS regime, all monthly and annual tax returns, along

with support documentation can be filed electronically. Taxpayers can also make payments and obtain their receipts online.

This is quite convenient as taxpayers do not have to make the trip to the tax office to file their monthly returns.

The ITAS will also improve interaction between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and taxpayers as it provides a platform for taxpayers to make tax-related enquiries online and obtain any required guidance or feedback from the tax office at short notice. It will significantly eliminate the persistent challenge of missing documents, such as filed returns and tax receipts, which usually arise during tax review, audit and investigation exercises. During such exercise, the FIRS typically requests the taxpayer to provide documents dating back several years, most of which would have been previously submitted to the FIRS and should ordinarily be in their records. The inability to provide such documents usually leads to additional tax liabilities.

To manage the documentation issue, ITAS system will have an inbuilt document management portal such that once a document is submitted to the FIRS, a unique document number is generated to identify the document. This will ensure that documents are easily retrievable whenever required for review or reference purposes.

The system will also improve the Withholding Tax (WHT) credit management process by eliminating the need for taxpayers to present the WHT credit notes before tax credit is granted. Currently, the FIRS has to issue the credit notes to the customer who had deducted and remitted the WHT. The customer will then distribute the notes to the individual taxpayers from whom the WHT was deducted. The FIRS only recognises the tax credit when the taxpayer presents the WHT note for recording. In practice, however, many companies encounter challenges with this approach as some of

the credit notes get missing in the process and resources have to be deployed to keep track of them to ensure collection.

Where a taxpayer is unable to present the credit note, the tax credit is forfeited.

Under ITAS, when a taxpayer remits the WHT deducted from its customers, the accounts of all the customers will be credited directly and the tax credit becomes available to the taxpayer for utilization. This eliminates the challenges associated with the current system and the cost of printing and managing the notes will be saved. It will also be possible for taxpayers to log into their account with the FIRS and monitor the remittance of WHT deducted by their customers. Indeed, the ITAS is geared towards automating most of the tax compliance processes and eliminating inefficiencies created by the manual process.

It is expected that the ITAS will introduce global best practices to the Nigerian tax system, as it will simplify tax administration and hopefully stimulate voluntary compliance by taxpayers. It is also expected that the system will assist the FIRS to fully implement the riskbased tax audit system as they can easily extract relevant data from the database which can be used to profile taxpayers based on their past behaviour, and determine the level for non-compliance.

The advantage of the risk-based audit system is that the FIRS can effectively deploy resources to specific areas of noncompliance and avoid expending effort on a general non-targeted audit process which can be time consuming with little or no additional tax revenue.

It is unfortunate that the implementation of this laudable project has been delayed until now. Thankfully, the current FIRS Chairman recently indicated interest in revisiting the project. Since taxation by its nature is dynamic, the modernisation and continuous upgrade of the existing tax system should be a priority for any tax administrator.

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EDUCATION UNILORIN Will Resist Moves to Disrupt Its 16 Years of Peace, Says VC The peaceful academic environment that has existed at the University of Ilorin for the past 16 years was recently threatened by the purported plan by some national leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to install a new executive council for the institution’s chapter of the union. Hammed Shittu spoke with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali on the development and other issues affecting the university. Excerpts: How will you react to the recent tension in the university over the plan to install new executive council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the university?

The University of Ilorin in the last 16 years or so has enjoyed peace on campus and it is a routine exercise that once we get a hint that the peace is about to be threatened, we beef up our security outfit in order to make sure that we maintain peace, so it was along that line that we beefed up our security because we learnt that some people were on their way to oversee some kind of election so to say, so we saw some security challenge along that line and beefed up the security in order to maintain law and order The whole exercise was a bit confusing because all along for the past one year or so, I have been kept abreast of what has been happening with ASUU, both the national and the local. But I was made to understand a couple of years ago, almost 10 years ago, the UNILORIN ASUU was expelled from the national body and because of that there was little or no interaction between the national ASUU and this branch, and since then, the academic staff UNILORIN has been electing their own leaders and we have had about two or three executives that has championed the cause of academic staff on the campus. I am not aware officially that UNILORIN ASUU has been pardoned and has been assimilated into the national body. According to what I was briefed, there are still some court cases pending against the local ASUU that it wanted resolved before the election. I know that some elections took place about two months ago by the local ASUU; so this one now coming is strange and I am awaiting the official information from those that are involved. I have been saying it is a union matter, I am the chief executive of the university and all staff are my responsibility either academic or non-academic, everybody is welcome onboard to participate in what is going on either as an individual or as friends who have the same philosophy with the management in order to take UNILORIN to higher level.

Was there any letter sent to your office of the plan to hold another ASUU election, despite the inauguration of the executive council two months ago in the university?

They were just informing us. I am an academic staff of this university and a number of times they write me that they are going to organise election of ASUU, but I know very well that there is an election that was held but all the same, even the local branch whenever they want to have their election, they write me to inform me that election is coming up and these people sometimes gave us 24 hours or so notice before they come. Sometimes, they come quietly without even waiting for our response, that has been the problem, they were here about one-and-ahalf years ago, they came in and I gave them audience, where they tabled their proposition in their effort to integrate the UNILORIN ASUU and I gave them all the necessary attention and assistance, I told them that I have good faith that if you want to integrate UNILORIN ASUU, I will advise you to meet all the stakeholders in ASUU and we gave them a good platform to do that and I think unfortunately, they didn’t come up with a decision that people deemed fair; it was not very fair because we all know in democracy that the minority will have their say but the majority will have their way, so that was it, they came up conditions that was not all encompassing, there were two groups, there is one that is made up of seven people

enjoying will be resisted. I have been told several times that we at the University of Ilorin are the people saving the face of education in Nigeria, we are the people rescuing and improving the image of education in Nigeria; if anybody wants to challenge that and abort that effort then that person is left with his conscience.

Ambali

and then you have the majority on the other hand, where you want to integrate, everybody should be made to feel that their position is well articulated, but unfortunately, where you intend to support minority over majority, then there are bound to be concerns and that is how that effort ended.

What kind of relationship exists between the management and other unions of the university?

The relationship has been cordial, we are on the same page in terms of moving the university higher, we have been dialoging with them, we have been exchanging views, we have been expressing either the interests or concern of their members to the management, and we have been addressing some of those things they have put forward as a concern to their members. The relationship is very cordial and that is why over the last 15 years, we have been understudying each other, we have been addressing our problems, we have been able to maintain a stable academic calendar with little or no interruption to the main job that brought all of us here.

What security arrangement is the management making to maintain law and order within and outside the campus?

We have a well laid down security outfit that is monitoring every one and I am sure they live up to the expectations and law and order will be maintained. I told them my doors are always open for dialogue and for mediation and to me the door is still open up till now, and once we come up with a very sound mind and not wanting to overrule the majority, and let sanity prevail, let commonsense be maintained and then as long as the 16 years of peace on campus is not threatened, then we are ready to help all of us to be on the same page. But this is an academic environment, it is very hard for all of us to be on the same page, but we can try and bring them closer, so diverse views are always welcomed as expected on campus,

because of various groups of thought that exist here but shouldn’t threaten the peace that we have enjoyed over the last few years.

How will you describe the comments made by some ASUU members that invaded the campus recently, who said the university is not the only one enjoying academic stability in the country?

That is not true; the only university that has maintained stable academic calendar is UNILORIN. It is on record that the only university in Nigeria that has enjoyed stable academic calendar is University of Ilorin… If you look at the profile of all those that are here, they are people that have problems on their campuses and they want to now bring their problems to UNILORIN that has enjoyed peace over the last 16 years. It is on record and everywhere we go as a team of vice-chancellors from all universities, we have met quite a number of who-is-who in Nigeria and they have all advised them to go the Ilorin way for the sake of Nigerian children because what is happening in other universities is unwelcomed, un-academic, and is not what they have sent their children to go and do. That is a challenge to most of them and that is another challenge even to the umbrella organisation, as I said, I am not a unionist, I am just the leader of UNILORIN team trying to create a conducive atmosphere for academic exercise. None of them can come and boast that they have had stable academic calendar on their campuses, I know all the universities, I know all the vice-chancellors, we meet we compare notes, even professors in all those universities are sending their children to UNILORIN. I want a clear and honest statement that is where we can talk and be on the same page, but where people want to rule by deceit by falsehood and misrepresentation of facts then it’s a problem and we cannot accept that kind of management or administration on our campus. As a person, I am sure they are entitled to their opinion… to serve this nation with all honesty, because any move to challenge the peace that UNILORIN is

Which of the ASUU groups will your management recognise in view of the current crisis within the union in the university?

I will wait until they bring it before me. When it comes, management will come together to look at the nitty gritty, how each group came on board, the circumstances surrounding it and all other protocols if observed then we take our decision. But if I should tell you anything, that is VC’s view not the management of the university’s view.

Looking at the small faction of the people that are claiming to be on board, the university has been monitoring them, they have been meeting to strategise and it is on record that they have never been more than 11, or 13 of them in all the congresses that have been holding on campus.

For the other people that on ground, sometimes more than one thousand members meet to take a decision. Now if both groups present something to you which one will you take knowing that you are the father to all of them? So the majority of those that are part of the group that may look large are not UNILORIN staff they are staff of other universities. I have been in the university business for over 30 years and I have been participating quietly watching the way things are done as far as ASUU is concerned, I have never seen a situation where if a congress is about to hold, about 20 universities will be participating.

But as I said, if whatever they decide come to me, we at the management level will look at the facts on the table and take appropriate decision that will affect the majority positively. You don’t have to be an executive of any association be it ASUU, NASU or SSANU before you can contribute to the development of UNILORIN. If as an individual, if you are employed today and you have a positive thought that the university can embark on to move forward I will listen to you because before you can be a staff you must have good head and they said two good heads are better than one.

So let us refocus our attention. Don’t let us take the institution 20 years backwards because we have come so far and that is why we are better by far.

What is your message to the factional group of ASUU on campus in view of the recent development?

I beg all of us to put our heads together because if all the good heads can come together, we can solve Nigeria’s problem. The government is aware that we have the backlog of the famous ASUU 49 and seven of them are still within the system and they are still looking for their mandate of 20 years ago. If they want to leave the local ASUU they have the write to do so.

If the majority of academic staff that we have feel that they what you to leave them so be it.

Every ASUU staff here is my staff I have no bias against anybody but it is whoever the majority decide to lead them that I feel we should support.

The management is insisting that whoever is emerging, irrespective of his philosophy, if he is able to convince his followers that this is what he wants to do for them and they vote for him and you know in democracy the majority will always have their way.

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UNICEF Gets $4.5m Japan Grant for Interventions in Northeast Uchechukwu Nnaike The Government of Japan has provided a grant of $4.5 million or N1.4 billion for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the provision of life-saving emergency work to assist people affected and displaced by the conflict in northeast Nigeria.

The grant will cover assistance in the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities; health, nutrition and child protection services and education. It will focus

primarily on assistance for children, with special attention to populations trying to return to where they lived before they were forced to flee the violence.

The seven years of conflict in northeast Nigeria, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States have caused massive human suffering, with children and women bearing the brunt of the difficulties. The conflict has triggered major population movements, with the most recent estimate of people displaced by the conflict in the four severely-affected states

put at over 1.7 million- more than half of whom are children.

According to the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough, “the people of Japan are strong supporters of UNICEF’s work to help children and women. This generous grant will help to make a tangible difference in the lives of children who have suffered so much. It will help them to recover physically and psychologically so that they can be children, can go to school and have a brighter future.”

With a similar grant last year from the government and people of Japan, Gough said UNICEF and its partners were able to boost primary health care services for people affected by the conflict in more than 100 health facilities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

“Funding from Japan provided more than 65,000 people with clean water and more than 25,000 people with access to safe sanitation.

Education was improved through creating temporary

learning spaces for children in camps for the displaced; malnourished children were provided with life-saving treatment. Special support has been given to children who have been separated from their families by the conflict, and traumatised children have been given psychosocial support.”

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, said: “The Government of Japan believes that primary education, health and nutrition

are some of the basic rights of every child anywhere in the world and in this regard, Japan has and will continue to make efforts to ensure that no child is denied these basic rights, no matter the situation.”

Since 2000, the Government of Japan has been a major donor supporting child survival activities, prevention of infectious diseases in children and emergency assistance in Nigeria, through the UNICEF/ Federal Government of Nigeria Programme of Cooperation.”

Provosts Seek Restructuring of Colleges of Education The Committee of Provosts (COP) of Colleges of Education in Nigeria has called for an immediate restructuring in colleges of education across the country to make them more relevant in the 21st century teacher education.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued by the committee at the end of its 76th regular meeting held recently at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Abuja. The communiqué was signed by the Chairman, Communiqué Drafting Committee, Prof.

Emmanuel Ojeme.

The group said there is an urgent need to restructure and review the content and admission policy of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as the current admission policy does not favour colleges of education. It also stressed the need for government at all levels to create more incentive for those opting for teaching.

According to the COP, given the advancement in education in the country, colleges of education must be more innovative in profession and practice for their survival and relevance in the society and for that to happen there must be incentives to qualified teachers.

The committee also called for a review of the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) to make it more manageable to enhance productivity and to increase relevance to Nigerians.

It also called for more efforts among colleges of education to increase NCE students’ enrollment in the country’s education sector, saying that all institutions in the country must remain within the boundaries of their core mandate and stop encroaching on others.

The COP cited the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) as one of such institutions encroaching on others, saying that NTI should limit itself to organising workshops, seminars and conferences and stop engaging in distance

learning in NCE and degree programmes, which it is not equipped to run.

To boost the teaching profession, the body called on government at all levels to introduce special incentive for teacher education, to attract high performing students to teach and to remain in the profession.

It called for the professionalisation of the teaching profession with enhanced salary structure to attract those with cognate teaching qualifications. It also urged employers to always employ qualified teachers to teach in their schools.

The COP faulted the current Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which it said was designed without the interest of students’ choice of NCE courses.

“There is need to review the UMTE to detach colleges of education from the process because it is a disadvantage for students who want to study education courses in the country. We recommend the return of old teacher training college to form a feeder to colleges of education, while the NCE programme should be structured to a full two years programme and another two years leading to the award of B.Ed. degree.

Colleges of education in the country should be made to become B.Ed degree awarding institutions.”

To achieve some of the positions it canvassed, the COP said the law establishing the NCCE in Nigeria should be reviewed to become a National Commission for Tertiary Education (NCTE) so as to enhance its capacity to oversee the proposed new status of colleges of education as B.Ed awarding institutions.

To achieve the objective of leapfrogging colleges of education to a greater height in the country, provosts identified the need to lobby policy makers and leaders to influence the desired changed in Nigerian colleges of education in the 21st century and beyond.

L-R: The Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya; the Director Executive Education, School of Media and Communication, PanAtlantic University (PAU), Dr. Mike Okolo; the Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Adefemi Adeniran; and a faculty member, School of Business Administration, PAU, Dr. Darlington Agholor, during the PAU guest lecture series at the main campus in Lekki, Lagos ...recently

NBFT Vows to Encourage Reading, Despite Harsh Economy Uchechukwu Nnaike In spite of the harsh economic situation in the country, which has adversely affected companies involved in importation of raw materials and end-products within the book industry, the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT) has said it will not relent in its crusade to get Nigerians back on track of reading.

The non-governmental and non-profit making organization, which has consistently organized book fairs in the country for 14 years, said despite the challenges, it still garnered the resources at its disposal to organise this year’s book fair because “it is always the mission of the trust to get Nigerians encouraged and

engaged with reading even in the face of economic challenges and this can only be achieved when books are made available and affordable to Nigerians.

This is the cardinal focus of the trust.”

In his remarks the Chairman of the Trust, Rilwanu Abdulsalami, said this year’s fair which would hold from May 9 to 14, 2016 at the Multi-purpose Halls of the University of Lagos, is open to publishers, booksellers, printers and other stakeholders in the book industry from across Europe, Asia, African countries and Nigeria.

He said some of the countries expected to participate in the fair are United Kingdom, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, South

Africa, Ghana and Kenya.

Abdulsalami, who was represented by the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Babs Fashanu, said as part of the programmes for the fair, an international conference with the theme ‘Book- The Untapped Entertainment Treasure in Africa’, adding that the keynote paper would be delivered by a professor of English Language at the University of Lagos, Hope Eghagha.

He said some of the unique features of this year’s fair include: restructuring of exhibition stands; plan to create a cyber café for the exhibitors; arrangements with some private transport companies in Lagos to make executive taxis available to participants; discounted hotel accommodation for those coming from outside

Lagos; as well as the participation of more government officials.

He said the book fair would afford the participants the opportunities to buy books and other instructional materials at a discounted rate; access to updates on new developments in the book industry at national and global levels; access to the latest local and foreign titles and unlimited business opportunities resulting from increased contacts.

Other benefits are opportunity to buy and sell publishing or distribution rights from prominent authors or publishers; opportunity to meet prominent authors, publishers and other major stakeholders in the book industry; as well as an avenue to bring together all the stakeholders in the book chain in Nigeria.

Edu Platform, UNN Partner to Enhance Learning through Technology Paul Obi in Abuja An ICT company, Edu Platform Nigeria Limited and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka are to partner in the area of ICT to enhance learning in the country. This was part of the agreement reached at a one-day workshop to sensitise stakeholders and staff of the institution on “Courseware Design and Development for Open and

Distance Learning (ODL).

The workshop came on the heels of the recent mandate by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as regards commencement of distance learning degree programmes centred on introducing participants to instructional design principles and theories; course material development and equipping them with the knowledge and skills required for the design and

development of ODL compliant course contents.

Addressing the participants, the Project Manager of Emerging Platforms Group, Mr. Olorunninwo Ebinisa, explained that it is important to equip the academic staff with the necessary technological skills to design and develop course ware materials suitable for distance learning, as it would contribute to the overall quality of the programme.

Ebinisa said the centre, “when functional, will be equipped with the appropriate modern technological infrastructure that will serve several stakeholders, including teachers and students effectively. “The centre will be a platform through which students of the distance learning programmes can access information from electronic devices outside the confines of the university.

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World Book Day: ANA President Tasks Students on Creative Writing Funmi Ogundare The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Denja Abdullahi, has called on students to cultivate the habit of writing creatively, which he said is intertwined with character formation.

Abdullahi, who made this known recently at a programme organised by Flipbook to commemorate the World Book and Copyright Day, said creativity is paramount in all people do if they are able to observe their environment well. He said students should be able to read widely as this would also inform their character.

“You must think outside the box, you can’t write well if you don’t read, the more you read, the more you will begin to exploit your vocabulary.”

He said reading and listening to African traditional folk tales would also help to form their character traits to develop the power of imagination.

“Creative writing can lift your emotion and relief you of stress, it teaches you empathy and compassion. You are able to develop sincerity and truthfulness.”

The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District III, Mr. Olaniyi Gbemi, who was represented by the Director Co-curricular, Science and Technology Department, Mrs. Aderonke Odunsi, described the event as a celebration of reading, while expressing concern that public school students usually find it difficult to settle down and read.

“It has been affecting the results we have been having

in WASSCE and BECE for some time, until the Lagos State government in partnership with the World Bank intervened.”

She said the day gives children the opportunity to get closer to books and read on their own, as well as get familiar with the authors of the books. “There is nothing stopping you as a child from writing your own books and develop your talents by so doing. You can do what the likes of Williams Shakespeare have done.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Consult, Mr. Cdon Adinuba, emphasised proficiency, saying, “you don’t have to be a graduate of communication, English or any related field for you to write well. You must know how to communicate and be considered diligent and efficient to be given

high responsibilities.

“If you write well, you will become the conscience of the society and people will respect you. Being a writer helps you in many ways and also enhances your communication skills.”

The Executive Director of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Chief Chris Mmeje, commended the initiator of the programme for bringing young people together to focus their attention on the need to think.

“Thinking precedes writing. You cannot write down what you have not thought of. One of the criticisms of our current educational system is that it produces schooled people who are not educated. The core of the weakness is that individuals go to school without developing the responsibility for the arduous task of thinking.”

WhyAreYouSleepinginClass?

What would make a teacher constantly drop his/ her head on the table in the staff room and sleep off? Worse still what would make you doze off during staff meetings, whilst important matters are being discussed. Why are you not addressing the constant embarrassment you suffer when your students catch you sleeping or dozing in class?

A common culprit in this matter is insomnia.

Insomnia refers to repeated or recurrent experiences of inadequate sleep. Sleep is an essential part of good health and wellbeing. A good night’s sleep helps you feel good, look healthy, work effectively and think clearly.

Sleep impacts positively on your mind, body and soul. Your body’s organs and systems are at work, conducting healing and tissue repairs, whilst you are asleep. Your brain and mind re-calibrate whilst you are sleeping and body growths occur whilst you are asleep.

Sleep however is not always easy to come by. If you sometimes or always have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you are not alone.

Daytime drowsiness is often indicative of a sleep problem that is potentially dangerous to your health, if not treated urgently.

World-wide, there are current statistics showing that nearly a quarter of the population cannot go to, or remain asleep. Every year, doctors write out millions of prescriptions of sleeping tablets worldwide.

Do you have a repeat prescription for insomnia?

Have you honestly identified why you are sleeping in class?

Omoru writes from the UK

Samsung, Skool Media Partner Govt on Digitalised Classrooms

The founder, Digital Bananas Technology, Mr. Keji Giwa, addressing a cross-section of participants during the launch of the Career Insights in Lagos… recently

Firm Empowers Youths through Online Project Mgt Uchechukwu Nnaike An ICT firm, Career Insights, a subsidiary of Digital Bananas Technology, is poised to curb the problem of unemployment in the country by creating an online platform for youths to gain practical work experience in project management or business analysis on a voluntary basis after being trained by a team of digital project management and business analysis experts.

Briefing journalists at the launch of Career Insight Nigeria, in Lagos recently, the founder of Digital Bananas Technology, Mr. Keji Giwa, said the company, which has operated in the UK for about 10 years, has helped about 10,000 people to secure jobs abroad.

He said he decided to launch the company in Nigeria to provide youths with experience that will give them competitive advantage at a

subsidised rate.

According to him, the firm offers comprehensive and well blended work-based learning environment with senior leadership workshops, innovative projects to work on, inspirational sessions, as well as one-to-one mentoring to help over 30 candidate secure life changing roles each month.

“At Career Insights they are not just trainers but also passionate researchers, analysts, consultants and most importantly, practitioners.

Meaning, the insight and advice you get is completely up to date and relevant to your chosen industry so you can be confident that what you are learning is cutting edge.”

He said with a monthly subscription of N39,000, which is minimal when compared with the N810,000 (1,790 Pounds) charged in the UK, participants get to work with others on live digital projects

to give them the experiences they will be able to draw on throughout their careers.

However, he said those who have experience in certain fields, who come on the platform to add value to the inexperienced ones do not need to pay the subscription fee.

He said the platform will benefit graduates as “the more work experience you have as a graduate, the stronger your chances of securing a well-paid role relevant to your educational and career status.” It also serves as a career changer for those that are fed up with their current roles and need a career change; something more challenging, exciting and pays well; as well those who feel they need to move up to a more managerial or an analytical role.

He said one does not require much experience to be on the platform, adding, “all we

require is for you to have a strong desire to succeed, not afraid to get your hands dirty, willing to learn and apply yourself.”

Giwa said the business has grown through word of mouth, adding that when one of the candidates secures a project management or business analysis role as a result of the e-Workexperience, they tend to tell their friends and family members, which in turn generates more business for the company.

On the kind of services the company renders, he said it provides digital solutions and digital transformation, as well as helps companies have a digital strategy.

“Because we are living in a digital age, you need to find a way to connect with the customers and transform your businesses. We missed out on the industrial age; we must not miss out on the digital age.”

Samsung Electronics West Africa has partnered Skool Media and the Federal Ministry of Education to digitalise classrooms on the mobile learning platform across unity schools in Nigeria, as part of efforts to enhance digital learning and to ensure that students get the opportunity to have their classrooms literally on their palms.

Speaking on the new partnership, the Director, Business to Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Charles Ojei, said the solution provides tablets for students with relevant and practical educational content hence putting the ‘classroom in the palms’ of the students.

He said it would make the classroom interactive, collaborative and conducive for students and teachers.

“The solution also provides security of the device and helps the schools to filter contents consumed by students; it makes the device purely for academic purpose. The initiative is a laudable milestone in the Nigerian education system as it will give teachers control over the classrooms and give students an atmosphere that makes learning easier and more memorable.”

The Project Director, Skool Media, Moses Imayi, expressed hope that the partnership would promote ICT development in Nigeria, while providing tools for facilitating process values. “The vision is to see the average Nigerian student become familiar and truly comfortable with learning in a digitalised classroom.

This we believe will be the beginning of better performing educational system in Nigeria.

Through this project, we are building the IT competence of the next generation of leaders and providing employment opportunities to over 200 young Nigerian graduates.”

He said many Nigerian students are not familiar with new learning tools such as tablets, electronics boards and even accessing appropriate educational content online, adding that the purpose of this partnership is to change such mindset among the students and the teachers.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, expressed delight about the impact the partnership would have on education.

He commended Samsung for its efforts and contributions towards ICT development in the country, saying, “we are indeed grateful to Samsung for tapping into the goal of the ministry of education to train quality teachers. We encourage all beneficiaries of this project to take full ownership of it and let the improved quality of teaching reflect in our students’ results.”

He urged all stakeholders in the education sector to partner the ministry to salvage the country’s education system.

“As ICT becomes more and more entrenched in our lives, it is essential that our students are exposed to it, guided by teachers who can use technology to add real value to the learning experience.”

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Terrorism: VC Advises Parents against Sending Children Abroad for Studies Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia With the rise in terrorists’ activities across the world and the recruitment drive by terrorist organisations, Nigerian parents have been warned against sending their children to acquire university education overseas because of the “high risk” involved.

The Vice-Chancellor of Rhema University, Aba, Professor Ogbonnaya Onwudike, who made this known at a press conference, said when children

are sent to foreign universities with no opportunity for parental guide, the consequences becomes disastrous.

“Parents stand the risk of losing their children if they send them outside the country without parental guidance at a tender age. It is advisable to send them overseas after the completion of their first degrees at home.

“It is important for parents to understand that in as much as it may be a noble idea to train children overseas, young people generally need parental

guidance in their youthful stages of development.”

Onwudike explained that the warning became necessary because “while there is no shortage of material knowledge in the world today, there is great shortage of good character and integrity even among those who are internationally acclaimed in terms of their technological and academic knowledge and breakthrough.

“If a university produces chemists, engineers, politicians, doctors, administrators, among others without character, the

world will be worse for it since such a university will only produce learned pedants, cunning sophists and pretentious practitioners.”

The VC stressed that godly discipline and character formation must be part of education curriculum, adding that “we believe that if we neglect this in our education, we will have trouble for ourselves, our nation, our families and society in general.”

Onwudike said when men and women are well trained morally and academically as

practised at the university, they “will not be lost to society or to their parents and families”, as would be the case when they are exposed to a care-free educational environment.

He said the institution, which was founded by the Living Word Ministries, “aims at training, nurturing and equipping students for excellence both in academics and morals” and is now ready to harvest its first fruits.

According to him, the maiden convocation cer-

emony of the university would involve the award of degrees to 44 pioneer graduates in various disciplines, comprising three in first class division, 22 in second class upper division, 18 in second class lower division, and one person in third class degree category.

The VC expressed delight thwat despite the initial doubt about the survival of the institution as a result of the capital intensive nature of establishing and running a university, “the project has turned out to be a huge success.”

VC: One-third of Adeleke Varsity Students on Scholarship Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The management of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State has disclosed that one-third of its students are on scholarship.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwole Amusan, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists at the campus recently, said the institution has been made easier for students with the option of four installment payment, maintaining that “it was a rare feat in the history of any private university in Nigeria.”

He added that the average of N590,000 fee paid in the institution includes the cost of lodging and feeding for “at least two meals per day. Our new hostels are acclaimed the best so far with en-suite rooms, each room with its own toilet and bathroom.

“The founder of the university has been funding indigent students and awarding scholarships to many students of diverse background since 1996.

The idea of this scholarship culminated into founding Adeleke University.

“Up till date, the scholarships being offered through Springtime Development Foundation continues and fees of all students in the university are subsidised by various percentages, partially and some enjoyed as much as 100 per cent sponsorship.”

He said the five-year-old university has graduated top national leaders with serious efforts on research that can benefit the country.

“Anti-oxidant and Hepatoprotective potential of lemon juice and sorghum ogi (lemon ogi) mixture against paracetamol induced liver damage in rat was carried out in the Faculty of Science among many other ongoing researches in diverse fields.”

He stated that the university enjoys a good relationship with the indigenes, adding that religious tolerance has been established.

500 Corps Members Acquire Skills in Sokoto Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto A total of 500 corps members have benefited from the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto State since the inception of the programme.

Speaking with THISDAY in Sokoto on Monday, the state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Thomas Yamma, said most of the beneficiaries of the programme have become self-employed, while some are employers of labour.

He said the objective of the programme was to reduce unemployment so that after the service year, corps members could be self-employed and even be employers of labour.

Yamma explained that during the three week orientation programme at the NYSC camp, the corps members

are usually trained on various vocational skills such as tailoring, hairdressing and tile making.

“During the three week orientation programme at the camp in Sokoto, we bring in trainers who will train the corps members on different skills.

We have different types which include tailoring, carpentry, tile making, cosmetology, hairdressing, among others.

“It may interest you to know that the cloth I am wearing now was made by a corps member and this cost only N5,000 and it was done at the orientation camp, so, if one can sustain this, the better for him.

“In fact, the Bank of Industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the NYSC Foundation, have come in to give them loans because the corps members have been taught how to write feasibility studies. The loan ranges from N250,000 to N1 million and we use their

L-R: The Developer Experience and Evangelism Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Shina Oyetosho; the leader, Team Humane, Ayodele Obasegun; a member of the team, Otaru Babatunde and Chief Information Officer, Sterling Bank, Olayinka Oni, at the national final of the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition in Lagos… recently

US-based Foundation Donates Shoes to 500 Pupils in Owerri Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A United States-based Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO), When in Need Foundation (WIN) has donated shoes to 500 pupils of Sam Njemanze Primary School, Owerri, Imo State, as part of its global outreach programme tagged ‘Mission of Mercy’ (MOM).

Its Director of Media, Mr. George Onuorah, who made this known in a statement issued in Abuja, said it has become pertinent for the foundation to hold an awareness programme in Nigeria and also share the

impact it has been able to make with limited resources.

“Since 2012, the foundation has continued to impact lives globally through the MOM, which is the global outreach programme of WIN; the foundation has assisted many individuals in need with basic amenities, food, supplies, medical, healthcare, and educational resources globally.”

The director stressed that the programme has positively impacted thousands of individuals particularly women, children and orphans in Nigeria, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos,

Dominican Republic, Chile, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, among others.“In Nigeria, some of the programmes completed or in the final stages of completion thus far include: rehabilitating various dilapidated structures as well as supply of shoes to 500 pupils at Sam Njemanze Primary School, Owerri; suppoarted orphanage homes in Abuja FCT and Jigawa State; distribution of Ebola check kits to schools in Abuja and across the country; rural agricultural empowerment project in Ntueke, Imo State; medical assistance

for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in a camp in Abuja, among many others.”

Onuorah explained that in November 2013, the foundation joined the Clinton Foundation and the Friends of Rockaway to help rebuild a home that was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in the Rockaways, New York in the spirit of community service and giving back.

He said the foundation has also awarded scholarships for four students at four different high schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US for two years running.

Chapeville School Holds Maiden Sports Day Rebecca Ejifoma and Lauretta Omosogha Pupils of Chapeville Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu Lagos recently hit the fields for the school’s maiden inter-house sports competition, held at the neighbouring Strong Tower Academy.

The school, which turned five last month, said sports is part of education; hence, to give its pupils quality education, it integrated the inter-house sports into the system.

In a chat with THISDAY at

the event, the Proprietress, Mrs. Olajumoke Ogunsanya, explained that the competition was part of efforts to enhance the pupils’ learning and social skills mentally and physically, as well as to instil in them good character and the principle of fair play.

“Although the calendar for this term is very tight, the children showed so much excitement and commitment during the preparation. This made some of their parents present today despite their busy schedule. We have at least 60 per cent of our

parents here.”

She said the event went smoothly, as teachers were assigned to handle various aspects of the inter-house sports. She said the financial aspect would have caused a setback, but some of the parents supported.

Ogunsanya, who decried the challenges of today’s parenting, said: “Today’s economy has really affected parenting. Most parents leave their homes at 4:30am and return at 11:00pm.

Some could not make it here today because they were not

permitted at their places of work. Some parents no longer stay at home to take care of their children. They neither see them when they wake up, nor when they go to bed.”

She therefore appealed to government at all levels to improve the living condition of parents to enable them take care of their children. “The government should create a working situation where all mothers will close at a specific time, early enough. That will enable them take care of their children.

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CITYSTRINGS

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

A Boost for Community Policing In an effort to boost rural security, the Edo State Government built a police barracks at Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, writes Adibe Emenyonu

The air-conditioned Mopol 90 Mobile Police Barracks built by Edo State Government at Iyamho

I

t is not in doubt that one of the problems facing the average policeman/woman is the issue of accommodation in addition to lack of other incentives. To this end, most police officers posted out or deployed to other areas often faced with housing problem to the extent that a section of their divisions and state commands are usually mapped out as temporary sleeping places for such officers because of lack of accommodation.

A visit to most police stations readily confirms this.

Victor Edoren, an inspector of police faced this challenge when he was transferred from Lokoja, capital of Kogi State to Benin City, Edo State. Because he has nowhere to go and the fact that the few barracks available are already congested, Edoren had no other alternative than to be sleeping at the state Police Command and from there to his place of primary assignment, all because of lack of accommodation. He stayed there for close to one year before he was able

get a decent accommodation.

Agbakuru Ibe, a corporal in the police force faced similar accommodation challenges soon after he was transferred from Benin City

The long hours a policeman stays on his beat along the road without anywhere to hide under the scorching sun or when it rains, no better place to lay his head after work, justifies why he deserves a good accommodation

to Uromi. Faced with lack of where to lay his head, Ibe at first was jostling between Benin City and Uromi on daily basis not minding the consequences of road mishap associated with such frequent traveling. Unable to bear the cost of transportation, he had to work for his transfer back to Uromi.

To both Edoren and Ibe, such experiences are never a pleasant one. However, when they heard the story of Babalola Obafemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who was deployed to Akure from Benin, they counted themselves lucky. Obafemi while in the process of moving from his previous location to the new deployment area, had a fatal accident that nearly consumed his life, but for divine intervention.

Apart from that, the long hours a policeman stays on his beat along the road without anywhere to hide under the scorching sun or when it rains, no better place to lay his head after work, justifies why he deserves a good

accommodation.

It was on this premise that Edo State government decided to add their voice in the numerous calls for proper accommodation for security agencies in order to ensure optimum performance.

Another reason for this venture, is to boost effective policing more so with the establishment of Edo University, Iyamho, the Bua Cement at Okpella and the upcoming $1billion Okpella Cement by Dangote Group all within the same axis More to this is the frequent onslaught by armed bandits who on several occasions have raided banks in Auchi, Igarra, Uromi and its environs through neighbouring states close to the crime scenes.

All these and more according to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, informed the need for the accommodation where police men will be quartered to effectively carry out their legitimate duty of providing security.

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CITYSTRINGS

L-R: Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, Governor Oshiomhole, HRH Sule Idaiye Imah IV of Somorika and IG Solomon Arase, during the commissioning of the Mopol 90 Police Barracks built by the Edo State Government at Iyamho…recently

The smallest here is a sitting room and a bedroom with toilet and bath room with a small kitchen so that every policeman will have his kitchen, sitting room and a bedroom complete with air condition. So when a policeman has been at the checkpoint some times for 24 hours, my expectation is that after that he should be able to move into a room with air condition. That way he recognises that the society appreciates the selfless service he renders on the streets Speaking while handing over the edifice to the Inspector General of Police, the governor explained that the two storey blocks containing a room and parlour, is meant for the rank and file, the six unit twin two bedroom flat is for officers, while the four bedroom unit is for the commander.

Oshiomhole, who noted that his intention while interacting with the building contractor was to do something very good, also added, "My own idea was to make the Commander of the Mobile Police unit residence so attractive that the Commissioner of Police may be tempted to come and live here".

According to him, "Part of our challenge in Nigeria is convincing the elites to accept that there is life outside the big cities. That you can actually get unpolluted air and access to nature and eat organic foods as opposed to foods that

Side view of the air-conditioned building

have been preserved in deep freezers for weeks.

“The smallest here is a sitting room and a bedroom with toilet and bath room with a small kitchen so that every policeman will have his kitchen, sitting room and a bedroom complete with air condition. So when a policeman has been at the checkpoint some times for 24 hours, my expectation is that after that he should be able to move into a room with air condition. That way he recognises that the society appreciates the selfless service he renders on the streets.

"Not many Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices the police make on the highway. The truth is when you interview a policeman and he tells you how many hours he has been on a bit, and its threatening to rain, there is no house on the road for him to stay. He has to stay under the rain or sun to execute his duties and by the time you get home obviously you will

be very tired. And when he gets back home without a comfortable house to stay, there is no way such an officer will give his best to the society”.

Receiving the housing estate on behalf of his men, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, described the buildings as state of the art barracks and expressed his gratitude to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Arase, who appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to take a queue from the Edo State government, maintained that the business of securing the country is the responsibility of all.

His words: "Edo State government has given us not just a barrack but a functional barracks to the Nigerian police force, that is on the human aspect of it. Secondly we will now be able to use the men that are posted

in this barracks to lock down the highway between here and Lokoja which have become very serious security threat to the nation.

“So we are using both the comfort of our officers and also the security imperative of the nation putting both of them together. I am very excited, I am grateful to the Comrade Governor for having the interest of the Nigerian government and the police at heart.

“We are also appealing to corporate organisations, public spirited Nigerians to be able to reach out to us the way the Comrade Governor has reached out to us today. They say to whom much is given much is expected.

The Comrade Governor has done much for us, I am sure officers that will come and stay in this conducive home will have no choice than to give their best to Nigerians that have done so much for them.”

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Earthquake: UN Drums Support For Ecuador $72.7m needed to assist country

Jaiyeola Andrews inAbuja he United Nations office in Ecuador has called on international community to assist the country over a massive earthquake that hit it recently.

The flash appeal that was launched on April 22, indicated that $72.7m is needed to assist people in need over the next three months.

The impact of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake (Richter scale) on April 16 that struck coastal areas in North-west Ecuador has been a major concern to Ecuador and global community.

A statement released by UnderSecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien said: “I have also decided to release $7 million through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to rapidly scale up the life-saving assistance and to support the coordinated, coherent efforts of humanitarian partners.

“I thank those member states who have already responded and call today on all others to do likewise.”He added that UN was providing complementary support to government relief efforts.

O’Brien noted that On April 17,

a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) was deployed to support on-site coordination in the towns of Manta, PortoViejo, Pedernales and Quito.

He disclosed that In close coordination with the National Disaster Management Agency (Secretaria de Gestión del Riesgo, SGR) and the UN-managed

Secretariat for the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), a number of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams were also deployed.

On his part the Ambassador of Ecuador to Nigeria, Leopoldo Rovayo said his government opened an official account that could be used to send a donation.

Burundi’s President Condemns General’s Killing as Violence Escalates Burundi’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza, has condemned the killing of a senior army officer, who was shot along with his wife and bodyguard in an attack that also wounded their child in the central African nation’s expanding wave of deadly violence.

Brigadier general Athanase Kararuza, who was a military adviser in the office of the vice president, was dropping his child at a school in a neighbourhood of the capital Bujumbura on Monday when his car was attacked by rocket and gun fire, army spokesman Gaspard Baratuza told reporters.

Kararuza has previously worked as a deputy commander of an international peace force in the Central African

Republic (CAR).

“He energetically fought against the coup plotters last year and exceptionally contributed in strengthening peace and security during and after elections,” Nkurunziza said in a statement late on Monday.

“We humbly pray that with the help of God perpetrators of the shameful acts are arrested and quickly punished according to the law.”

PUBLIC NOTICE I formerly known and addressed as ISAH ALIYU IBNI, now wish to be known and addressed as ALIYU ISAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ALL FOR CHIBOK GIRLS

L-R: US Assistant Secretary of State, Linda Thomas-Greenfield; Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and President, SouthEast South-South Professionals of Nigeria, Emeka Ugwu-Oju after the forum on the Kidnapped Chibok School girls at Capitol Hill, Washington DC...recently ABIODUN AJALA

Kerry Calls for Timely Election in Meeting with Congo’s Kabila The United States Secretary of State John Kerry, has stressed the need for timely and credible elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent meeting with President Joseph Kabila, the State Department said on Monday amid concerns by opposition groups that Kabila may be seeking to delay elections.

Kerry and Kabila held talks on the sidelines of the signing of a global climate pact at the

United Nations on Friday.

Congolese opposition groups have accused Kabila, who won disputed elections in 2006 and 2011, of maneuvering to stand for a third term, which is barred by the constitution. Kabila has not commented on his future.

“The Secretary did emphasize that the U.S. stands ready to be a partner to all of those who are committed to timely, credible elections as called for by the DRC’s constitution,”State

Department spokesman John Kirby told a press briefing.

The Congolese government has suggested that logistical and budgetary constraints could force it to postpone the poll, a move some of Kabila’s opponents say is a deliberate tactic by the president to cling to power.

“The Secretary stressed that a peaceful transition in the DRC will allow President Kabila to cement his legacy,”

Kirby added.

During their meeting, Kerry also emphasized that citizens should be allowed to speak freely without intimidation.

Police, using tear gas, dispersed hundreds of anti-government protesters in southeastern DRC on April 20. Since then authorities have arrested dozens of critics of Kabila in what the U.N. and human rights groups said were trumped up charges.

Syria: Targeted Air Strikes Kill Five Rescue Workers Overnight air strikes and a rocket attack on an opposition-held area west of Aleppo killed five rescue workers, who appeared to have been deliberately targeted, a monitoring group and colleagues nearby said.

The raids, which the rescue workers said consisted of two air strikes and at least one rocket, hit a centre for the Syrian Civil Defence, known as the “White Helmets”, in the town of Atareb, some 25 km (15 miles) west of

Aleppo.

Fighting has intensified in Aleppo province in recent weeks as a partial truce brokered the United States and Russia has all but broken down.

The Civil Defence corps work as first responders in oppositionheld territory where medical infrastructure has broken down.

“The targeting was very precise,” Radi Saad, a Civil Defence worker based in northwestern Syria, told Reuters via internet.

“They were in the centre and ready to respond. When they heard warplanes in the area they did not think they would be the target.”

It was unclear whether Syrian or Russian warplanes had launched the raids, he said. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government.

Another Civil Defence member, Ahmad Sheikho, said five rescue workers had died and two were seriously wounded. Ambulances

and cars belonging to doctors were also destroyed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said at least five had been killed, confirming that the centre appeared to have been deliberately targeted.

In Aleppo city, government air strikes and insurgent bombardments have killed dozens of people in the last few days, the Observatory says.

100 Migrants Arrested in Niger near Algerian Border Niger’s security forces have arrested more than 100 people in the Sahara desert who were trying to illegally cross the country’s northern border into neighbouring Algeria, security sources said yesterday.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said the arrests, which took place on Saturday, concerned 122

women and children found in a single truck. Local media said 150 people had been arrested.

An estimated 100,000 people passed through Agadez last year, a city in the centre of the West African state and a major hub for sub-Saharan migrants aiming to reach North Africa and Europe.

Authorities believe more will come through this year.

A security official said the truck had bypassed Assamaka, the final desert checkpoint in Niger before the border with Algeria, and was found by a customs patrol car.

“The patrol immobilised the truck, discovered the migrants on board and gave the alert,” said the official.

Giussepe Loprete, IOM’s mission head in Niger, said the

migrants had been returned to Agadez on Sunday, where they were staying at an IOM centre before the organisation would facilitate their returns to their areas of origin.

“All these people ignore the dangers that loom over them, like the breakdown of a truck in such a vast desert and the exhaustion of their reserves,” said Loprete

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Pick n Pay Plans Nigeria Entry, to Partner Leventis Nume Ekeghe with agency report Pick n Pay Stores Limited has announced plans to enter Nigeria through a partnership with a local company as the South African retailer extends its reach on the continent following a 26 percent rise in full-year earnings. The supermarket and clothing chain has agreed to partner Lagos-based AG Leventis & Company to enter Africa’s largest economy, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

Leventis has experience dealing with on-the-ground challenges in Nigeria such as transportation, getting products into stores, and property, Pick n Pay said.

“We need to further extend our Africa business,” Bloomberg quoted the Chief Executive Officer, Richard Brasher, to have said in a presentation in Cape Town. Pick n Pay will hold 51 per cent of the operation in Nigeria, which will tap the experience of its local partner, he said.

Pick n Pay’s planned entrance to Nigeria comes after two of its South African competitors decided that having operations in the country wasn’t worth the

effort. Truworths International Limited a clothing retailer, said in February it would close its two remaining Nigeria stores after struggling to get stock into the country and cash out. Food and apparel chain Woolworths Holdings Limited announced the closure of its three stores in the country in 2013.

“A lot of people rush into things and then maybe rush out of them,” Brasher said.

“We needed to partner with an experienced local partner, which I believe we’ve found.”

Pick n Pay has already expanded into African markets such as Botswana and Zimbabwe and plans to open stores in Ghana next year. Profit before tax outside of South Africa rose 20 per cent in 2016.

The entry into Nigeria, which is “something that we thought long and hard about,” will be a measured process, Brasher said.

“Today we’re just announcing that we’re going, we haven’t packed our bags yet and we haven’t been down to the bank to get our travelers’ checks.”

Pick n Pay is working to reduce costs and operate more efficiently in its home market, where rising food inflation has presented a challenge to growth.

The company restricted sellingprice rises to 3.1 per cent over the year, compared with seven per cent inflation in February, the last month of the reporting period.

Sales advanced 8.2 per cent to 72.4 billion rand ($5 billion) for the year, helped by 175 store openings, while the tradingprofit margin improved to 2.1 percent, from 1.9 per cent in 2015.

The shares rose 0.1 per cent to 69.58 rand in Johannesburg, valuing the company at 34 billion rand.

South African retailers are facing headwinds including weak domestic consumer confidence, rising interest rates and a falling rand, which has declined 16 percent against the dollar over the past 12 months. The central bank forecasts economic growth for South Africa this year of 0.8 percent, which would be the slowest pace since a 2009 recession.

Earnings per share, excluding one-time items, rose 26 percent to 2.24 rand in the year through February, Pick n Pay said. The median estimate of seven analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg was for adjusted earnings per share of 2.18 rand.

????

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

FEBRUARY 2016 Broad Money (M2)

20,489,166.72

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,095,578.34

NBS: Telecoms Subscriber Base Shrank to 148.68m in 2015

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,377,483.11

---- Demand Deposits

7,682,095.23

James Emejo

-- Quasi Money

11,429,588.38

The total number of subscribers to the Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) shrank to 148.68 million as at December 2015, compared to 149.78 million in the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

Nevertheless, the new figure represented an increase of over 12 million subscribers (12,004,756) or 8.78 percent relative to December 2015.

It said the drop in total subscribers was due to a declines in MTN (from 62.4 million subscribers to 61.2 million as well as Etisalat (from 23.4 million to 22.1 million) while Glo and Airtel witnessed rises in their number of subscribers.

The NBS added that on year on year basis however, the numbers of gsm subscribers rose from 136.6 million in December 2014 to 148.6 million in December 2015.

It said GSM internet subscrip-

tions rose from 97.06 million subscribers at the end of Q3 2015 to 97.5 million in November before dropping to 97.03 million in December due to a decline in subscriptions in MTN while all other providers witnessed a rise in subscriptions.

According to the “Nigerian Telecommunications Sector: Summary Report for Q4 and Full Year 2015” which was released by the statistical agency, after July, “only Airtel experienced a consistent increase in the number of subscribers, and MTN and Etisalat ended the year with less subscribers than in April.” It stated that mobile subscribers using GSM dominated and accounted for 98.45 percent of the total followed by the CDMA which accounted for 1.42 percent while the fixed wired and wireless platforms made up 0.08 percent and 0.04 percent respectively.

It added that the dominance of GSM users had increased slightly since December 2014,

when 98.29 percent of subscribers used the technology type.

However, GSM users decreased slightly since the end of the third quarter in September, when 98.52 percent of subscribers used GSM technology.

The share of all other technology types also decreased between December 2014 and December 2015, it stated.

The NBS said:”Most of the increase in the number of subscribers was attributable to additional Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) subscriptions. The yearly increase between December 2015 and December 2014 was 8.78%, slightly higher than the growth in the overall number of subscriptions, but considerably higher than for other technology types.

It further stated that GSM remained the most popular subscription type, and that only a small fraction of subscriptions are for fixed lines (wireless or wired).

Stanbic IBTC Supports Well-being among Children Peter Uzoho Stanbic IBTC, a member of the Standard Bank Group said it has distributed treated mosquito nets to school children in the Makoko, Yaba area of Lagos State. The distribution, according to the bank was part of efforts at helping to stem the malaria scorch and in the process contribute to the health and wellbeing of children and other community members in the Makoko area.

The distribution was done at the Adekunle Anglican School, Makoko, at a special event to mark the World Malaria Day organised in partnership with

Slum2School, a non-government organisation devoted to meeting the educational needs and aspirations of indigent children.

Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, while speaking on the partnership with Slum2School, said the distribution of the mosquito nets and similar interventions are Stanbic IBTC’s contribution to the eradication of the malaria pandemic.

This, she said, was in line with the 2016 theme for World Malaria Day, “End Malaria for Good”, to eradicate malaria and other forms of diseases through appropriate interventions. She

stated that the Stanbic IBTC Group’s corporate social investment philosophy is focused on three key pillars of education, health, and economic empowerment.

“Stanbic IBTC, as a socially responsible organisation, has a CSI value focused on the three key pillars of health, education and economic empowerment.

Through this health intervention, we hope to ensure that our children, irrespective of their social status or circumstance, live a healthy, malaria-free life so that they can concentrate on their education and eventually enjoy a higher quality of life,” said Olumide-Ojo.

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,471,351.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

15,017,814.94 22,414,322.75

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC) ---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,424,029.62

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

4,807,604.55

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

1,383,574.93

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

18,990,293.13

--Other Assets Net

7,396,507.81

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,095,380.23

--Currency in Circulation

1,711,623.51

--Banks Reserves

3,383,756.72 •

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) •

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY, 25 APRIL 2016 Vienna, Austria, 26 April 2016--The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $39.40 a barrel on Monday, compared with $39.78 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY •

A APRIL

49

,

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

26-Apr-16

25-Apr-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

01 Dangote Cement Plc

161.04

161.04

0.00%

2,744,203,312,501.20

10.64

15.13

5.58

4.97%

4.26

02 Nigerian Brew. Plc.

106.09

105.70

0.37%

841,198,313,207.92

5.37

19.69

3.03

3.41%

4.92

03 Nestle Nigeria Plc.

620.00

620.00

0.00%

491,446,876,240.00

29.95

20.70

3.25

4.68%

12.93

04 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

16.10

15.92

1.13%

473,841,985,506.40

3.38

4.71

2.04

11.12%

1.13

05 Zenith Bank Plc

12.06

12.15

-0.74%

378,641,715,059.16

3.37

3.61

0.88

14.81%

0.64

06 Lafarge Africa Plc.

74.00

74.00

0.00%

337,062,733,940.00

5.93

12.48

1.26

4.05%

1.91

250.00

275.12

-9.13%

325,620,275,750.00

4.45

61.85

2.88

1.25%

7.74

14.70

14.70

0.00%

269,738,402,860.50

1.39

10.56

0.52

4.22%

0.72

340.00

340.00

0.00%

188,125,506,420.00

23.48

14.48

1.67

4.68%

0.67

10 Guinness Nig Plc

97.00

98.00

-1.02%

146,071,154,236.00

0.78

125.92

2.96

0.00%

3.30

11 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

14.30

14.30

0.00%

143,000,000,000.00

2.04

7.02

1.21

0.70%

1.27

12 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.41

3.37

1.19%

123,713,184,758.02

1.64

2.05

0.39

17.80%

0.37

13 FBN Holdings Plc

3.31

3.32

-0.30%

118,813,419,141.52

2.16

1.54

0.30

30.12%

0.21

29.25

29.25

0.00%

110,661,415,312.50

0.32

92.81

1.87

0.17%

13.83

145.00

142.59

1.69%

92,885,602,635.00

11.12

12.82

1.17

1.54%

3.81

3.90

3.83

1.83%

89,243,383,741.20

2.28

1.68

0.33

14.36%

0.30

20.35

20.35

0.00%

80,799,207,865.75

1.10

18.54

1.12

6.39%

1.92

18 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

5.82

5.77

0.87%

69,840,000,000.00

0.96

6.00

0.69

8.67%

1.19

19 International Breweries Plc.

20.00

20.00

0.00%

65,884,985,600.00

0.64

31.29

3.56

1.25%

5.47

20 Julius Berger Nig. Plc.

43.00

43.00

0.00%

56,760,000,000.00

1.85

23.26

0.42

3.49%

2.34

155.00

155.00

0.00%

55,892,265,610.00

13.51

11.47

0.87

4.65%

3.64

4.37

4.42

-1.13%

52,591,284,566.78

0.50

8.84

0.09

16.97%

0.34

20.00

20.20

-0.99%

52,484,743,740.00

1.84

10.97

0.16

9.90%

0.52

147.00

147.00

0.00%

49,909,710,039.00

11.92

12.33

0.24

9.52%

3.07

25 Sterling Bank Plc.

1.49

1.50

-0.67%

42,897,723,007.74

0.36

4.20

0.39

6.00%

0.45

26 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

1.02

1.03

-0.97%

39,495,417,373.50

0.05

19.63

0.98

0.00%

0.46

27 U A C N Plc.

19.00

19.00

0.00%

36,496,423,353.00

2.70

7.04

0.50

5.26%

0.49

28 Presco Plc

35.01

35.01

0.00%

35,010,000,000.00

3.28

10.68

3.08

0.29%

1.56

29 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.19

1.21

-1.65%

34,480,008,457.37

0.48

2.52

0.24

13.22%

0.19

30 Diamond Bank Plc

1.39

1.41

-1.42%

32,192,940,665.52

0.92

1.54

0.17

21.28%

0.15

31 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

24.97

24.97

0.00%

29,861,035,905.36

0.81

30.94

0.97

1.20%

2.26

32 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

29.20

29.00

0.69%

27,854,172,000.00

2.76

10.51

2.84

0.34%

2.29

33 Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

14.77

14.77

0.00%

27,741,044,130.80

3.21

4.61

0.82

8.80%

2.68

0.70

0.72

-2.78%

27,641,861,249.10

0.06

11.93

0.61

0.00%

0.60

38.50

38.50

0.00%

26,950,000,000.00

2.49

15.49

3.82

2.99%

17.73

36 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.14

2.25

-4.89%

22,470,000,000.00

0.16

14.21

1.43

2.22%

1.36

37 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.71

3.80

-2.37%

21,821,716,163.45

0.71

5.32

0.75

5.26%

0.86

38 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

7.95

7.95

0.00%

21,063,035,105.10

0.79

10.00

1.30

6.92%

2.97

39 FCMB Group Plc.

1.01

1.03

-1.94%

20,000,737,861.54

0.24

4.28

0.13

9.71%

0.13

40 Skye Bank Plc

0.96

0.96

0.00%

13,325,089,353.60

0.85

1.12

0.10

31.25%

0.09

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.35

1.40

-3.57%

10,705,766,838.30

0.14

9.91

0.23

11.43%

0.52

42 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.00

1.02

-1.96%

10,372,744,312.00

0.21

4.94

0.54

0.00%

0.68

43 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

7.45

7.10

4.93%

9,362,249,356.70

0.96

7.43

0.68

1.41%

0.88

44 Unity Bank Plc

0.67

0.70

-4.29%

7,831,856,421.14

0.54

1.29

0.13

0.00%

0.10

45 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

4.45

4.45

0.00%

7,648,437,477.75

1.81

2.46

0.68

15.73%

0.23

46 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

47 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

4.00

4.00

0.00%

6,496,875,000.00

0.33

12.08

0.76

5.00%

1.07

48 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

49 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.76

0.73

4.11%

5,266,955,404.80

0.28

2.82

0.16

6.41%

0.56

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.15

2.15

0.00%

3,225,000,000.00

0.50

4.33

0.39

2.33%

0.51

07 Forte Oil Plc. 08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated 09 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd.

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc. 15 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc. 16 Access Bank Plc. 17 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc.

21 Mobil Oil Nig Plc. 22 Oando Plc 23 Flour Mills Nig. Plc. 24 Total Nigeria Plc.

34 Wema Bank Plc. 35 Cap Plc

TOTAL

7,890,996,803,493.72

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,518,734,934,390.49

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

92.63%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 25-Apr-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

24,850.11 8.55

24,765.10 8.52

-0.34 -0.34

102.02 7.94

101.35 7.89

-0.66 -0.66

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close Change % 26-Apr-16

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open Close Change 25-Apr-16 26-Apr-16 %

Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc AIICO Insurance Plc. Access Bank Plc. 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc. United Bank for Africa Plc

7.10 0.73 3.83 142.59 3.37

7.45 0.76 3.90 145.00 3.41

4.93 4.11 1.83 1.69 1.19

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 25-Apr-16 26-Apr-16 %

Forte Oil Plc. Mansard Insurance Plc Unity Bank Plc Honeywell Flour Mill Plc Wema Bank Plc.

275.12 2.25 0.70 1.40 0.72

250.00 2.14 0.67 1.35 0.70

-9.13 -4.89 -4.29 -3.57 -2.78

ASI declines by modest 0.34% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Tuesday, April 26, 2016 was bearish as the market closed red due to intense selling pressure. This was further highlighted by negative performances from all the NSE Sub sectors; Banking, Consumer Goods, Oil & Gas (Save Insurance). Trading activities decreased in volume as 144.68 million shares worth N763.01 million in 2,729 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from the 188.72 million shares worth N1.51 billion in 3,050 deals carried out on Friday. Topping in volume terms was Access Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, while Nigerian Breweries Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with a 0.34% (-85.01) decrease to 24,765.10 from 24,850.11 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.52 trillion from N8.55 trillion of prior trading day. However, the Thisday BGL 50 Index also followed suit with a decline of 0.66% to close at 101.35 from 102.02 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N7.89 trillion from N7.94 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 22 stocks gained on the bourse today while 15 stocks declined, leaving 152 stocks unchanged. CCNN Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 4.93% to close at N7.45 per share. It was followed by AIICO Insurance Plc with a gain of 4.11% to close at N0.76 per share. Others on the gainers list include; Access Bank Plc, 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc, while on the decliners’ list; Forte Oil Plc led with a loss of 9.13% to close at N250.00 per share.

It was followed by Mansard Insurance Plc with a loss of 4.89% to close at N2.14 per share.

Others on the losers list include; Unity Bank Plc, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc and Wema Bank Plc. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

50

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2016

MARKET NEWS

FBN Holdings Profit After Tax Dips by 82% to N15.1bn Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun FBN Holdings Plc yesterday reported a dip of 82 per cent in profit after tax (PAT) for the year ended December 31, 2015, falling to N15.1 billion, from N84 billion in 2014.

The bank was among those that had sent profit warnings to the stock market community, saying its earnings would be

materially below 2015 levels as a result of the recognition of impairment charges on some specific accounts resulting from a reassessment of the loan portfolio within our commercial banking business.

According to its audited results released yesterday, FBN Holdings recorded impairment charges of M119.3 billion, up from N25. 9 billion in 2014.

Consequently, its PAT dipped

to N15.1 billion, although it recorded gross earnings of N505.2 billion, up from N481.8 billion in 2014.

In its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016, FBN Holdings posted gross earnings of N107.5 billion, compared with N126.8 billion in 2015.

PAT stood at N20.7 billion, as against N22.6 billion in the corresponding previous

of 2015.

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, UK Eke, said: “This has been a very difficult time in the history of our institution.

Despite the tough macroeconomic and regulatory backdrop during the year, our underlying business remains strong as reflected in the gross

earnings growth of 4.9 per cent to N505.2bn - clearly a leading position in the industry. Furthermore, the Holding company platform has provided support in mitigating the impact of credit losses and the vulnerabilities experienced by our Commercial Banking business.

“In coming periods, our primary focus is to drive efficiency and operational

excellence across all operating companies.

Key initiatives in achieving this, as we eliminate the value eroding factors and seek to reposition the Group towards a new growth path, include: enhanced focus on moderating risk appetite, risk management practices and culture; disciplined cost containment; asset optimisation; and, synergy realisation.

DAILY STOCK MARKET REPORT. T H E

N I G E R I A N

STO C K

Prices for Securities Traded as of 19/04/2016 Printed 19/04/2016 16:42:26.026

40

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1 BANKING S/N 2 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N 3 BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES AGRICULTURE S/N 5 6 CROP PRODUCTION S/N 7 FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N 8 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES S/N 9 12 13 14 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N BUILDING STRUCTURE/COMPLETION/ OTHER S/N 18 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION S/N 20 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSUMER GOODS S/N 24 AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS S/N 25 26 27 28 30 BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS S/N 32 BEVERAGES--NON-ALCOHOLIC S/N 33 34 35 37 38 39

E XC H A N G E

FOOD PRODUCTS BANKING ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

361,687.61

11.52

1.95

363

29,713,738

363

29,713,738

TRADES

VOLUME

S/N 46

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

119,890.28

3.34

1.21

BUILDING MATERIMARKET ALS CAP(Nm) DANGOTE CE2,743,521.69 MENT PLC

CROP PRODUCTION OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC FISHING/HUNTING/ TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC. LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

S/N

207

6,119,620

207 570

6,119,620 35,833,358

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

161.00

-0.02

49

517,962

49 49 619

517,962 517,962 36,351,320

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

51

-4.75

17

92,552

-

MARKET CAP(Nm)

8 25

10,400 102,952

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

511.20

4.26

-

0

0

53

0

0

54

52

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,900.00

0.95

-1.04

39

4,571,285

56

39 64

4,571,285 4,674,237

57

3.95

5

70,000

2,573.31

3.96

-

1

100

40,657.05

1.00

4.17

68

3,159,111

35,401.53

18.43

-5.00

49 123 123

474,908 3,704,119 3,704,119

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

BUILDING STRUCTURE/COMPLETION/OTHER

0

0

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

TRADES

VOLUME

1

38,721

DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC.

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

35.01

0.79

FOOD PRODUCTS

49

30.48

2,091.36

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

48

29,075.18

VOLUME

BEVERAGES-BREWERS/DISTILLERS CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

S/N

35,010.00

TRADES

AUTOMOBILES/ AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES

50

%CHANGE

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS)

FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

VOLUME

PRICE

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

44

S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm)

MARKET CAP(Nm)

INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC.

43

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

56,760.00

43.00

-

6

19,910

6

19,910

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

6,875.00

4.00

-

8

14,068

8

14,068

TRADES

VOLUME

0 15

0 72,699

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,386.33

0.50

-

3

528,000

3

528,000

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

24,271.44

3.10

-

5

44,869

242.22

0.89

-

1

1,000

150,347.88

99.84

0.35

43

123,324

65,884.99

20.00

-

1

500

812,732.84

102.50

-1.91

131

769,295

181

938,988

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

94,166.78

147.00

-

12

9,320

12

9,320

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

62,040.00

5.17

-

16

154,689

50,805.23

19.36

-

46

252,519

55

58 59 60 BANKING S/N 61 62 63 65 67 70 73 74 77 80 83 87 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 89 MICRO-FINANCE BANKS S/N 91 94 MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES S/N 95 96 98 102 103 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES HEALTHCARE S/N HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

10,547.16

1.33

-3.62

34

2,388,046

1,185.03

6.65

-

1

3,000

19,605.84

7.40

-

34

553,393

S/N

214.00

5.35

-

2

100

108

S/N MEDICAL SUPPLIES

TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC FOOD PRODUCTS-DIVERSIFIED CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. HOUSEHOLD DURABLES VITAFOAM NIG PLC. PERSONAL/ HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

12,050.00

MICRO-FINANCE BANKS NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC MORTGAGE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC

4.78

23

1,030,185

156

4,381,932

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

27,741.04

14.77

-

21

59,932

507,307.93

640.01

-

63

37,119

84

97,051

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,326.78

5.42

-

2

203

2

203 VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

80,799.21

20.35

-4.10

18

95,908

110,661.42

29.25

-

38

114,024

56 494

209,932 6,165,426

MARKET BANKING CAP(Nm) ACCESS BANK 107,033.50 PLC. DIAMOND BANK 31,034.92 PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL 269,738.40 INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK 33,900.51 PLC GUARANTY TRUST 462,069.51 BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC 14,157.91 STERLING BANK 44,913.05 PLC. UNION BANK NIG. 76,888.56 PLC. UNITED BANK FOR 119,722.44 AFRICA PLC UNITY BANK PLC 7,948.75 WEMA BANK PLC. 28,545.10 INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

2.41

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

3.70

2.21

188

6,139,279

1.34

-4.96

34

2,608,620

14.70

5.00

71

1,153,190

1.17

-0.85

69

5,918,400

15.70

2.28

288

29,811,746

1.02

0.99

56

3,104,469

1.56

-

23

576,721

4.54

-4.82

25

286,712

3.30

3.13

251

62,208,549

0.68 0.74

-2.86 1.37

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

10,292.50

0.50

-

1

1,000

4,781.84

0.69

-

10

549,318

22,050.00

2.10

2.94

7

105,293

10,683.93

1.03

1.98

14

850,400

7,000.00

0.50

-

27

5,085,907

3,070.00

0.50

-

1

16,800

3,661.72

0.50

-

0

0

1,924.91

0.56

-3.45

50

9,713,044

4,224.40

0.80

3.90

32

10,627,354

3,334.38

0.50

-

1

50

3,070.54

0.50

-

2

2,100

6,691.37

0.50

-

3

8,840

148

26,960,106

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2,652.50

1.16

-

10

318,000

10

318,000

16 5,214,403 13 6,539,600 1,034 123,561,689

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

7,370.87

0.50

-

3

150,100

4,179.69

4.28

-

2

500

5

150,600

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,000.00

2.50

2.88

61

1,158,851

22,939.27

3.90

-

6

27,745

18,812.58

0.95

1.06

84

8,033,669

143,000.00

14.30

-

8

7,734

8,880.00

1.48

1.37

125

9,734,304

284 18,962,303 1,481 169,952,698

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

PHARMACEUTICALS FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 3,225.00

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0

0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

2.15

2.38

10

163,315

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2016

51

52

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2016 T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016 • T H I S D AY

53

HERDSMEN MENACE

Afenifere, Bishops Flay Buhari’s ‘Silence’ on Violent Activities of Fulani Herdsmen James Sowole inAkureandPaul Obi inAbuja The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday expressed worries over what it described as undue silence of President Muhammadu Buhari on the spate of killings in several parts of the country.

The feeling of Afenifere was one of the points highlighted in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held in the

residence of its leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and read out by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin.

It said since the federal government has a duty to protect the lives and property of every citizens of Nigeria, the president must speak up on this matter and to take urgent action to restore the sense of people of Nigeria, especially in the South and Middle Belt “We are worried about

Ogbeh: 12 States Have Supported the Grazing Initiative Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, has disclosed that 12 out of the 36 states, have expressed support for the grazing and irrigation initiatives of the federal government.

He added that nine states had already agreed to provide 5,000 hectares of land each for the project.

Ogbeh said these at the public hearing on the motion “‘urgent need to address the incessant clashes between herdsmen, farmers and their host communities in Nigeria” and “introduction of micro irrigation (drip irrigation) for farmers in Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency in Adamawa State and in other parts of Nigeria,” held by House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services yesterday.

Plans for the grazing initiatives are already underway, Ogbeh said adding that the government would embark on its implementation as soon as the 2016 budget is signed.

He added that 70,000 rice farmers in Kebbi State have entered into a partnership with

the government to produce 1.5 million tonnes of livestock feed with rice stalk.

This, the minister noted, is in addition to plans to revive 415 grazing locations across the country through the provision of requisite facilities.

“I hear there is a bill in the Senate seeking to create grazing routes, where are they grazing to, to another man’s farm? Creating grazing routes is not the solution as it is known world wide that cows kept in ranches produce better than grazing cows,”Ogbeh said.

The grazing initiatives, he said, would help stop the looming crises caused by the incessant clashes.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, said the clashes between herdsmen and farmers had become a topical issue which calls for concern.

He added that the economy of the North-east with agriculture as it’s mainstay has been seriously affected by the activities of Boko Haram.

Monguno therefore called for the provision of intervention funds and farm inputs such as fertilizers to returnee internally displaced persons (IDPs).

recent spate of killings by Fulani herdsmen across the country as evident in Agatu killings, the murder of Olu Falae’s guard in his farm, the killings in Ibadan and the latest being the heinous murder of over 40 Nigerians in cold blood in Enugu.

“We are worried that federal government seems to have maintained indifference to the wanton killings going on across the country against the provisions of the constitution,” the communique noted.

The group also expressed dismay that the Department of State Security (DSS) went to the media to say that they discover a grave in the South-east where they found the bodies of the Fulani men without any DNA. “The DSS had failed to establish that the bodies is from any ethnic group. It’s an organisation for all Nigerians and therefore should be concerned and should make the report on the killing across

“In search for grazing pastures according to them, they have left their footprint in practically every host community in the country that has had the misfortune of having them as visitor. They have rendered some villages in Oke-Ogun, agatu in Benue State “a gaping wound,” Baale Ayalu said.

He then warned the federal government not to let the event of 1968 repeat itself when the government of the old Western Region under Governor Adeyinka Adebayo increased the tax levy and forced their wives to pay taxes, which culminated into fighting between the government and Agbekoyas.

He said the Yoruba Elders who were then predominant farmers kicked against the new tax levy then, saying that there was no basis for it because cocoa plantations, their major business was not yielding expected income.

Baale Ayalu pleaded with the federal government-led by President Muhammadu Buhari

they meet to devise means to protect the lives of their citizens and property against these invaders who are rampaging everywhere.”

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) yesterday cautioned the federal government against handling the current Fulani herdsmen killings with kid gloves, warning that the incessant cases of herdsmen attacking villages and communities, destroying properties and killing people portend a serious national security challenge to the government.

Speaking with THISDAY against the backdrop of Monday’s killings of about 48 villagers by Fulani herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, CBCN President and Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama, stressed that the incident was a bad omen capable of worsening Nigeria’s fragile security status.

Kaigama who expressed great concern over the Fulani herdsmen menace told THISDAY that government must hasten the process of finding solutions to the attacks, as ignoring the current killings will send wrong signals across the nation.

He said: “It is a serious security challenge, it is necessary for the government to isolate the crisis, government should not take this lightly, there is need to get to the root of this, the killings have continued for so long.”

The archbishop further charged government to do everything within its jurisdiction to identify the attackers of villagers in recent times, stating that, it is the responsibility of government to identify the perpetuators, “it is the duty of government to do just that, their identities must be uncovered. Who are they? Where did they come from? Are they Nigerians? he asked.

ON-THE-SPOT TOUR

L-R: General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru; Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ; stateCommissionerofPolice,NwodiboEkechukwu;andstateCommandant,NigeriaSecurityCivilDefenceCorps(NSCDC),Mr.SteveLar,atthesceneof Monday’sattackbyFulani’herdsmen’satNimbo,EnuguState....yesterday

Agbekoya Asks FG to Call Herdsmen to Order The Agbekoya Farmers Revolutionary Group (AFRG) in the country has called on the federal government to caution and call the Fulani herdsman to order over the incessant killing of the innocent farmers across the country which are on the increase and unsettling.

Baale of Agbekoya Farmers Revolutionary Group, Chief Olalere Ayalu made the call in Lagos against the backdrop of attacking farmers by Fulani herdsman in the country especially in Lagun, Iyana Offa, Offa, Alalagba, Lapala and their surrounding Communities in Lagelu Local Council Area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Baale Ayalu alleged that a group of Fulani armed men attacked these communities at night, injured a guard and carted away valuables worth millions of Naira, adding that those Fulani herdsmen had no respect for human life as they invade their communities and kill their farmers unchallenged.

the country not just what they called the killing of people from certain ethnic among the over 250 groups in Nigeria.

“We also reject the statement of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that the federal government is working silently on this matter.

“Several killings cannot be going on and the federal government is working silently; it is unfortunate that that statement is coming from the government of Nigeria.

“There can’t be any silent working over these killing and the action of the federal government must be opened,” Afenifere stated.

The Yoruba socio political group said in view of the fact that Yoruba nation has more than fair share of herdsmen siege in the country, the governors in the zone should meet on the matter.

“We demand immediate meeting of all South-west governors irrespective of their party affiliation and ensure that

to expedite action on the killing of innocent farmers by the Fulani herdsman, saying that they need to live together in peace and harmony.

In a related development, the National Secretary, Agbekoya Farmers Revolutionary Group, Mr. Sola Ariyibi, urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to find a lasting solution the unlawful killing of farmers by Fulani herdsman, adding that the quick intervention of presidency would minimise their menace across the country.

He said that the indiscriminate killing of innocent farmers has been getting out of hands as the farmers had no interest in farming again for the fear of being killed by the Fulani herdsmen who carry sophisticated weapons in their farms lands.

Ariyibi said it is not that their farmers and the Agbekoyas could not challenge their menace in Yoruba land, but for the peace to reign, that was the reasons it was imperative for President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy soldiers in those grey areas to curb the menace of the Fulani herdsmen across the country.

Emir of Ilorin: Activities of Herdsmen, a Threat to Peaceful Co-existence Hammed Shittu inIlorin The Kwara State Chairman of Traditional Council and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, yesterday declared that the current activities of Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country was a serious threat to the corporate and peaceful existence of the nation.

He, however, charged the federal government to put all efforts on ground that would nip in the bud of the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the country.

Speaking in Ilorin, the state capital while receiving the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osnibajo and his entourage at his palace, Oja- Oba, Ilorin, Gambari said that there was need for the federal government to take urgent step to address the issue before it gets out hand so as not to degenerate into the current full blown Boko Haram activities.

Osiibajo was in Ilorin on official visit to the company site of Kam Steel Integrated Company where he laid the foundation laying of

multi billion naira Kam Integrated Steel Project located at Jimba- Oja town along Ilorin- Ganmo road, Ilorin.

Gambari who spoke against the backdrop of the incessant Fulani herdsmen attacks in some parts of the country said that, “the activities of Fulani herdsmen is threatening existence of Nigeria as an entity”.

The royal father said that, “the federal government should be more serious in dealing with the incessant security issue.”

He added: “The Fulani herdsmen were not Nigerians, they are migrating herdsmen from other parts of Africa and people get it wrong when they describe the rampaging and destructive herdsmen as Fulani herdsmen.

They are not Fulani.

“They are wandering and migrating tribe of people going everywhere. They are here to destroy Nigeria entity. So, it behoves on the federal government to be more serious on the issue so that it doesn’t become another Boko Haram on our hands”.

Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who thanked God for the victory that brought the APC into power and the achievements recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, told the vice president that much was still being expected of the administration by the people.

“People believe you are up to the task. And the prayer is that you should perform to people’s expectation to save Nigeria and its people from socio-economic problems bedeviling the country”, he said.

Responding, vice president Osinbajo described his visit to the state, and Ilorin town in particular as an homecoming, saying it would have been unusual for him not to have paid the homage.

He said the visit to the state was a happy occasion, saying that the country had every reason to be proud of the feat recorded by the manufacturing outfit, particularly at attracting both local and international attention.

54

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

NIMASA, Navy Joint Committee to Review MoU on Maritime Security Old agreement moribund, says Peterside Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy have set up a joint committee to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guiding the relationship between the two agencies towards safety and security of the nation’s coastlines.

To this end, the review if its comes into force, may terminate the deal between the agency and the Global West Vessels Specialists Limited, allegedly belonging to former Niger Delta war-lord, Mr. Government Akpobolokemi, popularly known as Tompolo.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, stated this yesterday when he led the management of the agency to pay a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. IbokEte Ibas, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

Peterside said the timeline for the MoU had elapsed and must be reviewed in accordance with the contemporary realities and security challenges.

He insisted that the old agreement was now moribund and commended the Navy for the excellent work at maintaining maritime security across Nigeria’s waterways.

Ngige: N’Assembly Not Responsible for Budget Crisis Says Lagos-Calabar rail was a big omission Charles Onyekamuo in Awka The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has dismissed elements of distrust between the executive and the legislature over the 2016 budget, saying the budget mess was essentially a creation of some bureaucrats, technocrats and civil servants, who tampered with the document out of mischief to feather their nests.

Speaking exclusively with THISDAY in an interview, Ngige, who gave detailed analysis of the budget process, especially the way it works in the legislature being a former senator, however, described the controversial Lagos-Calabar Rail Project as “a very big omission” from the budget, adding that the error has since been admitted and rectified accordingly.

“First of all, I do not want to say there is suspicion. Yes there could be misunderstanding earlier on during the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly, and that misunderstanding arose from the fact that the president decided to play neutral, and having played neutral, the tendency is that you will not be anybody’s friend because no one will agree that you did not help the other person, but we who are in the APC party structure and belong to the highest organ of the party know that we enjoy good relationship with them.

“However, on the 2016 budget, people should look at it and look at the genesis of the problem.

The genesis of the problem arose from the fact that when the calls for budget were done, some bureaucrats, some technocrats, some civil servants tampered with the budget out of mischief, just to feather their nests. Some other group of civil servants, out of carelessness or ignorance missed out vital items in the budget. So, the budget that first went to the National Assembly had a lot of omissions, and corrections were done. And details were not in the aggregate sum of the budget.

“So, the budget was actually returned and the national planning commission that was in charge of budget to ettet the corrections and omissions and send back.

It’s the ministries that detected these omissions and applied to the planning commission for corrections.

“At the same time, the ministries were doing this they were supposed to be going to their various committees in the National Assembly to defend their budgets. Therefore, in a two way double pronged attack, as they were sending to the budget office, national planning commission and budget, they were also taking advantage of their budget defence to defend those corrections they had made,” he said.

Breaking down the budget making process, he noted that the process “starts at committee level and nothing stops a minister, who has gotten clearance of omission or an error from the budget office and national planning from tendering same to his committee. I was a deputy chairman of committee, I have gone through budget cycles, I did five budget cycles; a budget supplementary cycle in 2011, and I did four other ones, making five.

“I was a chief executive of a state too, I sent budgets to my House of Assembly, and I know also what is involved. Nothing says a minister cannot take a correction or omission that has been accepted and formalised at our budget office into the committee for defence. As a matter of fact, the committee is better guided if such a minister detects this at that particular level.

It is after the committee level that it now goes to the appropriation committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives.

“These places are collation points. After their collation; the senate will collate and the House of Representatives will collate and then there is a joint sitting of both houses, and thereafter, they will send them to their respective houses as harmonised versions. We operate a bicameral legislature and that is why we have bicameralism, because two heads are better than one. So, it is after that, that the respective houses now pass and send to the president for assent, and for as long as the president has not assented, appended his signature, it is still a bill.”

He said: “I want to start by commending the Nigerian Navy for the successes recorded in fighting against insurgency in the North-east and as well as recently in tackling militancy in the Niger Delta. Whenever there is crisis, our military has always risen to the occasion.

“Ours is enormous responsibility and maritime security is both a national and international responsibility to ensure that our waterways are secured. If we want to secure our waterways we want to cooperate with others to enhance the discharge of our responsibilities, first to our nation and international commitment.”

“There is already an existing MoU but that one is as it is, moribund and we need to review it. As you can attest in the media, there seem to be an increase in piracy and other criminalities in our maritime sector.

“Before my assumption of office, NIMASA signed an MuU with the Nigerian Navy, which has an expiry date and that time has elapsed. So a marriage has to be perfected and

alliance has to be worked out. The time elapsed that’s what happened to the MoU,” he added.

Speaking further, Peterside said the agency was seeking the necessary local and international collaboration to make sure the issue of piracy becomes history within one year.

He disclosed that they had approached the National Assembly (NASS) for Anti-Piracy Bill to become an act empowering NIMASA for enforcement and prosecution.

“We also think that there should be renewed vigour in the fight against piracy, you may have heard it from the media that we are championing a bill before the national Assembly which is one of the strands of our fight against this piracy. Another one, which is the one we must do together is the military-led patrol. And this is the time to look at it again so that we can deploy all the arsenal at our disposal to ensure that this issue of piracy becomes history in the next few months, at most in the next one year. We appreciate

our relationship with the Nigerian Navy and we will all continue to work for the common good of our country.

“As you have heard, we are championing anti-piracy bill. So we need to look at that MoU again because the time has elapsed. We are also maintaining safely for shipping, safety of life and assets on the sea, for promoting indigenous shipping both on our coastal water and on international trade.

“We also have responsibility for enforcing an Act of 2007, and the Cabotage Act.” Responding, Ibas commended Peterside’s visit to the navy first as strategic partner in protecting the maritime sector of the country.

He also agreed with the Director General that in the country had in the last few months witnessed an upsurge in piracy and criminalities in the maritime sector.

The naval chief however noted that a lot of measures were being put in place to maintain sustained security in the coastal region through provision of intelligence equipment, setting up of a task

force team and at least three to 10 capital ships and over 20 boats.

Meanwhile, the review of the existing MoU is coming months after both the Navy and NIMASA reasserted the agreement with Tompolo’s company and others, saying it did not in any way encroach on the constitutional duties of the Nigerian Navy to protect the nation’s maritime coast.

The then Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Jauro, debunked the rumour and reports that the federal government has terminated the contract with Tompolo’s firm, saying the contract was designed for a 10-year period.

He disclosed that the maritime agency’s deal with Global West had been running for three years now out of the 10-year period covered by the contractual agreement.

He said: “It does not. Yes, it does not because the Navy is one of its kind and no one is willing to go there and take anything from them.

“It (the contract) is supposed to be for 10 years. It has ran for three years.”

ALL FOR BRAITHWAITE

L-R:President,WomenArise,Dr.JoeOdumakin;Prof.PatUtomi;and Pastor,SoulWinningMinistries,Dr.MosesIloh,atthecolloquiuminhonourofDr.Tunji BraithwaiteinLagos...yesterday

Military Uncovers Boko Haram Fighters’ New Uniform Kills sect’s kingpin, six other terrorists

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Nigerian military has uncovered that the Boko Haram terrorists fighters in the North-east has adopted a new uniform and dress code with which they identify themselves.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said the troops of 22 Brigade Garrison and elements of 3 Battalion made the startling discovery of new means of terrorists identification when they went out on long range fighting patrol on Monday to Gima village in Ngala Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State.

Usman said the patrol came in contact with some elements of the Boko Haram that started escaping in disarray on sighting the team.

However, he said, the troops were able to apprehend two terrorists in their new styled uniform of green colour and use of ropes on their legs and necks.

“This is a new development in the ongoing clearance operations of the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the north-east,” he stated.

The DAPR also stated that the patrol team recovered one Isuzu Canter lorry which was found concealed with grass, five motorcycles and two bags

of Guinea corn.

He listed other items recovered to include three Dane guns, a solar panel, and three bows and arrows.

Usman said the arrested terrorists are currently being interrogated to further assist in the clearance operations.

Also, Usman said the military killed a Boko Haram kingpin, six other terrorists and recovered more weapons in the ongoing clearance operations.

He said the troops of 7 Brigade, 8 Task Force Division, embarked on clearance operations, since Monday in which they cleared Boko Haram hideouts ahead of Gratte in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

“During the clearance operation, the troops killed seven Boko Haram terrorists including a notorious kingpin popularly known as the Albani of Monguno,” he said.

He listed the items recovered by the troops to include two Vehicles, seven motorcycles, AK-47 rifle, two Boko Haram terrorists hoisted flags, three vehicle tyres, vulcanizing machine, solar panel and bundles of chewing stick (Aswaki), which the terrorists believe has spiritual and medicinal values.

He said: “The troops’ morale remains high as they dominate the general area with a robust fighting patrol in continuation of the clearance operations.”

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

Ojukwu’s Son Seeks Support for Biafra Agitators Shola Oyeyipo The eldest son of the late Biafran warlord, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mr. Dede Odumegwu Ojukwu, has called on Nigerians to support the proBiafra agitators to actualise the dream of the Biafra state.

Making the call yesterday during a colloquium organised by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, in honour of late iconic lawyer, human right activist and politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, the young Ojukwu said agitations in the country were predicated on some iniquities that had not been atoned.

“My take is that they should agitate for Biafra; they (the agitators) should be supported to have a Biafra, state. The worst thing in a marriage is when you say a marriage is indissoluble.

A woman is like a bird, give her chance to fly, she would fly away, after some time she would return to the cage and become yours forever, but when you cage her; tie her in, she might even destroy your roof.

“So the solution about Biafra is within Nigeria; make the Igbo people comfortable, make sure that everything is okay because the easiest thing to do is leadership but some people misuse it. For instance, if you come in a year and you are talking about budget and

someone says we have 3600km of road to tar – that is what can be accommodated in the budget and we have 36 state. If you say since we have 36 states every state should take 100km nobody will be interested in your post as the president but when you move and say because I am from Nnewi, I will take 300km, there will be problem “So, it is because of the iniquities in the country that we have agitations, remove those iniquities and I bet you there will never be any issue,” he said.

Dede who was among several other speakers at the event who pour encomium on the late Braithwaite also underscored the very cordial relationship between his late father and the late Braithwaite, said during the course of their relationship, Braithwaite kept his father’s secrets.

“The relationship he had with my father was very cordial and he (Braithwaite) never betrayed his friend. Nobody heard the secret of Ojukwu.

“They were very close. As I mentioned, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, at a point was my father’s personal lawyer and for you to have personal lawyer you know what it means. For every human being endeavours, you have intimate relationships with your lawyer, your accountant, your doctor and your priest.

Synagogue Church: Remanded Engineers to Remain in Kirikiri Prison Akinwale Akintunde The two engineers who constructed the collapsed six-storey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of all Nation (SCOAN), Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun are to remain in Kirikiri Maximum Prison till May 3 when the court will rule on their bail applications.

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo had last week remanded the duo in prison after they were arraigned with their companies, Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company; and Jandy Trust Limited alongside the Trustees of the Synagogue Church of all Nation (SCOAN).

The defendants were arraigned before an Ikeja High Court on 111-count criminal charges bordering on criminal negligence, manslaughter and failure to obtain building permit preferred against them by the Lagos State Government for their involvement in the September 12, 2014 collapse of a six-storey guest house belonging to the church, which led to the death of 116 persons.

When the matter came up yesterday, Mrs. Titi Akinlawon (SAN), counsel to Fatiregun, arguing the bail application dated April 19, 2016 brought pursuant to Section 115 of Section 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, submitted that the “offences committed by the defendant is a bailable offences.”

She promised that the defendants would not jump bail.

“The fifth defendant has been

charged for the same offences before at the magistrates’ court and he did not jump bail; he presented himself at all times. Prior to when he was granted bail by the magistrates’ court, he was granted police bail and he always presented himself.

So if granted bail now, he will also not jump bail,” she submitted.

Mr. Olalekan Ojo, counsel to Ogundeji also told the court that “granting him bail will put him (defendant) in best position to prepare for his trial.

“The case of the prosecution is founded on gross negligence, it will collapse or succeed on the strength of experts’ opinion and it is not pertinent for anyone to state the evidence is overwhelming on technical issues.

“Because of the technical nature of the evidence, there is need for the fourth defendant to be on bail to liaise with experts to build his defence.

“He cannot do this while on remand at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.”

However, the prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Idowu Alakija, urged the court not to grant the defendants bail.

She argued that while the court has the discretion to grant bail or not, ‘the 4th defendant (Ogundeji) does not have an address within the jurisdiction of the court and therefore may jump bail if granted.’

The court therefore adjourned ruling till May 3 while the defendants returned to prison.

They were very close.

“If you look at it, my father had three very identifiable Yoruba friends, but if you look at them you will see that they looked physically identical. He had Engineer Fashola, who was his closest Yoruba friend, an uncle to the former governor of Lagos State. Then he had Wole Soyinka and he had Braithwaite. That was why during the ceremony marking my father’s transition, they were all well represented. Dr. Braithwaite at the TBS ceremony looked Nigeria in the face and told Nigeria that Odumegwu Ojukwu did not fight against Nigeria; rather, he defended the Igbo.

“He didn’t fear for any recrimination. He is a very truthful person, typical; he said he never fought Nigeria but rather, people have been misled to believe that Ojukwu fought Nigeria. He never fought Nigeria. He defended the Igbo.

Then Prof. Soyinka in Enugu gave a memorable eulogy of his friend and that is what friendship is all about.

“The future of this country is bright if we eschew those things that divide us; we allowed a division, a kind of tribalism in trying to undercut one and other and that is the bane of the Nigerian society. When they grew up there was no Yoruba boy, there was no

Igbo boy and there was no Hausa boy. That was why that was why when he sees Dr. Braithwaite, he would say ‘Tunji’, when he sees Prof. Soyinka, he would not call him Prof, and he would say ‘Wole,’ because they grew up together.

“Corruption came in when we started introducing this is my fellow Igbo, this is my fellow Yoruba. It was never like that,” he added.

Other speakers, including the convener of the colloquium, Oluyede, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; The chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers, Sam Omatseye, who represented former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu; General

Overseer of Soul Winning Chapel, Rev. Moses Iloh; Comrade Debo Adeniran of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL); Director of Research, People Redemption Party (PRP) who represented Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Richard Umar; political activist and chieftain of the Nigerian Advance Party, Ike Ezechukwu; former chairman, Amuwo Idofin, Comrade Adewale, Nigerian professor of political economy and founder, Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), Prof. Pat Utomi, Abiodun Aremu and Dr. Odion Akain, all praised the high values of the late Braithwaithe and emphasised the need for the country to sustain his legacies.

BUSINESS FORUM

L-R:Executive Director, Capital Market Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Director General, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, Group Managing Director/CEO, Skye Bank Plc,Timothy Oguntayo; and Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, at a business meeting betweenNSEandSkyeBankinLagos....Monday

AGAIN, NATIONWIDE POWER GENERATION DROPS BY 1585.7MW of electricity from the grid.

The source could not disclose the transmission line that was affected.

The current transmission capability is 7,000MW but the network operational capacity is 5,500MW. THISDAY gathered that generation was 3,393 megawatts before the latest collapse of the system.

This has fuelled suspicion that the transmission system is becoming weaker and weaker as system collapses in the previous years occurred when generation had exceeded 4,000MW. According to the operational report obtained from the Nigerian System Operator, generation as at 6a.m. on Monday was 3,659.7MW. The report also showed that the peak generation on Sunday was 3,902MW, while the lowest generation was 3,282.1MW. A source close to the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), the umbrella association of the 11 distribution companies, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that the federal government should urgently privatise the transmission grid.

“Government should privatise the transmission because this idea of concession has failed.

I am also suspecting sabotage on the part of former PHCN workers, who had issued a threat over non-payment of their entitlements. Out of the 50,000 ex-staff, government has not paid about 5,000MW because of the slow verification process and yet the Permanent Secretary wants to take over PHCN headquarters.

There were about 5,000 pensioners but only about 3,000 have been paid,” he explained.

THISDAY gathered that the payment process stopped after the verification team complained that the approval they obtained had expired.

It was however learnt that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has given a new approval but the slow verification process has continued to delay payment.

TCN had explained that the March 31 system collapse was caused by the tripping of Osogbo/ Ihovbor and Ihovbor/Benin 330kV transmission lines, which resulted in loss of 201megawatts (MW) of electricity generation from Ihovbor power station.

Also the April 23 partial

collapse of the system was caused by a sudden loss of 200MW of generation due to technical reasons.

THISDAY also gathered that 47 transmission projects will be completed in 2016 budget.

Meanwhile, Fashola yesterday said that only 50 of Nigeria’s 140 power generating turbines are currently working and generating electricity because there is no gas to power some of them that use gas.

Fashola spoke on a Channels Television Talkshow, Sunrise which THISDAY monitored in Abuja.

He stated that even though the country has 140 power turbines installed in its electricity system, majority of them are gas fired.

He said before now, 78 of the turbines were generating power but the number went down to 50 as gas supply to most of them continued to drop.

“The first problem is that there is not enough power. Today we have 25 power plants. Three, Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, are hydro plants, while the rest are gas-fired plants.

“We have an installed capacity of about 12,000 megawatts. Also, we have about 140 turbines

installed, but available capacity is about 8,000MW,” he said.

He further said: “Now the power being generated comes from only about 78 turbines out of 140 and they are largely fired by gas.

“Now that power has gone down because we had gas outage due to the failure of a pipeline.

And as a result of that, 78 turbines dropped to maybe about 50 because there was no gas.”

The minister however noted that the current challenges affecting power production in the country can be resolved, adding that the ministry of petroleum resources has agreed to provide more gas for power generation.

ON this, he stated: “But let me be very clear, this problem can be solved. It just needs somewhat detailed and methodical approach.”

“So, the first work to do is to supply more gas, for without gas we can’t have power. The ministry of petroleum resources is working on this and we have agreed to provide more gas to all the struggling power plants.

So, there are errors of planning of yesterday, but they are errors that can be corrected,” explained Fashola.

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CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Assault on Lawmaker: C’ttee Recommends Dismissal, Arrest of Prison Inspector Wants assistant controller demoted, prosecuted

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Interior has recommended the arrest, trial and dismissal of Idaa Odeh, for assaulting Hon. Mkrapor Onyemaechi.

Onyemaechi was hit in the face allegedly by Odeh for attempting to overtake the convoy of the Controller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu last Wednesday at the gate of the National Assembly.

He appeared before the committee on Monday and denied touching the lawmaker despite being fingered by six witnesses.

The Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba-led committee in its

report also called for the arrest, trial and demotion of Assistant Controller General Usman Shehu Kangiwa, who allegedly banged the lawmaker’s vehicle.

Kangiwa did not honour the summons of the Committee on Monday.

In a copy obtained by THISDAY, the committee indicted security personnel serving at the gates, including the Sergent-At-Arms staff, and urged that they all be redeployed.

“The Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act should be amended as a matter of urgency to the effect that only the President, Vice President and Chief Justice of Nigeria, or a visiting president

can come into the premises of the National Assembly with moderate convoy and penalties should be provided for offenders,” it read.

It also recommended the training and retraining of all resident security agencies in the

National Assembly.

The report, which was submitted on the floor of the House yesterday would be considered by the lawmakers today.

Meanwhile a group, Anioma

Youth Council, has demanded a public apology from Ekpendu for the conduct of his aides.

In a statement issued yesterday, the group chaired by Mr. Raymond Obuseh called on Ekpendu to visit Delta North which Mkrapor

represents and apologise to the traditional rulers and the government of Delta State.

“We demand that letters of apology from the CG of Prisons be made in six national dailies,” the statement titled read.

IG Orders Arrest of Sellers of Fuel in Jerrycans, Containers Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja Concerned by the untold suffering as well as the hazard of the activities of black marketeers, especially those who sell petroleum products inside plastic containers/jerry-cans, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, has directed all Zonal Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police and FCT/state Commands Commissioners of Police to arrest anybody found selling petrol and other petroleum products in plastic container.

The IG, who issued the directives in Abuja on Monday, said apart from the hardship this act is causing for fuel buyers, it has also rendered some innocent and law abiding citizens homeless

due to fire outbreak from jerry-can petrol storage.

Arase, in a release signed by the Force spokesperson, Bisi Kolawole, noted that fuel products such as petrol are highly inflammable and if not stored and handled properly, can seriously endanger people, property and the environment.

While warning fuel attendants at filling stations to desist from selling petrol inside jerry-can/ plastic container, the IG said both the buyers and the sellers of the products would be arrested and prosecuted under the law.

He assured Nigerians of the readiness of the police to fulfill its constitutional mandate and appealed for a more cordial relationship between the police and the public.

Navy ChiefVows to Sanction Corrupt, Erring Personnel Ernest Chinwo inPortHarcourt The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, has warned that officers and ratings found guilty of gross misconduct would be dismissed from service.

Oluwole gave the charge yesterday while addressing troops during his familiarisation tour of navy formations and units in Port Harcourt.

He said severe sanctions would also be meted out on personnel found to be involved in corrupt practices and total disregard to military laws.

He said: “Under my watch, there will be zero tolerance to criminality, indiscipline, disobedience of military laws and lack of respect for the rule of law.

“I have a dislike for indiscipline. commanders will be empowered to do summary trials according to military regulations.

“Personnel will get what is due to them – but are expected to give what is due to the Nigerian Navy.

“I’m going to be fair and firm to ensure that every one of us must only offer solution to Nigeria, and

not pollute the nation.”

Oluwole said the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, had prioritised welfare, training and re-training, and provision of accommodation to boost morale of personnel.

He said more gunboats and other military hardware were being acquired to enable troops to secure the nation’s waterways.

According to him, all these are geared towards ensuring that the core areas of naval operations are well taken care of to safeguard the nation’s maritime environment.

Oluwole urged personnel to have the fear of God and to do what is right in the discharge of their lawful duties.

“I’ll direct commanding officers that when sending gunboats on operations and when returning from sea; personnel must pray and commit the operation to God. “This is because without God, we are all bound to fail in our endeavours,” Oluwole said.

The FOC called on personnel to come up with ideas by way of research and development to improve the navy.

DAY OF RECKONING

Two suspected Boko Haram fighters arrested by soldiers from the 22 Brigade Garrison in Gima village, Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State... yesterday

Lagos Evacuates 1,340 Beggars, Destitute in One Year The Lagos State Government yesterday said a total of 1,340 beggars, destitute and mentally challenged persons were rescued off the streets of Lagos in the last one year, just as it said about 73, 664 patients were screened and helped to trace their homes through various media platforms.

Speaking at the ongoing 2016 ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s one year in office, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the government, in the period under review, released and re-united 590 rehabilitees with their relations for re-integration, while 1,228 persons were rehabilitated at the rehabilitation and training centre in Majidun.

Akinbile-Yussuf, who addressed the briefing jointly with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hakeem MuriOkunola, said many of the rehabilitees were subsequently placed on vocational training to make them contribute positively to the society, adding that 43 drug dependents rehabilitees, who probably had lost hope, were restored back to their functional ability and another 20 placed under vocational training at the Rehabilitation and Vocational Training Centre in Isheri.

The commissioner, who

reeled out many other social interventions which the Ministry embarked upon in the last 12 months, said the development was part of the vision of Ambode to create an environment that is safe, conducive and prosperous not only for investors but the citizenry in general.

Besides, the commissioner reminded residents that the law banning street trading and begging is very much in force in the state, warning that government would not hesitate to apply the full wrath of the law when necessary.

She said: “In the last one year, the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Ambode recorded many achievements in the area of social welfare and for instance, I can categorically tell you that a total of 634 Juvenile cases were successfully handled under the Family Social Services, while a total of 110 applications for adoption were successfully screened.

“Also, 150 reputed cases of sexual abuse and physical abuse were treated, while five pregnant school children were assisted to access adequate antenatal and delivery services. They were also assisted to be integrated back to school,” Akinbile-Yussuf said.

In the same vein, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande, while giving account of stewardship of her

Ministry in the last one year, explained that the Ministry in its continuous child prevention, rescue and rehabilitation programmes successfully treated about 589 cases ranging from sexual abuse, physical abuse and child labour cases.

She said the ministry also received 382 cases of domestic violence out of which 234 cases were successfully treated, which among others include physical

and emotional pains, harm, injury, humiliation and degradation, permanent and partial disability, separation, divorce and needless loss of precious lives.

While fielding questions from journalists, Akande tasked members of the society to come up with useful information on sexual violence not only against women, but men and other social vices including any suspected illegal baby factory.

How N800m MDG Funds Landed Dickson’s Aide in EFCC Net Adebiyi Adedapo inAbuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Senior Special Assistant on Media to Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, Abnedgo Don- Evarada, for an alleged attempt to bribe officials of the commission.

The suspect was arrested on Monday in Port- Harcourt, and accused of offering a bribe of N10million to the EFCC’s Zonal Head in Port- Harcourt, Mr. Ishaq Salihu.

Don-Evarada allegedly approached Salihu, over a case involving the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Millennium

Development Goals, (MDGs), Apere Embelakpo and his wife, Fiene Beauty.

According to a statement from the commission, Embelakpo is being investigated for alleged diversion of N800million, being funds meant for the MDGs, while his wife is being investigated for alleged money laundering, forgery and suspicious transactions to the tune of N200million.

Don- Evarada offered the bribe ostensibly to compromise the EFCC investigation but his overture was turned down and was arrested.

EFCC confirmed that the suspect is in its custody and would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

Atiku: By 2050, Nigeria will Be a Nation of Hopeless Young People If… Gives full scholarships to 27 escaped Chibok girls

Gboyega Akinsanmi Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has decried the rising level of illiteracy in the country, noting that Nigeria will be a country of uneducated, angry and hopeless people by 2050 if new solutions are not developed.

The former vice president gave the warning in a keynote speech he delivered at the 2016 London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Africa Summit held between April 22 and 23.

Abubakar, who spoke on the topic: “Philanthropy and Human Capital Development in Africa: A Contribution from Yola, Nigeria, disclosed diverse social interventions he had provided to help realise sustainable development in the country.

He explained that such social interventions included full scholarship he granted to 27 Chibok

girls, who bravely escaped from the captivity of Boko Haram insurgents.

He therefore argued that there “are far broader benefits to the wider society from higher education. Higher education not only boosts individual incomes of its graduates, but also the overall GDP of African nations.”

He said a recent study revealed that a one-year increase in “Africa’s stock of institutions of higher education, with no other actions, would raise output growth by 0.63 per cent per year, boosting incomes about three per cent after five years and by 12 per cent over a decade.”

He noted that increasing economic growth “is absolutely essential for all African countries, but development is more than merely increasing incomes and enlarging GDPs. Development is also about improving health, preserving and enhancing the

environment, developing good governance, and increasing human welfare, especially for the poor.”

Abubakar therefore explained the rate at which Nigeria, like many other Africa countries, “is experiencing very rapid population growth. My country’s population is doubling about every 27 years.

Right now we do not have enough trained teachers to teach, and classrooms in which to learn.

“Unless we develop new solutions for education, by 2050 when we are projected to be the 3rd largest country in the world, we will be a country full of uneducated, angry, and hopeless young people,” he explained.

He cited different social intervention he had been providing through the establishment of American University of Nigeria (AUN) to help realise the country’s development goals, noting that Chibok “is a community to our north, and a handful of these girls managed to escape their Boko Haram captors.”

At AUN, he disclosed that about 27 of these remarkably brave and resilient young women “are on full scholarship and being educated.

One of them recently expressed what education means in our area of the world. She said education gives me the wings to fly, the power to fight, and the voice to speak.”

He therefore said that was the reason behind the establishment of the AUN, acknowledging that philanthropy and entrepreneurship “have an important role to play in promoting human capital development in Africa.”

However, Abubakar noted that African states, like states everywhere, “have the primary responsibility for security, education, healthcare and environmental protection and the provision of good governance.”

He said private efforts, including philanthropy, “are not a substitute for carefully targeted and efficiently managed public investments in these vital areas. Investment in

human capital is not simply a cost.”

Rather, he said it “is an investment, the most important of all investments to produce skilled and healthy workers and knowledgeable and engaged citizens is critical for Africa.

Economic growth, and employment and wealth creation are not just socially important.

“They are also critical for the national security of African states. High levels of illiteracy, unemployment and social alienation of the populace, especially young people, are linked to widespread discontent, criminal behaviour and indeed militant insurgency,” Abubakar explained.

Police Recruitment: We Have Received 796,152 Applications for 10,000 Jobs, Says PSC The Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday said in Abuja that it received 796,152 applications for enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force.

Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the recruitment site had been running effectively after initial hitches.

Ani said the commission does not anticipate any crowd as successful applicants would be invited batch by batch after collation of the names.

He said they would be communicated through their e-mail addresses.

The spokesman said there would be no room for compromise as selection and collation would be done electronically.

He said there was nothing to worry about the increasing number of applicants as the selection process would be strictly followed.

He said 229, 817 applications were received for Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) cadre.

Ani added that 188,315 and 378,315 applicants applied for the Inspector and Police Constable (PC) cadres respectively.

The commission recently said in a statement that it would recruit 500 Cadet ASPs, 500 cadet inspectors, 1,500 Specialist Officers and 7,500 constables in the recruitment of 10,000 policemen.

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the recruitment of 10,000 policemen into the nation’s police force to reinforce the police for better service.

Ignore Calls for Jonathan’s Arrest, CAN Tells Buhari The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the federal government to ignore, calls for the arrest of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The association said the calls were coming from “mischievous Nigerians,” and were aimed at throwing the country into “chaos.”

“Such call will only set a wrong precedence in the political development of our dear nation and open doors for mischievous people to set the country into confusion,” CAN said in a statement signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer in the 19 northern states and the FCT, Rev. Joseph Hayab.

CAN, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the call for the arrest was mainly designed to distract Nigerians from asking for the dividend of democracy due to them based on the change they voted for.

The statement said Nigerians were suffering and urged the government to act urgently.

“It is our opinion that such action if taken, with the current economic realities, will throw the country into chaos,’’ the statement said.

It urged the government to resolve the lingering problem of insecurity, power outage and fuel scarcity and other issues affecting the masses.

“The popularity of the present administration in the country is rapidly diminishing due to the prevailing problems of insecurity, power and fuel scarcity.

“What Nigerians need urgently is availability of fuel, electricity, prompt salary, security of lives and property, amongst other issues that are begging for urgent answers.

“The government should address the security threat posed by the spate of Fulani herdsmen attacks in the country leading to the death of thousands of innocent Nigerians.

“Government must equally as a matter of urgency, arrest the acute shortage of power supply that is crippling our economic activities.”

RENDERING ACCOUNTS

L-R: Director, Premium Pension, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga; Managing Director, Mr. Wilson Ideva; and Chairman, Board of Director, Mr. Aliyu Dikko, at the annual general meeting of the company in Abuja...yesterday

SON Begins Enforcement of Energy Saving Appliances Crusoe Osagie The Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON) has stated that in a bid to optimise the use of the scarce municipal power supply and to prevent wastage, it would begin strict enforcement to ensure the use of only efficient energy appliances in the country.

The Head, Electrical and Engineering Department, SON, Mr. Richards Adewunmi, said most developed nations of the world have continued to seek ways to reduce energy consumption using cost effective energy appliances, noting that Nigeria should not be left out in the global trend.

Adewunmi during a technical committee meeting on standards and labels (MEPS) for airconditioner in Nigeria on the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), said the cost of generating electricity is very expensive, maintaining that the use of efficient energy saving appliances and renewable energy solutions will help divert the cost of generating power supply in the country for other pressing national needs.

He stated that the technical meeting aimed to prepare a

minimum energy consumption standards for electronic appliances, will form part of the agency’s SONCAP requirements when approved by the technical committee.

In his words, “When the standards are implemented, it will form part of our SONCAP requirement, before any importer can bring in electronic appliances, they must conform to the minimum energy requirement of the standards.”

According to him, Nigeria is yet to generate up to 40 per cent of its energy needs, saying that for Nigeria to migrate to renewable energy, Nigerians must minimise the usage.

“Renewable energy as we all know is not cheap, if we want to migrate to renewable energy, we need to ensure that people that consumes the energy, minimises the usage. We identified several electrical appliances that are frequently used in the household and we decided to start with lamps.

Previously, you need a 60 Watts lamp to lighten your house, but now what is needed now is just 15 Watts,” he said.

He added that, “Today, we are looking into airconditioners because

we beleieve there should be a standard for airconditioners. We are also going to set a minimum energy performance standard. This means that if any refrigerator or airconditioner is coming into the country, there must be a minimum energy consumption for that airconditioner to be allowed in Nigeria. We have found out that most of these used airconditioners consumes double of what an efficient airconditioner will consume.

So once the standards are approved, the implementation commences. So if you are importing any electronic appliances into Nigeria, it must be in compliance with the mimimum energy consumption we have set.”

Also speaking at the event,

Head of Unit Energy Efficiency, NESP, Mr. Charles Diarra, said in its energy efficiency survey, reveals that about 50 per cent of electronic appliances coming into West Africa, comes into the sub-region through Nigeria, stating the need to formulate standards in Nigeria. ”So if we are able to have a sustainable standards for Nigeria, it is going to be useful not only for Nigeria, but also for the sub region. This is like an awareness creation programme for people to know about the standards and we also have some capacity buidling of the programme, which will come after the approval of the standards,” he said.

Church Holds Impartation Service The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Upper Room Assembly, LP 19 Ogudu, Lagos State will organise an impartation service for kingdom partners in respect of their church building project. The Chairman, Church Building Committee, Mr. Olu Akadiri, noted that the Upper Room Assembly parish has been

growing progressively in the congregation within the Lagos province 19. He also stated that Pastor J.T Kalejaiye would come for the impartation service on April 30, to launch the new church project. Akadiri added: “The programme will begin by 3p.m at the church auditorium 130, Ogudu, Road, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.”

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2016 T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2016

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Duro Ikhazuagbe duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

La Liga to Bring Top Spanish Teams to Nigeria Signs five-year partnership with NPFL

Olawale Ajimotokan The Spanish League Board, the La Liga yesterday signed a strategic technical agreement in Abuja with the League Management Company (LMC) to help develop the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The partnership agreement is for five years and will result in some of Spain’s world acclaimed football clubs visiting Nigeria to play friendly matches with the domestic clubs.

La Liga will also facilitate the visit of Nigerian professional football clubs to Spain. The Spanish league board said it would account for the substantial cost involved in the project.

The LFP officials also made a commitment to establish a La Liga office in Abuja inside the LMC secretariat but with their own personnel.

The agreement was jointly signed by LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and La Liga President, Javier Tesba.

Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, signed as a witness of government of Nigeria while Spain’s Ambassador to Nigeria Alfonso Barmuevo Sebastian de Erice signed on behalf of his country.

The collaborative agreement will span capacity development, training, association between clubsides, marketing and commercial activities.

Ambassador Barmuevo noted

that Nigeria and Spain already enjoy a strategic political relationship that is entrenched on friendship, trust and good understanding.

The envoy stressed that the economic tie between both countries is strong as Spain imports Nigeria’s oil and gas valued at Euros 4.5billion.

“The agreement will also make our sports and cultural relations strategic,” Barmuevo stressed further.

Dikko on his part said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed will also benefit Nigerian coaches, referees and administrators.

According to him, LMC opted to align with La Liga in order to benefit from international best practices as well as benchmarking its model alongside those that are doing the right things.

“They will help us to move forward and most importantly learn from us the costly mistakes we have made in the past,” Dikko admitted.

Some of Nigeria’s former international players who featured in the Spanish League in the past attended the event.

Those that were present include; Mutiu Adepoju, who played for Castella and Racing Santander; Gbenga Okunowo and Haruna “Daddy”Babangida, both who played for Barcelona.Victor Ikpeba also played for Real Betis in the Spanish top flight.

C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E

Iheanacho’s Man City Holds Real Madrid at Etihad Nigerian youngster, Kelechi Iheanacho’s dream of playing against Real Madrid was fulfilled last night as his Manchester City battled the La Liga giants to a barren draw in the first leg of the semi final of the UEFA Champions League at Etihad Stadium.

Chances were scarce for either side in a game Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo missed because of a thigh injury.

The 10-times European champions Real Madrid pressed in the final quarter as Joe Hart denied Casemiro and Pepe.

City failed to register a shot on target until injury time, when Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick was tipped over.

City will be happy not to have conceded an away goal against a free-scoring Madrid team albeit missing their most potent weapon - but know they will need a monumental defensive effort to keep out the Spanish giants at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday.

The winners will meet either Atletico Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final of the Champions League on May 28 in Milan.

NPFL… NPFL… NPFL…

Heartland Takes on Enyimba

Heartland captain and centre back, Chinedu Efugh has said his side will end their search for three points on the road at champions and neighbours, Enyimba.

The Naze Millionaires are guests of the People’s Elephant in today’s rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match-day 6 Oriental Derby at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Efugh said the derby clash is predictably going to be tough but his side is prepared for the banters the Aba outfit will throw at them in the clash.

“Of course, it’s going to be tight and tough given the existing rivalry between both familiar sides.

“We are prepared just waiting patiently for Match-day to unleash our whole weight on Enyimba.

“We are quite hopeful that the clash will be different in term of result compared with past away results so far in the ongoing league.

“Of course, we appreciate the fact that we are yet to claim three points on the road so far in the season but something tells me the search will end at Enyimba.

“Everybody knows what is at stake more so as the encounter is coming on the heel of our home win against Sunshine Stars.”

Heartland is 11th on the 20-team Nigerian top flight on 17 points from possible 39 in the 13-week old league.

L-R: Former La Liga players, Mutiu Adepoju (Racing Santander/Real Sociedad); Gbenga Okunowo (Barcelona); Fernando Sanz (Real Madrid); and Victor Ikpeba (Real Betis) at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the La Liga in Abuja…yesterday

Sports Reform Committee in Abuja for Second Retreat The Sports Reform Committee set up by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to restructure Nigerian sports for effective development will begin a second retreat in Abuja starting today.

The Abuja retreat is coming on the heels of the maiden edition in Lagos which featured presentations from the private sector led by the president and Chairman in Council of the Nigeria - British Chamber of Commerce, Prince Dapo Adelegan.

Adelegan, had insisted at the weekend in Lagos said that sports development in the 21st century anywhere in the world, especially more so in Nigeria, should be driven by persons with a serious business mindset.

As the guest speaker at an open session of the Sports Reform Committee at the boardroom of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, he said “we cannot use 20th century practices to solve 21st century problems.

“The 21st century is a ‘no

jobs’ century with information communication technology (ICT) wiping off most jobs as one computer can do the job of 30 persons working manually.

Banks are retrenching because with ATM cards less desk cashiers are needed for example.

“Therefore, sports which is one of the three competencies needed to survive must therefore be run by intelligent, knowledgeable business minds who know where the money is and can position and package their sports to attract capital.”

Continuing, the renowned business consultant said:“to attract indigenous private and foreign investment, sports in Nigeria has to be democratised and taken out of the hands of the bureaucracy and glamourised.”

The parley also featured a session with Lagos based sports editors from television, radio and newspaper houses who rubbed minds with the committee on the problems stalling sports development in Nigeria.

However, the Abuja retreat, according to a statement from the committee “will have an open house on Thursday, April 28, featuring a presentation from a public sector individual and a parley with Abuja-based sports editors.”

The Committee has seven terms of reference which are: i) Design a new architecture that will restructure Nigerian sports from a service oriented model to a development oriented one that will enhance effective and enduring sports development in Nigeria. ii) Identify the major obstacles to sports development in Nigeria iii) Develop a sustainable framework for sports development which will build a strong base for the systematic discovery, identification, training and deployment of athletes into sporting activities. iv) Develop a holistic framework, including institutional, legal and other arrangements to professionalise sports and provide alternative career options for our

teeming youth with clearly established career path for athletes in all sporting fields. v) Recommend ways of reconstituting the sports federations/ associations in a way that all stake holders have a say and attract passionate, knowledgeable and resourceful leadership. vi) Identify, suggest and recommend alternative sources of revenue for the funding of sports development in Nigeria. vii) Come up with other considerations which in the opinion of the committee will lead to the repositioning of Nigerian sports for effective and enduring development.

The committee which has until July 14 to submit its report has Godwin Kienka as chairman.

Members are; Babatunde FatayiWilliams, Prof. Florence Adeyanju, Chief Segun Odegbami, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), Chief Mary Onyali, Bola Orodele, Yusuf Datti, Kayode Thomas, Ayo Olubato, Dr Ademola Aare, Waziri Laminu and Despan Kwardem.

New Course Record Expected at 4th Okpekpe Race Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have predicted new men and women’s course records next month when the fourth edition of the IAAF Bronze Label race holds in Okpekpe Edo State.

In 2014 Kenya’s Teshome Mekonnen and Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew ran 28:35 and 32:41 respectively to smash the course and the Nigerian all-comers record of 29:39 and 33:01 set a year earlier at the inaugural edition of the race.

“Last year at the third edition of the race the Kenyan duo of Korio

Alex Olotptip (29.20) and Tanui Anfele (33.34) failed to race past Mekonnen and Ayalew’s records but all that will change this year,”said spokesman for the race, Dare Esan.

“The quality of the elite athletes confirmed for this year’s race is such that we cannot even rule out a new world lead come May 7. Many of the gold and silver level running athletes confirmed for the race have ran faster than the course records set by Mekonnen and Ayalew in 2014.

“Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo of Kenya, a gold level running athlete holds

a personal best of 27:44 set in 2014 in Nairobi while his compatriot Morris Munene Gachaga is even younger and faster with 27:27 achieved in Casablanca, Morocco.

“For the women’s, Buzunesh Gudeta’s 31.27 also set in Casablanca will guarantee a new course record and places in the top 10 of the IAAF top list of performers for the year,”added Esan who further revealed that one of the female athletes confirmed for the race, Edith Chelimo of Kenya is the third fastest woman over the distance so far this year.

“Chelimo is actually the woman athlete to beat because of her form ran over a 10km race. She is number three on the IAAF top list of performers for 2016 with her 31.07 run in Brunssum in the Netherlands early this month.

“Apart from the course record, the target before the athletes will also be the 27:42 men’s world lead set by Bedan Karoki Muchiri of Kenya last February in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the IAAF Gold Label World’s Best 10km race and the women’s 30:29 set by Violah Jepchumba also of Kenya early this month in Praha, Czech Republic,” said Esan.

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS U E FA C H A M P I O N S L E AG U E

Atletico Gets Chance for Bayern Revenge

Club Atletico de Madrid at training session ahead of tonight’s clash with Bayern Munich in the semi final of the Champions League Bayern Munich destroyed Atletico Madrid’s dreams of winning the European Cup in 1974 and today, the Bavarians are out to wreck their hopes of reaching a second Champions League final in three years when they visit the Spanish capital for the semifinal first leg.

In the final in Heysel 42 years ago, an equaliser from defender Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck in the final minute of extra time cancelled out Luis Aragones’ opening goal and forced a replay, in which Bayern ran out 4-0 winners.

That outcome led to

contrasting fortunes for both clubs – Bayern went on to win three consecutive European Cups and are now bidding for their sixth triumph in manager Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge before taking over at Manchester City.

Atletico are still haunted by

the memory of Schwarzenbeck’s goal, which prompted the nickname “el pupas” (the cursed ones).

History repeated itself 40 years later when Atletico led Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League final and Sergio Ramos headed in a 93rd-

Hillsborough: Jury Concludes Fans Unlawfully Killed Ninety-six football fans who died as a result of a crush in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed, the inquests concluded yesterday.

The jury found match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield was “responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence” due to a breach of his duty of care.

Police errors also added to a dangerous situation at the FA Cup semi-final.

The prime minister said the inquests had provided “official confirmation” fans were “utterly

blameless”.

After a 27-year campaign by victims’ families, the behaviour of Liverpool fans was exonerated.

The jury found they did not contribute to the danger unfolding at the turnstiles at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday’s ground on April 15, 1989.

Nine jurors reached unanimous decisions on all but one of the 14 questions at the inquests into Britain’s worst sporting disaster.

The coroner Sir John Goldring said he would accept a majority decision about whether the fans

were unlawfully killed - seven jurors agreed they were.

When the conclusion of the unlawful killing was revealed, families were seen hugging each other in the public gallery and some punched the air.

When considering how each of the 96 victims died the jury concluded many died well after 15:15 on the day of the match.

The coroner at the original inquest in 1991, Dr Stefan Popper, said he would not hear any evidence relating to deaths beyond that time because he believed all the victims had died, or suffered fatal injuries, by then.

The deaths were ruled accidental and those verdicts were quashed following the 2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel report, and new hearings were ordered.

The new inquests found the direct medical cause of death was compression asphyxia in all but three of the victims.

The earliest time of death was estimated from 14:57 and the last up to 17:00.

Tony Bland, the 96th victim, died in 1993 after being left brain damaged, due to or as a consequence of compression asphyxia.

minute equaliser to force extra time before going on to thrash the Rojiblancos 4-1.

Four decades after Schwarzenbeck robbed them of glory, Atletico are still chasing their first European Cup, yet are emboldened in their bid to go all the way this year after knocking out holders and favourites Barcelona in the quarterfinals.

They beat Malaga 1-0 on Saturday thanks to substitute Angel Correa’s second-half strike to stay level on points with Barcelona, who top La Liga due to their superior head-to-head record.

Bayern maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga by winning 2-0 at Hertha Berlin with second-half goals from Arturo Vidal and Douglas Costa. A victory at home to Borussia Monchengladbach next week will see Bayern clinch a third successive title under Guardiola.

Bayern have also reached the

German Cup final yet many believe the former Barcelona coach will have under-achieved at the club should he fail to win the Champions League.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso rejected that suggestion, however, highlighting the Catalan’s positive influence.

“I’ve no doubt his time here will leave an important base, independently of whether we have a fantastic end to the season or not. Our memories of him will be brilliant, and he won’t be a failure if we didn’t win the Champions League,” said Alonso.

Atletico is the third Spanish team Bayern has met in as many years in the semifinals, having been knocked out

by Real Madrid in 2014 and Barcelona last year.

Atletico is without influential centre back Diego Godin due to a hamstring injury, while Bayern will be missing forward Arjen Robben and defender Jerome Boateng.

More Cash for Wimbledon Singles Champions The men’s and women’s singles champions at Wimbledon will get £2m each this year, with total prize money up to £28.1m, an increase of £1.35m.

Last year’s champions - Serb Novak Djokovic and American Serena Williams - each pocketed

£1.88m.

The 2016 championships, which take place at the All England Club, will also feature wheelchair singles events for the first time.

Doubles tournaments have been running at Wimbledon for the past 10 years.

Total prize money for wheelchair players will be £200,000, a significant increase on 2015, when £64,000 was on offer in the two doubles events.

Britain’s Jordanne Whiley, who has won the women’s wheelchair doubles at Wimbledon for the last

FIFA Threatens to Ban Egypt over Govt Interference World football governing body, FIFA, has issued an official warning to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) over government intervention in its affairs.

The warning comes in the light of Egypt’s Supreme Administrative Court ruling to dissolve the EFA board over election irregularities.

FIFA rules prohibit any government intervention, as articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently

and with no influence from third parties.

According to the letter, the EFA may face suspension in case the court decision was implemented.

The EFA had already challenged the ruling and the court has set May 7 as a date for ruling in the case.

“The court decision, if implemented, would most likely be considered as an interference in the internal affairs of the EFA and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA

for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the EFA,” the letter read.

Candidates for the EFA 2012 elections Magda El Helbawi and Hermas Radwan had dragged the EFA board to court over allegations of vote rigging during the elections.

The court accepted the lawsuit in March and the verdict obligated Minister of Youth and Sports, Khaled Abdel-Aziz, to dissolve the EFA board headed by Gamal Allam.

two years, tweeted her delight at the news.

Wimbledon also plans to boost its security and commitment to integrity in tennis following a number of damaging headlines about match-fixing and doping.

These include stricter accreditation procedures, additional data provision, monitoring and analysis, more education and support for players and officials, as well as increased anti-doping measures.

WHAT OTHERS ARE PAYING Australian Open (2016): •Winners: AUD$3.85m (£2.04m) •Total: AUD$44m (£23.31m) French Open (2016): •Winners: €2m (£1.55m) •Total: €32m (£24.77m) US Open (2015): •Winners: $3.3m (£2.26m) •Total: $42,253,400 (£28.919m)

League Bloggers Award (LBA) March winner, Chisom Egbuchulam of Enugu Rangers, with his award at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, before their 2-1 victory over Nasarawa United

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Nadal Dares ITF to Publish His Drug Test Results

Nadal...wants drug test results published World number five Rafael Nadal has invited the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to publish the results of all of his drugs tests.

The Spaniard is suing former French government Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, who accused him of doping.

In a letter to the ITF, he said people should not “speak without evidence”.

The 29-year-old added: “Please make all my information public, my biological passport and my complete history of anti-doping tests.”

On receipt of the letter, the

ITF said the 14-time Grand Slam champion has never failed a drugs test and is free to make public his anti-doping records, to which he has full access.

Nadal also asked the ITF to communicate all future occasions on which he is tested and the results, as soon as they are ready.

Earlier this year, women’s world number nine Maria Sharapova admitted to testing positive for meldonium at this year’s Australian Open. The Russian is serving a provisional suspension and faces a lengthy ban.

British number one Andy

Murray told the Mail on Sunday earlier this month he had been suspicious of some opponents who “don’t seem to be getting tired”.

The issue of full disclosure of athletes’ anti-doping results has proved controversial in other sports.

British Athletics warned past and present athletes against allowing their blood data to be revealed, warning results could be “misinterpreted”.

However, several athletes including distance runners Mo Farah and Jo Pavey - have said results should be made public.

DStv PBL: Mark Mentors Will Bounce Back, Says Igoche Mark Mentors Basketball Club of Abuja is the reigning champion of the DStv Premier Basketball League organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) but did not start the current season with a team that come close to the one that lifted the league trophy in 2015 in Lagos no thanks to players’ exodus that hit the team.

With the exodus the team management led by Igoche Mark went to work immediately before the commencement date of the new season with the injection of some fresh hands that have struggled to place second on the log of the Savannah Conference with nine wins from 11 games played so far.

Mark Mentors was formed few years ago as a result of the success story of the annual Mark D’Ball camp and tournament staged every December in Otukpo, Benue State and has since become a force to reckon with in the

Nigerian basketball scene.

The Coach Adeka Daudu-led technical crew of the Abuja side has been able to mould something out of nothing as evident in week-6 of the regular season where Mark Mentors inflicted defeat on star-studded Kano Pillars Basketball Club at the Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium.

Kudos must be given to team captain Stanley Gumut who has been able to rally other younger players to rise to the occasion as they went past the Pillars winning by 70-69 points at the buzzer.

Coach Daudu though not ruling out any surprises of retaining the league title but was emphatic when he said that the team’s ambition in the current season is to rebuild the squad ahead next season which was corroborated by Gumut.

“Honestly, our primary objective this season is to rebuild the team after the exodus of some of our best players who contributed

immensely to our winning the league title last season to join Kano Pillars and Royal Hoopers now Rivers Hoopers as the only teams to have won the DStv league diadem.

“I am optimistic that we can challenge for the title next season though we are not giving up totally this term because in basketball the playoffs is usually a different ball game altogether,”Daudu concluded.

Club Chairman, Mark believed the team is on the right path of rebuilding and would definitely bounce back.

The team management is very happy with the technical crew and the players for still keeping us among the title contender this season even though that is not our main objective this term.

“Yes, it was devastating at the begging when most of our top players left but I am particularly happy that we are still a force to reckon with even when we might have been given any chance.

Blatter to Testify at Platini Ban Appeal Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter will testify during Michel Platini’s appeal against his ban from football, following a request from world football’s governing body, a source close to the case said yesterday.

Platini, the suspended head of European football confederation UEFA, will challenge his six-year ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday.

“Blatter will testify on Friday, at the request of FIFA”, said a source who was not authorised to discuss the case publicly, but confirmed the information first reported by L’Equipe newspaper.

In December, FIFA’s ethics judges found Platini guilty of ethics violations, conflict of interest and other offences in connection with a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million, 1.8 million euro) payment he received

from Blatter in 2011.

Both men claim the payment was part of a legitimate oral contract for consulting work that Platini did between 1999 and 2002, but FIFA’s in-house court found that explanation unconvincing.

The pair were first suspended for eight years in December, but a FIFA appeals panel reduced the bans to six years in February, citing mitigating circumstances.

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Lai Mohammed to Corrupt Officials “Even if just one-third of the stolen fund is recovered, it will provide us with six Lagos Ibadan express ways and in addition, it will build 183 schools to educate 3,974 children from primary to tertiary education, also 36 modern hospitals. The money that was originally stolen represents the total earning s of four African nations ” –Information Minister Mohammed on how corruption impedes development.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE The Urgency of the Security Question THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

T

he urgency of the security question became manifest again two days ago with the reported killings by herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. Some other persons were reportedly injured in the course of the attack.

According to this newspaper, sources put the toll of dead in that tragic incident at 48. But in a statement, the Enugu State police Command said, “a full investigation had begun into the alleged killing of six persons in Nimbo…” It is important to get the figures right because every life is so important that the Nigerian state should account for it. It is also urgent that the import of these developments is fully grasped by those who have the responsibility for the security architecture of the country; the problem of insecurity is getting worse and assuming new dimensions.

Now, the legitimate expectation of the Buhari administration is contrary to what is happening in the security sector. President Muhammadu Buhari inherited the devastating Boko Haram war. By this time last year, not a few voters were gearing up to vote for him for wellknown reasons. One of the principal reasons why Buhari was a preferred candidate was that many voters saw in him the capacity to be a fitting commander-in-chief for a country facing such a huge challenge of security. What is more, security was one of the areas Buhari promised to make the focus of his administration.

Specifically, Buhari promised to lead the nation to put an end to the Boko Haram war. To be fair to the administration, some progress has been recorded in the Boko Haram front. Sadly, this is being neutralised in moral and security terms with the bloodletting arising from the herdsmen-farmers conflict. This is a dangerous dimension to the security challenges that the administration should tackle. Killings have been reported in practically every part of the country; but the more recent incidents have happened in the Middle Belt, Southeast, South-South and Southwest. The President was reported as saying the other time that pipeline vandals would be dealt with the way Boko Haram terrorists were being dealt with by the armed forces and other security agencies. Well said, many would probably say in response. After all, the vandals should be told that they lack a greater capacity than the Nigerian state in matters of violence. The same attitude should be shown by the President with regard to the perpetrators of violence in many communities. Not a few now expect the Commander-in-Chief to tell those responsible for mass murder in the clashes between herdsmen and farmers that they would be dealt with like terrorists too. The political resonance of such a statement would be immense and helpful in the circumstance. Again, this is a law and order aspect of the problem. The bloodletting should be stopped immediately. It is far from being alarmist to project that while Nigeria is yet to finish the Boko Haram war, another war may be breaking out without the nation recognising it in time. The President should make a categorical statement on how he wants to stop the bloodletting immediately. The statement should embody the true government’s reading of the problem and it should shed light on the solution. It has been said that some of the

Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau

herdsmen allegedly responsible for the violence are not Nigerians. There is even a hypothesis that given the sophistication of the weapons used in these conflicts, a variant of Boko Haram might be in operation. All the dimensions of the problem should be explored in the official response. The nation needs some assurance from the commander-in-chief.

In its 11 months in in power, the Buhari administration has become famous for taking its time to confront problems frontally. Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbe is believed to be putting together the policy solutions to the problem. A controversial bill is before the National Assembly on grazing. In the controversy, there has been more heat than light in solving the problem.

The truth that is subsumed in this controversy is simply that given an honestly designed policy framework it is possible for the herdsmen to produce cattle for beef production in a modern way without moving round the whole place destroying the farms of other people.

While the nation waits for the agricultural policy instruments to solve the problem, such a luxury does not seem to be available to those responsible for tackling the security dimension

Not a few now expect the Commander-inChief to tell those responsible for mass murder in the clashes between herdsmen and farmers that they would be dealt with like terrorists. The political resonance of such a statement would be immense and helpful in the circumstance

0805 500 1974

of the crisis. It is a matter of blood and tears.

Yet, a sense of urgency and seriousness of purpose appears to be lacking on the part of officialdom. There have been allegations of inexplicable delays in the response of security forces in some communities where mass killings took place.

Unfortunately, a tone of emergency is not so clear from official statements. Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase says the force is on top of the situation and his officers are being trained to handle the intelligence aspects of the operations while working with the communities.

Meanwhile, villages are being invaded and killings take place every now and then. At a higher level, Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau reportedly blamed the social media for framing the crisis of herdsmen and farmers in a way that threatens security. He spoke a fortnight ago at a stakeholders meeting on the “Pastoralist/Sedentary farmers conflict in Nigeria,” in which he announced government’s plans to find a “definitive policy intervention” to the problem. A distinguished expert in such matters, Lt. Gen. Dambazzau said the conflict between herdsmen and farmers should be viewed beyond the Niger-Benue basin as such conflicts occur in other parts of West Africa and even Central Africa. It is instructive that he was quoted as explaining the government’s approach to the

problem like this: “There have been a number of committees and think-thank type investigations into the conflict in the past; and it is the intention of the Ministry of Interior to gather these together and note which have been implemented, highlighting the effects and failures of each, in order to arrive at narrative and doctrinal certainties … This will in turn inform the design of a definite policy intervention, which will see multi-level convergent action that will in turn lead to an abatement of the conflict.” So the government is yet to articulate a policy to solve the problem. It is certainly worrisome that this government is still at the level of convening stakeholders’ meeting to “design” a “multilevel convergent action” while the bloodletting continues with all the ominous implications for peace and security. There is no evidence of the needed speed in this official response to a problem that risks being turned into a political and religious war by elitist manipulators. The synthesis of previous reports and studies on the problem ought to have been done by now and the implementation of policy should have begun in earnest.

The recent bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers represent a new dimension on the nation’s security map. There are too many clouds on the horizon. Only urgent steps by government can clear them in the interest of national security.

DO AS I SAY,....

MY LORD, WE HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU EXCUSE YOURSELF FROM CONTINUING TO HEAR MY CLIENT’S CASE BECAUSE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

COUNSEL, I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOUR CLIENT SHOULD EXCUSE HIMSELF FROM CONTINUING TO LEGISLATE ON MY BEHALF BECAUSE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

SHUT UP! MY CLIENT BOUGHT YOUR VOTE!

27-04-16

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