Friday 29th April 2016

Fidelity Bank: $115m Cash Deposit was Reported Says it is cooperating with EFCC Commission invites oil firms as INEC officials refund N300m

Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The management of Fidelity Bank Plc yesterday said the $115 million cash transfer,

which led to the arrest of its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, on Monday and his subsequent interrogation, was duly

reported to the appropriate authorities, adding however that it was cooperating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the investigation progresses.

The bank’s reaction came as the EFCC stepped up its investigation into the huge lodgement, dragging in four oil firm and their directors whom, THISDAY gathered

last night, have been invited for questioning following a presidential directive.

The four oil firms were said to have made the lodgements, which the presidency,

according to THISDAY checks, is bent on recovering from the companies. The firm officials are billed for interrogation this Continued on page 8

Senate Summons Service Chiefs over Gruesome Herdsmen Attacks...

Page 11

Friday 29 April, 2016 Vol 21. No 7673. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

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Prosecution Files More Charges as Saraki Appeals Ruling by CCT Chair Alex Enumah in Abuja The woes of Senate President Bukola Saraki were compounded yesterday, when the prosecution counsel filed three additional charges against him, increasing them from 13 to 16.

The increased charges

came on the heels of the refusal of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar, to recuse himself, saying Saraki’s application asking him to disqualify himself was aimed at intimidating him.

Shortly after the chairman’s ruling on the application,

Saraki’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, said his client would appeal the ruling which he said did not meet the requirements of justice.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had after the ruling on the application for the chairman to disqualify himself, filed an amendment

to the 13-count charge against Saraki, raising the counts to 16.

In the fresh charge, the federal government is accusing Saraki of not declaring his interest in a foreign credit card account to which he was alleged to have transferred huge sums of money.

Saraki, however, pleaded

not guilty to the amended charges, even as the tribunal adjourned till May 10 for the continuation of the trial.

But the Senate president has approached the Court of Appeal for succour. In a Notice of Appeal filed by Oluyede, Saraki claimed that the CCT chairman erred in law when

he arrived at a conclusion that the application seeking his disqualification lacked absolute merit.

Part of the grounds of appeal was that the tribunal chairman by his action had turned himself to a judge in Continued on page 10

Buhari Promises States More Money Governors present fiscal restructuring plan Want revenue sharing formula reviewed Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised to make more money available to states to tide them over the prevailing financial difficulties that have made it impossible for them to pay their workers’ salaries for months.

The president made the promise in Abuja after his meeting with the state governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), which presented him with a fiscal restructuring plan, asking for a review of the nation’s revenue sharing formula that would put more money in the coffers of the states.

Although details of the proposed plan were not disclosed, the president in his response to their proposal

indicated that he would give it positive consideration and Continued on page 8

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L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom; his Edo and Delta State counterparts, Adams Oshiomhole; and Ifeanyi Okowa, during the meeting of the governors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja … yesterday godwin omoigui

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 DECEMBER

GROUP

BANK

31 Dec 2015 N'Million

31 Dec 2014 N'Million

31 Dec 2015 N'Million

31 Dec 2014 N'Million

715,092 374,511 1,816,045 5,049

697,601 430,053 2,193,563 10,708

679,054 137,548 1,457,285 5,049

670,045 242,842 1,794,037 9,258

Asset held for sale Total assets

724,549 106,037 102,217 34,479 82,351 9,275 2,923 3,972,528 570 3,973,098

442,551 156,353 64,527 39,457 83,404 8,103 2,384 4,128,704 2,931 4,131,635

689,577 92,325 100,086 18,840 74,415 72,810 4,043 1,343 3,332,375 3,332,375

404,508 140,467 63,158 29,173 58,986 74,782 2,272 1,343 3,490,871 3,490,871

Liabilities Deposits from banks Deposits from customers Financial liabilities held for trading Current income tax liability Other liabilities Borrowings Retirement benefit obligations Deferred tax Total liabilities

139,052 2,905,070 12,121 5,790 152,877 249,892 3,709 63 3,468,574

163,710 2,989,735 9,913 8,530 131,704 362,976 2,012 38 3,668,618

50,566 2,399,822 2,657 2,897 123,020 290,620 3,046 2,872,628

19,246 2,551,022 7,946 6,558 103,556 377,950 1,546 3,067,824

16,316 189,241 163,651 133,387 502,595 1,929 504,524

16,316 189,241 118,620 137,199 461,376 1,641 463,017

16,316 189,241 130,787 123,403 459,747 459,747

16,316 189,241 87,200 130,290 423,047 423,047

3,973,098

4,131,635

3,332,375

3,490,871

Assets Cash and balances with central banks Loans and advances to banks Loans and advances to customers Financial assets held for trading Investment securities - Available for sale investments - Held to maturity investments Assets pledged as collateral Other assets Investment in subsidiaries Property, plant and equipment Intangible assets Deferred tax

Equity Share capital Share premium Retained earnings Other reserves Non-controlling interest Total equity Total equity and liabilities

GROUP

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED Continuining operations Interest income Interest expense Net interest income Impairment charge for credit losses Net interest income after impairment charge for credit losses Fee and commission income Fee and commission expense Net gains/(losses) on Foreign exchange income Net gains/(losses) on investment securities Net gains/(losses) from financial assets classified as held for trading Dividend income Other operating income Personnel Expenses Amortisation of Intangible assets Depreciation of Property, plant & equipment Other operating expenses Profit before tax Income tax expense PROFIT FOR THE YEAR FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS Discontinued operations (Loss)/Profit for the year from discontinued operations PROFIT FOR THE YEAR Profit attributable to: - Owners of the parent - Non-controlling interests

BANK

31 Dec 2015 N'Million

31 Dec 2014 N'Million

31 Dec 2015 N'Million

31 Dec 2014 N'Million

378,790 (119,980) 258,810 (125,943) 132,867

349,277 (109,722) 239,555 (25,730) 213,825

337,771 (109,896) 227,875 (120,046) 107,829

309,936 (94,487) 215,449 (20,924) 194,525

56,185 (9,403) 20,395 6,072 (556) 1,354 3,350 (72,888) (2,047) (10,577) (114,571) 10,181 (7,235) 2,946

58,499 (6,940) 43,284 837 541 1,202 1,837 (72,726) (1,268) (10,531) (134,108) 94,452 (9,526) 84,926

45,481 (9,441) 17,399 13,243 (561) 7,340 383 (63,672) (1,330) (9,563) (104,292) 2,816 (2,779) 37

49,416 (8,574) 41,283 147 541 3,716 1,433 (63,011) (647) (9,741) (127,727) 81,361 (6,186) 75,175

-

(84)

-

4,176

2,946

84,842

37

79,351

2,552 394 2,946

84,827 15 84,842

37 37

79,351 79,351

2,946

84,842

37

79,351

41,376 (1,583) 630

1,557 (2,466) 5,296

39,547 (1,583) -

5,124 (2,061) -

(1,382) (374) 38,667

(373) 804 4,818

(1,301) 36,663

(408) 122 2,777

41,613

89,660

36,700

82,128

41,219 394 41,613

89,645 15 89,660

36,700 36,700

82,128 82,128

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED PROFIT FOR THE YEAR Other comprehensive income: Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss Net gains /(loss) on available-for-sale financial assets -Unrealised net gains/(losses) arising during the year, before tax -Net reclassification adjustments for realised net (losses)/gains, before tax Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss Remeasurements on defined benefits scheme Income tax relating to components of other comprehensive income Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR Total comprehensive income attributable to: -Owners of the parent -Non-controlling interests

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO THE MEMBERS OF FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED

Report on the financial statements We have audited the accompanying separate and consolidated financial statements of First Bank of Nigeria Limited (“the bank”) and its subsidiaries (together “the group”).

These financial statements comprise the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2015, the income statement and the statements of comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes.

Directors’ responsibility for the financial statements The directors are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and for such internal control, as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s responsibility Our responsibility is to express an independent opinion on the financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform our audit to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Opinion In our opinion the accompanying financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the financial affairs of the bank and the group as at 31 December 2015 and of their financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act. Report on other legal requirements The Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act require that in carrying out our audit we consider and report to you on the following matters. We confirm that: I) we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit; ii) the bank has kept proper books of account, so far as appears from our examination of those books and returns adequate for our audit have been received from branches not visited by us ; iii) the bank’s statements of financial position and comprehensive income are in agreement with the books of account; iv) the information required by Central Bank of Nigeria Circular BSD/1/2004 on insider related credits is disclosed in Note 40 to the financial statements; v) except for the contraventions disclosed in Note 43 to the financial statements, the bank has complied with the requirements of the relevant circulars issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Compliance to CBN Circular FPR/DIR/CIR/GEN/01/020 dated 16 August 2011 on handling Consumer Complaints: The Bank complied with the provisions of the above CBN Circular on handling of Consumer compliants. The details are as stated in the Annual Report.

Ibukun Awosika, Mrs. (Chairman)

Adesola Adeduntan (Managing Director/CEO)

Ramon Olayiwola (Acting CFO)

FRC/2013/IODN/00000003479

FRC/2014/ICAN/00000010466

FRC/2014/ICAN/00000010471

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Chairman: Ibukun A. Awosika, Managing Director/CEO: Adesola K. Adeduntan, Directors: Adetokunbo M. Abiru, Urum K. Eke (MFR), Ambrose Feese, Tunde Hassan-Odukale, Lawal K. Ibrahim, Ijeoma E. Jidenma, Ebenezer A. Jolaoso, Dauda Lawal, Abiodun Odubola, Obafemi A. Otudeko, Gbenga Shobo, Ibrahim D. Waziri

Engagement Partner: Tola Ogundipe FRC/2013/ICAN/00000000639 For: PricewaterhouseCoopers Chartered Accountants Lagos, Nigeria

04 April 2016

The above statement of financial position and income statement are published in compliance with Section 27 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act. For a better understanding of the financial position results of operations of the Bank and the Group, these financial statement extracts should be read in conjunction with the full financial statements on which the auditors' report was issued. The complete annual report of the Bank can be obtained from the Company Secretary.

8

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT BUHARI PROMISES STATES MORE MONEY promised them that the federal government would make more money available to the states to help them meet their financial obligations.

The governors, who met with the president at the Presidential Villa, subsequently asked for an additional 18-month moratorium on their subsisting debts.

A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, after the meeting, quoted Buhari as saying that the dire financial situation the states found themselves was of great concern to him.

Buhari said he was worried that nearly two-thirds of the states of the federation were still having difficulties with salary payments despite the federal government’s bailout.

He said he very disturbed by the hardship which state government workers across the country and their families were going through due to the non-payment of salaries, adding that the federal government would strive to make more funds available to the states by expediting action on refunds due to them for the repairs and construction of federal roads and other expenses incurred on behalf of the federal government.

Buhari also said that he would establish an interministerial committee to study the Fiscal Restructuring Plan for the Federation which was presented to him by the governors.

The president said that the committee would review the plan to improve the finances of the state governments and make recommendations on how proposals in the plan should be dealt with by the presidency, Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly through legislation.

However, Buhari reminded the governors to understand that while he was ready to do all within his powers to help the states overcome their current financial challenges, the federal government also has funding problems of its own to contend with.

“You all know the problems we have found ourselves in.

You have to bear with us,” he told the governors.

The Chairman of the NGF, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, and Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, who chaired the committee that worked on the Fiscal Restructuring Plan, asked the federal government to do more

to help the states financially.

The governors told the president that while they had resolved to take other measures to boost their internally generated revenue, the implementation of the Fiscal Restructuring Plan would help them to deal with their funding problems on short, medium and long-term bases.

They said if the plan is adopted and implemented by the federal government, states of the federation would become financially empowered to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting, Yari, said in the short-term, the governors were looking at a situation whereby “our debts that have been hanging since 2005 right from Obasanjo’s exit of the Paris Club are paid. These are some of the monies that were not paid before. If they are paid, some of the states that are having financial difficulties now can get money from there.”

He also said that the states would like their loans to be restructured.

“Today we have received support from the federal government in terms of a bailout, restructuring of our debts, and giving us 15 per cent of the Excess Crude Account for development.

“We are also asking for 18 months moratorium on our loans before we can start paying, so that we would be able to strategise,” he added.

Saying all these were temporary measures, Yari explained that each state has short, medium and long-term programmes, which had been presented to Buhari, adding that the president had graciously accepted and agreed to set up a committee that would look at the matter.

The governor said the committee would have as members: the president, VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

He said Fashola would be on the committee because he headed a similar committee on the review of revenue formula as a member of the NGF in 2012.

Yari said states cannot raise internally generated revenues overnight, but have to develop a long-term programme to achieve more efficient collection of revenue in their respective domains.

He said the work force of states had exploded and there

was nothing they could do about it because people earn their daily bread from the jobs.

On the allegation by the Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun that the state governors did not save for the rainy days, hence the current financial crisis, Yari said: “States only take 26 per cent of the Federation Account, whereas the federal government gets 52 per cent and you are asking us to save?

“Anyway, I doubt if the minister made that statement.

It is coming from the media.

The truth remains that the states are taking 26 per cent and the federal government 52 per cent, what are they doing with the money?”

On the demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for an increase of the minimum wage to N56,000, Yari said the union was right.

“We agree what they are being paid is too small but they must understand the situation the country is in, because from where we are deriving our resources is now lower by 60 per cent. So how do we do the magic? But we are going to do our best,” he said.

Earlier, the governors had admitted that they were desperately looking for solutions both in the short and long-term to the economic challenges created by the sudden fall in oil prices.

“You know we are in a very bad situation and we need to

come together and discuss intensively about this economy because it is what is now giving the states a headache and by extension the federal government,” Yari had said after a meeting of the NGF that ended late Wednesday night.

“If you look carefully at this month’s Federation Account allocations, it was the worst ever in the last six years, so definitely we had to come to the roundtable. We were elected under different party platforms to perform, not just to pay salaries and it is worse off it we are unable to pay salaries.

“So the issue is very, very serious and that is why we are coming back to discuss it and if we have the opportunity we will come back to see Mr. President on this issue,: the chairman of the forum told State House reporters.

He said rather than seek for more bailouts from the federal government, the governors would find a permanent solution to the problems facing their respective states.

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who also fielded questions from journalists, said the meeting was all about finding a lasting solution to the financial problems of the states.

Fayose also disagreed that the country was in a financial mess because it did not save during the years of boom. “Well that is subjective, every leader at one time or the other must

have done their best within the ambit of availability. So for me, every former president, every former leader had made their contributions and I commend them, so the new people in the saddle of leadership must continue to give their best,” he said.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom, who also spoke after the meeting of the NGF, called for cooperation among states, explaining that more interaction was needed to find a better way out of the woods.

On his own part, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole complained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) states were exempted from the N2 billion ecological funds released by former President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states were considered in the distribution of the funds.

Oshiomhole said, however, that unlike the former president, Buhari, in the face of the worsening state of the economy, has remained a rallying point for all state governments in the country, irrespective of political affiliation.

He said: “We are very lucky to have President Buhari at this time. I have been here now for seven and a half years and I have had the opportunity to work with three presidents.

That is the truth.

“Under the last president, it

would have been impossible for us to approach Abuja to give us support because we have personal challenges. We would have been given lectures on fiscal responsibility and all those kind of talks, even though the wastage was more here than any other place at that time.

“We have a president who recognises that he is not just president of the federal government, he is the president of the federation of which the states are part of the whole and regardless of our political affiliation.

“This is very important, because everybody is able to ask this president to give him support and he is doing so.

“Whereas, in the recent past, some PDP governors got N2 billion from ecology fund, we APC governors were not given.

But we promised to be different and I am happy this president is showing that difference.”

On the new proposal for an increase in the minimum wage by the NLC, he said he believed in a living wage for workers.

The governor said that he had been able to pay Edo State workers’ salaries despite the economic contraction because of his belief that their wages ranked high in terms of priorities for his government.

According to him, there was no need for him to borrow to pay salaries as he had increased revenue generation from taxing the wealthy more in the state.

PURPLE RAIN IN IBADAN

L-R: Wife of the Delta State Governor, Mrs. Edith Okowa, and her counterparts in Lagos and Edo States, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode and Mrs. Iara Oshiomole, during the commencement of the free health screening programme for women initiated by the wife of the president, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, in Ibadan, Oyo State… yesterday

FIDELITY BANK: $115M CASH DEPOSIT WAS REPORTED morning at the commission’s Lagos office.

The EFCC had arrested Fidelity Bank’s chief executive for allegedly receiving $115 million in lodgements from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, and disbursed the funds to politicians in the build up to the 2015 presidential election that was lost by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We can confirm that the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators,” the bank’s management said in a statement, adding that it was cooperating fully with the authorities on the investigation.

The bank’s statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media on investigations into transactions undertaken by the bank in

the normal course of business in 2015.

“The transactions are now the subject matter of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“We can confirm that the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators and the bank is cooperating fully with the authorities on the investigation.

“We assure our numerous stakeholders, including our customers, that we are working assiduously towards a quick resolution of the issues.”

Under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) and Money Laundering Act, banks are mandated to report unusual transactions to the EFCC. The commission’s

investigators, THISDAY gathered, are getting useful information from Okonkwo and the bank’s Head of Operations, Mr. Martins Izuogbe, who is also in the EFCC net for his alleged role in the disbursement of the funds, which the anti-graft agency described as unprecedented.

“They have succeeded in providing the list of beneficiaries of the funds,’’ a senior EFCC operative told THISDAY last night, adding that the commission had raised a crack team to dig into the sources of the funds paid to Alison-Madueke by the affected oil companies.

The $115 million was said to have been given to AlisonMadueke by the companies, while she was alleged to have contributed another $25.77

million.

A senior operative in antigraft agency further said that in the run up to the presidential election, Alison-Madueke gave a list to the Fidelity Bank MD and instructed him to change the $115million into naira and disburse the money to INEC officials in the 36 states, some individuals and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).

The source said: “We have extended invitations to some of the owners of the oil firms who brought the pool of $115million that was given to Fidelity Bank Plc to change into naira for the purpose of tampering with the results of the presidential election.

“So far, only one of them has indicated interest in appearing before our team. We will give

others some time to report but they are under surveillance, they cannot run out of this country.

“Once they can explain the legitimate sources of the funds, we will allow them to go home. By the Money Laundering Act, they were not supposed to be in possession of such huge cash.”

The EFCC source added: “We have interrogated INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) officials from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Lagos States. This exercise is being carried out simultaneously in all the 36 states because INEC officials and some NGOs benefitted from the bribes.”

Meanwhile, THISDAY’s source said last night that

Fidelity Bank had refunded N40 million, being the interest on the funds deposited in the bank.

Also INEC officials from Osun, Ogun and Oyo States who were arrested, are also said to have refunded N300 million.

However, the source did not disclose the cadre of officials arrested in the affected Southwestern states.

Apart from the INEC officials arrested, a former chairman of INEC has also been invited up the anti-graft agency in connection with the bribery scandal.

The former INEC chairman was believed to have served as an election strategist to the Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation on how to manipulate poll results.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

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T H S D AY • FR DAY APR L 29 2016

STARTERS

Laolu Senbanjo, Nigerian behind Yoruba Body Art in Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’

FRIDAY, APRIL

NEWS 29, 2016 • T

H I S D AY

Senate Summon Herdsmen Attacks Service Chiefs over Gruesom e s Sets up com

over Gruesome Herdsmen Attacks The Senate yesterday summoned the service chiefs to appear before it and explain why persistent attacks on innocent Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen have continued unchecked.

Page 11

EDITORIAL Nigeria’s raging Tuberculosis Crisis

Email davids

mittee to hold

on.iriekpen@

public hearing

LAST RESPECTS

Buhari: Multinat ional Taskforce to Patr of Guinea Com ol Gulf ing Soon

FOR BRAITHWA ITE

N3.4bn Fee: NBC

Board Replies EFCC

ED TOR AL

N

POLITICS What Next for Saraki?

Senban o News say ng “She to d me she was sorry for the short not ce and that she was gratefu I came down but I was th nk ng n my head I shou d be the one to be gratefu to you She to d me she saw my art my v deos and that she oved my body pa nt and thought I was a gen us I was ust ke Wow Trust me t changed my fe ” He put work ng w th Beyoncé and her team th s way “She s the first one n and the ast to eave and her energy s ust on another eve She gets everyone work ng on the r A-game and you ust fee mot vated to do better than what you th nk s your best “The d rectors and a the other peop e on the team are ust ta ented br ght and g fted peop e They made my ob rea y easy and gave me no constra nts on my art It was an honour I a so got to connect w th a ot of other peop e from the set who a so had N ger an roots or Yoruba roots and t was beaut fu ta k ng w th them ” The N ger an art st a so spoke on the percept on of Beyoncé as an embod ment of Osun the Yoruba goddess Hear h m “Osun s supposed to be very beaut fu and I mean ust n the sense of beauty a one you can a ready see that n Beyoncé She s a so very n touch w th herse f and very much about sp r tua ty g v ng sensua ty and power — a character st cs of Osun

“And there are very d fferent s des of Osun ke her anger wh ch Beyoncé channe s n parts of the v deo ke the part when she bursts open the door n her ye ow dress and floodwaters come out “Beyoncé s tapp ng nto her roots and t s so amaz ng honest y — to see Afr ca com ng to the forefront and be ng seen by m ons of peop e She s te ng our story of the past present and future through her art and I m so happy to have been a part of t ” On what he knew about "Lemonade" and how hard t was keep ng t a secret he to d ABC “A of us rea y d dn t know much I mean we knew we were work ng for a mus c v deo and an a bum was n the works but that was t Whenever I caught up w th peop e n v deo we wou d ask each other Have you heard anyth ng? and ta k n code but no one ever knew anyth ng " When Beyoncé dropped "Format on " I was so exc ted but then I rea sed the work we d d was d fferent so I knew they were p ann ng someth ng b gger Ever s nce I got back to New York I ve had a b g sm e on my face But I cou dn t te anyone I met or worked w th Beyoncé It s pa d off though "Lemonade" was tru y a masterp ece true art and I m nsp red more than ever ”

not get ust ce at the tr buna However the tr buna n ts ru ng he d that the cha rman was not current y under any nvest gat on add ng that the ssue of any nvest gat on or case to answer was over Umar sa d fo ow ng a pet t on to the then AGF n 2014 the EFCC was d rected to nvest gate h m He sa d after a thorough nvest gat on the EFCC came out to say the a egat on was mere susp c on He further stated that the cha rman of the tr buna had been exonerated by the comm ss on n a etter dated March 5 2015 Umar who ackow edged that the AGF has the power to prosecute any case and even dec de when and how such cases wou d be prosecuted however stated that the AGF does not have the power to nvest gate any matter add ng that the agenc es that are g ven powers by aw to do so nc ude the EFCC DSS ICPC and the po ce among others He ma nta ned that the EFCC s an autonomous body that s not under the AGF Umar sa d the AGF cou d on y prosecute when there s ev dence “He cannot prosecute when there

s nsuffic ent ev dence ” the tr buna ma nta ned The tr buna further noted that rs cha rman had not been charged arra gned or nd cted concern ng any offence add ng that the person nd cted n the N10 m on br be n wh ch the app cant based h s app cat on s current y undergo ng tr a at a Federa H gh Court The tr buna therefore d sm ssed the app cat on for ack ng n mer t Meanwh e the Cha rman of E ders Counc of Arewa Consu tat ve Forum (ACF) Senator Joseph Waku speak ng short y after the ru ng a eged that from a nd cat ons the tr buna cha rman was be ng te e-gu ded to de ver a predeterm ned udgment that wou d not be n the nterest of ust ce Waku sa d “By Sarak s tr a democracy s on tr a the ud c ary s on tr a and even the nat on s on tr a and on y God knows where we are head ng to w th th s k nd of b ased tr a “Inasmuch as we are aga nst corrupt on et the ega process take ts due course as t s the ast hope of the ord nary and common man ”

A

W

POLITICS

Embattled! This is the adjective that aptly describes the unfolding dilemma of Nigeria’s President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Though many Nigerian pundits seemed to have found the use or abuse of the word “embattled” a common syndrome...

Page 16

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

PERSON

ALITY F OCUS

What Next fo r Saraki?

It’s about time the President but without of the Senate, prejudice to Dr. Bukola Sarak the reality of i, seriously weig the underbell hs his mbattled! This y of his trial, is the adjective that aptly describes writes Adams options dilemma of Nigeria’s the unfolding Abonu Senate, Dr. Bukola President of the Saraki. Though many Nigerian

E

pundits seemed have found to the word “embattle the use d” a commonor abuse of recent developme syndrome, number three nts bordering on the trial of the Tribunal (CCT)citizen by the Code of Conduct of assets and on charges of non-decla credence to corrupt enrichment aptly ration ascribing the gives Saraki’s situation. word to describe As the trial heightened pace, proceeds with a somewhat that Nigerians THISDAY checks have revealed in the case as have become more interested the sanctity the moral integrity of the expected of judiciary and both on trial a legislature at the court are of public eventual outcome of Senator Saraki’sopinion. The viz-a-viz his prosecution expected stepping exalted seat and the judicial down from the CCT would precedenc set forms a intervention. major crux e the of this While the embattled senator has current ordeal ascribed senate presidentto the manner of his emergencehis in the wee days as National Assembly, of the incumbent having the whims emerged against of Progressives the leadership of the ruling Congress (APC) All of opposition with the connivance to a reckless members in Peoples Democratic Party extent the senate, there (PDP) Code fact that he is no denying of Conduct Actwhen it tried to amend has a case to the Those the tion of of 2004 and the answer and to redeem. who support Criminal Administra his image However, his the idea that that effect by Justice Act, upon a motion - have called on has been fraught path he steps aside the senate president Senator Peter with dramas to redemption Delta to further that tend to opprobrium not to bring further derogate and anti-climaxes route State all in a bid to Nwaboshi from tight in his political provide an at the face of to the senate by sitting public confidence for their a criminal the resilience embattled leader. It onlyescape Writing in more sympathybrand, and in some cases, the Guardian trial. of the civil society took slant editorials For a man, in his way. and different Agbese, prominent journalistNewspaper, Dan from founders of the the move to different media houses dynasty put who has inherited the and one of have the senate now rested Newswatc against told political in place by the Senator Olusola Saraki that the late venerable caution by withdrawi tread the h magazine Umar and stalling ng the invitation path of straw” and save it was time to “let go Senate President Saraki from Kwara to Justice of the face of State, Saraki has basked Nigeria. goodwill of ho Now that the the clandestine amendme the legislaturethe in political in nt.

Saraki answer judicial process to have “It should be determine his managing the circumstan ces Senator possible for would the for us to dispassion the supposedl viability. As a young politician, Nigerian state his alleged crimes against look at what is going ately and possibly, on in the National and come to decision of served former y thoroughbred medical his flouting Assembly his party the only sensible President Olusegun doctor what the Special Assistant should be the has been set in motion, able conclusion: the and inescapObasanjo Saraki affair before proceedin as most country. It has the “erring ill serves g to replace of action for the embattled reasonable course and disloyal” the person of become hugely embarrass our Muhammad Opinions are national leader? the late Governor the senate president ing to Lawal. office; it has reckon that the however divided. While He was elected and his exalted become Senate some hugely into President should health implicatio the senate to ‘voice of reason’ Kwara Central, sordid with heed represent the National and step aside from administerithe and it has becomens for our olfactory huge two terms of after the expiration of his organs, Assembly statutory office as governor a huge mess ng later, he made and effectively and four years squarely, there are thoseand face his prosecution crippled the legislative it to the arm highly who see it differently reputable journalist of governmen senate president. coveted seat t,” the wrote in . battles, including He fought different of the political the disagreem late father and ent with his ongoing bid patriarch of the dynasty, to but the the likelihood have him vacate the office and Now that the toughest of a conviction could the judicial make challenge he process could ever bargain for to have In a bid to Senator Saraki seat, Senator clear his name and retain for. answer the for his alleged the Supreme Saraki had gone all the way to agains crimes stopped. WhileCourt to have his prosecutio t the Nigeri all the antics n an state the ongoing trial at the CCT have been futile, and possibly, him with the his flouting further presents decisio the defence and ample opportunity to n of his make his prove his earlier was only being set in motion party has been assertion that he , what should In the senate, politically persecuted. the most reason there has been be of his strangleho reported able course ld on his colleagues waning of action number of for the embatt those who often “accompaas the nation him to the proceedings al leader?...Opin led of the tribunal nied” detriment of the ions reduced from all-important legislative to the are however process a paltry dozen more than seventy senators some reckon divided. While in recent days. to that the Senate Apparently, President should to stall the invited the Chairman of process, the senate ‘voice of reason heed the CCT, Umar, to appear before it and Justice Danladi ’ and step of an alleged 10 million naira answer to charges aside from the Economic administerin bribe proffered and g the (EFCC), a charge Financial Crimes Commissioby National Assem n his withdraw “for the commission would prosecution bly and face want of evidence.” later The senate even there are those squarely, took legislative manoeuvring who

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THE FAST FO MERCHAN OD TS

BUSINESS International Airlines Operators in

T H I S D AY

Nigeria Earn N302bn from Ticket Sales Airlines that operate inter- national destinations from Nigeria made over N302 billion ($15 billion) from ticket sales in 2015.The airlines included European mega carriers, US carriers, African and indigenous operators. Page 19

CITYSTRINGS The Spirit of Giving

11

News Editor Davidson Iriekpe n thisdaylive.c om, 0811181308 1

Omololu Ogunmad e in Abuja its intelligenc e gathering The Senate yesterday and Ben Murray-Bru summoned be proactive instead the service chiefs to appear reacting to threats of merely described the ce (Bayelsa East) arms.

He also warned to internal before it and herdsmen as security worst group the of terrorists who the situation was not that if 170 million, the persistent attacksexplain why there especially in cases where is credible intelligenc have been maiming, quickly entire African on innocent nipped in the Nigerians by any possible bud, religious continent would be unable e stealing killing, and Fulani herdsmen to act upon with mishap that and ethnic contain Nigerians a view to have continued to safeguarding in the country.raping women be read colouration would whom he said will give rise to. I believe this unchecked. lives and property. would be into it, a situation The upper chamber that the The According to said would result he if another scattered across Africa bud,earlier we nip this in the which security senators also asked suspected that civil war breaks the better for it was gruesomeMurray-Bruce, agencies to the dastardly While the Chief in civil war. all of us. out. acts were being In his remark, enforce acts “We want a Deputy Senate perpetrated laws on arms’ possession which precipitated the like this Sola Adeyeye, Whip, Senator President, very peaceful by fleeing members country against unathorise said the Ike Ekwerema civil war, pointing 1967-1970 should of Boko just d persons du, to work and we will need Haram terrorist no longer be killers who presided over out that the as they appealed situation termed towards that. group, herdsmen had asked the service chiefs started resulting but terrorists, Minority emphasised the the session, as leaders, to And to appear and Nigerian Police to expedite the in reprisal attacks brief it on measures which he said Leader, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate to act need for responsible we must be held action on the establishm if there is breakdown echoed Murray-Br they are response ent of a rapid would end up in a guerilla frustrated Nigeriansfast before of law putting in place uce and warfare, the battle that police to order forestall are last the unit forced primary civil war started because the around to take laws spread of terrorist the communit he said could into this way, purpose ies where there the not be won by anyone. observing that over the country. activities all been attacks.

“We must their hands. is the protectionof government have Nigeria would He challenged show some sensitivity on matters The National the federal not survive a second civil properties of the of lives and Utazi told his governme Assembly war. concerning While colleagues that nt to also our people. There constituted an We must be ordinary people. rearers, noting disarm cattle Murray-Br disagreeing with ad-hoc committee the herdsmen entered are that the herdsmen chaired by the into the uce that reprisals men and women too many with immediateable to come up community through in Nigeria approach to this Enugu State were not licensed to carry have started, Akpabio today who are Ali Ndume, to Senate Leader, border problem, mid-term with frustrated said with Nigeria’s hearing on the organise a public hacking, Kogi State shooting, population of economic realities and they by term solutions so and longrampaging that people will make themselve on innocent Nigerians attacks throats matcheting, slitting the of hapless residents s available for will see that we are interested

by Fulani herdsmen and in their welfare,” come up with razing down buildings. and he said. recommendations He said contrary tackling the crisis. capable of that 20 to people were reports killed in The committee was asked the incident, 38 persons to commence were actually killed its assignmen while no fewer next week. t than 100 others sustained The resolution varying degrees was the aftermath of The senator of injury. a motion moved added that

by Senator Chukwuk domestic a Utazi slaughtere animals (Enugu North) were he lamented the during which still beingd while efforts were made to recover of residents of killing of scores corpses community in Ukpabi Nimbo account of victims and as well Uzo-Uwani Local for those Government Area Utazi noted missing. of Enugu State that only last Monday. three months ago, Abbi, The Senate which also neighbouring communit a observed a minute y to Nimbo was attacked silence in honour of those by killed in Nimbo herdsmen whom he saidFulani community, asked killed the National scores of people and houses Emergency and barns set ablaze.

He noted that Agency (NEMA)Management Uzo-Uwan relevant agencies and other Area now i Local Government faces extinction to urgently dispatch relief materials to the result of protracted attacksas a affected communit y as well as communities in the council on neighbouring area.

Utazi Nkpologu, Uvuru, lamented that Ugbene-Ajima whereas and Adani intelligence meant to avert communities the to alleviate the attack was passed on plights of persons to security agencies ahead displaced by the attack. failed to act of the act, they on it adding It also called on security residents of neighbourthat agencies of the ing communit R-L: Ondo State nation to improve ies now Governor, In his contributiolive in fear. service of the late Dr. Tunji Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; n, Senator Afenifere Braithwaite, held at the Rev. chieftain, Chief Ayo Braithwaite Memorial Adebanjo; and Senator Ben Obi, at the Church, Papa funeral Epe, in Lagos...ye sterday Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja EFCC through their lawyer, Chief Members of the Board of Directors Ogwu Onoja (SAN), “Most importantly of the National objected are strongly to the extremely proud, our clients project is viewed approach Commission (NBC)Broadcasting by the and were of EFCC to invite adopted privileged to intentions, the with the best have been the actions they have justified answer them to saddle to Tobi Soniyi in took their actions of the NBC whenin the EFCC or anyone first thing the in selling government’s radio spectrum Abuja for that matter, very would worth N34 billiona in office through the while difficult but time the assistance appreciation of and paying come to tested media, and describing it and a commission President Muhamma judgment calls decisions ingenuity that appreciate is the as a media trial.

France and other support of billion went had to the consultants of N3.4 du Buhari The into to G7 made be countries, crafting yesterday said members, for the future the innovative , saying that a multinational which he said had whose a whole; of Nigeria as processes and taskforce would helped to it was the best action taken appointments were terminated procedures, the growth and Nigeria achieve raise money for while strenuous July last year, in of soon be viability significant established to Over in Nigeria. Digital Switch given nationalsaid they should be theour broadcasting sector and adherence to all applicable patrol the waters successes against Boko of the Gulf of overall developme Haram. laws, rules, honours for their “When we got Guinea.

The members, regulations ingenuity in into office in “To that extent, nt of ICT. official governme Speaking at an and raising the bar former Director including the digital audience with May last year, Boko Haram our clients in consider transmission the French Minister General and directives. nt circulars was effectively as one of the rather than of Defence, controlling at commission, Emeka Mba,of the being chastised through key highlights of Mr. Jean-Yves least 14 local According to their tenure, had been summoned Le media review government areas. the suspects, the “This said patrols by Drian, Buhari But now, to appear before trial by the EFCC. and approval the EFCC to answer the According the of the its kindproject was the first of taskforce would multinational they haveit is no longer so, and questions on members, there innovative and novel proposal in Nigeria, and why they hastily was no scam boost ongoing augment and soft targetsresorted to attacking indeed Africa. The whatsoever relating by Technology Advisors, of N3.4 billion paid out the sum to the Commonwealth Technolog the T e l e c payment improve security efforts to Explosive with Improvised to the technical ommunic consultant engaged Devices (IED).

N3.4 billion to of the sum of to NBC, y Law Consultants Organisati ations and curb crude in the Gulf, by the board the consultant “We are determined which eventually even before presidential on oil (CTO) it as represented theft cited it as resulted in raising and all of piracy. a very creative only 10 approval his our territory to secure was sought the sum of DSO funding professional fee, per cent of N34 billion, and obtained. effectively A statement model for We are doing now which was The others our best and . by the federal being utilised countries which other African Special Adviser issued by the troops invited by the successfully reviewed downward our EFCC governme are now operating should to the from to adopt; s President appear nt for Emeka the initial 20 the Digital Switch and on Media and this week are: in the Sambisa Forest,” Mba, the former Mr. Over (DSO) the consultant per cent which project.

Buhari told Professor Herbert Orji (Chairman) Fem Adesina, Publicity, Mr. the French DG of NBC, was requested for.

Mohammed said Buhari and , Defence Minister. granted African “Members of Kabir Umar, “Consequ Le Drian also Broadcast ing the The minister discussed ongoing Regulato r assured Buhari Iheanetu, Yakubu Busa Mike remain proud commission resent and ently, our clients the French support of that France Year Award of all reject entirely, Buji, unpreceden Ebenezer Ayorinde, on account the government’s for the federal assist Nigeriawould continue to ted accomplish the impression created Isa efforts to end by the EFCC of this project. ments to overcome Boko Dahiru, Prince Dennis Badamasi recorded in the Boko Haram the Haram, NBC during their and fed to the media “It Nnodum (SAN), Sam, Jude tenure, is insurgency. saying all terrorists these past a months which have now highly The president propelled process that the special auction commend able and expressed his must be seen as common Dama; as well as and Peter both NBC life enemies of and Technolog Basil Udotai, broadcastin and the Nigerian resulted or the licensing that changing project for the free world. y Advisors LLP. which g sector to national from it, are somehow every Nigerian The members the result should who wrote the and international limelight,’’ applaud; board members the and so of criminal conspiracy absolutelyand our clients can must be fraudulen added. assure the EFCC t.’’

The lawyer said that if this that no crime was committed in this process.

With about 600,000 cases of tuberculosis, as reported by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy W Nat ona Tubercu os sandLeprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), Contro NTBLCP the incidence of the disease is on the rise in Nigeria.That should worry the health authorities, as we cannot thehea thauthor t es aswecannot afford to add aTB epidemic to all the challenges that are already plaguing the nation. Page 15 M

PROSECUTION FILES MORE CHARGES AS SARAKI APPEALS RULING BY CCT CHAIR h s own case ead ng to a ru ng that was essent a y a t rade aga nst the office of the Attorney Genera of the Federat on (AGF) In ground two of the appea Sarak subm tted that CCT erred n aw when t dec ded that the app cat on acked abso ute mer t mere y because Umar was of the op n on that the AGF had no const tut ona r ght to nvest gate and that the AGF acked author ty to g ve nstruct on to the EFCC to prosecute h m He therefore asked the Court of Appea to set as de the ru ng of the tr buna and d squa fy Umar from s tt ng on the pane try ng h m on charges that were nvest gated and be ng prosecuted by Econom c and F nanc a Cr mes Comm ss on (EFCC) O uyede had on Apr 20 2016 fi ed the app cat on request ng that Umar recuse h mse f from cha r ng the tr a on the grounds that h s c ent wou d not get ust ce at the tr buna f Umar rema ned as pres d ng udge He prem sed h s argument on the grounds that s nce the EFCC was nvest gat ng Umar and EFCC nvest gated the case h s c ent wou d

NEWS Senate Summons Service Chiefs

• FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSW NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

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Quick Takes

Arik Introdu ces Ground

Arik Explorer, Transfer Service Arik Air’s leisure subsidiary, is and packaged s launching a ground bound passengers travel from Heathrow transfer services for London London city.

Airport to The ground transfer service destinations within with Puzzles Group and Hummingbird is in collaboration All London bound passengers cars. to book this service at Murtaladeparting Lagos will Airport with be able Muhamm the London-bound option to pay in naira. ed International With this service, immediate accesspassengers need not worry about having The collaborati to foreign currency on reputable transporton makes the servicesarrival at Heathrow. company accessible of a reliable and from prices as low as thirty to Arik (or its naira three pounds Air travelers equivalent).

Arik Air passenger (£33) one way book this service s will be able check-in counter at the Arik Explorer to stand at Muhammed from May 3, International the Arik Air 2016.

Airport, Lagos

Boeing Records

SHOWCASIN G 2016 INDU STRY REPORT

Drop in Q1 Profit Boeing Co took aerial refueling a surprise $156millio tanker on Wednesda n charge for its profit down KC-46 y, pushing first-quart 9per for the United cent amid concern about er States Air Force meeting deadlines The world’s programm pre-tax charge largest plane maker also e. for its 747 program, took a $70 million after tax, reflecting or about sales of freighter a weak air cargo market 7 cents a share versions of the that has slowed $1.22billion, jumbo jet. Earnings or share, a year $1.83 per share, from $1.34billion fell to earlier. , or $1.87per revenue forecasts, But Boeing backed its full-year profit saying it was business could and confident other make up for Chinedu Eze parts of its a better performan the added expenses.

It reported Analysts largely ce in its defense business for the quarter. looked past Airlines that flow was the slightly better charges, noting comparatively operate international destinatio than expected that cash “The cash sales was morethe 2014 ticket began and ns from Nigeria made to slide in 2015 Citi analyst flow story is intact” alongrevenue was strong. than that Qatar Airways, Jason Gursky and is with the outlook, N12 billion, 2015 by a slight margin of predicted to decline billion ($15 billion)over N302 South be buyers on said there would but in 2016 Africa Airways, further weakness today.” in a note to clients. from ticket sales in 2015. be a gulf in due to the economic percent at $136.02 “We’d N9 amount Boeing shares the downturn The airlines billion and Turkish Airlines of tickets after falling were up two included European trading. Other .

N11 billion.

1.8 per and the tickets sold in 2015 For example, mega carriers, US tanker charges analysts said they wouldcent in pre-market that A total of 31 carriers, African as Boeing races not rule out airlines includ- be sold this year would terminals of the domestic and indigenou

by August more ing the indigenou because Muhamm the Murtala of Nigeria’s s 2017, a commitmeto deliver the initial s carriers, ailing 18 tankers Among the operators.

Analysts also nt reiterated and the sudden economy Airport, ed International major carriers Aero Contractors, on Wednesda emirates earned Arik Air the deferred had said Boeing could Lagos processed y. fares by foreign increase in over still costs the highest and Medview Airline four million money of N50 airlines which which has been incurred in building write off some of billion, followed international and operate discourages the the in 2014, while passengers

by British Airways travel. regional destinations.

Boeing did not subject of an accounting787 Dreamliner, it processed Records from with ticket take a 787 charge, probe. sales of N48 rose $141 million the Federal over three million passenger There are airlines Airports and billion said deferred in 2015. to $28.65 billion Authority of during African s the period. such pace than in costs Nigeria in the latest quarter, World Airlines, as (FAAN) has already the Also, the internation Also, Air a slower the accounting past. It dismissed the Cote d’ Air that there shown al wing idea of abandonin method that are fewer aircraft of the airport processed tickets worth France sold Airlines, Voire, Alitalia, Asky allows such movemen large cost deferrals.g over three t in the early Virgin Atlantic N26 billion, Etihad Cam Air, Egypt Air, Google, Ford, part 2014, million passengers in of this year Airways and Airways, N16 compared to billion, Ethiopian while it processed Alphabet Inc’sUber Partner on Cars Other airlines Iberia. that of last year; Airlines, Middle Google unit, N23 billion, the same with two million passengerabout include the sharing service Ford Lufthansa, East Motor Co, passenger movemen Airlines, Royal s in 2015. The drastic N17 Maroc, billion, Delta the were forming Uber and two other Air the same t in attributed drop was companies said ridea coalition to period. billion, UnitedAir Lines, N17 Saudi Rwanda Air Express, speed self-drivin to push for federal they Airlines, FAAN’s historical uncertainties the fears and action to help billion, KLM, Airlines, N15 and Kenya Sudan Airways Sweden-based g cars to market. that characteris passenger traffic showed N16 billion, Airways. ed Zhejiang Geely Volvo Cars, which that 2011 to the 2015 election.

Industry experts 2014 is owned by “There is going said that of had the highest number rival Lyft also Holding Group Co GEELY.UL China’s passenger movement to be a , and Streets. The are part of the Self-Drivin , which group said g Coalition for Uber in Continued lawmakers, on page 20 regulators and a statement it will “work Safer and societal the public to with benefits of self-drivin realize the safety The coalition g vehicles.” said David ficial of the 42 United States Strickland, the former Emma Okonji Administration top ofNational Highway Traffic Safety that is writing (NHTSA), the top U.S. new auto IMMIGR ATION safety agency The House coalition’s counsel guidance on self-drivin of data capturing of g cars, will be tives Committe Representamachines at “What people and spokesman. the NIS, the committee e on Interior, ance to expatriate are looking Wednesday, of what needs by its Deputy members for is clear stressed the s living in to be done Nigeria has Chairman, Pat- said it would put its need rick to upgrade the of the road to be on the for (fully autonomo T Hrules trained several findings staff I S D AY Aisowieren, road,” Strickland • FRIDAY, representing together and make us) vehicles facilities at the data capturing Orhionmw emphasizing APRIL 29, said in an recom- has of NIS since 2002 and mendations 2016 on/Uhunmwonde the empowered the Nigerian Ikoyi office of federal on how best “Nobody wants companies want to interview Tuesday, members of manage both to NIS to to take Service (NIS). Immigration State, constituency in Edo staff manage certain a shortcut on deploy them safely.

Acting made the observatio at the complex. and facilities of data Featur this.” aspects tee also spoke The commit- when es Editor Charle capturing. n the committe In an attempt on the need He however Email charle to empower s Ajunwa e visited to have further the Ikoyi office said the datastaff s.ajunwa@this base, the servers of NIS as part insight into the operation the area of training of NIS in of its were being oversight function. of NIS, committe daylive.com s and skills development, e members managed by CONTEC The bombarded alone.

Aggrieved that have mastery to enable them need lawmakers said the CONTEC with One of the problems NIS staff are to empower several questions and competenc not we have in Nigeria allowed to in managing NIS manage the the database e to handle the managem staff operations and relating to its database Nigerian Civil is that the NIS that is of its database, management and ent of of NIS Aviation currently being became necessary Authority (NCAA) are the most servers, which office. managed by in order to sensitive parts does The its not enhance Corporate the technical have of data partner, Continent autonomy. It national ager gathering and Affairs Mansecurity is the responsibi storage of CONTEC Technique Limited al Trasfert mation as it relates to inforlity of NCAA , Mr. Tunde system, the law makers to give approval Anyasanwo, storage dissemina said since 2002, said CONTEC The committee (CONTEC). from the CONTEC would tion which airlines to operateto foreign country’s database. , have members, led is the technical in Nigeria and give them Dissatisfied partner NIS been able to train enough with the state of NIS, that is managing frequencies staff to manage data capturing the the sensiManaging Director/CEO and card issuMedview Airline R-L: Director General, Lagos Chamber Ganiyu Sumaila; of Commerce and Industry, Mr. unveiling of 2016Director General, ACSC, Dr. Muda Obiora Madu Industry Report and Representa Yusuf; President of African of Nigerian Logistics and Supply Chain tive of Managing Director, Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC), MDS at the National Logistics StrategyLogistics, Mr. Taiwo Ajibola, Mr. Abdulduring Summit held in Lagos....recently the

International Airlines Operat Nigeria Earn N302bn from ors in Ticket Sales AVIATI ON

Reps Move at Immigratagainst Lopsided Data ion Capturing Proc ess

The hut was made of thatched roof tops. It was lacking in beauty and style. It was small and was in an ugly state.The air in the hut was polluted with offensive smell and the surrounding was littered with rubbish. Page 42

CITYSTRING S

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Building for

deaf and dumb

on page 20

Alhaji Muneer

Bankole

The Spirit o f Giving T in Shomolu

under constructio

n

As part of activ Shepherd Socie ities to improve the dumb in Shom ty is building a two lives of the less-privile storey build ged in the olu, Lagos, society, the ing write Ugo he hut was Good Aliogo and to serve as a centre made of thatched tops. It was roof knew for the deaf Jemaima Bolo lacking in and style. beauty was quite well that It and the task before herculean in kor in an ugly was small and was nature, him state.

INTERNATIONAL North Korea’s Ballisstic Missile

combined therefore it When Ezeonyid hut was polluted The air in the effort. required o returned, the issue with offensive he discussed with members littered withsmell and the surroundi the need to the society, of the society ng was Mr. Ossie a group of rubbish. Inside the on when place. The transform the condition Nwankwo hut were members , stated of the peoplethey saw the ugly in hearing people, who had impairme keyed into having received condition whichthat and were the project nt The Lord the approval looking shabby communicating. the but in the them, addingliving in, they resolved They were of the church, has process, the that the Lord their condition, and unkempt. But to help decided that president died.

West, admonition given us Bishop of his demise They keyed Rt. Rev. Olushola praising God. they were worshipp despite Lagos to the initiative. to go into will ing into the project, Odedeji, who They paid They began not put a stop it whatever has less attentionand world and the hut and donated to and was going by demolishi do good. Wethe 52 to on support saw every ng key intopromised that the people are built a better structure moment as around them. They trying to church will presently the project. which thankful and an opportuni give our own are also living They went Nwankwo ty to be cup a step further in. explained cold on a massive In 2015, thejoyous. of water to project is that the thrust by embarkin Shepherd Society,late president of the lessof g and dumb,to adopt and take The building two storey building the Good privileged. care of the the a pious society Vining Memorial deaf worship centre,after completion will project. on what stressing that they The in Archbishop society will also they house all about helpin Ikeja, Sir Ikechukw Anglican Church are doing is a church resident pastors,an apartment with and see howfocus can assist GRA small hut located u Ezeonyido, seminar rooms, rooms for life. g people the rooms where visited the we also “We thank them to have aFRIDAY and other APRIL meaningfu Shomolu Local at No 106, Apata help the blind , 29, 2016 • T their young they will be able l cutting down Lagos State governme H I S D AY to educate ones who certain State. He was Government Area Street, in Oshod nt in for things cannot talk.

As part of continue. Though i, yearly. We of Lagos so that we shocked to efforts to comfortab could they have see people facelift, the us, and give the project also ly not living lend a helpin society recently and finding in a very deplorabl a is so,” I understand the reason supported raising event g hand e joy he noted. for why it at the Rotaryorganised a fund and troubled in suffering. He wascondition Spinal Governme He stated Cord Associ to the Centre nt that they have to transform in his spirit to do unhappy was aimed Reserved Area. The eventin Ikeja on the building ation something of Nigeri spent the condition at which to and they require 30 million a situated project whichraising money to complete of the place. complete He Amuw 15 million has reached in the level, had an approachthe to be inaugurat project which is expected o-Odofin in ed in June, ed project crème of the attendance the crème adding that is being carried society. da la and the Speaking out by engineers architects at the event, North Korea’s Nwankwo in the society. the President added: “The of storey ballistic missilelaunch of the until building building worship it had fi is failed again, crashing seconds centre. At a two went wrong gured out what the top Council sanctions after the in the test

Test Fails again North Korea’s launch of the ballistic missile failed again, crashing seconds after the test launch, South Korea’s defence ministry said. Isolated North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile launches, in violation of U.N. resolutions...

Page 52

INTERNATIO NA

L North Korea Fails again ’s Ballisstic Missile Te st email:foreign

desk@thisda

ylive.com

launch, South ous failed Musudan previagainst January the country, Korea’s launch defence ministry missile before attemptin strengthened which were a space nuclear test and Isolated North said. following a rocket launch On g Korea has another, a process that following month. the Korea Saturday, North conducted a could take months tested a submarin which launches, flurry of missile Thursday’s and a sign that launched ballistic e- km (18 travelled about 30 in firing was rushed. miles) off its U.N. resolutionviolation of missile, coast.

However, South east s, and tests of military technolog Korea’s Yonhap y ahead reported news agency had of the Workers’ that begins Party congress North on Tuesday that the Donald Trump’s first major foreign campaign Thursday’s on May 6, and ing theappeared to be prepar- policy address alarmed American in the USA does launch not have been hurried, looks to Musudan,second launch of a allies, who view the Republican lack the perception Carl Bildt, a front of reality,” which according runner’s repeated Frank-Walter theoretically to a defence prime minister former Swedish Trump’s has the Steinmeier invocation expert and “The world’s security said.

A South Korean in Seoul. part of range to reach any of an“America first”agenda who served as foreign minister Barack speech that criticised the threat to retreat Japan and as architecture Obama administrati defence ministry offi Balkans in the UN envoy to the withdrawin from the world.a has changed and it is cial told Reuters territory of Guam. the U.S. While no aftermath longer g support for on for based on two pillars most governmen that the launch According to South autocrat alone. It cannot Yugoslav wars of the 1990s,of the Hosni Mubarak a.m. local time at about 6:40 has never Korea, the missile careful not to comment ts were be conducted unilaterally,” during a 2011 he heard Trump’s said uprising. publicly on a speech (2140 GMT been he said “abandonin speech as Wednesday) flight-tested. successfully candidate, by a U.S. presidential of foreign policy in a post-Cold from Trump’s g both near W Germany’s democratic ar speech, east coast the world.“No allies and democratic foreign minNorth Korea uncharacteristically read city of Wonsan can get round American president lists South ister veered from that protocol appeared to out from a Korea, “Trump had not values”. to internationa this change in the a word against teleprompter, seemed a Musudan have been of Japan the United States and express concern at Trump’s Russian aggression l security architecture. wording. missile with as its main “I can only hope in Ukraine, but at showing a more aimed range of more ... plenty against enemies. a that the election ‘America first’is actually no South Korea serious side of a than 3,000 past answer for to that.” km (1,800 miles).

North is ready also says the democracy in U.S. support said he politician who has Egypt,”Bildt said intends to act to conduct It crashed on Twitter, referring nuclear a more to lines from “presidential” after months the official within seconds, would test at any time. It speaking mainly said. be its fifth nuclear of “They are off the cuff. test.

“Signs for an show anythingin a rush to fifth nuclear test imminent cessful, to meet that is suc- detected are ahead of Northbeing the schedule of a political Koevent, the party rea’s seventh Party congress,” said Congress,” President Park Geun-hye said senior research Yang Uk, a at a national Korea Defence fellow at the on Thursdaysecurity meeting and Security .

TRUSTED INTERNATIONAL Forum and The EDUCATION a PARTNER to the South policy adviser ficial, defence ministry ofwho declined Korean navy.

“They need to be identifi but they keep to succeed South ed by name, said Korean failing. They didn’t have ficials were and U.S. ofenough time analysing the fix or technicall to PLUS extensive y modify the cause of Thursday’s system, but missile crash, declining multi destinationinternational . study options to comment because they just shot them on why via Pathways were in hurry,” news Australia, USA,including Ireland, he said. was revealed of the launch China, Dubai Canada, Thursday’s .Entry after it took several hours place. .Application marks anotherapparent failure Yonhap said Processing .Career North’s youngsetback for the missile the fired . Successful Advisory . Visa Student Enrolment was not detected leader Kim Guidance and Counselling and application Jong Un. A

by South Korean year on year s processing launched onsimilar missile radar UK Partner since inception. because it military the April 15 Institutions . High birthday of did not graduate employabi fly above his rating a few hundred lity the country’s grandfather, metres, founder, Kim and was spotted Il Sung, exploded by a U.S. satellite. in what the U.S. Defense The called a “fiery, Department ministrySouth Korean defence catastrophic” told failure. not confirm Reuters it could that report.

Some experts North Support Korea’s that North Koreahad predicted tests services are in defi missile would wait . Highly ance of United Nations trained counsellors providing application Security visa

Trump’s ‘America First’ Speech Alarms US Allie s

THE UKEAS

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Laolu Senbanjo is the New York Citybased artist behind the body art in Beyoncé’s new visual album "Lemonade."

The Nigerian-born artist, simply called Laolu, told ABC News yesterday, he finally saw his Yoruba body art come to life for the first time on Saturday evening when Beyoncé’s project aired on HBO. Laolu's body paintings, which he calls the "Sacred Art of the Ori" appear in the fourth chapter of "Lemonade" titled "Apathy," which features the song "Sorry."

Dancers adorned in Laolu's white Yoruba body paint move and sway while seated on a bus with Beyoncé, who recites a haunting monologue inspired by a poem by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire.

Laolu narrated to ABC News yesterday, how he got involved in his "lifechanging" collaboration with Queen B. “It was December of 2015. Some people from Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé's company, messaged me on Instagram and emailed me, saying that they would love for me to be part of a music video project with Beyoncé in two weeks. Of course, it was top secret, so I could not tell anybody,” he said, adding: “Then something suddenly came up and they asked me if I could come right away, so I dropped everything I was working on and went to New Orleans. People thought I was crazy, but when it's Beyoncé, you don't question it.”

According to him, at New Orleans he was asked to do his Sacred Art of the Ori for the dancers, explaining that what they essentially meant was the Sacred Art of the Essence.

He said: “The dancers were my canvas, my muses. I would watch and listen to their dance, body movements, energy smiles and strength and try to bring out what they were capturing with the movements in my paint.

“The paint is a white ink with very spiritual meaning in Yoruba culture. It's something we often use as a dedication to worship of orishas, the gods in Yoruba religion. The vision Beyoncé had was very intense and deep — connecting with the Yoruba culture and all. You know, the Yoruba religion and culture has travelled all over the world after the slave trade, and it resonates so much with African people from the diaspora all over the world.”

Laolu said he eventually met with Beyoncé and they spoke. “Yes! I wasn’t painting that day, and she was just around the corner and called out to me.

I was stunned that she even recognised me at first sight, but it was absolutely amazing talking to her,” he told ABC

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Police on Wednesda 0243 245355 Tel: 01-34290 Abuja rent account yawning curGroup Ladi deficit and even 59 Kwali Sports y told hinder the public not Way 01-2915972 Editor Duro Maputo’s ambitions Zone 4. Abuja to unsettle theto do anything to develop Ikhazuagbe Free Seminar Email “harmoni 10.am duro.ik on Overseas vast off-shore - 5.00pmhazuag coexistence”in ous challenging the war-scarred gas-fields. times, Speaker-Study & Career Prospects be@thisdayli Tel: 09-29065 former Portugues in Muyiwa Afolabi.

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,O Nigeria, La kunowoȀǿ Laud La Liga Partnership Liga Partne rship Ex-internationals, Mutiu Adepoju and Gbenga Okunowo have described the working relationship between Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and Spanish La Liga Ayade Rescue s Late Ene Ok as an exercise in the interest of on’s Family Nigeria. Page 62 TH

EXPO

Olawale Ajimotoka n in Abuja the semi-final Ex-internationals, what else are and final. So we talking Mutiu Nigeria Adepoju and will benefit about?

Gbenga Okunowo have from described the this arrangement,” Adepoju working relationshi submitted.

Nigeria Profession p between Adepoju, League (NPFL) al Football the Super who represented Eagles La Liga as an and Spanish FIFA World Cup, at the 1994 exercise in the interest of Nigeria. said beyond his profession League gathered an al stint, he Managem immeasur Company (LMC) ent President knowledge in Spain whereable Shehu Dikko, he on Tuesday, acquired coaching certificate signed a five-year in addition to knowledg technical agreemen strategic football administration. e in t with La Liga President “Their philosoph in Abuja that , Javier Tesba serve y will way for the will pave the time,’’ our interest in long by some of thetour of Nigeria only Adepoju said. “The thing here Spanish clubs. is that we Adepoju, have Real Madridwho featured for thingsto be patient and do Castella in 1989 nursery team, expect in right way and not immediate results. before heading to Racing should We Santander, Sociedad and Real That is have a long term plan. what Salamanc the Spanish a 20-year sojourn a in and you did can see in Spain, gave a thumb up to the deal, as they have won the result saying that Spanish the FIFA World teams for League,Cup, UEFA Champion decades have s FIFA Champion consistent ranked as the world’s ly and European Cup. s Cup football brands. top we can I believe do it too because “I am very have the talent we Atletico players celebratin deal. Let me excited by this g after Okunowo, in Nigeria.’’ with Bayern say it clearly, Munich on Wednesd Saul (middle) lone strike who Spain has the best league played for Barcelona briefly won the first ay night in the world. leg of the UEFA The The UEFA 1999, before he went onin year Corporatiformer Housing Champions League Champions Benfica of Portugal, loan to on of Abeokuta alternative platform semi final clash study of twoLeague is a case Nigerians reasoned midfielder noted to the English Spanish teams will that have consistentl entering into have no regret promotion of the that the which is Premier League this partnership. Their culture y berthed agreemen is similar to ours more the technical genre in Spanish the where respect but now they can the country consciousnessingrained in is reciprocal. t with La Liga. present watch of the public.

Spanish teams We see the “I have Nigerians will when they an and I am been to Spain before and the Spanish will be future come for here for pre-season because Nigerians happy don’t sure we won’t .I regret watch mainly be think everything should English Premiersh about ip Okunowo the Premiership,’’ submitted.

18th Milo Bas ketball Championship Ent Conference Stag ers es

Offers to pick burial rites bill

Bassey

Inyang in Calabar Sports Club, Chairman Almost 9,000 Cross River of Cross saddening State Governor River State Sports Commissio Schools began Secondary represented Professor that even after , Mr. the journey

by Osadenis but only 74 the they practice Mixed offered to Ben Ayade, has that Orok Duke, announcen, NFF posted the demise are left standing Sec. School and d pick the the governor in NFF. So, I as the 18th edition Ugboriko had directed on its official website of Ene really angry over am of the Milo Secondary Schl, Asaba ko the entire funeral ritesbill for funds to be released the day the basketball champions he died, they of late entire former Nigerian .

Two schools Cross River this,” stressed hip enters burial rights for the honour him couldn’t even crucial stages. from capital city, John Ene Okon. international, “There is a sports boss. of Ene. “The state governme Ado Ekiti , the limit football matchduring the next you Now split Grammar School Ado A fortnight they organised. can do fromto which into ago, late Ene’s agreed to fund the nt has geographic and Anglican daughter, official groups, thefour High School will funeral I “It is so saddening. Why position. If I were boys teams and am saying is 37 Ekiti State not represent raised the Ruth Ene Okon, had obsequies; everything. we are that he died a position, I know whatholding alarm So, and Ogun who emerged 37 girls’ teams champion I could State was not capablethat her family release just waiting for the on his birthday on March have done.

It is so painful. will compete state champions Internatio s of the money That morning, of Greenland 15. Eventually giving the former to the committee we were they neglected tournaments in round-robin Adedoku nal Academy ands befittingFlying Eagles star him, a a date as , then we will fix going through Wikipedia just they rejected him, burial. which teamsto determine those School n International 12 noon, NFF . By they approved by She further go of Abeokuta family,” Duke had updated throw him back to Crosshad to the their website, begged Action begins even further. the number. complete revealed. financial assistance River for saying that John State Government; Duke however as the Nationalin Lagos today They did Nigerians to from as unfortuna nothing for The Conferenc described Okon Ene had died.

Stadium in him,” continued Lagos, which Then Wikipedia te that Ene who will run back-to-ba e matches sundry bills be able to settle featured Duke. finale in the hosted the grand Central that he had had updated ck with the of Calabar at the University for last 17 years, He also stated scored a goal Nigeria and birthday; died on his Teaching hosts the Western now holding Conference matches so that during the FIFA senior national that a former then 22 newspape the remains Hospital Under-20 in Ilorin Conferenc Games. The matches will e 5 and 12 whilebetween May footballer can be of the late in 1987 World Cup in Chile carried it. Some days after, rs goalkeeper whofootball team until Wed. May played was abandone run Conferenc Confluen they hails Speaking with buried. d by did a match and they (NFF) the state has also from e matches will ce journalists on the Nigeria Football Federation Participating 4, 2016. not honour abandoned been (NFF) despite states are in Lokoja from May 13 hold Wednesday night at Channel him. by the Lagos, Ogun, “NFF to 20, View Hotel Ondo, Edo, 2016 communicated been officially River sent a ticket to Cross football authoritie nation’s after the Nite Oyo, Osun, s despite State over the Tributes staged the services The of he rendered states. Ilupeju Delta and Ekiti Stadium,Nnamdi Azikiwe the in honour of Ene through the state’s death match after FA to attend the Nigeria. late player by to we had Football letter.

Association. and Wesley Grammar School Equatoria Enugu will host EastSide So, there is sent the “Not only Duke said no excuse School, will Girls Secondary between l Conference games it was so whatsoever aside from about Etta him (Ene). What Saturday May Egbe Lagos State be representing 27, parochial this Eni. 21 and What of Etta?” Duke ethnocentrism 2016 Tomorrow Int’l while Greater which anger. concluded in For 18 years, College, Akoko the Nestle Milo will be representin g Ondo State Basketball Champion in the boys category. ship has Liverpool defender, remained Henson grassrootsthe nation’s flagship Demonstration Mamadou Sakho, has been suspended the results. competitio College are the School and Idia gives the Nigerian n which for 30 days by UEFA qualifiers from European football’s Manchest Edo State while youth after opened Oyo State opportunity to showcase the against disciplinary proceedingit body added Sakho governing positive er City after testing Champions played 34 games basketball skills. their s request “did not containedfor a weight-loss him drug School Ibadanare International for Liverpool drugs test. following a failed sample”.the analysis of the Unlike the game and Yejide Girls’ B recommenwithin “water tablets” this season, including 10 Grammar School. of football Europa League. in the The suspension which is dominate ded to him The date by wife. is provisional his Other qualifiers of a disciplinar d by the until a final boys decision is taken hearing will be announce y Western Conferencfor the level, at the secondary schools by UEFA’s Should UEFA d at similar decide on a e are chose Nestle Milo carefully disciplinar control, ethics and a later stage.

Good Tidings ban for the game of y body.

The France internation rule him out Sakho, it would School, Oshogbo Secondary to ensure basketball Sakho, 26, tested of Euro 2016 al and his club and Regina both boys and Mundi Girls’ girls what is thought positive for he wouldhad already agreed France, which starts on June in School, Iwo who get the same experienc to be a type qualified from remain unavailab The suspensio 10. while a UEFA n will Osun State the game and that e in of fat burner after the Europa le backdated while Delta more, League win against to Thursday, be State is being importantly, they get completed. investigation was day the it was issued, the right United on March Manchester foundation for Sakho’s Liverpool no matter development.

He chose not 17. team-mate when the disciplinary hearing to challenge Kolo Toure was banned is set for. six month for

Dope: Liverp ool’s Sakho Suspended

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

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

Senate Summons Service Chiefs over Gruesome Herdsmen Attacks Sets up committee to hold public hearing

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Senate yesterday summoned the service chiefs to appear before it and explain why persistent attacks on innocent Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen have continued unchecked.

The upper chamber which suspected that the dastardly acts were being perpetrated by fleeing members of Boko Haram terrorist group, asked the service chiefs to appear and brief it on measures they are putting in place to forestall the spread of terrorist activities all over the country.

The National Assembly also constituted an ad-hoc committee chaired by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, to organise a public hearing on the rampaging attacks on innocent Nigerians by Fulani herdsmen and come up with recommendations capable of tackling the crisis.

The committee was asked to commence its assignment next week.

The resolution was the aftermath of a motion moved

by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) during which he lamented the killing of scores of residents of Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State last Monday.

The Senate which also observed a minute silence in honour of those killed in Nimbo community, asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to urgently dispatch relief materials to the affected community as well as neighbouring Nkpologu, Uvuru, Ugbene-Ajima and Adani communities to alleviate the plights of persons displaced by the attack.

It also called on security agencies of the nation to improve

its intelligence gathering and Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East) arms. He also warned that if 170 million, the entire African any possible mishap that this be proactive instead of merely described the herdsmen as the the situation was not quickly continent would be unable to will give rise to. I believe that reacting to threats to internal worst group of terrorists who nipped in the bud, religious contain Nigerians whom he said the earlier we nip this in the security especially in cases where have been maiming, killing, and ethnic colouration would would be scattered across Africa bud, the better for all of us. there is credible intelligence stealing and raping women be read into it, a situation he if another civil war breaks out.

“We want a very peaceful to act upon with a view to in the country. said would result in civil war.

In his remark, Deputy Senate country and we will need safeguarding lives and property.

According to Murray-Bruce, While the Chief Whip, Senator President, Ike Ekweremadu, to work towards that. And The senators also asked it was gruesome acts like this Sola Adeyeye, said the killers who presided over the session, as leaders, we must be held security agencies to enforce which precipitated the 1967-1970 should no longer be termed emphasised the need for responsible if there is breakdown laws on arms’ possession civil war, pointing out that the herdsmen but terrorists, Minority the Senate to act fast before of law and order because the against unathorised persons situation had started resulting Leader, Godswill Akpabio, frustrated Nigerians are forced primary purpose of government just as they appealed to the in reprisal attacks which he said echoed Murray-Bruce that the to take laws into their hands. is the protection of lives and Nigerian Police to expedite action would end up in a guerilla last civil war started this way, “We must show some properties of the ordinary people. on the establishment of a rapid warfare, the battle he said could observing that Nigeria would sensitivity on matters concerning We must be able to come up response police unit around the not be won by anyone. not survive a second civil war. our people. There are too many with immediate approach to this communities where there have He challenged the federal While disagreeing with men and women in Nigeria problem, mid-term and longbeen attacks. government to disarm cattle Murray-Bruce that reprisals today who are frustrated by term solutions so that people Utazi told his colleagues that rearers, noting that the herdsmen have started, Akpabio said economic realities and they will will see that we are interested the herdsmen entered into the were not licensed to carry with Nigeria’s population of make themselves available for in their welfare,” he said. community through Enugu State border with Kogi State shooting, hacking, matcheting, slitting the throats of hapless residents and razing down buildings.

He said contrary to reports that 20 people were killed in the incident, 38 persons were actually killed while no fewer than 100 others sustained varying degrees of injury.

The senator added that domestic animals were slaughtered while efforts were still being made to recover corpses of victims and as well account for those missing.

Utazi noted that only three months ago, Abbi, a neighbouring community to Nimbo was attacked by Fulani herdsmen whom he said killed scores of people and houses and barns set ablaze. He noted that Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area now faces extinction as a result of protracted attacks on communities in the council area.

Utazi lamented that whereas intelligence meant to avert the attack was passed on to security agencies ahead of the act, they failed to act on it adding that residents of neighbouring R-L: Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; and Senator Ben Obi, at the funeral communities now live in fear. service of the late Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, held at the Rev. Braithwaite Memorial Church, Papa Epe, in Lagos...yesterday In his contribution, Senator

LAST RESPECTS FOR BRAITHWAITE

Buhari: Multinational Taskforce to Patrol Gulf of Guinea Coming Soon Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said a multinational taskforce would soon be established to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking at an audience with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Buhari said patrols by the multinational taskforce would augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf, and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Fem Adesina, said Buhari and Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the federal government’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The president expressed his

government’s appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said had helped Nigeria achieve significant successes against Boko Haram.

“When we got into office in May last year, Boko Haram was effectively controlling at least 14 local government areas.

But now, it is no longer so, and they have resorted to attacking soft targets with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

“We are determined to secure all of our territory effectively.

We are doing our best and our troops are now operating in the Sambisa Forest,” Buhari told the French Defence Minister.

The minister assured Buhari that France would continue to assist Nigeria to overcome Boko Haram, saying all terrorists must be seen as common enemies of the free world.

N3.4bn Fee: NBC Board Replies EFCC

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Members of the Board of Directors of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have justified the actions they took in selling a radio spectrum worth N34 billion and paying a commission of N3.4 billion to the consultants, saying that it was the best action taken to raise money for Digital Switch Over in Nigeria.

The members, including the former Director General of the commission, Emeka Mba, had been summoned to appear before the EFCC to answer questions on why they hastily paid out the sum of N3.4 billion to the technical consultant engaged by the board even before presidential approval was sought and obtained.

The others invited by the EFCC to appear this week are: Professor Herbert Orji (Chairman), Mohammed Kabir Umar, Mike Iheanetu, Yakubu Busa Buji, Ebenezer Ayorinde, Isa Badamasi Dahiru, Prince Dennis Sam, Jude Nnodum (SAN), and Peter Dama; as well as Basil Udotai, and Technology Advisors LLP. The members who wrote the

EFCC through their lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), objected strongly to the approach adopted by the EFCC to invite them to answer to their actions while in office through the media, describing it as a media trial.

The members, whose appointments were terminated in July last year, said they should be given national honours for their ingenuity in raising the bar in digital transmission rather than being chastised through media trial by the EFCC. According the members, there was no scam whatsoever relating to the payment of the sum of N3.4 billion to the consultant as it represented only 10 per cent of his professional fee, which was successfully reviewed downwards from the initial 20 per cent which the consultant requested for.

“Members of the commission remain proud of all the unprecedented accomplishments recorded in the NBC during their tenure, which have now propelled both NBC and the Nigerian broadcasting sector to national and international limelight,’’ the board members added.

“Most importantly, our clients are extremely proud and were privileged to have been in the saddle of the NBC when very difficult but time tested decisions and judgment calls had to be made for the future of Nigeria as a whole; the growth and viability of our broadcasting sector and the overall development of ICT. “To that extent, our clients consider as one of the key highlights of their tenure, the review and approval of the innovative and novel proposal

by Technology Advisors, the Technology Law Consultants to NBC, which eventually resulted in raising the sum of N34 billion, now being utilised by the federal government for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project.

“Consequently, our clients resent and reject entirely, the impression created by the EFCC and fed to the media these past months that the special auction process or the licensing that resulted from it, are somehow the result of criminal conspiracy and so must be fraudulent.’’

The lawyer said that if this

project is viewed with the best of intentions, the first thing the EFCC or anyone for that matter, would come to appreciate is the ingenuity that went into crafting the innovative processes and procedures, while strenuous adherence to all applicable laws, rules, regulations and official government circulars and directives.

According to the suspects, “This project was the first of its kind in Nigeria, and indeed Africa. The Commonwealth Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Organisation (CTO) cited it as a very creative DSO funding model for which other African countries should adopt; and Mr. Emeka Mba, the former DG of NBC, was granted African Broadcasting Regulator of the Year Award on account of this project.

“It is a highly commendable and life changing project for which every Nigerian should applaud; and our clients can absolutely assure the EFCC that no crime was committed in this process.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

PDP NEC Ratifies Zoning of Chairmanship Seat to N’East Party woos aggrieved members Sheriff: I may seek re-election

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja After weeks of controversy and intriguing battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last Wednesday finally affirmed the zoning of the chairmanship position to the North-east.

But the atmosphere at the poorly attended NEC meeting painted a picture that all may not be well with the opposition party after all.

Most of those who spoke at the opening of the NEC meeting called for truce including for those who may have disagreed with the decisions reached at the NEC meeting to still remain in the party.

Speaking to journalists on the outcome of the meeting, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said the NEC has approved the report of the zoning and convention committees.

Regarding the highly contested chairmanship position, Sheriff said the seat had been zoned to the North-east by the NEC without any dissenting voice.

“The NEC meeting has adopted the report of the zoning committee 100 per cent without any dissenting voice. It approved the zoning of the post of the national chairman to the North-east,” he said.

Sheriff disclosed that the party’s NEC would meet again on May 11 to approve proposals for constitutional amendments ahead of the national convention.

According to the report of the zoning committee, the South-west is to retain the position of the national secretary while the national organising secretary and youth leader are to be produced by the South-east.

Similarly, the committee zoned the deputy national chairman (South) back to the South-south.

When asked whether he will contest for the chairmanship position in the next convention, Sheriff said: “The issue is a personal decision for me to make, and when I make up my mind on it, I will let you know.”

Earlier, Sheriff had expressed satisfaction over the recent outing of the party during a rally in Jigawa State, describing it as a sign of great things to come.

“We are telling all Nigerians that what happened in Jigwa State is just the beginning, and we are going to organise similar

rallies in all the states of the federation,” he said.

While addressing the NEC meeting, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, urged party members not to dwell on their differences but to resolve it amicably and be ready to move ahead as one family.

According to him, “As our national convention approaches, it is expected that there will be disagreements. The important thing is that when we have these disagreements, we will quickly resolve them and move ahead, and that is the resilience the PDP is known for.

“So, I like to appeal to our party members that if there are areas where we have differences, we must find a way of resolving them in the best interest of our party.

“PDP is the only party in Nigeria that belongs to everybody and to nobody. So that is important for us as we will all keep faith with this party that belongs to all of us.

“The time is now for us to make sacrifices and show compromise so that the party will remain strong. It is also a time for us to show alternative for what is going on in the country presently so that Nigerians can trust us again with governance in 2019. This responsibility belongs to all of us.

“I also want to commend our governors for what they are doing in their respective states.

We believe their performance will be the symbol for which the PDP will use to tell Nigerians that it can do it much better again. I hope that the schedule for the congresses will be religiously adhered to ahead of the national convention.”

Ekweremadu congratulated his party members in Jigawa State on the rally which he said is a good sign that the party is bouncing back. “I also want to use this opportunity to ask other states to organise similar rallies for Nigerians to see that PDP is not only alive but is kicking well.”

The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, said despite the absence of some of governors of the party at the NEC meeting, the forum still agreed with the position reached at the meeting “Let me also commit members of governor’s forum on the decision of NEC, and

as democrats and loyal party members, we are bound to have disagreements on issues. But once a party takes any decision, we are bound to follow decisions made.

I therefore thank the chairman for summoning the emergency meeting to tackle some pressing issues. I extend the apology for some of our members who for good reasons were not at the meeting,” he said.

Speaking in a similar vein, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustee (BoT), Senator Walid Jibril, urged members of the party who are aggrieved with the decisions of the party not to leave the party.

Jibril who said he had to defy all odds to attend the meeting

The Nigerian military in continuation with the clearance operations in parts oftheNorth-east,hasarrestedsixBoko Haram terrorist kingpins.

The Director of Army Public Relations(DAPR),Col.SaniUsman,in a statement yesterday, that the troops had in a renewed onslaught on the leadership of Boko Haram terrorists, troops had earlier yesterday “made an unprecedented catch”.

According to Usman, “the gallant troops tracked and arrested six terrorists kingpins who sneaked into Kala Balge as a result of the onslaught of our heroic troops on the terrorists in Sambisa”.

He said the six notoriousAmeers (leaders), noted for getting logistics support and information for the Boko Haram terrorists, were arrested in a swift military operation by troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade.

He named those he described

amendments made on the guidelines for the 2016 Congresses and National Convention affecting section 4.02 which stipulated specific timelines for purchases of forms for various offices, to now remain open and members can purchase form at any given time or period and contest any position of their choice.

Details of the report of zoning committee as presented the chairman and Governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Udom Emmanuel showed that the post of the National Chairman has been zoned to the North-East, Deputy National Chairman -South-South, National Secretary -South-West and Deputy National Secretary

-North-Central.

Similarly the party zoned the National Legal Adviser to the North-West, Deputy National Legal Adviser -South-South, National Treasurer -South-South, Deputy National Treasurer -North-West,National Financial Secretary - North-Central.

The NEC also approved the zoning of National Publicity Secretary -South-West, Deputy National Publicity SecretaryNorth-Central, National Organizing Secretary -South-East, Deputy National Organizing Secretary North-Central, National Youth Leader -South- East and National Woman Leader -North-West.

Appointment of Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk Splits N’Assembly Commission Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Last week’s appointment of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, has taken a worse dimension with seven members of the commission dissociating themselves from the appointment.

Consequently, the commissioners threw their weight behind the appointment of Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly (DCNA), Benedict Efeturi, for the office.

Whereas Senate President Bukola Saraki had ordered the reversal of Sani-Omolori’s appointment and asked the commission to consider the appointment of Efeturi on the basis of seniority, the commission’s chairman, Adamu Fika, said SaniOmolori’s appointment was in accordance with civil service rule which he said prohibited the appointment of an officer who did not have more than six months before retirement.

He explained that Efeturi would proceed on terminal leave on August 14 and hence, was not qualified for the appointment.

Fika also claimed that at the meeting where commissioners deliberated on Sani-Omolori’s appointment on April 20, 2016, only 1 of 12 commissioners opposed the appointment.

But in a swift reaction, seven commissioners

Military Arrests 6 Boko Haram Kingpins in Borno State SenatorIroegbuinAbuja

straight from the hospital after being discharged because of his love for the party and its quest for survival.

He explained that the exclusion of the BoT meeting before the NEC meeting was not deliberate, adding that the meeting of the board will still be convened at an opportune time.

Among key leaders of the party who attended the NEC meeting were governors of Enugu, Delta, Gombe, Akwa Ibom States, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio; former governors, state party chairmen and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the PDP NEC considered and adopted the

as “unrepentant and hardened insurgents” to w include Musa Kalile Sabakara (anAmeer), Babagana John (an informant and also seller of foodstuffs), Isah Abakar (an Ameer) and UsmanAbasa, (who specializes on cattle rustling and selling of food stuffs), as well Bukar Gujja (a tailor who prepare clothes for the terrorists) and Bukar Kahalifa (also a tailor who preparesthedressfortheBokoHaram terrorists), are presently undergoing interrogation.

disowned Fika and his claim, saying five commissioners opposed the appointment, five abstained while only one supported it.

The seven commissioners in a letter addressed to Fika, said despite the situation, he (Fika) proceeded to appoint Sani-Omolori as acting clerk

against what they described as the commission’s tradition of adopting minutes of meeting at another meeting.

They also accused him of repeating what he did in 2014, when he appointed Sani-Omolori as DCNA despite eight commissioners voting in favour of Efeturi.

They added that it took a letter addressed to the then senate president dissociating themselves from the appointment to reverse it.

The commissioners are: Abubakar Rufai, Idi Ningi, Joseph Oru, Paul Oweh, Stephen Yepwi, Funmi Lamuye and Abel Chukwu.

Ebiaho Emafo takes over as Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer Eroton Exploration & Production Company Limited

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he Board of Directors of Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited (“Eroton”) has announced the appointment of Mr. Ebiaho Emafo as the company’s new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from March 1, 2016. Mr. Emafo succeeds Mr. Chima Ibeneche whose tenure as CEO ended on February 29, 2016. Mr. Ibeneche however remained with the company for a transitional period ending on April 30, 2016.

Prior to this new appointment, Mr. Emafo was an Executive Director in charge of the company’s Services department.

In this role, he led the Supply Chain Management, Health Safety and Environment, Human Resources, Information Technology and the External and Government Relations teams.

Mr. Emafo brings to his new role a wealth of over 25 years’ experience garnered across diverse industries such as Oil & Gas (Upstream & Downstream), Manufacturing, Telecoms and Public Sector having served in organisations such as Total Upstream, Oando Plc, Lafarge SA, Airtel and the United Nations, in locations such as Nigeria, United Kingdom, USA, the Netherlands,

Ebiaho Emafo

Malawi, Ghana and Uganda.

His career has seen him serve in multi-disciplinary capacities ranging from Commercial Negotiations to International Supplier Management, Cost Control Management, Logistics & Distribution Management, Business Transformation and Change Management, People Management, Budgeting and Cost Efficiency Improvement both in Nigeria and Internationally.

Mr. Emafo has a B.Sc in Political Science from the University of Benin and a Master’s in Business Administration from

the University of Wales College of Cardiff. He also has an MSc. In Logistics & Supply Chain Management obtained from the Cranfield University School of Management.

Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited is a leading Nigerian indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company. It is the operator of the OML 18 Joint Venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC. Eroton has its operational base in Rivers State and is headquartered in Lagos Nigeria.

The company employs over 230 people across its work locations.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

COMMENT

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

BEYOND THE BUHARI PRESIDENCY

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Bashir Maihidima explores how the north could retain the country’s presidency

egardless of the performance rating of President Muhammadu Buhari as he enters his second year in office, it is pertinent to begin to look ahead.

This is particularly relevant in the context of the political future of the North which, needless to say, is not entirely hinged on the prospects of the Buhari presidency, limited as it is both by his age and the tenure factor. In some circles of course it is taboo to talk of future politics in the North without President Buhari. But the reality is that discussing the future of politics in the North is not only a continuous issue but also a matter of strategic importance to the viability of the northern interest in the Nigerian political power calculus. From this angle of real politics it is necessary to focus on the prospects for northern presidential “entitlement” even in 2019 because there are some imponderables that must be considered and catered for and 2016 is a timely take-off point.

For the purpose of this submission, the issue of northern presidential entitlement is now more than ever before not an exclusive northern concern or game plan. The Buhari presidency, being the product of a fortuitous forging of a delicate dalliance with the popular front of South-west power politics that is widely regarded as a marriage of political convenience, it has seemingly validated the postulation that the north’s politics of population cannot on its own deliver the presidency on a platter of perfection. In fulfillment of this stratagem, the hitherto puritan northern stance of the Buhari political movement willingly embraced the hitherto contrarian countenance of the so-called Lagos-Ibadan axis, confident that this was a certainty for northern presidency, notwithstanding longstanding inherent incongruities.

It should also be accepted that the Buhari presidency or rather the presidential career of General Buhari is not and should not be the sole determinant of the dynamics of northern presidential entitlement whether for now, 2019 or 2023 for that matter.

There is no wishing away the overwhelming siege of age on the general’s political, if not presidential, career. In other words, it is realistic to explore the possibility of a single-term Buhari Presidency, not because of political mischief but in deference to human frailty and the wider interest of the northern presidential entitlement which is technically valid till 2023. It would certainly be expected that at a certain stage(if not now), even President Buhari will have to ponder over his willingness and ability to contest the 2019 presidential elections, irrespective of the marital

THE BUHARI PRESIDENCY OR RATHER THE PRESIDENTIAL CAREER OF GENERAL BUHARI IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE SOLE DETERMINANT OF THE DYNAMICS OF NORTHERN PRESIDENTIAL ENTITLEMENT WHETHER FOR NOW, 2019 OR 2023 FOR THAT MATTER

state of the All Progressives Congress political cohabitation. It will all be in good faith though power politics is rarely driven by ethical energies.

The essence of preserving and pursuing the northern presidential entitlement lies more in the feasibility of sustaining the pan-Nigerian (as well as the pan-Northern) political potency of that entitlement than in the destiny of any of its current and potential political leaders. There is no denying the undiminished dichotomies that have eroded and still militate against the now fabled Arewa solidarity since the untimely and disabling demise of its sole architect, the great Sardauna of blessed memory. This domestic plague reared its ugly head in the 2015 presidential elections indicating the crying need for heightened initiatives to frankly and effectively resuscitate the spirit of unity and common interest that still remains the elixir for progress and development of the peoples of the North.

More critical for the northern presidential entitlement however is the sustenance of the pan-Nigerian political rapport on as many fronts as possible. Here again the focus must be wide-angled rather than fixed. The so-called tsunami that swept President Buhari into power no doubt symbolised the spontaneous synchronisation of the northern with the Southwestern strand of pan-Nigerian power politics. The snag is the spontaneity of all tsunamis which are only momentarily tremendous. The political variety we have recently witnessed memorably unseated an incumbent government and momentously actualised the thrice-truncated presidential ambition of General Buhari. These two outcomes were however the jewels in the eyes of the tsunamists whose disparate antecedents and divergent dispositions converged conveniently on the gold-in-the-opportunities. Less than a year after “storming” the presidency, a menacing storm has enveloped the APC. Fortunately, the reality of our politics for presidential entitlement compels us to look beyond the immediate exigencies of presidential power politics in prospecting for the sustenance of the northern presidential entitlement towards 2019. For now our thoughts should be in the direction of salvaging the sustainable strategies developed in pursuit of northern presidential entitlement across Nigeria which were not overrun in the process of sweeping President Buhari into power or caught up by the emerging imponderables of the future of the Buhari Presidency.

Maihidima wrote from GidanJama’a, Sokoto

THE TRIAL OF BADEH

The former defence chief should be accorded all his rights, writes Samuel Ndubuisi

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igerians are quick to pass judgment of guilt on any person suspected or alleged to have committed an offence even before a court of competent jurisdiction is yet to convict such a person. This attitude has made nonsense of the popular saying that a man is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The recent trial of high profile cases by the present administration over alleged corrupt practices has generated a lot of interest and comments. While the accused are angling to prove their innocence, many Nigerians, either out of malice, political gains or share ignorance, have resorted to spreading rumours to increase public animosity against those currently facing trials.

The trial of Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh has not only become a subject of discussion even among people who have little knowledge of the case but also a subject for political propagandists who want to ride on the destruction of this man who gave 35 years of meritorious service in defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Whatever issue that has become the subject of this case is a standard practice at the Nigeria Air Force that Alex Badeh met as the chief of air staff. Zeroing on Badeh does not only reflect political vendetta but, also an orchestrated effort to ground the former air chief by those he may have offended in the course of discharging his duties.

The recent report in a national newspaper entitled “Badeh in a poignant struggle over learning and character” is crafted to silence the voice of those that stand for justice and fair play. To the writer Badeh should not even be tried but rather sentenced without hearing.

This is not good for our democracy and for

a nation that is struggling to meet global best practices.

The claim that the revelations by the prosecution witness stunned the entire nation is part of the design to convict the air chief before judgment and also influence the trial.

Going by the thoughts being pushed and maybe by extension those thinking in similar direction, one cannot but sadly conclude that the media trial of the former CDS by the federal government is succeeding.

Whatever evidence the prosecution witness has given they cannot be said to be true until they are proven and verified. The defence in any court has a right to present its case and counter the claims by the prosecution witness. It would interest Nigerians to know that many of the so-called startling revelations made by the witness in court were not part of his statement at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While I would resist the temptation of delving into ongoing court proceedings it is pertinent to know that the witness in the last two adjournments had not only contradicted himself, but admitted that substantial evidence he gave in court were not part of his statement at the EFCC. If it is easy for haters to continue to publish falsehood to create a complicated case for the accused, hiding under freedom of expression, it is obviously right for those who think otherwise to express themselves to the public in order to clarify the issues thereby uprooting the seed of guilt or in the words of the writer “lack of character” being consciously or unconsciously planted in the minds of Nigerians.

In stating that Badeh’s achievements had nothing to do with the 10- count charge, the writer forgot to inform his readers that the

EFCC’s main witness in the case in a handwritten statement already stated that “quite a number of welfare and operational projects had been executed through such funds” referring to the N558 million he earlier claimed he handed over to the ex-CDS monthly.

Citing pages 86 and 87 of the proof of evidence the witness wrote in his statement that “such projects include completion of NAF Aeronautical Centre, construction of officer and air men accommodation, equipping NAF hospitals in Abuja, Lagos, Jos, Makurdi and Kano”. How then can we talk about Badeh’s trial without his achievements?

If Badeh’s charges have no relations with his achievements, why then is the writer so worried about people being reminded of it? With what has happened so far, it is evident that what should be questioned is the character of the anti-graft agency than that of the ex- CDS. The writer stated that his achievements had nothing to do with the 10-count charge Badeh is facing in court, but also forgot to tell us if there’s any relationship between the charges and the much publicised Dasukigate.

Talking about drawing public sympathy, the EFCC had earlier gone to press with the story that the former CDS was arrested in connection with diversion of money meant for the procurement of arms popularly tagged Dasukigate. It was widely celebrated in the media. Nigerians were however shocked to the marrows when the charges against the former CDS were read out in the court and no mention was made of it. Lest we forget, the former CDS was detained for over two weeks without being charged to the court.

Then on March 7, 2016, the date slated for the arraignment of the ex-CDS, Nigerians were once again shocked by the story of $1million

allegedly found in Badeh’s house “in the presence of his neighbours”. It is curious to also note that over one month after the discovery, the EFCC is yet to include anything relating to this discovery in the charge sheet.

Observers were of the view that the story was planted to further increase “the public angst”.

The writer also failed to mention the fact that after the accused had met his bail conditions, the EFCC refused to do its part of independently verifying and ascertaining the value of such property. The EFCC refused to get back to the court within 24 hours in an attempt to delay the ex- CDS’s freedom. However respite came to Badeh as Justice Okon Abang ruled that the court cannot be held to ransom by the EFCC as the defendants bail application was left to suffer while waiting for the commission to carry out a duty required of it by the law. The judge was forced to strike out that particular condition and ordered Badeh released from prison custody.

The question on people’s lips was “why was EFCC so desperate to keep the accused in detention?”

The EFCC was also quick to go to the press with their “discovery of 17 accounts” belonging to the ex-CDS without stating the amount found in the accounts like they usually do.

To those who care to listen I will not cease to emphasize that the former air chief is worthy in learning and in character until proven otherwise. For a man who rose through the ranks as an officer of the Nigerian Air force, held different elite positions and rose to be the position of chief of air staff and chief of defence staff was not by error.

Such a personality must have been certified as worthy.

Ndubuisi wrote from Abuja

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

EDITORIAL NIGERIA’S RAGING TUBERCULOSIS CRISIS

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The health authorities could do more to curb the rising incidence of tuberculosis

ith about 600,000 cases of tuberculosis, as reported by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), the incidence of the disease is on the rise in Nigeria. That should worry the health authorities, as we cannot afford to add a TB epidemic to all the challenges that are already plaguing the nation.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria ranks 10th out of the 22 overburdened tuberculosis countries in the world. Just recently, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, lamented that the country is ranked first in tuberculosis cases in Africa. According to him, more than 500,000 people infected with tuberculosis in Nigeria “remain undetected and not placed on treatment. TB is treatable and curable if appropriate treatment commenced on time”.

Tuberculosis has been situated as a HIV coinfected disease by THERE IS NEED FOR global health experts GOVERNMENT TO INVEST while its prevention, MORE ON RESEARCH ON control and treatTB AS A STRATEGIC WAY ment is very often TO PUT A STOP TO ITS confined to the HIV/ RAGING SPREAD AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programme. Over the years, this approach has guided government and health experts’ response to TB while questions remain as to its effectiveness.

Nigeria’s greatest plight in combating the disease is the prevalence of multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB), especially considering that since 2013, there has been an increasing rise in the number such cases. This trend has compounded Nigeria’s drive to eliminate its prevalence. Added to that, Nigeria’s other challenge in fighting TB is rooted in poor diagnosis. Available reports indicate that many cases of TB were not diagnosed, and even when they were, they were not registered for tracking.

Letters to the Editor

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However, there are other challenges. To say the least, government efforts on research has also been peripheral ever since the disease became a heavy burden. Yet research ought to be a focal point in the fight to combat tuberculosis since with such efforts, a whole lot can be achieved in finding measures to prevent the disease. The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) should do more in that regard.

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T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYoDe KomoLAFe CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYoBoSA UWUGIAReN

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS eNIoLA BeLLo, KAYoDe KomoLAFe, ISRAeL IWeGBU, emmANUeL eFeNI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR oLUFemI ABoRoWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PeTeR IWeGBU, FIDeLIS eLemA, MBAYILAN ANDOAKA, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR oJoGUN VICToR DANBoYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR eRIC oJeH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HeNRY NWACHoKoR, SAHeeD ADeYemo CONTROLLERS ABImBoLA TAIWo, UCHeNNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA moSeRI GENERAL MANAGER PATRICK eImIUHI GROUP HEAD FemI ToLUFASHe ART DIRECTOR OCHI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

lso, Nigeria’s government funding mechanism has not been effective enough to contain high cases of the disease. Much of the funding for TB has been predominantly from foreign donors. The United States government, The Global Fund, WHO, Leprosy Mission in Nigeria, German Leprosy, Netherlands Leprosy Relief, Damien Foundation, the Canadian and UK governments remain the highest donors to tuberculosis-related programmes in Nigeria.

What that says very clearly is that the federal government has not shown enough commitment to fighting the disease. That perhaps explains why the Direct Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS), a global method for treatment of the disease, has not been funded by the government. Also, availability of TB microscopy laboratory services is still in short supply, thereby weakening the preventive strategies set aside to tackle the disease. These are the existing gaps that have held back the elimination of TB for years in the country. On the whole, there is need for government to wake up to its responsibilities in the fight against TB in Nigeria. A more workable plan should be set in motion that will address many of the gaps that have encumbered the fight against the disease. Focusing on prevention, diagnosis, tracking and treatment remain the key in that direction.

There is need for government to invest more on research on TB as a strategic way to put a stop to its raging spread. The NIMR could be empowered to go into advanced research on the subject that unravels the mystery surrounding Nigeria’s high incident cases. Government must take the challenge seriously.

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

FCTA AND THE NYANYA SPEED BUMPS

any residents of the FCT, especially those around Karu, Nyanya, Mararaba, Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Orozo and its environs in Abuja were disappointed to witness the ‘mother of all traffic gridlock’ as a result of “speed bumps” introduced at the Abuja-Nyanya expressway, precisely at the Kugbo furniture market axis of the road over the weekend.

Although the speed breakers were introduced to reduce the frequency of accidents that have become a regular occurrence on that road, this development left Abuja residents in awe as to what would have led the FCT administration to install speed bumps on a road that on a good day is a nightmare to motorists.

As a result, most commuters were rooted to the same spot for several hours; some even spent over six hours on that road while returning home because of the ensuing traffic snarl.

Worthy of note is the fact that most low level civil servants and low income earners stay within those axis. Suffice it then to say that this is the major reason why previous governments never gave top priority to fixing the traffic challenges on that road. Most top government officials stay within the city centre and may claim not to be privy to what ordinary Nigerians go through on a daily basis.

Nevertheless, it gladdens the heart that the FCT Minister has ordered the prompt removal of that deadly speed bump following massive outcry by affected residents of the territory. It shows the minister is a good listener and a leader that has the interest of the masses at heart, even though this is the least that FCT residents

expected of him.

This directive is also quite timely, considering that commuters, as result of the worsening traffic snarl, threatened to take laws into their hands if the speed bump was not removed.

The minister needs to take further steps to caution whoever introduced such speed bumps because you don’t put bumps on highways; rather you construct pedestrian bridges. You put bumps on street roads as safety measures for kids and those coming out of their estates or houses.

But in all fairness, the minister should not be made to take all the blame for the traffic snarl that is seen on that road because it is partly caused by the population of commuters coming all the way from Masaka, Mararaba, Nyanya, Karu , Jikwoyi, Orozo, among others, as result of low accommodation cost in these areas.

There are so many suburbs where commuters are coming from and so many vehicles too. All these converge on the highway and despite the fact that it is a six-lane expressway, the gridlock continues to worsen due to the increase in population.

The holdup on that road is also caused by the Mogadishu Cantonment (Army Barrack) along the road as well the AYA junction which tries to restrict the traffic from six lanes to four.

Indeed the accident rate on that road is high but the solution to that is not speed bumps. Rather the FCT Administration should construct pedestrian bridges and flyover. The FCT minister should also hasten work on alternative bye-pass/routes such as the Apo-Karshi road and the one from the Keffi road links Mpape.

Daniel Achiniru, Nyanya, Abuja

ATTENTION: BERGER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

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ith regard to your mining work at Mpape, one of your sites in Abuja, you have created a very deep and large pit which is always waterlogged, even in the dry season.

The stagnant water in the pit in question encourages the breeding of mosquitoes, thereby causing the disease known as malaria.

You may have forgotten about the pit and the unmovable water in it; that’s why I am writing to remind and inform you of the negative effect on the residents of Mpape and beyond.

Besides, a lot of evil things are going on in the area. Looking at the gigantic fence around the pit, criminals and other evil men are using the place as their hideout to execute evil. Few years back, a pastor was killed and dumped in that pit. The criminals that operate within Mpape are always running into the place, knowing that people would be scared to get there in search of them.

Therefore, it would be necessary and important that something is done to chase away mosquitoes from the place and as well prevent people from using the place as their hideout for carrying out ungodly activities.

I know that Berger Construction Company is owned by Germans and Germans are listening people. I believe that the management of the company will do everything possible to address these issues.

Awunah Pius Terwase, Mpape, Abuja

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY FOCUS

What Next for Saraki?

It’s about time the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, seriously weighs his options but without prejudice to the reality of the underbelly of his trial, writes Adams Abonu

E

mbattled! This is the adjective that aptly describes the unfolding dilemma of Nigeria’s President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Though many Nigerian pundits seemed to have found the use or abuse of the word “embattled” a common syndrome, recent developments bordering on the trial of the number three citizen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on charges of non-declaration of assets and corrupt enrichment aptly gives credence to ascribing the word to describe Saraki’s situation.

As the trial proceeds with a somewhat heightened pace, THISDAY checks have revealed that Nigerians have become more interested in the case as the sanctity of the judiciary and the moral integrity expected of a legislature are both on trial at the court of public opinion. The eventual outcome of Senator Saraki’s prosecution viz-a-viz his expected stepping down from the exalted seat and the judicial precedence the CCT would set forms a major crux of this intervention.

While the embattled senator has ascribed his current ordeal to the manner of his emergence as senate president in the wee days of the incumbent National Assembly, having emerged against the whims of the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the connivance of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the senate, there is no denying the fact that he has a case to answer and his image to redeem. However, his path to redemption has been fraught with dramas and anti-climaxes that tend to further derogate public confidence in his political brand, and in some cases, slant more sympathy in his way.

For a man, who has inherited the political dynasty put in place by the late venerable Senator Olusola Saraki from Kwara State, Senate President Saraki has basked in political goodwill of ho managing the circumstances would determine his viability. As a young politician, the supposedly thoroughbred medical doctor served former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Assistant before proceeding to replace the “erring and disloyal” the late Governor Muhammad Lawal.

He was elected into the senate to represent Kwara Central, after the expiration of his statutory two terms of office as governor and four years later, he made it to the highly coveted seat of the senate president. He fought different political battles, including the disagreement with his late father and patriarch of the dynasty, but the ongoing bid to have him vacate the office and the likelihood of a conviction could make for the toughest challenge he could ever bargain for.

In a bid to clear his name and retain the seat, Senator Saraki had gone all the way to the Supreme Court to have his prosecution stopped. While all the antics have been futile, the ongoing trial at the CCT further presents him with the ample opportunity to make his defence and prove his earlier assertion that he was only being politically persecuted.

In the senate, there has been reported waning of his stranglehold on his colleagues as the number of those who often “accompanied” him to the proceedings of the tribunal to the detriment of the all-important legislative process reduced from more than seventy senators to a paltry dozen in recent days.

Apparently, to stall the process, the senate invited the Chairman of CCT, Justice Danladi Umar, to appear before it and answer to charges of an alleged 10 million naira bribe proffered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a charge the commission would later withdraw “for want of evidence.”

The senate even took legislative manoeuvring

Saraki...pondering the options

to a reckless extent when it tried to amend the Code of Conduct Act of 2004 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, upon a motion to that effect by Senator Peter Nwaboshi from Delta State all in a bid to provide an escape route for their embattled leader. It only took the resilience of the civil society and different editorials from different media houses against the move to have the senate tread the path of caution by withdrawing the invitation to Justice Umar and stalling the clandestine amendment.

Now that the judicial process to have Senator Saraki answer for his alleged crimes against the Nigerian state and possibly, his flouting the decision of his party has been set in motion, what should be the most reasonable course of action for the embattled national leader?

Opinions are however divided. While some reckon that the Senate President should heed the ‘voice of reason’ and step aside from administering the National Assembly and face his prosecution squarely, there are those who see it differently.

Now that the judicial process to have Senator Saraki answer for his alleged crimes against the Nigerian state and possibly, his flouting the decision of his party has been set in motion, what should be the most reasonable course of action for the embattled national leader?...Opinions are however divided. While some reckon that the Senate President should heed the ‘voice of reason’ and step aside from administering the National Assembly and face his prosecution squarely, there are those who see it differently

Those who support the idea that he steps aside have called on the senate president not to bring further opprobrium to the senate by sitting tight at the face of a criminal trial.

Writing in the Guardian Newspaper, Dan Agbese, prominent journalist and one of the founders of the now rested Newswatch magazine told Saraki that it was time to “let go of the straw” and save the face of the legislature in Nigeria.

“It should be possible for us to dispassionately look at what is going on in the National Assembly and come to the only sensible and inescapable conclusion: the Saraki affair ill serves our country. It has become hugely embarrassing to the person of the senate president and his exalted office; it has become hugely sordid with huge health implications for our olfactory organs, and it has become a huge mess and effectively crippled the legislative arm of government,” the reputable journalist wrote in his widely-read column amidst a note of sarcasm.

Agbese’s view, which resonated with other opinions, is that the eventual outcome of Saraki’s trial at CCT would either salvage or mar Nigerians’ perception about how their affairs are administered by those at the corridors of power. He concluded that “Saraki may, indeed, win his case or cases, and I hope he does, if only to put his traducers to shame. But as I see it, however this ends, it would leave in its wake, a) a huge moral deficit and deepen our cynicism in government; b) further erode our trust in our leaders at all levels and; c) confirm once more that the irresistible lure of lucre remains a clear and present danger in our country, despite the gallant efforts by the EFCC to keep itchy fingers away from our treasuries.”

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had earlier led the call for Saraki to step aside when the President of the umbrella-body, Comrade Ayuba Waba told journalists that this was necessary to engender transparency and responsibility.

As the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja refused another stay of proceedings plea brought before it by Saraki, a coalition of civil society started to plan a mass action demanding his resignation.

This mass action, under the hashtag #OccupyNass, took their peaceful protests to the gates of the National Assembly on Tuesday, where they were to clash with pro-Saraki protesters under another

hashtag, #SaveOurNASS amidst a cacophony of interests.

A senator on the platform of PDP told THISDAY in Lafia in confidence that “the most reasonable thing for our senate president to do at this point is to stand down and allow justice take her course.”

“As a national institution, the senate cannot afford another trial at the court of public opinion considering that Nigerians already have a suspicious view of the senate. To be candid with you, we should be looking at the post-Saraki period of the senate so as not to put national development in trial,” the senator said on conditions of anonymity.

For Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Saraki should not resign but stand and defend his integrity. In a widely read message on his Facebook page, he assured the embattled senator of his unflinching support at the face of his “persecution.”

There are also considerable concerns from knowledgeable quarters as to the tendency of arrogating “despotic powers” to President Buhari and the ruling APC if Senator Saraki is forced to step down without the law taking its full course.

Those who belong to this school of thought are of the opinion that the senate president might not be completely innocent of the charges of corruption preferred against him but argued that the hand print of political persecution is rife in the entire process as it only had to take a disagreement with the APC leadership before his alleged sins were brought out.

“I’m not absolving (Senator) Saraki of the alleged crimes but we must also be careful not to give vent to political victimisation by asking him to resign before he is even convicted. Even in the last administration when a lot of things were not done properly, those who disagreed with the president and the leadership of the then ruling party like Rotimi Ameachi were not given such treatments.

“Yes, Amaechi may have won Rivers State having been tagged a traitor, but he stood his ground, fought all the way and ensured Jonathan was voted out. Thus, we must be careful so as not to create a political monster in President Buhari and the APC, both of whom are clearly involved in this persecution called trial,” a top-notch journalist told this reporter in confidence because of the sensitive nature of his editorial position.

According to him, “First, it has taken the system 12 years to realize something was amiss in the forms submitted at different election years

by Saraki. So, where are those who verified the forms and cleared them? What happened to the extant laws and provisions which requested that such discrepancies be brought to his notice before further actions are tyaken?

“Why has it taken Saraki to draw similarities with Tinubu’s case and as much as point out the technicalities before the same tribunal presided over by the same judge realised the former Lagos governor was freed in error? Where is the rule of law in this? And you expect saraki to open his eyes wide and step into a waiting trap? You can go on and on to establish that this is no genuine trial but sheer persecution occasioned by Saraki’s bold emergence as Senate President.”

In the final analysis, as Saraki considers his options, the national interest of giving a transparent integrity to the senate should remain paramount to him while Nigerians are also prompted not be carried away by those who would rather give a dog a bad name just to hang it. Nigeria will be better if these sordid dramas are brought to an acceptable conclusion and without leaving the critical institutions of nation-building badly mutilated.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

POLITICS

NEWS ANALYSIS

A Town Hall Meeting or Circus Show?

Joseph Ushigiale subjects to rigorous analysis, the rationale behind the recent town hall meeting held in Lagos by some ministers of the Buhari administration

Amaechi, Fashola, Mohammed, Lagos Deputy Governor, Alhaja Idiat Oluranti Adebule and Kachikwu at the meeting

T

he first nationwide town hall meeting initiated by the All Progressives Congress-led (APC) administration of President Muhammadu Buhari started on Tuesday in Lagos to commemorate Buhari’s first year in office. According to a programme outlined by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the meetings are billed to hold in the six geo-political zones of the country to afford both the administration and Nigerians the opportunity to interact, score the administration on its performance so far and make recommendations on the way forward.

Interactions through contributions from the audience and the various reactions from the ministers present at the inaugural meeting pointed clearly to the fact that Nigerians were angry at the level of sufferings and the apparent inaction by the Buhari’s administration to their plight.

In response, the ministers pleaded to Nigerians for patience and understanding on the premise that things would get better.

Is the timing for this town hall meeting right?

Analysts believe that if Nigerians had any doubt about how insensitive the present administration is to their plight and how far it is out of touch with the realities on the ground, the town hall meetings, which kicked off Tuesday were a clear example.

Most people, who attended the live event left with the conclusion that, the current roadshow that would involve ferrying the ministers around the country for the simple task of begging Nigerians to be patient with the administration, is at best a circus and a highly misplaced priority task that should have no place in the agenda of an administration that promised Nigerians Eldorado and yet delivering hell.

At the end of yesterday’s event, Nigerians, who attended the event came away with neither new information, nor even a quotable quote, detailing what the administration was doing to alleviate the mounting daily pains being experienced by Nigerians in long fuel queues, unemployment arising from the shutting down of companies that depend on forex for the import of their raw materials and the growing poverty

in the country.

There was hardly anything the ministers said that was new or directed at changing the state of things as they are at the moment.

Nigerians all know that generation capacity had hovered between 3000Mw to 5000Mw and sometimes dropped to somewhere around 2000 plus megawatts at the worst of times. It is therefore the height of an insult for Minister of Power, Works and Housing to tell Nigerians that they deserve more than the 5000Mw that is currently being generated.

Mr. Fashola also blamed his ministry’s inability to fix bad roads on the non-passage of the 2016 budget by the National Assembly. But Nigerians know that the former Lagos State governor was only being economical with the truth. Even as governor, would Fashola vouch that in his entire eight years in the saddle, he never had cause to invoke relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to spend in anticipation of budget approval? If he has, why is this different and why has he chosen rather to hoodwink

Most people, who attended the live event left with the conclusion that, the current roadshow that would involve ferrying the ministers around the country for the simple task of begging Nigerians to be patient with the administration, is at best a circus and a highly misplaced priority task that should have no place in the agenda of an administration that promised Nigerians Eldorado and yet delivering hell

Nigerians with this fable?

The tale by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, whose promises to end the perennial fuel shortage have become almost uncountable, is quite ridiculous. In the last two months, the minister had set timelines within which to clear off the long queues from fuel stations; and the more he makes these promises, the longer the queues resurface with greater vengeance and Nigerians are particularly unhappy with the man on whose table the buck stops regardless of the fact that Buhari maintains the ceremonial title of a substantive Minister of Petroleum.

Apart from his promises of wiping fuel queues off from Lagos and Abuja, Kachikwu told Nigerians that the refineries were back on stream and are set to augment fuel importation to ease the queues. But the persistent fuel shortage across the country and the attendant pains and sufferings by Nigerians put a lie to this barefaced propaganda.

In case the ministers have forgotten, they should be reminded that Nigerians already knew that the economy and the country generally were in very bad shape, which was why they had high expectations on a new government that would lift them to a new high. Fortunately, these expectations coincided with and got latched onto the APC/Buhari change mantra.

The partnership which crystalised in the defeat of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan immediately propelled Buhari to the status of a cult figure, whose main mission in the next four years was to play a messianic role of truly embedding change in the true sense of the word not the current sissy footing that is being displayed in the last one year in office.

Let it be assumed that the administration has lost focus or put differently, was unprepared for the task of repositioning Nigeria. Nigerians have been told how many trillions the administration has saved and how it is working silently to achieve it set objectives and so on. What Nigerians indeed need is not for trillions to be saved and left languishing in banks’ vaults; this money should be put to work for them with utmost urgency.

Before now, Nigerians knew that private interests were fleecing the country dry from the payment of unjustified petroleum subsidy.

They also knew that power supply had defied all imaginable interventions under previous administrations. It was also public knowledge that the road network was a death trap going by casualty figures from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and worse of all, Nigerians were aware that despite the huge earnings from crude oil sales, the proceeds were frittered away on frivolities with some stolen.

Nigerians were therefore hoping that a new leadership would fish out who these private interests are, prosecute them and end the long reign of impunity on Nigerians, put in place a dependable refining and distribution network for petroleum products to end fuel shortages and also adopt alternative energy sources, including coal, wind, solar and geo-thermal.

If the government is working silently, of course, let its result show tangibly so that Nigerians would be able to feel that in the disappearance of long fuel queues, job creation, the security of lives and property, affordable and qualitative education, medicare, housing and also in the deployment of an integrated, dependable and affordable world class transport system.

Therefore, the president should as a matter of urgency, recall these ministers from the current circus back to their respective offices to begin to work in earnest for Nigerians so that they can deliver what they promised them. The roadshow is a complete waste of tax payers’ scarce resources and a jamboree that the country, in its present state, can ill afford.

If it must continue, the president could direct the Minister of Information, who had succeeded ‘in selling coal to Newcastle’ to continue his job of propagating the policies of the administration.

Nigerians are angry and demand action and results. They are not prepared for appeasement through begging as the town hall meeting indicates. Doing so would amount to insulting their intelligence and further widening the gap and alienating itself far more than it is now from the same people it is claims to be working to protect.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

POLITICS

OFF-THE-TURF

Reading Rejuvenates Orji Former Abia State Governor, Theordore Orji, says reading is one of the things that makes him whole, writes Anayo Okolie

S

enator Theodore Ahamefula Orji, representing Abia Central senatorial district is not new in politics. And also, he is fully aware of the hectic nature of this calling, either full or part time basis, especially in Nigeria where expectations are high from followers and the people in general.

No doubt, Orji has crossed so many hurdles in politics and is seen to have overcome them.

Small wonder, he made history as the first governor in the history of Nigeria to win an election while in detention.

However, in spite of the distractions and challenges, he has continued to trudge on, doing his bits and giving his best. But how does he strike a balance between his official engagements and persona commitments? That’s a one million dollar question many a politician cannot haste to answer. Surprise, he did.

According to him, one of the unique ways he suppresses the pressure from work is by reading, working out regularly and giving back to the society. To him, politics is evidently tedious but as one who has elected to tread that path, he is unable to run away from the responsibilities that come with it, despite the treacherous nature of the game.

“I have found myself in politics and there is no going back. You have to face it squarely and face it properly. It’s actually a tedious business but then tedious business is also known for people, who are tedious in terms of their composition and all. So, we are trying our best to manage tedious politics and to manage other things.”

But first and foremost, the lawmaker said what is imperative “is to do this job that my

people have elected me to come and do and that is to represent them at the Senate. The people of Abia Central voted me to come and represent them and that is what I’m facing now to represent them effectively, adequately and properly and by extension represent the whole of Nigeria effectively, adequately and properly.”

However, in suppressing the pressure that emanates from it, he does not joke with reading because it helps him to get rid of the pressure.

If you deny him of food, he would not mind hence there are books to read. He finds pleasure

You have to make out time even if it’s 10 minutes, 30 minutes every day to relax and recreate your brain, remove your brain from the hustle and bustle of legislation. So, I try to make out time to relax in my home and discuss with my children and relatives.

I read a lot of novels, magazines and newspapers and then do indoor sports to stay healthy,”he said

in reading especially magazines, newspapers and novels.

Many may wonder how he gets time to read or attend to other personal things. But according to him, “Even if you don’t have the time to relax, you have to make out the time because relaxation is very essential for your health so that you don’t break down.

“So you have to make out time even if it’s 10 minutes, 30 minutes every day to relax and recreate your brain, remove your brain from the hustle and bustle of legislation. So, I try to make out time to relax in my home and discuss with my children and relatives. I read a lot of novels, magazines and newspapers and then do indoor sports to stay healthy,” he said.

Another thing he claims to do is giving back to the society. “My plan for my senatorial district and Nigeria, I have started that. We discussed about the scholarship, it’s a plan. And I also plan, apart from making good laws for my senatorial district and Nigeria in general, to touch the lives of the people of my constituency by giving them skills because we have skills acquisition centres in Abia, which we want to utilise.

“Organise seminars for them, there is a proposal that has come to me to train people in maintenance of GSM phones. I will sponsor that and train our people so that they can have a means of livelihood and be useful to themselves also.”

Orji, said, “There are things I am also doing for people from constituency. A lot of people come here to tell you about the problems they are having and solicit for your assistance. If I have, I give them to alleviate their problems.”

He is said to have empowered a lot of people in his state and beyond. Even as governor of his state, he organised so many poverty eradicating programmes.

Orji was first elected governor of Abia State on May 29, 2007 and re-elected on April 26, 2011. He was formerly a career civil servant, and served as the Chief of Staff to the then Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu. Born in Amaokwe Ugba, Umuahia – Ibeku in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in 1950, he attended Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro, Holy Ghost College, Owerri and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Ibadan in 1977.

He enlisted for the National Youths Corps Scheme on graduation and was deployed to Sokoto State as a teacher at the Government Secondary School, Shinkafi, Isa Local Government Area. On completion of his one year national assignment in 1978, Orji began working as an administrative officer in the old Imo State civil service in December 1979, where he served in various government parastatals.

When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia, where he served in Government House, Umuahia. In December 2006, he won the gubernatorial primaries of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest the 2007 governorship elections in Abia State and defeated his closest rival with over 100,000 votes to emerge governor.

Having served his people for eight years, Orji on April 11, 2015 was again elected senator for Abia Central District. His achievements over the years are believed to have earned him several titles and awards.

19

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

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Quick Takes Arik Introduces Ground Transfer Services

Arik Explorer, Arik Air’s leisure and packaged travel subsidiary, is launching a ground transfer services for London bound passengers from Heathrow Airport to destinations within London city. The ground transfer service is in collaboration with Puzzles Group and Hummingbird cars.

All London bound passengers departing Lagos will be able to book this service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport with the option to pay in naira. With this service, London-bound passengers need not worry about having immediate access to foreign currency on arrival at Heathrow.

The collaboration makes the services of a reliable and reputable transport company accessible to Arik Air travelers from prices as low as thirty three pounds (£33) one way (or its naira equivalent). Arik Air passengers will be able to book this service at the Arik Explorer stand at the Arik Air check-in counter Muhammed International Airport, Lagos from May 3, 2016.

Boeing Records Drop in Q1 Profit

SHOWCASING 2016 INDUSTRY REPORT

R-L: Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf; President of African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC), Mr. AbdulGaniyu Sumaila; Director General, ACSC, Dr. Obiora Madu and Representative of Managing Director, MDS Logistics, Mr. Taiwo Ajibola, during the unveiling of 2016 Industry Report of Nigerian Logistics and Supply Chain at the National Logistics Strategy Summit held in Lagos....recently

International Airlines Operators in Nigeria Earn N302bn from Ticket Sales Chinedu Eze Airlines that operate international destinations from Nigeria made over N302 billion ($15 billion) from ticket sales in 2015. The airlines included European mega carriers, US carriers, African and indigenous operators.

Among the major carriers emirates earned the highest money of N50 billion, followed

by British Airways with ticket sales of N48 billion during the period.

Also, Air France sold tickets worth N26 billion, Virgin Atlantic Airways, N16 billion, Ethiopian Airlines, N23 billion, Lufthansa, N17 billion, Delta Air Lines, N17 billion, United Airlines, N15 billion, KLM, N16 billion,

AVIATION Qatar Airways, N12 billion, South Africa Airways, N9 billion and Turkish Airlines N11 billion.

A total of 31 airlines including the indigenous carriers, Aero Contractors, Arik Air and Medview Airline operate international and regional destinations.

There are airlines such as African World Airlines, Air Cote d’ Voire, Alitalia, Asky Airlines, Cam Air, Egypt Air, Etihad Airways and Iberia.

Other airlines include Middle East Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Rwanda Air Express, Saudi Airlines, Sudan Airways and Kenya Airways.

Industry experts said that

comparatively the 2014 ticket sales was more than that of 2015 by a slight margin but there would be a gulf in the amount of tickets sold in 2015 and the tickets that would be sold this year because of Nigeria’s ailing economy and the sudden increase in fares by foreign airlines which discourages travel.

Records from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has already shown that there are fewer aircraft movement in the early part of this year compared to that of last year; the same with the passenger movement in the same period.

FAAN’s historical passenger traffic showed that 2011 to 2014 had the highest number of passenger movement, which

began to slide in 2015 and is predicted to decline further in 2016 due to the economic downturn.

For example, the domestic terminals of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos processed over four million passengers in 2014, while it processed over three million passengers in 2015.

Also, the international wing of the airport processed over three million passengers in 2014, while it processed about two million passengers in 2015. The drastic drop was attributed to the fears and uncertainties that characterised the 2015 election.

“There is going to be a Continued on page 20

Reps Move against Lopsided Data Capturing Process at Immigration Emma Okonji The House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Wednesday, stressed the need to upgrade the data capturing facilities at the Ikoyi office of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). The committee also spoke on the need to empower staff of NIS in the area of training and skills development, to enable them have mastery and competence in managing the database of NIS that is currently being managed by its technical partner, Continental Trasfert Technique Limited (CONTEC).

The committee members, led

IMMIGRATION by its Deputy Chairman, Patrick Aisowieren, representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde federal constituency in Edo State, made the observation when the committee visited the Ikoyi office of NIS as part of its oversight function.

The lawmakers said the need to empower NIS staff to handle the management of its database, became necessary in order to enhance national security as it relates to information storage dissemination from the country’s database.

Dissatisfied with the state

of data capturing machines at NIS, the committee members said it would put its findings together and make recommendations on how best to manage both staff and facilities at the complex.

In an attempt to have further insight into the operations of NIS, committee members bombarded CONTEC with several questions relating to its operations and management of NIS office.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of CONTEC, Mr. Tunde Anyasanwo, said CONTEC, which is the technical partner of NIS, that is managing the data capturing and card issu-

ance to expatriates living in Nigeria has trained several staff of NIS since 2002 and has empowered members of NIS to manage certain aspects of data capturing.

He however said the database, the servers were being managed by CONTEC alone.

Aggrieved that NIS staff are not allowed to manage the database and servers, which are the most sensitive parts of the data gathering and storage system, the law makers said since 2002, CONTEC would have been able to train enough NIS staff to manage the sensiContinued on page 20

Boeing Co took a surprise $156million charge for its KC-46 aerial refueling tanker on Wednesday, pushing first-quarter profit down 9per cent amid concern about meeting deadlines for the United States Air Force programme.

The world’s largest plane maker also took a $70 million pre-tax charge for its 747 program, or about 7 cents a share after tax, reflecting a weak air cargo market that has slowed sales of freighter versions of the jumbo jet. Earnings fell to $1.22billion, or $1.83 per share, from $1.34billion, or $1.87per share, a year earlier. But Boeing backed its full-year profit and revenue forecasts, saying it was confident other parts of its business could make up for the added expenses. It reported a better performance in its defense business for the quarter.

Analysts largely looked past the charges, noting that cash flow was slightly better than expected and revenue was strong.

“The cash flow story is intact” along with the outlook, Citi analyst Jason Gursky said in a note to clients. “We’d be buyers on weakness today.” Boeing shares were up two percent at $136.02 after falling 1.8 per cent in pre-market trading. Other analysts said they would not rule out more tanker charges as Boeing races to deliver the initial 18 tankers

by August 2017, a commitment reiterated on Wednesday.

Analysts also had said Boeing could still write off some of the deferred costs incurred in building the 787 Dreamliner, which has been the subject of an accounting probe.

Boeing did not take a 787 charge, and said deferred costs rose $141 million to $28.65 billion in the latest quarter, a slower pace than in the past. It dismissed the idea of abandoning the accounting method that allows such large cost deferrals.

Google, Ford, Uber Partner on Cars

Alphabet Inc’s Google unit, Ford Motor Co, the ridesharing service Uber and two other companies said they were forming a coalition to push for federal action to help speed self-driving cars to market.

Sweden-based Volvo Cars, which is owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co GEELY.UL, and Uber rival Lyft also are part of the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets. The group said in a statement it will “work with lawmakers, regulators and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of self-driving vehicles.”

The coalition said David Strickland, the former top official of the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the top U.S. auto safety agency that is writing new guidance on self-driving cars, will be the coalition’s counsel and spokesman.

“What people are looking for is clear rules of the road of what needs to be done for (fully autonomous) vehicles to be on the road,” Strickland said in an interview Tuesday, emphasizing the companies want to deploy them safely.

“Nobody wants to take a shortcut on this.”

One of the problems we have in Nigeria is that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) does not have autonomy. It is the responsibility of NCAA to give approval to foreign airlines to operate in Nigeria and give them frequencies Managing Director/CEO Medview Airline

Alhaji Muneer Bankole

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES OPERATORS IN NIGERIA EARN N302BN FROM TICKET SALES significant slide because you can see that one of the biggest carriers that come to Nigeria, BA has changed their equipment from Boeing B747 to Boeing B777 and I just learnt that they are going to drop a frequency in Lagos from seven times a week to six times a week. How many people are going to be travelling with this low value of the Naira?” a source said.

Also industry observer, Simon Tumba supported the view that less tickets would be sold this year because many parents whose children and wards are studying abroad have withdrawn them because of the high exchange rate to the Naira and government recently announced that top government officials would no more fly business class.

“Businesses are yet to pick up; everybody is talking about the budget, so it is about the law of supply and demand; definitely less tickets will be sold this year, Tumba said.

REPS MOVE AGAINST LOPSIDED DATA CAPTURING PROCESS AT IMMIGRATION tive aspect of the business.

“What we have observed today is a far cry from what we expected of NIS and CONTEC. We observed that a big gap exists between NIS and COTEC, which is supposed to train NIS staff. There are lots of disagreements between both bodies and most of the equipment are not only obsolete, but insufficient for actual data capturing and biometric exercise,” Aisowieren said.

CONTEC is the technical partner to NIS, that is involved in data capturing and information storage as well as card issuance to expatriates living in Nigeria.

It was contracted to handle the job and to train NIS on its operations, but the lawmakers observed that the training lacks in-depth technical skills that will make NIS manage the entire operations.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Maritime Editor

John Iwori

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritime)

NEWS

Stakeholders Advocate Increased Competitiveness in Logistic Sector Ugo Aliogo Stakeholders in the transport sector have called for increased competitiveness and efficiency in the Nigeria logistic and supply chain sector in order for companies and organisations to meet the growing needs of their consumers in the global market.

The Chairman Governing Council African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC), Dr. Abdul Sumaila, stated that the Nigeria is at a crossroad because of the sustained losses in projected revenue, and the drop in oil prices which the world is experiencing currently.

He noted that the global tendency towards a diversified export based economy and the urgent need to expedite the process of economic growth, has made it imperative to develop a national logistics strategy, “efficient infrastructure and logistics transport system are vital for any nation that wants to attain economic prosperity.”

Sumaila spoke yesterday in Lagos, at the National Logistics Strategy Summit and the Presentation of the 2016 industry report on Nigeria Logistics and Supply Chain, with the theme; ‘Building National Logistics Strategy for Better Economic Diversification.’

He said for any economy to achieve full economic sustainability and growth, the logistics sector should constitute the backbone of its trade, and associated economic activities, adding that the cost of trading whether by sea, land or air forms a critical component of the final price of a commodity, but an efficient logistics system reduces this cost, while provid-

ing a competitive edge and propelling economic activities.

Furthermore, he stated that the current stress on the logistics system and its performance suggest that one of the key issues is the inadequacy of transportation logistics infrastructure, noting that Nigeria does not have good logistics infrastructure to do business.

The ACSC added: “Promoting economic development with human development, increasing competitiveness and utilising comparative

is an urgent need to strategies and reposition the industry if Nigeria as a nation desires to grow and increase her market share of various products in the global market.”

The Director General of ACSC, Dr. Obiora Madu, stated that the report will showcase the state of logistics in Nigeria, adding that a situation where professionals cannot access useful information and data for decision making will impact negatively on operations.

Madu said the World Bank in its Logistics Performance Index stated that better logistics performance is strongly associated with trade expansion, export diversification, ability to attract foreign direct investments, and economic growth, adding, “the goal of leveraging logistics as a strategic resource for the nation’s economy goes beyond mitigating changes in input costs, to targeting the structure of the industry and the demand for logistics services.”

PROMOTING GOOD LEADERSHIP

L-R: Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru; Founder, Centre for Values in Leadership(CVL), Professor Pat Utomi, and Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, at the CVL role model forum in Lagos…recently

‘Govt Agencies Aide Illegal Berthing, Discharge’ A maritime group, Nigerians Against Theft in the Maritime Sector (NATIMS), has called on the federal government to beam its searchlight on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ensure that its working is in line with the provisions of the Act establishing it.

NATIMS in a statement issued in Lagos alleged that the activities of the authority have caused revenue leakages in the maritime sector of the economy.It said that the federal government’s intervention was being sought because of the authority’s alleged complicity in the illegal berthing and mid-stream discharge.

The statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Jonahs Bankole, NATIMS stated that the intervention has become necessary because the government is losing so much revenue.

“Two recent incidents were two ships, Antigua and Berbuda-flagged MV Drago J with 470 twenty-foot equivalent of containers and MV Torco Clairvaux, respectively, sneaked into Nigerdock facility at Snake

advantages to implement effective diversification is a crucial fallout from efficient logistics and strengthening the positive linkages between economic growth and social development has become the differentiating factor between nations.

“At the moment, the report shows that there is a wide gap between the available and the needed infrastructure in the logistics industry. The current performance of the industry suggests that there

Island Integrated Free Zone, Apapa on January 19, 2016, and Ladol facility on December 16th, 2015, leave much to be desired.

“We in NATIMS know that, going by the rules, NPA provides pilotage for any ship/vessel that enters Nigeria’s territorial waters and we wonder how the two ocean-going vessels berthed illegally at Nigderdock and Ladol facilities without NPA noticing them. “If NPA provided pilotage for the two ships, then something is wrong somewhere and that is why NATIMS is calling on the federal government to look into the activities of the NPA. We do not know how many ships had berthed illegally in the past and how much revenue government has lost.”

Bankole said that NATIMS proposes to “send a petition to relevant committees in the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, on how the activities of NPA have negatively impacted on the revenue base of the nation and how to reverse the situation,” he said.

Failure of Companies Blamed on Weak Corporate Governance Emmanuel Otaru The Executive Vice Chairman/ CEO Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbata, has blamed the failure of some companies on weak or complete absence of corporate governance structures, as seen in major companies around the world such as Enron, Worldcom, Arthur Anderson, Leeman Brothers and in Cadbury Nig. Ltd; among others.

Danbatta, who was represented by Mr. Felix Adeoye, made this remark at the Executive Breakfast Meeting organised by Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN), with theme: “Corporate Governance, Regulatory Compliance and Competitiveness in the Telecommunications Industry” held in Lagos recently.

According to Danbatta, “a strong corporate governance culture in an organisation encourages success and business sustainability. In an emerging economy such as ours, corporate governance is predicated on the need to entrench a control system, which increases

shareholder value, as well as exceeding the expectations of other stakeholders”.

He said the liberalisation of the Nigerian telecoms industry opened investment opportunities for both local and foreign companies, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said that in recognition of the need to sustain the success recorded in the industry and replicate the lessons learnt in other sectors that had gone through the boom and bust cycle, the commission in 2012 set up a multi-stakeholder Corporate Governance Working Group (CGWG) with membership from across the Nigerian telecoms industry, the Commission and Corporate Governance practitioners to determine the industry’s corporate governance needs.”

Danbatta said the CGWG developed the Code of Corporate Governance for the telecoms industry, which was published in 2014. “Essentially, the Code was developed to protect interests of investors and stakeholders in the industry, as well as

promote time-valued principles of accountability, responsibility, transparency, integrity and ethical conduct”, he further said. The NCC boss said also, that with a formidable corporate governance structure and effective implementation of the Code, it is hoped that the country will witness increased foreign direct investments in the industry.

Also at the Breakfast meeting, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said his role is to ensure that they promote the development of the industry and foster the best operating environment for members as well and maintain good interface with critical stakeholders such as the regulator and the policy makers as well as the consumers.

“The telecom industry is one of the most important sectors of our economy and the industry has evolved over the last 12 years, many of these changes were influenced by the convergence of technologies of voice, data and video on smartphones, tablet computers and the internet and other information services.

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

NAMA Embarks on Strategic Management Training with ASCON Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has concluded arrangements with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Badagry on the training of various categories of personnel of the agency. The training, which will focus largely on administrative processes, procedures and practices is intended to treat modules such as Strategic Management, Public Service Rules and Regulations, Financial Rules and Regulations, Tax Obligations and Liabilities, Policy Formulation and Analysis, Budgeting in Public Sector, Due Process and Procurement in Public Service, Improving Service Delivery in the Public Sector among others.

Speaking in Lagos when she led a delegation to NAMA headquarters, the ASCON Director of Studies, Mrs. Meg Oshionebo said NAMA as an Air Navigation Service Provider needed to align its administrative processes and procedures properly with its mandate in order to ensure efficiency in service delivery.

Earlier in his address, the

acting Managing Director of NAMA, Emma Anasi noted that there was the need for “the business of NAMA to be carried out in an orderly fashion and in accordance with public service rules,” adding that the training aims at inculcating in the workforce the basic principles and procedures of carrying out their functions including sanctions to those who breach these rules “and we believe that ASCON has both the capacity and expertise to give us the needed training required to drive the agency towards increased productivity as well as excellence in service delivery.”

Meanwhile, NAMA has pledged to collaborate with the newly inaugurated Runway Safety Teams at the nation’s major airports in their bid to enhance safety of air navigation along runways and associated airside facilities.

In a brief remark while receiving members of the Lagos Runway Safety Team at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, the acting Managing Director, Emma Anasi said the inauguration of runway safety teams in the country was “another giant step towards

enhancing safety of air travel particularly along the airside where the most critical phases of flight take place,” stressing that as an ICAO requirement, runway safety teams are indispensable because of their ability to closely monitor and give prompt attention to safety issues arising from the airside like the derubberisation of the tarmac.

The NAMA boss who was represented on the occasion by the acting Director of Operations, Mr. Ifeanyi Okwor assured the team that NAMA as an agency whose mandate borders on safety of air navigation would partner and support runway safety teams in the country to realise their objectives. Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the Lagos Runway Safety Team, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku of the Safety Department at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), solicited the agency’s support in the provision of office accommodation, operational vehicle for runway inspection, customised reflective jackets, training of personnel and other logistics to ensure effective takeoff of their operations.

Airbus Introduces H17 Choppers to Nigerian Market Airbus Helicopters recently demonstrated flight of its H175 helicopter at the EAN hangar of the Murtala Muhammed International airport, Lagos, as part of efforts towards promoting fuel efficient aircraft in Nigeria.

Vice President and Head of Operational Marketing, Airbus helicopters, Regis Magnac at a briefing during the demo event, said the H175 has the ability to perform optimally above others because of the size of its fuel tank.

He said apart from Nigeria, the aircraft, which is worth more than $10 million, has debuted in Ghana and will also be demonstrated in Ivory Coast, adding that aircraft can be used for search and rescue,

apart from oil and gas offshore business.

Designed with the support of oil companies and helicopters operators, the H175 offers cost competitiveness, performance and new standards of safety and comfort. Magnac said this aircraft is perfectly suited for oil and gas operators in Nigeria, adding that the 7-ton class H175 was developed by Airbus Helicopters as its new-generation medium-sized rotorcraft, certified in accordance with the latest and most demanding regulatory requirements. He said the benefits of the helicopter include enhanced flight safety, more volume per seat for passenger comfort, mission versatility, simplified maintenance, and cost effectiveness to match

customer expectations.

“Within its class, the H175 offers the best operating range in relation to the number of passengers. With 16 passengers aboard in an oil and gas configuration, it can fly to distances of 140 nautical miles (332KM), increasing to nearly 200 nautical miles (435 KM) when 12 passengers are carried in a long range configuration, with no auxiliary fuel tank required. In a higher density configuration, it can carry as many as 18 passengers up to 105 nautical miles (269 KM),” he said.In terms of comfort, Magnac noted that the helicopter’s fast cruise speed, large windows, and low sound and vibration levels create a comfortable passenger journey offshore.

SAA Holds Holiday Workshop for Nigeria Travel Agencies South African Airways (SAA) has sensitised Nigeria Travel Agencies in Abuja to sell complete holiday packages to South Africa and other destinations where the airline flies to during the first South African Airways holistic holiday workshop in Abuja, Nigeria.

In partnership with Legend Tours, South Africa based Travel Management and Tour Company, the airline explained to the Travel Agencies the importance of providing a complete travel package services to clients.

According to South African Airways Regional Manager, North, West and Central Africa, Ohis Ehimiaghe, the airline is

working on an all-encompassing travel package to South Africa which would probably cost below NGN200,000 to encourage the Travel Agencies to sell South African destinations and beyond.

“We at South African Airways are constantly looking for ways to improve our business strategy alongside our partners to ensure for a continuous winwin relationship at all times.

It is in this vein that SAA is planning an all-inclusive travel package which will include flight ticket, hotel accommodation, ground transportation and tours that will cost about NGN200,000 (around

USD1,000),” Ohis stated.He stressed the importance of the Travel Agencies in Abuja to the overall sales strategy of South African Airways in Nigeria which underlines the reason why the airline is holding its first holistic holiday workshop in the Nigeria capital city.Ohis explained to the over 120 Travel Agencies at the event inside Sheraton Hotel’s Ladi Kwali Hall, “Let me use this opportunity to inform you of South African Airways commitment to encouraging you to continue to sell our airline as a preferred carrier to your clients to the over 56 destinations we fly to.

AIR WATCH As Nigerian Airlines Lose the W’African Market

Medview Aircraft

S

ince after the demise of the Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), which hitherto dominated the West and Central Africa air travel market, competing with Ghana’s and Cameroon’s national carriers, these sub-regions, known as the West Coast, have remained an open market. Now competition is rife in this market, which Nigerian airlines ought to play dominant roles because over 60 per cent of passengers in this market are Nigerians, whose population is in excess of the total population of the rest of West Africa.

THISDAY gathered that all the national carriers that existed in the countries that dominated these sub-regions in the past had all gone under, prompting international and regional carriers to dominate the market. In the past, travellers in these areas were competed for by NAL, Cameroon Airlines, Ghana Airways and Air Afrique.

But as the population continued to grow and these national carriers ceased operations, this created a vacuum in these areas, which made it possible that at a time anyone travelling to any of these destinations would have to first travel to Europe first before connecting flights to such destinations. So international carriers like Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and other European carriers and later Ethiopian Airlines became the dominant carriers into these regions.

Informed sources disclosed that after the demise of NAL, Nigerian airlines stopped playing major roles in this market and that vacuum attracted new carriers including old and new operators who were aware of the lucrative market of the West Coast.

Before it went under, Virgin Nigeria generated much of its revenues from its West Coast operations as it became the dominate carrier in the area, which Aero Contractors hitherto dominated. Before Virgin Nigeria’s dominance, Bellview was a major competitor in the market, but now the Nigerian carrier that seemed to play major role in the market is Arik Air. But South Africa Airways (SAA), Ethiopian Airlines and other African carriers have seen the huge West Coast market and want to play significant role in the market. The strategy is to create other carriers that be stationed in the region. Ethiopian helped to establish Asky in Lome and it is using the airport as sub-regional hub to target Nigerian passengers to even international destinations. Taking a cue from ET, SAA is eyeing to play significant role in the same market. This has left the Nigerian carriers in the lurch. Will they be able to compete with these new airlines for the West Coast?

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko told THISDAY that the huge population of Nigerian travellers are the target of these African airlines and with the open sky from Africa, which would be ratified and adopted next year, the market would be open for every player in the continent.

Uko, who is the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market said that Nigeria should support its own airlines, just as Ghana, Ethiopia, South Africa and other nations are supporting their airlines to be competitive by removing obstacles on their way through policies to enable them thrive and succeed.

He said that to enable Nigerian airlines to

compete effectively in the West Coast market, government must have to support the Nigerian carriers; just as other nations in the continent are supporting theirs, noting that while Nigeria is still dawdling, Ghana is opening up its economy and taking advantage of the Nigerian population by enabling its airlines to partner international carriers to dominate the market in the sub-region.

Ethiopia from East Africa has started competing effectively in West and Central Africa with Asky and using Lome to attract Nigerian passengers who would now leave Lagos and Abuja to travel with ET via Lome.

“Ghana has opened up their economy, they are liberalising everything according to the agenda 2053 of AU. So they are giving 5th freedom rights to a lot of airlines out of Accra. They have started the visa-on arrival for all Africans and already most of those international organisation which have NGO in West Africa are choosing Ghana for their headquarters. But the strength of that economy is still very small compared to even Lagos State. So we can create the environment that benefits our own people. Now South African Airways has fifth freedom right and they fly from Accra to Washington and most of the passengers you will see there are from Nigeria. Ethiopian airlines is starting a flight from Lome to New York and most of those passenger are from Nigeria. Ghana has given fifth freedom right to Air Maroc to fly from Accra to everywhere, they have also given to Egypt, Kenya Airways to do some of those West Coast routes.

“The passengers in West Africa are out of Nigeria.

So we are not saying we should stop other airlines, the negative argument of stop other airlines from flying and don’t give right to other airline is a negative argument. Instead of doing that open up competition, then support Nigerian carriers to win the fight. There is no need stopping multi-destination and the rest of them, that deprives the passenger benefits because that is monopoly. But what you could do is you open up then you help your own airlines and give them an advantage. And that advantage could be waivers , subsidies , could be lower fees as Nigerian carriers,” Uko said. He said the government has to bring a basket of benefits to now transform these small carriers into real flag carriers.

“You don’t call airlines flag carriers just by mouth , there has to be a basket of benefits that we will give to them that and would enhance their capacity.

THISDAY also learnt that Nigerian travel agents seeing the potential market from other airlines operating from Ghana have in response to demand, started being tickets from these airlines in Accra for their clients. In other words, the market in the West Coast is being taken over by other airlines outside West African, using Ghana and Lome, Togo as hubs at the detriment of the Nigerian carriers.

Uko noted that Accra is already playing the role of a hub in West Africa because “most the business class passengers are from Nigeria. And in the last one week I can tell you how many Nigerian travel agencies have asked me for contacts in Ghana, they want to start selling tickets to Ghana. I can tell you this that I have made such connections for people”.

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

The Untold Hardship Arising from Aviation Fuel Scarcity The shortage of aviation fuel has not only hampered flight operations in the last two weeks, It has left air travellers waiting endlessly at the airports, with airlines counting their losses, writes Chinedu Eze What is surprising about the protracted scarcity of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1 is that it was deregulated, just as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) commonly called diesel and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Yet, since the fuel scarcity that paralysed economic activities in the country, AGO has been available, whereas Jet A1 has been scarce like petrol, which is not deregulated.

Operators estimated that domestic airlines have lost over N4 billion in revenues since the scarcity and their equipment are underutlised, and this has its technical consequences.

Many have explained that although the product is deregulated, it is supplied by a cartel that collectively import it and sell at an agreed price and when some of the oil marketers record losses in engine oil, kerosene and other products, they make up their balance sheet with profits made from the sale of Jet A1, which as a cartel, they determine the prices.

But in the last three weeks, airlines have suffered losses. THISDAY investigations revealed that almost all the domestic carriers cut back their operations and that gave rise to huge financial losses, underutilisation of their fleet and delays and cancellations, which further depleted their revenues as some passengers who could not wait demanded refund and cancellation means that the turnover was not met.

In the last two weeks also, passengers had hard times with the airline as there was uncertainty most of the time whether fuel would be made available for the operations and whether flights would be cancelled.

THISDAY investigated activities at the domestic airport terminal and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and discovered that ground staff of airlines and those in charge of operations had to sweat to source fuel for their aircraft.

Last weekend, for example, many flights were delayed and few were cancelled because airlines could not receive the volume of aviation fuel they needed to operate all their flights as scheduled.

The same situation continued on Monday through Wednesday as respite seemed to be well far off and the airlines continued to cut down schedules.

THISDAY gathered that due to the paucity of the product, oil marketers adopted the system of rationing it to airlines and share the product at the ramp, from one aircraft to another.

So airlines position their aircraft, hoping the fuel would not exhausted by the time it would be their turn to take the product as the bowsers move between the airside of the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) to the domestic terminal, known as MMA2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Last Sunday, THISDAY witnessed anxious passengers craning their necks to look at the airside to see which aircraft that they already had the boarding pass were being fed by the bowsers.

An official of one major domestic carriers told THISDAY that the fuel scarcity was affecting all the airlines and it caused delays and cancellation, adding that it was beyond what airline management could handle.

“So we just ensure that we carry out the important flights to different destinations as we get fuel,” he said.

A head of cabin crew, known as purser, told THISDAY that the scarcity was affecting their work routine and creating uncertainty “because it was when there was fuel that one would be sure one would fly.”

“So whatever plan your may have or your airline may have must be determined by the

Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika

big ‘IF’; if we get fuel,” he said.

An Arik official told THISDAY on Tuesday that the airline, which operates 120 flights per day at the peak of operation and required about 1.2 million litres of fuel for its flights could only source about 700, 000 litres, sometimes less and this has impacted on its flights and made the cut back on operations inevitable.

Also, Dana Air, Medview, Aero and First Nation Airways delayed flights during this period of scarcity because of inadequate supply of aviation fuel.

“We have not been operating at full capacity since the scarcity started. Ordinarily, we should be operating 120 flights a day but we have cut back because of inadequate supply of aviation fuel. Also our aircraft are underutilised and it costs an airline more to have his aircraft on ground. That is the challenge we are facing,” Arik source told THISDAY. Meanwhile, airline operators have urged passengers to expect more delays or cancelled flights as scarcity of aviation fuel persists.

Total, So Aviation and other marketers that supply aviation fuel to airlines have been having hard time offloading the product from the port as priority is given to the tankers carrying petrol. But with the local refineries producing about seven million litres of petrol per day, it would be a respite for marketers to clear their Jet A1 cargo, instead of queuing beside the ones hauling petrol.

Part of the reason why there is Jet A1 scarcity was that they cargo was not offloaded as it

arrives to the Nigerian port; rather, it had to wait for the ships with petrol to offload.

THISDAY learnt that in response to the fuel scarcity, foreign airlines devised the strategy of fueling their aircraft outside Nigeria and only top up on arrival in the country.

Another challenge the airlines are facing, THISDAY learnt is the delay in trucking the product from Apapa, which could last for hours and when it arrives the airport the airlines would wait for another two hours for the product to settle so that contaminant would not be fuelled into the aircraft tanks.

“Yesterday I called Total and they brought fuel from Apapa but it had to wait for two hours for it to settle down; otherwise it will be contaminated and you know, it can cause accident,” a top airline official told THISDAY Appraising the consequence of the scarcity of aviation fuel, the industry consultant and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe said it was unfortunate that none of Nigerian airlines at this moment could produce aviation fuel, so the airlines would still have to depend on importation.

Aligbe noted that the operators that bore the brunt of the scarcity are the Nigerian airlines, “because foreign airlines have been tinkering fuel from other places for some time now because of the fuel scarcity in Nigeria and the high prices of the product.”

He said the domestic carriers are losing revenues and this would affect their profitability and liquidity, adding that aircraft should be in

the air and anytime the aircraft is on ground the airline is incurring a loss.

“No airline is finding this comfortable and it is affecting all the airlines; government is also not finding it comfortable and as the scarcity continues the airlines will be put in a situation that they will need some cushioning from government in order to sustain their operation.

“Government should be ready to say to the airlines, sorry; what happened was not your fault; is there anyway we can help you?’ otherwise it will affect the operational ability of the airlines and consequently the economy of the country,” Aligbe said.

He observed that everything must be done to stop the scarcity now because both the passengers and the airlines are suffering, adding that airline business is critical because the movers and shakers of the economy must have to travel by air.

Unfortunately the protracted fuel scarcity came at a time the airlines were literally battered by a slump in the value of Naira, which is making it difficult for them to raise money to carry out maintenance and replace of aircraft parts, including essential training which require to be serviced in foreign currency that is dollar dominated.

The airlines had earlier cried to the government for help but what the airlines are going through has exacerbated their fiscal challenges and makes the help inevitable.

The Executive Chairman of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Captain Nogie Meggison recently said the airlines are in dire need of government support; not necessarily financial support but in the downward review of charges and other forms of support.

“As they say, if you conquer the sky you have conquered the ground, so we are looking at where the government will come in with us, not to really subsidise but to partner with us the airlines at this time and cushion the effects of the devaluation.

We are the only transportation in Nigeria that is paying VAT, we are the only airline industry that I know in the world that is paying VAT, even the British Airways and the international carriers that are flying into Nigeria do not pay VAT,” Meggison said.

He explained that in trying to pay all these five per cent, two per cent, this levy and that one, “it ends up being bulky on the passengers, and we all need to think about Nigeria right now and that is why we the airlines are thinking more for Nigeria.”

He said the charges include VAT, customs duties, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) charges, landing, parking, navigation; terminal service charge (TSA).

We need to really look at them. For example, I pay you TSA; meanwhile, you are not even providing any service to the passenger, and I need to still pay the service to transport my passengers on the airside to the aircraft and I am paying you for that service or I am paying you 2.50k to pass fuel through the hydro system and the hydro system is not in use. And we know there is no hydro system in this airport for the past 10 years.

So, all those things need to be taking out. If you are not providing the services then don’t bill for it because right now everybody needs to tighten his belt,” Meggison said.

Stakeholders have advised the government to find a permanent solution to the perennial aviation fuel scarcity by ending the trucking of the product. Fixing the Mosimi-airport pipeline and reviving the hydrants at the Lagos airport, will be the solution.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ndulue: Charges on Airlines Should be Done Transparently The Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, in an interview with journalists after the aviation union picketed and stopped the airline’s operations last week, was of the view that airline charges for services rendered should be done in a transparent manner. Chinedu Eze presents the excerpts: Disruption of flight operations A lot of our travelling guests (passengers) were stranded at the airport yesterday (April 20). I want to use this opportunity to actually extend our apologies and the heartfelt consideration of the management of Arik Air, we want to apologise for that disruption and for any problem or inconveniences that you might have encountered yesterday.

Please accept our apologies, we have resumed normal operation since today (April 21) both domestic and international operations and we will continue to provide you with what you are used to, which is the very safe and reliable air transportation in Nigeria and all over our network. And going forward, what happened yesterday was very unfortunate and most unexpected because we only woke up in the morning when we started getting calls from our airport managers that FAAN workers did not allow them to enter the terminal. And this is quite unusual, we began to ask what was happening and it was then we learnt that that FAAN alleged that we owed it billions of Naira which it pegged at N11 or N12 billion.

So eventually we got to the airport, had a protracted discussion with FAAN officials who then turned out to be union leaders.

We could not lay hands on FAAN management. Calls that I personally made and some of my colleagues made to top management of FAAN were not answered, text messages were not responded to up till this moment.

But be that as it may, we had this protracted meeting with FAAN staff or staff union, the police, especially the deputy commissioner of police at the airport was present at that meeting; the director of SSS (State Security Service) was present at meeting. And we finished that meeting and agreed to go back and reconcile if there were any issue or any outstanding payments that we will be able to make that payment as soon as we can finish dealing with that. So that is exactly what happened.

I have read some of your reports and we wish to confirm that we were not informed before the action of the unions or FAAN staff. They took us by surprise, we never got any hint at all, if we did we would have sent text messages to our passengers, it is not our intension to put our passengers under stress.

I now address this session. We have brought in our legal counsel from Babajide Koku Chambers, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the reason is that we were taken to court by FAAN and we have been trying to resolve this issue.

Let me just go back to the history, I am sure some of you are aware of it. I think two years ago the Ministry of Aviation or FAAN took us to the Senate Committee on Aviation where we talked about this reconciliation and we submitted to ourselves to reconciliation and it was headed by Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Accounts reconciliation At that meeting, what happened was that when we submitted our report, FAAN, which initiated the meeting, told the Senate Committee that they were not ready, that they needed two weeks. I think members of that Senate Committee are still alive you can verify. And they asked for two weeks. After two weeks we came back and when they were asked some questions they said they needed four weeks again. After one month we wrote to remind them that we are ready and since then we never heard anything from them. They didn’t show up but we kept on paying them and we have been reminding them that we need to reconcile this account; we like to pay for services rendered if they are genuine and if they are according to the law.

Sometime last year they brought the issue

in court because when they have filed their motion exparte we filed applications before the court in which we showed the court that contrary to the allegations they had made Arik had made payments in excess of N16 billion to FAAN and that the claim of FAAN was not supported by documents. Without prejudice to the matter which is pending in court I will not go into the merits of that. After we filed that application, FAAN now filed a motion in court by which they wanted the case referred to a special referee, which is like an audit firm.

By that motion FAAN recognized the fact which is that the amount it alleges that Arik is indebted to it is not certain. After they filed that application, we agreed to concede to that application on certain terms which is that the criteria that has earlier been set by the perm sec, which is that FAAN should provide documents supported with evidence and also that the firm that should do the audit be a reputable firm. We suggested PWC and others to give credibility to the process and it was supposed to be a fairly simply process by which if it was done and the firm is expected to report back to the court. The reconciliation report that is arrived at forms part of the records of the court and would be a basis for the court to make a decision one-way or the other.

Ndulue

again, and the then Permanent secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Binta Bello called us and called the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Managing Director of FAAN and in that meeting the perm sec setup modus oparandi for reconciliation.

We brought in consultant to be in-charge of it because previous ones that we had with

But let me quickly remind you that we have some other issues with FAAN, we have not even brought that to the table, and that is the incident of Calabar where our aircraft was damaged. We wrote them, we gave the cost of repairs by Lufthansa, they have not responded. We know that there are other aircraft that have been damaged that were owned by foreign airlines that they paid but we the local one they have not paid our own

PricewaterhouseCoopers who wanted to do reconciliation did not succeed because FAAN could not get their documents right. So this gentleman put up the procedure and that procedure has worked very well in NCAA, where we gave them all the payments that we have made, you will now recognize all the payments and then from there they will now bring their bills, then we will now look at the bills whether they are right or wrong and then from there we can now do the arithmetic.

The perm sec at that time said any bill that doesn’t have a backup document was null and avoid. You can’t charge us for landing if you don’t have the date we landed, the tale number of the aircraft that landed and any of our staff who will have signed that this flight took place. And of course too, the lady was very, very professional about it and laid out these criteria.

Court procedure so far In October 2015, FAAN commenced suit against Arik Air before the Federal High Court Lagos division and the suit is pending. The suit number is FHC/CS /1558/2015. In that suit that was commenced by FAAN, FAAN was claiming that Arik Air is indebted to it. Together with the claim FAAN filed an application to arrest some aircraft of Arik. When the matter came up in court for them to move the application, they were unable to satisfy the court on why it should grant the application. On subsequent adjourned dates of the matter, particularly on the third of February 2016, FAAN informed the court that they were no longer minded to move their application on the grounds that they did not want to disrupt the operations of Arik Air. Subsequently, FAAN filed another application

AGF intervention Rather than filing their application, FAAN subsequently wrote a letter through their lawyers that they have taken the matter to the Attorney General of the Federation and that he is was willing to mediate in the matter. They asked us to suggest a date for a meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation with a view to finding a resolution to the matter; we suggested the 18th of this month (April) because the matter was coming up on the 19th so that we would be able to report back to the court on the progress that has been made.

The meeting on the 18th did not happen, the matter came up in court on the 19th of April, which is about three days ago and FAAN was represented in court.

Their chief legal officer was there and their lawyers were also there. And they informed the court that the parties were exploring amicable settlement of the matter; that was three days ago. So one begins to wonder where the actions that occurred yesterday (April 20) are arising from. It is elementary law that when a matter has been submitted to the court for determination, in this case the issue of whether Arik is indebted to FAAN or not had been submitted to the majestic powers of the court for determination. And this claim was not instituted by Arik, so it would not be the case that Arik was employing tactics to delay the proceedings. This is a claim that was initiated by FAAN. They came to court and asked the court to determine the issue for us. After submitting these issues to the court for determination, for FAAN, which is an agency of the federal government of Nigeria to resort to self help, whether by itself as an agency or by its staff, because its staff were involved in these actions.

It is an affront on the Federal High Court.

And it is indeed an affront on the Nigerian state.

Because has it has been said by the court since the decision of governor of Lagos and Ojukwu, where the rule of law prevailed as we believe it does in Nigeria, self help by force is outlawed.

A situation where staff whether individually or as a union decide to turn themselves into debt collection agents for the federal government is absurd and never happens in any society in the world. We believe that the actions that CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

NDULUE: CHARGES ON AIRLINES SHOULD BE DONE TRANSPARENTLY Damage of Arik aircraft in Calabar But let me quickly remind you that we have some other issues with FAAN, we have not even brought that to the table, and that is the incident of Calabar where our aircraft was damaged. We wrote them, we gave the cost of repairs by Lufthansa, they have not responded. We know that there are other aircraft that have been damaged that were owned by foreign airlines that they paid but we the local one they have not paid our own.

At the appropriate time, in an appropriate forum we will let that known. Despite paying FAAN passengers service charge, we are responsible for transporting our passengers from the terminals to the foot of the aircraft.

We have charges for that and we have some other claims close to about N6billion. We are not mixing those ones with this one, we said lets do this reconciliation and know what it is then we will bring that in later.

occurred yesterday (April 20) are contemptuous, we believe that Arik reserves a right which it will decide to exercise to file the appropriate proceedings in court to protect the integrity of the court.

Resolving the case If FAAN does not want the court to determine the matter let it come and tell the court so. But as long as FAAN has this claim pending before the court, it has to act within the rules of the law. And it is important to note the fact that, as would be seen by several letters, which we exhibited in our applications before the court, Arik Air has been the one constantly putting pressure on FAAN, lets us reconcile. If one looks at the document, which was delivered, the letter from FAAN, they wrote to the perm sec in the then Ministry of Aviation of September 4th 2015, where they communicated the steps for reconciliation of whatever outstanding debts.

What they communicated as the process for reconciliation: “ to reconcile Arik Air’s account in three phases and the cumulated debts span through FAAN, Maevis and IATA era; to reconcile Arik Air’s account by airport by airport basis, taking one airport at a time, to ascertain the debt position at each airport.

To reconcile Arik Air’s account by matching invoices as well as payment receipts through FAAN’s ledger/statement. Where there is dispute FAAN shall provide necessary documents and if need be travel to the airport in contention with representative of Arik Air”.

This is a document from FAAN written to the perm sec at the time on the steps that they wanted to be followed towards the reconciliation.

The issues are whether these steps have been followed till date. In compliance with those steps Arik Air by a letter of 19th November 2015 forwarded to FAAN soft and hard copies of evidence of payments and requested FAAN to revert with any queries or to provide its own documentation. From the 19th of November that the letter was sent to FAAN no response was received. On the 9th of December, 2015 Arik sent a reminder to FAAN and in fact the last paragraph of that letter stated that, “ we wish to state that we are at your disposal for further information or inquiries that you think can assist in speeding up this reconciliation process.

FAAN’s alleged nonchalance This was also subsequently followed by another letter written by the MD, a reminder.

So a situation where you are alleging that somebody owes you and the person is the one asking you let’s reconcile, it is an issue of numbers. If the flight landed here then bring the document and let us reconcile the process. Now you will se that at each point there is a move for reconciliation of the process, perhaps they feel they do not have adequate documentation to substantiate their claims, they resort to intimidation, hoping perhaps that when the flight operations are disrupted Arik will be arm twisted to making a payment whether the debt have been determined or not.

Arik Air continues to have confidence in the court even if FAAN does not have confidence in the court, Arik Air remains committed to adhering to the principles of the rule of law, Arik Air remains committed to awaiting the decision of the court. It is instructive to note that in this matter Arik Air has filed applications, including preliminary objections in the matter but immediately FAAN came up with their application for the court to appoint a special referee to reconcile the debt, Arik Air position is, in spite of our objections to this matter let the court appoint a special referee because Arik Air wants to know how much it actually owes or if it has even over paid FAAN. There are several other issues that have arisen, for instance payments that Arik Air has made to FAAN on issues like fuel surcharge and such other issues that are in contention; so in essence, from the legal perspective, our position remains that this matter is before the court. When a matter is subjudice the law is clear, parties should not take any steps that preempt or predetermine the anticipatory decision that the court would make. If the court finds tomorrow that Arik Air is indented to FAAN, Arik Air as a responsible organization, as a law abiding organization will comply with the decision of the court. If the court finds tomorrow that Arik is not indebted to FAAN Arik Air will also abide by the decision of the court.

Contesting the debt

Period of payments to FAAN by Arik As at the end of last year, 31st December, we have paid over N17 billion and up to date this year we have paid N18.9 billion and then what we are dealing with in the reconciliation, FAAN’s letter here said: “ However we have attached FAAN’s position of your payments from inception of your operation up to 30th June 2015, which is in the sum of 11.4 billion naira.” So this 11.4 billion that FAAN has acknowledged it is for the period up to 30th June 2015.

Next step to resolving impasse Part of what we have said here is that we will look at what next step we are going to take, and I think at this stage I must mention that we met with the Honourable Minister of State for Aviation yesterday (April 20) and we had a very good discussion and he promised to look into the matter.

Like we also said this matter is also in court, so whatever we are discussing is without prejudice. We can also decide to take further action on that.

Ndulue

Like the lawyer has said, while this was in court they kept talking to us, we shouldn’t talk to them but said we don’t want to delay the matter and that we want it behind us. They wrote us a letter signed by A.S Kolawole, GM, Credit Control, saying they recognize N11.4 billion, that they have seen that we had paid that is while this was in court. And then we now asked them that what happened to the balance of N6 billion? They said they had

Arik Air continues to have confidence in the court even if FAAN does not have confidence in the court, Arik Air remains committed to adhering to the principles of the rule of law, Arik Air remains committed to awaiting the decision of the court. It is instructive to note that in this matter Arik Air has filed applications, including preliminary objections in the matter but immediately FAAN came up with their application for the court to appoint a special referee to reconcile the debt

some money in their ledger, which they don’t know where it came from, the bank never said it came from Arik. We said okay, give us this list then we go back to the bank and the bank will tell us whether it came from Arik or somewhere else.

The bank didn’t give us that. Any time we want to get to the bottom of this issue they are being evasive. We are prepared, we want to pay for services rendered but we are not going to be intimidated and bullied into paying money. We are all Nigerians we want change and all of us have to assist President Buhari to institute the change in this country. It is not only in Aso Rock, it starts with every part of our lives. In everything we do we should resist people doing things arbitrarily. Like the lawyer has said, they took us o court and they said they should seize some of our planes. While that is going on they still came to meet us and wrote us a letter on February 3, 2016. We now said, okay how about the balance? Because I cant talk much in the matter, I would rather say that what happened yesterday (April 20) was very unfortunate and it is not good for Nigeria aviation, it is not good for Nigerian industries. It is unthinkable that a group of people will come and start disrupting operations of a company when a case is before a law court, even if it is not before a law court, staff now have relegated their management to the background and say that they are now in control of their organisation. And this is happening in an environment where we want to attract foreign investors. These investors will come and say oh these issue is not peculiar to Arik and FAAN, it happens all over the world.

But there are civilized professional methods of resolving them.

You should know that the world is a global village, people know about what has happened and they are all calling to know what is happening. They want to know what is the government position, and our views and I tell them that I don’t know, I am sure at the opportune time the government will make its reaction known. Except that some people, some misguided people decided to act. I wouldn’t say whether it is FAAN or management of FAAN. We are desirous to put this thing behind us but some people don’t want the truth to see the light of day. If we owe them fine, we will pay them.

Arik’s endless issues with FAAN That is what is very curious about this matter. FAAN has never said that any other airline in this world be it Nigerian airline or foreign airline owes it any money, not even one kobo. It has never happened before that they owe FAAN money. So the only debtor FAAN has is Arik Air. Would anybody in this room believe that? It has always been like that. At the time I saw the list of debtors with FAAN, one foreign airline topped that list, that was like four years ago but has FAAN ever said that one foreign airline owes anything? Is it possible that they always pay? Has FAAN ever said that any other person or airline in this country owes it anything? Has FAAN ever taken this action against any other airline?

These are the questions that have remained unanswered. And I am glad that you raised that; you should please help us to find out.

Arik’s record of indebtedness with FAAN We are desirous to do things right, we are doing things right not just in flying safely, do our maintenance according to the regulations; you know we maintain our aircraft to EU standards not Nigeria. And we are flying to Accra, not just Accra-Lagos, from there we go to Banjul, Senegal, and they wrote us a commendation letter. Their billing system is simple and straight forward and of course we operate to JFK, London and Angola but why I called Accra is that we do about 25 flight out of Abuja everyday and we do similar number of flights out of Accra. And yet we don’t have the same problem.

And as far as we are concerned, we are asking that things should be done and encourage people paying for services that they don’t render. And in Ghana, you will see the tail of the aircraft, you will the time we landed, when we departed, you will see us signing and everything is done. But the one from Nigeria here, even supply you didn’t do. So I am using Ghana because this is a sister country and we are doing about 42 flights a week from there.

So why are we having this problem? They also said that we owe electricity N424 million from September 2015 till date, which electricity is that? Are they Kainji Dam? FAAN has to change; they have to do things properly. The system must be put in place so that you and I, your children and my children will benefit from it.

25

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

NANTA New Leadership Elected at 40th AGM The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) recently elected new leadership in Ibadan, Oyo capital during its 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The well-attended three-day event was graced by prominent citizens, top government officials, travel practitioners and others.

The highlight of the meeting was the peaceful election of

new officers to run the affairs of the association as members of the Board of Trustees unanimously elected Steve Isokariari as Chairman at their meeting, which held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

In a keenly contested election for the NANTA Presidential Election, Bankole Benard of Finchglow Travels emerged the popular winner, beating his fellow contestant, Tinuke

Nwakohu by 132-90 votes.

Olumuyiwa Salami takes over from Ngozi Ngoka who has served out her four year tenure as the National Publicity Secretary. By popular choice, Ngoka is now the Financial Secretary of NANTA. For the past four years, Ngozi Ngoka has been at the forefront of championing the various causes of Travel Agents in her capacity as the

National Publicity Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Travel AgenciesNANTA. In a recent interview, Ngoka said her job was made easy by the former NANTA President, Alhaji, Aminu Agoha, who had from the beginning of their tenure in the executive council, given her a well mapped out vision of what he wanted to

achieve. While the President concentrated on advocacy matters with airlines and government, the publicity secretary was effectively grounded in sentlicising the public on why they should use NANTA travel agents.

She also went round the country educating members on best trade practices in order the decrease the rate of BSP defaults and improve public

perception about travel agents in Nigeria.

So on March 17, 2016, Ngoka, CEO of Zigona Travel & Tours Ltd, was honoured for her laudable contributions by the Board of Trustees of NANTA who presented her with a special award for innovation, creativity and dedication to duty.

Ngoka was succeeded by Alhaji Olumuyiwa Salami.

Boeing Contemplates B737 Jet Variant

PZ CUSSONS AT THE NSE

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema; Corporate Afairs and Administrative Director, PZ Cussons Plc, Yomi Ifaturoti; Vice Chairman, PZ Cussons Plc, Tunde Oyelola ; Chairman, Kola Jamodu; CEO, Christos Giannopoulos; and non-executive director, Elizabeth Ebi, during the closing gong ceremony by PZ Cussons at the NSE in Lagos...recently sunday adigun

Emirates Tops Industry with Three Wins at 2016 Awards Emirates has once again topped the industry with its wins at the Business Traveller Awards 2016 last night, taking home the coveted ‘Best Airline Worldwide’ title, and two further awards including Airline with the Best Economy Class, and Airline with the Best Cabin Staff.

The Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2016 were presented at a gala dinner attended by travel industry professionals, and were chosen through a voting process open to the readers of

the publication.

Representing the airline at the Business Traveller ME awards, Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Customers have always been at the heart of whatever we do. That is why we continually invest in developing high quality products on board, and our cosmopolitan cabin crew put in every effort to deliver exceptional service. We are honoured to be recognised for our efforts by Business Traveller Middle East’s discerning read-

ers, and we will work hard to keep raising the bar to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

These prestigious accolades are a testament to Emirates’ commitment to service excellence and innovation across its different areas of business.

The airline continues to be a leader in defining the air travel experience, offering an award-winning in-flight entertainment system that features the broadest range of entertainment content and the largest personal in-seat screens

in Economy class; regionally inspired gourmet cuisine in all cabin classes; free Wi-Fi onboard all its 77 A380 aircraft and many of its Boeing 777s, and iconic products such as private suites in First Class, its A380 Onboard Lounge and First Class Shower spa, amongst others.

With over 23,000 cabin crew representing over 130 nationalities, Emirates is able to deliver a memorable and personal travel experience to its diverse customers, which have become the hallmark of its service.

Delays, Cancellations as German Airport Workers Strike German air travel is set for a day of disruption after public sector workers at airports started strikes in a push for higher wages.

Lufthansa said it was cancelling almost 900 flights at airports including Frankfurt and Munich, equivalent to around 60 percent of its usual daily traffic.

Reuters reported that the strike by workers, including ground services, security checks, fire fighting and check-

in staff, are likely to severely impede operations at German airports, with airport operator Fraport warning it could take a day or two for services to return to normal.

Staff in Munich are holding an all-day strike on Wednesday, while in Frankfurt, Germany’s largest airport, the strike is due to end at 15:00 local time. Munich airport said around 700 of a scheduled 1,100 takeoffs and landings had been cancelled.

The Verdi union represents a wide range of public sector workers across Germany, 2.41 million people in total. Similar strikes have taken place this week at street cleaning services, schools and swimming pools.

The strikes, classed as “warnings” by the union, have drawn condemnation from aviation associations, especially as pay talks are already due to resume on Thursday.

Verdi chief Frank Bsirske

defended the move in an interview with daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, saying the strike was to speed up wage negotiations.

“I hope that this signal will be understood and that an agreement will be reached in the third round (of talks) on Thursday and Friday,” he said.

Verdi is asking for a 6 percent pay rise for its members. It rejected an offer of a 3 percent increase over 2 years in mid-April.

Boeing is studying whether to revise one version of its best-selling 737 aircraft in a bid to fend off competition and some airlines have indicated interest, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Reuters reported the U.S. planemaker’s concept of a slightly larger version of its 737 MAX 7 jet with more seats and range drew airline interest recently.

The plans are preliminary, without many specifics, the sources said. But Boeing has a product study underway to determine if such a jet would make sense, they added.

The plane could perk up relatively slow sales for the 737 MAX 7 and help Boeing’s market share battle with Airbus Group SE, which has outsold it with its competing A320 jet. Boeing’s tweaked 737 also would help fight back competition from Bombardier Inc’s fledgling CSeries aircraft, which appears poised to win a large order from Delta Air Lines Inc. Chicago-based Boeing declined to comment on the plan, which was first reported

by The Wall Street Journal.

Boeing needs to win support for the proposed plane from Southwest Airlines, which has ordered the smallest model 737s, as well as United Continental Holdings Inc, the Journal reported.

Southwest, which only flies 737s, said on Thursday it would consider the plane.

Asked if it would convert some orders to a new 737 variant, Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven said no decisions have been made.

“Absolutely we would want to go and consider different options out there,” he told reporters in a conference call. United did not respond to requests for comment.

American Airlines said, “We always look at new offerings from airplane makers, but we don’t have anything more to say about these reports right now.” Boeing has officially called the model under consideration the 737 MAX 7X. It would seat around 150 passengers rather than 126, according to the Journal.

To make such an idea work, Boeing would have to juggle costs and operating efficiency for airlines. Technically, the new model would be a “shrink,” or shorter-fuselage version of the 737 MAX 8. Analysts say shortened aircraft tend to be difficult to sell because they inherit part of the extra structural weight of the larger plane and are often considered inefficient.

Using the best-selling 737-8 as the starting point for a new type of 737 could pose such challenges, but may also be cheaper to make because of economies of scale in busy 737-8 production. Two industry sources said Boeing may have pitched this idea to Delta without so far winning a favorable response.

Senegal Establishes New National Airlines Senegal has created Air Senegal, a new national airline intended to replace the West African nation’s now defunct, heavily indebted carrier Senegal Airlines, the Minister of Tourism and Air Transport, Maimouna Ndoye Seck said recently.Seck said the new company was formed with capital of 40 billion CFA francs ($69 million) aimed at making the new airline operational as quickly as possible as it seeks “a strong strategic partner”.

Senegal state-owned television said that Turkish Airlines was the front-runner to take a stake in Air Senegal. President Macky Sall was in Istanbul for a summit of Islamic nations.

A Ministry official confirmed the state had contributed the initial capital and total capital

would eventually more than double to 100 billion CFA francs. Airlines have long been a fraught business in West Africa though there have been some success stories, including Ivory Coast’s flagship carrier Air Cote d’Ivoire.

Congo Republic’s ECAir announced earlier this week that it was seeking to raise more than $100 million through a regional bond issuance in order to expand its fleet and routes. Senegal revoked the air operator’s certificate of the previous carrier Senegal Airlines, which ran up debts of more than 100 billion CFA francs in less than five years of operation. The state owned a minority stake. By the time it was shut down, the airline no longer possessed any aircraft.

26

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

The Make or Mar Revenue Target for Customs With declining cargo throughput and vessel traffic, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) needs to adopt new measures aimed at meeting its revenue target in the first quarter of the year, writes John Iwori The NCS has several functions. The key ones are trade facilitation, anti-smuggling and revenue generation. These functions are geared towards realising the fiscal policies of the federal government.

Of the three key statutory functions of the NCS, revenue generation remains the most attractive. From available records, NCS remains a great revenue earner. From earning millions in the early 80s, it has moved to earning billions in the 90s and it is presently eyeing trillions.

For instance, the NCS is expected to generate over N1 trillion this year. This is a target given to it by the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Finance. The Customs High Command, as a way of ensuring that it meets its target every year, also gives its commands across the country various targets to meet.

This is one of the factors responsible for the stiff competition among Customs formations as each command strive to meet up. Whether it will meet this target remains to be seen as a lot of factors often come into play in NCS meeting its target over the years. The federal government depends on the revenue generated by the service to implement the budget, hence NCS is under pressure to deliver.

Focus on Maritime While the price of crude oil is falling in the international market, the value of naira is depreciating against major currency, especially the United States dollar. The naira had slumped 18 per cent against the dollar as oil prices collapsed by almost half since June 2014. This prompted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lower banks’ trading limits and introduce a new dealing system since February 2015. This has succeeded in preventing lenders from buying dollars on the interbank market without matching orders from customers who need to import goods. With dwindling income accruing into the central till due to the decline in the value of naira against the dollar as well as the poor price of crude oil in the international market, calls for the diversification of the economy have become strident. Many stakeholders have called on the federal government to step up efforts in getting alternative sources of income to fund the budget.

There are fears in some quarters that if this is not promptly carried out by the authority, the Nigeria’s economy may fall into recession and eventually become bankrupt in the months ahead unless there is a significant increase in the price of crude oil in the international market.

Lagos base lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba had in early 2015 drew the attention of the federal government to the need to harness the enormous potentials in the maritime industry for the benefit of Nigeria.

Agbakoba made it clear that the maritime industry could provide as much as N7 trillion annually if the sector’s potential are fully harnessed by the federal government. Since Agbakoba and others made the call, more attention is being paid to how the maritime industry can become a veritable source of income to the country. In fact, the federal government is now focusing on ways and means it can make the shipping sector the mainstay of the economy as many other countries that do not have crude oil have done. In a bid to actualise this, all eyes are now on NCS. The Customs High Command had, in a bid to fulfill its mandate in line with the new thinking, is doing everything possible to ensure that all leakages in the system are blocked in all Customs formations across the country. Already the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retired) has initiated ways to plug the leakages of government revenue.

Low revenue The NCS has not been able to generate revenue the way it was doing in the past.

The first quarter results of Apapa port in

Alli

2016 showed that it fared badly compared with the same period in 2015. According to the report which was collated by NCS, Apapa Area Command, from January to March 2015, it generated N74.6 billion while in the same period in 2016, it generated N61.7 billion. A further break down showed that in January, February and March 2015, the command generated N20.7 billion, N21.5 billion, N32.3 billion respectively.

On the other hand within the period under review, the service generate N23.4 billion, N19.7 billion, and N18.4 billion for January, February and March 2016 respectively.

Reasons for low revenue Besides the leakages in the system, there are other factors responsible for the low revenue generated by NCS. From the data obtained

by THISDAY, the general downturn in the economy, restriction of 41 items announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year and the fluctuation in the exchange rates of the naira against the U.S dollar. Confirming the development, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Willy Egbudin said the restriction on these 41 items by CBN affected most of the cargoes that are usually imported into the country through Apapa port. They are mostly bulk cargoes such as wheat and sugar.

“How can we generate revenue to the level the command was doing in the past when there is a restriction on these kind of cargoes?

It is one of the principal factors responsible for the low revenue generated by the command.

It is a simple Arithmetic. When cargo is not coming in, we cannot generate the much needed revenue. This is because it is from the cargo coming through the ports that we generate the revenue,” he said.

Strategies to curtail losses The NCS High Command is worried by the low revenue it is presently generating from its

flagship command, Apapa. However, THISDAY checks revealed that the service is not resting on its oars as it is strongly believed that if Apapa command meet up in its revenue generation mandate, NCS would be in a vantage position to fulfill other functions concomitant to its roles and responsibilities as a principal revenue earner into the coffers of the government.

Egbudin noted that despite the poor vessel traffic and low cargo throughput, the command has put some measures in place to shore up its revenue in the months ahead.

These include charging men and officers in the command to ensure 100 per cent examination of containers, as well as proper classification and evaluation of cargoes imported into the country through Apapa port. Egbudin stated that under his watch, men and officers are being encouraged to send weekly return of infractions and interventions including the names of the officers that did it for a reward. “This is meant to boost the morale of the officers and encourage them to do more. It will also encourage other men and officers to emulate them,” he said.

Moreover, a committee has also been set up to look into cases of unpaid duties, untilised pre-arrival assessment report (PAAR) and bonds that are supposed to be resolved. Others are regular stakeholders meeting to make port users to key into the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) policy thrust of zero tolerance to corruption; blocking of leakages in the system; and training and re-training of men and officers so that they will be alive to their roles and responsibilities.

Expectations Expectations on NCS, by extension on Apapa Area are high. This is so because Apapa Area Command is considered the cash cow in the NCS family. However, the command is already making a success of its premier position. It has continued to interface with stakeholders on the way forward. A typical example is the recent sensitisation programme

for exporters, agents and the general public.

The forum was meant to educate them on the standard procedure for wood exportation.

Giving an insight for the sensitization programme, the command in a statement in Lagos said: “The federal government is trying to encourage exporters, because in the past, people depended only on the exportation of oil products. But now, that they have known that the price of oil has fallen, so there is a need to look elsewhere. The Federal Government has opened this window for exporters, especially those who are exporting wood. And the message is that if exporters want to export wood, it must be proceed either wholly or partially.”

Blaming the seizure made by the NCS on the inability of the exporters to follow the standard rule in exporting wood, the CAC noted that the procedure is simple if understood.

His words: “We are not against anyone one exporting wood but it must be done within the arm bit of the law. So, I feel it is necessary for them to understand what it entails, what they should do and the need for them to do the right thing. Sit down. Check the processes and see where you are getting it wrong and amend it. We cannot bend the rule or the procedure because it is difficult for you. It is a procedure designed by the FG and it has to be done that way. If you have any challenges in the course of time, contact DC export office for clarification and your questions will be answered. We want you to come forward, tell us your challenges”.

Appreciating the NCS for the sensitisation programme and drawing their attention to some areas of concern to the exporters, the Secretary General, Product Exporters of Nigeria Association, Mr. Odiase Joseph noted that export generally has been a thriving business in Nigeria. And that the major challenge has been on export of timber.

“Over the years, there has been a misconception of what the policy says as to what type of wood is allowed for exportation. And the meeting is for them to clarify, sensitise the exporters, their agents, and the general public that wood products itself is not prohibited, it is raw timber, unprocessed timber that is not allowed for exportation. It has gone a long way in educating our people,” he said.

Harnessing the potential Many stakeholders in the maritime industry have averred that there is need to harness the huge potential in the maritime industry so that Nigerians can fully derive the full benefits. The inability of the federal government to harness the potential in the maritime industry has denied Nigerians of deriving its numerous gains as some other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines. Unlike Nigeria, these countries do not have a drop of crude oil in their soil. They depend solely on the maritime sector of their economies to meet the yearning and aspirations of their citizenry. As a proof that the maritime industry is a dependable source of revenue, Philippines, for instance, has continued to export its seafarers and in return raking in millions of US dollars into economy annually. According to data collated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Philippines remains the highest supplier of seafarers to the shipping world.

Nigeria can begin to toe the same line by ensuring that it consolidate on the gains it has already recorded in the maritime industry through a robust strategy of placing NCS on a pedestal that it can attain set goals and objectives. One of the ways it can achieve this is by supporting the service to deliver satisfactorily on its mandate as one of the greatest revenue earners into the economy. All stakeholders should ensure that it can live up to expectations as enshrined in the provisions of the laws establishing it. In the face of dwindling income from the oil gas industry, NCS, especially Apapa Area Command, needs all the support and motivation to ensure that it deliver on its core mandate as the flagship of NCS.

WEEKEND WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

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THE FAST FOOD MERCHANTS

28/COVER

29.04.2016

The Fast Food Merchants

The CEO of Yummie Delite, Akanimo Edem Etuk and his partner, Christy Samali, are two young but very innovative Nigerians, who have created a niche for themselves in the fast food delivery industry by creating varieties out of the ordinary and this has drawn a mountainous clientele from across Lagos and its environs. In this interview with Mary Ekah, they tell the story of how they started out, the accompanying challenges, and how they have surmounted them along the way Tell us about Yummie Delite?

We are into fast food delivery and we are one of the best in the business. We do a particular kind of rice called Basmati. It originated from India and it is quite healthy because it is low in cholesterol and it’s very good for diabetic patients and people who are health conscious.

We do noodles, spaghettis and Shawama. We do not do swallows at all. We needed to create a niche for ourselves instead of doing what every other person was doing. Now when you talk about Basmati rice, people don’t really know much about it. This brand of rice is very expensive and is only obtainable when you got to 5-Star hotels and in selected Chinese restaurants. So we said let’s make this brand of rice very affordable for everybody and also create awareness about its importance for those who are health conscious. We also said we should create a niche for ourselves in noodles preparation. So our noodles are prepared, garnished with assorted vegetables and then it comes in different varieties. We make noodles with beef, catfish, shrimps, snails, goat meat, chicken, gizzards and others with protein. And recently we introduced our own kind of Shawama. We wanted our products to be very different from what we have out there. If you look around, you find only two types of Shawama, which is Shawama with beef and Shawama with chicken. And we now thought that what happens to those who do not eat beef and chicken, it means they would not eat Shawama. And so we thought of how to bring varieties to Shawama and today we have about nine types of Shawama. We have Shawama with Crocker fish without bones;we have Shawama with goat meat, Shawama with beef meat, Shawama with assorted vegetables.

Shawama with shrimps and then there are other mixed varieties of Shawama and so on.

With all these varieties, you may be too expensive. How affordable your products?

One of our strategies has to do with the affordability of our products. Although we are aiming to get to that level and at the same time, we need to put some structures in place. The Basmati we do is very expensive because the cost is also very expensive in the market. And what we do here is Ala-earte, where you just come or call and we prepare and serve, we don’t cook our meals down, so that you would get it fresh, spicy and hot and with all these our ordinary Basmati rice goes for as small as #1,000 with chicken and other spices while our noodles go for as small as #800.

Tell us how it all started?

Funny enough, we started in a mechanic worship where the environment was so dirty, judging by the mentality of roadside mechanics.

We had to get a space there because we could not afford a space at any other place due to lack of funds when we started. So we stationed a container there where we do the cooking and then we expected also that people would come in once in a while to sit in and eat because that was where my partner started with bear and pepper soup. And most time the roadside

Basmati rice with seafood mix

person and another person tells another. The turn out has been massive and we are having a lot of challenges right now with delivery.

Akanimo

Christy

mechanics were those that patronised us and we thought with such environment, we were not going to go far and so we had to make a whole lot of research and strategise on how to reach out to people without them having to come from their office to that place. And before then, those big guys used to send cleaners and office assistants to buy our food for them and each time they decide to come on their own, they drive down in their big cars hoping to cite us looking out for a big sign post but only to find that we are sandwiched in a mechanic workshop and they feel disappointed and turn back. So before we launched officially, we then decided that we don’t need to wait for these guys to come to us but we have to take what we have to them. That was when I started intensive marketing. So we did a little flyer to let people know what we were actually doing and then we did free delivery then to discourage them from coming to our little container kiosk.

There was even a woman who had been buying our meal and liked them so much and then one day she wanted to organise a party and she asked that we bring her to our location so that she can make her orders but we lost her because we never wanted her to know we were operating from a mechanic workshop. So, some how we lost lots of customers because of the environment we were located then but today we thank God that we can proudly tell people that this is where we are and you can come, buy and eat in if you chose to. And today also we deliver our meals through dispatch riders, we have about 12 staff excluding the two of us and we are brining in more staff as the place is expanding.

we grabbed it with both hands. She handles all the cooking and everything that has to do with the kitchen and also the training of the chefs and cooks while I do the administrative work. Although she went to catering school but what she does now is out of the passion she has for cooking. She used to tell me of the story of when she was a child and how she usually cooked and everyone would be like wow! And she grew up with those feelings that one day she would have a very big place of her own where she would be cooking for people to buy. And while we worked together at one point she kept talking about it and then she eventually started with drinks, just selling drinks and pepper soup and then one day, one of the customers came and said he was so hungry and needed something to eat and that was how the idea of the noodles came, when she quickly prepared some noodles with catfish. And the demand for the noodles and catfish continued and the idea kept growing as she thought of other varieties of noodles. We were just doing noodles and spaghetti when I went out one day and saw the Basmati rice and I said we should try it and see and we saw that it was okay and quickly customers started demanding for that too.

How does your partner come in?

She is the Managing Director of Yummie Delite and she is also my fiancée, and by the grace of God we are getting married this year. The idea for Yummie Delite was actually born from the fact that she had the passion for cooking. As friends, we were working somewhere together and she keeps talking about how she would own a place of her own and when the opportunity came,

You started like three years ago, how has the reception been?

The acceptance has been generally great.

Nigerians love adventures. When we started newly, we had our normal challenge but because of the adventurous nature of Nigerians, we were able to forge ahead. Nigerians love to explore and so when we started newly, Nigerian wanted to know what noodles and goat meat would taste like and so they wanted to explore. So they tried it, and they loved what they saw and they went for it. That was the same idea with the Basmati rice. The acceptance was very great and the patronage has been very good. As a matter of fact, we have not done any awareness for a while now but the turn up has been wow!

And it has been mostly through referrals. You eat, like what you saw and then tell another

Basmati rice + shrimps

How large is your scope of coverage?

Presently we cover Lagos as whole, especially Lagos metropolis so that somebody will not order from Ikorodu and expect us to bring it there at the same rate. However, we cover everywhere as far as Nigeria is concerned when it comes to outdoor catering because we do catering services as well. For our normally delivery we cover everywhere but there are certain conditions attached to it in the sense that if we do Surulere, which is the vicinity in which we are located, we can do one pack, but if it is outside Surulere, it must not be less than two packs and there are certain charges attached to those too. We can go everywhere in Lagos, as long as you are ready to pay the delivery charge.

What particular challenge have you faced so far?

The challenging we are facing presently is the issue of delivery. We have a very wide clientele base that a lot of time we cancelled orders. Another challenge is staffing, that is being able to get the right person for the job.

You find that it is only when you are there that you get good result but when you are not there, there is chaos. Another challenge that we are having has to do with the expansion of the business. We have some of our clients in Victoria Island and it is very difficult at times to reach them from here and so if we can get a space there and put a little structure where we can make our meals and then deliver them to our clients, it will make life much more better for us and that of our clients. For us to send a staff from Surulere to Lekki will take much time and energy that would have been used to serve more than five customers in Surulere and it’s environs. So having a space in Victoria Island will be a welcome development for us.

What did you study in school?

Although, I will not like to be defined by my qualifications, I have different professional qualifications. I have a Diploma in Business and Entrepreneurship and right now I am undergoing training on leadeship and management.

What vision do you have for Yummie Delite?

The challenge was there from the beginning and at this stage, we have passed that stage, we are no longer a startup any more because we have been here. So right now we have written down our blueprint of what we want to do when it comes to food merchandise. And that we will be working on as time goes on. We are actually looking at having a central location in every state in Nigeria where all the necessary things are prepared and then we would also have mobile units at different places, and then all our calls will be routed to one unit where we do and receive all calls. In that way, we will create a very strong and powerful delivery system. We hope to achieve that in the next three years.

29/XTRA

29.04.2016

‘How We Have Influenced Our Community’ The Redeemed Christian Church of God, His Royal Place Parish, Festac Town, Lagos, recently clocked five and in the light of this, the church is boosting its ongoing empowerment programme to mark its anniversary. The Parish Pastor, Seun Taiwo Akilapa in this interview with Mary Ekah, says the corporate social responsibility aspect of the church cannot be overemphasized having impacted tremendously on lives of the people in the community over the years It has been over five years this parish was established, what has changed since then?

The Redeemed Christian Church of God, His Royal Place Parish was inaugurated on April 23, 2011 and God has been helping us to grow and bless the people of God. I have been here since its inception. We started very little and with time we became very large.

Whilst we started, I had a very good training from the province. The training came as being a minster at the provincial headquarters, which was also a rare privilege for me. Somewhere along the line when we started, our General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, decided that the church is not sufficient preaching just the gospel but that we should also reach out to our immediate society, so he came up with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), an initiative where you cater to the immediate society. So while we started, the need to also influence our society came and immediately after our first anniversary we did a borehole at the area where we were located before, that serves about 250 people in Festac community, around 207 and 22 Road. Thereafter, we have had series of empowerment programmes.

In the same year, 2011, we did free medical checkup for residents of the area and we have also had a number of empowerment programmes where we bring resource people to come and teach craft and all that.

We realised that there are a whole lots of missed opportunities out there in the nation today, so we are trying to build entrepreneurs and that is the essence of the empowerment programme. So God has used us to bless people not just spiritually in the church but also in other ways.

I have about 15 years of banking experience and I know that it is not sufficient for me to come to church and just preach. I must influence the lives of the people. So I see myself as an evangelist who evangelises Christ in church and also takes the church out there to minster to the people.

Is the aim for your CSR basically to get members for your church?

That is not the primary intention but there is no way you get involved in CSR and you become a blessing to people that people will not want to know the God that you serve, that is blessing you and also using you to bless them. Now, this is what I mean, the Bible says in the Acts 10: 38, using the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, that immediately God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and Power, which is when he received the commission for his ministry, he did something – He went about doing good – healing those that were oppressed by the devil because God was with him but before the healing work, he was doing good. We heard in the Bible instances where people followed him and they were hungry, and he gave them food. That is CSR in itself. And in fact, there were people that needed homes and he ministered to them. So the CSR initiative might not be really to attract people to the church and that is why our CSR programmes are interdenominational where all manners of people come from different religions and tribes. So it is not in itself to draw people to the church we are not interested in drawing people to the church. Yes, to draw people to Christ because we as children of God, we minister to the people and when the people see us, they see us as the light of the world, just like the Bible says that we are the light of the world. So when people see God reflected in us they want to follow the

Pastor Seun Akilapa

meet in a tough economy like ours. The empowerment programme has been such tremendous influence on people. And every Wednesday, I take out time as a business developer to come to the church for free consultancy. Again, recently we got some of our members to apply for funding from the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, so we have access to funding, we have donors that believe in people’s ability and because of my experience in the bank, I am able look at the proposal with them and advise them on the best way to go about their plans. We help them to carry their financial burdens by assisting them to access microfinance and all that. So, it does not just end at the altar, we also mentor this people to see their businesses grow.

God that we serve and by so doing, the CSR becomes an evangelical tool.

What has been the physical impact of the CSR in the last five years?

Apart from my 15 years experience in the bank, I presently work as a Senior Business Development Manager in Public Sector Department, SecureID Group, which consists of SecureID Limited and its subsidiary SecureCard Manufacturing and we are West Africa’s leading digital solutions company, offering superior end-to-end identity management. As matter of fact, we are pioneer in the design, personalisation and manufacturing of Smart cards combined with high security printing in Sub–Sahara Africa. SecureCard is currently the only polycarbonate plant in Africa. And so we have the opportunity of meeting with great people like the Vice President and a lot of Ministers. And when I see those that have the light of God in them, and those that have exemplary stories that are affiliated to the gospel, we bring them to the church to teach the people how to be successful in life.

We have brought people who have spoken on various sectors of the economy and have impacted the people with knowledge and the wherewithal to go about making ends

What activities do you have on ground to mark your fifth anniversary?

The theme of our anniversary is ‘Double Grace’ and what actually instructed that is because God has taken us from grace to where we are and we are trusting Him for additional grace to take us from where we are now to where He wants us to be. On Saturday, we would be donating an incubator to a Maternity Centre in Festac as part of event to mark our anniversary. The Maternity Centre is operated by the RCCG under the provincial headquarters at 511 Road, 5th Avenue, Festac and it is free for everyone. We went there to find out what they actually needed and they said they needed an incubator as they had only two on ground right now and wouldn’t mind having an additional one. So on Saturday we are going to donate one additional incubator to the maternity centre as part of our CSR on this anniversary and on Sunday we will have an elaborate thanksgiving service while we will also celebrate our natural growth in the last five years. Also we will award outstanding workers in the church to encourage them to do more.

Can you expatiate more on the empowerment programmes you have in place?

There are two aspects of our empowerment programme. One is that which we have every

2nd and 3rd Sunday of the month and on those Sundays, we hold two services, where we hold the empowerment programme first and then service comes later. The empowerment service starts at 7:30am while the main service starts at 10am. Like I was saying, the empowerment programme in two phases, when we started last year, the empowerment was targeted towards CSR where we go out and reach out to the community, for instance we lighted this environment and powered it with an inverter. The second phase is an empowerment that is targeted towards entrepreneurship because we believe Nigeria is going through change and the whole world is looking for the manifestations of the sons of God. So we believe that as children of God, we must position ourselves in anticipation of the change in Nigeria. Nigeria is going into solid mineral and agriculture and we need to position ourselves as a church. Most of these people don’t have access to this information, so what we do is to bring people from outside who exemplified themselves in specific areas to talk to the people. So the empowerment programme is for people to see beyond the church, it is a holistic approach to bridge a need. We just want a balance church. We want to ensure that the church is together in one accord. There is nothing absolutely wrong for us to open business opportunities for our members. Those things are not even in the church today and that is why a lot of people don’t even go to church. The Bible says, seek ye the kingdom of God and his righteousness. The righteousness is here and the kingdom God is here, so if you bring everything to the church so that people can learn and their eyes of understanding are enlightened, they take it back to the world to better their businesses and they will come back to the church and glorify God. The essence of our worship here is to appreciate God during worship but people are distorted and cumbered by mirage of problems. That is why I think a balance church is what goes beyond ‘bring your tithes, do this or that’.

We want to, through this empowerment programmes impact positively on the lives of the people. That is just a way of giving back to the society.

What is the place of the youths in the whole scheme?

The essence of the empowerment programme is to redirect the youths. The church is predominately 70 per cent youths. So the empowerment programme is actually channeled towards the youths. We also have a programme that prepares the singles towards marriage.

This is so because we have noticed that 99 per cent of the nation’s problems is family issues. When you look at those people ruling Nigeria and not ruling well, if you look at their family background, you would find that they had no family ethics. When we were growing we were not speaking church. What we were talking were ethics and morals but these days we speak more of church than ethics and morals. So for the youths, we want them to understand that it is not just about church but who you are. So the upbringing is important. Marriages are breaking today because many do not understand the ethics and the morals of marriage and this in turn affects the upbringing of the children. This is what we are trying to turn around with this whole scheme. God has called us to be passionate about our society, I am passionate about Nigeria and I believe in my nation and I know that very soon Nigerian will stand among the league of the nations of the world proud and tall.

30/ NEWS

29.04.2016

Africa Fashion Show Unveils Yemi Alade as Brand Ambassador African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) has unveiled Nigerian songstress and afropop star, Yemi Alade, as Brand Ambassador for the 2016 edition of the fashion show.

From a small brand founded to satisfy a niche, AFWN has evolved to become an award-winning and very well recognised brand, which is the biggest platform of its kind in Europe and Africa showcasing African designers, and Africa inspired fashion.

The afro-pop star was unveiled at a press conference in Lagos. As the Brand Ambassador, she will work with the organisers of AFWN to raise awareness on the need for Nigerians to patronise Nigerian and African designers.

Commenting on AFWN's choice of brand ambassador, Founder, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and London, Ms. Ronke Ademiluyi stated that Yemi Alade is amazing, represents Africa and is perfect for the brand. Her brand personae aligns with the youthful, creative and energetic Africa Fashion Week Nigeria platform which empowers young and talented Nigerian designers to showcase their creativity and craft, opening them up to a world of opportunities.

"Africa Fashion Week Nigeria promotes the beauty of Africa from the creative side of fashion to the business of it. This year, we chose someone who embodies the true African woman; a strong, intellectual and musically inclined woman whose music reflects what is good, great and best for

Anayo Okolie

L-R: Creative Director, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN), Mr. Sola Oyebade; Founder, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, Ms. Ronke Ademiluyi; Pop superstar and 2016 Brand Ambassador, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, Yemi Alade with Director General, Nigerian-German Business Association (NGBA), Ms. Jennifer Anoyika, during the unveiling of Alade as the 2016 brand ambassador in Lagos

the motherland. We couldn't have chosen anyone more suitable to be our brand ambassador, " Ademiluyi disclosed.

On her part, afro-pop star, Yemi Alade said the AFWN brand ambassadorship aligns with her love for fashion, hinting at a possible inaugural showcase of a Yemi Alade collection at the 2016 Africa Fashion Week Nigeria scheduled to hold in the first week of July.

"I didn't see this coming but it is a stepping stone for me into the realm of fashion. An opportunity to show people

what I am about. I have been working on a collection for almost a year and might unveil something at the fashion week or in the nearest future. “Africa Fashion Week London is the biggest African-inspired fashion event in Europe at the moment.

It has been running for five successful years.

The project has successfully launched the careers of over 400 young fashion designers of Nigerian origin in the Diaspora. AFWL discovered, nurtured their careers and shot them into the limelight, and are ensuring that they stay there for good.

Fairhope: Taking Children off the Street Zacheaus Somorin The menace of child hawking is ubiquitous in our environment today and the social situation seems to have defied all solution. In a society where poverty is preponderant and commonplace, seeing children who should be in classes on the street can only be described as pathetic.

It is this recalcitrant condition that has motivated Fairhope for Children Initiative to intervene - and the interventionist approach would be from the grassroots.

While addressing the essence of the organisation recently, the Lagos Coordinator of the group, Comrade Bello Idowu, pointed out that the central agenda of the organisation is to make" life more meaningful to the people, especially children".

"Fairhope for Children Initiative is an incorporated Non-governmental organisation that emerged for the purpose of securing the future of Nigerian children, and it is our growing needs to create proper safety awareness among children, health, security and education. As we all know the future of the children remains a global concern which must not be compromised", he added.

He explained further that Fairhope for Children Initiative is putting together creative and dynamic means that will equip Nigerian children to nurture their talent to enable them thrive and compete with the future challenges.

While speaking at the event, the organisation's publicity secretary, Com Femi Lawson,

In a bid to boost the welfare of its personnel, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has inaugurated several projects in Lagos under the leadership of the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, who was in Lagos recently to commission the projects, said Lagos is the logistics base of the Air Force.

The CAS, who inaugurated the newly installed executive seats on the C-130 aircraft, drainage and primary schools at 105 Communication Depot in Shasha, said the military has made substantial progress in the war. He said the military was at

For the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Marco Polo, Mr. Frank Okafor, unemployment would hardly be eradicated if private sector do not involve fully in the fight against the menace. Leaving the menace for government to tackle alone, Okafor said will leave the problem not solved especially with the current economic situation of the country.

Speaking recently in Lagos, Okafor Okafor said there is need for the private companies to come to the rescue of the government by providing jobs but the government has to do the needful by providing enabling environment for business to strive.

He said it is sad seeing Nigerians graduate every year without a job. "From my experience as someone who has been in business for years, looking at the economic situation it is only few mighty companies that can employ more hands.

Private sector, Okafor said can provide jobs in the country if government can provide sufficient power and security.

Most of the companies in Nigeria provide security and power themselves and that to a large extent has also contributed to the increasing rate of unemployment.

"The underemployment rate grew to 18.7 percent (14.4 million), compared to 17.4 percent (13.2 million).

Unemployment Rate in Nigeria averaged 8.85 percent from 2006 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 19.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 and a record low of 5.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Unemployment Rate in Nigeria is reported by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria”, he said.

He explained that unemployment occurs when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find work and angry at increasing rate of the menace.

Okafor, whose Marco Polo Hotel and Suites and Marco Polo Properties, was officially inaugurated in Lekki, explained that the hotel, boasts of state of the art facilities.

Makoko Community Gets Free Malaria Test, Mosquito Nets Funmi Ogundare

Fairhope

stated that, "Fairhope for Children Initiative has engaged in the struggle to achieving the rights to education for all - which is one of the biggest challenges of our time. “Our second, international development goal, is addressing the challenges through the promotion of universal primary education in all communities, countries and ensuring security for them."

He averred further that any nation looking for a lasting economic success must raise the literacy level of the citizens; saying the educational provision in Nigeria has it written in its policy, first published in 1977 articulating five main natural growth: free and democratic

society; a just and equalitarian society; a united, strong and self reliant nation; a great and dynamic economy; and a land full of bright opportunity for all citizens.

He therefore pointed out that Fairhope for Children Initiative philosophy on education is based on the development of the individual into a sound and effective and effective citizen; the full integration of the individual into the community; the provision of equal access to educational opportunity for all citizens of the country at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, both inside and outside the formal school system.

A Welfare Boost for the Air Force Chiemelie Ezeobi

“How We Can Tackle Unemployment’

the concluding part of its operation in the North-east, adding that the insurgents can no longer move freely the way they used to in 2014 and early last year, adding, "Lagos is the logistics base of the Air Force. No matter how excellent an operational plan is, if it is not backed by logistics, you will run into difficulties.

"I came to access the situation on ground and the infrastructure and ensure things are going well. I am happy with what I am seeing in the units. Logistics Command is doing an excellent job."

He noted that flood has always been a recurring decimal and a major problem confronting the base since its establishment, noting, "When it rains, especially at the peak of the rainy seasons, the roads within

the depot are impassible. We also lost our fence severally in the past as a result of flood. This is why we embarked on this project, to extend the drainage from outside our fence to the point where the flood will flow harmlessly into the central canal."

Speaking on training he said, "Training is a continuous process for every Air Force.

From time to time, we have programmes we undertake to ensure our officers and men are in the best of shapes to be able to deal with security challenges. It is just a routine training." Also inaugurated were the rehabilitated water system and reconstructed 70 septic tanks at the Sam Ethnam Base, as well as reroofing of vehicle shades and reactivation of Jet-A1 tankers at 407 Equipment Supply Depot.

Orbus Global Solutions, a Non Government Organisation (NGO), recently donated free mosquito nets, gave free malaria testing and drug for members of Makoko community in Lagos, to commemorate World Malaria Day. In her remarks, the Chief Believing Officer of the organisation, Ms. Aisha Bello-Tukur said the move was informed by a programme on world water day with the theme, ‘better water, better job' held at the community last month, where it was discovered that they lacked hygiene and are prone to malaria fever.

According to her, "during the programme, we donated food items, sanitary items such as soaps, toothpaste, among others; fishing equipment, to help them with their businesses. When we discovered that they lacked basic hygiene, we decided to give them a health talk." She said the community members were full of appreciation, adding that plans are on the way to help them recycle their waste, which will in turn generate employment.

One of the counsellors and a lab scientist at the programme, Mr. Evans Enwefah, said after testing several people of malaria, he found four active cases of the fever in their systems and he was able to administer ACT, an anti-malaria drug recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent an outbreak.

On the mosquito nets, he described it as the cheapest form of treatment that can last as long as four or five years saying that it prevent and kill the mosquitoes.

"One thing that we have told them is to maintain personal hygiene and to discard their waste properly.

Mosquitoes can easily breed in this area. We have told them to maintain cleanliness in their homes and once they are not exposed to mosquito bites, they can prevent themselves from malaria, " he said.

The Baale of the community, Chief Steven Aji commended the effort of the organisation saying that it is something that will benefit them for a long time. He disclosed that his community has been depending on borehole as source for drinking water and that they cannot boast of good hospitals, electric power supply or good roads. He however expressed regret that the government is not doing anything for the community, which comprises more than three million inhabitants saying that they are only interested in their votes during elections.

31/LIVING

29.04.2016

LG Electronics Goes Modular with Smart Technology The smartphone industry is gradually experiencing technological evolution with the introduction of modular technology with greater advancement in technology. LG Electronics being an innovative technology driven organisation has set the pace with the introduction of G5 smartphone modular technology, which has a universal compatibility.

The tailored smartphone is a deliberate effort to satisfy her ever-teeming customers.

Taking the modular multi-tool to the next level is the Craftsman Bolt-on, an electric handset that can be fitted with a variety of extensions to perform construction and home improvement tasks. Mission Workshop’s Arkiv field packs allow users to mix-and-match compartments, attaching only those that they deem necessary.

The G5 modular smartphone (device) is made out of separate components, which enables users to replace or upgrade certain functions independently. With a modular design and construction of the G5 smartphone, it has become an unprecedented approach from LG Electronics, which has clearly distinguished it from others. While competitors are merely updating their designs, LG alone has demonstrated the ability to revolutionise smartphone design, following the lead of PCs and DSLR cameras. It offers users

unprecedented freedom in customisation and usage. While other companies have explored modular prototypes, only LG has been able to create a viable modular device.

“We are living up to our promise of innovation for a better life with a fashionable, premium smartphone that is more focused on delivering a balanced user experience that can compete with the best in the world,” the General Manager, Mobile Communication Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Steve Seungeui Lee said.

He noted further that LG is delivering outstanding audio and video, adding, “with the

ability to mix and match individual modules, the possibilities are nearly endless.”

LG has clearly proven that it is a master of all trades, the previous smartphones were capable of performing a wide range of tasks, and the introduction of modular technology the first of its kind has paved way for it to truly excel in a variety of ways. LG Friends components such as CAM plus, 360 CAM, B&O Play etc. can be swapped out at any time depending on the need of the users, giving the smartphone an incredible capabilities as well as versatility that is unparalleled.

This time around LG Electronics has managed to beat Google with its big MWC 2016 modular smartphone surprise. The company didn’t just manage to introduce the first mainstream modular phone, but has also grabbed the attention of the world with its newest innovation G5 smartphone, which received GLOMO awards as the Best New Handset at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It comes with a slide-out battery positioning it properly in the world of modular technology. LG’s innovative modular type design gives it the ability to transform into a digital camera, Hi-Fi player and more, while maintaining its traditional removable battery in a full metal uni-body design for the first time ever.

Elders Celebrate Ebenezer Obey at 74 Rebecca Ejifoma A cocktail of refined elders from the Association of Friends splattered accolades on highlife-juju musician, Ebenezer Obey, to celebrate him at 74 while lauding him for his unrelenting contribution to the nation.

The elders seized the opportunity at their Elders’ Forum held in Lagos recently, to reel their token of love to him. And while the rave of words went on, Obey reciprocated every word with gratitude. Having given him a blazing gift richly packaged, the septuagenarian enthused monosyllabically, “I can’t thank you enough.

What more can I say than thank you? I am grateful for this exhibition of love. I thank God for this club and its love to me.”

The juju artiste orchestrated the hall with very vibrating songs from the 80s and 90s to lift everyone’s spirit. There, men stood up and made the batter dance happily. Jubilation rented the silence and individuals had solo and group dance at various scenes.

The life chairman of the association, Alhaji Suleiman Onabiyi, said the event marked the beginning of a new dawn in the history of the club. “I am, particularly, happy to be alive to witness today’s occasion tagged, ‘Association Elders Forum Inaugural Party’.” Established 38 years ago, the club was molded by eight persons.

They include: the Chairman, Otunba Adeleke Adeshina, Mr. Akin Abiola, Oba FataiIrawo Ogunsi of Odi-Olowo, Prince Gabriel Yadua, Otunba Kunle Adesanya, Apostle Kola Sanyaolu and the late Prince Ayinde Adesiyan.

ITECH GEORGE OGUNLEYE

Onabiyi explained, “During the formation of this club, we were all below age 40. Ever since, we have done our best for the club in more than 35 years; hence, we have now retired to the status of elders.”

Speaking on the essence of the get-together, he said that it is to enable the older ones guide and advice the younger members, who are now running the club and are of course very promising. “They are not only promising but also have passion for the efficient running of our club to greater heights.”

According to him, since they are very passionate about style and cherish family links, “We have continued without involvements with all the activities of the club to preserve our culture of openness, discipline and true friendship in all its ramifications.”

Email: george.ogunleye@thisdaylive.com,

Rotary Set to Publish World’s Thickest Book Martins Ifijeh The Rotary Club District 9125 has announced its plan to publish the world’s thickest book, which would contain thoughts by no fewer than 12,000 Nigerians on what they want the country to be like in the nearest future.

Announcing this in Lagos recently, the Governor of the district, Mr. Mike Omotosho, said the project was aimed at giving thousands of Nigerians the opportunity to document their dream Nation through submission of entries for the planned publication.

“We expect to see entries from at least 50,000 well-meaning Nigerians across the country, while we will take the best 12,000 entries to be featured on the book. Each entry will take a page, making the complete book 12,000 pages; the biggest that will ever be published in the history of mankind,” he explained.

According to him, the project represents the legacy programme of the Club for year 2016, adding that in line with the global change currently sweeping across the world, Nigeria should not be left out, hence the decision by the club to give Nigerians the opportunity to document what they want for the nation.

“We want Nigerians to make their input into this book we are working on, titled ‘My Dream Nigeria’. Write how you want Nigeria to be in 50 to 300 words, and then submit to us. If your entry is among the best 12,000, it will make part of the book, and your name will also be on the Guinness for your contribution,” he stated.

Explaining further, he said the best 12,000 entries will be put on each page of the book, as an entry will represent one page, adding that, “this means the lucky 12,000 persons will have a say in the Nigeria of their dream, as we intend to present the book to policy makers and stakeholders in the country to effect changes and work towards people-oriented dreams for their beloved country.

On other benefits of participation, Onotosho explained that the lucky 12,000 persons will also co-own Africa’s largest palm plantation farm which will also put money in their pocket. The three ways of receiving entries are; through hard copies, which should be submitted in designated rotary offices or to rotary officers, email entry to or through the official website of the club.

www.itechthisday.blogspot.com Tel 07032143733(sms only)

The Advantages of Android be limited to simply one device from one manufacturer unlike Apple.

Frankly speaking, Android was nothing until Google took charge, on inception the app ecosystem had less than 35 apps by the end of the following year Android store (play store) had over 1.4 million apps. Google’s Android gave most low cost and Korean phones the authenticity they needed to compete and break out as a known brand. Samsung is able to give Apple a run for her money as result Google’s Android platform. Samsung is perhaps the greatest developer of Android smartphones, releasing a greater variety of models than Sony, HTC or LG.

The android operating system homes over eighty per cent of the smartphone ecosystem thus making it the best hub for outreach and good business. However, nobody saw this uncharted opportunity until Google took ownership (logically).

What is Android?

Android is a mobile operating system (OS) currently developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android's user interface is mainly based on direct manipulation, using touch gestures that loosely correspond to real-world actions, such as swiping, tapping and pinching, to manipulate on-screen objects, along with a virtual keyboard for text input.

Who Truly Owns Android?

Nobody owns Android. Android is technically still an Open-Source and Google is her largest contributor. Google chooses to give away innovative development to stabilize the platform but also with a catch that Google proprietary applications be present as pre-installed on every device shipped with the OS. Android is mainly developed and

maintained by Google until the latest updates and changes are launched. At this time the source code is made available publicly. So that other developers can re-model or improve their copy of the OS without infringing on patent right.

What’s Android without Google?

In 2007 Google unveiled the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a consortium of technology

manufacturers teamed up to work together and create open mobile device standards (free operating system for any vendor). 34 companies were involved in the consortium.

The companies included in the collection at that point included wireless telecommunications providers (T-Mobil), mobile handset makers (Motorola, HTC) and chipset makers (Texas Instruments, Qualcomm). Android was designed to be different and free in that it wouldn’t

What’s Google’s Benefit?

As it is said nothing is free even in Freetown.

Google is the large contributor to android, maintains, develop and stabilise it. Google transformed the Android platform to what it is today. Google saw what the Platform could be and believed in it invested lots of fund through the OHA. In turn, like every story should a credit, and Google’s credit was the free Apps and the Pre-installed Google’s propriety apps.

32/ENTERTAINMENTRAVE

29.04.2016

eraveonline@gmail.com

@eraveng

www.eraveng.com

Davido Signals the End of HKN as He Unveils New Record Label Popular Nigerian act, Davido might be officially ending all alliances with HKN Music as he has formally announced his new record label, Davido Music Worldwide (DMW).

ERAVE gathered that the new development might not be unconnected with the internal bickering that has engulfed the label recently which led to Davido calling out his cousin, B-Red on social media.

Davido did not only announce his new record label, he also shared the logo with the caption ‘MOVEMENT’. The new music company is solely owned by Davido and one of his latest signed acts, Mayorkun was signed on the new label.

However, we can’t say for now what the future holds for HKN and the artistes signed on the label as Davido and his elder brother, Wale Adeleke who is the chairman of the label are yet to make any official statement to that effect.

DAVIDO AND P-SQUARE The organisers of Namibian Annual Music Awards have announced the nominees for this year's award.

Nominated in the Pan African Artiste category are Nigerian music stars, P-Square and Davido. They are nominated alongside AKA and Heavy K, both from South Africa and Roberto from Zambia.

KISS DANIEL Davido

Olamide Explains Lil Kesh Exit from YBNL Popular rapper and founder of YBNL Records, Olamide has confirmed the exit of his protege, Lil Kesh from YBNL as a recording artiste. He however laid emphasis that the singer is still under YBNL management which is also in line with Lil Kesh statement when he announced that he is starting his own record label.

Lil Kesh was the first to release a statement on social media before Olamide also released his as regards the new record already christened ‘YAGI’.

Lil Kesh’s statement explained the reasons for his departure from YBNL and future relationship with the label.

"Ok, so it's true that my contract ended about two weeks ago, like we all know my contract with YBNL was for two years but that's the business side to it.

And did I state that my contract included three videos for me and one album? But Baddo went out of his way to shoot about five videos for me. Business or no business YBNL is family and will always be till I go 6ft under the ground”.

“YAGI records is real with the support of my big bro Olamide. YBNL remains my management for life, YBNL doesn't just produce successful artists, it produces artistes that help produce other successful artists. That's the dream Baddo shared with me about a year ago," the rapper said.

Olamide’s statement also corroborated that of Lil Kesh explaining his departure from YBNL. "Good day guys, sorry we didn't put guys in the loop...Maybe

BELLA EBINUM Fast rising actress, Bella Ebinum has revealed that male actors normally get turned on set when she is interpreting romantic roles and says she is very happy about it because it makes her feel like a real woman.

“I zero my mind when acting romantic scenes so I won’t be turned on.

I make it look so real to the extent that some actors get turned on. Whenever this happens, I am happy that I am interpreting my roles well and I feel like a real woman”.

Toyin Aimakhu cause we see no point in bringing it up cause family is family business or no business...I signed 2 years deal with Lil Kesh and Viktoh, it ended weeks ago.. But the bond is 007 leave it (James bond level) Don't touch it. Kesh got his

own record label now YAGI but still works with YBNL Mngnt. Viktoh is still under YBNL Mngnt too..So worry not.

The world is ours for the taken..YBNL FamilyForEver", Olamide shared on social media.

Brymo Titles New Album ‘KLITORIS’

Brymo

Following Emma Nyra‘s exit in 2015, Iyanya and Ubi Franklin owned record label, Made Men Music has signed another female artiste on the label. The new artiste goes by the name Tonye .

The CEO of the label, Ubi shared the news on Instagram a couple of minutes ago. “First Lady Alert. @ whoistonye on behalf of Me The CEO Of Made Men Music and The Chairman and Board of Directors cc:@ iyanya And Artiste @iyanya @teknoofficial@selebobo1 @chibbzofficial and Our Super Producer @djcoublon And staffs@mademenmusicgroup1 we Welcome You.”

Popular Nigerian artiste, Brymo will be releasing his next studio album on the 9th of May, 2016. The singer revealed the album release date alongside the cover art of the album on social media earlier this week.

The new album which is titled ‘KLITORIS’ generated lots of reactions on social media on what informed its title and what it really stands for.

However, in an interview to address the reactions the album title generated, Brymo tried to break down the meaning of his new studio album title.

‘It’s a Greek word for ‘key’. It is where the word ‘clitoris’ itself originates. This album is the key to a certain door I have knocked on for years; and yes it was meant to be sensual, there ought to be two sides to the coin’.

Black Magic Drops New Tune BOB Entertainment lead act, Blackmagic has officially released his newest single entitled "LOYAL".

Produced by amazing hit maker, Xela, "LOYAL" is a Tribute/Gratitude song to the legends who contributed to the growth of the nation in every positive way.

Blackmagic pays tribute to our long gone and living legends while also showing gratitude to his #Loyal fans who have been with him from the very start. LOYAL is a follow up to his last dropped single "Wonder".

The Afro Centric rapper Blackmagic in the last few days has also sprung engaging discussions and trends with fans on social media platforms with the hashtags trend #iLoyal & #Loyal with engaging conversations and photos of legends like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, MKO Abiola, Attahiru Jega and more with powerful quotes on loyalty. According to Blackmagic, "Loyal" is a celebration song on his new age and another way to show gratitude to his teeming fans.

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Promoting Jazz

Across the world, the International Day for Jazz holds on Saturday for no reason other than promoting the culture of jazz music. But the Convener of Satchmo’s Jazz and Culture Festival in Nigeria, Mr. Oludolapo Babs-Ajayi explained the significance of jazz to rebuilding societal values. Gboyega Akinsanmi writes His dream was never to promote music of any genre; neither did he ever think of being an advocate of jazz anywhere in the world. However, today, Mr. Oludolapo Babs-Ajayi, a legal icon and director in some institutions, has taken up the challenge of bringing back the culture of jazz.

Ordinarily, Babs-Ajayi said he should not be the promoter of jazz. But unlike in the 1970s, he said jazz “is no more popular.” Aside its public admiration then, he explained its social significance, citing it “teaches values and instils morals in the society. But we have lost this essence over the years.”

The essence of jazz has been lost in modern Nigeria, according to him. Sad enough, he lamented, its lovers are not even ready to champion the campaign of bringing back jazz again. On this ground, Babs-Ajayi said onus “rests on him to bring jazz back”, though he resisted taking up the challenge initially.

His effort has gradually started yielding fruits. Alongside 190 other countries in the world, Babs-Ajayi said Nigeria would mark the International Day for Jazz on Saturday, which he explained, was designed “to promote the values jazz actually represents among our children and generations.”

Babs-Ajayi did not actually take up the challenge of promoting jazz easily. But an encounter with his son and lack of volunteers actually changed his perception and brought him to the world of entertainment just to change people’s orientations and provide viable alternative to other genres of music.

He therefore shared his encounter with his son. About six years ago, his children were still teenagers then. Babs-Ajayi said there “was a particular day my son was listening to a music,” which he said, stoked his interest. He wanted to know the kind of music his son listened.

Babs-Ajayi eventually found out that the lyric was really bad, which according to him, was not appropriate because of unhelpful impact that kind of song “can make in the life of our children that listen to music with bad lyrics.” Consequently, he asked his son what he knew about jazz.

But he got an unpalatable answer. He discovered they did not know much about this genre of music, which he said, could make great impact in their lives. He said: “I talked to my children about jazz. I discovered they knew nothing about it. Their interest was purely on hip-hop and other kinds of music.”

So, an encounter with his son propelled him “to be jazz’s advocate and promoter in our country.” He said he resolved “to champion a cause that will make our children listen to better kind of music. Aside, no person was really driving jazz sufficiently as an alternative source of entertainment.”

But that was not so as far back as 1972.

About five decades, Babs-Ajayi said a lot of people played jazz, though that was not so today. But he admitted the International Day for Jazz, which the United Nations had proclaimed to hold every April 30, offered a rare platform “to bring alive again the dead values of jazz in our societies and among our children.”

He explained how it all started about three years. At that time, he was not even aware that the United Nations had set April 30 to resonate the essence of jazz. But BabsAjayi got to know it in Germany where he attended a festival called Jazz Ahead, which he said, holds annually from April 24 to April 29.

In 2014, the festival had ended already.

He said he was moving out of his suite when some musicians were coming in. He said some of them were black, though they were black Americans. He said he asked

L-R Femi Leye, Folake Oyetunji, Phebean, Babs-Ajayi and Tunde Balogun

them about their “mission in Germany. One of them said they came for International Day for Jazz.” He said he quickly replied what it was all about.

He told them that he had never heard about the International Day for Jazz before that day. He was then informed that the United Nations“had proclaimed April 30 the International Day for Jazz. We started talking about it. I was encouraged to take it to Nigeria.

“My thinking then was that I have my full-time job. I am a lawyer. I am property developer. I am also a director in some organisations. I do not have the time to get involved in another mandate. I have a lot on my hand already. Promoting jazz in Nigeria will add to my schedules.

When you catch people young and expose to music, you will be surprised to learn that music affects the way a child reasons.

Children, who are exposed to music, are mentally sound. Music affects how children reason, not just children who listen to music, but also those who learn how to play musical instruments and those who can sing

“I do not want to add to my workload. My hands are full already. But if there is nobody promoting jazz in my country, that means my son and this generation will be listening all sorts of music. But the responsibility is mine to provide our children alternative kind of music.

“So, I summoned courage. In 2015, I teamed up Bob Ricketts to organise the first edition Satchmos Jazz and Cultural Festival. We tried to make it global as much as possible. We brought in a lot of international artistes from the United States and the United Kingdom. Some people did not believe the first edition was held in Nigeria. About 3,000 attended.”

Already, Babs-Ajayi said all stages “have been set for the 2016 edition, though it has been modified.” In Lagos, he said the International Day for Jazz “has been christened Satchmos Jazz and Cultural Festival just to bring people who love jazz and who do not really love it together to celebrate it in different way.

“We are trying to establish a pattern that allows us international stars perform alongside local artistes. This year, we have Donald Brown who is a Grammy Award Winner. We also have Rick Brown who plays trumpet. Carlo Rossi and Jon Scott will also participate in this year’s edition.”

He also disclosed that a lot of Nigerian artistes will also feature at the 2016 Satchmos Jazz and Cultural Festival alongside international stars. He named them an AfroJazz Guitarist, Femi Leye, a renowned saxophonist, Tunde Balogun, Godwin Strings and Phebean among others.

He thus said that reason for the festival.

He added that his dream “is that Satchmos Jazz and Cultural Festival create a platform where Nigerian artistes can get exposure.

Our own Nigerian artistes can get exposure on a worldwide platform. The event of the

festival are meant to be disseminated all over the world.

“The website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) allows all the participants across the world to upload the activities that hold in their own country. International Jazz Day is celebrated in 190 countries annually,” Babs-Ajayi explained.

Besides, he explained another reason driving him to lead the campaign for jazz.

Another thing, according to him, is the plan to promote and advocate the teaching of jazz in schools and institutions. He said music “is a potent tool to make definite and instill morals in our children and rebuild our societies. Jazz is one of the genres of music that help us achieve this dream.

“When you catch people young and expose to music, you will be surprised to learn that music affects the way a child reasons. Children, who are exposed to music, are mentally sound. Music affects how children reason, not just children who listen to music, but also those who learn how to play musical instruments and those who can sing,” Babs-Ajayi explained.

Likewise, the Lagos State Government had already bought into the International Day for Jazz. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the event “is a potent tool “to promote tourism, hospitality, arts and entertainment and market the state as a destination point for tourists.

He said Lagos in tune with the world' would be a platform where stakeholders in the entertainment sector in the state “will use Jazz to showcase the rich culture of Lagos State to the world.The festival will draw investments worth millions of Naira into the state with lovers of jazz traveling from far and near to celebrate the Lagos International Jazz Festival.”

34/ETIQUETTE

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THE ETIQUETTE FORUM ADEKANMI OTEDOLA-OLUSANYA

email mretiquetteonline@yahoo.com

tel. 08112661635, 0809285 4855

How to Manage Hatred, Bitterness and Rejection (2) A lot of people go through life not knowing how to manage rejection. And in so doing lose out on a number of great opportunities.

The first thing everyone needs to know about rejection is that everyone would meet with rejection at some point in time- even the luckiest of men. Students would face rejection from tertiary institutions who would decide not to grant them admission. When they become job seekers they could be rejected by companies they apply to work with. If and when they get employed their appeal for promotion and advancement may meet with rejection. When it’s time to get married their potential paramours may to their utter displeasure turn them down. When it’s time to have children and they choose to go abroad they may have their requests for visas denied. At some point in life, rejection is inevitable. If they choose to vie for an elected office, they could suffer rejection at the hands of voters. I make bold to say to you that some of the greatest leaders, businessmen, professionals, sports stars and entertainers were rejected at some point or the other. Abraham Lincoln was rejected once and again in his quest for the US Senate. Bill Gates was rejected by IBM and eventually became the world richest man and one of its greatest philanthropists. Warren Buffet ap-

plication for university admission was rejected

by Harvard University and he eventually became the world’s greatest investor. Jack Mas university application was turned down by the same institution and he eventually became founder of online retailer Ali Baba and China’s richest man. Hip hops richest rapper Jay-Z was rejected by virtually every recording company early on in his career.

Ralph Lauren was rejected by his one time employees before starting his own clothing line and becoming an American fashion icon.

Notable footballers like Pogba, De Buyrne were once rejected at Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.

WHY SHOULD YOU MANAGE REJECTION CAREFULLY Whenever you are rejected by a person, institution or nation, you must make sure that you are not bitter over it. If you feel bitter over it you must deal with the bitterness and get rid of it because until you get rid of the bitterness of rejection, you will not enjoy the blessedness of rejection. This is simple because bitterness and blessedness do not go well together. I know many people who were jilted by men, rejected in marriage, kicked out of organisations, forced to retire, and who never recovered because they held on

to bitterness and never got rid of it. A good example is that of Russian billionaire Boris Berezovski. He lost a legal dispute against fellow Russian tycoon Roamn Abramovic.

After the loss he said life was becoming increasingly meaningless and soon after, he allegedly committed suicide. On the other hand, I know people who have managed rejection properly and have come out the better for it.

HOW TO MANAGE BITTERNESS Like I said in previous parts of this series on managing bitterness, the bitterness from rejection is a negative emotion and you can deal with negative emotions by speaking positive words. Positive words when spoken consistently especially during moments of acute pain and bitterness will lead to emotional healing. Secondly, never disparage those who rejected you just because they rejected you instead say something nice about them. If you cannot say anything nice about them do not say anything at all. Making negative comments about those that have rejected you in the past is an indication that you are still bitter and as long as you are in bitterness you can’t enjoy blessedness. Also, in certain cases you may need to substantiate positive words with positive actions. For instance,

if you were rejected as a contractor from a company, you could put a call through to them just to send a greeting, you could put a call to an ex lover who turned you down if you are still feeling hurt as such action may aid your healing.

THE BENEFITS OF MANAGING REJECTION PROPERLY Finally, remain positive about everything that life has to offer. Also, you must understand that if you manage rejection properly, what you would later enjoy in acceptance would be far greater than what you suffer in rejection. I know many people who were turned down by certain partners who eventually got married to people who they appreciated and admired better. In all the cases I spoke about of people who were rejected and managed it well none of them would regret about the loss they suffered in rejection because the gains that have followed have far outweighed the losses.

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

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

Soccer star Paul Pogba was once rejected at Manchester United. However, the acceptance that Paul Pogba enjoys today at Juventus is by far more glorious than the losses he suffered in rejection at Manchester United

One of hip hops richest rappers Jay-Z was rejected by virtually every recording company early on in his career. If he was not rejected by several record labels early on in his career, he would never have owned the rights to his own publishing and may never have been as rich and successful as he is today

Warren Buffet application for university admission was rejected by Harvard University and he eventually became the world’s greatest investor

Ralph Lauren had his ideas rejected by the tie company he worked for before starting his own clothing line and becoming an American fashion icon. If Ralph Lauren was not rejected at the tie company he worked for, he may never have started his own clothing line and may have lived his whole life as an employee

35/ENTREPRENEUR

29.04.2016

On a Rescue Mission As a social entrepreneur, a non-governmental organisation, Breach Repairers, for over seven years built solid ethical values amongst youths who will give a strong footing towards its mandate of raising a new generation of Nigerians. In furtherance with its bid to achieve this and more, the organisation has come up with a National Parenting Conference tagged, “Critical Rescue”. Mary Ekah writes on the essence of the event billed to hold next Friday in Lagos “The Breach Repairers, as the name indicates, are the repairers of the broken edge and breach because we believe that a few things have been broken in our society, our nation and perhaps the world”, the Chief Host of the event and Chairman of the organisation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo sets off the tone at press briefing to herald one of its national parenting conference tagged, ‘Critical Rescue’, one of the Breach Repairers’ strategies to build moral and ethical values in the youths.

Buttressing the urgent need for ‘Critical Rescue’, the Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church and Managing Partner at SIAO, a firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants, said, “Today we have various religious surges in the nation and around the world, kidnapping and all sorts of things that threaten our security and even till today, we are still looking for over 200 girls that were suddenly kidnapped from their boarding school about two years ago and we still cannot find them. Not just that, we are also looking for a whole lot of children who will not actually realise that they have been lost; they are found all over the streets roaming here and there – people of great potentials who we now refer to as area people.”

The cleric who spiced up his elucidation with a story in the Bible of two women for which King Solomon of the Bible received wisdom from God to recue an almost destroyed innocent child from their hands, noted “Suddenly two women, came to Solomon with a problem. They had slept so much that one of them had slept on her child and killed the child, so the child was lost.

The other one had slept so deeply that her child was taken from her side and she didn’t realise it. In like manner, we are in a nation where both men and women are sleeping; some of them have slept so deeply that they have with their own hands destroyed their children. Some of them are sleeping so deeply that the devil has stolen their children from them and they do not even realise it. These women in the Bible story, had to come to the King of kings, the only one who has wisdom and who decided that somehow he will spare at least one of the children - the child that was under dispute, which was itself almost destroyed as one the women were even ready to destroy that child. But the most important thing is that they were both sleeping so deeply that havoc had come on both their children.”

Ighodalo said that there was an urgent need for Nigerians to come back to a nation where we can repair the breach save our children and our adults and thereby save the nation. “There are problems all over the world, and Christianity especially has come under attacks from external and internal aggressors and even by government where they have taken prayers and things like that out of the schools”, he added.

He stressed that at Breach Repairers, what they are trying to do is to bring up children, not basically along Christian value as such but along ethical and moral values; “along values that will ensure that the children survive and that the parents also will survive and our nation will survive.” He noted that the National Parenting Conference billed to hold on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, 7 at the Guiding Light Assembly, Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos, is geared towards equipping parents, teachers, pastors and other stakeholders to tackle some of the challenges and also properly give the youths direction.

“We have assembled seasoned and experienced instructors to aid us teach parents, teachers and stakeholders techniques for

L-r, A volunteer worker, Isioma Obidi, Chief Executive Officer, Breach Repairers, Pastor Nduka Chuks, Musician, Liza C, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, volunteer worker, Rita Amuka and PA to CEO of Breach Repairers, Ebeh Perpetual during a press briefing to announce the forthcoming parenting conference

building character pillars in our today’s Nigeria youth, our hope for a better and greater Nigeria”, he added.

Ighodalo who said that Breach Repairers is a non-governmental organisation established seven years ago, noted; “seven is the number of perfection and completion. So we feel we have come into a place of completion, a place of maturity, a place where we have move forward by His grace.”

The cleric said that the has for seven years tried to build the pillars of purity, purpose, and productivity (3Ps) amongst young people across religious groups, schools and youth group boot camps.

“We believe that these character pillars being in place will give a strong footing towards our mandate of raising a new generation of Nigeria youths that understand their God given mandate, which are socially responsible and have integrity with a resolve to bring a refreshing and positive leadership wherever they find themselves.“ He explained that the organisation focuses mainly on 3Ps (Purity, Purpose and Productivity), noting, “We focus on purity because we now live in a society where we do not know right from wrong and that is why we consider purity and things that we consider ethically right because the Bible says righteousness promotes and exalts a nation and it says doing things in a pure way is what will eventually bring about upliftment. We also focus on purpose because everyone has a purpose in life and we all must try to find that purpose and fulfill that purpose because that is what gives a person the energy, the boost, the ability to see life

through, and not what you acquire, it is what you are able to deliver. And of course, we focus also on productivity. Again, if you are going in line of your purpose and you are working hard, by His grace, you must be productive, that is what we call adding value to self and to society.

“We are dealing with young people across religious groups - we are non-religious. We have a foundation based on Christianity but we are non-religious. We appeal to every colour and creed all across the globe. All we want for people to do things right”, Ighodalo added.

The cleric who said the organisation has a twofold approach to dealing with the issues that have to do with youths, noted, “From time to time we have focused on the children and teach the children the best that we can do in our conference and we also focus on the parents so that the parents can spend a lot more time on their children. A lot of time the parents are too busy trying to make their own way in life, too busy trying to achieve, succeed and solve their own problems that they abandon those children to wilds of the world”, he posited, while adding that, the organisation has decided this year to include government because before now most of its efforts have been private based. “Now we want to talk to government so that government can hear what we are saying and the cry of our children and thereby be a lot more sensitive to getting what we call a total Nigerian child”, he noted.

He explained that this year’s conference has been appropriately tagged, ‘Critical Rescue’, because steps must be taken to rescue most

children and economy. “Our economy is in dire state of rescue. In Nigeria, we should no longer be importing food and so I am happy that our president is moving in that direction and given the milestone, if I were him, in three years, there should be no more importation of foodstuff. We must produce, eat and export. Our economy is in need of rescue; the petroleum sector is in need of rescue. We should be manufacturing our own petroleum products here in Nigeria and no longer importing them. And in three or four years, this should be the case and the state of security of our nation should be looked into. The infrastructure needs to be worked on. Our rail system should be worked on. So, critical rescue of our children, critical rescue of our economy, critical rescue of even of our adults and critical rescue of our nation and our national monuments, are urgently needed. In Nigeria, we should have uninterrupted power, so it is time for critical rescue”, Ighodalo declared, noting that the forthcoming conference is directed on children, parents and other stakeholders to be part of the critical rescue mission and to build the character pillars of our Nigerian child.

To grace the event are wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo who will declare the conference open and would also give the keynote address; wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode who will be giving the welcome address and then the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, who would be giving the conference speech. Also the First Lady of Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Martha Udom, who will eventually declare the conference closed.

36/COLLAGE

29.04.2016

R-L; Dean of lpaja Deanary, Very Rev Father Enearu Stephen; Celebrant, Lady Comfort Nwosu; Associate Priest of St Benedette, Rev Father Peter Makasa; Husband of the celebrant, Sir Sunny Nwosu and Father Michael Ogunniyi of Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, Omole Phase one rejoicing with Lady Nwosu on Her 60th birthday celebration during the thanksgiving mass service at the St Benedette Catholic Church, Abesan, Shagari Estate, lpaja...recently Abiodun Ajala

The Solemnization of Holy Matrimony between the former Miss Kikelomo Ifeoluwa Lemo and Olaoluwa Tolulope Akingbade, held at Foursquare Gospel Church, Yaba and the reception took place and Landmark Event Centre, VI, in Lagos recently

L-R: Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, R Wells Media and Advertising Company Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Jibe Ologeh; Outstanding Mother Award winner, Mrs. Phebe Onofome Imolemeh and General Manager, AIT Lagos, Mrs. Jire Kuforiji during the 4th Mother Day Fiesta in Lagos‌recently

Mr. Julius Onaghise (middle) receiving a special recognition award on behalf of Dr. Iyayi Effianayi, JP, from Mr. Federick Onaghise, Chairman of Egba Development Organisation, Lagos Branch, with them is Mr. Charles Igbinidu, the Public Relations Officer, during the Egba Development Organisation, Lagos Branch honoured some prominent members of the community in Lagos...recently

L-R: Uti Nwachukwu, Dayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Jeremiah Gyang, Wale Rubber, all judges at the Season 6 edition of God's Children Great Talent gospel show, at the regional finals, in Abuja........recently

L-R; secretary to the lagos state government, Mr Tunji Bello, lagos deputy governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, daughters of the deceased, Mrs Ebun Adeosun and Mrs Olaolu Branco-Rhodes, wife of the late Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Grace Braithwaite during the service of songs for late Dr Tunji Braithwaite at Grace Dome, yard 158 Oregun Ikeja ...recently

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Ebunola Oladimeji; Board Secretary, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Olayinka Oye-Bamgbose; former SA to governor on Christian Affairs, Rev. Funmilayo Akitoye-Braimoh and the South-West Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mr. Benedict Okoh, during a thanksgiving Service for the 2016 Easter pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Israel, at Alausa, Ikeja....recently

37/THISLIFE

29.04.2016

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano

The Day Anambra Made Nigerians Proud At UK University Franca Ahwefeda One is writing this brief piece with considerable excitement. For the first time since one commenced this academic programme, Nigeria has been cited as a positive example of a country, which could do, pretty well if the tempo of change is deepened and internalised across the country. The example given was the southeastern state of Anambra where the people have just started an energetic export of bitter leaf and ugu vegetables, which are popular in southern Nigeria and used extensively in cooking, though they can be used more beneficially if the therapeutic properties are recognised and harnessed.

Our tutor, otherwise known as lecturer in Nigeria, said only a purposeful and efficient African government can lead its people to export vegetables to Europe up to eight times within five months or so without objections from regulatory authorities like the European Food Safety Authority.

The class in question is known as Just In Time (JIT). Though the concept is generally believed to have begun in the 1970s with either the shipping industry in Japan or the Toyota Motor Corporation, it spread to the United States and Europe in the 1980s. JIT seeks to do away with waste in manufacturing and time and dramatically reduce production time.

Efficient use of time would mean, among other things, that inventory might not be necessary. The implication is that everyone and every system must work with precision. The

supplier must supply whatever is required of him or her precisely at the time it is needed, in the right quantity and the right quality. All the interdependent teams or departments in an organisation must work with exceptional accuracy because a minor error in one part will definitely affect the entire production process, including the time customers take delivery of their goods. Japanese firms like Toyota have long perfected the Just In Time system. JIT is now used extensively in accounting, aviation and other areas around the world. This system does not primarily seek the abolition of inventories, contrary to the thinking of quite a number of people, but, more importantly, far greater efficient use of time and resources. Lean manufacturing grew out of this concept.

There is a general belief that this system cannot work in many emerging markets, especially those in Africa because, among others, we are hardly punctual in both private and official matters. African time is a notorious syndrome. It was against this background that our tutor mentioned in the class yesterday that things may well be changing in Africa, citing Kenya and Anambra State as examples. The Kenyan example has been known around the world, at least in Europe. Kenya accounts for 35 per cent of fresh flowers in the European Union, with half going to Holland. In 2014, Kenya made almost $600m from the 124,000 tonnes of flowers sent to Europe, cultivated on 127 farms by some 90,000-farm employees. The

farms are located around the Lake Naivasha, which has an excellent climate and fresh water. Naivasha is less than 100kilometres northwest of Nairobi. Horticulture, with about 500,000 people in the value chain, accounted for 1.3 per cent of Kenya’s GDP two years ago. The country could derive so much benefit from its horticulture industry because it has over the years developed an efficient labour force and an efficient transport system, including a globally respected airline managed by KLM; the efficient transport system ensures that flowers arrive in Europe still very fresh. In other words, the Kenyan horticulture industry is an example of JIT at work.

It was delightful to see my country mentioned in this connection in my class.

Our tutor said that it is still a conundrum or puzzle to her that a state in Nigeria with no international airport could export eight cargoes of highly perishable vegetables to Europe without problems. This statement must have been made because of the ban since last year by the European Food Safety Authority on the importation of Nigerian beans and some other agric produce for unhygienic and other improper practices.

She appeared genuinely surprised that a state in a country not known for efficient transport facilities could scale the hurdles of regulatory agencies in food matters which the developed world takes very seriously because hundreds of millions of lives of their own people are directly involved.

The tutor must have conducted a personal search on Anambra State because she was to quickly praise the leadership of the Anambra State Investment and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) as composed of internationally accomplished professionals. She also said that she learnt the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, used to be a top banker who trained at Harvard, adding that Nigerian banks have come of age since 2006 when they joined the club of the world’s top 1,000 banks following Charles Soludo’s consolidation.

There are two major takeaways from the examples of Kenya and Anambra State as two African entities, which show that Africa can, with time, begin to practice Just In Time system in their businesses. The first is that there is no reason why places like Jos in Plateau State cannot become Nigeria’s Lake Naivasha by producing large quantities of flowers for export. The second is that there is no reason why other states, including Plateau and my home state of Delta, cannot follow in the footsteps of Anambra State and begin a massive export of vegetables and other agric produce.

All Nigerians—indeed West Africans—in our class will remember for some time to come the day our country was, for once, used as a god example that Africa could be changing for the better.

Ms Ahwefeda is a research student of International Management at University of Roehampton, United Kingdom

38/OPINION

29.04.2016

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Welcome to a New Kind of Tension

“W

elcome to a new kind of tension” is a line in Green Day’s song, American Idiot.

The killings the other day in Enugu is a precursor to a new kind of tension.

There are many reasons to believe a new kind of tension is brewing in the country and we simply need to look at the statistics of death based on the alleged recent Fulani herdsmen’s killings in Enugu State alone. Scores of people have been reportedly killed at Ukpani Nimbo community, a border community between Enugu and Kogi States.

In a report, the community questioned the integrity of our security service in acting on a tipoff. That has always been the problem. In most cases Nigerian security service responds after an attack.

To be sure in a statement after the attack the Enugu State police Command said, “a full investigation had begun into the alleged killing of six persons in Nimbo…”

That statement also fell short of the figures in circulation. It is only in Nigeria that we report eyewitness account differently from official figure.

It’s clear that the police needs a quick reform to change the pattern.

But my concern here is that the problem of insecurity is getting worse and assuming new dimensions under the Muhammadu Buhari presidency.

It’s sad that this government has not been proactive about the alleged Fulani herdsmen’s invasion and ransacking of farmlands across the country, in spite of the banner headlines in our newspapers and on television screen. In fact it begs the question whether things are changing in accordance with our expectations as promised

President Buhari

by President Buhari during his campaign.

Yes, change is a process, the president has said, but change is also a project and every project must have a lifecycle.

Long before now Fulani herdsmen have been in the news for bad reasons and one would expect that as someone with security knowledge and as a tribesman, dealing with the issue of killings by the Fulani will be a priority for the Buhari administration, but we are dead wrong in our hypothesis.

Strangely, Buhari rarely makes comment on killings by the Fulani herdsmen. He merely bowed to pressure, when his media men issued a statement on his behalf in the case of the Agatu massacre in Benue State and that was after many days. With the latest killings, he has now ordered the Inspector General of Police to act, but Buhari did not call the herdsmen terrorists as he called those vandalising pipeline in the Niger Delta. His statement on the extreme violence of his kinsmen fell short of standards.

For Mr. President it may be a sensitive tribal

issue since he’s a Fulani man himself, but for Nigerians the killings are senseless.

Now, some months back I read in one of the foreign newspapers that the Fulani herdsmen are terrorists group and probably worst than the Boko Haram. I’m sure like I did our security operatives too read the story. It is one of the ways they gather security reports going by what I know about security reports. But what I find missing is their action.

Again, last November, the Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom, published a screaming headline: “Global Terrorism Index: Nigerian Fulani militants named as fourth deadliest terror group in world.”

True or False? Let’s look into the details.

The disturbing figures from the story will help situate how Fulani herdsmen’s invasion has become an albatross.

As published on November 18, 2015, the Independent newspaper wrote: “The fourth deadliest known terrorist group has been named as the Fulani militant group operating in Nigeria and parts of the Central African Republic.

“The little-known group, formed of individuals from the semi-nomadic pastoral ethnic group Fula people existing across several West African nations, has seen a dramatic escalation of its activities in the past year.

“In 2013, the Fulani killed around 80 people in total – but by 2014 the group had killed 1,229.

“Operating mainly in the middle belt of Nigeria, opposed to the north which is dominated by Boko Haram, the group recorded 847 deaths last year across five states, and has also been known to stage attacks in the Central African Republic (CAR), according to the latest report from the Global Terrorism Index.

“As much as 92 per cent of their attacks target private citizens, reflecting the group’s primary concern over the ownership of farmland. Each

attack claims an average of 11 lives, with the largest known in April 2014 killing as many as 200 people after a group of the militants targeted community leaders and residents during a meeting in central province Zamfara.”

And lest we forget, the Agatu killings in Benue community, where about 300 villagers were reportedly massacred in the first killing spree with heavy casualties recorded in communities like Aila, Okokolo, Akwu, Adagbo, Odugbehon and Odejo remain an unresolved mystery for the government, though it is more than clear who did, even at a time when the culprits have owned up to the killings calling it a “reprisal attack”.

According to a report by the Global Risk Insight, a world-leading publication for political risk news and analysis, “the Fulani group poses a serious threat to security, especially since the group’s movements and attacks are opportunistic and haphazard. Its increased propensity for violence has meant that the group now ranks as the fourth-deadliest in the world – more lethal even than al-Shabaab. Buhari may have his sights set on Boko Haram, but he can ill-afford to turn a blind eye to the Fulani militants.”

Of course, unlike the old-time Fulani herdsmen I grew up knowing, who used arrows and cutlasses, the modern day Fulani cattle rearers are ever in combat gears, armed with the trademark AK-47 rifles as they go everywhere daring farm owners and village settlers in broad daylight, gunning down children, women, men and the elderly alike, where they are resisted.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue to say Sai Baba and the deaths continue or kai Baba and we have the real change we want? The Buhari administration needs to respond to the growing insecurity across the country –especially the upsurge in crime wave attributed to the Fulani herdsmen— with moral rectitude.

LEKANFATODU HEADS-UP

N

Email lekantodun@yahoo.com

Tel 07058069255 (sms only)

Reflections on Jibrin's Stewardship

o doubt, this present time will go down in history as one of the most trying for Nigeria.

The government seem not to have found the key to providing basic necessities for the benefit of its people.

Curiously, to unravel the underdevelopment mysteries, some top government functionaries have inferred that the nation would need to wait for the emergence of public service magicians.

As such, for weeks now, Nigerians have been enduring probably the worst economic spell in recent memory.

Power outages have soared forcing several businesses, universities and essential public services to either completely shut down or resort to skeletal operations. Similarly, the prolonged and worsening fuel scarcity in Nigeria has impacted so negatively on socio-economic activities and the general way of life of the people just as the lack of potable water has made life more miserable for many while critical infrastructures that could enable speedy economic recovery remain comatose.

Noting that the country required massive public funds to fix her many problems, the presidency presented a record budget proposal of N6.08 trillion for year 2016, which, conventionally, had to pass through the National Assembly’s (NASS) appropriation.

Expectedly, the budget was scrutinised by the relevant committees of the NASS to ensure that the items on the fiscal document are geared towards the improvement of the economy and

Jibrin

the conditions of all Nigerians before approval.

In that process of scrutiny, it was discovered that the budget was replete with embarrassing errors, omissions and duplication of projects.

This startling revelation obviously compelled the Joint Committees on Appropriation of the NASS led by Senator Danjuma Goje and Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin to meticulously work on the document to ensure that all the shameful discrepancies and inconsistencies were properly rectified.

For such a task, I never doubted that Abdulmumin Jibrin, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, would ensure probity and transparency in discharging the constitutional duties of the NASS on the budget.

I have known Jibrin for long as a personal friend. His attention to details and penchant for excellence is made manifest in the inspiring leadership he provided and success achieved in the private sector as a leading entrepreneur and as former chairman of the Abuja branch of Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce before his foray into active politics.

Here is a proactive young man who always allows the interest of the masses and humanity in general to direct his steps.

This much is attested to in the exemplary role he played in saving the country’s treasury from hemorrhaging and ensuring that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) received necessary revenues from relevant government agencies when he (Jibrin) was the Chairman House Committee on Finance in the 7thNational Assembly between 2011 and 2015.

Then, as part of the finance committee’s efforts in sanitising the system, the committee exposed the non-remittance of the sum of N450 billion by the NNPC to the federation account.The committee also discovered billions of funds unremitted to the consolidated revenue fund and subsequently compelled defaulting corporations to make all payments due to the government’s purse.

All these convinced me that Jibrin would demonstrate such a sterling feat and even surpass his previous milestones in public service under the APC government of which he is a notable member.

It is however preposterous to note that after the Joint Committee of Appropriation had

completed its work, saving about N17 billion for the nation, there emerged series of allegations of misconduct against the committee on the “disappearance” of a critical item on the bill.

No sooner had the committee returned the budget to the President for assent, than news started making rounds that Calabar-Lagos Coastal Rail project, which actually was not included in the initial budget proposal presented to the NASS had allegedly been removed by the heads of the committee to favour their various communities.

I must say that the poor management of public information, particularly on the side of the executive, emboldened the purveyors of falsehood to run wild with negative stories undermining the reputation of promising public officials like Jibrin.

It’s highly indecent to read on some portal that Jibrin had allegedly moved part of the funds allocated to the controversial item to benefit himself and his immediate community when it had been established that there was no Calabar-Lagos Coastal Rail project in the initial proposal submitted to NASS and that the executive only tried to slot the project into the budget at a later time, which clearly points to the failures of public administration in our country.

And the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogora didn’t pull punches on the issue as he unambiguously affirmed thus: “The lie is that the NASS removed the project from the budget estimates. Our contention is that it was not there. Period”.

39

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Nigerian Immigration Commends Ladol Free Zone for Local Content Nosa Alekhuogie The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has applauded the expatriate ratio being adopted by the Ladol Free Zone (LFZ), saying the offshore logistics service company is a model for sustainable development in Nigeria.

The commendation was made in Lagos Monday, during a facility tour of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) by a top management team of the NIS led by its Deputy Comptroller-General Mohammed Babandede.

The managing Director, (MD) LFZ, Amy Jadesimi informed the team that the ongoing fabrication at the zone was in readiness to receive the world’s largest ship in Nigeria.

Speaking briefly with journalists after the tour, the DCG, expressed his satisfaction at the high number of Nigerians currently working on the project compared to the number of expatriates, saying what he saw was nothing short of a ’60 to one” ratio.

“I am happy with the team I met on ground, which shows clearly that you are creating employment for Nigerians in the most cost-effective manner. We heard that your zone is flooded with expatriates, which is clearly not the case.

On behalf of the Honourable Minister of Interiors and my Comptroller- General, we are ready to collaborate with you in your quest to move the country forward technologically.

The impression I had is that a

lot of them are here, and no one knows what they are doing. But I have seen that a lot is happening here. Something is being done in this Zone with technology at work. What I have seen is a ratio of 60 Nigerians to one expatriate. This is what I have seen, contrary to assumptions”, he said.

The DCG noted that the NIS as a government agency was ready to be part of the change being canvassed by the current administration, by being partners in progress rather than being a force against expatriates.

According to him, “We do not just want to be seen as military personnels with uniforms but we want to see ourselves as a law enforcement agency that wants to contribute to the economic development of Nigeria, and

drive the vision of the current government. A law enforcement that will protect immigrants, who are here to transfer technology to our people. These are some of the global best practices that we are proud to be part of.

We do not want to see expatriates come here and hijack what Nigerians can do. By year 2020, Nigeria should be exporting Nigerians to other parts of the world. We have enough graduates and experts who should be exported, and we cannot do so without giving them the opportunity to learn under the appropriate expatriates.

LADOL is a good model in this direction.”

Speaking further, he stated: “If we carry out our duty in the right way, many people will come here to invest, but in the

same way, we need to be careful of people who will come here and exploit Nigeria’s resources and leave the country empty.

We must be selective of who comes to our country and for what purpose.”

Shedding more light on the readiness of the base to receive the world’s largest vessel on anchorage at the base, Jadesimi said that the basic issues have to do with security, stating that the ISPS (International Ships and Ports Security) certification have been provided by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and enforced by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

“So, the idea is to have an efficient security system on

ground to meet with the highest standard for receiving such vessels. As far as the channels are concerned, (NPA Nigerian Ports Authority) is in charge of dredging the channels in Lagos Harbor regularly, and I must commend them for maintaining the draft up to 14 meters.

That means the channels coming from the open sea is deep enough to receive the vessel into LADOL base, and we do not envisage any problem with that. The most important thing to make the entire project economically viable is that the facility is a one-stop-shop. That is, we have all officers from all the relevant agencies on grounds who are working 24/7”, she added.

Maritime Expert Picks Holes in Port Concession Chinazor Megbolu

EXCHANGING VIEWS

President, Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, flanked by 1st Deputy National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson (left) and NACCIMA National President, Chief Bassey Edem Orok Edem (right) after the first quarterly meeting of NACCIMA in Abuja…recently

NCS to Begin Enforcement of Wrong Parking on Access Road Funke Lasisi The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded plans to enforce laws on wrong parking on the roads leading to the nation’s seaports.

The enforcement team will comprise officers and men of NCS, the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), military and the Police. The move was aimed at easing the free flow of traffic into the ports.

The NCS, Customs Area Controller (CAC), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, Comptroller Benjamin Aber made this disclosure in Lagos.

Giving an insight into the

proposed enforcement, Aber said that parking along the road has caused serious danger that may attract terrorists to carry out their nefarious activities.

The Customs chief expressed dismay that the warning given to the tanker drivers not to use the road as parking space had not been heeded.

Aber stated that the enforcement will commence as soon as the command gets approval to start the exercise.

According to him, various materials to enlighten and sensitise motorists, especially tankers drivers would be placed on strategic positions along the port access road to ensure compliance.

He also promised to restruc-

ture the command into a model command so as to create an enabling environment suitable and attractive for businesses.

While saying that revenue generation was the main target of his command, he said that poor state of the port access road and absence of free entry and exit had hindered investors and business operators from doing business in the command.

His words: “There is no access to our command in case we have containers coming in.

The roadmap we want to create will enable a good corridor and ways to the terminal for cargoes to come in. This command will be one of the best in the country after the restructuring.

A freight forwarder and the Managing Director, Bonntex Group, Mr. Boniface Okoye has faulted the concession of the nation’s seaports, saying there are no tangible gain so far made since the ports were concessioned to private investors.

He stated this recently while receiving a distinguished Achievers Merit Award in Lagos. According to him, the port concession was just a political language.

Okoye explained that the concession has created more problems than how it used to be in the past.

According to him, “it is political ambition of a few individuals for their own selfish gain. It has created more problems in the ports especially in the area of congestion.”

He explained that way back, vehicles used to have parking spaces right inside the ports and that empty containers used to go back as soon as the contents was offloaded. “But nowadays ships go back without carrying

empty containers thereby creating bottlenecks in and outside the ports,” he said.

On the award, Okoye said it was God that made it possible because it came as a result of hard work and his contribution to the maritime sector over the last 30 years.

While thanking the Managing Director, Corporate News Communications, Mr. Chris Okeh for the recognition, he noted that though there has been challenges, “but God has always been there for him and his company.”

On what advice for upcoming freight forwarders, he said: “It is good to create time in order to study the industry before you start doing clearing business.”

Okeh attributed the presentation of the Gold and Certificate of Merit award to Okoye to his contribution to the growth of the maritime sector.

“The award is in recognition of his contribution made to the growth and development of the maritime sector and the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents”, he said.

Ministry of Transportation to Acquire National Carrier Sandra Ukele The Minister for Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi has said that the ministry is concluding plans to acquire a national carrier.

He said a vessel would soon be named as the national carrier to afford cadets sea time knowledge in their chosen fields.

Also, the minister has called for a performance audit of the maritime sector, saying the audit would appraise the individual contribution of processes to the sector; unveil what is wrong in the system and reveal all other inputs into the sector.

He added that if there is a need to consult auditors from

the private sector that would be done.

He said: “How is it that nobody recognises the contribution of the maritime sector, what is wrong? Something is wrong.”

He subsequently disclosed that he would not disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF that is a revolving fund set up to assist indigenous ship owners in the acquisition of vessels.

Amaechi stated these at the recent Maritime Technical Summit organised by the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) in Lagos.

The summit themed: “The Challenges of the Maritime Transport Industry in Nigeria,”

addressed the need for a holistic review of the Nigerian maritime human capacity development.

The President of the AMES Mr. Charles Uwadia, in his welcome address, said the present failure in the maritime sector is due to the lack of in-depth technical input in maritime polices and their implementation in line with international best practices and realities.

Uwadia said: “The decline in standard, quality and profitability of the ships of Nigerian flag can be traced to their poor technical standards occasioned by the owner’s reluctance to comply with national and international standards and regulations.”

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

CONSUMER

Financing Nigeria’s Burgeoning Shopping Malls As the Nigerians continue to key into the new shopping culture, Stanbic IBTC has created a niche for itself by financing shopping malls. Raheem Akingbolu reports

Shopping mall

Euphoria and superlatives flowed freely recently as hundreds of Nigerians thronged the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos state to witness the formal opening of Festival Mall, a sprawling shopping complex in Festac Town, Lagos, owned by UACN Property Development Company Plc, Africa Capital Alliance and UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust.

Indicative of the growing pace of Nigeria’s retail space, hitherto dominated by large traditional markets, the new mall, sitting on 8.7 hectares, symbolises an evolving transformative trend in the country due to the multiplier effect on the economy. Among others, it will boost job creation; improve the retail goods supply chain, and engender reduction in crime and poverty rates through employment and empowerment, while bringing development closer to local communities.

This optimism was succinctly captured by Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, when he noted that private sector investment would be crucial in attaining substantial increases in productivity levels, wealth creation and socio-economic wellbeing.

Stanbic’s intervention With Shoprite and Silverbird Cinemas as anchor tenants, the facility was developed with a $9 million bridge facility part-funding from Stanbic IBTC Bank to commence the development phase. The bank subsequently refinanced this amount with the provision of a seven-year $25 million medium term loan facility, representing 50 percent of the total project cost. In addition, the lender provided additional support via transactional banking and hedging product to further enhance the project feasibility.Speaking during the opening ceremony, Deputy Managing Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Dr. Demola Sogunle, expressed the bank’s delight to be involved in the landmark project, which he described as a continuation of the Standard Bank Group’s tradition of funding crucial developmental projects in Nigeria and across Africa.

“We are committed to supporting infrastructure development of all types, including real estate. We are delighted to be a part of this landmark transaction that would significantly boost the retail offering in Lagos, and in so doing, drive growth in the interlinked sectors such as agriculture, logistics, finance, entertainment and technology, among others, thereby

creating job opportunities and an outlet for the growth of local enterprise within the country,” Sogunle stated.

He said despite the difficult operating environment, debt funding was secured for the project, adding that the bank provided additional support via transactional banking and hedging products to further enhance project feasibility. The transaction structure, which allows quarterly rental payments and a bullet repayment at maturity, has helped in easing the cash burden on tenants, supporting new businesses that may otherwise struggle with lump sum upfront rental payments.

Market expansion Under construction in almost every major city in the country is a mall. Conspicuous is a steady transition from pavement shopping and the corner stores in urban neighbourhoods and large unorganised trading clusters, to large, organized supermarkets that offer numerous options to shoppers. Besides plain shopping, malls come with some glamour, offer a good place to eat and hang out with family and friends, while forming an impression of community with the movement of different groups of people around the vicinity. The steady emergence of malls as economic centers has been instrumental to the exponential growth in Nigeria’s electronic payment system via the deployment of POS terminals at the malls. This has in turn boosted the cashless policy in Nigeria as an increasing number of Nigerians use their cards to make transactions. The rise of Nigeria’s middle class, emboldened by increasing economic opportunities, has triggered considerable consumer spending that is driving the need for shopping malls where world-class products and services will be available, all under one roof.

Top players Shoprite, Africa’s largest retailer, is currently expanding its presence in Nigeria with over 700 outlets in mind. Shoprite’s Chief Executive, Whitey Basson, stated in an interview with Reuters that, “Nigeria can support the same number of supermarkets as South Africa,” considering the sustainability of steadily growing the nation’s population of upwardly mobile individuals.

In the mix is Spar, the world’s largest food retailer, with about 20,000 stores in 35 countries, which has also opened nine stores in Lagos,

Abuja and Port Harcourt. Not left out is U.S. retailer Wal-Mart, which bought majority stake in South African retailer Massmart, citing growth prospects in Africa, with Nigeria as key target.

From the local scene are Addide, Goodies, Justrite, and Park ‘n’ Shop, which are rapidly expanding retail footprints in medium income neighbourhoods across the country.

Reduction in capital flight Until now, Dubai, South Africa, and UK had become preferred travel destinations for Nigerians seeking a good bargain, convenience and pleasure. In 2014, Nigerian shoppers were the fourth-biggest contributor to overseas tax-free shopping in the U.K, according to Global Blue, a tourism services provider, just behind China, Russia and the Middle East. Suits, formal wear, jewellery, cosmetics and children’s wear topped the list on the West Africans’ shopping priorities.

The scramble abroad has a number of underlining anchors. Apart from the competitive prices, these destinations offer an irresistible attraction in shopping, a well-documented indulgent among Nigerians which some social commentators have labeled a growing religion with the mall as its cathedral. The bulk of its adherents, they say, are women haggling for clothing, perfumes, cosmetics, shoes, exotic accessories and other products.

In those shores they are availed the benefits of first-world shopping environment with shopping malls and centers providing a seductive mixture of glamour and comfort, as well as a variety of quality goods and services. The preference for expensive foreign trips may appear wasteful, but the local environment essentially underpins this indulgence, until recently.

Among others, an unwillingness by investors, upended by the recent global economic turbulence, has stagnated investment in property development in Nigeria, resulting in a fewer number of malls being opened.

Appraisal However, an overview of the role of shopping malls in commerce will help underscore their importance in the development of an economy.

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) defines the shopping mall as ‘a group of retail and other commercial establishments that is planned, developed, owned and managed as a single property, with on-site parking provided.

The center’s size and orientation are generally determined by the market characteristics of the

trade area served by the center. The three main physical configurations of shopping centers are malls, open-air centers, and hybrid centers.”

Another definition describes the shopping mall as a building or group of buildings containing stores, which are connected by walkways so that consumers can easily walk between the stores.Such malls can be built in an enclosed or open-air format.

In essence, shopping malls may be likened to factories where special facilities have been established for the purpose of commerce through the provision of a wide variety of goods and services. A well-appointed shopping mall plays host to a variety of tenants featuring well known international and national retail brands providing goods and services required by all segments of society. The Palms in Lagos, for instance, is home to several foreign brands such as Shoprite, Game and Nando’s.

The financing and completion of the Festival Mall and others before it, such as Grand Towers Abuja Mall, Ikeja City Mall, and Enugu Polo Park Mall, as well as the other malls across the country highlights the effectiveness of public private partnership, with the capacity to redefine the modern retailing business in Nigeria. Interestingly, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Standard Bank funded the aforementioned malls, in what Mrs. Sola David-Borha, described as a reinforcement of a dogged determination to expand its real estate business across Nigeria. “We are proud to be instrumental to a development that would significantly boost the retail offering in Nigeria and in so doing, help create job opportunities and an outlet for the growth of local enterprise within the country.”

Definitely, with the contemporary urban feel that comes with picturesque architectural designs, the transparent façade that invites interest during daytime and glowing beacons at night, these malls will ultimately become commercial hubs for millions of visitors from across the country. Nigerians will ultimately enjoy quality shopping experience resulting from the convenience of having so many stores and services in one location. In facilitating the transaction between consumer demands and industrial production, the shopping mall comes across as a cornerstone of the modern service economy.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

ARM Urges Nigerians to Invest in Children’s Future Eromosele Abiodun Chief Financial Officer, ARM Life Limited, Ayo Odufuwa has urged Nigerians not to allow the nation’s economic crisis deter them from investing in the future of their children.

She stated this in a chat with THISDAY at the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event tagged: “ARM Dance for Life.”

The event revolved around increasing public awareness of the benefits of keeping fit especially through dancing.

Speaking on the impact of the economic crunch on the drive for new polices holders, she said people are realise the need to buy insurance policies in order to have something to rely on in times of crisis.

She said: “Times like this and the tragedies that we have had this year and the year before support the fact that we need to set something aside for our children. This is to make sure that in our absence they will be taking care of. Their education need to go on, these are the type of things that we are trying to make people understand that while there is difficulties we still need to set something aside for our children.

“Can someone tell you tom to stop sending your children to school? The economic situation is affecting all of us but that does not mean that we will not look after people that we are living behind if something happens.

It is really what you want to do for the future generation.

We cannot stop our kids from

going to school because there is economic crisis.”

On the impact of a possible devaluation of the naira on long term policy holders, she said the devaluation is debatable adding that as long as a decision has not been taking on the matter people not stop to invest in their future.

She added: “What we are looking at is the new initiatives that the government is trying to bring on board and the impact it will have on the economy.

We are hoping that their plan will help our company and other businesses in the country and Nigerians as a whole. We should have the comfort that devaluation is not the thing to do and that the government will do what they can to help businesses.

In its bid to provide a credible avenue for end-users to experience its brand offerings, ASUS has unveiled its first ever ASUS brand experience center at the Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria’s IT hub.

ASUS is a worldwide topthree consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s bestselling, most award-winning motherboards.

A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-inone PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets, smartphones and wearables. Driven by

Emma Okonji

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Stakeholders in the telecoms industry, Wednesday in Lagos, openly disagreed over some sections of the draft regulatory framework on value added service (VAS) prepared by the NCC. The stakeholders had expressed their displeasure over some aspects of the draft regulatory framework on VAS, insisting that more inputs were needed to make the policy workable. Owing to the potential of VAS market in Nigeria, whose value is estimated at over N300 billion with some 200 licensed players under the auspices of the Wireless Application Service Providers of Nigeria (WASPAN), the stakeholders said their inputs were needed in the draft policy, to make it all encompassing.

The stakeholders who spoke innovation and committed to on the need for a wholistic policy quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards framework, vowed not to be in 2015 and is widely credited maginalised in the business of with revolutionising the value added services in Nigeria.

PC industry with its Eee But in a presentation on the PC™. draft framework at an industry In a statement, ASUS consultative forum organised by Nigeria Country Product the NCC on Wednesday, NCC Manager (Notebook), consultant, Mr. Stephen Bello, Simplice Zoangodisclosed explained that key areas have that the new ASUS brand been clearly addressed by the center is an exclusive store that regulator with respect to the will stock only ASUS certified draft policy. devices and accessories.

Bello said the telecoms

ASUS Unveils First Brand Exclusive Store in Nigeria Eromosele Abiodun

Stakeholders, NCC Disagree over VAS Market Draft Rule industry has been restructured into VAS and content developers; VAS hosting and service providers; and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), saying that the aggregators would now be paying new licence fee of N10 million renewable after five years.

Other areas explained by Bello, which the regulator has come up with improved interventions include the unbundling of VAS for cost sharing, the decision for NCC to become the sole generator of short codes to operators to be renewed yearly, blockage of any text messages without properly registered caller ID to nip in the board the rising wave of unsolicited SMS, unwanted mobile adverts, among others.

However, VAS providers under the auspices of WASPAN, disagreed with the regulator on some sections of the policy draft which they argued could stifle competition, disrupt the current market structure and work against national interest of local content policy.

The National Coordinator of WASPAN, Mr. Chijioke Ezeh, noted that current VAS model has been in place since 2001 with periodic changes as various stages of the market expansion occurred. He also said they were in agreement with positive change such as the intentions of the NCC proposed changed to the status quo of the industry.

He however raised concerns on how the new policy draft could hinder competition, lead to loss of jobs and be against local content policy, breed collapse of Nigeria VAS companies, unnecessary decimation of the digital industry, dearth of innovation, work against market evolution, constitute potential risk to national security.

According to him, while the NCC’s intention was well-conceived to regulate the industry, more time was needed to accommodate more views, especially from WASPAN, in order to have an industry friendly policy that addresses all the various aspects of the nation’s telecoms VAS market.

Other VAS stakeholders including the Managing Director of CreditSwitch, Mr. Tayo Adigun and the Chief Executive Officer, L5 Lab, Mr. Chika Nwobi, disagreed on the the N10 million licensing fee introduced by the new policy, saying most players are smaller players that will not be able to pay such fee.

President, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo said some provisions in the draft policy have implications for threat to new investments, market upheaval, impacts on job creation and economic growth, national security concerns and legal liability issues.

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CITYSTRINGS

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

Building for deaf and dumb in Shomolu under construction

The Spirit of Giving

As part of activities to improve the lives of the less-privileged in the society, the Good Shepherd Society is building a two storey building to serve as a centre for the deaf and dumb in Shomolu, Lagos, write Ugo Aliogo and Jemaima Bolokor

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he hut was made of thatched roof tops. It was lacking in beauty and style. It was small and was in an ugly state. The air in the hut was polluted with offensive smell and the surrounding was littered with rubbish. Inside the hut were a group of people, who had impairment in hearing and communicating. They were looking shabby and unkempt. But despite their condition, they were worshipping and praising God. They paid less attention to whatever was going on around them. They saw every moment as an opportunity to be thankful and joyous.

In 2015, the late president of the Good Shepherd Society, a pious society in Archbishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church GRA Ikeja, Sir Ikechukwu Ezeonyido, visited the small hut located at No 106, Apata Street, in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State. He was shocked to see people living comfortably in a very deplorable condition and finding joy in suffering. He was unhappy and troubled in his spirit to do something to transform the condition of the place. He

knew quite well that the task before him was herculean in nature, therefore it required combined effort.

The Lord has given us admonition to go into the world and do good. We are trying to give our own cold cup of water to the lessprivileged. The society is all about helping people, we also help the blind in Oshodi, yearly. We also lend a helping hand to the Spinal Cord Association of Nigeria situated in Amuwo-Odofin

When Ezeonyido returned, he discussed the issue with members of the society on the need to transform the condition of the place. The members keyed into the project having received the approval of the church, but in the process, the president died. They decided that his demise will not put a stop to the initiative. They began by demolishing the hut and built a better structure which people are presently living in.

They went a step further by embarking on a massive two storey building project.

The building after completion will house a worship centre, an apartment with rooms for resident pastors, seminar rooms, and other rooms where they will be able to educate their young ones who cannot talk.

As part of efforts to give the project a facelift, the society recently organised a fund raising event at the Rotary Centre in Ikeja Government Reserved Area. The event which was aimed at raising money to complete the project which has reached an approached level, had in attendance the crème da la crème of the society.

Speaking at the event, the President of

the society, Mr. Ossie Nwankwo, stated that when they saw the ugly condition which the people were living in, they resolved to help them, adding that the Lord Bishop of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. Olushola Odedeji, who has keyed into the project, donated to support it and promised that the church will also key into the project.

Nwankwo explained that the thrust of the project is to adopt and take care of the deaf and dumb, stressing that they will also focus on what they are doing and see how the church can assist them to have a meaningful life. “We thank Lagos State government for cutting down certain things so that we could continue. Though they have not supported us, and I understand the reason for why it is so,” he noted.

He stated that they have spent 30 million on the building and they require 15 million to complete the project which is expected to be inaugurated in June, adding that the project is being carried out by engineers and architects in the society.

Nwankwo added: “The building is a two storey building worship centre. At the top

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CITYSTRINGS

A cross section of Good Shepherd members with the clergy

When the project started, the members were afraid to support. But I urged them that since the project is about God, they will sure receive the reward.

Today, apart from the cash donations, an individual has promised to give tiles, another pledged to give the paint needed for the painting of the building

floor, there will the church, the second floor will be offices, residential place for their pastors, and seminar rooms. The ground floor is supposed to be a hall where they can rent out and get some money.

“The Lord has given us admonition to go into the world and do good. We are trying to give our own cold cup of water to the less privileged. The society is all about helping people, we also help the blind in Oshodi, yearly. We also lend a helping hand to the Spinal Cord Association of Nigeria (SCAN) situated in Amuwo-Odofin.

“Good Shepherd is all about shepherding the flock, doing God’s work and lending a helping hand. Through these societies, the church carries out its mission of helping.

The church is very supportive towards this project through prayers, and they are also willing to key into the project. We want a situation where the church will be taking care of them.”

The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Oyewusi

President of Good Shepherd Society, Mr. Ossie Nwankwo

Ibidapo-Obe, said the initiative is aimed at impacting the lives of the less privileged in the society who are viewed as irritants in the society, “because nobody is taking good care of them including government.”

He expressed satisfaction with the kind gesture demonstrated by the society, stating that it is a laudable effort which will have far reaching effect on the people and the public.

Ibidapo-Obe added: “This is a great move and this society needs to be commended for it. They have been doing wonderful things in the church. I learnt that some of the members have been contributing actively to the harvest

and the growth of the church. Like the Bishop said, one cannot know what he will do to make difference. When you see these sets of people who have been forgotten in the society, it is the responsibility of government to assist them.

“I expect that after they have completed the building, the government should come into partnership with them. Government should give them grants to continue to carry out the initiative because the project is not a one-off thing. The project has to be properly funded and maintained. These people can do everything all they require is the platform to exhibit their potentials.

“Government should give them sustainable support so that the society will continue to provide this type of service. There should be support in terms of food, mobility, a centre for arts and craft, and vocational areas. It has to be sufficiently attractive otherwise, they will not stay there. What is important is that other societies should take a cue from this.

Government cannot do everything, but they should do something. Charity makes sense because in doing charity, you are actually protecting yourself.”

In his remark, the patron of the society, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, noted that true Christianity is about assisting the less-privileged in the society and therefore called on Christians to support such life changing initiative.

“When it is God’s work, things are easy and He opens doors. Today, we have realised 14 million out of the expected 15 million. I want to assure that all those who have given here today that they will give testimonies.

The bible explained that whoever lends to the Lord, will get it back with interest,” he urged.

He commended the members of the church for the support and donations towards the project, stating that the project will give glory to God and the church, “When the project started, the members were afraid to support.

But I urged them that since the project is about God, they will sure receive the reward.

Today, apart from the cash donations, an individual has promised to give tiles, another pledged to give the paint needed for the painting of the building.”

Delivering his sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Isiukwuato and Umunneochi, Abia State, Rt. Rev. Manases Okere, urged Christians to be serious in their service to God, and called for genuine commitment from Christians in their service to God. He lamented that Christians lacked the attitude of giving, therefore called for a change of heart on their path, “Christians should wake-up to their responsibility of giving to support the work of God.”

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WORLD OF ISLAM

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

How Do We Humble Ourselves Towards God?

IslamiCity

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adaru’ is a term that means extreme humility and humbleness caused by despair and is expressed when a person has reached a critical juncture. Imam Ahmed ibn Hambal explained it saying, “Imagine a man drowning in the middle of the sea and all he has is a piece of wood that he is clinging onto. He is getting weaker and weaker and the salty waves are pulling him closer to death. Imagine him with his eager eyes looking desperately at the sky crying out loud ‘O Lord, O Lord!!!’ Imagine how desperate he is and how sincere he is asking for God’s help.

That is tadaru’ in front of God”.

God teaches us in the Quran that tadaru’ is a form of worship a believer uses during emergencies and crises. It requires a person to remove the veils of arrogance and ego covering his or her heart. It implies sincere pleading to the Lord of the Worlds. It demonstrates that a person has realized how weak he is and how Powerful our Lord is. Sometimes when God sees that His servants are becoming distracted with this worldly life and have strayed from the Straight Path, He puts them in a trying situation so that they realize their weakness and run back to God for protection. Therefore calamities falling upon Muslims are to make them wake up and turn back to God. We must be thoughtful and perceptive enough to understand these messages and act upon them.

God The Almighty says, “Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad). And we seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health (with calamities) so that they might

humble themselves (believe with humility).”

(Quran 6:42). This verse shows that God uses calamities as a routine method to wake people up and encourage them to run to Him for protection. It is as if a calamity is a bitter medicine for us to become better believers. God does this for our benefit, because we need to maintain a close relationship with Him. God expresses our need for this form medicine in the following verse, “And if We had mercy on them and removed the distress which is on them, still they would obstinately persist in their transgression, wandering blindly.”

(Quran 23:75).

In another verse God says, “When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves (believe with humility)?

But their hearts became hardened, and Shaytan (Satan) made what they used to do seem fair and correct” (Quran 6:43). We must not make this mistake and close our eyes and hearts in front of God’s call to humbleness and humility to Him. We must not let Shaytan trick us into believing that our problems have nothing to do with our relation with God. God says, “Say (O Muhammad) ‘Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and the sea (dangers like storms), (when) you call upon Him in humility and in secret (saying): If He (God) only saves us from this (danger), we shall truly be grateful.’ Say (O Muhammad): ‘God rescues you from this and from all (other) distresses, and yet you worship others besides God.’” (Quran 6:63-64). No one will rescue us from the darkness we Muslims are in today except God, but first, we must call upon Him in humility.

How to achieve tadaru’: It is necessary to realize the grave calamity that is falling upon us. Our children are

being pounded by missiles that are weighed in tons, people are being oppressed and tortured all over the world. It is not so distant back in time that tens of thousands of women were raped in the Balkans and until this day innocent people are falling in Palestine with Israeli bullets. Homes are being demolished and the dignity a person is being stepped on ever day. It is not just about Iraq, and believe it or not, it is not just about our Muslim Ummah, It is about our whole planet. Our world is heading straight towards a cliff and it is not slowing down. We can delude ourselves by saying this does not affect me, but then we will be guilty of negligence. If we can’t realize the severity of the situation, then we have an additional problem, read verse (6:43) above. We need God’s help and protection!

When the whale swallowed Prophet Yunus (Jonah) after he was thrown off the boat, he was in a terrifying situation. Imagine for a second being locked up in a small closet, its dark, and there is no hope of getting out. Now imagine yourself in a whale’s stomach, imagine the darkness, and the difficulty in breathing. The whale is in the storming sea and its night. Imagine how Prophet Yunus felt, and imagine how he was when he prayed to God in humility saying, “None has the right to be worshipped but You (O God)!! Glorified (and Exalted) be You!! Truly, I have been of the wrong doers!” (21:87). Imagine a Prophet, a role model for human beings, saying that and referring to himself as a wrong doer, then imagine how we should plead to God. The night before the battle of Badr, Prophet Muhammad saw how the army of the Pagans had out-numbered them and was so well equipped. Then he looked at the Muslim army and how few they

were with poor weaponry. Badr was the first military confrontation between the Muslims and the Non-believers. It was a critical event in the history of Islam. If the Muslims lost this battle, Islam would have disappeared forever. Realizing this, Prophet Muhammad started to pray to God in humility and humbleness. He raised his hands up high, stretching his arms to the extent that his armpits appeared.

He engaged in sincere supplication to God and his body was shaking causing his cloak to fall off his back. He was begging God crying, “O Ever Living!! O Sustainer and Protector!! I beg You for Your mercy!!! O God!! I am waiting for Your victory which You have promised me. I beseech You God to defeat them.”

This is the level of humility we should try to reach when praying to God for help. Let us beg God for His help with the utmost humbleness as if we are really drowning and there is no one there to rescue us except Him. Let us get up in the middle of the night to pray ‘keyam layl’ (night prayer), and let us break down in front of God begging Him, as we have never done before. Let us gather each other and do it together. Let us pray to God in humility in groups. Let us cry to Him together, let us run to Him with our families and friends. Let us all beg him for His help, protection and guidance.

Tadaru ‘…. is what we need to understand and practice. We need to achieve tadaru’ so that God may change our situation, because…

“Verily God will never change the condition of a people until they change themselves” •Adapted from“We must always humble ourselves towards Allah” by Amr Khaled.

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This announcement is being made in compliance with the requirements of the Securities & Exchange Commission

DANGOTE INDUSTRIES LIMITED ACQUIRES TIGER BRANDS LIMITED’S EQUITY STAKE IN TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Dangote Industries Limited (“DIL” or the “Group”) is pleased to announce the execution of a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (“SSPA”) with Tiger Brands Limited (“Tiger Brands”) in respect of the acquisition of Tiger Brands’ 3,283,277,052 ordinary shares of N0.50 each in Tiger Branded Consumer Goods PLC (“TBCG” or the “Company”) representing 65.7% of the total issued ordinary share capital of TBCG for a nominal amount of US$1.00 (the “Acquisition”).

The Acquisition was completed following receipt of approvals from the Board and Shareholders of DIL and Tiger Brands, as well as requisite regulatory approvals from the Nigerian Securities & Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

DIL is confident that the Acquisition will serve as a platform for the future growth of TBCG, stabilizing its business and strategically repositioning the Company on a sustainable growth trajectory for medium to long term profitability, thereby creating value for all stakeholders.

About Dangote Industries Limited DIL is one of the largest diversified business conglomerates in Sub-Saharan Africa, established in April 1985 and headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with business activities spanning Cement (manufacturing), Sugar (plantation, milling & refining), Salt (refining), Poly Products (manufacturing), Warehouse & Logistics (port management and haulage), Fertilizer (manufacturing), Power Generation, Steel (manufacturing), Telecoms, Oil & Gas and Real Estate. The Group has operations in fifteen (15) African countries.

About Tiger Brands Limited Tiger Brands is a branded Fast-moving Consumer Goods company based in Sandton, South Africa and operating primarily in South Africa and selected emerging markets. Tiger Brands has significant presence in over 28 countries on the African continent and has 44 manufacturing facilities spread across South Africa and other operating regions with business offerings across three divisions: Grains division; Consumer Brands division; and Export and International division.

About Tiger Branded Consumer Goods PLC TBCG was incorporated as a public limited liability company in 2006, under the name Dangote Flour Mills PLC and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in February 2008. The Company’s principal business is flour milling, processing and marketing of branded flour and wheat products. The Company also offers downstream value added products through its two (2) subsidiaries in which it holds majority shareholding: Dangote Pasta Limited and Dangote Noodles Limited. The Company’s name was changed to Tiger Branded Consumer Goods PLC in August 2015, following the acquisition of majority stake in the Company by Tiger Brands.

Dated Friday, 29 April 2016

Transaction Adviser Vetiva Capital Management Limited

Legal Adviser Banwo & Ighodalo

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

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INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

North Korea’s Ballisstic Missile Test Fails again until it had figured out what went wrong in the previous failed Musudan missile launch before attempting another, a process that could take months and a sign that Thursday’s firing was rushed.

However, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency had reported on Tuesday that the North appeared to be preparing the second launch of a Musudan, which theoretically has the range to reach any part of Japan and the U.S. territory of Guam. According to South Korea, the missile has never been successfully flight-tested.

North Korea lists South Korea, the United States and Japan as its main enemies.

South Korea also says the North is ready to conduct a nuclear test at any time. It would be its fifth nuclear test.

“Signs for an imminent fifth nuclear test are being detected ahead of North Korea’s seventh Party Congress,” President Park Geun-hye said at a national security meeting on Thursday.

The defence ministry official, who declined to be identified by name, said South Korean and U.S. officials were analysing the cause of Thursday’s missile crash, declining to comment on why news of the launch was revealed several hours after it took place.

Yonhap said the fired missile was not detected

by South Korean military radar because it did not fly above a few hundred metres, and was spotted by a U.S. satellite.

The South Korean defence ministry told Reuters it could not confirm that report.

North Korea’s missile tests are in defiance of United Nations Security

Mozambique Boosts Security in Maputo Due to Demonstration Mozambican security forces have been deployed on the streets of the capital, Maputo, after rumours of planned antigovernment demonstrations circulated on social media, witnesses said.

Several posts on social media in recent days said groups were planning to demonstrate on Friday against government corruption, in particular secret borrowing that could cripple the economy in one of the world’s poorest countries.

Armoured vehicles packed with police armed with automatic weapons were deployed on major street corners in Maputo although there was no sign of unrest, two witnesses told Reuters.

Police on Wednesday told the public not to do anything to unsettle the “harmonious coexistence”in the war-scarred former Portuguese colony.

“We will not tolerate any conduct that undermines the order security and public

tranquillity,”a police statement said, referring to rumours of demonstrations.

The International Monetary Fund said on Saturday that Mozambique had admitted to having over $1 billion dollars of undisclosed debt.

On Thursday, Britain followed the IMF and World Bank in suspending aid payments in light of a“serious breach of trust” created by the recently disclosed borrowing, which analysts say could trigger a serious debt default.

Mozambique’s currency, the metical, plunged more than 4 percent amid concerns the aid withdrawal could contribute to an already yawning current account deficit and even hinder Maputo’s ambitions to develop vast off-shore gas-fields.

The metical had fallen 55 to the dollar by 1031 GMT, close to a lifetime low of 58.34 hit in late November, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Council sanctions against the country, which were strengthened following a

which travelled about 30 km (18 miles) off its east coast.

On Saturday, North Korea tested a submarinelaunched ballistic missile,

January nuclear test and a space rocket launch the following month.

Trump’s ‘America First’ Speech Alarms US Allies Donald Trump’s first major foreign policy address alarmed American allies, who view the Republican front runner’s repeated invocation of an“America first”agenda as a threat to retreat from the world.

While most governments were careful not to comment publicly on a speech by a U.S. presidential candidate, Germany’s foreign minister veered from that protocol to express concern at Trump’s wording.

“I can only hope that the election

campaign in the USA does not lack the perception of reality,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.

“The world’s security architecture has changed and it is no longer based on two pillars alone. It cannot be conducted unilaterally,”he said of foreign policy in a post-Cold War world.“No American president can get round this change in the international security architecture....

‘America first’is actually no answer to that.”

Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister who served as UN envoy to the Balkans in the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, said he heard Trump’s speech as “abandoning both democratic allies and democratic values”.

“Trump had not a word against Russian aggression in Ukraine, but plenty against past U.S. support for democracy in Egypt,”Bildt said on Twitter, referring to lines from

Trump’s speech that criticised the Barack Obama administration for withdrawing support for autocrat Hosni Mubarak during a 2011 uprising.

Trump’s speech, uncharacteristically read out from a teleprompter, seemed aimed at showing a more serious side of a politician who has said he intends to act more “presidential” after months of speaking mainly off the cuff.

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North Korea’s launch of the ballistic missile failed again, crashing seconds after the test launch, South Korea’s defence ministry said.

Isolated North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile launches, in violation of U.N. resolutions, and tests of military technology ahead of the Workers’ Party congress that begins on May 6, and Thursday’s launch looks to have been hurried, according to a defence expert in Seoul.

A South Korean defence ministry official told Reuters that the launch at about 6:40 a.m. local time (2140 GMT Wednesday) from near the east coast city of Wonsan appeared to have been of a Musudan missile with a range of more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles).

It crashed within seconds, the official said.

“They are in a rush to show anything that is successful, to meet the schedule of a political event, the party congress,” said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defence and Security Forum and a policy adviser to the South Korean navy.

“They need to succeed but they keep failing. They didn’t have enough time to fix or technically modify the system, but just shot them because they were in hurry,” he said.

Thursday’s apparent failure marks another setback for the North’s young leader Kim Jong Un. A similar missile launched on the April 15 birthday of his grandfather, the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung, exploded in what the U.S. Defense Department called a “fiery, catastrophic” failure.

Some experts had predicted that North Korea would wait

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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Burkina Faso’s President Says Criminal Charges Possible after Audit Burkina Faso’s president said there may be criminal charges after an audit found the transitional government had improperly awarded land to government members and their families, and misspent $11 million.

Voters elected Roch Marc Kabore president of the landlocked West African country in November, ending a one-year transitional government that came to power after popular protests overthrew longtime ruler Blaise Compaore.

The prime minister of the transitional government, Yacouba Isaac Zida, and current prime minister Paul Kaba Thieba had both requested the audit, the report said, which

was published this weekend.

In total, 18 of 52 parcels of land in the upscale neighborhood of Ouaga 2000 were accorded to people close to the transitional government, including one plot that was given to Zida through his foundation, the audit said.

Zida wrote to the national company of urban land management to say he would return the land if the money he had paid for it was reimbursed to him, the ministry of habitat said earlier this month.

The High Authority of State Control and the Fight Against Corruption (ASCE) said that 53 percent of public commissions were obtained through opaque means and

CHANGE OF NAME

6.4 billion CFA francs ($11 million) were misappropriated.

The audit said the discrepancies stemmed from spending on fuel and mismanagement of certain accounts.

“It is the black mark of the transition and I believe there is something that can be done,” Kabore said on television late on Tuesday.

“Concerning the government, we have read the audits.

We have asked everyone who has been concerned (by it) to respond and when there is a complete report, it is ASCE’s responsibility to start the judicial process.”

It was not immediately clear when the final report would be released.

I formerly known and addressed as EJIMNKEONYE CHIAMAKA PASCHALINE, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOYE CHIAMAKA PASCHALINE . All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OMUN HELEN ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as OMOSUN AIMANEHI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUWABUNMI ABIOLA BUARI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUWABUNMI ABIOLA BOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLUWASEUN ABIMBOLA OLALEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASEUN ABIMBOLA KASUMU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as CHRISTOPHER STELLA UDEME, now wish to be known and addressed as INYANG STELLA UDEME. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Syria: 27 Killed in Aleppo Air Strikes Air strikes destroyed a hospital and killed dozens of people in rebel-held areas of Syria’s Aleppo including children and doctors, and the United Nations called on Moscow and Washington to salvage a“barely-alive”cease-fire.

The city of Aleppo is at the epicenter of a military escalation that has undermined peace talks in Geneva to end the five-year-old war and U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura appealed to the presidents of the United States and Russia

to intervene.

Six days of air strikes and rebel shelling in Aleppo, which is split between government forces and rebels, have killed some 200 people in the city, two-thirds of them on the opposition side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.

“The catastrophic deterioration in Aleppo over the last 24-48 hours” has jeopardized the aid lifeline that delivers supplies to millions of Syrians, said Jan

Egeland, chairman of the U.N. humanitarian task force.“I could not in any way express how high the stakes are for the next hours and days.”

The Geneva talks aim to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis, allowed for the rise of Islamic State and drawn in regional and major powers but the negotiations have all but failed and a truce to allow them to take place has collapsed.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS BOLANLE MONSURAT AJAYI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BOLANLE MONSURAT LAMEED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NKEMAKOLAM AHIAKWO. Now wish to be known and addressed as NKEM AJUA. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

This is to inform the general public that KINGS GATHERING OF FRIENDS, now wish to be known as NOBLE GATHERING OF KINGS FRIENDS CLUB. All former document remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JIMOH FATAI, now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH FATAI ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, GODWIN KOKOETE JACKSON is also the same person bearing the names ROLAND EDWIN. All former document remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS JANET MBOO OLUJI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JANET MUMEBO SMART. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLUKAYODE RUFUS, now wish to be known and addressed as STEPHEN KAYODE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as GORROH PETER, now wish to be known and addressed as GORROH SAPPY. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank PLC and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS KEHINDE OLUWAFRUNMILOLA OWOSO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KEHINDE OLUWAFUNMILOLA EHI-OBODEH. All documents and certificates remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BABAJIDE OREDEGBE, now wish to be known and addressed as BABAJIDE GAFARI BANDELE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as VICTORIA MICHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as ARCHIBONG VICTORIA UDUAK. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ITODO SALISU LAWAL, now wish to be known and addressed as SALISU LAWAL ITODO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISSKEHINEOLUWAFUNMILOLA OWOSO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KEHINDE OLUWAFUNILOLA EHI-OBODEH. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Formerly known as AJEMINA JAMES now wish to be known as AJEMINA KINGSLEY YOUNG. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Formerly known as KALAGBOR GEORGE JUNIOR now wish to be known as GEORGE NYECHE SOKARI KALAGBOR . All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

29th April, 2016.

PLEASE NOTE THAT LOUIS DREYFUS COMMODITIES NIGERIA LIMITED HAS BEEN RENAMED LOUIS DREYFUS COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED (the “COMPANY”).

In line with a global rebranding and global name change, we inform the general public that Louis Dreyfus Commodities Nigeria Limited has been renamed Louis Dreyfus Company Nigeria Limited. All other details of our Company remain the same.

Our new name builds on our core values and rich heritage, and is yet simple and straightforward - as clear, functional and efficient as we want our operations and services to be for all our key stakeholders.

SIGNED : MANAGEMENT LOUIS DREYFUS COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED

56

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

LIRS Engages 1,200 Tax Audit Professionals Obinna Chima In its drive to ensure full maximisation of its revenue generating potential and to commence tax audit exercise of 2016 in earnest, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service ((LIRS) has engaged 1,200 members of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) as Tax Audit Monitoring Agents (TAMAs). The TAMAs are authorised to act as agents of LIRS for tax audit and assurance purposes.

The LIRS carried out a review of the appointment and operational procedure of the TAMAs in order to enhance efficiency in its audit exercise.

Their duty would be to collect requisite information during tax audit field exercises, collate, prepare and submit tax audit reports based on the facts gathered for use by the LIRS. A statement yesterday revealed that workshop was organised for the agents in Lagos recently.

Present at the workshop were the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mustapha Akinkunmi; Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Finance, Oluyinka Ogundimu; Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, and other management staff of the agency.

In his opening remark, Ogunsanwo implored the TAMAs to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism.

“We believe you will demonstrate a high sense of responsibility and integrity in this noble assignment in line with international best practices as we hope to improve the internally generated revenue of the state and ultimately engender a sustained culture of voluntary compliance amongst tax payers in Lagos.

“I have no doubt in my mind that your professionalism will be of tremendous value during this year’s exercise and beyond,” Ogunsanwo said.

The revised Tax Audit Manual was also formally presented

which highlights the systematic steps of auditing as well as ethical standards and codes in line with international best practice.

“The TAMAs at the training undoubtedly emerged to be the best in the stock of applications that we received.

The selection process was quite painstaking and took into consideration a number of preconditions, professionalism and track records in the most vital areas,” the Board Secretary of LIRS, Mr. Jimi Aina said.

Advising the TAMAs at the workshop, Director, Tax Audit, Mrs Bolaji Akintola, said: “The Image and reputation of LIRS is key in tax audit, therefore we charge you to stand for what LIRS stands for, by avoiding any form of compromise, illegality, unprofessional conducts and shunning all under the table transactions.

“Under the existing LIRS rules, erring agents may be delisted, prosecuted and reported to their professional bodies for further disciplinary actions.”

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

FBN Holdings to Cut Jobs in Bid to Restore Profit FBN Holdings Plc plans to cut jobs and focus less on providing loans to the oil industry in a bid to reverse last year’s 82 percent slump in profit.

The lender expects to boost its return on equity, a key measure of profitability, to between 11 per cent and 14 per cent in 2016 from last year’s “really bad” figure of 3 percent, according to the chief executive officer of FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adesola Adeduntan.

The bank is also targeting a cost-to-income ratio of 55 percent in two years’ time from 59 percent, he said.

Bloomberg quoted him as saying: “ROE will be much better than last year. At a minimum, we should triple it. We do not shy away from taking difficult decisions. We

used to have above 8,000 people. We’ll push it down, gradually, to 7,000.”

Net profit fell to N15 billion from N84 billion in 2014, as impairments soared and Africa’s biggest economy slowed amid a crash in the price of crude, the biggest source of government revenue and export earnings. Growth decelerated to 2.8 percent in 2015, the lowest level since 1999, and may worsen to 2.3 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

First Bank’s non-performing loans ratio stood at 22 percent at the end of March, compared with 3.8 percent a year earlier.

Reducing that figure is the “number one priority,” said Adeduntan. The bank will do that by reducing the proportion of its lending to the oil

and gas sector, currently at about 39 per cent of total loans, and focusing more on blue-chip companies in other industries, he said.

Adeduntan ruled out any equity raising this year, saying the bank’s capital adequacy ratio of 17.2 percent was enough of a buffer and above the central bank’s minimum requirement of 15 percent. It would still be adequate if the floor is raised to 16 percent in July for systemically important institutions, including First Bank.

“We continuously evaluate it and the position now is that there’s no need for external capital,” said Adeduntan who became CEO in January after joining First Bank as chief financial officer in mid-2014.

“We generate enough internal capital,” he said.

Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Unveil e-trading Platform on NSE Erromosele Abiodun Nigeria’s largest stockbroking firm and member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited has launched an online stockbroking service on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with real-time processing capacity.

The Stanbic IBTC E-Trade provides investors with realtime market information as well as enabling them give real-time mandates to buy or sell shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Among its uptakes, the platform is expected to help the market regain the confidence of investors by availing them of insight required to act prudently on new investment opportunities in the marketplace via a secure and robust technologicallydriven platform.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Sola

David-Borha, said the Group is committed to helping deepen the Nigerian capital market by making available to the investing public information, initiatives and strategies that could help them have superior information about developments in both the local and global markets.

She stated: “In introducing the new platform, the overarching goal is to identify both opportunities and threats in the global marketplace, which is made available to investors in real-time to enable them respond as quickly as possible.

Our focus is on attracting investment to the Nigerian economy. The Stanbic IBTC E-Trade Platform is targeted at all retail investors.”

Enumerating the benefits of the platform, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Titi Ogungbesan, stated that with reliable and timely data, decision making is faster

and investors are better able to structure their activities for efficiency, while tapping into opportunities, all of which will positively impact both their portfolios and returns.

Ogungbesan, who said there is no better time to invest in the Nigerian capital market than now when prices of equities are low and consequently attractive, noted that trading on Stanbic IBTC E-Trade is limited to only NSE for now. She highlighted other benefits of the Stanbic IBTC E-Trade to include flexible online trading environment anywhere, 24-hour access to your brokerage account, access to live market data from The Nigerian Stock Exchange for instant investment decision, convenience, transparency and control over your investment. Others are instant email notification on your transactions, automated contract note and trade notification delivery system.

(MILLION NAIRA)

FEBRUARY 2016 Broad Money (M2)

20,489,166.72

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,095,578.34

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,377,483.11

---- Demand Deposits

7,682,095.23

-- Quasi Money

11,429,588.38

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,471,351.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

15,017,814.94

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

22,414,322.75

---- 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 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WED 27 APRIL 2016 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $41.38 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $39.88 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

55

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

28-Apr-16

01 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc.

27-Apr-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 27-Apr-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

24,809.29 8.53

24,957.08 8.58

0.60 0.60

101.80 7.93

102.22 7.96

0.41 0.41

145.00

145.00

0.00%

92,885,602,635.00

11.12

13.04

1.19

1.52%

3.87

02 Access Bank Plc.

4.06

3.95

2.78%

92,904,650,766.48

2.28

1.78

0.35

13.55%

0.32

03 AIICO Insurance Plc.

0.76

0.76

0.00%

5,266,955,404.80

0.28

2.75

0.16

6.58%

0.54

04 Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

14.77

14.77

0.00%

27,741,044,130.80

3.21

4.61

0.82

8.80%

2.68

05 Cap Plc

38.50

38.50

0.00%

26,950,000,000.00

2.49

15.49

3.82

2.99%

17.73

06 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

7.45

7.45

0.00%

9,362,249,356.70

0.96

7.79

0.72

1.34%

0.92

07 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.00

1.00

0.00%

10,372,744,312.00

0.21

4.84

0.53

12.00%

0.67

08 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.80

3.80

0.00%

22,351,083,941.00

0.71

5.32

0.75

3.68%

0.86

163.40

160.99

1.50%

2,784,418,909,977.00

10.64

15.36

5.66

4.90%

4.32

10 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

5.80

5.80

0.00%

69,600,000,000.00

0.96

6.03

0.69

8.62%

1.20

11 Diamond Bank Plc

1.42

1.49

-4.70%

32,887,752,334.56

0.24

5.81

0.15

0.00%

0.15

15.00

15.00

0.00%

275,243,268,225.00

1.39

10.77

0.53

4.13%

0.74

Table 4 Top 5 Losers

13 FBN Holdings Plc

3.60

3.57

0.84%

129,223,054,051.20

0.42

8.53

0.26

4.17%

0.22

Stock

14 FCMB Group Plc.

1.02

1.00

2.00%

20,198,764,969.08

0.24

4.24

0.13

9.80%

0.12

15 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.20

1.17

2.56%

34,769,756,427.60

0.48

2.50

0.24

13.33%

0.19

16 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.05

2.15

-4.65%

3,075,000,000.00

0.50

4.13

0.37

2.44%

0.49

21.00

20.00

5.00%

55,108,980,927.00

1.84

11.41

0.17

9.52%

0.54

225.63

237.50

-5.00%

293,878,811,269.89

4.45

50.72

2.36

1.53%

6.35

19 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc.

22.55

22.55

0.00%

26,967,014,804.40

0.81

27.94

0.88

1.33%

2.05

20 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

16.64

16.23

2.53%

489,734,822,287.36

3.38

4.93

2.14

10.64%

1.18

21 Guinness Nig Plc

91.00

95.00

-4.21%

137,035,825,108.00

0.78

116.92

2.75

0.00%

3.07

1.56

1.49

4.70%

12,371,108,346.48

0.14

11.04

0.25

10.26%

0.58

23 International Breweries Plc.

20.00

20.00

0.00%

65,884,985,600.00

0.64

31.29

3.56

1.25%

5.47

24 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

25 Lafarge Africa Plc.

70.33

74.00

-4.96%

320,346,244,297.30

5.93

11.87

1.20

4.27%

1.82

2.24

2.24

0.00%

23,520,000,000.00

0.16

14.15

1.42

2.23%

1.35

155.00

155.00

0.00%

55,892,265,610.00

13.51

11.47

0.87

4.65%

3.64

8.39

8.00

4.88%

22,228,787,991.42

0.79

10.56

1.37

6.56%

3.14

620.00

620.00

0.00%

491,446,876,240.00

29.95

20.70

3.25

4.68%

12.93

3.66

3.80

-3.68%

5,944,640,625.00

0.33

11.05

0.70

5.46%

0.98

110.38

106.07

4.06%

875,214,156,017.44

5.37

20.56

3.17

3.26%

5.14

4.60

4.75

-3.16%

55,359,246,912.40

0.50

9.20

0.10

16.30%

0.35

33 Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

29.00

29.50

-1.69%

27,663,390,000.00

2.76

10.51

2.84

0.34%

2.29

34 P Z Cussons Nigeria Plc.

20.35

20.35

0.00%

80,799,207,865.75

1.10

18.54

1.12

6.39%

1.92

35 Presco Plc

35.01

35.01

0.00%

35,010,000,000.00

3.28

10.68

3.08

0.29%

1.56

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

340.00

340.00

0.00%

188,125,506,420.00

23.48

14.48

1.67

4.68%

0.67

0.98

0.96

2.08%

13,602,695,381.80

0.85

1.15

0.10

30.61%

0.10

13.85

13.76

0.65%

138,500,000,000.00

2.04

6.80

1.17

0.72%

1.23

1.41

1.48

-4.73%

40,594,489,557.66

0.36

3.94

0.37

6.38%

0.42

154.19

140.06

10.09%

52,350,872,047.03

11.92

12.94

0.25

9.08%

3.22

1.01

1.04

-2.88%

39,108,207,399.25

0.05

19.25

0.96

0.00%

0.45

18.20

19.00

-4.21%

34,959,731,843.40

2.70

6.74

0.48

5.49%

0.47

3.85

4.03

-4.47%

6,617,187,480.75

1.81

2.13

0.59

18.18%

0.20

30.71

30.71

0.00%

116,185,027,837.50

0.32

97.44

1.96

0.16%

14.52

46 United Bank for Africa Plc

3.40

3.40

0.00%

123,350,389,494.80

1.64

2.07

0.39

17.65%

0.37

47 Unity Bank Plc

0.70

0.70

0.00%

8,182,536,559.40

0.54

1.29

0.13

0.00%

0.10

48 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,124.00

0.10

5.16

0.94

6.00%

0.45

49 Wema Bank Plc.

0.79

0.75

5.33%

31,195,814,838.27

0.06

13.09

0.66

0.00%

0.66

50 Zenith Bank Plc

12.28

12.30

-0.16%

385,548,943,692.08

3.37

3.65

0.89

14.66%

0.65

09 Dangote Cement Plc

12 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

17 Flour Mills Nig. Plc. 18 Forte Oil Plc.

22 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

26 Mansard Insurance Plc 27 Mobil Oil Nig Plc. 28 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc 29 Nestle Nigeria Plc. 30 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc 31 Nigerian Brew. Plc. 32 Oando Plc

36 Resort Savings & Loans Plc 37 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd. 38 Skye Bank Plc 39 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc 40 Sterling Bank Plc. 41 Total Nigeria Plc. 42 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 43 U A C N Plc. 44 UACN Property Development Co. Limited 45 Unilever Nigeria Plc.

TOTAL

7,959,094,838,311.60

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,584,772,921,637.00

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

92.71%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close 28-Apr-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open Close Change 27-Apr-16 28-Apr-16 %

Total Nigeria Plc. Wema Bank Plc. Flour Mills Nig. Plc. National Salt Co. Nig. Plc Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

140.06 0.75 20.00 8.00 1.49

154.19 0.79 21.00 8.39 1.56

10.09 5.33 5.00 4.88 4.70

Open Close Change 27-Apr-16 28-Apr-16 %

Forte Oil Plc. Lafarge Africa Plc. Sterling Bank Plc. Diamond Bank Plc Fidson Healthcare Plc

237.50 74.00 1.48 1.49 2.15

225.63 70.33 1.41 1.42 2.05

-5.00 -4.96 -4.73 -4.70 -4.65

Bargain hunting resumes as ASI appreciates by 0.60% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Thursday, April 28, 2016 was bullish as the market closed green due to resumed strategic positioning activities by investors. This was further highlighted by positive performances from all the NSE Sub sectors; Banking, Insurance and Consumer Goods (Save Oil & Gas). Trading activities increased in volume as 338.34 million shares worth N1.995 billion in 3,428 deals exchanged hands today. This is an increase from the 285.34 million shares worth N1.35 billion in 3,083 deals carried out on Wednesday. Topping in volume terms was Access Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with 0.60% (147.79) increase to 24,957.08 from 24,809.29 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization appreciated in tandem to N8.58 trillion from N8.53 trillion of prior trading day.

The Thisday BGL 50 Index also followed suit with an increase of 0.41% to close at 102.22 from 101.80 the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N7.96 trillion from N7.93 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 18 stocks gained on the bourse today while 22 stocks declined, leaving 149 stocks unchanged. Total Nigeria Plc emerged the toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 10.09% to close at N154.19 per share.

It was followed by Wema Bank Plc with a gain of 5.33% to close at N0.97 per share. Others on the gainers list include; Flour Mills Nig. Plc, National Salt Co. Nig. Plc and Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, while on the decliners’ list; Forte Oil Plc led with a loss of 5.00% to close at N225.63 per share. It was followed by Lafarge Africa Plc with a loss of 4.96% to close at N70.33 per share.

Others on the losers list include; Sterling Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Fidson Healthcare 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

58

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 29 , 2016

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank Shareholders Hail Performance, Approve Dividend Goddy Egene and Eromosele Abiodun Impressed with the strong financial performance in 2015 despite the difficult operating environment, shareholders of Access Bank Plc have commended the board and management of the bank.

The shareholders, who gave the commendation at the bank’s annual general

meeting (AGM) in Lagos on Wednesday, also approved a final dividend of 30 kobo per share in addition to the interim dividend of 25 kobo, which was paid in September 2015.

Access Bank’s profit rose from N52 billion in 2014 to N75 billion in 2015.

Speaking on the bank’s performance, the National Coordinator, Independent

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

Shareholders Association of Nigerian (ISAN), Sunny Nwosu and President, Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, Farouk Umar, applauded the bank’s remarkable achievements and noted that the dividend payment was an indication of the resilient performance recorded in the year.

“Access Bank has consistently

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

STO C K

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

delivered on its dividend payout to shareholders compared to its peers in the banking industry. The bank’s performance in 2015 is commendable in view of the difficulties that we had last year,” Nwosu noted.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Chairman of the bank, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, said that the group posted another year of

6 6 12

30.00 34.00

12,629 11,640 24,269

374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

19 19 31

1.25

1,078,511 1,078,511 1,102,780

1,358,964.30 1,358,964.30 2,154,839.65

5 68 13 86 86

0.77 1.13 20.47

33,500 6,740,423 65,995 6,839,918 6,839,918

25,070.00 7,635,453.96 1,344,425.15 9,004,949.11 9,004,949.11

13 13

41.50

31,970 31,970

1,409,214.78 1,409,214.78

5 5 18

5.20

28,901 28,901 60,871

154,716.48 154,716.48 1,563,931.26

6 24 7 98 135

2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

9 9

168.50

166,476 166,476

28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95

54 38 6 12 1 29 140

5.61 19.00 1.37 6.86 6.65 1.27

2,120,306 314,421 40,000 119,863 433 3,285,739,119 3,288,334,142

11,610,520.13 5,953,792.96 55,716.00 842,442.48 2,736.56 4,074,348,894.07 4,092,814,102.20

11 54 65

17.86 700.00

18,825 98,360 117,185

329,518.50 68,567,962.00 68,897,480.50

11 11

4.46

99,050 99,050

420,455.00 420,455.00

13 21 34 394

21.90 28.00

36,887 133,117 170,004 3,289,575,498

820,034.75 3,737,067.92 4,557,102.67 4,244,727,629.11

82 51 21 25 200 41 16 147 11 15 67 676

4.10 1.49 15.60 1.21 16.70 1.07 1.76 2.95 5.30 0.63 0.98

3,962,506 2,163,396 278,470 790,900 4,847,312 1,969,858 1,204,932 8,586,418 39,752 501,617 5,920,564 30,265,725

16,210,255.82 3,314,106.88 4,136,459.40 958,864.34 80,963,793.44 2,115,552.11 2,087,767.85 25,302,954.71 205,645.40 316,018.71 5,813,502.17 141,424,920.83

14 8 2 3 7 10 1 1 46

0.80 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.06 0.76 0.50 0.50

200,107 276,500 5,004,000 1,000,000 351,540 327,285 37,708,135 10 44,867,577

160,838.67 251,350.00 2,502,000.00 500,000.00 720,728.80 245,325.31 18,854,067.50 5.00 23,234,315.28

1 1

1.08

4,760 4,760

4,950.40 4,950.40

31 7 105 7 20 170 893

2.46 4.00 0.85 14.15 1.31

1,149,464 27,041 31,257,120 38,035 708,255 33,179,915 108,317,977

2,830,722.84 104,002.06 26,613,309.20 537,985.34 931,556.31 31,017,575.75 195,681,762.26

27

2.69

614,065

1,572,223.05

strong earnings in 2015, as revenues grew by 38 per cent to N337 billion in 2015, from N245 billion in 2014. Profit also rose to N75 billion in 2015 from N52 billion in 2014.

“In 2015, we defied the odds and acted decisively to boost our capital, raising N41.7 billion of additional Tier 1 capital which met healthy demand from investors. This, in addition to the $400 mil-

lion Tier II capital issued in 2014, provides the group with enhanced capacity to leverage market opportunities in target sectors and expand its digital banking capabilities,” she said.

Also speaking at the AGM, Group Managing Director/ CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, explained that management has made significant strides in delivering on the bank’s growth objectives..

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32 4 6 69 69

25.33 0.94 0.69

551,998 16,020 597,000 1,779,083 1,779,083

13,903,164.18 15,299.40 412,110.00 15,902,796.63 15,902,796.63

1 1 1

1.69

500 500 500

805.00 805.00 805.00

16 9 4 6 10 31 76

24.00 9.30 35.78 8.62 3.36 80.50

110,727 40,229 26,700 142,300 299,900 14,373,223 14,993,079

2,707,053.97 362,501.29 992,680.00 1,227,076.00 966,480.00 1,157,057,077.16 1,163,312,868.42

6 6

1.51

134,500 134,500

204,240.00 204,240.00

5 5 87

50.00

24,529 24,529 15,152,108

1,165,135.50 1,165,135.50 1,164,682,243.92

2 2

0.50

24,262 24,262

12,131.00 12,131.00

90 90

3.47

3,827,573 3,827,573

13,288,632.05 13,288,632.05

21 7 8 21 7 64

18.34 1.84 342.00 150.00 145.00

81,125 100,300 20,300 16,295 13,699 231,719

1,505,034.50 182,832.00 6,595,470.00 2,396,080.60 1,959,692.96 12,639,110.06

33 33 189

318.00

389,934 389,934 4,473,488

124,037,602.56 124,037,602.56 149,977,475.67

1 1

0.50

941 941

470.50 470.50

5 5

3.80

32,870 32,870

127,756.40 127,756.40

13 13

0.89

624,500 624,500

538,430.00 538,430.00

1 22 23

2.29 4.00

4,588 251,094 255,682

10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64

1 1 43 1,811

1.68

10,000 10,000 923,993 3,428,226,216

16,000.00 16,000.00 1,694,242.54 5,785,390,675.15

2 2 2 2

1.21

270,464 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

306 306

11.45

13,929,679 13,929,679

159,605,439.23 159,605,439.23

278 278 584

3.74

10,438,552 10,438,552 24,368,231

39,515,087.18 39,515,087.18 199,120,526.41

35 35 35 619 2,432

139.83

38,770 38,770 38,770 24,407,001 3,452,903,681

5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 204,425,192.41 5,990,143,129.00

2 2 2 2 2 10 10 10

2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 18.07

3,000 20 20 20 15 3,075 3,075 3,075

6,986,000.00 46.70 120.20 221.80 270.65 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

57

HERDSMEN MENACE

Soyinka Flays Buhari over Fulani Herdsmen’s Attacks Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over what he described as his government’s seeming inability to contain the violent activities of herdsmen across the country.

In his address to the National Conference on Culture and Tourism, Soyinka said the President Buhari-led government was yet to come up with an articulate solution to tackle the menace.

Fulani herdsmen had on Monday unleashed terror on Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State,

killing dozens of people. The attack came weeks after a similar wave of violence by herdsmen in Agatu in Benue State.

Soyinka, according to Premium Times, said: “I have yet to hear this government articulate a firm policy of non-tolerance for the serial massacres that have become the nation’s identification stamp.” “I have not heard an order given that any cattle herders caught with sophisticated firearms be instantly disarmed, arrested, placed on trial, and his cattle confiscated. The nation is treated to an eighteen-month optimistic plan which, to make matters

ACF, Cattle Breeders Condemn Attack on Enugu Community Tobi SoniyiinAbuja Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) have yesterday condemned Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Enugu State, describing it as most unfortunate and barbaric.

The ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, commiserated with the government and people of Enugu State “over this unfortunate ugly incident.”

According to Premium Times, it called on security agencies to unmask the perpetrators of the heinous attacks, so as to end current “dangerous generalisation” of Fulani herdsmen as responsible for the attacks.

“Nigeria cannot afford to graduate from Boko Haram insurgency to an unwarranted attack by unknown gunmen alleged to be Fulani herdsmen.

“The traditional Fulani nomads have coexisted peacefully with their host communities and have been grazing their cattle for decades all over Nigeria without any such attacks.

“ACF is therefore disturbed and seriously concerned with this recent development.

“Criminals hiding under whatever guise and committing heinous crimes against innocent people and the state should be

treated as such and in accordance with the law,” it stated.

Also, MACBAN called on all herdsmen to be law abiding and steer clear of any move by any group to rope them into attack on peaceful communities.

The group expressed shock on the recent killings in Enugu, allegedly committed by herdsmen.

In a statement yesterday signed by its National Secretary, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, MACBAN said it was terrified, adding that these heinous acts from whomever were condemnable and reprehensible.

“Short of shielding anybody or group of people or absolving the so-call herdsmen, it is imperative and incumbent upon the authorities especially security agencies to look into these pathetic developments beyond appearances, stereotyping and profiling,” the group said.

According to the association, widespread attacks of these sorts and the quick apportioning of blame on the herdsmen without concrete proofs, smacks of a possible diabolical grand design by some hidden vested interest in the country or beyond, who are bent on fomenting trouble and setting one ethnic tribe or region against another.

The association also called for vigilance while exploring all avenues to come to grips with the smokescreen embedded in this unfortunate development.

Abia Lawmakers Want Security Agencies to Search for Arms in Trailers,Trucks Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia With the rising apprehension over the mass killings by Fulani herdsmen, the Abia State House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution directing security agencies in the state to search for arms in all trailers and trucks conveying cattle, tomatoes, onions and other goods from the north to the state.

The resolution was taken as part of measures to avert possible occurrence of mass killings by the herdsmen following the incident in Enugu, a neighbouring state to Abia.

It is strongly suspected that arms are being smuggled by the herdsmen through trailers and trucks laden with agricultural products coming from the northern part of the country hence the need to stop the supply route of weapons.

The resolution by ABHA was sequel to a matter of urgent public importance raised by the Minority Leader, Mr. Chibuzor Okogbuo, who represents Bende South State constituency.

He expressed fear that if

precautionary measures were not taken urgently Abia could find itself experiencing the ugly incident at Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo Uwani council area of Enugu State, where over 40 persons were massacred

by Fulani herdsmen.

While presenting the motion, Okogbuo had drawn the attention of the House to the atrocities the herdsmen committed at Ukpabi Nimbo in neighbouring Enugu State and prayed that a resolution should be passed to restrict the provocative activities of herdsmen and their cattle in Abia communities.

The Abia lawmakers also enjoined communities in the state to be vigilant and proactive in order not to be caught napping in the event of any attempt by the herdsmen to engage in murderous activities.

Aside from searching vehicles for hidden arms, the House further urged security agencies in the state to mount surveillance and set up patrol teams and keep their eyes on grazing areas and ensure that herdsmen were not allowed to carry lethal weapons.

worse, smacks of abject appeasement and encouragement of violence on innocents.

“Let me repeat, and of course I only ask to be corrected if wrong: I have yet to encounter a terse, rigorous, soldierly and uncompromising language from this leadership, one that threatens a response to this unconscionable bloodletting that would make even Boko Haram repudiate its founding clerics.

“When I read a short while ago, the presidential assurance to this nation that the current homicidal escalation between the cattle prowlers and farming communities would soon be over, I felt mortified.

“He had the solution, he said.

Cattle ranches were being set up, and in another 18 months, rustlings, destruction of livelihood and killings from herdsmen would be ‘a thing

of the past’. 18 months, he assured the nation. I believe his Minister of Agriculture echoed that later, but with a less dispiriting time schema.

“Neither, however, could be considered a message of solace and reassurance for the ordinary Nigerian farmer and the lengthening cast of victims, much less to an intending tourist to the Forest Retreat of Tinana in the Rivers, the Ikogosi Springs or the moslem architectural heritage of the ancient city of Kano. In any case, the external tourists have less hazardous options.”

Recalling with nostalgia how he – in the company of the late Segun Olusola – journeyed across Nigeria in the pre-war 60’s, mostly out of curiosity, Soyinka said: “But now, would the young adventurous set out to visit the mystery caves of

Anambra and its alleged curative pools from mere interest?

“They would think twice about it. It is not merely arbitrary violence that reigns across the nation but total, undisputed impunity. Impunity evolves and becomes integrated in conduct when crime occurs and no legal, logical and moral response is offered.”

Narrating his experience with cattle herders, right at his doorstep, recently, he said: “I returned from a trip outside the country about to find that my home ground had been invaded, and a brand-new ‘Appian way’ sliced through my sanctuary.

“That ‘motorable’ path was made by the hoofed invaders. Both the improvised entry and exit are now blocked, but interested journalists are invited to visit.

“In over two decades of living in that ecological preserve, no such intrusion had ever occurred. I have no idea whether they were Fulani or Futa Jalon herdsmen but, they were cattle herders, and they had cut a crude swathe through my private grounds.

“I made enquiries and sent alerts around, including through the Baale of our neighborhood village. There has been no repeat, and hopefully it will remain the first and last of such invasion. What it portends however is for all thinking citizens to reflect upon, and take concerted measures against.”

The Nobel laureate noted that herdsmen are among humanity’s earliest known tourists and must be taught a culture of settlement with their hosts.

WHAT’S AMUSING?

PresidentMuhammaduBuhari(left),receivingEnuguStateGovernor,Hon.IfeanyiUgwuanyi,atthePresidentialVillainAbuja....Wednesday

S’East Governors Not Living up to Expectation, Says IPOB Senators accuse Buhari of silence, call for summit Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia with agency report Reactions yesterday continued to trail the killings of 40 people in Enugu State by Fulani’s herdsmen as the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide yesterday blamed the governors of the South-east geopolitical zone for allowing the Fulani herdsmen to have a field day in committing atrocities against the people, which has now culminated in the massacre of over 40 people in Enugu State.

IPOB in a statement signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, said the governors had failed in their duties as chief security officers and had instead elected to play politics with the lives of the people.

The pro-Biafra group said that it was appalling that even after seeing the looming dangers posed by the herdsmen, the governors did not see the need “to summon emergency meeting to deliberate on the impending dangers and the condition of their people.”

It insisted that it was justified “in pointing accusing fingers at the governors and politicians in the Biafra land over the killing of our people,” adding that “they were used by their counterparts in the north against their people.

“We are totally disappointed with the governors and politicians of this land for not knowing the meaning

of chief security officer of the state and their limit,” IPOB said.

The group specifically lambasted the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over his “weak response” to the menace of Fulani herdsmen in his state “by indulging in paying compensation and shedding crocodile tears” each time the marauders struck.

It noted with concern that Governor Ugwuanyi did not make any strong statement when 76 farmers of Ugwuleshi community were dumped in prison by soldiers following clash with Fulani herdsmen and instead gave the community N8 million compensation.

Mocking the Enugu governor, IPOB said: “Now it is the killing of the Uzo Uwani people you (Ugwuanyi) declared two days fasting and prayers and dished out N5million for your dead brothers in Uzo Uwani of Enugu state. Now it is in UmuchigboAbakpa Nike you are going to declare one week fasting and prayers and dish out another N10million to them for the burial, what a shame Ugwuanyi?”

Referring to the perceived antiChristian agenda of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, IPOB said the South-east governors have been docile, doing nothing to promote their own faith and protect their people from “the strategy to Islamise the Biafrans and Christians.”

Meanwhile members of the South-east caucus in the Senate have

called for an emergency summit of South-east and South-south political and traditional leaders as a platform to proffer coordinated response to the menace of marauding herdsmen.

They also accused President Buhari of negligence and refusal to give even a “cursory routine condemnation” after attacks allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.

This was contained in a statement signed by Eyinnaya Abaribe, a Senator representing Abia State.

The call for summit came in the wake of a deadly attack on Monday on Nimbo, a community in Enugu State, blamed on herdsmen.

Buhari on Wednesday condemned the attack, and asked security agencies to respond to the spreading menace.

The president has been widely criticised for not responding quickly to previous attacks.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja, the South-east senators warned of imminent danger and possible attack on the unity of Nigeria should the federal government fail to “urgently address the Enugu massacres by the marauding Fulani herdsmen.”

According to their statement, the senators not only condemned the attack, “which left over 50 persons dead and scores driven out of their homes”, they also called for a “summit of South-east and South-south state governors, members of national and state Houses of Assembly, socio-cultural

associations, traditional rulers and major stakeholders immediately.”

The emergency summit, according to the lawmakers, is to review and evaluate what they described as a “very scary situation” and proffer a coordinated response that would ensure the security of lives and properties of their people.

The attitude of Buhari towards the attacks allegedly perpetrated

by Fulani herdsmen necessitated the call for emergency summit, the caucus said.

“The summit has become urgently necessary against the background of the ominous silence and apparent indifference of the presidency over the killings in Enugu, some areas in Delta State and so many other zones in recent time even when there was obvious intelligence reports.

“We can no longer sit and watch while our people are daily slaughtered like fowls without even attracting the cursory routine condemnation by the presidency.

“We are even more appalled that despite the alarm raised by the Uzo Uwani communities of an imminent attack by the Fulani herdsmen and the associated vague assurances by the Chairman of Fulani community in Enugu that such attack will not happen, yet the security agencies failed to prevent the attack that happened two days after the alarm.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Auto Manufacturers Upbraid Senate, Hail House over Official Vehicles Purchase Crusoe Osagie The National Automotive Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NAMA) yesterday bemoaned the decision of the Senate to acquire imported, fully-built official Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for its members, incurring over 40 per cent extra cost for the country compared to locally made vehicles.

The Chairman of NAMA, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, who made the statement at a press conference in Lagos, however praised the House of Representatives for making the more patriotic and economically viable choice of acquiring their official vehicles from the Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN), a local manufacturer.

Aromolaran said believing in the patriotic spirit of the elected senators, NAMA members submitted tenders to provide the Senate as well as the House of Representatives with vehicles assembled in Nigeria by Nigerians with globally accepted standards, but was shock to learned of the decision of the Senate to procure imported fully-built SUVs when much more affordable locally assembled alternatives were offered.

“We listened to the pathetic

explanation of the Senate House Services Committee chairman, and were filled with nothing but pity for this country. The insensitivity of an elected body could not have been so clearly displayed when you consider the Senate could have saved suffering 40 per cent of the eventual outlay by being patriotic and promoting vehicles assembled by extremely talented and diligent Nigerian workforce.

He noted that the Senate would have secured the continuous employment of about 4,000 Nigerians for a whole year by supporting local industry, maintaining that the patronage alone maybe enough to ensure its successful take-off.

According to him, the Senate would have supported about 50 component manufacturers that supply the auto industry and help create a value chain that typically impacts no less than four other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“Had the Senate not decided to starve the local industry of patronage, it would have helped grow and sustain at least 50 medium scale enterprises whose future revenue streams would flow into our corporate and personal taxation system, helping to sustain the government revenue base. The Senate by

this self-centred decision held down the automotive industry for at least four years. A pity indeed,” he added.

He noted that to attain the current state of the auto manufacturing industry, investors who believe in the future of the country and its people have put at risk resources that could have been deployed elsewhere in a globally competitive market, warning that the future of this entity as a viable economic unit is threatened when state resources that could be deployed to create jobs for the nation’s teeming youth, add value to its naturally occuring material base are fittered to oil the ego of but a few.

“It is for reasons like these that Nigerian businessmen

have enormous difficulty in convincing global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to see Nigeria as an investment destination.

Nigerians that undertake to fund these investments are being stabbed in the back daily by unscrupulous non-value adding importers and compromised government functionaries.

Meanwhile, Arowolaran he applauded the leadership of the House of Representatives for embracing the cause to develop the nation by supporting its industries and putting aside personal aggrandisement at the tough time to procure locally assembled sedan vehicles, saying that by this move, they have identified with

the suffering of their brothers and their families.

He said within the next four months, Peugeot cars will roll out of the Kaduna plant to the waiting hands of the people’s representatives, adding that this development will give employment opportunities to hundreds of people, engage local suppliers round the clock, and in turn employ support staff to carry out various sub-contract jobs.

“Value added to our steel products, rubber extracts, glass sheets and plastics from our petrochemical plants will flourish,” NAMA Chairman added.

Also speaking at the event, the Plant Head, Stallion Limited, Mr. Prakash Kharat, said Nigeria has tremendous

potentials to develop the auto industry, stating that Nigeria should stop importing things it has the competitive advantage of producing locally.

He added that currently, the auto industry is still struggling to get their inventory sold to support the national economy and provide job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.

The Managing Director, Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited, (ANAMCO), Mr. Maduabuchukwu Okeke, said the government must support the auto industry, saying that without the support of the government it will take a long time to achieve any meaningful growth in the sector.

Nigeria, EU to Start Migrant Return Talks The European Union (EU) and Nigeria are set to reach a deal on how to send migrants back to Africa’s most populous country in order to curb migration flows into the union.

The readmission agreement was recently employed between the EU and Turkey, which has dramatically curbed migration flows from the Middle East.

An online news medium, TheCable with quoted Financial Times, said the “readmission agreement would probably involve migrants from Nigeria being deported in exchange for EU economic aid for Abuja.”

In the past 16 months, over 25,000 Nigerians have migrated in Italy, one of the 28 countries in the EU, with some more in other European countries.

Figures from the Italian interior ministry show the number of Nigerians arriving that country has increased by 37 per cent this year compared with the same period in 2015.

It would be the bloc’s first major return deal with a subSaharan African nation — its only existing one is with tiny island nation Cape Verde.

The EU and Nigeria agreed to “take the necessary steps to launch negotiations” for a deal after meetings in Brussels in March.

The deal with Turkey, as signed earlier in the year, is one in which Ankara

agreed to accept the return of migrants landing in Greece — including Syrian refugees — in exchange for benefits, including aid and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

The deal with Turkey, the EU give about $7 billion to the Turkish government, in a bid to return its people to their home country.

Striking a deal with Nigeria has become a focus for EU diplomats after a jump in arrivals of people from the country to Europe since 2014.

While the number of Nigerians entering Europe is just a handful, in comparison to arrivals from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, the EU considers the flow of Africans as a long-term structural problem.

Given the population growth trend not just in Nigeria but across west Africa, “these pressures for migration are going to be huge,” the EU diplomat said.

Nigerians are said to arrive Italy via the central Mediterranean from Libya, seeking greener pasture through dangerous means, with many more expected in the days ahead as Nigeria’s population of more than 180m is expected to jump to 300m by 2030.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment over a potential deal with the EU, but Nigeria may look to the terms secured

by Turkey, it said.

PUTTING PDP IN ORDER

L-R: Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwabo; National Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Adewale Oladipo; and National Chairman, PDP, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, at the 70th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja...yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

NLNG Opposes Proposed Amendment to Establishment Act Ejiofor Alike Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) yesterday at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources opposed the proposed amendment of its Act by the National Assembly and restated its commitment to the development of the Niger Delta, as well as willingness to partner government agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to develop the region.

At the public hearing on a bill to amend the NLNG Act, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Babs Omotowa, was quoted in a statement by the company’s General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, as saying that this was why NLNG is easily one of the biggest promoters of corporate social responsibility in the area, supporting education, infrastructure development, and entrepreneurship.

“As evidence of our commitment to the development of the Niger Delta, NLNG has spent $177 million in the areas

of infrastructure and education in the region. So it is not an issue of reluctance to support Niger Delta, but one of ensuring we work within the confines of the law and honour agreements and promises to maintain the valued reputation of our country in international business,” Omotowa said.

The NLNG boss noted that NLNG needs to be in the position to continue to support the region through being a successful Nigerian company, bringing value to the region and the nation in general, but that this would only be possible if the promises made to investors are not broken by amending the NLNG Act, which would certainly portray the country as one that does not honour agreements.

He emphasised that keeping agreements entered into with investors was crucial to retaining and attracting foreign investment into NLNG as well as other sectors of the economy in line with the drive of the current administration.

“The intervention of NLNG, more than any other single factor, has led to the progressive decline in Nigeria’s gas flaring

profile over the years, from well over 65 per cent in the 1990s, to less than 20 per cent today. Therefore, aside from the fact that the company is earning revenue for the federal government and its other shareholders, it is cleaning up the Niger Delta environment in the process. It goes without saying the NLNG Act has been pivotal to the commencement of the project in the first place, and for the huge success the company has represented for Nigeria, with the country reaping over US$33billion from its initial investment of $2.5billion. The Act enabled the company to grow from its original 2-Trains to 6-Trains, creating an asset base of $19 billion,49 per cent of which the federal government owns.”

He clarified that: “Incentives which have been granted to NLNG are not peculiar to Nigeria. They were granted to encourage investments in gas utilisation to reduce flaring which had become a major problem for the country.

Examples of similar incentive initiatives abound in Angola (12 years), Oman, Malaysia, Qatar and Trinidad (up to 10

years). Other more generous incentive schemes also exist in Nigeria, in the Free Trade Zones.”

He remarked the current amendment effort is most unusual as it attempts to enforce the payment of a levy from which an entity is expressly exempted by a valid and subsisting legislation in which the Federal Government of Nigeria gave unequivocal undertakings and declarations that induced significant investments.

“As far as we are aware, this is the first time in the history of legislative practice in Nigeria that a proposal is being made to amend a law for the sole purpose of imposing a levy against a company for the benefit of an agency of government. We urge the Honourable Committee not to lend itself to the establishment of an unjust precedent. To do otherwise would be to encourage other agencies of government who fail to make their case in judicial proceedings in court, to resort to legislative engineering to achieve what they failed to obtain in court,” he said.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

FG won’t Embark on New Power Projects in 2016, Says Fashola NERC investigates Discos’ metering claims, estimated billing ChinemeOkaforinAbuja

The federal government will not take up new power projects this year but will concentrate its finances and energies on completing already awarded projects in the power sector to boost the country’s electricity capacity, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed.

This came as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday said it had set up an investigative taskforce to keenly look into claims by the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s power sector that they had installed sizeable amount of electricity meters to their customers since they took over operations in November 2013.

The minister said in order to gain time and achieve better success in boosting electricity supply, the government had decided that as much as possible, it would not embark on any new projects, adding thatfocuswouldbeonthecompletion of already awarded projects.

Fashola in a statement from his media aide, Mr. Hakeem Bello yesterday in Abuja explained that parts of the projects to be completed bygovernmentin2016wouldinclude 47 transmission projects across the country.

Also to be considered would be the revamping of Oji River coal power plant which is the only coal power station in the country and the 750 megawatts (MW) Zungeru hydro power plant in Zungeru, Niger State.

The statement noted that Fashola said this when he appeared on a Channels Television programme.

The minister explained that irrespective of the delay in passage of the 2016 budget, there was a plan to complete 47 transmission projects

this year.

“There is a plan to complete 47 transmission projects in this year’s budget and I believe we can do it even if the budget is passed tomorrow,” said Fashola.

He also disclosed that in addition to those projects, government was looking at other sources to achieve incremental power, adding that the road to incremental power lay in completing projects using a variety of sources including wind.

Meanwhile, NERC also said it had set up a similar taskforce to investigate complaints by estimated electricity consumers in the 11 distribution networks that they are now excessively billed by their Discos for electricity supplied to them.

Thecommission’sactingChairman, Dr. Anthony Akah, disclosed this to journalists when he inauguratedanew customers’ complaints forum office in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

Akah noted that the investigations would be conducted with a view to establishingclassactionsagainstDiscosthat mayhaveflaunteditsrelatedregulations onmeteringandestimatedbillingtotheir customers.

Hesaidthecommissionhadreasons todoubttheclaimsonmeteringbrought beforeitbytheDiscos,addingthat since 2013, Enugu Disco which supplies electricity to Ebonyi and four other states in the South-east have done poorly with a current metering gap of 512,335 out of the 732,423 customers captured under it.

Akah also said the taskforce on metering would monitor the meter roll out plans which the Discos submittedtothecommissiontoascertain the authenticity of the processes they adopted.

He further said: “They are two taskforces, one on metering and the other, estimated billing. We have written to the Discos to give

ANAN Seeks Collaboration with EFCC President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Anthony Chukwuemeka Nzom, FCNA, has sought collaboration between the association and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the area of forensic study, as part of efforts to rid the country of corruption.

Nzom, who led a delegation of national and state executives of the association to the office of the acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, in Abuja, said: ‘‘Very soon, we shall be opening our resource centre. Some people have donated money for us to complete the centre. When it is completed, we would like you to send resource persons, at least once in three months, to train our members in forensic accounting.”

He further hailed the appointment of Magu as acting Chairman of EFCC, describing it as a round peg in a round hole.

According to him, ‘‘This position is well-deserved. You have been a member of ANAN for nine years and you have been representing the association very well. ‘‘I want to also express my gratitude to President

Muhammadu Buhari for deeming it fit to appoint you to this esteemed position. I am highly honoured that you could spare some time with us.

We congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment.

If you did not merit it, you won’t be here. You merited it by your intelligence, your professionalism and your integrity. We are grateful to Mr. President for giving you this opportunity to serve the nation.”

In his response, Magu thanked the delegation for their visit and promised to support their course, particularly because of the long-standing relationship between the association and the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML).

He added: ‘‘It is because of my basic knowledge in accounting that made me stand out in special fraud investigations.’’

The Secretary to the commission, Emmanuel Aremo Adegboyega, in his closing remarks, thanked ANAN for the visit, while urging them to patronize the EFCC Academy for their activities,

us details of all the customers they have metered in the months. We have asked them to give us their names, addresses and also indicate the vendors of the meters.”

He also said the taskforce on

metering would investigate the sources of the Discos’ meters to make sure they do not fund their metering plans with monies generated through the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Initiative (CAPMI).

Akah explained that NERC was aware that some Discos are breaching its metering plans but that it would not take that.

According to him, the taskforce on estimated billing will also conduct its

investigationsoncustomers’complaints in this regard.

Discos who are found to have breached its regulations of these,Akah noted will be penalised according to its rules.

THUMBS UP

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari; and wife of Oyo State Governor Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, at the commencement of the free health screening programme for women in Oyo State by the Mrs. Buhari at the Loyola College in Ibadan...yesterday Felix AdemolA

ASUP Threatens FG with Industrial Action

Paul Obi in Abuja

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) yesterday threatened the federal government that it would resort to another round of industrial action should government continue to ignore its demands it reached with the union in 2012.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, ASUP President, Usman Dutse, explained that several agreements ASUP and government signed in 2012 were yet to be implemented. He listed the agreements to include, nonimplementation of CONTISS, poor state of polytechnics, underfunding of the sector and lopsidedness in funding

by TETFUND, dichotomy between HND and bachelors’ degree, non-implementation of NEEDS assessment report on polytechnics, delay in the passage of polytechnic act and review of scheme of service among others.

According to Dutse, “It is expedient for us to state that this is not the first time we are bringing to the fore the challenges confronting the education sector in Nigeria, particularly the Polytechnic subsector and the demands our union had placed before government as far back as 2012.

“You may recall that these were some of the issues that had compelled our union to embark on a nine-month strike between October, 2013 and July 2014. That long strike was suspended owing to the intervention of the National Assembly; the passionate appeal of parents and other stakeholders in

the sector; and on the promise by the federal government to resolve the 13 points demand of the union within three months beginning from July, 2014.

“Since the suspension of that strike, none of the contending issues has been resolved by government.

What we have rather is the addition of new problems to the myriad of existing ones. The scenario obviously suggests that the coming years will be grim and marked by sluggish growth and total neglect of the sector.”

Dutse stated that “there is no gainsaying the obvious that education at all levels in Nigeria is on a steep and steady decline.

The situation has been aggravated by the lack of moral and political will by governments to diligently pursue the execution of policies and to demand for accountability by officials and policy implementers.

We have also consistently failed as a nation to draw lessons and copy challenges from other developed economies of the world and this has resulted in the deplorable situation we have found ourselves today.

“We are aware that the issues between government and ASUP have lingered for years. We are also cognizant of the fact that this government came to power about one year ago but then government is a continuum.

“What is particularly worrisome to our union is the approach of officials of government to the need of our sector and the pre-eminence of dialogue in resolving the impasse. In September, 2015

we had addressed a press conference, drawing attention of the then incoming government to these issues and proposed ways of resolving them.”

He observed that ASUP “expectation was that the re-constitution of the Federal Executive Council by Mr. President will nip the issues in the bud considering the quality of the appointees and the magnitude of the problems at hand.

“Our hope in this direction is gradually fading away as no concrete step has been taken to address the issues. Our attempts to meet government officials and to explain the urgency of the demands have also failed.

“We have been reluctant to take appropriate actions to address the situation because we believe in dialogue and we have always practiced responsible unionism.

However, we are now being pushed to resort to extreme measures in resolving industrial dispute and we shall act accordingly.

“We have decided to place this position before government and the Nigerian public for the benefit of the sector and to challenge government to act now in order to avert another industrial disharmony in our polytechnics,” he said.

On the poor funding of the educational sector in the last 12 years, Dutse stated that “from 1999 to 2013, the total budget of the country was 35.133 trillion, with Education taking only 3.128 Trillion, indicating 8.28 per cent. These are the funds to be expended on 40 federal universities, 21 federal polytechnics,

22 Colleges of Education and 104 Unity Colleges, summing up to 187 ‘functional’ federal institutions that were available at that time.

“The 2015 and 2016 budgetary allocations to the sector neither provided the required respite for development of education in the country. In 2016 budget for example, it is perplexing to note that the allocation made for library development in the office of the vice president is far above the total allocation made for Library development for all the 25 federal polytechnics in Nigeria,” the ASUP president maintained.

ASUP also accused TETFUND of deliberately underfunding polytechnics in the country, stating that, “the gross underfunding of our sector over the years has been responsible for its failure to brace up to confront new challenges and to deliver on its mandate. This constant neglect and short-changing of the sector is always evident in the disbursement of funds, especially in areas of special and high impact intervention as well as staff development and training, particularly by the TETFund.”

“The situation has left most of the polytechnics underdeveloped and critically dysfunctional.

The distribution of funds by TETfund between universities, polytechnics and colleges of education is statutory [and unfortunately] pecked in the ratio of 2:1:1 or 25 per cent: 12.5 per cent: 12.5 per cent. This ratio has not been followed despite its lopsidedness and our institutions still wallow in personnel needs and training and infrastructural decay.

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FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

2016 PDP WARDS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS AND STATES CONGRESSES Parts 1.3 (A&B) and 2.2 (iv&v) of the Electoral Guidelines for the conduct of Year 2016 Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) provide that there shall be a Ward Congress to elect members of the Ward Executive Committee and Ward Delegates to the LGA and State Congresses. Part 2.1 (i) also stipulates that the Ward Congress Committee shall conduct the elections at the Ward Congress.

Accordingly, the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party has nominated the following Party members to serve on Electoral Committee and Electoral Appeal Panels for the conduct of Ward Congresses, LGA Congresses and State Congresses in the following States commencing from Saturday, April 30, 2016, Thursday, May 5, 2016 and Tuesday, May 10, 2016 respectively.

ADAMAWA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Dr. Abiye Sekibo Chairman 2.

Alh. Abdullahi Ohioma Secretary 3.

Hon. Mike Kalango 4.

Dr. Godwin Duru 5.

Hon. Habu Dawaki 6.

Alh. Yusuf (Barma) Gumel 7.

Mrs. Stella Nwajei 8.

Ahetima Jallaba 9.

Adamu Ahmed Datijo 10.

Wisdom Ivo Okafor 11.

Chief Lawrence Osiebu B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Aminu Yakudima Chairman Pastor Godwin Akpovie Secretary Barr. Moses Ibeyemi Chief Chris Onyeri Otunba Kunle Yusuff -

AKWA-IBOM STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Senator Umaru Tsauri Chairman 2.

Hon. Denis Alonge Niyi Secretary 3.

Dr. Sadiq Musa Member 4.

Prince Abdullahi Obaje “ 5.

Barr. Vincent Okpaleke 6.

Ms Kemi Adewunmi 7.

Mr. Noble Akenge 8.

Alh. Usman Abubakar 9.

Mrs. Victoria Madaki 10.

Barr. Cosmas Ugwueze 11.

Hajia Gambo Niger B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Chief Tunde Akindehin Hon. Mahmud Bichi Veronica Williams Dr. Umar S. Hauwa Rita Okeyia

BAUCHI STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Nnoli Nnaji 2.

Hon. Daniel Udoh 3.

Amb. Umar Ilyasu Damagum 4.

Hassan Ahmed Grema 5.

Okunbiri E. Dortimi 6.

Umaru Babayo 7.

Barr. Sylvester Egbenidion

Chairman Secretary Member “ “

Chairman Secretary -

8.

9.

10.

11.

Barr. Val Ikeonu Alh. Kabiru Usman Hon. Ado Dogo Audu Hon. Josephine Naodi

-

Appeals Committee 1.

Hon. Boniface Archibong 2.

Dr. Bashir Balarabe 3.

Barr. Efeke Hauwa Solomon 4.

Vivien Ojobo 5.

Dare Adeleke

Chairman Secretary -

BAYELSA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Hon. Edwin Anayo 2.

Dr. Sylvester Omaji 3.

Samuel Iyoyo 4.

Donatus Nwabueze 5.

Ene Ogbeh 6.

Hon. Dr. Okey Ibe 7.

Saratu Hamman Janru 8.

Hon. Logun Wasiu 9.

Henry Beedie 10.

Paul Abbey 11.

Mr. Ewitat Uduak B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Hon (Barr) Dozie Ike Dr. (Barr) Ime T. Ekpoattai Hon. Samaila Lado Kankia Hon. Alaye Don Pedro Mr. Aminu Yahaya Okeke

-

BENUE STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Barr. Caleb Ubale 2.

Alh. Wada Abubakar 3.

Mr. Jude Fregene 4.

Alh. Wada Masu 5.

Alabi Ebenezer 6.

Umar Wasa 7.

Babangida Maina 8.

Ashiru Abdullahi Bomo 9.

Hon. Chidi Okoh 10.

Alh. Aminu Sankara 11.

Hon. Alex Marama B. 1.

2.

3.

Appeals Committee Prince Victor Egbune Alh. Ibrahim Abdulahi Austin Atiti

Chairman Secretary Member

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary

4.

5.

-

“ “

CROSS RIVER STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Hon. Taleb Tebite (JP) Chairman 2.

Hon. Abdul Azeez Idris King Secretary 3.

Mr. Daniel Yusuf 4.

Prof. Sam Aghalilo 5.

Hon. Bucky Olakpade 6.

Hon. Barr. Dennis Omovie 7.

Hon. Mike Ogwa 8.

Mr. Shaibu Ali 9.

Mr. Friday Adejo 10.

Alh. Shakur Yinusa 11.

Chief Adakole Ijogi B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Barr. Fred Majemite Alhaji Yahaya Alfa Comrade Ovuzorie Maculay Hon. Stella Ogigba Hon. Jimmy Ochei, Esq

DELTA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Dame (Mrs) Uzor Nwandu 2.

Barr. Musa Amagbor 3.

Hon. Ado Datti 4.

Engr. Kingsley Chinedu Oki 5.

Mrs. Mercy Sharon Ayuba 6.

Mr. Innocent Nnaji 7.

Dr. Lawrence Ezenwa 8.

Dr. Frank Collins Okafor 9.

Umeh Anthonente 10.

Joseph Haruna Kigbu 11.

Barr. Raymond Nnah B. 1.

2.

Chairman Secretary Member

Alh. Musa Sakan Miss Ruth Efemini

Chairman Secretary Member Member

Chairman Secretary Member “ “ “ “ “ “ “

Appeals Committee

EBONYI STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Barr. Emma Okah Chairman 2.

Barr. Theophilus Owhor Secretary 3.

Prince Weli Wosu 4.

Mr. Emeka Onowu 5.

Mrs. Joyce Ajikere 6.

Major Jack 7.

Mrs. Torka Apenu

1

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

8.

9.

10.

11.

Mrs. Toru Ofili Chief Ogbams Ojimah

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Barr. Osima Ginah Barr. Vitalis Ajoku Mrs. Emila Nte Barr. Hanny Woko Mr. Promise Jacobs

ENUGU STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Alh. Ibrahim Bashir 2.

Eugene Onuegbu 3.

Hon. Idowu Onyie 4.

Christiana Didel 5.

Frank Ogar 6.

Harirat Mabe Yakubu 7.

Hon. Uzo Azubuike 8.

Lawal Anche 9.

Ugochukwu Okeke 10.

Ndubuisi Nwigwe 11.

Colet Odenigbo B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

EKITI A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Appeals Committee Hon. Adamu Kalba Barr. Chima Nwana Emeka Ekwueme Joel Clinton Elizabeth Ogbaga STATE: Congresses Committee Hon. Chief Henry I. Ikoh Diran Odeyemi Mr. Kalu Chukwuemeka Isreal Parker Davies James Yakubu Funmiso Babarunde Ayo Aluko Akin Adeyi Yemi Komolafe Olubunmi Aronolo Christian Akinmade Habibat

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Dare Adeleke Ola Kukoyi Aminu Yakubu Shamaki Bbati – Bello Hon. Samuel Bulus

FCT A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Congresses Committee Wing Commander Wisdom Barr. Tony Okah John Okpako Omene Ahamdi Ejimudo Chikwe Barr. Dukkas Mohammed Hon. Asimiyu Alarabe Dr. Amos Ighorodje Clement Awoyedu Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwujah Princess Bola Kwara Hon. Ikechukwu Akonobi -

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

Appeals Committee Hon. Ibrahim Ahmed Nafada Hon. Isa Bello Gwadayi Raymond Edijala Hon. Sylvester Nwanko -

5.

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary Member “ “ “

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary

Bakura Waziri Abuna

-

GOMBE STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Bashir Bukar Rimi 2.

Dr. Jacob Audu 3.

Hon. Habiba Adams 4.

Alh. Umaru Magaji 5.

Dr. Jalo Buba 6.

Yawale Boltingo 7.

Dr. Emmanuel Asufi 8.

Mrs. Aladi Usman Gift 9.

Alh. Abubakar Mijinyawa 10.

Yakubu Barau Ningi B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee

JIGAWA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Hon. Salisu Dabo 2.

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwujah 3.

Adamu Shuaibu Gwani 4.

Sheriff Audu 5.

Alex Eyamike 6.

Hon. Aminu Abdulsalam Giwa 7.

Chief Augustine Nwodo 8.

Hon. John Ogbodo 9.

Dr. Sandra Ote Dafiaghor 10.

Barr. Chuwang I. Paul 11.

Emmanuel Joseph Etim B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Chairman Secretary

Appeals Committee Col. Kujipilam Chief Mike Udo Yomi Ajayi

-

Chairman Secretary Gombe Enugu Ogun

KADUNA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Prince Tajudeen A. Aleshinloye 2.

Hon. Mathew Akwe Doma 3.

Mr. Ogaga Udi 4.

Alh. Ibrahim Isa Mayana 5.

A. Moh. Jikan Malam 6.

Muazu Bawa 7.

Okey Ozoani 8.

Emmanuel Inyang 9.

Hon. Ubale Jakada Kiru 10.

Engr. Sarki Labaran 11.

Hon. Kamal Olonenoje B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Hon. Kawu Idris Comrade Fidelis Edeh Engr. Steve Agbaka Hon. Fatai Adams Mr. Patrick Omeje -

KANO A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

STATE: Congresses Committee Hon. Suleiman Lawal Kauru Hajia Amina Aliyu Wamba Hon. Enesi Kutemi Chief Eloka Nwafor Barr. Yusuf Hardo Alhaji Lawan Owando

Chairman Secretary - Member - -

Chairman Secretary Member

Chairman Secretary Member Member Member

Chairman Secretary -

8.

9.

10.

11.

Emmanuel Alamu Hassan Jirgi Ibrahim OLumide Ajiga Hon. (Mrs) Broderick Preye

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Engr. Solomon Bello

-

Kingsley Muogbo Barr. Ochai Jacob Mrs. Linda Onovughe Olayebi

Chairman Secretary Enugu Plateau Delta

KATSINA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

2.

3.

Alh. Kashim Ahmed Grema 4.

Gody Nwankwo 5.

Shetimman Kallungo 6.

Prince Kola Adewusi 7.

Mrs. Grace Aderounmu 8.

Dr. Hauwa Husseini 9.

Hon. Rabiu Bako 10.

Hon. Dennis Odebala 11.

Mrs. Ngozi Oguike

- Imo - Delta - Imo

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee

Chairman Secretary - Enugu - Imo - Bauchi

KEBBI A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

STATE: Congresses Committee

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee

Barr. Ray Nnaji Hon. Chuma Nnaji Hajiya Zainab Julde

Usman Saidu Umar Hajiya Hauwa Musa Kida Mathias Arekie Hon. David Egbe Hajiya A’in Maradun Alh. Ibrahim Baba Kassim Hon. Madu Mai Princess Philomena Ededey Alh. Tajudeen Alesinloye

Shehu Abubakar Sunday D. Zoaka Francis Iyasere

- -

Chairman Secretary Gombe Kaduna Enugu Cross Rivers Zamfara Adamawa Yobe Delta Oyo

-

Chairman Secretary Borno

-

Edo

KWARA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Chief Niyi Oyeleye 2.

3.

Hon. Aliyu Tukur 4.

Dr. Chris Oghenechovwen 5.

Alh. Haruna Turaki 6.

Hon. Hajara Haruna 7.

Abdullahi Abubakar Danladi 8.

Hon. Yinka Aluko 9.

Mrs. Olabisi Olabimpe 10.

Wale Soladoye 11.

Hon. Larry Ogieva B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

Appeals Committee Hajiya Aisha Ahmad Darina Mr. Efe Itie

Chairman Secretary - Borno - Enugu - Gombe - Osun

Chairman Secretary Jigawa Delta Gombe Kano Ekiti Osun Edo Chairman Secretary - Kano - Bayelsa

2

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FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

5.

Hon. Nduka Ozougwu

- Imo

NASARAWA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Hon. Baba Shehu Agae 2.

Hon. Sado Sunday 3.

Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo 4.

Kindom Nwala 5.

Hon. Peter Tsauza 6.

Alh. Ruki Ibrahim 7.

Mr. Gift Enejere 8.

John Obidinma 9.

Chinedu Lawrence 10.

Chief Livinus Iwuoha 11.

Alh. Razak Adekola

- Chairman - Secretary - Member “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Chairman Secretary - Gombe - Katsina - Delta

Appeals Committee Garba Akoma Gona Alh. Lawan Wowo Barr. Blessing Oborevwori

NIGER STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Sen. Musa Bako 2.

Alh. Usman Bagudu 3.

Alhaji Ibrahim Abe Tijani 4.

Hon. Chibuike Edeh 5.

Miss Onome Omene 6.

Ahmed Umar Ziko 7.

Alhaji Zakari Kashere 8.

Hon. Emmanuel Tsandu 9.

Mrs. Oby C.H. Nwafor 10.

Mrs. Maureen Djoma 11.

Alhaja Hadizat Umoru

Chairman Secretary - Katsina - Anambra - Delta - aduna - Gombe - Adamawa - Imo - Bayelsa - Edo

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Chairman Secretary - Enugu - Katsina -Rivers

Appeals Committee Chief Chidi Okolo Alh. Liman Kwande Hon. Chibuzor Okenwa Alhaji Lawal Alu Dangi Nasiru Roni

OGUN STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Muhammad El-Yakub 2.

Hon. Miko Bernard 3.

Alh. Mufutau Kajogbola 4.

Mr. Bashir Olanrewaju 5.

Prince Adekunle Aladesnmi 6.

Alhaji Kola Ibrahim 7.

Chukwudike Muonago 8.

Ibrahim Sherif 9.

Hon. Issa Lawal Kangar 10.

Alh. Ahmed Bala 11.

Ahmed Umaru Gwandu B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Mrs. Lilian Cosmos Hon. Segun Odebunmi Fati Danlami Alh. Nasiru Barau Mohammed Garba Baba

OSUN A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

STATE: Congresses Committee Dr. Eddy Okokon Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Musa Alhaji Kolawole Ibrahim Ngozi Felicia Ajekwu (Mrs) Hon. Kayode Arigbede Hon. Helen Taiwo Adebakin Prince Adekunle Adesanmi

Chairman Secretary Member “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary Member “ “ “ “

8.

9.

10.

11.

Ijeoma Nwoyeocha Comrade Moses Fakojo Chief Kayode Oloja Rt. Hon. George Diaka

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Dr. Joe Abraham SAN Barr. JohnMathew Princess Mary Ekwe Alh. Bala Balami Hon. Ernest Nweze

5.

Chairman Secretary Member Member

PLATEAU STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Hon. Mustapha Habib Zanna 2.

Prof. Chudi Uwazuirike 3.

Mr. Kes Ojighoro 4.

Mr. Uchenna Ogbodo 5.

Hon. Grace Odirri 6.

Alh. Yahaya Dan Uwa Bakori 7.

Ibrahim Bala Aboki 8.

Hon. Chris Iroegbu 9.

Alh. Bakari Dalibi 10.

Alex Kanebi 11.

Umar Sani Babban Duhu B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Prof. Onje Gyewado Hon. Nuhu Sani Ibrahim Engr. Emeka Nnam Mrs. Vicky Brikins-Edewor Mr. Larry Onah

RIVERS STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Chief Augustine Umahi 2.

Hon. Clement Nweke 3.

Barr. Joseph E. Nkama 4.

Hon. Obinna Nwachukwu 5.

Dr. (Mrs) Nora Aloh 6.

Mrs. Bene Obah 7.

Barr. Anselem Enigwe 8.

Mr. Emma Nwangele 9.

Hon. Ali Odefa 10.

11.

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Hon. Barr. Vincent Nwokpor Barr. R.U.V. Nwaeze Hon. Uchenna Orji Mrs. Euphemia Nwali Chief Hycinth Ikpor

Appeals Committee Chief John Ugwuanyi Ramson Onoyake

Chairman Secretary -

Chairman Secretary

-

Chairman Secretary Gombe Osun Anambra Akwa Ibom Cross River Niger Osun

-

TARABA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Sir Emmanuel Ekprikpo 2.

Prof. Dakum Shown 3.

Usman Sani Elkudan 4.

Mr. Wale Ogunremide 5.

Engr. Ashanti Bekewei 6.

Dr. Haruna Dabin 7.

Alh. Shehu Adamu 8.

Mr. Adiel Kurdah 9.

Umar Danjani 10.

Alh. Danjuma Musa Garkuwa 11.

Fyneface Ayayi B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Senator Solomon Ewuga Barr. Auta Maisamari Alh. Babajide Shehu Engr. Lynn Nathan Sir Charles Menegbo

YOBE A. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

STATE: Congresses Committee

B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Chairman Secretary

SOKOTO STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

2.

3.

Hon. Haruna Junga 4.

Chief Niyi Oyeleye 5.

Barr. Basil Onovo 6.

Hon. Daniel Mkpanam 7.

Hon. Tom Agi 8.

Hon. Sani Kutigi 9.

Fatiregun Kehinde 10.

Jerry Awa Abia 11.

Hon. Mrs. Fatima Adamu Auta B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

Chairman Secretary -

Hon. Doshima Alkali

Alh. Mohammed Chindo Alh. Isiaku Jibril Tunji Akinosi Hon (Barr) Bathsheba Riki Chief Ochuko Sakpaide Musa Kalifa Joel Richard Samuel Kevin Andason Alh. Ogber A. Ganiyu Appeals Committee Hon. Richard Ibande Engr. Awwal Hayatu Wakili David Umar Gurara

ZAMFARA STATE: A. Congresses Committee 1.

Hon. Akinlade Abiodun 2.

Mr. Obinna Anosike 3.

Alh. Nasiru Nastub 4.

Nura Sani 5.

Larai Furtherson 6.

Yusha’u Aliyu Bagudu 7.

Junaid Idris 8.

Mr. Monday Danladi 9.

Sheik Kabir Bako 10.

Hon. James Eze Alaka 11.

Joy Ubong David B. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appeals Committee Nabil Mohammed Hon. Halima Labo Rabi Baby Kano Cecilia Obum Sadiq Nuhu

Benue

Chairman Secretary - Bayelsa - Bayelsa - Plateau

Chairman Secretary

Chairman Secretary - Gombe - Niger - Ogun - Delta - Katsina - Ebonyi - Kaduna - Ondo Chairman Secretary - Benue - Adamawa - Kaduna

Chairman Secretary

Kaduna Ebonyi Akwa Ibom Chairman Secretary

Nasarawa Chairman Secretary Enugu Delta

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FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Adepoju, Okunowo Laud Nigeria, La Liga Partnership

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Ex-internationals, Mutiu Adepoju and Gbenga Okunowo have described the working relationship between Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and Spanish La Liga as an exercise in the interest of Nigeria.

League Management Company (LMC) President, Shehu Dikko, on Tuesday signed a five-year strategic technical agreement with La Liga President, Javier Tesba in Abuja that will pave the way for the tour of Nigeria by some of the Spanish clubs.

Adepoju, who featured for Real Madrid nursery team, Castella in 1989 before heading to Racing Santander, Real Sociedad and Salamanca in a 20-year sojourn in Spain, gave a thumb up to the deal, saying that Spanish teams for decades have consistently ranked as the world’s top football brands.

“I am very excited by this deal. Let me say it clearly, Spain has the best league in the world. The UEFA Champions League is a case study of two Spanish teams that have consistently berthed

the semi-final and final. So what else are we talking about?

Nigeria will benefit from this arrangement,” Adepoju submitted.

Adepoju, who represented the Super Eagles at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, said beyond his professional stint, he gathered an immeasurable knowledge in Spain where he acquired coaching certificate in addition to knowledge in football administration.

“Their philosophy will serve our interest in long time,’’ Adepoju said. “The only thing here is that we have to be patient and do things in right way and not expect immediate results. We should have a long term plan.

That is what the Spanish did and you can see the result as they have won the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, FIFA Champions Cup and European Cup. I believe we can do it too because we have the talent in Nigeria.’’

Okunowo, who briefly played for Barcelona in year 1999, before he went on loan to Benfica of Portugal, reasoned Nigerians will have no regret entering into the technical agreement with La Liga.

Atletico players celebrating after Saul (middle) lone strike won the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi final clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night The former Housing Corporation of Abeokuta midfielder noted that the promotion of the Spanish genre in the country will present Nigerians an

alternative platform to the English Premier League which is more ingrained in the consciousness of the public.

“I have been to Spain before and I am sure we won’t regret

this partnership. Their culture is similar to ours where respect is reciprocal. We see the future and the Spanish will be happy because Nigerians mainly watch English Premiership

but now they can watch Spanish teams when they come for here for pre-season. I don’t think everything should be about the Premiership,’’ Okunowo submitted.

18th Milo Basketball Ayade Rescues Late Ene Okon’s Family Championship Enters Offers to pick burial rites bill Conference Stages Bassey Inyang in Calabar

Almost 9,000 Secondary Schools began the journey but only 74 are left standing as the 18th edition of the Milo basketball championship enters crucial stages.

Now split into four geographic groups, the 37 boys teams and 37 girls’ teams who emerged state champions will compete in round-robin tournaments to determine those which teams go even further.

Action begins in Lagos today as the National Stadium in Lagos, which hosted the grand finale in the last 17 years, now hosts the Western Conference Games. The matches will run until Wed. May 4, 2016.

Participating states are Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Oyo, Osun, Delta and Ekiti states. Ilupeju Grammar School and Wesley Girls Secondary School, will be representing Lagos State while Greater Tomorrow Int’l College, Akoko will be representing Ondo State in the boys category. Henson Demonstration School and Idia College are the qualifiers from Edo State while Oyo State Champions are International School Ibadan and Yejide Girls’ Grammar School.

Other qualifiers for the Western Conference are Good Tidings Secondary School, Oshogbo and Regina Mundi Girls’ School, Iwo who qualified from Osun State while Delta State is being

represented by Osadenis Mixed Sec. School and Ugborikoko Secondary Schl, Asaba .

Two schools from the capital city, Ado Ekiti , Ado Grammar School and Anglican High School will represent Ekiti State and Ogun State champions Greenlands International Academy and Adedokun International School of Abeokuta complete the number.

The Conference matches will run back-to-back with the Central Conference matches holding in Ilorin between May 5 and 12 while Confluence Conference matches will hold in Lokoja from May 13 to 20, 2016 The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu will host Equatorial Conference games between Saturday May 21 and 27, 2016 For 18 years, the Nestle Milo Basketball Championship has remained the nation’s flagship grassroots competition which gives the Nigerian youth the opportunity to showcase their basketball skills.

Unlike the game of football which is dominated by the boys at the secondary schools level, Nestle Milo carefully chose the game of basketball to ensure both boys and girls get the same experience in the game and that more, importantly, they get the right foundation for development.

Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has offered to pick the bill for the entire funeral rites of late former Nigerian international, John Ene Okon.

A fortnight ago, late Ene’s daughter, Ruth Ene Okon, had raised the alarm that her family was not capable of giving the former Flying Eagles star a befitting burial.

She further begged for financial assistance from Nigerians to be able to settle sundry bills at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital so that the remains of the late footballer can be buried.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday night at Channel View Hotel after the Nite of Tributes staged in honour of the late player by EastSide

Sports Club, Chairman of Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Orok Duke, announced that the governor had directed funds to be released for the entire burial rights of Ene. “The state government has agreed to fund the funeral obsequies; everything. So, we are just waiting for the release of the money to the committee, then we will fix a date as approved by the family,” Duke revealed.

Duke however described as unfortunate that Ene who featured for Nigeria and scored a goal during the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile in 1987 was abandoned by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) despite been officially communicated over the death Ene through the state’s Football Association.

Duke said it was so

saddening that even after the NFF posted the demise of Ene on its official website the day he died, they couldn’t even honour him during the next football match they organised.

“It is so saddening. Why I am saying is that he died on his birthday on March 15.

That morning, we were just going through Wikipedia. By 12 noon, NFF had updated their website, saying that John Okon Ene had died.

Then Wikipedia had updated that he had died on his birthday; then 22 newspapers carried it. Some days after, they played a match and they (NFF) did not honour him.

“NFF sent a ticket to Cross River State FA to attend the match after we had sent the letter. So, there is no excuse whatsoever aside from this parochial ethnocentrism which

they practice in NFF. So, I am really angry over this,” stressed the Cross River sports boss.

“There is a limit to which you can do from official position. If I were not holding a position, I know what I could have done. It is so painful.

Eventually they neglected him, they rejected him, they had to throw him back to Cross River State Government; They did nothing for him,” continued Duke.

He also stated that a former senior national football team goalkeeper who hails from the state has also been abandoned by the nation’s football authorities despite the services he rendered to Nigeria.

“Not only him (Ene). What about Etta Egbe Eni. What of Etta?” Duke concluded in anger.

Dope: Liverpool’s Sakho Suspended Liverpool defender, Mamadou Sakho, has been suspended for 30 days by UEFA after it opened disciplinary proceedings against him following a failed drugs test.

The suspension is provisional until a final decision is taken

by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body.

Sakho, 26, tested positive for what is thought to be a type of fat burner after the Europa League win against Manchester United on March 17.

He chose not to challenge

the results.

European football’s governing body added Sakho “did not request the analysis of the B sample”.

The date of a disciplinary hearing will be announced at a later stage.

The France international and his club had already agreed he would remain unavailable while a UEFA investigation was completed.

Sakho’s Liverpool team-mate Kolo Toure was banned for six months in 2011 while at

Manchester City after testing positive for a weight-loss drug contained within “water tablets” recommended to him by his wife.

Should UEFA decide on a similar ban for Sakho, it would rule him out of Euro 2016 in France, which starts on June 10.

The suspension will be backdated to Thursday, the day it was issued, no matter when the disciplinary hearing is set for.

An £18m signing from Paris St-Germain in 2013, Sakho has

played 34 games for Liverpool this season, including 10 in the Europa League.

Sakho suspended over failed drug test

Friday, April 29, 2016

TR

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& RE A S O

Price: N250

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MISSILE IYM to FG

“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” – The Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) berating the federal government over its inaction at reining in the blood thirsty herdsmen following the herdsmen’s attack on Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area in Enugu State recently.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

After The Annus Horribilis (I) F or me, the last one year could have been better. I mean the year ending April 2016 — after the fashion of quoted Nigerian companies whose end of year Annual General Meetings (AGM) do not follow the traditional Gregorian calendar specification of the January to December annual span. In March I suffered the definitive tragedy of burying my immediate senior sister at the premature age of 56 years and this unrelieved adversity was pointedly and mutually reinforced by another tragic departure within a month-when I lost a first cousin.

Yet in my overwhelming grief, I owe it as a duty and obligation to both of them to keep soldiering on. Time is impervious to the exactions of our tribulations and the celebrations of our triumphs.

Time and history wait for no one but move on with iron necessity. Unto thee is granted the economy of time commends the Rosicrucian. And, by the way, let me seize this opportunity to appreciate all who reached out to offer solace and comfort.

That said, in the choice of the caption above, I do not speak of my personal cross.

In my closing submission in December last year I captured the summation of the 2015 life experience of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the rubric ‘Annus Horribilis for the PDP’. I recalled the misfortunes of the party that uniquely gathered momentum with its defeat at the presidential election held on the 28th of March 2015. The conspicuous setback was not without its irony of fate. The loss of the PDP and the elevated political correctness of President Goodluck Jonathan in pre-empting any controversy over the outcome will be remembered for long as the turning point for democratic acculturation in Africa; and regardless of the other not so worthy legacies of his government, this exemplar bears reiteration.

In this kind of political rectitude resides the opportunity for a review of extant literature on African political behaviour. Why was Jonathan able to gracefully call the bluff of the sit-tight syndrome and how has he grappled with life after power? Are there regrets and remorse or does he feel vindicated? As we await the inevitable case studies, we can, at the minimum, commend the lesson to other similarly situated leaders who find themselves confronted with equal prospects.

The important observation to be made here is that universally, the loss of political power entails and imposes material, patronage and psychological deprivation and that, ultimately, the difference boils down to the question of the degree to which this deprivation is felt and exacted.

The extreme experience of this tendency occurs where there is the perception of a total or near total loss of reward and compensation by the losing party; and such experience is marked by what is characterised the zero sum or winner takes all syndrome. It is a situation in which a loser gets completely alienated from the political system and deems himself as having no vested interest in the survival and stability of such system. In the instance of Nigeria and the last general election, the zero sum, loser loses all alienation was precluded by the victory of the PDP in the elections at the state level where the party won 12 of the 36 states. The mitigation is further enhanced by a proportionately higher ratio of victory at the level of the National Assembly elections.

In December 2015, the prospects of the PDP was significantly dimmer than it is today and it was the

anxiety of what such a degraded PDP portended for the survival of the party and the stability of the Nigeria party system that prompted my end of year December disquisition and admonition on the consequences of the free fall of the party. As of that date, the fate of the three most crucial states of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom, hitherto declared as won by the PDP by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was dangling in the balance. And in the months leading to December, the weight and credibility of the corruption charges especially the campaign finance scandals swirling around the party had categorically played into its demonisation and criminalisation as a rogue party.

I wrote “Insinuations and innuendoes of a chart busting corruption reputation and repeated threats of multifaceted sanctions against those found culpable was finally given three-dimensional reality in the unfolding drama of parsing political slush funds as security appropriation in the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). As salacious tales of scandals go-in manner, content and form, they do not get any messier than what has thus far been disclosed by the prosecuting authorities. If the PDP is condemned to live out this Christmas season with the frightening possibility of losing any or all of Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States to the APC then the relapse of the Niger Delta region into instability and restiveness may no longer amount to a remote possibility...

“If I were invited to postulate from the standpoint of political instability and order, I will argue as follows: no situation is more indicative of instability and crisis than the zero sum summation of having no vested interest in the survival and preservation of a political order. The loss of those states would necessarily be traumatic for the Niger Delta PDP in a manner that a similar exposure will not precipitate an equal despair for the APC. Standing in the gap for the latter is the APC-controlled federal government and we identify a deployment of this insurance in key appointments made from the region by the president. While there is this fall back sanctuary for the APC, a dispossessed PDP is out in the cold without shield or shelter.

Advocacy to retain the extant political configuration is ultimately instructed by the consideration of what better serves the cause of political order and stability in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large.”

Mercifully, at the turn of the year, the augury of 2016 for the PDP was squaring with the good tidings of the Happy New Year salutation. Having suffered the cancellation of its earlier declared election victory in Bayelsa State, the party emphatically won the governorship rerun election in January. And then, contrary to the projections of the preponderance of bookmakers, the Supreme Court dispensed and invalidated the judgments of the lower courts and reaffirmed the declaration of INEC on the governorship elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States — pronouncing the PDP candidates as duly elected. This uptick in the fortunes of the party has been matched and complemented by a substantial depletion of the goodwill of the APC. Incipient incompetence and escalating inability to translate its campaign rhetoric into a modicum of reality has resulted in the erosion of legitimacy for the APC federal government. Rather surprisingly early in the day, the APC seems to come face to face with Nigeria’s revolution of rising frustrations in response

to its own specifically precipitated revolution of rising expectations.

Among the fallouts of the loss of the presidential election for the PDP has been the persistent crisis over the national chairmanship of the party. Appropriately, the chairman who led the party to failure at the polls, Adamu Muazu, was compelled to take a bow and depart the stage. The confusion over who should hold the forte pending the election of another substantive chairman (at the next party convention) was partially clarified by the court judgment, which pronounced it was the entitlement of the North-east zone that produced the sacked chairman to inherit the outstanding balance of his tenure.

Yet another fallout of the loss was that the locus of the most powerful pressure group within the party had shifted from the Presidency to the Governors’ Forum. Brinkmanship and the dynamics of power play within this group generated the surprise appointment of Senator Alli Modu Sheriff as the interim chairman. Now you do not have to be a lover or hater of Sheriff to concur that controversy and notoriety are second nature to this top Nigerian politician. To his credit, he has been a two-term governor and twice elected a senator on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but in the acquisition and retention of these offices, fidelity to his political platform counted for little or nothing. In the Borno State governorship elections of 2003 and 2007, it was never clear who, between him and the PDP governorship candidate was the preference of the incumbent PDP president.

To the bargain, his most conspicuous identikit

in contemporary Nigerian politics is that the spark that lit the fuse of the Boko Haram insurgency was traceable to his machinations to dominate the politics of Borno State. Upon his inability to secure political prominence within the coalition that gave birth to the APC he formally defected to the then ruling PDP about a year ago. The woeful outcome of the last general election for the PDP in Borno State fatally diminished him and marked him out as a spent force. And then in one of the most remarkable non sequitur of the Fourth Republic politics he was sprung from this potentially terminal mid-life political career crisis to fill the vacuum momentarily created by the inability of the more credible Nuhu Ribadu to rise up to the occasion.

Predictably, it was an appointment that instantly generated wide ranging and pervasive negative excitement across the length and breadth of the party.

The puzzle is how a new comer with this magnitude of baggage can be considered a fitting poster boy for a party that is in dire need of rebranding from a near successful demonisation as a rogue party.

In the apt depiction of a senior party functionary, the proposal of Sheriff as Chairman is likable to a cure worse than the disease. Uneasy peace was momentarily purchased with the currency of an assurance by the Governors Forum that the party would not suffer his appointment beyond its national convention a few months down the line. Those familiar with his politics and antecedence knew for a fact that the PDP had just swallowed a big bone that would get stuck in its throat and the can of another major PDP implosion kicked down to May.

IT’S A GAME TWO CAN PLAY FROM THE START, YOU KNEW SHE HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH YOUR CONSTITUENCY! YOU KNEW SHE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW ANYONE, BECAUSE SHE HAS NEVER YES! LIVED THERE!....

YOU KNEW THAT BY SELLING YOUR VOTES, YOU WERE SELLING YOUR SOUL ...FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS AND THAT’S WHY SHE LOOKED YOU IN THE FACE THE OTHER DAY AND TOLD YOU LOT TO BUGGER OFF!

YOU KNEW SHE WAS BUYING YOUR VOTES SO SHE COULD BE WITH HER KIND IN ABUJA AND GIVE THEM ALL HER SUPPORT!

NOT ANYMORE! SOMEBODY HAS JUST REMINDED US WE COULD TERMINATE THE CONTRACT OF “SALE” ANY TIME AND TELL HER TO BUGGER OFF TOO!

HOW?

YES!

WE COULD SELL THOSE SAME VOTES TO SOMEONE ELSE …..

BY SIMPLY RECALLING HER! IT’S A GAME TWO CAN PLAY!

29-04-16

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