Sunday 29th May 2016

Unrelenting Militants Bomb Agip, Aiteo Facility in Bayelsa Military nabs seven other suspected militants

Chineme Okafor in Abuja, Emmanuel Addeh in Yenogoa and Monday Osayande in Warri In line with their renewed vow to cripple oil and gas-related activities in the region, Niger

Delta militants on Saturday shifted their focus to oil-rich Bayelsa State, bombing two oil production facilities which belong to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Aiteo Group.

THISDAY learnt that the

attack, which happened in the early hours of Saturday at about 2.15am was massive as the facilities affected run for up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) through the Nembe Creek 1, 2, and 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk Line.

The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), the new face of violent agitations in the Delta region, confirmed in a tweet noted that one of their strike teams had carried out the bombing.

This attack is coming as at least seven suspected members

of NDA were arrested by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) code named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’, which combed Oporoza community in Warri South West Council Area of Delta State, Okporoza, the home base of former militant

leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a. Tompolo.

According to a crude oil terminal classification by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the onshore

Makarfi Reaches Out to Aggrieved PDP Members, Urges Reconciliation... Page 12

Continued on page 8

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One Year After, Buhari Shifts Ground on Key Economic Issues Vincent Obia

SEE PAGES 96 - 115 FOR SPECIAL REPORT BY THISDAY EDITORIAL BOARD ON ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT

After refusing to change his mind about some core economic issues since his inauguration a year ago, President Muhammadu Buhari has signalled a readiness to shift his ground. Buhari gave the indication last week during an interview with journalists to mark the first anniversary of his administration.

The president said, though, he was still not really persuaded of the merits of naira devaluation, his government was open to the option owing to pressure from experts. He maintained that Nigeria did not have a strong manufacturing base to reap the benefits of increased export, which proponents of devaluation are wont to associate with the policy.

The president said the government would not sell the country’s petroleum refineries as scrap, in a shift from his seemingly tough stance on privatisation of national assets.

In a related development, the ruling All Progressives Congress said yesterday that Buhari had acquitted himself well as president in the last 12 months. APC stated this in a goodwill message to Nigerians by its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, ahead of today’s Democracy Day celebrations. Odigie-Oyegun said the current economic difficulties were necessary, Continued on page 8

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

THE BROWNS

President Muhammadu Buhari

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29.05.2016

SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

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MASTERS CUP

SEASON 5

- PLAYING BY THE RULES -

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2016

GTBank

he Semi Finals of the GTBank Masters Cup took place at Onikan Stadium, Lagos on Thursday, May 19, and Friday, May 20, 2016.

Featuring four teams each in the male and female categories, the semi-final provided an electrifying display of breath-taking football laden with amazing skills and wonderful goals.

Following their respective victories in the semi-finals, Queens College, Yaba and Federal Sci. & Tech. College, Yaba made it to the final, thus setting up a derby in the Female Category of the Cup. In the male category, veterans, St Gregory’s College, Ikoyi go up against newbies, Greensprings School, Lekki in an epic battle for the highly coveted trophy.

The GTBank Masters Cup is a GTBank sponsored football competition involving first generation and missionary schools in Lagos. It provides a platform for identifying and grooming young talented players as well as helping students actualize their dream of becoming professional footballers.

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1 Players of Greensprings School (Red) and Kings College (Blue) file out before their 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final Clash at Onikan Stadium.

4 Greensprings School’s Boys Team at the 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final match against Kings College, Lagos at Onikan Stadium.

2 Federal Science & Technical College, Yaba Girls Team at the 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

5 Captain of Queens College, Nnneji Chinaza battles for the ball with her opponent from Ansar-Ud-Deen Girls High School, Itire in the 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final held at Onikan Stadium.

3 L-R (Backrow): Rotimi Jiboku, Principal Greensprings, Mr. Ejiofor, Match Commissioner, Jimmy Sogbesan from MediaVision Limited, Oyinade Adegite, GTBank, Middle: Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, 1st Vice President Nigeria Football, right: Mrs Egbeyemi from King’s College and Far Right: Mr. Omole, an Old Boy of King’s College at the 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final with Kings College Boys Team.

6 Band members of Chrisland Schools playing the School Song before their 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final fixture against St. Gregory’s College at Onikan Stadium.

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7 Onyeze Elvis (Red Jersey) of Greensprings School dribbles his opponent from Kings College in the 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final played at Onikan Stadium.

8 Spirit of Sportsmanship: A player from Chrisland Schools hugging his counterpart from St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi after their Semi Final Match at Onikan Stadium.

9 Onyeze Elvis (Middle) of Greensprings School receiving the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award from Oyinade Adegite (left) and Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi (Right), 1st Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation & Chairman, Lagos State Football Association at the 2016 GTBank Masters Cup Semi Final.

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

PAGE EIGHT UNRELENTING MILITANTS BOMB AGIP, AITEO FACILITY IN BAYELSA Bonny and Brass Terminals which are connected to the line have capacities to handle up to 5,700,000bpd and 3,271,000bpd of crude oil respectively.

The armed gang was said to have engaged a crack team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the creeks of Bayelsa, following the twin blasts.

“At about 2:15am on Saturday, avengers blew up Nembe 1, 2, 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk Line belonging to Agip and Shell,” the group said in their Twitter handle, @ NDAvengers.

THISDAY checks, however, revealed that the bombed facility was no longer the property of oil giant, Shell Nigeria even though the company still relies on the line to convey crude to its Bonny Export Terminal from Bayelsa.

Shell had under its divestment programme, which took place in 2014 sold to Aiteo the Nembe pipeline and its rich Oil Mining License (OML) 29 for $2.7 billion after its bid was approved by the DPR. According to industry sources, the Nembe Creek Trunk line was one of Nigeria’s major crude oil transportation channel used to transport oil produced from onshore Delta to the Atlantic coast for export.

The sources also said the trunk pipeline was also an invaluable asset to operators in industry operators who use it as a vessel available for hire by other oil exploration and production companies in the country to move their crude oil to the export terminal

for onward transfer to the international markets.

The Nembe pipeline was first damaged with the TransNiger pipeline in August last year.

However, contrary to initial information that just the Nembe trunk line was affected, the two attacks on pipelines at two different locations actually occurred in Nembe and Southern Ijaw local government areas of the state.

The NDA had largely restricted its destruction of pipelines as well as other oil and gas facilities to Delta state and has not officially claimed responsibility for the cases that have been reported in Bayelsa recently, except one that did not attract public attention in January.

THISDAY gathered that the Nembe attack occurred at a creek opposite Orubiri community, after the warlords accessed their targeted pipeline through speedboats, blowing the oil facility up with the aid of dynamite.

A civil defence operative, who declined to be named said another blast happened along a pipeline located at Legosgbene in Southern Ijaw.

The source noted that after the onslaught, the NSCDC operatives had intelligence reports that the armed militants laid ambush around the area apparently to stop security operatives from accessing the crime scene.

“There were two blasts from Agip pipeline, one from Tebedeba to Brass. It happened opposite Orubiri community

in Nembe. Then another blast happened in Legosgbene in Southern Ijaw.

“As I am talking to you now, our team has advanced to the Legosgbene area. Some of the perpetrators are there laying ambush, though we had earlier engaged a number of them,” the source explained.

Confirming the latest incident, the State Commandant for NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, noted that the militants were exchanging gunfire with his men at Southern Ijaw.

Agu said: “We have deployed two teams to the two different locations where Agip pipelines were attacked in the state. Our team heading for the Southern Ijaw location discovered that the militants laid an ambush in the area.

We will soon clear the area and ascertain the extent of damage done to the pipeline.”

Also, in its reaction, the Bayelsa Government condemned the attack on the two two crude trunk lines, describing the latest incident as inimical to the growth and development of the state in particular and the country in general.

The state Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Obuebite, who also confirmed the attack in an email Saturday afternoon said the bombing was “one too many.”

The blowing up of the trunk line happened a couple of days after a similar oil facility operated by Chevron was attacked in Delta and a few hours after the one owned by the state-run Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation was damaged by the NDA. The Bayelsa government, which lamented the economic impact of the destruction of the key oil facilities, wondered why the militants would go to that extent, knowing the economic implication to the state, the Niger Delta region and the country at large.

Obuebite observed that despite the concerted efforts of the government to move against such atrocities, the militants were still unrepentant in their acts of vandalism.

He urged the group to embrace dialogue rather than the current approach to register their grievances, noting that the activities of the group also adversely affect the host communities.

The commissioner also called on security agents to be more alert and to devise new means to protect very important oil and gas facilities in order to prevent further destructions.

He urged Bayelsa residents, especially those in oil communities to be very vigilant and work closely with security agents to apprehend anyone or group attempting to undermine key national assets.

Similarly, the umbrella body of all youths of Ijaw descent, The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), described the situation as unfortunate , but blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for sitting on a high horse and unwilling to talk to the major stakeholders in the region.

National President of the group, Udengs Eradiri, noted

L-R: Zonal Quality Assurance Officer for Lagos and Ogun States, Police Children's School, Mrs Esther Gbadegesin; Executive Director, Lagos & South-west, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; Divisional Police Officer, Bar Beach Division, CSP Olusegun Ajamolaya, and Head of Research & Development, Mrs Stella Igbonwelundu, at the commissioning of the block of classroom at Police Children School, Obalende, Lagos, renovated and furnished by the bank in Lagos…recently

ONE YEAR AFTER, BUHARI SHIFTS GROUND ON KEY ECONOMIC ISSUES but temporary, hurdles the country must overcome on the road to national development.

Buhari recalled his enduring opposition to currency devaluation, saying, “In 1984, we were advised to devalue the naira and withdraw subsidy, whatever their perception of subsidy was in Nigeria. We even had subsidy on flour.

The IMF and World Bank talked about subsidy removal. My argument has been that those who devalue their currencies have developed economies, where there is local production and they export the excess. They have good infrastructure. So they devalue their currencies to sell their products outside their shores, and employ their people. People just take

the money out of the country. How many factories have we built? So I refused to devalue the naira.”

Buhari, who was Commissioner for Petroleum in the former military government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said at the time he left the post in the late 1970s, the “naira exchanged for three dollars. Now you need N350 to get a dollar! I challenged Nigerian economists to tell me what benefits Nigeria has earned from the devaluation so far. How many factories have we built by killing the naira?

“I have to reluctantly give up because the so-called Nigerian economists come and talk things to me, and when I raise issues they talk over my head instead of inside my head. For us to lose over

N300 (every year we’re losing the value of the currency

by N100), what for?

“I find myself in a very difficult state because the economists cannot tell me why we should continue to devalue our naira.

“I’m still agonising over it, that the naira should be reduced to such a disgraceful level over the last 30 years. I need to be educated on this.

“But I’m not ruling this country alone. I’m under pressure and we’ll see how we can accommodate the economists.”

On the privatisation of the refineries, Buhari said, “We want to make them work so that we don’t sell them as scrap. We can’t spend so much money to put up the refineries just to sell them as scrap. I think that will be dis-

service to the country. Let’s repair them and negotiate with them to sell them at good prices. We don’t want them to dictate how much we sell fuel in this country after we’ve sold the refineries to private investors.”

Meanwhile, APC praised Nigerians for “unprecedented confidence and trust” in Buhari, in a statement by Odigie-Oyegun. The party said despite enormous problems inherited from the former Peoples Democratic Party federal government, the Buhari “government has courageously faced these challenges by taking tough decisions necessary to bring our economy back to buoyancy and self-sustaining growth.”

•See full interview on pages 111-115

that the economy was in serious crisis with the latest attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

“I think government has to wake up from its slumber and deal with the issues squarely.

Nigeria’s economy is in crisis; we already have a crisis in tomatoes, we have power crisis, the agricultural sector, Boko haram crisis is there, the IPOB crisis is there.

“President Buhari should come down and call Goodluck and call Obasanjo, let them tell him how these things are done,” he advised.

He alleged that there were many sycophants around the president, who are leading him wrongly.

“The president should wake up, Yar’Adua woke up from his slumber and he stood up and took the challenge. Obasanjo started coastal meetings when the situation had not even gotten this far and he interacted with the whole communities and governors and he made a lot of progress.

“Buhari should not treat Niger people as a conquered people. Call the people and deal with them directly. So for me, Buhari is too far away from the Nigeria he is governing,” he added.

Eradiri argued that the president’s attitude to the issues was sending a wrong signal to the people of Nigeria and the Niger Delta region.

“You can do small business when companies are around but companies are leaving, maybe the president does not know, even in Lagos, companies are folding up, expatriates are leaving, it is telling on our economy. The earlier the president realises the better,” he said.

He advised the militants to sheathe their swords, noting that the attacks would further degrade the environment.

“Our environment that is already degraded is further being degraded by these actions, that’s why I am crying, because our environment will never remain the same, but these things are caused by the government.

“Adaka Boro talked about these issues, he was killed, Ken Saro Wiwa talked about these issues and he was killed, the Williams commission talked about these issues, IYC was formed because of these issues, MEND came up because of these same issues and now Avengers has come because of these same issues,” he lamented.

Similarly, efforts to get to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ascertain the level of impact of the bombing on Nigeria’s current level of crude oil production, which has continued to drop,was not successful.

The corporation’s Group General Manager Public Affairs, Mallam Garba Deen Muhammad could neither be reached on his phone to comment, nor responded to the text message to his phone as at the time of filing this report.

THISDAY learnt that JTF stormed Oporoza unnoticed at about 2:30am and arrested the seven suspected NDA members and recovered explosives and ammunition.

An earlier operation carried out on Friday had led to the arrest of one of the suspect believed to be the brain behind series of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the creeks of Delta state. The suspect was reportedly handed over to the Nigeria Navy, which in turn immediately dispatched him to Abuja for interrogation.

A source from the community and military sources have confirmed Saturday's early morning operation in Oporoza, which devastated a number of buildings and shocked residents of the community.

While some Ijaw sources claimed that the operation was an attack on Oporoza community, which they described as brutalisation and abuse of residents, including women and children, military and other sources said it was an on-going operation targeted at specific points.

A community source, who did not want to be named said it was an operation on 'Tompolo's location', adding that he learned arrests were made, but was not sure if the ex-militant leader, who had been engaged in a running battle with the federal government, was one of those arrested.

"There was an attack on Tompolo's location and arrests were made. Not specifically Oporoza, but where Tompolo is suspected to be hiding.

Whether he was part of those arrested is what we don't know", he said.

Although, all efforts to get official military confirmation were unsuccessful, a very reliable military source in Delta confirmed that seven suspects were arrested in the midnight operation, adding that recovery of explosives, arms and ammunition were also made.

The source, who said that the operation was on-going and would still last for a while, also confirmed that an earlier arrest had been made. "The operation is ongoing, seven suspects have already been arrested including the explosives they use in detonating, arms and ammunition were recovered. I won't say the exact point where operations are happening for now, but we are around the villages to recover all the explosives, equipment used in blowing pipelines and, if possible, arrest all the culprits.

"Now we are everywhere and we are out for them.

Yesterday we were able to get one, although he was handed over to the Navy and they flew him to Abuja immediately", He said the military men were irked that militants under the name of the Niger Delta Avengers had in recent times intensified attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Delta creeks, significantly reducing the nation's crude export and gas production, also shutting down Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) swamp operation effectively.

Efforts to get reactions from military officials met brick wall as the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, said he was not aware of the operation and the spokesman of the JTF, Colonel Isa Ado, did not respond to calls.

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MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

SUNDAY COMMENT

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

PDP CRISIS AND DEMOCRACY DAY A viable opposition is necessary for deepening democracy

W

hile it is debatable whether Nigerians have enjoyed the full benefits of democracy, particularly given the worsening living conditions of the vast majority of the people, one fact remains constant: there is freedom for the people to express themselves about those conditions knowing that at critical moments, their voice would count.

That is the significance of what today symbolises as the nation marks yet another Democracy Day and the one-year anniversary of the current administration.

Indeed, the enforcement of the power of the people to freely elect their leader was spectacularly demonstrated last year when Nigerians trooped out during the 2015 presidential election and effected a peaceful change in the political leadership of the country.

At the end, the then incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was voted out of the office his party had occupied for 16 years with President Muhammadu Buhari, the flag bearer of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) elected in his stead.

Unfortunately, the party that is supposed to provide a credible

A viable opposition is necessary for deepening democracy in Nigeria and for now, only the PDP can play such a critical role We urge the leaders of the PDP to hearken to the loud voice of its teeming members demanding the restoration of internal democratic structures.

Throughout the 16 years it held power at the centre, internal democracy was a very scarce commodity within Nigeria’s political parties but more especially within the PDP

Letters to the Editor

opposition is now almost in disarray. Yet the PDP is not just any other political party: it was in power at the centre in Nigeria from the dawn of democracy in 1999 until last year. Moreover, the party also at that period controlled more than 60 per cent of the National Assembly membership as well as no fewer than 23 of the 36 states of the federation. Given such past domination of the political landscape, we are of the firm belief that whatever happens within the PDP has considerable implications for the larger polity.

For close to four months now, the PDP has been enmeshed in a selfinflicted crisis arising from the virtual overthrow of its constitution by a cult of former and serving governors. That habitual impunity explains the recent emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who had barely spent a year in the party, as its acting National Chairman; and the acrimonious conduct of the congresses that culminated in its controversial National Convention in Port Harcourt.

The problem started when a powerful caucus in the party had, in spite of strong objections from the founders and elders of the PDP, not only imposed Sheriff, but also extended and attempted to perpetuate his tenure in a clear contravention of the zoning and rotation principles enshrined in the party’s constitution. The resultant resistance of party elders led to the debacle in which three clear factions emerged.

I

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITORS VINCENT OBIA, FESTUS AKANBI 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 DIRECTORS 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

t is cheering, however, that reason appears to have prevailed with last Thursday’s decision of party stakeholders led by the Board of Trustees to narrow the scope of the conflict by getting all members to accept the leadership of the seven-man caretaker committee led by the former Kaduna State Governor and Senator, Ahmed Makarfi. We think this resolution is the best in the circumstance and congratulate the stakeholders for their wisdom in skillfully excusing the stranger amongst them from their leadership.

We, however, urge the leaders of the PDP to hearken to the loud voice of its teeming members demanding the restoration of internal democratic structures. Throughout the 16 years it held power at the centre, internal democracy was a very scarce commodity within Nigeria’s political parties but more especially within the PDP. Several examples abound of imposition of candidates at every election cycle even when there were pretensions to conducting primaries. The party was also notorious for disregarding its own internal rules in the bid to achieve predetermined ends.

However, now that the party leaders have eased out Sheriff whose tenure witnessed nothing but crisis upon crisis, it is our hope that the Makarfi team will bring all the critical stakeholders within the party together so as to evolve a transparent process to elect a new leadership for the PDP. A viable opposition is necessary for deepening democracy in Nigeria and for now, only the PDP can play such a critical role.

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 (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LAGOS AND THE RELOCATION OF MILE 12 MARKET

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he popular Mile12 Market, located in Ketu area of Lagos is, no doubt, the hub of wholesale and retail food business in Nigeria. There is hardly any kind of food stuff, fruits and vegetables that are not available at the market. Indeed, it could be safely affirmed that the market is responsible for the supply of 80% of food consumed in Lagos State. It is, therefore, not surprising that it is one of the most patronised food markets in the country.

The Mile12 market is about 30 years old and it is a melting point for traders from various tribes and ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is thus not unusual to find traders of Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Igbo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Efik, Edo, Igala, Idoma and Ebira stock as well as others from diverse parts of the country at the market. This multi-ethnic group of traders warmly interacts with one another, thereby fostering unity and brotherliness. This, indeed, is what makes the market thick. Considering the volume of transactions done at the market on a

daily basis and all through the year, it is not strange that the level of patronage has increased tremendously over the years.

The phenomenal population growth in Lagos, which has almost doubled in the last decade, also has its implications on the growth and expansion of the market. This is because as Lagos population increases, so also is a corresponding increase in demand for food items and consequently the intensity of activities at the market.

Consequently, trading and commercial activities at the market has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.As it is typically the case with growth and expansion, the increased level of activities at the market has also come with several challenges. One of such is persistence and chaotic traffic gridlock along the axis. Those that either live or work at the Ketu-Ikorodu axis of the state would readily testify to the disorderly nature of traffic along the route, thanks to the unruly conduct of commercial bus drivers who disembark and pick up passengers indiscriminately around

the market. The location of the market along the ever busy Ketu-Ikorodu road has, therefore, become a serious menace to free-flow of human and vehicular movement. This, on several occasions, has led to needless loss of man- hours and in some instances loss of lives.

It is in order to address the chronic traffic chaos and other allied challenges occasioned by the Mile 12 Market location that the Lagos State Government recently announced the relocation of the market to Imota in the Ikorodu axis of the state. The need to relocate the market, according to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was informed by the need to promote the interest of the state’s residents, especially in the area of safety and vehicular and human movement. It is strongly expected that the proposed relocation will eventually reduce the challenge of traffic congestion and chaos in the area. It should be stressed that the traffic in the area is also partly caused by the massive influx of trailers and other haulage vehicles bringing in food items

into the market. Another obvious benefit of the proposed relocation of the market is to be seen in terms of environmental preservation. In view of the huge volume of farms produce and other food items, some of them perishable in nature that are traded in at the market, there is apparent disgusting repercussion on the environment of the area. Indeed, many environmental protection activists have for long been advocating for the relocation of the market as a result of the havoc being done to the environment.The argument here is that a market of the magnitude of Mile12 should not exist at heart of the city. It should not be present in such a densely populated area as Ketu. It should be stressed that when the market was sited at its present location, it used to be at the outskirt of the metropolis until it was overtaken by rapid urbanisation. Hence, the proper and most expedient thing to do, at this point in time, is to relocate the market to a remote part of the metropolis where it would have access to sufficient space for future growth

and expansion. This is what planning is all about. It is important to emphasise that the state government and traders at Mile12 market are, indeed, on the same page in the resolve to relocate the market. It is a decision that was jointly reached by the various leadership organs of the market and the state government. This much was revealed by Governor Ambode when he stated that “relocating the market is in the interest of all Lagosians and the marketers themselves have agreed to move”. It must equally be stated that the proposed relocation arrangement is equally meant to compliment the state government’s rice processing initiative. Governor Ambode has a strategic plan to upgrade the Imota rice mill to 10 metric tonnes per hour in order to meet consumption rate in the state. It will be recalled that the state government recently signed an MoU with Kebbi State Government for regular supply of paddy rice from the latter.

Dennis Erezi, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos.

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SUNDAYNEWS

News Editor Abimbola Akosile E-mail: abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com, 08023117639 (sms only)

Emirates Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Lagos over Cocaine Haul Chinedu Eze

SUPPORTING IOD L-R: Olota Kurunmi of the Republic of Benin, Oba Nicholas Fadikpe; Oba Nla of Iro, Oba Najimdeen Alani Aromaye; Chief (Mrs) Bola

Obasanjo, and Olu of Owode-Egba, Oba Kolawole Aremu Sowemimo, at the formal inauguration of a branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) in Abeokuta, Ogun State...recently

Democracy Day: Atiku, Mark, Others Preach Unity, Patience Abimbola Akosile in Lagos, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Dele Ogbodo in Abuja, and Adams Abonu in Lafia

As Nigeria marks Democracy today, citizens around the country have been urged to embrace unity and progress, and to exercise patience with the ruling administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari; among other calls by eminent personalities, groups and organisations.

In his message to mark Democracy Day, former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said the 2016 budget is specifically targeted to address the basic needs of the ordinary Nigerians.

He said there is no doubt that proper implementation of the budget would bring succour to Nigerians. The former Vice President, said regardless of its limitations and challenges, democracy remains the best form of government anywhere in the world.

According to him, the freedom of choice is one of the most important ingredients of the democratic system. He also noted freedom to choose leaders

is what makes democracy fashionable, adding that any system that subverts the will of the people destroys the progress of the society.

He stated that as Nigerians celebrate democracy day, the memory of late Shehu Yar’Adua and MKO Abiola would resonate across the country, adding that the sacrifices of countless others who paid the supreme price for opposing dictatorship would also not be forgotten.

The former Vice President said no sane society would choose despotism over democracy because, under dictatorship, dissent is met with death or torture.

On the current challenges facing the ordinary Nigerians, the former Vice President said no democratically elected government would intentionally hurt the voters that put it into office.

He explained that the APC administration remains committed to the welfare of Nigerians, and that the current challenges are temporary.

According to him, the 2016 budget is specifically targeted to address the basic needs of the ordinary Nigerians, explaining that the implementation of the

budget would bring succour to Nigerians. He therefore urged Nigerians not to lose hope because of the current temporary challenges that they are going through.

Also, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has told Nigerians not to despair in the face of the daunting economic and socio-political challenges but to remain steadfast for democracy to endure.

Senator Mark in his goodwill message to Nigerians marking this year’s democracy day noted that it was by deliberate choice and design that the nation chose presidential democracy as the best form of government because it is representative and participatory.

This year’s democracy day, Senator Mark noted is unique “because it is the first time in the last 17 years of uninterrupted civilian administration that an opposition political party is in charge.”

In spite of criticism, he noted that the solid foundation the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) administration put in place for 16 years guaranteed the congenial atmosphere that enabled an opposition party to win elections.

He therefore urged governments at all levels to initiate policies and programmes that are in consonance with the wishes and aspirations of the people, pointing out that any programme or policy that tends to bring misery on the citizenry cannot be adjudged a good package.

Mark, in a statement issued by his media assistant, Mr. Paul Mumeh, also craved for an egalitarian society where every citizen irrespective of political, religious or ethnic leaning is free to pursue his or her legitimate ambition anywhere in the country without fear of molestation or intimidation.

Meanwhile, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has charged Nigerians to rise up to the task of defending Nigeria’s unity in line with the national pledge as the need for national cohesion is more real now than ever.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director; Public Affairs, Mr. Fidel Agu, on behalf of the Director General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, in a congratulatory message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2016 Democracy Day celebration.

Makarfi Reaches Out to Aggrieved PDP Members, Urges Reconciliation John Shiklam in Kaduna

Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi yesterday apologised to all aggrieved persons in the party, urging them to forgive and reconcile with each other in the interest of the party.

Makarfi spoke when the chairman of the reconciliation committee of the party and governor of Bayelsa state, Mr. Seriake Dickson paid him a visit at his residence in Kaduna.

“No doubt in the course of events, we must have hurt each other. On behalf of all, as chairman of the Caretaker Committee, I wish to apologise to all, from whichever side they

belong, who feel hurt by whatever means”, Makarfi said.

According to him, it is a good virtue to say sorry when one is wrong, pointing out that reconciliation is one of the virtues of human relationship.

“We need to reconcile, we need to acknowledge where we went wrong. It is a good virtue to say sorry where you are wrong. It is a good virtue to reconcile. Every day, whether Christian or Muslim, we pray.

It is because we knowingly or unknowingly offend our creator, asking for His forgiveness and reconciling with Him. “If that is what we do every day, why can’t we show that we are living by example? Why can’t we among us humans talk to each other, reconcile with each other and learn from past

mistakes?”, he said.

While urging members of the party to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, Makarfi said “litigation may just give you a legal victory, but it may not give you a permanent peace and harmony amongst your family.”

He expressed support to the views earlier express by Governor Dickson that members of the party should refrain from making speeches that will not promote the cause of reconciliation, saying that he has personally refrained from granting interviews.

“Personally I have refrained from granting interviews, not because I don’t want to talk.

I have a lot to say, but let us achieve a reasonable level, if nor complete peace and harmony

within the family, before we begin to go out there and talk”, he said.

Speaking earlier, the Bayelsa governor said the visit was to consult with Makarfi for the way forward for the PDP . He described Makarfi as one of the most respected leaders of the PDP in the country, noting that his mission was to seek for counsel on the way forward.

“I am here to consult with him on the way forward for our country. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate him on his emergence as the national chairman of the Caretaker Committee, a job that he didn’t seek for.

“I want to thank him for taking the gauntlet. I want to thank him for being a good party leader as he has always

Deteriorating health of a suspected drug trafficker prompted Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates to make emergency landing in Lagos at the weekend.

An official statement from the National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) disclosed that the screening by anti-narcotic officials found four passengers positive for drug ingestion who are currently under interrogation. The suspects were Okeh Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise.

“One of the suspects in critical health condition was immediately hospitalised as doctors battle to save his life,” the agency said in a statement.

Chief Executive of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.), who confirmed the suspect was responding

to treatment, called for stiffer penalty against drug trafficking, noting that the Agency needs the cooperation of all stakeholders to send a warning to drug trafficking organisations.

According to Abdallah, “NDLEA is taking necessary measures to protect and promote the image of Nigeria and will resist any attempt to undermine the gains so far recorded in the fight against drug control. Drug traffickers must be severely punished to reduce the number of persons getting involved in the criminal act. All hands must be on deck to condemn drug trafficking in its entirety.”

Also NDLEA commander at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mr. Ahmadu Garba said the Emirates flight left Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai but was forced to come to Lagos due to the health condition of a passenger on board who ingested cocaine.

Essex University Honours Ezekwesili Clement Danhutor

In recognition of her inspiring activities and accomplishments both in government and out, particularly her campaign against the kidnapping of girls by the Boko Haram terrorists group, the University of Essex, United Kingdom, will honour Dr. Oby Ezekwesili with a honorary degree of Doctors.

The investiture proper will hold during the university’s 2016 convocation which comes up between Tuesday, July 12 and Friday, July 15.

The decision to honour Dr. Ezekwesili was contained in a letter addressed to her and signed by

the Vice Chancellor of the leading university, Prof. Anthony Forster.

Theletternotedthat“Ourhonorary degrees are presented to outstanding individuals to recognise their contributions to the arts, sport, industryandpublicservice”.

With the award, Ezekwesili hasjoinedanelitecrowdofawardees which include notable personalities including Nuala Mole, an international human rights lawyer and who led some of the world’s pro bono legal advice and advocacy organisations, and Annie Lennox, a successful musician and founder of the SING Campaign which supports women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, among others.

Adetu for Marketing Summit

Former Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu in conjunction with top industry leaders will lead discussion at this year’s National Marketing Summit slated for next month. The National Marketing Summit being organised by Marketing Edge Publications Ltd, a leading marketing and advertising magazine published by Mr. John Ajayi, will be chaired by a renowned advertising guru, Chairman, Mccan Group of Companies, Sir Steve Omojafor. The summit with the theme ‘Brand Positioning in a Digital Age, Challenges in a Developing Market’ will have as key note speaker, the Marketing Director of Friesland Campina Wamco, Mr. Tarang Gupta. Panel discussants at the epochal marketing meet scheduled to hold at Civic Centre, in the Victoria Island area of Lagos are: Managing Director of Red Media, Mr. Chude Jideonwo, Chief Executive Officer of Brandzone, Mrs. Chizor Malize, Managing Director of Hotsauce, Mr. Dayo Adefila and Managing Director of Neukleos, Mrs. Bukola Akingbade.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

SUNDAYNEWS

NEMA to Develop National Disaster Risk Mgt, Information, Communications Systems

LCCI Softens Stance, Congratulates President Buhari

Kasim Sumaina inAbuja

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of the first anniversary of his administration and commended some measures that the current administration has put in place to revamp the nation’s economy and promote ease of doing business.

The congratulatory message contained in a statement signed

by President of the chamber, Chief Nike Akande, and obtained by THISDAY, was coming days after the chamber’s caustic assessment of the economy in the last one year made headlines.

The Federal Government, through its agency, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has disclosed plans to develop National Disaster Risk Management, Information and Communications Systems in the country.

The Director General, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed Sani-Sidi, hinted that the move was aimed at strengthening the

capacity of NEMA and other relevant agencies to develop capacity that would undertake disaster risk, identification, monitoring and assessment of its programmes.

Sidi made this known recently at a two-day workshop of the agency 8th country’s validation programme on risk management in Abuja.

According to him, “The event is aimed towards ensuring efficient disasters risk management through presentation on design and implementation of

coordinated national advocacy and awareness programme.”

He said: “NEMA had the support of International agencies in trying to implement its core mandate and one of such support came through the Federal Government / UNDP supports programme aimed at strengthening the capacity of NEMA and other relevant agencies.

This programme was supported with some fund to carry out some projects and one of it is to develop National Disaster Risk Management, Information

and Communications Systems, to develop capacity to undertake disaster risk, identification, monitoring and assessment coordinated National Advocacy and Awareness Programme in the country.”

The DG stressed that the Programme would also mainstream gender in disaster risk policies, planning and framework, to formulate capacity development assisted programme and compact MoU with States Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs).

Dangote Disburses N400m Grants ‘Kwara APC Bye-election Victory, to Disadvantaged Lagos Women Confidence Vote for Saraki ‘

CrusoeOsagie

To cushion the effect of the current economic downturn, the Dangote Foundation, yesterday commenced the disbursement of N400 million micro grant to 40,000 indigent women in all the local government areas in Lagos State.

The disbursement held at the Conference Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja, is a continuation of grassroots poverty alleviation strategy of the Foundation set up by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, in 1993.

The programme is costing the Foundation a sum of N10 billion and six states have so far benefitted.

The Foundation noted that the empowerment programme which is meant to complement

government efforts at all levels is targeted at the disadvantaged and vulnerable women and youths withaone-offN10,000cashtransfer to boost household income generation. Chairman of the Foundation, Dangote, had expressed concern over widespread poverty among the people especially the youths and the women at the grassroots, and promised that his organisation would institute a scheme that would help in addressing the menace.

“Consequently, the Dangote Foundation came up with a micro grant scheme aimed at empowering the grassroots dwellers with funds to help them undertake petty trading so as to lift their economy.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The decisive victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Kwara State House of Assembly elections yesterday in Oke Ero constituency, Mrs. Victoria Bunmi Afolayan, has been attributed to the popularity of the state’s political leader, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC candidate secured 5,346 votes against the 1,248 won by Olusola Adeoti of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The ruling party also won in 68 of the 69 polling

units, which make the ten wards in the local government area.

In a statement after the official announcement of the results of the election, Senior Special Assistant (Political Affairs) to the Senate President, Hon. Toyin Sanusi, said the victory was a vote of confidence on the leadership of Saraki.

Sanusi, who expressed appreciation to the electorate in Oke Ero for trooping out to support the APC candidate in the election despite the situation across the country and in the party, said the victory was an indication that Kwara State remains solid in its support for the party leader, Saraki.

Olaseni Durojaiye

In the letter, Akande stated that President Buhari has performed creditably given the economic and social circumstances of the country in the past one year and noted that “These are clearly very challenging times for many economies, especially oil dependent countries.

“We commend the giant strides of the present administration and achievements in the following areas: War against corruption and the recovery of looted funds; a crusade which has been taken beyond the shores of our country; and containment of terrorism which has led to the progressive confinement of terrorists to smaller geographical area in the North-east,” it stated.

Sheathe Your Sword, Bode George Implores Oladipo, Adeyanju Vincent Obia

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples’ Democratic Party and former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, has appealed to dissenting leaders of the party, especially from the South-west, to drop their protests and support efforts by the BoT to reconcile feuding groups within the party.

George made the appeal in an interview with THISDAY. The PDP leader blamed the current crisis in the party on the jettisoning of the tripod of justice, equity, and fairness upon which the party was founded.

George stated, “I want to seize this opportunity to talk to the two officers, the secretary of the party and the national auditor, who are from the South-west, to sheathe their swords. All the others have come back on board. Let them stop struggling in uncharted waters and come back quickly.

Because when they were seeking that office, we called a meeting of elders of the South-west in my house in Abuja and all the elders intervened. And I remember that we had to beg Chief Babatope and Professor Adeniran to drop the cases in court and allow Professor Wale Oladipo and the national auditor to go so that we could have peace.”

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SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016

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MAY 29, 2016 • THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

OPINION WHAT EXACTLY HAS BUHARI ACHIEVED?

C

President Buhari has done remarkably well in the present circumstances, argues Chinyere Fred-Adegbulugbe

ephas is a young fitness coach in Abuja.

Until May 29 last year the classes he was taking included a morning session of senior civil servants in an estate in the city.

The last time I spoke to him he doesn’t handle the estate class anymore.

‘You know they are all civil servants and since Buhari became president they now go to work early and therefore can’t attend the morning classes’ he casually explained.

Big deal? Oh yes, big deal. For me it was a big deal because Cephas is not a politician, neither is he affiliated to any political party. But he is a Nigerian and more importantly, can identify change when he sees it.

It is one year since President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership of Nigeria.

Nigerians have been outdoing themselves on who can shout the loudest about how the president has not been able to improve the fortunes of the country in one year.

Even the high cost of tomatoes has been placed directly on his doorstep. It goes without saying that the last few months have been quite difficult for the majority of Nigerians, especially those who did not receive the former National Security Adviser’s-related bank credit alerts during the months preceding the 2015 general elections. With an inflation rate that has continued to go upwards, who would deny the severity of the times we live in?

Truly, it hasn’t been an easy year for Nigerians. But it has also been a worse one for many of them who had thought that Nigeria had been perfectly fitted into their pockets and that they could do whatever they wanted.

They rode roughshod over everything and everyone.

The system and its processes meant nothing to them.

Impunity! That is what empowers a Nigerian civil servant to get to work at 11am in the morning and also leave for home at 2pm, probably without lifting even one file.

It is impunity that allows an army chief acquire houses worth hundreds of millions of naira for his son’s name while his soldiers fighting deadly terrorists were buying medicines and uniforms with personal funds.

Yes, it is impunity that has impoverished both the land

and the offsprings, leaving only bones for the tax paying masses while the ruling class and their cronies fed fat on our commonwealth.

Impunity is the father of corruption and that is what President Muhammdu Buhari has been tackling since May 29, 2015. Take corruption out of Nigeria and watch the hitherto slumbering giant awaken and take its rightful place among leading nations.

Has this change process been easy? Definitely not. No change ever comes easy. It was former American president who said that “If you want to make enemies, try to change something”. It will be foolhardy for anyone to ever insist that we didn’t see the present hardship coming but even that is so Nigerian.

We couldn’t have sown corruption, indiscipline, government ineptitude, record making level of profligacy over years and expect that one day the harvest won’t be ready for us have a taste?

Impunity is the father of corruption and that is what President Muhammdu Buhari has been tackling since May 29, 2015. Take corruption out of Nigeria and watch the hitherto slumbering giant awaken and take its rightful place among leading nations

But we always tend to forget the past too soon. We forgot the years when bags of Ghana Must Go stuffed with naira were needed to pass the budget in the National Assembly.

We forgot the era when the dollar was the national currency, with the naira only allowed a sit-in when the Bureau de Change had run out of supply. We forgot the carnage that engulfed the North-East and left countless of Nigerians refugees in their own country.

Certainly, we cannot also forget the immediate steps President Buhari took to arrest the then imminent total overrun of the country by the members of Boko Haram.

First, he overhauled the dysfunctional topmost hierarchy of the Nigerian military, moved the military to Maiduguri, thereby boosting the morale of the soldiers and also bringing back the much-needed allies in the fight against the insurgents.

These resulted in what even the blind can see today; a hugely decimated and disorganised band of terrorists. We also know that his administration has been prosecuting the anti-corruption war in such a relentless manner, that there is no hiding place anywhere for those who converted our commonwealth to personal property.

The federal government has reportedly saved about N3 trillion from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which plugged identified leakages. Sanity is also being restored to the civil service, which will eventually impact service delivery, growth and development.

Let’s not also forget the image making trips all around the world, which the president has undertaken in the last 12 months, during which he reminded the leaders and decision makers of Nigeria’s strengths, potential and significance.

However, the 2016 budget probably provides the brightest ray of hope for all Nigerians who sincerely believe in a better and new Nigeria.

But it also comes with responsibility; to hold President Buhari to his promise of ensuring that the budget is fully implemented.

Fred-Adegbulugbe, Editor of The Interview magazine, wrote from Abuja.

WHEN WILL THE PRESIDENT CHANGE? Emmanuel Ojeifou argues President Buhari’s political appointments are polarising the country

W

hen President Muhammadu Buhari started making his political appointments upon assumption of office on May 29, 2015, many astute observers noted that this president would make it extremely difficult for his supporters to defend many of his actions against those who would want to see a hidden religious or ethnic agenda to his choices.

It should obviously not be strange to the president that many Nigerians have voiced their fears that after 33 years since he first assumed leadership of this nation as military head of state (1983–85) he is still stuck in his old ways of doing things. If I dismissed these claims in the past with a wave of the hand, I doubt that in the present condition I can continue to cling stubbornly to that position. President Buhari seems to be proving his critics right that he has not changed, and that he doesn’t want to change.

Recently, President Buhari appointed Ahmed Ja’afaru as the new Comptroller General of the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS). He appointed Mohammed Babandele as the new Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). He also appointed Muhammadu Gana as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Let us not forget that he had earlier appointed Retired Colonel Hameed Ali as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). As if this was not bad enough, the Federal Executive Council, under Buhari’s watch, approved the appointment of six new chief executives into the six information-related parastatals under the Ministry of Information and Culture, and four out of the six came from the North.

These six positions offered President Buhari a good template to assign one slot to each of the six geopolitical zones of the country, but he rather chose to do something else. In a country where the President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to

the President, the National Security Adviser, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and heads of major departments of government bureaucracy (NCC, EFCC, DSS, INEC, etc.,) are all from northern Nigeria, is it not politically expedient that other zones of the country should also be equitably represented in government? Or does it mean that he does not know competent Nigerians from the Southern regions?

Before some Nigerians start rehearsing the arguments about merit and competence, may I quickly remind them that hundreds of thousands of competent, versatile and morally upright Nigerians also exist in other parts of Nigeria, not only in northern Nigeria, and they too deserve to the factored into the equation of political appointments. The present lop-sidedness in the pattern of appointments, which clearly excludes and marginalises the three Southern regions (SS, SE, SW) of the country, will only serve to generate a lot of ill feeling, resentment and animosity among many Nigerians.

This will then feed into the rumour being peddled around by some Nigerians that President Buhari is gradually implementing a carefully orchestrated strategic plan to Islamise Nigeria? Or is it not an open secret today that some Nigerians strongly believe that the recent herdsmen/farmers skirmishes in some parts of the South East and the South West are part of the grand plot to Islamise Nigeria using the armed herdsmen to subjugate and conquer supposedly Christian territories? Personally, I believe that all these are baseless rumours and propaganda put together by people who want to sow confusion, hatred and division in the land, but when our president uses his political appointments (and sometimes stoic silence when he should speak) to justify and reinforce these perceptions, what do you expect the ordinary Nigerian who is already buying into those suspicious theories to think?

After he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 general election in December 2014, Buhari delivered an ac-

ceptance speech in which he made five pledges: “I make these five pledges regarding the government if we are elected.” In the first pledge he said, “We will govern Nigeria honestly, in accordance with the constitution.” In the third pledge he said, “We will tolerate no religious, regional, ethnic or gender bias in our government... Whether you are a Christian from Bayelsa State or a Muslim from Katsina State, you are first and foremost a Nigerian in my eyes. I shall treat you equally as my people, my national family, my brothers and sisters.”

In his acceptance speech of April 1, 2015, after he was declared winner of the presidential election by INEC, President Buhari pledged to govern Nigeria under the principles of justice, equity, and fairness: “There shall be no bias against or favouritism for any Nigerian based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status… You are all my people and I shall treat everyone of you as my own.” In his inaugural speech of May 29, 2015 after he was sworn in as president of Nigeria, President Buhari famously declared: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody.” With the lopsided pattern of his political appointments as of today, who would believe that President Buhari does not belong to some people?

I am not a politician, but I know for sure that this is never the best way to run a nation. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we all have a right to feel a sense of belonging in the way our country is governed. Even a system of meritocracy that deliberately excludes some other competent people cannot stand the test of equity and fairness. For this reason, those who are close to President Buhari have a moral and civic duty to advise him properly and to help him understand that he is using his political appointments to polarise this country instead of uniting it. He should not allow this political misstep to erode the goodwill he still presently enjoys from Nigerians.

Ojeifo is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja (emmaojeifo@yahoo.com).

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

LETTERS PIPELINE VANDALISM AND THE MILITARY OPTION

N

igeria’s continental ranking in crude oil production suffered yet another dip in the months of April and May. For the third time in five months, Angola has beaten the once undisputed largest producer in Africa. Data from the April Market Report of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) indicate that Nigeria produced 1.677 million barrels per day in March, down from 1.744 million bpd in February, while the Angolan oil output rose from 1.767 million bpd to 1.782 million for the same period. Recent reports said our production has further dipped to 1.4 million barrels per day.A major contributory factor to the huge loss in production is the endemic challenge of pipeline vandalism.

The constant intrusion on pipelines by vandals means a constant interruption of production flow for repairs which cost, not just time and money, but also adversely impact on the myriad of other economic activities that thrive on energy supply.One of the most strategic pipelines in the nation’s entire network is the Trans Forcados Pipeline (TFP) system. As the second largest network in the Niger Delta, TFP transports oil, water and associated gas from fields in the Western Delta to the Forcados oil terminal. The

Pipeline vandalisation

terminal has an oil export capacity of 400,000 b/d with a 31- kilometre of pipeline delivering crude to offshore loading berths for export.

Following what it described as “series of leaks” in the Trans Forcados Pipeline, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) declared a force majeure on the Forcados crude oil stream. Consequently, SPDC, Seplat Petroleum Development Company and four other Nigerian companies comprising Shoreline Resources Limited, Neconde, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN) and Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), shut down some oilfields, effectively disrupting the export of 189,000 barrels per day and led to a drop in

power generation by 1,500 megawatts. In a desperate search for a lasting solution to the problem of incessant pipeline vandalism, the federal government, according to the Vice -President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo is reportedly considering deploying more sophisticated military machinery in the region to protect the oil infrastructure.

Osinbajo said the country was “losing thousands of barrels of production.”

He further noted that the damage done has led to low supply of gas and “most of the power plants are not functioning to maximum capacity.” While acknowledging that a lot of effort is going into pipeline protection, the vice-president said, “One of the future steps the Buhari administration could take to forestall the perpetration of vandalism is to establish a permanent

I AM CAIT: NIGERIANS’ SELECTIVE ANGER

L

ast week’s announcement by MultiChoice that it was discontinuing I Am Cait, which showed on E! Entertainment on its DStv and GOtv platforms did not exactly come as a surprise because there was a precedent. I Am Cait is an American television documentary series chronicling the life of former male athlete, Bruce Jenner, who famously became Caitlyn Jenner after a gender transition. The docu-series, which aired on E! (DStv Channel 124 and GOtv Channel 24) was taken off air on account of a barrage of complaints by the Nigerians public, which considered a TV series about a transgender person at variance with the country’s culture. Kudos to the pay-TV company for listening to the complaints of Nigerians.But the series, curiously, does no tcontain violence, nudity or sex. These elements, if present, could have been blocked with parental control features on either of the two pay-TV platforms.

It made me wonder why there was so much public opposition to it.What I found surprising was the selectivity of Nigerians’ anger. I Am Cait, considered at odds with our social mores, is

still showing on E!, which is also available on StarTimes Channel 157. A visit to http://www.startimes.com. ng/program/i-am-cait/ is proof of this. A call to the China-backed pay-TV provider (on 01-461888) will similarly confirm its availability. Why is the docu-series offensive-if it really is-on a certain platform and considered not so on another? Is envy-of MultiChoice’s success-at the root of the matter? The last question was provoked

by Nigerians’ reaction to the hike in MultiChoice subscriptions by 20 per cent last year. StarTimes did same, twice within the same year by as much as 40 per cent, and not even a murmur was heard. Last October, MultiChoice was forced to stop airing I Am Jazz, anothertransgender show from the TLC Entertainment (DStv 135) channel.In the two instances, other African countries got shut out from viewing what Nigerians decided that they don’t want to watch.This is because the remaining episodes of the two yanked shows had to be wiped from from E!, which has a single feed to DStv in Nigeria. Effectively, this means that viewers in other countries where the

E! Entertainment channel is carried are affected.

Livinus Acholonu, a public affairs analyst, writes from Lagos

I

’ve slunk into your cubbyhole this midnight hour to whisper this confession to your ears while you lie asleep, snoring softly.

Where I lay on my bed, I could scarcely sleep, for my heart was laden with grief. The evil that has become my habit haunted me.

Son, as I lay on bed hours before trying to summon sleep, a Niagara of memories came flooding, memories that seared deep into my heart. I haven’t been a good mother, son. I haven’t. I found fault in all of your actions.

I took you to task for spilling the tea on your shirt. I scolded you at table for munching noisily. In the kitchen too, I found fault. You didn’t wash the pots well. The cups smelt strongly of detergent. The floor of the kitchen was untidy and messy. And when you broke a complete set of plates during washing, I cursed under my breadth.

Do you remember, son, after the close of school, when the sun was high in the sky, how I smacked your face for eating in the road, in the presence of

pipeline security force (which) would be armed with sophisticated weapons to ensure we contain the vandalism and overhaul security.” It could be recalled that in 2012, the former Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in the Niger Delta was reconstituted and renamed Operation Pulo Shield: Pulo is an Ijaw word for “oil”. The operational scope of the task force which initially covered Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers was extended to cover nine states, namely Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. So far, Operation Pulo Shield has recorded some marginal successes. From arresting some suspected pipeline vandals to destroying illegal refineries and even rescuing a kidnapped soldier, the men and officers of the task force have faithfully pursued their mandate, even at great risks and sacrifices. Numerous raids have yielded the confiscation of various numbers of arms and ammunition and sometimes, with barges, boats and stolen crude or other petroleum products seized from the perpetrators. Yet, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and kidnapping and other forms of violence persists.

Government’s frustration at tackling the problem of pipeline vandalism has clearly been betrayed by the present contemplation and call for support in deploying “even sophisticated weapons to ensure we contain the vandalism, overhaul security, and a permanent pipeline security force might also be an option to look at” as reportedly expressed by the vice-president. But the stark reality is that the use of military force and sophisticated equipment will never

guarantee the safety of oil installations in the country.

Our experiences as a nation have proven that lasting peace and security cannot be forced on a people. The temporary restraint occasioned by the use of force will only remain as fragile as to be shattered at the slightest provocation. There are over 21, 000 kilometres of pipeline criss-crossing the nation through several communities. To imagine the size of the work force and the equipment required to protect that stretch of pipeline is very difficult to contemplate, especially given the state of our tottering economy. Already, in response to comments that oil saboteurs will be treated harshly like Boko Haram terrorists, credited to President Buhari during his visit to China, a new militant group calling themselves The Niger Delta Avengers has threatened to make the country’s economy worse by acts of sabotage, particularly in the oil sector.

We are already seeing that.Undoubtedly, a more rewarding and sustainable path is for government at all levels, in collaboration with the oil and gas companies which are physically closer to the communities to fashion and implement farreaching policies capable of being felt by the commonest of the community inhabitants, regardless of status.

Rewarding vocal or violent community members with contracts and other such incentives will only fertilise the mentality that violence and crime are more rewarding than peace. Government can adopt a strategy of rewarding communities that refrained from using violence in communicating to the authorities. Mean-

A LETTER TO MY SON

your friends? How I tugged at your ears for staring at the fist fight between two men while we walked—do you remember that? Or how I barred you from going to play with other children? I threatened to break your head if you ever went out of the house; and when you did, I thrashed you severely.

Even though I advanced in age, I didn’t advance in wisdom. I couldn’t stop to lord over you like a god. I decided your hair style (Stone cold). Where you disobeyed my instructions by having your hair cut low and shaped—as is common among teenagers—I sent you back to the barber’s shop, shoving you ahead of me, under the full glare of the public.

I groomed you for the Sciences so that you would be a medical doctor. When you broached the subject of changing from the sciences to the arts, I raved like a maddened beast. You’ll never change department, I declared.

Those who were in the sciences did not have two heads. Yet when you came home with your result card at the end of the term, I castigated you. You were such a dunce, I insulted.

Was this all I had been spending all my money on—for D and E grades? I wished I had a son like Seyi, the handsome lad who clinched all the prizes on the prize-giving day.

I nagged. I rebuked. I cursed. I took perverse delight in hauling you over the coals for your misdemeanours. You shuffled your feet when you walked.

You were not a smart kid. You were so clumsy. I scoffed even at your bodily imperfections: your ears were too small. Your legs were like mosquitoes, and your lips were too big. They were as big as the mouth of a bucket, I sneered.

I was the ruthless mother.

Selfish and egocentric. I cared nothing about your feelings; I paid no heed to your interests.

I was only bent on having my say.

Two nights before, I saw you crouching in the doorway, your face broken into penitence.

‘What is it?’ I snapped at you.

You kept mute for you dreaded what form of punishment I’d mete out on you if I discovered you’d spilled the pot of soup.

You couldn’t but cry.

It was not that I loathed you.

while, grievances expressed via non-violent means must be attended to. Most times, these grievances are not necessarily monetarily induced. As a matter of fact, building community relations on a non-financial base would offer a more concrete pedestal for a more meaningful relationship.

In planning projects for community development, there must be a change of approach from throwing money at the community and abandoning them to embark on whatever project they like. Such approach ensures that the monies will almost always find their way into private pockets.

Any meaningful approach to community development must be designed to deliver an increased quality of life to the local communities.

Training, follow-up, long-term planning and capacity building for local authorities will empower the communities to take greater responsibility for their own lives and decrease the failure rate of community assistance projects. Instead of giving more consideration to the military option, the federal government needs to reflect on why, despite years of military presence and the use of force, the problems of pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and illegal refineries and so on still persist.

It is high time we deviated from the use of force and channel such resources to community engagement, inclusion and partnership.

Giving them a sense of belonging and participation as important stakeholders within their respective communities is key to a lasting solution to the problems before us.

Michael Onunwa, Lagos.

Or I didn’t love you. It was that I expected too much of you. I measured you by the yardstick of my own generation. I tried to alter your personality, to cramp your style. I demanded too much.

In spite of these all, you bore all of the criticisms gallantly.

Never talking back at me.

Because in you is a strong heart which even the severest rebuke cannot rip apart. There was something beautiful in your character which glowed like the yellow sun over our rooftops.

Like a sinner making atonement for their sins, I have found my way into your room tonight, kneeling by your bedside, heart-smitten. But tomorrow I shall laugh when you laugh. Tomorrow I will embrace you in my arms and kiss you on the forehead before you go to bed. Tomorrow I will be the daddy you’ve never had.

Tomorrow I will swallow the impatient words whenever I’m impelled to rebuke. For only yesterday you were the infant that clung to my back.

Kingsley Charles, University of Calabar.

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SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER • MAY 29, 2016

19

INTERNATIONAL

365 Days of Buhariplomacy: An Exegesis of Internal and External Contradictions

B

uhariplomacy is about the making and implementation of Nigeria’s foreign policy from the perspective and attitudinal disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB). It is also about his attitudinal disposition to foreign policy calculations of other countries both in terms of their programmatic and reactive policies. Thus, 365 days of buhariplomacy is another way of discussing Nigeria’s foreign policy under PMB since May 29, 2015, and particularly the place of Nigeria in world affairs in the past one year.And true enough today makes it exactly one year of buhariplomacy and therefore a good opportunity to have it reviewed. How do we evaluate Nigeria’s foreign policy in the past one year? Had Nigeria any foreign policy that was peculiarly that of PMB in the past one year? This question is necessary in light of the ‘change mantra’ of PMB’s administration.

Was the use of foreign policy to achieve the declared objectives of the PMB administration successful? To what extent is Nigeria well respected when compared with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ)’s administration? Perhaps more interestingly, what are the likely challenges of Nigeria’s foreign policy in the next three years?

In responding to these questions and understanding the use of foreign policy to achieve the objectives of Government, it is useful to remember two immediate foreign policy burdens inherited by PMB. First is the anti-Goodluck Jonathan disposition of Nigeria’s major development partners, especially the United States. The second was the economic downturn by the time of accession of PMB to power.

For instance, the hostility of the United States was to the extent that whatever effort was made by GEJ in his containment of boko haramism was always blocked. Nigeria made strenuous efforts to acquire weapons from Israel, but because such weapons were made under the US license, both Israel and SouthAfrica were prevented from selling them to Nigeria.

In the eyes of the US, Nigeria, under GEJ, was corrupt and therefore was not trust worthy enough to be charged with the responsibility of protecting US strategic interests. In this regard, the US considered that if its military weapons were to be carelessly handled and eventually the terrorists would, by whatever means, have access to them, such terrorist access could not but be detrimental toAmerican interest in the long run. It was this anti-Nigeria perspective, and particularly the perception of Nigeria as a terra cognita for corruption and deepening terrorist activities that largely shaped the need for a new foreign policy attitude of PMB. This also largely explains his shuttle diplomacy which generated much debate during the year.

Regarding the second inherited burden, PMB was faced with dwindling economic resources when he took over power. Nigeria’s economy was, and still is, largely dependent on earnings from sale of crude oil. Nigeria, though a sovereign state, does not have any control over the international pricing of oil. This means that Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves cannot but also dwindle. The economy was not in good shape, especially that public funds had been illegally diverted to electoral campaigns. Expectedly but true enough, Nigeria became very insolvent. This was the background to buhariplomacy. This situational reality prompted PMB to engage in diplomacy of pleading with Nigeria’s development partners to show understanding of Nigeria’s challenges and also to assist in the area of foreign direct investments.

Foreign Policy of Readmission to Relevance

The exegesis of buhariplomacy can be periodised into two: May 2015-November 2015 and November 2015-May 2016. During the first period, there was no Cabinet and PMB was his own Foreign Minister.

The main feature of buhariplomacy in this period was the adoption of shuttle diplomacy aimed at preliminary consultation with countries from which help could come. During this period, many countries were also interested in courting the favour of Nigeria under PMB, especially as he was generally presented as a non-corrupt man of integrity. Consequently, regular and kind invitations were extended to PMB to pay official visits to many of the development partners. He participated in the G-7 Summit of World leaders. He visited Germany, France, the US and the UK within the framework of promotion of bilateral understanding.

In general, Nigeria’s foreign policy was more beggarly and the development partners of Nigeria were quite conscious of this. Since PMB was very hostile to European imperialism when he was military Head of State, the European partners now have a unique opportunity to request for their own pound of flesh now that he is an elected President of Nigeria. He was favourably considered. He was even asked to present his basket of needs. However, the extent of institutional support for buhariplomacy was quite limited in this period.

In the second period from November 2015 to May 2016, a Foreign Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, was appointed in November 2015.

He was before his appointment an international functionary. Either as an expression of the ‘change mantra’ or otherwise, he has been quite silent on many global questions having implications for Nigeria. This might be a strategy aimed at avoiding controversies, especially in light of his submission that Nigeria did not have a deal on currency swap with the Chinese while the CBN Governor claimed the contrary.

In fact, there was also another policy contradiction at the level of the entire government.As observed by Professor Tam David-West on the matter of fuel subsidy, ‘Buhari has said there is no subsidy. I (Tam David-West) said there is no subsidy. Even the current crisis, the Vice President said what they have done is not subsidy, but forex. Minister of State for Petroleum said it is subsidy removal, even the National

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

President Buhari… embarking on a foreign trip

Chairman of theAPC said it is subsidy removal. These two positions are contrary to what Buhari has said over the years, even before he became President.’ (Sundaysun, May 22, 2016, p.53) This contradiction is noteworthy from the perspective of the fact that PMB is the Minister of Petroleum Resources while Kachikwu is the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. The contradiction is therefore between the boss and his subordinate. This type of contradiction is appearing to be a new feature of the second period of buhariplomacy, especially bearing in mind that government officials are also presenting ‘deregulation’ and ‘price increase’ as meaning the same thing. Professor David-West says ‘they are two different things.

Deregulation of the downstream of the economy means government is not controlling it again. Under deregulation, you can have either increase or decrease in the price of petroleum.’ Perhaps more disturbingly, figures of the subsidy vary from that of theAccountant General to that of the Governor of the Central Bank.

Grosso modo, while the first period was largely devoted to changing international perception of Nigeria, quest for recognition of Nigeria as a relevant stakeholder in the maintenance of global peace and security, global economic development, particularly inAfrica, and transformation of Nigeria, by particularly combating societal ills, the second period witnessed reawakening largely prompted by public complaints about PMB’s foreign trips and his paying little attention to domestic questions.Additionally, foreign policy began to be more assertive. Nigeria, without tainting her relations with the traditional partners, sought to develop closer ties with China, in other words, making new friends but keeping the old, in the strong belief that one is gold and the other is silver.

Without doubt, the rapprochement with China which most Nigerians have commended is not friendly taken by the West. When, at the London Summit onAnti-Corruption convened by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, Nigeria was presented to Queen Elisabeth as one of the two most corrupt countries in the world or as Mr. Cameron clearly but carelessly put it, Nigeria is ‘fantastically corrupt,’ PMB simply responded assertively: Nigeria is fantastically corrupt but repatriate the ill-gotten funds currently kept in many financial institutions in the United Kingdom. This means that, gradually, a new foreign policy of self-assertion may be in the offing which may be consistent with the ‘change mantra. In this regard, what is the role of foreign policy in the containment of insecurity, provision of employment for youths and combating corruption?

Buhariplomacy and National Security

The epicentral philosophy on which the Buharian administration was predicated on May 29, 2015 was ‘change for the better:’ change of attitude, change in the manner of thinking Nigerian, change of way of life, develop a Nigerian personality, build a new Nigeria that will be completely free from toga of irrationalities, turn Nigeria to a model state for otherAfrican countries to emulate, nip corruption and all other obstacles to nation-building in the bud, etc. However, the modalities of the desired change were, at best, ill-defined. Besides,

PMB limited the areas of change to three: need for collective commitment to the containment of insecurity, sustainable reduction in the level of unemployment, particularly of youths; and eradication of systemic corruption. In other words, foreign policy was not initially contemplated as an issue. It was probably taken for granted that foreign policy could not be ruled out as a means of achieving security, employment and a corruption-free society.

The Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, lent credence to this observation in his maiden address to the diplomatic community on Wednesday, 16th December, 2015 when he said that ‘the overall goal of our diplomatic exertions, to be pursued in the context of the three pillars of the present administration is to facilitate the emergence of the secure, stable, viable, resilient and prosperous Nigerian state.’

The operational word here is facilitation.Additionally, Mr. Onyeama had it that ‘on combating insecurity, our foreign policy exertions will strengthen cooperation and partnership at the regional, continental and global levels.Again, foreign policy exertions are nothing more than tactical instruments of fighting insecurity, unemployment and corruption. As further noted by the Foreign Minister, ‘in the fight against corruption, the Ministry of ForeignAffairs will synergize with other relevant ministries and agencies with a view to supporting their activities.’

From the Honourable Minister’s statement, it is clear that greater emphasis was placed on tactical foreign policy than on foreign policy as a strategy. It can therefore be rightly argued that Nigeria’s foreign policy was far from being strategic under PMB. Even when talking about foreign policy focus, the focus cannot be separated from the objectives of security, job creation and corruption-free society. Thus Nigeria is yet to have an articulated strategic foreign policy required to guide Nigeria in the collective management of world affairs as a regional power.

As noted above, combating insecurity was the first and most important challenge that PMB set as priority objective to deal with.

Besides, there were the problems of kidnapping, pipeline vandalisation and renewed quest for biafranisation. In fact, militancy in the Niger Delta and quest for self-determination coupled with boko haramism became accentuated in the second period of buhariplomacy. So is the issue of Fulani herdsmen, who reportedly, are grazing and destroying farmlands. In fact, the problem of the Fulani Herdsmen’s saga appears to be taking over that of the Boko Haram. PMB appears to be winning the battle against the terrorists while a new war of national disunity, more serious than a mere battle, is also emerging.

Evaluation of Buhariplomacy

Buhariplomacy was actively displayed in the second period, particularly evident at the Second Security Summit on Lake Chad BasinArea held inAbuja last month. The summit, which came on the heels of the first security summit held in Paris in 2014, was successful in its objective as Nigeria and the immediate neighbours have come closer to one another against the terrorists. Buhariplomacy succeeded in building an effective coalition against the Boko Haram.

One objective way of assessing buhariplomacy in the past one year is to reconcile the declared set objectives as at May 2015 and what they are as at today.At the level of insecurity, while boko haramism appears to be on the decline as at today, new threats to national security are also emerging. These include the accentuation of the struggle for self-determination by the MASSOB (Movement for theActualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the atrocities of some Fulani Herdsmen accused of attacking owners of farmlands used by them for grazing. The herdsmen were accused of raping and killing their victims. The new problem is that many communities are now strongly opposed to the use of their farms and land for grazing by the Fulani herdsmen. In fact, Ekiti State is on the verge of promulgating a law banning Fulani herdsmen from grazing outside their ranches.At this level, buhariplomacy cannot be said to have had any good leeway. It is a failure.

At the level of job creation and corruption, the foundations for job creation are currently being laid. Some job opportunities were created but they are quite far from the expectation of the general public. Regarding the fight against corruption, successes have been recorded in terms of recovery of stolen public funds at the level of big time elite corruption. However, there is nothing to suggest that PMB will eventually nip corruption in the bud because he focuses attention only on people who are about to leave the political stage of corruption while allowing those at the lower levels to thrive.

One illustration I have always given is the case at the Nigerian Institute of InternationalAffairs: why has the Buhari administration, which is preaching the gospel of anti-corruption, deliberately covering up allegations of acts of serious indiscipline by staff at the institute?

Why did the Ike Nwachukwu-led Governing Council protect people with multiple dates of birth, people who falsify promotion examination results, people who disclose classified information, people who remove queries from their files? Why should a SupervisoryAuthority, foreign Ministry, take decisions on the basis of non-investigated petitions? Why should the Buhari administration be on record to be sanctioning honesty and patriotism while preaching goodness?

With these contradictions, buhariplomacy is far from being honest. It cannot succeed on the basis of dishonesty. Nigeria’s image can only be soiled regionally and internationally.

In fact, buhariplomacy will need to be predicated on objectivity and sincerity of purpose in order to be able to keep Nigeria united, grow patriotism, and sow Nigerianness in the minds of the youths. Beyond this, it is self-deceit and politics of arrogance of the elite.

SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

20

A land blessed, a nation empowered.

Happy Democracy Day Nigeria For further enquiries, please contact Sterling Bank Plc. Tel.: 014484481-5 or 014489470-94 E-mail: customercare@sterlingbankng.com www.sterlingbankng.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

BUSINESS

Editor Festus Akanbi Email festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com

QUICK TAKES Intra-Africa Trade

As growth in developed markets such as Europe, China and North Africa continue to stagnate, greater regional integration in Africa, amongst all role players, is needed to capitalise on the continent’s growth potential.

According to the CEO of DHL Express Sub-SaharanAfrica,HennieHeymans, who said comparing intra-regional tradestatistics,Africa’sratesamongst the lowest in the world, with less than 20 per cent of what is produced in the region remaining on the continent.

“This, in essence, means that over 80 per cent of what is produced in Africa is exported, mainly to the European Union, China and the United States.

In comparison, over 65 per cent of Europe’s trade occurs on its own continent, and in North America, the figure is around 50%(1),” a statement quoted Heymans to have said.

According to the latest IMF April 2016WorldEconomicOutlookreport, developing economies and emerging markets will continue to account for a large portion of the world’s economic growth in 2016, which is expected at a rate of 3.I per cent. The report also revealed that growth in sub-Saharan Africa was also expected to remain low this year, at three per cent, down 0.4 per cent from 2015.

An ongoing cross-border rail project in East Africa

Leverage $1.078tn Funds for Devt, Nigeria, Other African Countries Told

Kunle Aderinokun in Lusaka, Zambia

Nigeria and other African countries have been urged to take advantage of a total of about $1.078 trillion revenue from different financing sources at their disposal for their development.

Addressing heads of state, ministers, business leaders and the civil society, at the 2016 Annual Meetings of the bank in Lusaka, Zambia, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, who gave this advice, said it would make economic sense for governments to exploit these burgeoning resources within the continent to the benefit of their citizens.

According to him, “they should find better ways to securitise remittances which reached $62 billion in 2014 - an amount that exceeds official development assistance. They should leverage sovereign wealth funds which stand at $162 billion, domestic tax revenue estimated at $500 billion annually, private equity funds which stand at $20 billion per year, and pension funds estimated at $334 billion.

“We must also end the illicit capital flows that deny Africa over $60 billion a year. Money belonging to the citizens should not be found in personal accounts. These are all significant financing sources that should be effectively channeled for

FINANCE

development.”

Adesina noted that, “by doing so, we will help to drive Africa’s readiness for industrial development.

“Just last week we were all in Kigali at the World Economic Forum, hosted by President Paul Kagame, discussing the 4th industrial revolution. Africa must improve its readiness index for the digital revolution.

We must rapidly build skills, scientific capacity, especially in sciences, technology, mathematics and engineering.

“Africa has missed on the earlier industrial revolutions. We cannot miss the 4th industrial revolution. To avoid this, Africa needs energy, to power its industries. Like blood is to the body, so is power to industrial growth and development.”

Adesina was speaking against the backdrop of the rush by African governments to the international capital markets to source funds for development by way of bond issuances, initially at low interest rates, but which later become serious challenges due to rising interest rates. “Increasingly, many African countries, taking advantage of the low global interest rates, have rushed to the international capital markets by issuing bonds. Between 2006 and 2014, African nations issued $26 billion in Eurobonds. In

2015 alone, a total of $12 billion of Eurobonds were issued. With rising interest rates, African countries now face a challenge of high cost of financing the foreign currency denominated debt,” he pointed out.

Speaking on the ‘New Deal on Energy for Africa’, Adesina reiterated that to deliver on the deal, AfDB would invest $12 billion in the energy sector over the next five years and leverage $45-50 billion into the energy sector.

Already, he pointed out that, Africa has missed on the earlier industrial revolutions. We cannot miss the 4th industrial revolution. To avoid this, Africa needs energy, to power its industries. Like blood is to the body, so is power to industrial growth and development

“In 2015, the bank provided $1.3 billion for energy projects. The bank has continued to lead the way and financed renewable energy projects, including the 300 MW Lake Turkana wind power station - the largest wind power plant in Africa. We supported the Noor complex, the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant in Morocco with capacity to provide power for over one million homes by 2018. The bank financed the power interconnection to link Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia, expanding regional power pools.

In December 2015, we provided

$138 million to finance the Ruzizi III 147 MW power plant, to provide electricity to Rwanda, Burundi and Republic of Congo.”

Also, at ‘African Leaders Roundtable of Energy and Climate Change’, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo urged African leaders to exploit and prioritise development of the abundant resources including coal and fossils, in the continent and bother less about the concerns of climate change.

According to him, if the governments do not adopt this kind of approach, they risk losing millions of their citizens to poverty and hunger at faster rate than climate change. But he was quick to add that, consideration should be given to the two issues as it is possible to work both together.

Essentially, Osinbajo who stressed that African governments must take development seriously, posited that, even though climate change concerns were important, African countries must not allow such burden to be greater than developing power for the continent. The vice president who said, “we are faced with dire situation in most of the countries without power,” however, stated that, “we really need the help of the western world, in particular, in deploying their technology and expertise.”

Surpluses Recovered

The Acting Chairman of the Fiscal ResponsibilityCommission,Mr.Victor Muruako, has said the commission had so far caused over N367bn to be remitted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund by the Federal Government’s revenue generating agencies.

He disclosed this at the first edition of the Nigerian Economic Stakeholders’ Summit held in Abuja. Muruako said the Federal Government might be losingoverN1tntothenon-remittanceof operating surpluses by the agencies.

The FRC boss lamented that agencies of government had perfected the art of defrauding the country through deliberate wrong computations, express diversion of funds, and application of wrong accounting standards.

He said, “The government needs all our support now that the economy is experiencing revenue challenges.

On our path, we will ensure that every kobo is well utilised.We have decided to monitor the payment of operating surpluses by the revenue generating agencies into the CRF.”.

Airspace Safety

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has reassured that the nation’s airspace remained one of the safest on the continent of Africa for air navigation. Speaking while declaring open the demonstration of Aircraft e-ClearanceUser Acceptance Test Module to National Air Defence Corp, Security Agencies and other stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the acting Managing Director of NAMA, Emma Anasi noted that the agencyintherecentpasthasdeployed sophisticated technology and navigational infrastructure intended to enhance efficiency in its operations as well as safety of air travel in the country.

Anasi said the deployment of aircraft e-Clearance Solution was another innovation by NAMA to automate its operations and also ease the process of aircraft flight clearances, which used to be very tedious and cumbersome in the past. Anasi who was represented at the occasion by the Port Harcourt Airspace Manager, Mr. Gabriel Akpen, explained that the huge investment NAMA was making in automating its processes is in line with global best practices.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Nigerians at a local market... bracing up for the impending recession

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Economic Recession

Amid the fear of imminent recession, the monetary policy committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has moved to buoy the economy, necessitating the adoption of flexible foreign exchange regime and leaving the rates unchanged.

Kunle Aderinokun, Olaseni Durojaiye and James Emejo write that the development has rekindled the hope of economic recovery

T

he 255th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which ended in Abuja last Tuesday is significant for a number of reasons.

One, the decision of the committee to adopt a flexible foreign exchange rate regime, albeit with a “small window for critical transaction” after rebuffing several calls to that effect, will continue to generate discussion, perhaps until details of the window is made public.

Besides, debating the policy shift even with the dual forex rates that it would foist on the economy, another fallout of the meeting that has attracted the attention of analysts and stakeholders is the disclosure by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to the effect that “recession appears imminent.”

Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that the economy contracted to about 0.36 per cent in the first quarter of the year, the first time in over a decade. Some experts feared that the economy might shrink

again in the second quarter, which ends in June, a development they say will lead to recession.

The MPC latest decisions and the warning of impending recession have attracted the attention of economic analysts and stakeholders, who have expressed diverse opinions .

While some agreed that the introduction of a flexible foreign exchange regime will positively impact the economy, the others stated that the impending recession would not be for a short term.

The analysts welcomed the introduction of flexible exchange rate regime, enthusing that it would boost investor confidence. They pointed that the multiplier effect of the new forex policy would impact the economy and may ward off the recession.

Executive Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Ltd, Femi Ademola, said, “the decision by the MPC to adopt a flexible exchange appears to be very apt considering the current development in the foreign exchange market.”

According to him, “by the policy,

exchange rate would be market determined while the CBN would be the invisible hand in the market which uses money supply to affect the price indirectly.”

Essentially, Ademola noted that “the flexible exchange rate mechanism adopted will now make Nigeria to conform with the “impossible trilogy” that require an independent monetary policy and liberal capital mobility to be combined with a flexible exchange rate for efficiency.”

“Although a lot of people expected only a devaluation of the Naira, it would only be a temporary measure as the pressure on the currency would continue as long as there is a price peg. I must say here that it would have been better if this policy had been adopted and implemented some years ago when the country had strong foreign currency reserves and savings which could be deployed to stabilize the market and prevent a severe initial impact. However, it is better late than never,” he added.

“It is also noteworthy that there are

several variants of the flexible exchange rate some with adjustments around a peg such as inflation or money supply. The adoption of such adjustment pegs serves as automatic stabilisers based on forward guidance from the monetary authority. In other words, it would be expected that the CBN would act through the supply of FX to the market once the set target (say inflation, credit growth or GDP growth rate) is breached.

“Because the CBN has not yet released the guidelines, it is difficult for us to determine the variant of the flexible exchange that the country will adopt.

But overall, I think the adoption of this mechanism is a good one,” he pointed.

Likewise, Managing Director of APT Securities and Funds, Garba Kurfi, welcomed a flexible foreign exchange rate. “It is good for the capital market but not so good for the money market,” he posited, however, stating that “I don’t subscribe to dual rate which is what you will get with this small critical window; I prefer a uniform

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

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BUSINESS/ECONOMY Avoiding the Pitfalls of Economic Recession Cont’d from Pg. 22 rate.” According to him, “a uniform rate will be transparent; knowing our country, a dual exchange rate regime can be manipulated.”

In welcoming the flexible exchange rate, Yusuf explained that “It will boost investor confidence. This will boost in flow of investment; it will also boost in flow of foreign exchange through autonomous sources.”

Yusuf, however, added that “There is need to seek further clarification on what qualifies for that window.

If it is for infrastructure it may be excused; but it is an area that we must continue to engage on.”

In his own analysis on the CBN pronouncement, Chief Executive Officer, Global Analytics Derivatives Ltd, Tope Fasua, was optimistic that things could take a different shape in the coming days.

He said: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has only stated the true position.

Many analysts had raised that concern before the MPC meeting.

“The NBS released figures showing Nigeria’s GDP dipping for the first time since 2004 and before that 1972.

That is momentous.

“The MPC statement only adds legitimacy to what we have feared and what we have known. Everyone should tighten their seat belts because it could get very interesting going forward.”

Analysts at Eczellon Capital Ltd said, “holding rate constant in a period of weak pace of economic growth would likely provide succour for the economy as the structural drivers of inflation in the country are expected to wither in the coming months; likewise, the commencement of the implementation of the budget should also provide some form of succor to the economy in the coming months “ Besides, the analysts are of the view that “the decision of the MPC to introduce a flexible interbank exchange rate market seems responsive enough for a market that has long grunge under a fixed exchange market rate system.”

The Eczellon analysts informed that, “how the new “flexible” exchange rate would impact financial markets and the economy would largely depend on its details which is expected in the “coming days.”

“Consequently, investors and businesses would remain in the “waiting mood” until the new FX guidelines are released to the market.”

A former chief economist of the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and managing director, Nexnomics Advisory, Temitope Oshikoya, submitted that, “while a flexible exchange rate may be necessary, it is not sufficient nor suffice to solving the underlying productivity problem which prevents diversification of export earnings away from oil into manufacturing and agro allied export earnings, which in turns requires concerted efforts on structural, institutional and fiscal reforms and tackling infrastructural constraints. “ Agreeing with MPC on its decisions, Oshikoya noted “this is the most logically consistent and coherent MPC’s decision in the past 24 months, devoid of the erratic behaviour that we have seen lately such as reducing MPR from 13 per cent to 11 per cent in Q4 2015 only to jack it up back to 12 per cent in Q1, 2016.”

According to him, “It reflects a balancing act devoid of polar ideological positioning. It recognizes that raising interest rate in the midst of a stagflation may simply compound the misery indices. It observes that inflation is a structural problem, which the monetary authorities alone cannot address.

“More importantly, it pragmatically confirms that Nigeria’s long term challenge is that of a productivity

Emefiele

problem, not necessarily an exchange rate issue,” he concluded.

FBNQuest ‘s analyst on Macroeconomic and Fixed Income, Chinwe Egwim, leaving all the rates unchanged by the CBN, was “a tough call for the committee.”

On the flexibility exchange policy, Egwim explained: Flexibility” and “working out modalities” were the two things the CBN governor mentioned that could fuel uncertainty and nervousness going forward. We expected a firmer decision on the FX policy, the market has to wait for further information to gain clarity.”

Also speaking on the latest development, an Associate Professor of Finance and Head, Banking & Finance, Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Dr. Uche Uwaleke, said the apex bank was right about its short term economic forecast.

According to him, “The MPC’s decision is good for stability in monetary policy and allows for proper planning on the part of businesses. Too frequent fluctuations in the liquidity positions of banks have negative effects on their credit decisions.

“Yes, inflation rate is high at 13.7 per cent but unemployment rate is also double digit at 12.1 per cent and the economy is already in a recession.

The option of tightening monetary policy in order to target inflation by increasing the MPR and the cash and liquidity ratios would hurt output growth and plunge the economy into deeper recession.

“So, the decision to leave the rates unchanged is welcome. Equally commendable is the decision to adopt a more flexible exchange rate policy. In the coming days, we expect to see the gap between the interbank rate and the parallel market rate significantly narrowed.”

According to him, “the problem of over dependence on oil revenue will not be solved in the next few months.

Oil price is still unpredictable and low even though slightly above the budget reference price.

“Worse still, forex revenue is shrinking now on account of thousands of

Finance Minister, Adeosun

barrels of oil lost daily to militant activities in the Niger Delta region.

Also, the electricity challenge will not disappear overnight.”

He said: “Power shortages will continue to hamper output in the next few months until it is substantially addressed. So, the CBN is right in its short term economic outlook. How long this economic recession lasts will depend on the urgency and commitment with which the capital component of the 2016 budget is implemented.”

Also, Managing Director of Heritage Capital Markets Limited, Chidi Ajaegbu, stated that “I agree entirely with the CBN governor that recession is imminent. The indices are there; dwindling oil prices, dwindling production output due to resurgence of militancy, dwindling commodity pricing. Again, because corruption has become part of our system, the anti-corruption war

Inflation rate is high at 13.7 per cent but unemployment rate is also double digit at 12.1 per cent and the economy is already in a recession. The option of tightening monetary policy in order to target inflation by increasing the MPR and the cash and liquidity ratios would hurt output growth and plunge the economy into deeper recession. So, the decision to leave the rates unchanged is welcome

may also be blamed,” adding that “But I also think the recession will be for a short term.”

As for Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, who spoke over the telephone “the (CBN Governor) was saying the obvious because we already have negative growth in the first quarter of 2016; and I think it is better to have an imminent recession than to have a contraction. It also underscored unless we take some steps we will have recession,” he argued.

However, Lagos-based economist, Rotimi Oyelere, disagreed and argued thus: ”I don’t see a recession looming. Fine, we have recorded negative growth but part of the causes of the negative growth is being addressed.

Don’t forget that we ran an economy for months without a budget in place in an economy where government is a big spender; this impacted decision making on the part of businesses. But the budget has since been signed and running.

“This will boost capital spending and liquidity; the various stimuli will also compliment in that direction and we will soon begin to see the multiplier effect. Again the shift towards a flexible foreign exchange window will boost availability of forex. Already we are beginning to see revival of activities in the import sector, fuel importers are now importing. I believe the economy will soon begin to balance itself out. I don’t see us recording a back to back negative growth; rather we will see a marginal growth in the (economy),” he added.

Meanwhile, while welcoming the policy shift towards a flexible forex rate, which observers insisted will among other boost investor confidence and inflow of foreign investments and forex from autonomous sources, there were concerns that it may be fraught with underhand practices.

This is even as other analysts plead for caution, insisting on seeing the details of what qualifies for Emefiele’s comment that the CBN will “retain a small window for funding critical transactions.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

BUSINESS/LABOUR

A Fractured Labour Bows

Wabba leading a protest march in Abuja

With the suspension of the nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after five days of protest and negotiations with government, Paul Obi writes on the divisions and forces that browbeat labour into submission The Hostilities

T

he President Muhammadu Buhari administration was ushered in, in a critical time with slogan of ‘change’ that was in dire need of policy redirection from the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. Insecurity triggered by the Boko Haram insurgency in the north, dwindling global oil price, falling Nigeria’s oil output, corruption and perceived marginalisation of sections of the country stood on the government’s path to Eldorado. All these socio-economic headaches had to be tackled headlong. But not without hostilities, especially, between government and the organised labour.

The increase of electricity tariff was the first shot aimed at Nigerians and labour. The hike of petroleum pump price and removal of subsidy by whatever name it is called was the climax.

It is this increase that propelled the organised labour to take to the streets notwithstanding the cracks within its ranks.

The Negotiation Table At the negotiation table, government was very skeptical and dreadful of the impact a unified organised labour would have, should they have their way. A probable strategy was immediately conceived to persuade labour to tow government’s line. It was at this juncture that drafting in Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as the chief negotiator became apparent. The belief was that with Oshiomhole as one of labour’s own, labour will not pose too unyielding in submitting to government deregulation of the downstream oil sector. Also, ministers linked to the deregulation policy were giving marching orders to fall in line with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, in ensuring that government had its way. Thus, Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of Information and Cultural Orientation, Lai Muhammed, Minister

of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Ita Enang, all fell into line. At the negotiations, it was not surprising to spot the superimposing stature of Lawal, even likened to a Commanding Officer by close watchers of events. In one of the events at the Presidential Villa, Lawal was reported to have scolded Kachikwu who was busy exchanging pleasantries before the arrival of the president for cabinet meeting, stating that, “Kachikwu, there is no fuel, and you are there shaking hands.”

Getting to real business, divisions between the President of National Association of Electricity Employees (NAEE), Comrade Joe Ajaero, who also led a faction of labour, and NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba, provided a leeway for the government to sail through without much hitches.

Buhari and His Lieutenants All through the negotiations and talks for petroleum pump price increment and deregulation of the downstream oil sector, President Buhari kept aloof from the controversies that bedeviled the policy and its announcement.

From the strategies on display during the talks, the policy was consummated by the Commander-in-Chief, while his lieutenants were tasked to deliver results without any obstacles. Throughout the initiation of the fuel price hike and removal of subsidy, this pattern became obvious. First, President Buhari jetted out of the country; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was to initiate the policy. Then, the SGF meant to pacify warring parties along with the ministers. Till date, no one has heard a clear-cut policy statement from Mr. President on the hike and deregulation.

WAjaero as Favoured Bride Since the tussle for leadership between Ajaero and Wabba, Ajaero, with his men, Igwe Achese of NUPENG and Francis Johnson of PENGASSAN headed to Lagos, while Wabba took hold of the Labour House in Abuja as the substantive and recognised NLC President.

Since the Buhari administration came on board, government had clearly pitched its tent with the Wabba group. At the commencement of what NLC called ‘anti-people’ policies by the government; no muscle was moved until the increase of fuel price. Sensing that Wabba may be a thorn in the flesh to persuade to support the hike and subsidy removal, government quickly jump-ship and courted the Ajaero faction, who with open arms embraced government to spite the Wabba group, a move that is now seen as a pay-back for Wabba in leadership tussle.

Even when Wabba group staged a walkout from the talks, government continued with the Ajaero group, setting up committees for social palliatives, minimum wage and harmonisation of petroleum pump price hike. Ajaero’s support to government will forever hunt labour which

Getting to real business, divisions between the President of National Association of Electricity Employees (NAEE), Comrade Joe Ajaero, who also led a faction of labour, and NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba, provided a leeway for the government to sail through without much hitches

has now left itself more fractured, unprecedented in its history.

Kaigama and TUC’s In-house Warfare If Ajaero had in cap-in hand approach supported government position on petroleum pump price hike and deregulation, that was not a surprise to organised labour stakeholders.

But the most astonishing and dumbfounding was Trade Union Congress (TUC) nocturnal back stepping of other labour unions. TUC, headed by Bobboi Kaigama, was already holding consultations with NLC on how to present a common front, before the start of negotiations.

During the talks, they supported all that they had earlier opposed in conjunction with NLC. Till date, no one knows when and where TUC decided to fly another kite different from the one it had with NLC. That shock is yet to disappear. It is one that will stay with labour for many years to come, including leaving a sour taste.

Wabba and Labour Sour Grapes No doubt, Wabba has goodwill among many the organised labour stakeholders. His tactics to confronting government in several of its policies that have precipitated economic hardship have been that of carrot and stick. That is not surprising. Even before the petroleum pump price hike, NLC had acted as if it was too close to the government to bite. Yet, on the 11th of May, 2016, Wabba was left with no choice than to confront government officials. Observers opined that the support for his ambition of being number one labour officer by some political heavy weights may have hampered a rather strong opposition expected of labour. Former Lagos State governor and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Wabba and his team at Labour House confirmed this fated romance. Tinubu told labour that “I am here to appeal to you to understand that whatever you are doing, whatever this government is doing, whatever the President is doing which involved myself and yourself is for the good of all.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

BUSINESS/LABOUR/PERSPECTIVE A Fractured Labour Bows

Cont’d from Pg. 24

“You brought this government on board, without you, without your support, without your participation, we could not have won the election. Now that we have won the election, we can now look at ourselves and ask ourselves how best we can manage the victory? How can we use the success to make a change?“ Tinubu asked.

NLC’s declaration of protest and strike, according to Wabba, was imperative to stop government from annihilating the masses. In one of the meetings with government, Wabba said: “All of us are aware of the fact that NLC since the coming of this administration, we have been very proactive. First in the fight against corruption, in the area of good governance, and we have contributed immensely to ensure that this critical area that needed the support of all of us that we have driven together on this specific policy issue on the increase in the pump price of petroleum, which have resulted to about 67.8 per cent increase, it is an issue that we have issued an ultimatum since last week and we have been invited for meeting with government yesterday to take time to go and discuss; we had our national executive council meeting and we came back to still look at the issue and the mandate that we have to the effect that majority of the Nigerian workers feel like the pump price of N145 per litre is too outrageous and out of proportion and therefore with the hard economic situation, it is very difficult for them to go by especially in context of the increase.” That notwithstanding, even though Wabba put up a good fight, many expressed reservation on the future of labour in the country. Some are of the opinion that labour has lost its unified voice and fierce force. Of a truth, NLC had so many forces to contend with: one was that Ajaero group was always going to fight back in a dangerous manner. He did and had his way. Two, was that labour was too close to APC government

are also aware that Falana has continued to play his advisory role in shaping labour decisions and steps and how to stand for the Nigerian masses. According to him, “the Federal High Court declared illegal and unconstitutional the policy decision of the federal government to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry contrary to the combined effect of the provisions of the Price Control Act and the Petroleum Act. In total defiance to the said order of the federal high court, the federal government has deregulated the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. In justifying the policy, Dr. Kachukwu claimed that “PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.”

Others who had opposed the 2012 subsidy removal and still held the same position include Sen. Dino Melaye, Sen. Shehu Sani; Sani was even threatened with expulsion from APC, his party.

Labour Minister, Ngige

both outside government when they were in opposition and when they eventually formed government. Therefore, organised labour was too shy to confront government vigorously on many fronts. With these shortcomings, observers are watching how labour will bounce back with a new force. Otherwise, under Wabba’s watch, labour will be left to bleed alone with its sour grapes.

The Last Man Standing Of all the familiar faces now chanting slogans in support of removal of subsidy, from Tinubu,

Lai Muhammed, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Pastor Tunde Bakare, the APC as a party and its leaders, only Femi Falana, SAN has remained adamant. He still opposes fuel pump price hike and deregulation.

The rest of them have shifted their goal posts even without apologies to the masses they coercively propel to oppose the Jonathan administration on deregulation. Since government started initiating the new policies, Falana has not minced words in opposing such actions.

Many who are close to the organised labour

What Lies Ahead Though negotiations have continued between labour and government, it is still not certain what would come out of those talks. Rather, what is certain is that labour has left itself fractured and dislocated from all corners. Government, on the other side, had its way.

There also appears to be confusion over which side government will bow to. Will it be Ajaero or Wabba? Ajaero has subserviently embraced government overtures to hit back at his opponents, as Wabba withdrew from the talks. Will government discard all agreements reached with the Ajaero group and rewrite a new one with Wabba? These are the many questions lying ahead. Nothing is clear yet; the future is still uncertain, where Nigerians would have to face new prices in defiant of their wishes.

Resetting the Nigerian Economy: One Year After

Festus Akanbi

F

or Nigerians, who voted en-mass for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections, it is key to reflect on the realities of the economy and focus on the policies and initiatives this administration is implementing to reset the economy whilst investing to stimulate growth and diversification of the economy.

In a year of Fiscal Housekeeping with a robust plan for revenue generation and in an environment where people are used to a culture of celebration, no epoch will go unnoticed.

In the usual practice on the occasion of an anniversary, it is not out of order if Nigerians choose to roll out the drums and begin to count their blessings one year after the new administration was inaugurated; as it ushers in critical changes to fiscal discipline within all federal government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

However, Nigeria has been hit by a combination of very low oil prices, decreasing export volumes of crude oil and the effects of a lack of critical investments in infrastructure over many years of neglect.

Unfortunately, the change in government has come at a period when there is the will to forge ahead without commensurate money to invest and as the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, put it, we are in a period when the safety blanket of oil has been ripped away, laying the poverty of Nigeria’s institutions bare. Today, the current administration is faced with the stark reality of the volatility in the global oil market and the attendant erosion of revenue accruable to the country.

That notwithstanding, this administration has taken a positive approach of critical borrowing and targeted investment in infrastructure to ensure that we start to build the required infrastructure to stimulate growth in all sectors of the economy.

Nigerians, in their support for the new

administration would not accept any excuse for failure. There is the need to refine how we collectively work towards ushering in a new era in Nigeria.

Framework for the Future With a resolve to leave a good legacy, the administration came up with a framework for the future of the country. It is tackling the inherited problems of governance through three critical and inter-dependent aims; fiscal discipline; targeted investment and economic diversification.

According to the Finance Minister, “This administration is committed to disciplined expansion to catalyse economic reform.“We are implementing fiscal policies designed to achieve Nigeria’s growth and development objectives while extracting efficiencies to ensure long-term viability of public finances.”

Fiscal Discipline As we endure a period of serious threats to the nation’s finances, it is necessary for this administration to vigorously pursue a policy of fiscal discipline (plugging the leakages) by waging war on corruption, inefficiency and negligence. It is therefore not a coincidence that this administration has a strong focus on transparency. In the last one year, the Buhari administration has declared its commitment to guard against wastage and leakages within the system, strengthen institutions weakened over the years through corruption, inefficiency and negligence.

The Minister of Finance promised that along with transformative capital investment being undertaken, government will concurrently develop much needed systems and controls for monitoring, tracking and ultimately, optimising investments it intends to make.

Giving account of her stewardship in the office, Mrs Adeosun disclosed that “As part of fiscal housekeeping, we have introduced programmes designed to audit and rationalise personnel related expenditure, which accounts for over 40 per cent of total government expenditure, reduce overheads, increase

expenditure efficiency, and consolidate extra-budgetary revenues.” Indeed, the Federal Ministry of Finance, in the period under review, embarked on a tailored MDA Revenue Strategy, which entails a detailed identification and strategic mapping of revenue sources being undertaken by all agencies.

The Minister explained that independent revenue generation of N1.5trillion in 2016 is being targeted, while incentive measures (e.g. cost of collection) are to be implemented where appropriate.

Stemming the Tide of Corruption The administration’s message on war against corruption is not lip service. In the last one year, government has been consistent in its offensive against the cancer of corruption.

Recoveries For the first time in Nigeria’s recent history, the authorities have shown tremendous determination in pursuing those who are thought to have misappropriated public funds. This time, a pragmatic approach is being taken from an economic perspective, the primary objective being to fully recover looted funds to be directed towards productive use to benefit the economy. In addition to cash being recovered, real estate and other physical assets are in custody.

Improving Tax Collection At a period when there is a 70 per cent drop in revenue (as a result of a combination of falling oil prices and disruptions to production) it makes sense that the administration has continued to focus on improving the efficiency of tax collections and broadening the tax base. President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a strong message to the Nigerian people with the appointment of a new FIRS Chairman,who has a remarkable track record as the CEO of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue.

The Finance Ministry is also deploying appropriate technology to enhance collection.

Such technology has enhanced our capacity to link up databases from diverse government

agencies; thereby increasing efficiency.

Also in place, are the systems for auto debits of VAT from corporate entities and government contractors and the rollout of Biometric Verification Number (BVN) across all bank account holders.

Results to date include 363,000 new taxpayers being added to the FIRS database, while FIRS staff has continued to receive increased incentive pay for delivery on targets.

Nigeria Customs Service In the course of the year, the campaign for enhanced revenue generation has also been applicable to the Nigerian Customs Service. The Minister explained that in order to increase revenue generation capacity of the Customs Service, the Federal Government is investing over NGN 20 billion in equipment upgrades and capacity enhancement across Customs services.

This will boost the transparency and efficiency of customs collections.

The Federal Government is also implementing a performance based staff incentive scheme, in line with what is in place within the FIRS. In addition to these, an electronic platform has been developed to improve service delivery, efficiency of ports clearance and collection of customs duties.

Payroll Reforms Another area of focus is the government’s payroll reforms. The Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) is a centralised payment and payroll system. So far, enrolment of civil servants onto IPPIS has been accelerated with the use of the Bank Verification Number scheme.

At last count, 447 MDAs with a total staff count of 309,472 are on the system, while full enrolment of remaining staff is to be completed in 2016. In the course of the exercise in recent months, 43,122 fraudulent entries have been identified, representing an average of NGN4.2 billion.

–Akanbi is the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Finance

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

BUSINESS/ENERGY

Unabating Sleaze in the Oil Sector

The 2013 audit report of financial and process activities in Nigeria’s oil industry which the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) released last Monday shows nothing has really changed in the way Nigeria runs her oil industry. Chineme Okafor reviews the report

“I

t is important to restate that these reports covered the year 2013.

Clearly, a few things have or could have changed since then.

“But it is clear that despite the gap of three years, most of the issues raised in the reports are still relevant today and should guide us on the way forward,” said Minister of Solid Minerals and chairman of the board of NEITI, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi said this when he presented highlights of the 2013 oil and gas audit report of NEITI in Abuja.

While presenting the content of the report, he noted that Nigeria still had a lot of work to do if she must clean up years of corrupt management of operations in her oil and gas industry.

According to him, notwithstanding recent reform efforts at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and in the oil sector, the audit report underpins the importance of absolute dedication to changing the way Nigeria runs her hydrocarbons industry because it is still corrupt.

“We are also all aware about the ongoing reforms in NNPC and the oil sector in general.

These report reinforce why such reforms are so important and why we cannot afford to take our eyes off the ball,” Fayemi explained.

In reading out the content of the report, the minister noted that NNPC and other oil companies who are the usual culprits on issues of reported misconduct in operations and financial activities in Nigeria’s oil sector, had committed the usual crime of having either underpaid, withheld and under-assessed government’s receipts from their operations in the country.

He said within the period, the activities of 41 oil companies and 16 relevant government agencies were assessed by NEITI’s audit team from which it was discovered that 800,488,000 barrels of oil were produced but 800,338,000 barrels lifted.

Fayemi also explained that despite the 150, 000 barrels that were not lifted within the period for some operational reasons, Nigeria earned $58.07 billion as revenues from crude oil sales, taxes, royalties and other incomes which the companies ought to have remitted to her national account.

But the transfer of this earning, according to the report was laced with elements of unwholesome practices which have inappropriately gone on for years and for which the NEITI stands against.

According to the audit, Fayemi said, “some revenues that should have gone to the federation in 2013 were not made or lost due to a number of reasons.”

He listed the unremmited revenues to include: a sum of $3.8 billion and N358.3 billion as outstanding revenues from the NNPC and its sub-units in 2013 as payments due from unpaid consideration from its transfer of oil blocks to its subsidiary – the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), cashcall refunds from the Nigerian Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), and NPDC’s liftings from its joint venture with Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).

Another $5.966 billion and N20.4 billion as revenue losses to the federation for engaging Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA), crude oil swap, and crude theft; as well as $599.98 million pinned as under-assessments or under-payments for petroleum profit taxes and royalties by oil and gas companies who use pricing methodology that differs with

Oil pipelines in the Niger Delta

that of the government.

Also stated from the audit report was the fact that $1.289 billion which the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) paid to the NNPC as dividends, interest and loan repayment for 2013 was not remitted to the accounts of government.

Fayemi explained that the 2013 NLNG payment brought the total NLNG proceeds which the NNPC had not remitted to the government to $12.9 billion between 2005 and 2013.

While questioning the processes which the NNPC adopted in its transfer of the country’s equity stakes in various oil blocks to NPDC, Fayemi said the country lost considerably from the transactions, averring that such represented the characteristics of oil blocks transfers by the NNPC to NPDC. “Between 2010 and 2011, NNPC divested 55 per cent federation equity in eight OMLs from the Shell JV to its subsidiary, NPDC. “The eight OMLs (4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 40, 41 and 42) were valued by DPR at $1.8 billion, out of which only $100 million was paid in April 2014, leaving a balance of $1.7 billion.

“Also, the audit discovered that NNPC assigned four OMLs (60, 61, 62 and 63) from the NAOC JV to NPDC in December 2012.

No amount had been paid on these four OMLs as at the conclusion of the 2013 audit, neither was the value of the consideration stated in the deed of assignment,” added Fayemi.

He said the NNPC also lifted crude on behalf of NPDC and not the federation from these OMLs that were not fully paid for or were not even paid for at all but its benefits received only by the NPDC. What has Changed?

Based on the recommendations of the report, significant changes on the processes employed

by Nigeria, in managing its oil resources (most of which NEITI from its inauguration has pushed for) cannot be said to have taken

place so far, neither has the country largely adopted NEITI’s past recommendations on transparent operations.

Clearly, the report repeated a number of recommendations that it had made in its previous versions, to suggest that the country has so far remained largely non-committal to improving on past identified anomalies.

Parts of the recommendations in the 2013 audit included asking the federal government to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the transfer of the federation’s oil blocks by NNPC to NPDC. Industry experts consider the controversy over the oil blocks transfer as an example of a recent discretionary award in the country’s oil industry.

Due to the huge impact of crude oil theft on Nigeria’s revenue from the sector, the report requested that a scientific technology such as finger-printing should be put in place to track Nigeria’s crude oil trade and from which oil theft could be checked – the audit had disclosed that the total value of crude oil losses to the federation as reported by three Joint Venture (JV) companies in 2013 was $4.7 billion.

In its highlights of what Nigeria had lost due to irregular production metering and pricing methodology in 2013, the report also endorsed that the government quickly resolve the issue of pricing methodology by enacting appropriate law to forestall under assessments of profit tax and royalties. It asked that NNPC and its sub-units should refund outstanding payments to the federation; while gas sales should be invoiced in dollars not Naira to avoid exchange losses which was put at $1.167 million.

Shine more light on NNPC Traditionally, NEITI’s audit reports in the past had never spared NNPC from being condemned for inappropriate operational practices, and even though the corporation had always stated its innocence of such allegations, further prodding by independent

audits has come to buttress NEITI’s positions.

The 2013 audit again highlighted these anomalies when it said: “NNPC should discontinue alternative importation arrangements and limit itself to export of crude and import of refined products; and NNPC should abide by federal government financial regulations and always comply with the 90-day credit period.”

“Government should investigate the status of NLNG dividends; NNPC, DPR, FIRS, OAGF and CBN should prioritise fixing remedial issues identified in their operations,” added the report which equally asked that pioneer status should not be granted to companies in the oil and gas sector, except a company that is actually pioneering an aspect of the industry.

A vital job for the National Assembly As a statutory responsibility enshrined in the NEITI Act 2007, the National Assembly is expected to deliberate on its floors, outcomes of NEITI audit reports but the assembly has frequently ignored this responsibility, thus, compelling Fayemi to ask that the 2013 report be looked into by the legislators.

“Now that these reports are out, I will like to call on the legislature to take keen interest in the audit findings in designing legislations for the extractive sector and in carrying out their oversight functions,” said Fayemi.

He added: “Over the years, NEITI has provided vital data on revenues, volume and governance processes in the extractive sector.

“However, the challenge has always been in getting accountability actors, especially citizens and civic groups, to use such critical evidence to hold to account those who exercise power in trust for them and to make effective demand for a better society.”

According to him, “merely publishing information about the extractive sector will not do the trick.”

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

BUSINESS/INDUSTRY

Lafarge Africa: Expanding Low Cost Housing for Lower Income Nigerians

Kunle Aderinokun

A

recent report by the United Nations estimated that the global population will rise to over 9 billion by 2050, from 7.4 billon today with 70 per cent of humans living in urban areas across the globe. The rise in the global population and the drift of people to live in dense urban centres everywhere in the world is exerting pressure on housing and the physical infrastructure required to support social and economic lives, which have to be expanded on a continual basis and at a rapid pace. This means an ever-increasing demand for concrete and other building solutions. Meeting this demand has implications for nature and the environment.

LafargeHolcim, the world leader in building materials, including cement, aggregates and concrete devotes considerable resources to ensuring that its quest to satisfy rising global need for houses and infrastructure leaves minimal imprint on the environment. In 2001, Lafarge set itself a target of reducing its CO2 emission per tonne of cement by 20 per cent by 2010, a target that was achieved on schedule. The company then decided to set another target- a reduction to 33 per cent by 2020.

Following audits at the 20 Lafarge offices across 15 countries, approximately 85 per cent of the group’s total office floor space, Lafarge implemented energy saving measures that enabled a 12 per cent reduction in energy consumption across those offices in one year as part of its programme: “My Low Energy Office”.

Convinced of the necessity for collective effort, Lafarge is leading initiatives like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development EEB (Energy Efficiency in Buildings) projects with the ambition to cut energy consumption in the building sector by 80 per cent by 2050.

LafargeHolcim employs over 1,100 scientists at its global Research and Development facility in Lyons France and at six other regional construction materials research laboratories. This R&D infrastructure is restructured to reflect the priorities of the market and facilitate the transfer of technological capabilities to provide innovative solutions to local construction challenges in the various countries where LafargeHolcim operates. It has produced a host of innovative products and services. Some of LafargeHolcim’s environment-friendly solutions are based on financial or social rather than technological innovations.

LafargeHolcim has various products which reduce the carbon footprints of houses by lowering their use of energyconsuming devices. One such is Thermedia, a concrete solution which is designed to both retain and distribute heat in cold climates and keep interiors cool in warm climates thus reducing heating and airconditioning costs while retaining the properties of traditional concrete (mechanical, acoustic, earthquake resistance, durability, shrinkage and fire resistance).

One of the environment-friendly products is the DuraBric, a solution that replaces traditional brick with an innovation made up of a combination of 5-8 per cent cement and soil. Durabric is more durable, water resistant and esthetic than traditional clay bricks and also affordable and designed to be consonant with traditional building methods. Unlike clay bricks, they do not require burning, a practice that has harmed the environment through deforestation and soil degradation. Durabric is available in Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Cameroon and Zambia. Individual homebuilders and masons are trained on how to use the machines used to make Durabrics.

A recent statement by the management of global building solutions leader states:

A cement factory

“In LafargeHolcim we do not regard concrete simply as concrete. We have 180 years of experience behind us, which guides our operations- we provide the best concrete solution for every construction need. So we really don’t sell concrete, we provide solutions with concrete. The benefit to our buyers and end users in all our market is in the high quality, the safety and durability of their projects. We save them time and money by studying their projects, what it needs and providing solutions that fit 100 per cent.”

The above was corroborated by an example given by a senior official of Lafarge Africa Plc, who spoke about how the company supplied a special kind of concrete that is resistant to salt water for construction of buildings and infrastructure at Eko Atlantic, an ultra-highbrow, new district in Lagos. “We didn’t have to go back to the laboratory to develop this solution. We looked for and provided it from elsewhere in the 90 countries where we operate. We didn’t have to start doing trial and error. This solution reflects our commitment to be the company that provides the best construction material for every construction task in every market where we operate” he declared.

Another concrete innovation that Lafarge Africa is pushing in Nigeria is the Readymix offer, introduced to the market in 2013. Lafarge Readymix Nigeria Limited supplies pre-mixed concrete (in its trucks) in exactly the form and density which builders want them for their projects, thus saving 20 per cent in construction time, an essential component of project cost. The company currently operates 10 batch plants in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja with on-going expansion plans across Nigeria.

In India, LafargeHolcim has enabled slum dwellers benefit from the lower

cost and high quality of its Readymix solution by developing a 15-litre slowsetting concrete bag which is delivered by rickshaws where Readymix trucks cannot reach. India now has three Readymix plants dedicated to supplying 500 of these bags per day to build proper homes in slums at lower costs.

In Ogun State, Lafarge Africa Plc is forging ahead with its determination

One of the environmentfriendly products is the DuraBric, a solution that replaces traditional brick with an innovation made up of a combination of 5-8 per cent cement and soil. Durabric is more durable, water resistant and esthetic than traditional clay bricks and also affordable and designed to be consonant with traditional building methods

to minimise its carbon footprint by embarking on vast agro forestry projects, which will enable it to replace the use of fossil fuels in its factories with biomass residues. This has spillover benefits to the people in the state; green trees are springing up in degraded forests and the project is also aiding the production of food crops.

Furthermore, Lafarge Africa is carrying out its mission to improve the environment with a mix of financial and technological innovations by aiding lower income Nigerians to acquire modern, affordable homes. Also, in Ogun State, over 3,000 Nigerians have so far benefited from the Ile-Irorun low-cost housing scheme initiated by Lafarge Africa Plc in partnership with Nigeria’s biggest microfinance bank, Lapo Microfinance in 2013, to assist beneficiaries with finance to access the scheme. This is being replicated in Gombe with the Alhairi Project, which is another significant contribution to supporting a sustainable environment as unplanned low-income housing is a major cause of poor waste management and flooding, which destroys property and infrastructure.

Lafarge Africa’s low-cost housing scheme is being extended to residents of Cross Rivers and Abuja with the recent onboarding of another microfinance lender, Fortis MFB. According to CEO Cement, Lafarge Africa, Adepeju Adebajo, the company is well placed to support the changing construction needs of Nigeria as the economy continues to grow and the tastes and requirements for infrastructure and housing of various socio-economic groups change. She emphasised that Lafarge Africa’s innovations will continue to be guided by its experience in over 60 emerging markets and ethical stipulations and respect for the environment that underpin LafargeHolcim’s operations in the 90 countries where it is present.

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NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

EQUITY NOTE- MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC: Prevailing macro-economic leads to decline in top-line and bottom-line earnings

M

obil Oil Nigeria Plc (Mobil Oil) recently released its audited financial statement for full year 2015 showing a not so impressive performance as there were notable decrease in both top-line and bottom-line earnings.

The decline in key financial indicators was due to tough business environment emanating from various macro-economic headwinds.The macro-economic headwinds are the resultant effect of continuous instability in Brent crude oil prices which resulted into financial strain, foreign exchange difficulty and various fuel scarcities during the financial period. As well as delayed subsidy payment faced by the petroleum marketers during the third quarter of 2015 and the attendant scarcity of products that affected sales negatively.

Nonetheless, the Company surprised its shareholders as it maintained its regular dividend payment. Mobil Oil dividend payment rose by an impressive 9.09% to N2.60 billion (on the basis of N7.20 per share) for every 50 kobo share from N2.38 billion (on the basis of N6.60 per share) paid for the full year 2014.

Mobil Oil is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil; an international integrated oil and gas company, based in HoustonTexas, United States.The Company changed to its current name when it became a publicly quoted company in 1978.The Company operates in the integrated oil and gas industry. Mobil Oil Nigeria is engaged in the production and marketing of petrochemicals (gasoline, motor oils, lubricants, marine and jet fuels, etc.), packaging films and other chemical products. Its ultra-modern lube oil plant in Apapa, Lagos is regarded as one of the most modern in Africa.

CAUTIOUSTRADING ON GLOBAL AND DOMESTIC CHALLENGES DEPRESSED REVENUE Mobil Oil Plc reported a notable 19.30% decline in revenue to N64.22 billion in December 2015 from N79.58 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2014.This was due to the challenging global and domestic oil market quagmires during the year. Most Nigerian oil marketers struggled to grow revenue during this period due to the sharp drop in petroleum product supply following unprecedented rise in importation cost as a result of the depreciation of the Naira which collided with sudden reduction in the regulated price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the domestic market without a clear policy direction on how government intended to fund the eventual expanded subsidy implications. Hence, various payment disputes surrounding the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) allocation and the products scarcity at several periods impacted negatively on all players including

WE RECOGNISE THE MANAGEMENT’S EFFORT IN CURBING ITS EXPENSES WHICH HAS BEEN A MAJOR BURDEN HAMPERING THE PROFITABILITY OF THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, WE EXPECT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECISION ON THE DEREGULATION OF THE DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM SECTOR TO LEAD TO LEAPS IN REVENUE AND PROFITABILITY IN THE COMING QUARTERS

Mobil Oil Plc. Expectedly, effective management of cost of sales declined by 22.68% to N53.23 billion from N68.85 billion recorded in the full year of 2014 as a result of lower sales activities.The significant reduction in cost of sales boosted gross profit to a marginal rise of 2.36% to N10.99 billion from N10.74 billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

DECREASED OVERHEAD IMPACTS POSITIVELY ON GROWTH IN OPERATING PROFIT For the full year ended December 31st 2015, Mobil Plc’s total operating expenses rose by a notable 16.24% largely due to the substantial 49.61% increase in administrative expenses to N3.17 billion from N2.12 billion recorded in the proceeding full year. Further scrutiny indicate that the increase in administrative expense was caused by an extra-ordinary rise in depreciation and amortization which rose by 96.89% in the full year of 2015 to N1.91 billion when compared to full year 2014 figure of N97m. Also, selling and distribution expenses increased by 5.57% to N5.52 billion from N5.23 billion figure

recorded for the full year 2014. Over the last few years, the company has struggled to curtail increase in operational costs due to high overhead cost ranging from the cost of delivering its product through trucking to all its retails outlets to high personnel costs due to staff recruitment to meet with its expansion plans and to help achieve its goals and objectives. In addition, the Company continued to invest heavily in the promotion of its popular “Quartz” oil lubricant aimed at further strengthening the ‘Total’ brand across the federation.This is in addition to expenses incurred on repairs, maintenance and upgrade of some of its retail outlets nationwide. All of these factors greatly impacted on operating profitability.

Nevertheless, operating profit positively impacted by an extraordinary rise in other operating income and reduction in other expenses emanating loss on disposal which decline by a momentous 84.12% in December 2015 to N23m from N147m recorded in the preceding year. Other operating income grew by 96.70% to N4.67 billion from N2.37 billion in December 2014 largely on the back of rental income which surpassed last year figure by an extra-ordinary 111.67% among others.

Hence, the Company operating profit grew to N6.96 billion in December 2015 from N5.62 billion reported in the previous year, indicating a significant 23.71% growth.

ZERO GAIN ON NON-CURRENT ASSET HELD FOR SALE RESULTED IN A DEPRESSED NETINCOME Although, finance charges decline by 33.86% to N123m from N186m recorded in the preceding period, full year 2014, the effect of 53.27% reduction in finance income and a zero gain on non-current asset held for sale from N2.85 billion in the corresponding period of 2014 greatly depressed the company’s profitability markers as profit before tax declined by 18.23% to N6.91 billion from N8.45 billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

Net income also followed suit with a 23.8% decline to N4.87 billion from N6.39 billion in December 2014.

Furthermore, the company’s profitability and efficiency ratios though still positive decreased. Earnings per share declined to N13.51 from N17.73 reported in 2014. In addition return on average asset (ROAA) declined to 8.12% from 13.73% in the preceding period while return on average equity (ROE) also followed suit, declining to 33.71% from 55.38% over the same period.

RECOMMENDATION: BUY We recognise the management’s effort in curbing its expenses which has been a major burden hampering the profitability of the company. In addition, we expect the Federal Government decision on

Valuation Metrics 25-May-16 Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

177.91

Current Price (N)

166.25

Outstanding Shares (m)

360.59

Market Cap (N'm)

59,948

EPS (N)

13.51

PE Ratio

12.30x

Forward EPS

14.14

Forward PE Ratio

11.76x Source: BGL Research

FYE December 2015 Audited Results Turnover (N'm)

64,221

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

6,906

Profit After Tax (N'm)

4,873

Pre-tax Margin (%)

10.75

Source: Company Report 2015, BGL Research

FYE December 2014 Audited Results Turnover (N'm)

79,584

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

8,446

Profit After Tax (N'm)

6,393

Pre-tax Margin (%)

10.61

Source: Company Report 2014, BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders

% Holding

Exxon Mobil Oil Corporation NIPCO Plc

60.00% 5.50%

Public Float

34.50%

Outstanding Shares

360,595,262

Source: Company Report 2015, BGL Research

the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector to lead to leaps in revenue and profitability in the coming quarters.This will also put a lasting solution to disagreement between the Federal Government and petroleum marketers over the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) allocation in the short to medium term, which greatly disrupted the supply and sale of petroleum products in the industry and accounted for the dismal performance of Mobil Oil Plc. Considering the above, we therefore revised our projections for revenue to N65.47 billion for the 12-months financial year end, December 2016 and net income to N5.46 billion for December 2016, leading to a forward EPS of N15.13 and a projected dividend per share of N7.47. With a Price to Earnings (PE) multiple of 12.30x, we arrived at a 6-month target price of N177.91 for Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc. Since this represents a potential upside of 7.01% over the next 6 months. We therefore maintain a BUY recommendation on Mobil Oil shares.

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NIGERIA’S TOP 50 STOCKS BASED ON MARKET FUNDAMENTALS

WAPIC INSURANCE PLC: Increase in profitability spurred by decreased income tax

W

APIC Insurance Plc (WAPIC) is a composite insurance company with operations in both the life and non-life insurance businesses.

WAPIC, formerly known as Intercontinental WAPIC is now a subsidiary of Access Bank Plc following the bank’s acquisition of the insurance company’s former parent company, Intercontinental Bank Plc.The company offers a wide range of insurance products and services, and boasts of solid industry know-how having been in operations for over five (5) decades. WAPIC Insurance currently operates two subsidiaries; WAPIC Life Assurance Limited and WAPIC Insurance (Ghana) Limited.

The company’s results for the full year ended December 2015 shows a complete turnaround and significant improvement in performance, as both gross premium income and net income grew significantly.

INCREASE IN GROSS PREMIUM DRIVES NET UNDERWRITING INCOME For the full year ended December 2015, WAPIC reported an increase of 36.45% in gross premium written to N7.10 billion from N5.20 billion in the corresponding period of 2014, despite stiff competition in the Nigerian insurance sector with regards to the sales of various insurance packages and products.

The significant growth in gross premium was driven by an increase of 30.71% in gross premium income to N6.15 billion in December 2015 from N4.70 billion in December 2014.

However, reinsurance expenses also grew by 18.27% to N2.21 billion from N1.86 billion over the period.

Despite the increase in reinsurance expenses, the strong growth in gross premium income resulted in a growth of 38.90% in net premium income to N3.94 billion from N2.84 billion year on year.The company’s fee and commission income also increased by 32.89% to N429m in December 2015 from N323m in December 2014; leading to a growth of 38.28% growth in net underwriting income for the period ended December 2015 to N4.37 billion from N3.16 billion in the corresponding period of 2014.

GROWTH IN UNDERWRITING PROFIT DESPITE RISE IN UNDERWRITING EXPENSES Arguably due to strong risk management practices, the company’s claims expenses increased massively by 100.04% to N2.18 billion in December 2015 from N1.08 billion December 2014 while claims expenses recoverable also increased massively by 493.68% to N544m from N91m over the period. Expectedly, net claims expenses also increased to N1.63 billion in the year ended December 2015 from N997m in the corresponding period of 2014. On the other hand, underwriting expenses increased by

WAPIC HAS PUT IN PLACE AN ADMIRABLE STRUCTURE IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCE, CUSTOMER ACQUISITION AND RETENTION AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SECTOR. THE STRONG CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PUT IN PLACE BY THE COMPANY ALSO PROVIDE AN ATTRACTION TO INVESTORS

27.90% to N1.22 billion from N960m over the period.

However, due to the significant rise in claims expenses and claims expenses recoverable, total underwriting expenses grew by 46.22% to N2.86 billion in December 2015 from N1.96 billion in December 2014. However, despite the higher expenses, the company’s underwriting profit increased significantly to N5.75 billion in December 2015 from N3.80 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2014; reflecting a change of 51.36%.

SIGNIFICANTRISE IN PROFITABILITY For the full year ended December 2015, the company recorded a slight rise of 1.27% in employee benefit expenses to N924m from N912m in December 2014. However, other operating expenses increased significantly by 29.72% to N2.56 billion from N1.97 billion over the period.This increase was due to expenses incurred in maintenance of branches to meet with standard operations, and creation of new branches to further deepen the WAPIC brand and product chain.

However, despite the increase in operating expenses, profit before taxes increased massively to N1.67 billion in December 2015 from N58m in December 2014. Furthermore, income tax credit rose substantially during the period to N370m in December 2015 from N178m in December 2014; net income also followed suit with a massive increment of 447.81% to N1.30

billion from N236m over the period.

Valuation Metrics

IMPROVED ASSETQUALITY The company’s balance sheet shows positive changes in total assets, net assets and total liabilities, as at December 2015, when compared to year ended December 2014.Total assets grew by 7.42% to N23.69 billion from N22.06 billion in December 2014.The key drivers of the company’s total assets were a 289.39% increase in other receivables and prepayments to N1.22 billion from N314m, 63.52% increase in deferred acquisition to N414m from N253m and a 51.15% rise in property, plant and equipment to N2.37 billion from N1.57 billion in December 2014.

On the other hand, the company’s total liabilities shows a growth of 11.12% to N8.73 billion in the year ended December 2015 from N7.86 billion as at December 2014.The key drivers of the increase in liabilities were an increase of 52.29% in insurance contract liabilities to N4.68 billion from N3.07 billion, and a 1.69% rise in Investment contract liabilities to N1.19 billion from N1.18 billion during the year under review. Expectedly, the company’s net assets grew by a modest 5.36% to N14.96 billion from N14.20 billion year on year.

Moreover, with respect to returns, the company’s return on assets (ROA) rose to 5.48% in December 2015 from 1.07% in December 2014 while return on equity (ROE) followed suit with a rise of 8.67% in December 2015 from 1.67% in December 2014.

Recommendation

BUY

Target Price (N)

BUY

0.83

0.79

A.M. BEST‘B’ RATING FURTHER TESTAMENT OF THE COMPANY’S STRENGTH One of the leading global insurance rating agency, A.M. Best recently bestowedWAPIC a ‘B’ rating.The rating, which was an affirmation of the company’s financial strength, was also reinforced by an Issuer Strength Rating (ISR) of “BB-” which was credited to the insurer.This puts the company in the exclusive league of Nigerian insurance companies to be graded by a credit rating agency. A.M. Best, one of the leading global insurance rating agencies is based in the United Stated and while WAPIC is the third company in the industry to attain such.

WE MAINTAIN OUR BUY RECOMMENDATION The potential of the insurance sector in Nigeria is huge.The reform of the industry which was concluded in 2007 resulted in the emergence of 47 recapitalized and stronger insurance companies. Considering the existing insurance law for instance, the 16 compulsory forms of insurance should deliver over N1 trillion premiums for the insurance companies by 2012 when implemented.The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD), 2010 and the establishment of the Nigeria Content Monitoring Board (NCMB) is also expected to open up a new vista of large capital investment underwriting business to the insurance sector which has eluded the industry for long. In the meantime, the bourgeoning middle class in Nigeria over the last three years, rising awareness about insurance, and improved operational performances of the emerged insurance companies post reform have been paying off on

24-May-15

Current Price (N)

0.50

Market Cap (N'm)

6,691.36

Outstanding Shares

13,382.74

EPS (N)

0.19

PE Ratio

2.58 Source: BGL Research

FYE December 2015 Audited Results Gross Premium Income (N'm)

7,100

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

1,667

Profit After Tax (N'm)

1,297

Pre-tax Margin (%)

23.91 Source: BGL Research

FYE December 2014 Audited Results Gross Premium Income (N'm)

5,204

Profit Before Tax (N'm)

59

Profit After Tax (N'm)

237

Pre-tax Margin (%)

1.13 Source: BGL Research

Shareholding Information Shareholders Holding

%

Reunion Energy Ltd Strategic Alliance Inv.Ltd

% Holding 21.39 5%

Blakeney GPIII Ltd

14.09

Public Float

57.96

Outstanding Shares (m)

13,382.74

Source: BGL Research, Company Information

the industry.

WAPIC has put in place an admirable structure in terms of compliance, customer acquisition and retention and capacity building to take advantage of the identified opportunities in the sector.The strong corporate governance put in place by the company also provide an attraction to investors.

Using the Net AssetsValuation method,WAPIC appears to be undervalued.Therefore, using an Industry average price to book value of 0.74 consisting of peer insurance companies (Mansard, Custodian & Allied Insurance, AIICO and Continental Re) in comparison to WAPIC’s book value per share, we arrive at a 12-month target price of N0.83 of each share ofWAPIC Insurance Plc over the next six months. Since this represents a significant upside potential on the stock, we place a BUYrecommendation onWAPIC Insurance Plc.

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016

Happy Democracy Day

His Excellency,

His Excellecny,

Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR President, Commander-in-Chief of the Arms Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prof. Yemi Osibanjo Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Management and staff of CCECC Nigeria Limited congratulate His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), president & Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and the entire good people of Nigeria on the 2016 Democracy Day celebration.

Nigeria is indeed moving forward and we have no doubt that the next few years will usher in more dividends of democracy. On our part, we will continue to contribute our quota to the development of Nigeria.

Congratulations as we celebrate Democracy Day

Lagos rail mass transit blue line projects

Main Building of PHC Terminal

Station of Lagos Rail Mass Transit

Transportation of Ballast

SIGNED: MANAGEMENT CCECC NIGERIA LIMITED CORPORATE ADDRESS: PLOT 215 CADASTRAL ZONE C00, INSTITUTE AND RESEARCH DISTRICT, KM10, AIRPORT ROAD, ABUJA

SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

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Happy DearMr. President, Birthday!

As You Mark 366 Days in office…

O

n behalf of the Council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, a distinguished Honorary Fellow of our Society, on the successful completion of one year in office.

So far, we acknowledge the steady, remarkable progress of your administration in the direction of tackling insurgency, vandalism and corruption. We recognize also, the invaluable support that our professional colleagues in your cabinet – Engr. Babachir David Lawal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, His Excellency, Engr. Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Hon. Minister of Science and Technology and Engr. Suleiman Adamu, Hon. Minister of Water Resources – are lending in driving government’s policies and programmes to achieve set targets and objectives.

This special occasion offers us the privilege to re-assure you of the engineering family’s belief in your vision for a strong, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. The apparent strong desire for self-sufficiency in food production, local manufacturing and adequate and reliable infrastructure suggests that our country is beckoning on engineering in a clear and direct manner.

We, therefore, urge you to continue on the track of economic diversification and industrialization as the assured route to selfreliance. To bolster your efforts in that direction, our candid aspiration is that you consider injecting more Engineers into the policy space, especially in development/engineering-related Ministries, Departments and Agencies, to assist the government in realising the noble objective of desired prosperity, growth and advancement for our nation.

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

His Excellency,

MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, (FNSE) President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

SIGNED

Engr. Otis Anyaeji, FNSE, FAEng President and Chairman of Council

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WEEKLY PULL-OUT

THE BROWNS

BONDED B BY Y LOVE AND BUSINESS

29.05.2016

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COVER

The Browns

PHOTOS: Olayinka Oluwakuse

THE BROWNS

BONDED BY LOVE AND BUSINESS It is not often that a stroke of misfortune carries a seed of success that germinates and grows into a plant which offers rewarding comfort. Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha encounter an inspiring couple, Edward and Wondrous Brown, who were drawn together by an unlikely circumstance

T

here are many ways in which Providence plays a hand in the affairs of men. Take the case of Edward Brown, for instance, what became the defining point in his life started as a result of his father’s illness. The elder Brown who was a prominent lawyer in Anambra State had taken ill and had to undergo surgery in Atlanta, United States of America. To be with their ailing head, the entire family including his mother who was a top shot and a retired Chief Registrar in the Anambra State judiciary had to relocate. Unfortunately, the process went wrong and the ailing man went into a coma from which he never recovered.

A post-mortem would later reveal that the hospital administered an overdose of a medication that led to his eventual death. Devastated, the family went to court to seek redress.

The hospital wasted no time in proposing an out-of-court settlement that offered compensation, which included paying tuition up to university level for Brown and his siblings.

Going to America meant starting all over again for Edward who had done one year studying Biology at the University of Ibadan. His father had wanted him to be a doctor. But since he could not get admission to study Medicine, he was ready to kick-start his university education with the study of Biology.

Apparently he was not destined

to work as a medical doctor, even when he had another opportunity as a result of his newfound home in America and the scholarship that came with his father’s passage, he could not go beyond what they call Physician Assistant.

“I couldn’t complete it because I have a phobia for blood. There was a time we were dissecting a frog in the lab and I threw up. I knew then that was not what I wanted to do.”

The relocation to the States was a blessing in disguise in many ways.

First, he was able to return to his first love of culinary vocation and also found his true love, Wondrous Carter.

As a student, he worked part time in a restaurant called ‘This is it’ owned by Wondrous’ family.

Starting from the bottom of the ladder, he worked his way to the top in double quick time. Within a period of 18 months, Brown progressed from being a mere cleaner to the general manager of the restaurant. His rapid success endeared him to the lady who would later become his wife.

Wondrous who was perched on the arm of Brown’s office chair took the narrative from there. Before now, she was content to look on contemplatively, smiling sometimes as her husband told his story.

“My aunt owned the ‘This is it’ food chain. It’s a franchise. At the time, I was the head cook. So when he came in, I told him to go…She paused to look at him with that unuttered question, raising her

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COVER

Edward

Edward and Wondrous Brown

eyebrow, like should I tell them? and the husband shrugged. So she continued. “I told him wash up the dishes and he said ‘I’m the man, we don’t do such.’” She laughed and continued, “But we liked each other instantly.”

Touching his head playfully, she unwittingly disclosed that Edward’s macho persona may not only imagine injury when there is a suggestion to domestic duties, it also feels an affront if he is perceived weak in matters of the heart.

Wondrous knew how to massage his ego. “He likes to believe that as soon as I saw him, I became attracted to him which I wasn’t. But I liked him. For women, feelings get in the way but when you genuinely like the person, it’s there even before the attraction. We really liked each other first which, I think, is a good foundation for any relationship.”

Another thing that caught Wondrous’ attention was Brown’s enterprising spirit. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it was easy for her admiration for Brown to grow. According to her, Brown ran the restaurant and a mechanical workshop simultaneously.

“He was amazing. I used to visit him at his workshop. You would see him take a malfunctioning car apart and put it back together. And the best part was that he was selftrained.”

Even if his name did not immediately give away his Nigerian ethnic group, his restless entrepreneurial spirit did. Not that he was hiding it. But you needed to

Wondrous

FOR ALL HER SKILL AT MAKING HAIR, WONDROUS SELDOM TOUCHES HER HUSBAND’S HAIR. “FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE NEVER THE BEST TO FIX THEIR HAIR. MY HUSBAND COMPLAINS A LOT WHEN HIS HAIR IS BEING FIXED.” SHE WAS LAUGHING AS HE NODDED IN AGREEMENT….. HE DECIDED TO MANAGE IT IN ORDER TO HELP HER DEAL WITH TECHNICAL ISSUES AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS. PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SALON REDUCED HIS ATTENTION ON THE AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS. AND BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE WITH HIS WIFE MORE, HE TOOK THE PAINFUL DECISION TO CLOSE HIS WORKSHOP IN IKOYI

probe.

“I’m from Onitsha in Anambra state,” he said. “My Ibo name is Okwudili. The Brown family is a prominent one in Onitsha.”

Going by the general perception that Onitsha people are traders, Brown’s love for the culinary art was rather curious. He explained.

“The main indigenes of Onitsha go to school. They don’t trade. They are more of professionals. They are doctors, engineers and moreover you could hardly find anyone who is a true Onitsha indigene trading in the main market. They don’t trade.

It’s just a misperception that Onitsha people are traders. The people who trade in Onitsha market are southerners, northerners, and other Ibo people.”

For the record, Brown could pass for a model or a corporate CEO. There’s nothing about his looks that portrayed his handiness. His braided hair and elegant physique could easily make him the brand image of a company. He would later reveal that he was once approached by a telecommunications company to be the brand face but turned down the offer because the money he was offered wasn’t worthwhile.

Brown’s proclivity towards the kitchen was spurred at an early age.

He recalled that his mother loved tending the family farm at Onitsha.

He frequently accompanied his mother delightedly to pick farm produce. His mother, he said, was also very good in the kitchen and being the last child, he spent most of his time with her either in the farm

or in the kitchen. She taught him the basic skills in cooking. Unknown to him, at the time, those culinary lessons would become the bedrock of his vocation.

For this interview, he tried to look his best. Donning a pristine blue suit and black trousers, he welcomed the journalists into his office. Not quite successful in his attempt to hide his nervousness, he at times placed a mobile device in front of him or occasionally stole glances at his American wife, Wondrous. “I have never been interviewed like this for a newspaper,” He confessed. The first and only time he was interviewed was during the last edition of ‘Eat. Drink. Lagos’ exhibition.

Of the numerous stands available, only his stand seemed to attract more customers. This prompted a television crew to interview him.

The interview was rushed because he was distracted by a swam of customers who wanted his attention.

But he was surprised to see himself on CNN. The exhibition was aired on one of their special programmes.

It was a good milestone for him.

Smiling, Brown revealed how he got into the world of mechanical engineering. The picture he painted was a familiar one. Depending on your neighbourhood, if you are out on the balcony reading this, the scenario may be playing out right before your eyes.

“As a child, I loved automobiles, cars precisely. I used to build little cars with used cups of milk, fit them out with rubber tyre and roll them down the street. I did all that

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

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COVER

The Browns relaxing in their restaurant

stuff. In America, the opportunity presented itself in a different way.

My brother-in-law was into the car business, so I picked interest. He is a good man. He put me through how to trade in cars. I used to go to the auto-repair shops to watch the guys that fix the cars. If I look at what you are doing, I learn quickly.

I started learning how to fix cars just by watching them do it and I became good at it.”

It didn’t take long before he perfected his skill. He was so good at it that the people who used to fix his cars for him now came to him to fix their cars. Not only that, a Honda car company in Atlanta requested for his services.

“They told me to give them my worker to paint their cars for them. And the worker was me but I couldn’t tell them that I was the worker, the CEO of my company.

I told them to bring the cars that I couldn’t give them my worker.

That was it. In America, if you can paint cars for Russians, then you are a very good painter because these people don’t give their money to nobody. They will never pay you to fix their cars because they are good at it. But for them to come and pay me to paint their cars, I was better than them.”

His combined skills became the main sources of his income by the time he returned to Nigeria. From selling cars, he opened a workshop at Ikoyi where he fixed cars. This was before his wife could join him, five years, after he returned to Nigeria. What kept her away for so long? Her family initially objected.

As the years rolled by, the ice of resistance melted and the coast was clear for her to reunite with her

BROWN’S PROCLIVITY TOWARDS THE KITCHEN WAS SPURRED AT AN EARLY AGE. HE RECALLED THAT HIS MOTHER LOVED TENDING THE FAMILY FARM AT ONITSHA. HE FREQUENTLY ACCOMPANIED HIS MOTHER DELIGHTEDLY TO PICK FARM PRODUCE. HIS MOTHER, HE SAID, WAS ALSO VERY GOOD IN THE KITCHEN AND BEING THE LAST CHILD, HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME WITH HER EITHER IN THE FARM OR IN THE KITCHEN. SHE TAUGHT HIM THE BASIC SKILLS IN COOKING. UNKNOWN TO HIM, AT THE TIME, THOSE CULINARY LESSONS WOULD BECOME THE BEDROCK OF HIS VOCATION

husband.

By the time she was ready to join him, he was doing excellently well. But having his wife around presented its challenges. The first task was to get her busy. Like her husband, Wondrous had meddled into a few things before she found her calling in dressing hair. Her first job in Nigeria was at a salon in Lekki. Her presence in the salon was an instant hit. The demand for her to become her own boss was pressing.

Luckily, her husband found a place in Victoria Island-Lagos for the salon. Wondrous Hair was born. For all her skill at making hair, Wondrous seldom touches her husband’s hair. “Family and friends are never the best to fix their hair.

My husband complains a lot when his hair is being fixed.” She was laughing as he nodded in agreement.

He decided to manage it in order to help her deal with technical issues and customer relations. Paying more attention to the salon reduced his attention on the automobile business. And because he wanted to be with his wife more, he took the painful decision to close his workshop in Ikoyi.

After a while, his wife suggested they open a restaurant. At first, he was reluctant. He later gave in when a space became available in the same building and the second enterprise in their growing business, Smokey Bones Lounge and Restaurant was opened. Both businesses are housed in the same building and they work as a team.

The Browns have their businesses tucked into the serene ambiance of FABAC Close, behind the ExxonMobil headquarters. Smokey Bones is patterned after its inspiration,

‘This is It’ the American soul-food restaurant that gave his wife and fired his ambition. It is not easily noticeable, except of course to people who either stumbled on the restaurant or know its owner personally.

The restaurant has become known for menus that speak to the heart. A trait the owner, Edward Brown is so proud of. Within its three-year existence, the restaurant has garnered an impressive, dedicated individual and corporate clientele. Its services are sought after by the discerning who like to host their expatriates and guests in the top echelon to a palatable lunch and dinner. Increase in demand for his services urged Brown to acquire more space for his teeming clients.

What used to be a small dining room is now a spacious setting that occupies a big bar, a band-stand and more seats and tables arranged in an unconventional style. For instance, there are tables for two, four and six; couches for relaxation, and even lounging chairs. Guests could come in during break hours for lunch or after close of work to relax.

The interior decor reeks of artistic taste, coziness and homeliness.

With colourful walls and soft music playing in the background, the restaurant exudes the right aura for a homely dining experience.

Even the menu card is eye-catchy.

Starting with intercontinental cuisines, one is attracted to the pictorial representations of the variety of meals on display.

With everything in place, Brown is set to take his business to the next level. He understands the importance of marking his presence in the industry.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

High Life

47 with LANRE ALFRED 08076885752

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Presidential Snub...Gov. Ambode Shakes off Buhari’s Rebuff

•Plans low-key birthday party •Warns favour-seekers and fair-weather friends against elaborate celebration

G

overnor Akinwumi Ambode is too old to cry. But it hurt too much for the Lagos governor to shrug off President Muhammadu Buhari’s snub with a laugh. There is no gainsaying distress and misery pierced the governor’s heart like poisoned darts from Pandora’s box as President Buhari gave him the cold-shoulder and refused to attend the commissioning of certain landmark projects in Lagos at the governor’s invite. Governor Ambode was undoubtedly heartbroken over Mr. President’s snub of his much publicised and celebrated invite to Lagos. In the wake of the president’s snub, detractors of Ambode and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) went to town spreading malicious gossip.

They also said that Mr. President snubbed him in order to hobnob with Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun. This, in their estimation, was a cold, brutish message to Ambode and his godfather, Bola Tinubu, that he(Mr. President), wasn’t interested in being chummy

The Obanikoros

CLOSE SHAVE! FORMER VP NAMADI SAMBO RECOVERS FROM KNEE SURGERY Namadi Sambo is a patriot.

But his detractors love to think of him as a dull actor, lacking in skills but blessed in cunning characteristic of the shelled tortoise or fraudulent politician. Few weeks after incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, assumed office, the former Vice President and chieftain of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly took to his heels claiming he was embarking on medical tourism abroad.

His detractors claimed he had taken to his heels to avoid prosecution by no-

with them. But whether Buhari came or not, Ambode has moved on. “Itesiwaju Eko,” meaning ‘the progress of Lagos’ is his priority.

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who at the beginning of his administration vowed to work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of Lagosians has indeed proven that his words are not mere promises. His good works are evident in every nooks and crannies of the State, it will only take a blind man to dispute that fact. As the indefatigable governor smarts from the disappointment of the president’s snub, he is getting ready to celebrate his first birthday in the Lagos State House, he has issued a stern warning to political jobbers and fairweather friends to desist from blowing his low-key celebraiton out of proportion. The governor believes that power is transient, today you are there and tomorrow you are not. Those who celebrate you today will not be there when you are no longer in power, they will forget you.

nonsense Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC). However, in a swift response, friends and loyalists of Sambo have responded to his antagonists; they said the former VP is no tortoise neither is he a crafty politician. They said Sambo indeed, went for a knee surgery overseas.

According to them, he had to seek medical aid in Washington DC, United States (US), to repair a severe knee ligament disorder which almost resulted in the amputation of one of his legs below the knee.

Sambo reportedly consulted several hospitals in the US before he was admitted by a Washington DC-area hospital for an extensive ligament reconstructive surgery. The former vice president was in intensive rehab for several weeks after the surgery.

Today, Sambo has bounced back to his feet. He is reportedly hale and hearty, would return to the country soon to shame his critics and political detractors.

Akinwumi Ambode

the crash of their marriage claiming they are still in love, they forget that in separation, few husbands and wives choose to follow their hearts, instead, they follow their heads. Thus as you read, the much celebrated society marriage between Yomi and Bimbo is on the brink of collapse, according to source close to the family. Findings revealed that Yomi has moved out of his matrimonial home leaving his wife and kid behind. The actual details of the controversies that led to their separation are yet to be ascertained but different factions of the couple’s friends and family have different things to say about the reasons for their separation. A close friend

INTRIGUES AS FOLAWIYO WALKS OUT ON TROPHY WIFE, BIMBO •Wife’s friends accuse Yomi’s buddies of unhealthY interference

Again, bliss sputters to untimely death in the wedlock of Yomi Folawiyo and Bimbo Kashamu. Although friends and family of the couple rue

Bimbo Kashamu

Yomi Folawiyo

to the estranged couple disclosed that their once rosy marriage suddenly became a bed of thorns at the interference of Yomi’s friends.

Bimbo reportedly failed to perform her duties as a wife rather she concentrated on her social life and business.

Yet she allegedly prevented Yomi from hanging out and drinking with his friends.

AISHA FALODE FINDS JOY IN DAUGHTER’S BLOOMING, FEW YEARS AFTER HER SON’S DEATH There is no woman so bound to grief and the lattices of disaster that she would not relish the hope of rediscovering bliss and re-emerging stronger Cont’d on pg. 74

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SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

admitted. “But the truth is if you put your mind to it, anything you love you make time for it.

So it’s the way you prioritize and make time for the things that are important [that matters].

Sometimes I have to drop work and have family time, and sometimes I have to sacrifice family time for work. But they are all important, and what I have found out is that if things are important to you, you will find time to do them.

Adding a twist to Setting Academic Goals How Mr. Agbaje lived his childhood was the next inquisition of the children, and in bare-all fashion did the GTBank MD respond. “In Primary School I was very playful,” he announced to the laughter of his interviewers. “I played very hard. I was very playful but I always made sure I was in my top set.” Then came Mr. Agbaje’s unconventional advice regarding vying for 1st, 2nd & 3rd positions in school. Admitting that he risked getting a hard stare from their parents, Mr. Agbaje said; “I don’t believe life is 1st, 2nd and 3rd, I believe that life is in brackets of A’s, B’s

SKS Children Have a Field Day with MD of GTBank, Segun Agbaje.

“My father was a banker, and if your father is your hero or your mentor, you tend to want to do the same thing.”

The Managing Director and Chief Executive

part of banking that I enjoy the most is the

his choice of a banking career. “I come from a

Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr. Segun

banking that allows you to give back to society,

generation of bankers,” he responded. “My

Agbaje, was the recipient of very interesting

he said, highlighting the bank’s several Societal

father was a banker, and if your father is your

questions from children at a Smart Kids Save (SKS)

Intervention programmes such as its sponsorship

hero or your mentor, you tend to want to do

special interactive session organized by the bank

of the Lagos and Ogun States Principals’ Cup

the same thing. I’m sure from the time I was

to mark the Children’s Day Celebration. Invited to

Competitions

discovering

maybe about 8 or 9 [years old] I always kind of

ask whatever they would like to know about the

and grooming young footballing talents for

felt that I would like to do what my father had

MD and the bank he heads, the children, drawn

successful sporting careers. He also mentioned

done for a profession.” However, the MD, who

from primary and secondary schools in Lagos

the GTBank Orange Ribbon Initiative through

has now lived nearly three decades of his life as

State, did not hold back their inquisitiveness.

which the bank leads the support and advocacy

a banker, advised the children that his footstep

They grilled Mr. Agbaje on topics ranging from

for children living with Autism. “The best part

wasn’t necessarily the right one to always follow.

his childhood to his job of leading one of Africa’s

about banking is that you get to touch people’s

“[It] doesn’t mean you should follow what your

top financial institutions, stunning the GTBank

lives, Mr Agbaje added. “I mean, this morning

parents did if you do not like what they do, he

MD with their wit and intelligence.

I’m getting to meet all of you, hopefully we can

said.”

geared

towards

touch each other’s lives and influence each other The first shot at Mr. Agbaje was about the part

positively. Helping people is the most exciting

The children’s questions would only get tougher

of banking he enjoyed the most, to which he

part about banking.”

as they dug into the personal life of the MD of

retorted, “This part!” in reference to his ongoing

GTBank. “How are you able to balance being

chat with the children. “No I enjoy every part

Inspired by Tradition

the head of GTBank with having time for your

of banking,” the MD continued. “I think the

The next question for Mr. Agbaje was about

family?” they asked. “It’s difficult,” Mr. Agbaje

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T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016

and C’s, and what you must always do is make sure that you are always an “A.” “Because life is very competitive you’ve always got to be an A to succeed,” Mr. Agbaje enthused.

The Cocktail for Success The prodding of Mr. Agbaje’s life didn’t end there however, as the children asked how he rose to become the MD of GTBank. Here, he gave them his Cocktail for Success. “Get a glass, pour

“The best part about

banking is that you get to touch people’s lives...

I mean, this morning I’m getting to meet all of you, hopefully we can

touch each other’s lives

and influence each other positively. Helping people

is the most exciting part about banking.”

The questions of the

children were without limits. “What’s your

Salary?” He was asked next.

hard work into it, pour God into it as well, then you have to pour discipline into it, which means if you have to be at a place for 10am, 10:01am is not good enough, that’s discipline. I think if you’re disciplined, hard working, and a spiritual person—you have God on your side—then the sky is your limit.”

The questions of the children were without limits. “What’s your Salary?” He was asked next.

“Enough… Enough to buy you a car, pay for your children’s education, pay for your holidays and most importantly, it will also allow you to save.”

Therein came one of the MD’s strongest message

“Done!” Mr. Agbaje said, to the Children’s request for a Kids programme on Ndani TV.”

to the children; the importance of saving. Using

good anywhere in the world and I think we have

an illustration of a bucketful of water, Mr.

done that. In 25 years I am extremely proud of

Agbaje advised the children against drawing

what we have built.”

water from their buckets without ever refilling

And how does the bank ensure a unified standard

it. “Ultimately, you’ll have nothing to show for

across its 340 branches in Africa and the United

it, that’s why you must always save, he enthused,

Kingdom, the children enquired. “We make

encouraging them to ask their parents to take

sure we employ the best people,” Mr. Agbaje

advantage of the Smart Kids Save Account

responded. So we make sure we employ people

provided by the bank to inculcate the culture of

who are very passionate about what they do,

saving in young ones.

passionate about the bank and passionate about the customers.” Would Mr. Agbaje consider

A Bank that Nigerians can be proud of

another bank job? “No way!” He declared to the

From Mr. Agbaje’s personal life, the children

children. “I could never work in any other bank.

turned their attention to Guaranty Trust Bank,

Once you’ve run the greatest bank on earth in

asking the MD how much the bank has achieved

a country, any other bank job would be a step

in its 25 years of existence. “We’ve had incredible

down.”

years,” he enthused.

“In 25 years, we have

gone from the smallest bank in the country to

The back and forth between Mr. Segun Agbaje

the best in the country. In terms of our work,

and the children reached its climax with his

ethics, profit, our integrity and our way of life,

outright acceptance of a request for a children’s

I think we’ve built in 25 years an institution that

programme on Ndani TV, an online television

Nigerians can be proud of. I don’t think GTBank

platform created by GTBank to celebrate and

is only good on a Nigerian level,” he added. “We

showcase the best of African art, fashion, film,

are good on a global level. I think the way we

business, sports and much more. For a final word

live our lives is very similar to how you would

to his interviewers and the millions of kids out

even live in a global institution. This is our head

there, Mr. Agbaje returned to his core message;

office, where we work, we didn’t build our head

“Be A’s in life,” he reiterated. “The best thing to

office just so it can meet Nigerian standards, we

be is to be a cool kid and be an A, and then you

built our head office because we want it to look

have the world at your feet.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

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HIGHLIFE

I

Old Wine Tastes Better...Bamanga Tukur’s Daughter, Jamila, Marries Adedoja

t’s amazing to see what great lengths a man would go and what infinite depths a soul would plunge, for the sake of love. For the sake of love, the triple pillar of the world severally transforms into a strumpet’s fool; apology to Shakespeare. And for the sake of love, many a bridegroom and bride have had their hearts ripped to shreds like a stray rabbit in the grasp of a starving wolf. And contrary to what the rumour mill may project, it was for love’s sake that the handsome Prof. Adedoja decided to remarry after he lost his beautiful wife years ago.

Abuja listed like a cruise ship on the day Jamila, daughter of former PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, married former Sports Minister, Prof.

Taoheed Adedoja, in a classy wedding.

The ceremony started with a Nikkah on Friday 20th, after Jumat Prayer at Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja. There, top notch politicians and businessmen gathered

Aisha Falode

from her wounds. In the same vein, Aisha Falode, veteran broadcaster has rediscovered her joy and the eternal brightness of hope and fulfillment soon after her beloved son’s death.

When she lost her only son in Dubai few years ago, many thought it would take her eternity to regain her groove. But like the phoenix that rises from its ashes, Aisha has re-encountered joy.

She is once again a happy woman. It is a proof of the extent of her strength that she has survived a tragedy that destroyed many other women. The ace TV sports presenter has rediscovered joy in her brilliant daughter,

Tahoeed Adedoja

to celebrate with the couple. The reception followed immediately after the Nikkah at the same venue. Two days later, the former Sports minister hosted friends and family to a bigger reception in his hometown in Oyo. The event took place at the Civic Centre in Ibadan. The reception attracted the crème of Nigeria’s high society as friends of Adedoja and Bamanga Tukur trooped to

Ibadan to rejoice with the couple. However, Jamila’s marriage to Adedoja will be her second attempt at marriage. It would be recalled that she quit her first marriage in London, due to incompatibility with her first husband.

Jamila’s first marriage was severely hampered by irreconcilable differences with her estranged husband. The marriage which produced beautiful kids eventually crashed

Toluwalase, who has just bagged a master ’s degree in Law from Duke University School of Law. As Toluwalase fluorishes, Aisha’s joy mounts to innumerable heights. Her daughter ’s pleasant blooming no doubt affirms the age long truism that ‘Behind every cloud hangs a silver lining.’

Aisha Falode is one woman who elicits admiration. Her presence causes many to stop in their tracks in pure approbation of beauty and strong will.

Thin

REVEALED! WHY BEN PETERS AND HARUNA MOMOH WOULD NEVER BETRAY EACH OTHER •The bond ThaT makes Them inseparable Through Thick and

Ben Peters

If you can dispel the notion that ‘Money is the root of all evils,’ you would understand why it is the factor that binds Ben Peters and Haruna Momoh, like conjoined twins.

The Managing Director (MD) of Aiteo Consortium and former MD, Pipeline Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC) love each other as if they were sired from the same loins. Thus like sea-hardened mariners, sworn to an oath of eternal brotherhood, they have seen each other through the most menacing storms. Peters and Momoh remain inseparable even through life-threatening turbulence, according to sources close to the duo.

Their bond has been variously attributed to a robust business relationship and mutually beneficial friendship. During Momoh’s tenure as PPMC boss in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, he allegedly conducted numerous lucrative business transactions with Peters. Highlife findings revealed that Peters was his major associate and partner in various business schemes. Peters benefited immensely from Momoh during the period. Together, they toured the world. They shared a bond that it never crossed their minds to betray each other. You can hardly see Peters without sighting Momoh nearby. Momoh,

Jamila

despite friends and family’s heartfelt attempts to reunite Jamila and her first husband. Jamila is the product of Alhaji Bamaga’s relationship with his Calabar wife, Aminat.

Tukur married Amina soon after she clocked 30. Rumour has it that he gave Jamila to Adedoja to cement their bond and friendship. It is an open secret that Bamanga Tukur is a mentor to Prof.

Adedoja. it is often said, can trust Peters with his life and viceversa. That is why he threw a lot of lucrative business opportunities Peters’ way and the latter reciprocated by being truly appreciative and loyal. Let’s hope their friendship will survive the era of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Rotimi Amaechi

THE SUPERIORITY CONTEST BETWEEN ROTIMI AMAECHI AND HADI SIRIKA Just recently, news of an ego war and persistent bickering between former Rivers State governor and incumbent Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, and the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, rent the air. HIGHLIFE

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HIGHLIFE

At last, Segun Odegbami and Oyin Adeyemi Quit Alleged Romance…How their Years of Engagement Crashed

W

hen the going was good, Princess Oyin Adeyemi, the boss of StillEarth Ltd and football legend, Olusegun Odegbami, cut the picture of perfect romance. The duo were in love and they made no effort to hide their affection for each other. But few years into their romance, redundancy set in and the passion that burned between them dimmed to a faint glow. Then it burnt out. Segun and Oyin are no longer an item. They have gone their separate ways after falling out of love with each other. Though, champagnes would not be popped neither would glasses clink in merriment for the former lovers, at least, they have already got a pride of place in the club. While their romance lasted, Segun made a big deal of her affair with Oyin.

He proudly showed off Oyin who reciprocated his gesture. Segun and Oyin have been lovers for years and their relationship was well documented in the mainstream

and new media. They parted ways recently. It is unclear whether Oyin will go into any relationship anytime soon. Forget her lovely petite frame; Oyin manages a multibillion Naira construction company successfully. Several times, she comes across people who find it hard to come to terms with the fact that she owns a massive and very successful enterprise like StillEarth.

Oyin glows from the inside out; every brilliant shade of her persona, from her enthralling felinity to her delicate assertiveness, conveys a sphinx-like allure. A renowned icon of female power on the business realm, Oyin is a star, a pioneer and workhorse with monumental focus.

Segun, the former Green Eagles (as the Super Eagles was then known) star winger and proprietor of an international football academy in Wasinmi, Ogun State, He’s nicknamed Mathematical for his precise style of play. Odegbami is regarded as one of the greatest Nigerian players of all-time. that Sirika considers himself superior to Amaechi because he is the president’s kinsman and he served as a Senator representing the President’s Katsina North senatorial district in past dispensation.

Hadi Sirika

findings revealed that things have gotten so bad between both ministers that they were close to exchanging blows last Monday. But for the timely intervention of their aides and civil servants, who witnessed their altercation, Amaechi and Sirika would have engaged each other in a very bitter and bloody boxing match. Trouble loomed soon after Amaechi was appointed as the senior minister and Sirika as the younger one, in the nation’s transport ministry. Sirika allegedly refused to take orders from Amaechi, who is also the senior minister of Aviation and Sirika’s direct boss by virtue of his designation as the nation’s Minister of Transport. Amaechi, in response, has refused to take Sirika’s insubordination lying low. He seizes every opportunity to put Sirika in his place. Sirika on his part is said to be spoiling for war. He is ready to win the superiority battle with Amaechi. Sources close to both ministers argue

Sunday Dare

BOLA TINUBU’S CHIEF-OF-STAFF, SUNDAY DARE, CLOCKS 50 At 50, Sunday Dare treads in the footsteps of illustrious men. Like the fabled genius and leader of men, his sojourn from birth through adolescence to the present, while towards the stars, leaves the vivid air signed with his honour and exploits. Fifty years of brilliance, performance and resounding success markedly distinguishes Sunday Dare as a creative genius and indispensable part of journalism and Nigeria’s success story. Besides his wonderful exploits as a journalist, Dare’s exceptional tenure as a part of Lion of Bourdillon, Bola Tinubu’s winning team is worthy of note and acclaim. Like a tsar of remarkable character

Segun Odegbami

and descent, Dare summons infinite aces up his sleeves in his extraordinary sojourn as an award-winning journalist and now, as a crucial part of All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Tinubu’s team.

In 50 years, Dare has evolved from a conscientious journalist to an exceptional cache of genius and pride, by dint of hard work. Against all odds, he forged his path through random crucibles of trials and daunting intrigues to become one of Nigeria’s most adept political and media strategists.

As you read, plans are in top gear to celebrate the man known to most people as the engine room of two-time Governor of Lagos, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s office, today, Sunday, May 29, 2016; SD as many prefer to call him, is known for his unpretentious modesty.

STOP THE MISCHIEF! OONI OF IFE HAS SETTLED RIFT WITH ESTRANGED BROTHER Not all the water in the rough rude sea can wash the balm from an anointed king. And no degree of angst or animosity could divest the chosen one of royalty.

Thus no matter the degree of discontent nursed by Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi over his loss of the throne to his younger sibling, the incumbent Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, he knows there was no way he could depose the imperial monarch.

Widely acknowledged as the one whom the breath of worldly men cannot depose, Ooni Adeyeye’s emergence as the paramount ruler of Ile Ife kingdom allegedly caused bad blood between him and his elder sibling who also contested vigorously for the

Oyin Adeyemi

much coveted throne.

Unknown to many, the contest was keenest between the duo who are blood brothers and big players in the real estate sector, particularly in the Lekki-Ajah axis of Lagos. The contest for the throne eventually ignited a family feud between them as Prince Adetunji refused to step down for his brother until their father mounted pressure on him to accept the divine choice of the oracle and yield the throne to his younger sibling.

Following interventions of their parents, distant relatives and influential natives of Ife, Prince Adetunji reluctantly agreed to step down for his brother. He subsequently traveled out of the country for months after his younger brother was announced as the new Ooni. Sources within the family disclosed that their father had to lead other family members to Lagos to plead with Prince Adetunji to step down. But the two brothers have since resolved their differences and are reportedly on very good terms.

Ooni of Ife

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SUPPLEMENT ON TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku's One Year Scorecard Introduction. Since assumption of office as Executive Governor of Taraba State on 29th May, 2015, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku has Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku weathered every storm to keep faith Taraba State with the people of Taraba state who overwhelmingly voted for him. After initial legal hiccups and tussle to rob him of his deserved victory, Gov. Ishaku remained unruffled and refused to be distracted. Rather he approached his task of governance; using his development masterpiece he crafted known as the Rescue Agenda. Guided by the three indicators which are Economic, Social and Cross-cutting sectors as the basis for his development trajectory, he got into action churning out remarkable achievements within one year in office. It is important to take the items regardless as they happened which constitute an impressive scorecard.

Peace. No development takes place without peace. Before he was sworn in, Taraba State was torn into shreds by communal and ethno-religious crises.

Anarchy ruled all over the place. Governor Ishaku, realizing the danger, called key stakeholders to series of meetings and requested them to give him peace so that he could provide them with the needed development. The appeal worked. He secured the peace and set to the task of transforming the State. The state is now relatively, a safe haven and an investment destination with the undertaking of every enterprise made possible because of the prevailing peace. Part of the success story is the return of the IDPs to their farm lands and the sanctioning of detractors who want to resist his will. The returned IDPs have already embarked on their farming activity, a critical component of the shift to agriculture whose cutting edge lies in massive participation given Taraba's vast arable land.

. Electricity equipment at the Airport (2)

. Electricity equipment at the Airport (1)

. Ishaku installed Solar street lights

. Golf Vehicles provided for plain clothes Security operations

. Navigational facilities installed at the Airport.

. JL KONA ROAD.

. OB VAN GRAPHIC

. New Studio construted for the state Television

. On-Going Road construction of Magami Area in Jalingo awarded by Darius Ishaku Administration

. On-going construction of the College of Nursing & Midwifery Jalingo

Security. As a fellow-up to strengthening security throughout the state, government has purchased security patrol vehicles and Golf cars and given to the Police and other security agencies, and they have put them to effective use.

Electricity. The need for entrepreneurial drive requires electricity to engage in small scale and medium scale industries. Within the administration's financial limits, government has installed and commissioned electricity transformers in over 75 communities and stepped down electricity from the National Grid at Kunini town, an effort that lasted in the past for 30 years without success only to be done in a matter of months by the Ishaku administration.

Water. The Jalingo Waterworks has received a boost with upgraded capacity to provide portable water to the city's inhabitants who once shared shallow water wells and other unhygienic sources of water with animals. For instance, the control laboratory, fume cupboard, incubator, refrigerator, microscope and other equipment have been procured. In addition, more chemicals have been bought, block of office and store room have been renovated with power generator and fuel storage tanks and generator house added to improve water supply. Also, boreholes were drilled in Kwahir, Garin Sule, Banyo, Bashon, Makurna, Matifia, Mishelli, Abuja Mechanics Village, Jalingo Motor Park, Bashin and Angwan Kasa.

Jalingo Airport. After passing through two previous administrations without any hope of getting it completed, the Jalingo airport project suddenly got on a sound footing when Gov. Ishaku took over the reins of governance. In a matter of months as if using a magic wand, Gov. Ishaku set the target for commissioning the project and translated the airport into reality by not only completing it, but also arranging for immediate air traffic operations which has made all categories of users heave a sigh of relief. Gone are the days when air travelers from Taraba would travel hundreds of miles to Yola to catch a flight. The airport has been installed with navigational facilities, transformers and other facilities.

. Reconstructed Specialist Hospital Road in Jalingo

. Presidential Lodge Annex renovated by Ishaku

. Takum- Katsina-ala Road constructed by the Gov Darius Administration (1)

. Renovated Welcome to Jalingo city Gate

Roads. So many road projects have been completed and others are ongoing. They include Specialist Hospital, Jalingo-Kona-Lau, Jolly Nyame Way, GRA Jalingo, Mayo Dasa bridge, Magami road, Takum township roads, Takum – Katsina Ala road, etc. The Ministry of Works and Transport has provided direction and supervision in the actualization of these projects.

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SUPPLEMENT ON TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku's One Year Scorecard Information. To streamline activities of state electronic media, Taraba Television (TTV) and Taraba State Broadcasting Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku Service (TSBS) have been merged under one board for Taraba State efficient performance. Facilities have also been added and upgraded. For instance, at TTV new studios have been constructed, new studio and transmitting equipment, Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans have been acquired and a new transformer installed by the Ishaku administration. Meanwhile, at the TSBS the premises have been fenced for the first time in 22 years to prevent animals from grazing there and farmers from encroaching. The Ishaku administration has also provided a new transformer for better service delivery.

Health. The role of health in the life of a people cannot be downplayed by any stretch of the imagination. For that reason the Ishaku administration has given priority attention to the health needs of Tarabans. He has reopened the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Jalingo closed down by the Nursing Council for over ten years because of poor standards. Contractors have been mobilized back to site and new structures continue to rise daily. A transformer has been installed at the School to boost electricity supply. Also, the General T.Y. Danjuma Comprehensive Health Centre, Takum has been renovated and furnished to provide high quality health services to the people. Apart from consumables and drugs for government health institutions, certain equipment like CT Scan machine have been repaired and put to use.

. Takum- Katsina-ala Road constructed by the Gov Darius Administration (4)

. Takum- Katsina-ala Road constructed by the Gov Darius Administration (2)

. Takum- Katsina-ala Road constructed by the Gov Darius Administration (6)

. Takum- Katsina-ala Road constructed by the Gov Darius Administration (5)

. The new Transformer supplied by Gov Darius at the Takum Power Station

. The new Transformer procured forthe Takum Power Station by the Gov Darius Administration

. Ungwan Abuja township Road, Takum under construction by the Gov Darius Administration

. Transmitting House of Taraba Radio renovated and walled for the first time in 22 years (1)

. Water Reservoir at Mallum constructed by Ishaku to boost Water Supply

. VEHICLES

Social Security. In a bid to cushion the effect of unemployment and get the youth working, Gov. Ishaku personally visited the management of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and discussed terms culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the disbursement of N700m facility out of which the Taraba state government contributed half of the amount. At an impressive ceremony, beneficiaries beamed with smiles as they received their cheques to go home and start a productive life.

Mambilla Highland Tea. Gov. Ishaku has intervened in the Mambilla Beverages Nigeria Limited, producers of the High Quality Highland Tea to make it a viable venture. This was once regarded as a white elephant and a hopeless project. The repositioning of the company took into account the new ways of operating it at a profit, and payment of staff salaries is now guaranteed. For instance, new machines like CTC (Cut, Tear and Curl) have been installed. This has put an end to the speculation that a foreign company was to buy it over because of insolvency. Gov. Ishaku has done the magic in a matter of months.

General Renovations. So much ground has been covered in this area.

For instance, The Presidential Lodge Annex, reconstructed drainage along Hamma Ruwa Way, Jalingo, renovation of Specialist Hospital premises and the Jalingo City Gate along Jalingo-Wukari road are wearing new looks. Works Roundabout and Road Block Roundabout have been renovated. Palace Way which was single and narrow has been dualized and given a standard metropolitan look.

The administration also refurbished projects equipment which include heavy duty equipment and Sanitation trucks.

Conclusion. This scorecard is an indication that the Ishaku administration means business for Tarabans. For the past one year, the groundwork has been laid and in the years ahead it will be easier and faster to get the administration to translate its Rescue Agenda into a practical and wonderful reality. More projects are in the pipeline. But the appeal remains for all Tarabans to give the administration the peace and cooperation it desires so that it will transform Taraba in all spheres of development never to remain retrogressive or stagnant again.

. Welders & other artisans are back in business as economic activities boom with Ishaku's. Jalingo now enjoys 18 mega watts of electricity against the 2 Megawatts before the rescur Mission started (1)

. Security Gadget installed at the Airport . Water Reservoir at Mallum constructed by Ishaku to boost Water Supply

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

CICERO

Editor Vincent Obia Email vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

The Niger Delta Militancy Challenge

The original intentions of the amnesty initiative need to be sincerely addressed to ensure stability in the oil fields of the Niger Delta, writes Vincent Obia

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new form of militancy is emerging in the Niger Delta that has little to do with the core Niger Delta question, and everything to do with political partisanship. This much was clear when in a statement this month previously unknown Niger Delta Avengers said some prominent Niger Delta politicians who supported President Muhammadu Buhari at the last presidential election must apologise to the people of the zone.

“President Buhari, the director-general of the State Secret Service, and the All Progressives Congress candidate in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, should apologise to the people of the Niger Delta region and family of Late Chief DSP Alamieyesegha for killing him with intimidation and harassment because of his party affiliation,” NDA, reportedly, stated in a release this month listing conditions for a halt of its on-going onslaught on the oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

The group also stated, “The only Nigerian maritime university sited in the most appropriate and befitting place – Okerenkoko in Delta State – must start the 2015/2016 academic session immediately.

“The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amechi, should apologise to the Ijaws and the entire Niger Delta people for his careless and reckless statement about the citing of the university in Okerenko.”

Though, NDA also tried to appeal to feelings in the Niger Delta by referring to issues like the Ogoni clean-up and the amnesty programme, the group’s politically partisan motivations were obvious.

NDA and another new group, Red Egbesu Water Lions, have carried out a series of attacks on the oil facilities in the Niger Delta in the last few months. NDA recently bombed Chevron’s valve platform, an offshore oil facility located near Escravos in Abiteye, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. The attack was closely followed by another on Chevron’s three swamp flow stations in Warri South-West council area.

The Nigerian government sees these newcomers to militancy as a threat that should be crushed by all means.

Elements within the administration are suggesting heavyhanded measures they believe should be deployed to finish up the nascent threat to the soul of Nigeria’s oil-centred economic monoculture. But such draconian measures cannot produce the permanent solution to the problem that the country needs badly, as experience has shown.

The military regimes before the Fourth Republic elected severe strategies, which they often called wasting operations, in dealing with the situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta. But such measures merely produced a graduation of the problem from civil protests to armed struggle, with untold consequences for the country.

To successfully tackle the resurgent militancy in the Niger Delta, therefore, the federal government needs to rejig its intervention strategy in the zone with a view to tailoring it towards a permanent solution to the Niger Delta question.

Of particular importance here is the presidential amnesty programme.

The late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had declared the Niger Delta amnesty project on June 25, 2009 as a five-year programme of “Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Rehabilitation or Reintegration” for armed agitators who accepted the offer of amnesty. The disarmament and

demobilisation phases of the programme, which are mainly security-based, have been largely achieved. But the federal government has seemed to renege on the processes that underlie achievement of the reintegration phase, which is development-based.

To make up for its lack of commitment to the development component of the amnesty programme, the government has seemed to focus excessively on those who carried arms and ignore others in the Niger Delta who, though equally affected by the devastating consequences of oil production in the area, chose not to be armed combatants.

The vast majority of the people, who were not covered by the disarmament and demobilisation phases, ought to feel the impact of the amnesty project under the reintegration phase. This phase was meant not only to disincentivise the former combatants from militancy, but also to create a strong disincentive to armed agitation and concomitant criminalities for the locals generally.

Several issues bordering on development, environment, economic justice, and land and resource ownership rights in the oil-rich region had been agreed with the federal government as part of the amnesty project. They included the East-West road, the Lagos-Calabar railway line and coastal road, construction and establishment of new towns with modern facilities in the Niger Delta, as well as establishment of tertiary institutions to bring education closer to the people in the coastal communities of the region. These projects, apart from the East-West road, which is yet to be completed, have largely remained pipe dreams.

The United Nations Environment Programme report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland has been swept under the carpet by the Nigerian government since

2011. Though, in August last year, Buhari launched an effort to begin the Ogoni clean-up, and there are reports that the exercise would begin next month. The issue of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta due to oil activities is an explosive problem that has been allowed to fester, while occasionally being exploited as a tool of politics.

The consequence is the continuous emergence of fringe groups trying to appeal to the popular sentiments, like NDA is doing.

The Buhari government has responded to the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta with acerbic rhetoric, which tends to signal that the administration is pinning its hopes on the military or strong-arm solution. Just a few days ago, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier-general Paul Boroh (rtd), stated, quite surprisingly, that the amnesty office is not a political office. “The office is a security office, first and foremost, not a political office,” Boroh said on an NTA programme. Misconceptions like this constitute a hindrance to the Niger Delta peace effort.

But the stakes for the government’s election of coercive methods are high. The military option may inflict a huge blow on the capacity of NDA and other groups to launch attacks now. But it could end up widening the conflict by further splintering the militancy, making it hydra-headed, creating sympathy for the fighters, and complicating efforts at political settlement.

The Buhari government should return to the original purpose of the amnesty initiative, which is the pivot of the search for a political solution to the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

President Buhari and the Incomplete Team Syndrome

O

Buhari

n Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed new chief executive officers for six parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. The appointees were to occupy positions that had been vacant since the disengagement of their previous occupants on February 15, when the government sacked the heads of several federal agencies and parastatals.

Wednesday’s appointments filled only a fraction of critical positions that have remained empty since July 16 last year, when Buhari ordered the dissolution of the governing boards of federal parastatals, agencies and institutions. On the foreign scene also, several ambassadorial positions, even in countries critical to Nigeria’s foreign plocy, have remained empty since July 10 last year, when ambassadors and high

commissioners appointed by the immediate past administration were recalled.

Nearly one year after his assumption of office, Buhari has operated with an incomplete team. Many important government organs critical to the realisation of his domestic and foreign policies have been without substantive heads and supporting boards, with all the attendant problems for accountability.

The delay in the composition of the full governmental teams has also given room for ignominious allegations and rumours, like the one recently about a job scandal in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Buhari should make haste to constitute the complete team needed to pursue his government’s goals.

– Vincent Obia

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CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Makarfi

Obi

Sheriff

PDP: On the Road to Unity?

Onyebuchi Ezigbo writes that the removal of Sheriff as national chairman of PDP has set the stage for the return of peace to the party divided by faction and intrigue

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enultimate weekend’s decision by stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party to settle for an interim national leadership after removing Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman, along with the other members of the National Working Committee, has thrown up fresh challenges.

Sheriff was removed from his position in a most dramatic manner, when governors of the party and other leaders held an emergency meeting at the Rivers State Governors Lodge in Port Harcourt. The meeting was, ostensibly, to chat the way forward following court orders restraining the party from holding an elective convention.

In place of the sacked Sheriff- led NWC, a new caretaker committee was appointed with Senator Ahmed Makarfi as acting national chairman and Senator Ben Obi as secretary. Other members of the committee were Senator Odion Ugbesia, Senator Abdul Ningi, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Alhaja Aisha Aliyu, and Barrister Kabiru Usman.

U-turn

convention in Abuja while the PDP convention was going in Port Harcourt, issued a statement immediately the appointment of the caretaker committee was made to distance themselves from the arrangement. Though, they acknowledged that their group was the greatest beneficiaries of the dramatic turn of events, which according to Mantu had practically addressed most of their demands, the concerned PDP group said the Board of Trustees should be the ones to appoint the caretaker committee and that its composition should be expanded to accommodate other interests.

Speaking after a meeting held to appraise happenings at the convention in Port Harcourt, the chairman of the steering committee of the Concerned Stakeholders Group, Mantu, said there was no other body constitutionally mandated to take over the affairs of the party at such moment than the BoT. Mantu stated, “There is a body that is constitutionally mandated to take over the affairs of the party. And that body is the conscience of the party called BOT. At this point in time, the only legal organ body constitutionally empowered to actually take over the affairs of the party is the BOT. After watching events at Port Harcourt convention, it has become necessary for us to react to some of the things we saw there. First and foremost, we want to thank our members throughout the nation for giving us support that has actually led us to achieve some of the goals we have set for ourselves.

“We were opposed to the zoning and, indeed, the zoning has been cancelled or set aside. We are also opposed to the convention taking place and the convention did not take place, courtesy of the court. Again, we were opposed to the way the congresses have been conducted, that, they fell short of our expectations. Now these congresses and conventions have been set aside.”

While commenting on the legal implications of decisions taken at the Port Harcourt convention, former Minister of National Planning, Taminu Turaki, who is a member of the Concerned Stakeholders Group said, “We have reviewed the happenings in Port Harcourt very carefully and the decisions that came out have clearly vindicated our positions, which were based on principle.” Taminu also supported Mantu’s call for the BoT to take over the party, saying, “In this situation, therefore, the BoT leadership must take up its responsibilities over the reins of the affairs of the party and bring all the members of our party back home for us to sit down and find a way forward as members of one family.”

of the PDP. The suit filed by the PDP has as defendants the former acting national chairman, Sheriff, Oladipo (sued as themselves and as representing national officers), INEC, the Inspector General of Police, and the State Security Services.

But another court of concurrent jurisdiction in Lagos sacked the seven-man interim committee led by Makarfi. Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, held that the committee was appointed in violation of an order he made on May 12. He had barred the party from conducting elections into the offices of national chairman, national secretary, and national auditor pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Reaction

In spite of the on-going legal fireworks, political pundits have said that the dissolution of the Sheriff-led NWC at the Port Harcourt convention was a right step since the tenure of that leadership expired same day of the convention, May 21, as specified by the party’s NEC. They held that there was no controversy as to whether Sheriff’s tenure had ended or not since he had accepted to serve a three-month extension of tenure as directed by the NEC. What has been a subject of debate, however, is whether the delegates and stakeholders at the Port Harcourt convention were right in the eyes of the law to have gone ahead to appoint a caretaker committee to administer the affairs of the party in the absence of Sheriff.

It is pertinent to consider some of the functions of the BoT. Under the PDP constitution, the BoT is expected to ensure, in the first instance, that the highest standards of morality are in place by acting as the conscience of the party. The board has powers to call to order any officer of the party whose conduct falls below the standard norms. In addition, the BoT is to ensure high morale among members of the party and ensure that the party enjoys a good image before the Nigerian populace. The PDP constitution also vests in the BoT all the assets of the party, saying it shall serve as the custodian of such assets, while at the same time acting as mediator in all disputes between the executive and legislative arms of government.

Ironically, one of the governors that had given Sheriff the greatest backing, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, came out to justify his removal. Fayose said even though he was one of those who supported the former chairman, he had no option than to support his removal so as to forestall disintegration of the party.

“We cannot sacrifice the party for any individual,” Fayose stated.

Special assistant to the governor on public communications, Lere Olayinka, in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti, urged Sheriff to accept his removal in good faith and join others to build the party.

Fayose said in the statement, “I supported Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in good conscience. But when it became obvious that his continuous stay in office as the national chairman will jeopardise the collective interest of the party, I had no option than to support his removal. To me, the general interest of the party overrides that of any individual and there is no how I can stand in support of any plan to sacrifice the party for any individual.

“Anyone whose ambition threatens the collective interest of the party should be removed to save the party and that’s exactly what we have done. I, therefore, urge Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to accept the dissolution of the NWC and appointment of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee in good faith and cooperate with other well-meaning members of the party to reposition it so as to achieve the much needed electoral victory in 2019.”

Chairman of the 2016 PDP National Convention Planning Committee and Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who had also hitherto supported Sheriff, explained that the party had to let Sheriff go because his leadership was becoming a destabilising factor.

“This is destabilising the party and so we had to let him go.

What is important is the party and not the individual. No sacrifice is too much for anyone to make as far as PDP is concerned,” Wike said.

Many of the party’s supporters and the secretariat staff were shocked when in the aftermath of the rancorous national convention of the PDP, the Nigeria Police on May 22 sealed off the premises of the party’s national secretariat. The police prevented human and vehicular movement in and out of the place.

Speaking on the events in the party, Odey said that the concerned stakeholders had nothing against Makarfi, stressing, however, that everyone needs to sit under the auspices of the BoT to chat a way forward for the party.

From the foregoing, therefore, it might be right to say that the BoT, being the conscience of the party and custodian of its assets, is the body that should also be regarded as the last man standing for the party, especially in times of crisis like this. Some party bigwigs have suggested that the Makarfi committee should go into consultation with the leadership of the BoT with a view to convening a reconciliatory meeting of the national caucus of the party to arrive at an amicable settlement.

The caretaker committee has the support of party’s mainstream.

Major financiers and stakeholders, such as the 12 PDP governors, National Assembly members, former governors, and other key leaders of the party, are behind the caretaker committee. Even the Gana group has said it has great respect for Makarfi due his integrity.

Constitutional Infraction

Legal Actions

Unity

Many, however, believe Sheriff’s removal fell short of the requirements of the PDP constitution. Among those who see the move as illegal are some elders of the party who have grouped under the umbrella of Concerned Stakeholders Group with top leaders, like the former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed; and former Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey.

The group, convened by Gana, which held a parallel national

Cordon

The leadership crisis in PDP got messier on Tuesday when two federal high courts in Lagos and Port Harcourt gave conflicting orders, respectively, sacking and according recognition to the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee. Justice A.M. Liman of the the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise the Makarfi committee. The court also restrained Sheriff, Professor Adewole Oladipo, and other sacked members of the NWC and National Executive Committee from parading themselves as officials

‘Last Man Standing’

As things stand now, Sheriff’s ouster seems to have brought back unity among those in opposing camps of the PDP. The former governor of Borno State appears to have been left in the lurch. Most of his staunch backers are gradually abandoning him. Those who had been clamouring for his removal as chairman and those who felt short-changed at the recent congresses organised by the his leadership now appear to be on the same page. What, perhaps, may still be separating them is just a matter of form or nomenclature of the final peace process to return the party as one family.

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CICERO/REPORT

The Trial of Badeh

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja, who has been covering the trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, reports

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enultimate week, the trial of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, made significant progress as the prosecution called its third witness, Useni Umar, an Estate Survey Manager, who in his testimony told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Badeh gave the sum $6.2million in two tranches for the purchase of a property located at No. 6 Ogun River Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The witness, said, that Badeh gave instruction that the sum of $6.2 million be released in two tranches within the period of two weeks for the purchase of the property after they had carried out a joint inspection on the property and Badeh was satisfied.

Umar told the court that after he got an instruction from the first prosecution witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, to get a beautiful edifice as a retiring home for Badeh, he inspected four properties together with Yushau.

Umar who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN), said, “When I got the instruction from Yushau, the first inspection was carried out between myself and Yushau.

“The second inspection was carried out between myself, Badeh and Yushau while the third and fourth inspection was a joint inspection between myself, Badeh, his wife, son by name Sam and Badeh’s daughter.

“It was after the joint inspection of the property that Badeh having been satisfied with the property at No. 6 Ogun River instructed that the sum of $6.2milion be paid in two tranches for the property”.

Under cross examination by the defence counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), the witness said that he did not state in his statement at the EFCC that they inspected four properties before Yushau picked the one at Ogun River Street because he was giving a summary of his statement to the EFCC. On whether he was aware that Yushau had told the court in his testimony that they inspected only three properties, the witness said, he was telling the court what he knew about the transaction and not what Yushau told the court. “I do not know that Yushau told the court that we inspected 3 properties, what I know is that we inspected four.

“The 1st inspection that we carried out was between myself and Yushau.

“I told the court what happened, my own side of the story, it was after the 4th joint inspection and all of them were happy with the property that Yushau gave me the go ahead to negotiate with the property owners.

“It was Yushau that gave me the go ahead to negotiate with the owners of the property,” he stated.

Under cross-examination, the witness denied ever receiving the sum of N15 million from Badeh as compensation for the role he played in the alleged acquisition of properties for Badeh in Abuja.

He also said that neither did Badeh offer nor promise him N15m.

Olujimi had asked the witness whether the first defendant promised to give him N15m and he responded in the negative.

Also when asked if he would be surprised that the first prosecution witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, had in his testimony told the court that he (Umar) was given the sum of N15m as compensation, the witness said” I do not know why he will tell the court that I was given N15m”.

The witness who told the court that he was not part of the negotiation of a property at No. 14 Adzoke Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, however maintained that his participation was limited to the preparation of the deeds of transfer.

According to him PW1, Yushau told him that he had already negotiated for the payment of the house and he wanted him (Umar) to get

Badeh (middle) during a court session details of the property from the owner of the house and prepare a deed of transfer.

Umar disclosed that part of the agreement was for the owner to vacate the property three months after payment had been made.

He however denied the claim by Yushau that he told Yushau that he had already concluded negotiation of the property and the cost was N330m.

Umar also denied Yushau’s claim that he told him that he would be travelling and upon conclusion of the transaction Umar should hand over the said N330m to the property owner.

The witness further said it was not true that Yushau was the one who handed over the document of the property at No. 14 Adzoke Crescent to one Timothy, the personal lawyer to Badeh.

“I handed over the document in respect of No. 14 Adzoke Crescent to Bar. Timothy while that of No. 6 Ogun River Street was handed over to Yushau who handed it over to the first defendant in my presence at Air House.

But during cross-examination by the second defendant, Umar admitted that there was no time the board of Iyalikam Nig Ltd asked him to deal or purchase any property on its behalf.

Umar also admitted that he never received any money either in cash or bank transfer from Iyalikam, admitting further that at the time he handed over the agreement he prepared in respect of the said properties they remained unsigned by the 2nd defendant.

However the prosecution counsel while re-examining the witness asked him to explain why he had earlier said in his evidence before the court that Badeh promised him N15m as appreciation, and during cross examination, said there was no such promise by the first defendant.

But, Olujimi objected to the line of questioning saying that the prosecution should not ask the witness such question during re-examination, as so doing would amount to cross-examination of the witness.

Justice Abang in a short ruling held that the law is settled that re- examination is limited to issues raised during cross examination, adding that there was nothing ambiguous in the statement of the witness to the question asked

by Olujimi.

He added that the witness unequivocally said that Badeh did not promise him N15m.

“I have also listened dispassionately to all the argument and the answer by the witness is clear, there is no ambiguity here.

“To allow the witness answer the question of the prosecution will amount to making fresh evidence by the witness.

“The objection of the defence counsel to the question put or the witness by the prosecution is sustained,” the judge held.

The week before, the second witness, Emmanuel Abu, a cashier with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Camp, Mogadishu Cantonment gave evidence.

The week also saw the conclusion of the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Air Commodore Salisu Abdullahi Yushau, a former Director of Finance of the Nigerian Air Force.

The witness had denied the authorization of the transfer of N150 million to Engineer Joe’s company, Havco Nigeria limited, the company that constructed one of the houses alleged to have been bought by Badeh in Yola.

The witness also denied instructing Air Commodore Sinni to make the said financial transactions in two installments for the construction of Badeh’s house in Yola.

According to the witness, the passage of time has made it difficult for him to remember everything that happened when he served as the Director of Finance and Accounts, Nigeria Air Force (NAF).

During cross examination by the counsel to the second defendant (Iyalikam), Sam Ologun-Orisa, SAN, Yushau told the court that he never received any instruction from the Board of Iyalikam to acquire any property for it, saying also that he did not at any time, receive or transfer money on behalf of Iyalikam and that he had no power of attorney to act on behalf of the company.

Badeh’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi, SAN also cross-examined and was able to push the witness to amend some of his (Yushau) testimonies.

He referred him back to one of the houses he testified earlier that was bought by Badeh in Abuja at the rate of N240 million.

The witness, Yushau, had told the court earlier that payment for the house was made in cash in US dollars. Olujimi, tried to juxtapose the evidence in chief given in court with the statement Yushau earlier made before the EFCC. He said: “You said in the evidence before the court that you paid N240 million, the price for the house. This was not stated in your earlier statement before the EFCC. You also did not tell EFCC that you were the one who told Badeh that the price was N240 million. Did

you also tell EFCC that you paid the dollar equivalent for the house? Olujimi asked.

He however responded that it could be difficult to say everything but that he recounted how the property was purchased.

The prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), was not comfortable with the cross examination, he objected saying that the defence counsel was trying to gag his witness.

Not deterred by Jacobs’ argument, Olujimi continued.

“Did you say in the statement that you paid the price in dollars to Ishiaku Rabiu?

Again, Jacobs objected but the Judge overruled him and ordered the witness to answer the question.

“I said clearly that I made the payment. I said yes because this statement is my statement”, Yushau responded.

“Did you in that statement say that you made payment for that house in dollar equivalent? The witness answered in affirmative. “Yes, my Lord”.

Olujimi asked him to read his earlier statement so as to confirm whether it was actually captured therein that he made the payment personally. He however insisted that he did make the statement even though he did not mention it during the evidence in chief.

Going through his statement however, it was not found where he said he made the payment for the house.

Continuing, Olujimi asked the witness what happened between him and one Rabiu.

“You approached him for the purpose of purchasing that house. That house is next to your own house. Rabiu explained to you that the property was rented out, that there was a tenant in it. He later told you that the price was N240 million and he sold it to you at N240 million.”

Again, Jacobs objected, insisting that his colleague was laying trap for his witness but the trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang, rather advised him to keep records.

At this point, Olujimi put it to the witness that the receipt for the purchase of the house was actually written in his name. This, the witness denied. He told him further that during the entire process of that transaction, Rabiu dealt with him alone and never with Badeh.

To this, he accepted but with some reservations and quickly said,“I gave him the name of my boss, that he was the one buying the house.”

(See concluding part on www. thisdaylive.com)

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TRIBUTE

Vice Chairman BOT, Murtala Muhammed Foundation, Lt General T.Y.Danjuma, President Muhammadu Buhari, Wife of Late Head of State, Mrs. Ajoke Muhammed, Member, BOT, Murtala Muhammed Foundation, Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro, Daughter of late Head of State, Mrs Aisha Muhhamed Oyebode and Son, Mr Risqua Muhammed at the Murtala Muhammed 40th Memorial Lecture

My Mother, an Extraordinary Woman, Turns 75

H

Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode

er Yoruba name, Ajoke, meaning ‘born to be pampered by all’, marked her out as a much loved, much wanted daughter.

She was the third child of her mother, born after many years of secondary infertility, and the first child of her father who, despite several years of marriage to several women had also no child. The story is told of how my young grandmother, Sariyu Kekere Ekun, bold and courageous, perhaps a function of her royal lineage, was told that she could only find another child if she went far.

She followed her dreams all the way from Southwest Nigeria to the ancient city of Kano, where she met my grandfather, the grandson of a Gambian who had found his destiny also following the trading route along the West African coast to Nigeria.

Ajoke’s great grandfather’s journey had taken him through the Southwest where he had married a Yoruba woman, whose son then continued the journey, inland all the way to the North, to the village of Chalawa also in Kano State, where he married a beautiful Fulani maiden, who then gave birth to my grandfather, Kadiri Lanval.

Afsat, her other name, was after Prophet Muhammed’s fourth wife Hafsa Bint Umar, righteous, noble and sometimes obstinate which captures the tough and intransigent side of my mother, characteristics which sometimes put her and I on a collision course, but in those characteristics are also strength, courage, wisdom and tenacity; attributes that have determined how she has propelled my father’s legacy and define who her children are today.

My mother overcame the tragedy of the loss of her husband when she was 30 and singlehandedly brought us up to be successful, in this rather patriarchal society.

A society that is often very unsympathetic and unkind to widows.

A lot of what I am today is a reflection of my mother’ resolve and commitment; I am the first girl in my father’s direct lineage not to be a child bride. Until I was born all of my father’s siblings and most of his cousins were married at 12 and 13. My father dreamt of educating his girls, because he was aware of the intense

TRIBUTE suffering that accompanied the loss of a husband to a wife that had no skills or education to fall back on. After his death in a failed coup attempt, my mother did all she could to make that dream a reality.

Like her mother before her – who, even though with no formal trading, was a very successful business woman with a fleet of fishing boats along the coast hiring foreign (Beninois and Togolese fishermen) – my mother began trading in wholesale laces when I was a child, one of the pioneers of what became in the 70s and 80s a lucrative import business. She was innovative and she challenged the status quo, owning the largest and very successful retail jewellery store in Nigeria. In later years she had extensive real estate projects. I watched her build homes herself. She taught me that there were no barriers for women, unless we want them.

When times became tough in the 1980’s, she soldiered on. She was no stranger to surviving adversity. Her childhood had been tough. My mother had to navigate the challenges of an almost Cinderella type upbringing of many step mothers, going from being extremely loved to being

extremely poorly treated depending upon which woman was in her father’s house.

Temporary respite only came when she went to live with her grandmother in Chalawa and full respite, after she married my father. When I asked her how she managed such a challenging childhood, she would say to me with no bitterness, “each and everyone of them loved me as best as they could”. During those really tough times I remember accompanying her to Hatton Gardens, in London, which had a thriving pawn section to sell her jewellery for the money needed to pay our school fees. That year, it was for my first masters, in public international law from Kings College, University of London, with the same proceeds she paid for my sister’s final year in accounting from the University of Cardiff and my youngest sister’s first year in economics at University College, London.

Her one regret, my mother often tells me, is that despite coming from such a distinguished family, and being born to such an educated father, who was one of Nigeria’s first indigenous engineers, she never acquired a degree. She had wanted to study dentistry and her father had insisted on law, but she was then caught in the politics of his marriage with another

Ajoke and late General Murtala Muhammed with two of their children in the 70s

wife at the time when she was to have been sent to university and her dreams were subsumed in all their drama, such that her father eventually decided that he wasn’t paying for any degree. Thus, she had no choice but to self-fund, training as a dental therapist at the Lagos dental school. However she took the best of the best and the best of the worst in her life and became extremely accomplished.

With no degree in botany, biology or horticulture, my mother is one of Africa’s most renowned conservationists. She established and runs Nigeria’s only two botanical gardens in Lagos and Abuja, where many plants going into extinction are conserved. For the last 30 years, she has travelled the world to find and import Nigeria’s endangered plants as seeds with the aim to conserve, propagate and disseminate forgotten indigenous plants.

She organizes plant expeditions to remote villages in Nigeria and has the largest private collection of plants in Nigeria, with more than 2,000 trees and shrubs, and 400 specie of palm growing in her Abuja botanical garden.

She founded the green belt movement in Nigeria and continues to expound the importance of exploring the commercial value of our indigenous plants.

My mother’s passion does not stop with environmental preservation. She is passionate about education for all and has spent her life committed to serving humanity. From a very young age she taught us how important it is to support those in need and never to walk away from anyone in hardship. My mother is a bridge builder; across tribes, generations and socio-economic divisions. My mother survived the assassination of my father and the murder of my brother, and rather than wallowing in her loss, my mother has become an epitome of dignity, grace, and equanimity.

On the softer side, my mother is an avid reader, writer and linguist. Her greatest talent till today yet undiscovered though, is her exceptional voice.

So with my siblings and I, our spouses and children I ask you all, on behalf of my father who cannot be here today, to toast with us, his pillar of strength, his beautiful “darling”, which is what he called her through out their life together in private and in public; my mother, Ajoke Murtala-Muhammed, who turned 75 years this week on May 23rd, 2016.

T H I S D AY SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016

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SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

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ONE YEAR OF MAKING KADUNA GREAT AGAIN Malam Nasir El-Rufai was elected Governor of Kaduna Governor of Kaduna State to make Kaduna Great Again. In the first year he is steadily implemen ng the Restora on Programme which priori ses Educa on, Health, Agriculture, Jobs, Infrastructure, and Security.

2503 KASTELEA marshals were recently inducted to enforce traffic and environmental laws

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo performed the groundbreaking for 2000 mass housing units

With N3b arrears to contractors se led, Zaria Water project is being accelerated

Groundbreaking for Olam poultry project

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Kaduna Cabs scheme

El-Rufai’s school-feeding programme feeds 1.5m primary school pupils every school day

IGP Arase accepts 107 vehicles donated by the Kaduna State Government to the security agencies

SCHOOL RENOVATIONS ALL OVER THE STATE

UBE Badagari, Giwa

LEA Abdullahi Faskom, Zaria

LEA Jaudu, Kachia

LEA Rubuchi, Zaria

LEA Unguwan Pachi, Kachia

LEA Sakwai, Kachia

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

MOKOLO IS THE BUZZ WORD...

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29.05.2016

YEMI OGUNBIYI CONSOLIDATING SCHOLARSHIP EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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YEMI OGUNBIYI: CONSOLIDA It might seem cliché to say Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi has got the Midas touch in intellectual business but a peek into his publishing company in Lagos, Tanus Communication revealed how his personal contribution to knowledge economy in Nigeria is remarkably golden. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

T

he destination is Computer Village, Ikeja; a community that’s known for the sales and distribution of electronic gadgets and accessories. The last thing you might be inspired to do when you arrive there is read. Blaring sounds from speakers, frantic sellers in hot pursuit of patronage, pushers of fully-loaded wheel barrows and throngs of customers leave a little less than a leg room to move around freely as you commute from one point to another. In contrast to that world outside, the walls inside the Tanus Communications building in the heart of Ogunbiyi community protect the editors, graphic designers, proof readers and the CEO, Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi from the noise and other environmental disturbances.

You can sense that sanity from the entrance to the building and in the way Ogunbiyi’s table is organised. But you may not say the same of his itinerary that is justifiably volatile. After several weeks of rescheduling, no thanks to this reporter’s forgetfulness on one of such occasions, Dr. Ogunbiyi spared about an hour to talk about his work, his vision for education and a few but well-intended digressions into prevailing socioeconomic situations in the country.

He is a quiet but huge contributor to Nigeria’s knowledge economy. And that did not start with the printing and publishing of school textbooks. After leaving his job as a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), his sojourn in the academics was not protracted. But he left an indelible mark in the field of drama and theatre one that this reporter spotted as a student with a mandate to read Ogunbiyi’s Drama and Theatre in Nigeria: A Critical Source Book every semester. Unfortunately, the book was not available at many bookshops. The few students who had copies walked with high shoulders. The university had just a copy which was perpetually lent out to students. To cut the story short, the first thing this reporter asked Ogunbiyi was the whereabouts of this elusive book - a compulsory read. His instantaneous action was to ask for the reprinted copy of the book to be brought; and after appending his autograph, he presented it to this reporter who wished there was a photographer on standby to capture that gratifying moment.

“We now have two more chapters; one on new Nigerian playwrights and a brilliant chapter by Biodun Jeyifo on Nollywood,” he enthused. “I am really amazed that the book has such a staying power and such demand for it. Two of my students, Prof Coker and Prof Awam at NYU still use the book. Unfortunately, the book has not made me wealthy. But if I can sell more from the new edition, maybe I can make some money. When I went to see Ola Rotimi 20years ago in Port Harcourt he asked me to reissue the book. He told me then that the book was a very important one. I didn’t know how much it was. So, he called one of the students and said, ‘Go and bring me Ogunbiyi’ and I was surprised to know that that was how the book was called.’’

That was how the first visit to the office went. Of course, later that night, the reporter was torn between finishing the newly acquired book and Ogunbiyi’s interview with Richard Ikiebe. The latter was easier. At least from it, it was gath-

Ogunbiyi

ered that after his academic years, he joined Daily Times, an intellectual hub that birthed the likes of the late Dele Giwa, Dr. Dele Cole and Chief Segun Osoba who handed over to him as the Managing Director.

“It was purely an accident of some sort when I left my job at Daily Times,’’ he began, after informing this reporter that in his days as a journalist, he had executed high-profile interviews with Shimon Perez, Thomas Sankara, Kenneth Kaunda, Kamuzu Banda and Rajiv Ghandi. It couldn’t be any easier to hold his gaze after dropping such names.

And the smile on his face showed that he must have enjoyed the job. So, this reporter got more curious as to why he left. Being at the helm of affairs at Daily Times during military rule was not a walk in the park for him or anyone.

“I decided to start an advertising agency,” he recalled. “But in between that, I was able to start a corporate publishing outfit meant for corporate books. But gradually, I found myself getting more interested. Some years ago, Donald Duke became the Governor of Cross River State and asked me to print some school textbooks for the state. I had never done school books before then. I was only printing corporate books. I said no. But he persuaded me. And there would surely be a payback time, he said jokingly.

“I took up the challenge. It was a huge contract and I couldn’t find a press that could do that for me. I then found a press in India and they did the printing for me. When the books came back and I saw them, I thought they looked very nice so I suggested that

Photos: Akinwunmi Ibrahim

Duke should sell the books to other state government since the books were all based in the federal government curriculum. He said he didn’t think anyone would buy those books from him. I persuaded him by telling him that I would market the books for him for other states and that we would share the profit. He said, ‘Well, good luck to you. I don’t think you are going to make any headway’. That year, we sold about half a million text books to other states by merely selling those books that belonged to Cross River State.”

On his return to his office, he reflected on how he could make good fortune from selling textbooks to other states.

And that he did. The textbooks on his stable, no fewer than 450, are spread across core and entrepreneurial subjects in the school curriculum by federal government including history, computer studies, civic education, catering craft, woodwork, store-keeping, garmentmaking, plumbing and pipe-fitting, painting and decoration, French and Nigerian indigenous languages. The Tanus Special Classic Series parades amazing folktales such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Tom Sawyerr, Oliver Twist, Treasure Island and The Three Musketeers amongst others.

“State governments will ask for these books and if we don’t have them that will be too bad so we make them. I think today we have between 45 and

50 entrepreneurial subjects in our stable. I have decided to keep producing textbooks only although there is a lot of pressure on us to do more than just that. For now we are stuck with school textbooks.”

On his part, knowledge economy can be improved in Nigeria by ensuring continuous training for teachers and equipping the existing institutions. He argued that with the exception of Rivers State, under Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, no state government has invested as much as the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo did.

“UNESCO says 30percent of our budget should be dedicated to the educational sector. I don’t think any state comes close even to 20%. Also government should ensure that those who teach are well-paid.

A primary school teacher in the US earns almost as much as the university lecturer in the US,” he said.

To complement the effort of teachers in schools, Tanus Books Limited is producing school textbooks are some of the best in the system, in terms of production quality and content. But when schools hire incompetent teachers, the pupils are less inspired to read. As Ogunbiyi pointed out, corruption has seeped into the educational sector, and merit no longer counts in securing jobs.

The fear that electronic books may bury physical books with time was also allayed

by Ogunbiyi, who had recently attended the London Book Fair where the future of physical books was contemplated.

“A few years ago, they all thought that e-books will take over. It was thought also

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TING SCHOLARSHIP

Mydrim Gallery Showcases Affordable Art

Yinka Olatunbosun

F

Writer standing beside Ogunbiyi and his team that newspapers will go extinct and everyone would go online. But that has not happened. In fact, what has happened in the last one year will surprise you. The figures have shown that for some strange reasons, people are going back to textbooks and books. And the sale of e-books dropped sharply worldwide. I don’t know what is responsible for that but I think people prefer to handle a book again. I have always preferred the physical books to e-books. But we make e-books. Only Lagos state has demanded for our e-books. No other state has shown much interest. Yes, Governor Amaechi invested in e-books. The problem of power is one of the issues facing the e-books patronage. I think e-books will stay but they will not in any way diminish the physical books.”

The cost of production may be challenging for a publishing firm today but with favourable policies in place by the government, it is hoped that raw materials needed for production would be procured at reasonable cost. Another lingering challenge is piracy. That is why Tanus Books Limited has limited the outlets for the sale of their books and the copies commissioned by state governments bear induplicable seals.

“We use outlets to market our books but our own textbooks are marketed through our team in various offices such as in Port Harcourt, Abuja, Calabar and Enugu. We target university book stores with the Drama and Theatre book. We also have a marketing outlet in New York,” he explained.

Some of the books produced by Tanus Communication

Today, some lecturers at various Nigerian universities recommend their own personal books, however poorlyproduced, as compulsory reads. Sometimes, they insist that students come to class with the books. For Ogunbiyi, whose book became a compulsory read only after he left the academics, that sounded quite surprising.

“That is a pity. When I taught at the university, I didn’t even do that. My book was not even on the list of compulsory reads. I think lecturers are exploiting the scarcity of books. The fact that there are no books around to buy has forced students to buy the available ones. That shouldn’t be the case. Class discussions should provoke the interest in reading further. State governments should have libraries. We should fund education.”

A tour of Tanus work pool and offices followed the discussion. His team members worked assiduously, and occasionally glanced up at this reporter. One of them, in charge of Islamic Religious Knowledge text book, explained how the transliterations of Arabic text are cross-checked to ensure that the final copies are errorfree.

Generally, the books, highly colourful, are designed to attract young children. And as they advance in age, their books get less colourful.

Though the Tanus building belonged to Dr. Ogunbiyi’s late mother, he has made the edifice a knowledge brewery, distilling works worth reading while constructing a legacy that will outlive its owner.

rom June 3, Mydrim Gallery will showcase works of 39 artists, predominantly emerging artists. The show targets young art collectors essentially. And the exhibition will not just take place at the Ikoyi-based Gallery but on the virtual space for collectors to buy online.

Philomena Bestman, the co-ordinator of the project and the resident curator for the gallery spoke with this reporter last week on why it is important to sell art works in spite of lingering economic crises.

“Looking at the state of the nation, we believe that buying an art work is a window to a desired world so we have decided to start this affordable art show to encourage young buyers and also to make it available for older ones than love art and want to have an artwork. For some years now, art has only been for the elite. We want to bring it down to different level or status for individuals and so we have prices as low as N5000 to N200,000,’’ she revealed.

Collectors often argue that art will sell even during economic downturn. The reality is that some people have stopped collecting for a while.

Meanwhile there are those who itch to collect but the prices are high.

“That is why we have this exhibition. We also want them to realise that the works have value. People spend a lot at parties, gigs and clubs. We want them to spend on art like that, enjoy the aesthetics,” she urged.

Some months ago, Mydrim Gallery made a request to various studios to submit their art works for this show and the artists and studio owners obliged.

Altogether, no fewer than 200 works had been selected for the show. Of course, not all the works will displayed at the same time so it is important for collectors to get familiar with the names of the showcasing artists which include Bruce Onobrakpeya, Suraji Adekola, Seye Morakinyo, Imomoh Asemokha, Kehinde Badmus, Chinedu Ogakwu, Koladipupo Adesina, Gerald Ike Chiemezie, Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, Mufu Apoyin, Towobola Adesanya, Habeeb Audu, Andrew Alhamdu Uila, Omolayo Kehinde, Segun Fagurosi, Oladimeji Oluwafunke, Chisom Okeke, Chinedu Uzoma, Olufemi Oyewole, Blessing Joejim, Salako Olajide, Osifeso Ezekiel, Marshall Nwauwa, Wahab Aromire, Olufemi Kayo, Ken Onyemara, Johnson Uwadinma, Edward Samuel, Joshua Nmesirionye, Aina Felix, Omede Marvin, Yemi Uthman, Okosun Adesua, Opedun Damilola, Owolabi Ayodele, Uzoamaka Nnuji, Abinoro Collins, Segun Adesanya and Chuks Okonkwo. That list suggests that a variety of techniques would be on display.

“We have abstract, semi-abstract, realism, bead works and sculptural pieces. We have been preparing for this show since February. We started collecting the works since then. The artists have been bringing them here. And most of the works were produced recently. We have 2015 and 2016 collections. Just a few are 2014,” said Bestman.

One of the works by Onobrakpeya

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ARTS & REVIEW\\EXHIBITION TRIBUTE

Cheers for Nike Okundaye at 65 Yinka Olatunbosun

Some of the exhibits at the Whitespace Gallery

AT WHITESPACE, ART MEETS DESIGN

Yinka Olatunbosun

G

uests savoured cocktail delicacies as they discussed art and design at the Whitespace Gallery, in Ikoyi, Lagos last Sunday.

The gathering, consisting of urbanists, architects, artists, interiors and product designers swarmed the building along Raymond Njoku street to catch the opening of a week-long exhibition.

Initiated by the trio of dynamic architects, Tosin Oshinowo, Seun Oduwole and Papa Omotayo, African Alliance for New Design (AAND) was established to showcase architectural pieces that are indeed masterpieces in public art. As a result, the show featured a selection of built and design works from firms namely cmD+A, MOE+ Art Architecture and SI.SA. The exhibits showed that architecture transcends buildings and function to embrace the social and psychological impact of architecture on the environment and vice versa.

To illustrate, a few sketches on display under Studio Imagine Simply Architecture (SI. SA) revealed a female headgear, colourful and beautifully-arranged in an untold symmetrical order. Women wear hear-ties traditionally as an occasional piece but architects with eyes for aesthetics tap into the structure of this female wardrobe accessory to create fascinating designs. At the core of SI.SA’s design is simplicity. Still, the complexity of head tie is broken down into a variety of delivered projects.

For cmD+A, the afro-modernism movement in art has seeped into the designs.

Despite of being constrained sometimes by the client’s taste, their exhibits explore contemporary solutions that push existing boundaries in architecture. In the same vein, MOE+ Art Architecture is rooted in adding value to public art while identifying with the

clients’ aesthetics and work culture.

Lately, it’s a tough call to attempt to separate art from architecture. Both requires creativity, ability to appeal to the eyes and preserve culture. To this end, this reporter engaged the three architects whose exhibits were selected for the show on the relevance of their art and design to the society at large.

Seun Oduwole, whose pieces are not just driven by dialogue but emotion, is the Principal Architect at SI.SA. His every day experience, like any artist’s, is a resource material.

“We grab inspiration from everything around us,” he said. “They are items that we overlook but they do have strong design elements in them. It is all about expression and interpretation. We are also trying to educate people here as well.

“Most clients have an idea of what they want to do but they don’t know how. We listen to every client, understand principles guiding what they want and them interpret their desires. You see, the quality of what you live in actually affects you as an individual.

You live in a nice house, you’ll be more productive. We want to do buildings that we will be proud of and that will be our own identity.

What we do is public art. Architecture is one of the oldest art forms. If you go to Ibadan, you will see carvings and monuments we are trying to recreate that in the 21stcentury.”

One of the architects, Tosin Oshinowo is the brain behind the Maryland Mall design. She is also part of the team who had worked on the proposed fourth mainland bridge and is a niece to the prolific painter, Kolade Oshinowo.

She is also an award-winning amateur photographer, actively involved in public art, design installation, and influenced by the afro-modernism movement in art.

“I have practiced since 2007 but I started running the office since the end of 2012,’’ she began and she reflected on the development of the career in Nigeria. “I think architecture is not a very mature profession in Nigeria. In the

West, people go to architects based on their styles. But that is coming. It is a very delicate balance. You have to do something creatively and someone has to pay for it. Where the architect is very submissive to the client, ready to do his bidding, the client doesn’t really get much value. We will get to the point when the confidence in what you can deliver. We are hoping to create an understanding that we are pushing the style of modernism for the very African. You need to consider how the African uses space to create the right designs using materials sourced locally.’’

Television series such as Prison Break has shown how architects can be both assets and accessory. In Nigeria where security is a national challenge, it is important to be sure that one’s interior architectural details are kept away from public. But Oshinowo assures the public that architects who work and abide by professional ethics can only add value to the society.

“Architects take the oath that they are the custodians of the urban environment and that your job is a responsibility to the city. It is not in any architect’s interest to disclose such information,’’ she said.

Papa Omotayo, one of the founding members of African Alliance for New Design, revealed that the exhibition may be an annual event.

“This is part of Open House Lagos which is a three-day architectural festival and this show is to showcase new designs, pushing the boundaries,” he said. “The aim is to activate the next generation of youths and students of architecture to find a new language that expresses their identity in our 21st century. Crucial to this is self-determination, capacity development and education. We are promoting a new philosophy in design and as Nigerians we create our own identity creatively. The music industry has done it so it is important for the design industry to do it.”

The exhibition is supported by Open House Lagos, The British Council and AWCA.

On May 23, the internationally acclaimed textile artist and culture promoter, Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye, turned 65. As part of the celebrations, her gallery, Nike Art Gallery will mark a mini-festival for art writers and artists at large. This will be followed by a one week art exhibition.

“I thank God for my life. Though, the challenge is there, which we face every day, but an opportunity like this affords one to look back and thank God for what he has done for me. That is why this kind of event is dear to my heart. Apart from that, I am using it to appreciate my maker for his mercies and kindness. I also want to use it to host my colleagues in the arts,’’ Okundaye declared in a press release announcing the scheduled celebrations.

The Kogi State-born artist is also thankful to artists who have contributed immensely in making her life as a gallery owner successful. ‘‘What I have achieved is also because I stayed focused to this goal and my love for the arts. I also want to advise our younger artists that things may not look good today, but they should continue.

Challenges are things that drive us to our ultimate destiny. What I am doing with this year’s birthday is not just to celebrate but to appreciate God for my life. As a matter of fact, I started my sojourn into arts when I was just six and had nothing. Having lost my mother in life early in life that challenge did not stop me and that is why I will always celebrate what God has done for me,” she added.

Born on May 23, 1951, Nike is the CEO, Nike Centre for Art and Culture, Osogbo, where she offers training free of charge to Nigerians in various forms of arts. In 1996, as a way of empowering Ogidi women, she established a textile weaving centre in her home town. More than 200 women have so far benefited from that initiative. She also brings important foreign dignitaries to her hometown annually.

Okundaye

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Location shot from a Moloko project

MOKOLO IS THE BUZZ WORD Okechukwu Uwaezuoke

M

eeting place: Dakar, nine days from today. And this would be while the whiff of the Senegalese capital’s famed biennale still clings to the air. That day, which happens to be May 31, would be a special day for film lovers. For a coterie of film enthusiasts and culture buffs would converge in the city for the launch of Mokolo Project.

Mokolo Project? In a nutshell, it is an online portal for filmmakers, whose aim is to reinforce the film and multimedia sector in Africa by improving the accessibility and visibility of professionals and contents.

A visit to Mokolo’s website leads through a hotchpotch of essays on films, updates the film industry, film reviews, interviews, opportunities and festival reports as well as articles on ICT in both English and French.

Much of these postings are subsequently collated and published in its monthly online bi-lingual newsletters, which are mailed to subscribers from all over the continent and beyond. Updates on its Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts are sourced mainly from the website.

The project, funded by ACP-EU and Goethe-Institut, targets film professionals as well as other industry players, consumers and retailers, festivals, policies, libraries, researchers, institutions and research centres, civil societies, interested lobbyists and organisations.

By collating and aggregating content from existing relevant websites, Mokolo provides easy access to African film and audiovisual content as well as to industry-related information. This is in line with the raison d’être of its online platform.

Set up after a meeting of African cinema and audiovisual experts and professionals at the Goethe-Institut Yaoundé in November 2010, the project derives its name from the Cameroonian capital’s biggest market.

Though based in Lagos as a non-profit organisation, it works with diverse partners in Senegal, Cameroon, Kenya and Germany.

In Senegal, it works with ACT (Africa Culture Technologies), a part of mokolo.labs which functions as an exchange platform and a co-working space for content creators, cultural and IT actors. ActivSpaces in Buea, Cameroon, a non-profit meeting hub that combines a shared office, a business incubator, a classroom facility and a dynamic space, is where IT developers and entrepreneurs work, meet and network and is also a part

of mokolo.labs Then, there is the Nairobi (Kenya)-based Awali Entertainment, which is run by the filmmaker, Ms Wanuri Kahiu and the Experimental Media Lab (xm: lab) based in the German town of Saarbrucken, which is engaged in a wide-range arts-and-media technology projects.

Heading Mokolo’s Lagos office is the Beninese culture buff Espera Donouvossi, who until 2011 worked with Arterial Network as its projects manager and translator. His efforts are supported and complemented by those of Marc-Andre Schmachtel, who heads the Goethe-Institut’s office in Lagos.

Mokolo, in addition, works with a diverse range of partners in Africa and beyond, ranging from broadcasters and producers to publishers, who provide original content and programming across various media platforms.

To ensure Mokolo’s sustainability, the Lagos-based Mokolo Foundation hopes to support and safeguard the project with a view to ensuring a seamless transition to the ACP film community. This foundation consists of stakeholders drawn from across all relevant cultural and industry sectors in Africa.

The project essentially pivots on the basic premise that technology and innovation can play an important role in developing Africa’s movie ecosystem. Hence it operates on the tripod of Mokolo TV, Mokolo Pro and Mokolo database, the features of which somewhat dovetail into each other’s so much that the difference between them seem to blur.

It essentially pivots on the basic premise that technology and innovation can play an important role in developing Africa’s movie ecosystem. Hence it operates on the tripod of Mokolo TV, Mokolo Pro and Mokolo Database, the features of which somewhat dovetail into each other’s so much that the difference between them seem to blur. The project’s end-users, addressed as “Mokolizers”, can log in to Mokolo Pro and Mokolo TV either through their email or any of their social media accounts.

The social media networking features of these platforms focus on the interactions of Mokolizer. For instance, a Mokolizers community, on these platforms, is offered the opportunity to take a number of actions. These include adding Mokolos and reviews, which is about the content that the Mokolizer can add to a film or practitioner file. “Mokolos” refer to external links, which are accompanied by a commentary while “reviews” allow rating with a justifying comment to a listing.

In addition, the Mokolizer can add, delete and modify its own Mokolos and reviews, he can also comment or flag all Mokolos and reviews.

Next are the monitoring features, which enables a Mokolizer to follow another Mo-

kolizer with whom he shares some interests.

It can also follow a film or a series file or a Practitioner file. He will receive notifications if there is activity on the monitored content.

That for instance involves when the Mokolizer carries out an action (comment, add a listing etc).

Also, a Mokolizer can carry out actions on the followed files, notably through changing, reporting, adding Mokolos or reviews, adding commentaries on the file’s Mokolos.

In addition, there is the Mokolizer space, which is dedicated to both the Mokolizer who uploads his activities on the platform and the activities of the one being followed.

It contains a dashboard to view the settings of his account and to modify and view its notifications and suggestions.

The Mokolo TV platform can also suggest to a Mokolizer to follow another or film files according to their interests and enable endusers or Mokolizers to change their language preferences (notably English or French).

Further on Mokolo TV platform, professional files can be added by Mokoloziers.

These are created when a movie file is being added and they contain such basic information on a film professional as function, filmography and name. These files are public and can only be changed by moderators.

Users of the Mokolo TV platform can through search and advanced search find a film, a series, a VoD platform or a professional’s public file. In case the searched files are not available on Mokolo platform, the web semantics functions help to extend the search to external sources in order to satisfy the user.

Then, the Content Reporting Feature enables users to notify the moderators of inappropriate or offensive content. Perhaps, to counter-balance the abuse potential of this function is the moderation interface feature, which provides the moderators the space to view all of the reported content, and accept / reject moderation requests made by Mokolizers. Only moderators can create and delete files. These include profiles including movies, series, VoD platforms, professionals, organisations, festivals, opportunities, projects etc…To become a moderator, one needs to comply with specific requirements from the Mokolo editorial team.

Yet another feature of the platform is the API (Application Program Initiative) Rest, which allows partner platforms not only to interrogate the Mokolo data base but also to inject their data into it.

Similarly, the Mokolizers are also availed access to Mokolo Pro, through which they can access a number of equally interesting features. They can, for instance, get registered and link their account to a professional public profile on Mokolo TV (if it exists).

Mokolo Pro users can create professional profiles, a kind of CV through which they can make themselves known as well as their work and different experiences. They also have the possibility to post mokolos on their profiles and can through one of its features, called mail space, also send private messages by entering the user’s name. In the user’s space, the professional is availed a list of events and opportunities. There is also the notification space, which features the users recommendations made for users , contact requests, the adding of contacts’ Mokolos on their files or on the files created by the moderators and the modification of the contact files. On this platform, the professionals can manage the list of their contacts.

In addition to all these, Mokolo Project through its OER (Open Education Resource) Approach offers a comprehensive digital media literacy. This “visual literacy” goal can best be described as the competence to understand and interpret audio-visual content. It encompasses the comprehension of film and visual media as multimodal content - i.e. audio, video and text.

The acquisition of such competencies could be through the traditional classroom-based face-to-face settings and self-education in an open learning system. Thus, the Mokolo OER structure’s focus is on self-learners and on such multipliers as educators or workshop leaders.

In Mokolo’s definition of concepts, the term “work” alludes to any creative work in an audio-visual context like a radio programme, a TV commercial, a movie or a podcast. Then, the term “visual literacy” would embrace others like “visual thinking”, “visual learning” and “visual communication”. Hence a glossary of terms (such as “communication”, “contextual diversity”, “culture”, “skills”, “hypermedia/intermedia” and “image”, among others) becomes necessary.

Mokolo hopes to make its significant contribution to OER, which has been around for the past 50 years, by providing a UX (User Experience) best practice example for an OER A/V (Audio/ Video) platform, which can be used for text-based education.

This would also be through encouraging and supporting filmmakers, storytellers, photographers in their efforts to maintain and expand the diversity of educational cultures. And given the unavailability of existing OER platforms for integration, Mokolo hopes to offer that minimum hosting capacity aimed at ensuring the general availability of the OER featured in its own educational activities.

The next phase of the Mokolo Project, which will be handled by the Mokolo Foundation, will rely on the support of its members and the German Foreign Office. This phase follows after its official launch in the Senegalese capital.

SUNDAY MAY 29, 2016 T H I S D AY

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ABUJA.

COMMITTEE ON MARITIME SAFETY, EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/REQUEST FOR MEMORANDA ON THE REVENUE LEAKAGES AND OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES IN THE NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA) PURSUANT TO SECTION 88 OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED) AND THE HOUSE RESOLUTION (HR 90/2016) TO INVESTIGATE THE REVENUE LEAKAGES AND OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES IN THE NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA) AMOUNTING TO ABOUT $10 BILLION: • BENCHMARK APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO ACTUAL FREIGHT CHARGES IN THE DETERMINATION OF 3% FREIGHT LEVY OF BOTH DRY AND WET CARGOES • MIDSTREAM CLEARANCE AND DISCHARGE OF CARGO VESSELS AND VESSELS ON TEMPORARY IMPORTATION • ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN FLAG VESSELS IN COASTAL TRADE • SHIP TO SHIP DISCHARGE OF WET CARGO FROM MOTHER VESSELS TO DAUGHTER VESSELS • CONCEALMENT OF MARINE SPREAD OF OIL AND GAS CONTRACT AGREEMENTS IN EPCI • ILLEGAL CABOTAGE EXEMPTIONS, DREDGING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN OUR WATERS. THE COMMITTEE, IS THEREFORE INVITING STAKEHOLDERS AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO ITS PUBLIC HEARING AND SUBMISSION OF MEMORANDA IN RESPECT OF THIS INVESTIGATION SCHEDULED AS FOLLOWS; DATE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016 VENUE: CONFERENCE HALL, 028 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WING, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ABUJA.

TIME: 2 PM PROMPT. STATUTORY STAKEHOLDERS: • CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA • DIRECTORATE OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES • FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION • NATIONAL PETROLEUM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

(NAPIMS) • NIGERIAN EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE

(NEITI) • NIGERIAN CONTENT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION • NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY • NIGERIAN CUSTOM SERVICES • NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICES • NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (NNPC SHIPPING,

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NNPC TRADING) NIGERIAN PORT AUTHORITY FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRADE & INVESTMENT INSPECTION AGENTS PIPELINES AND PRODUCT MARKETING COMPANY (PPMC) STANDARD ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISION (EFCC) FOREIGN SHIPPING COMPANIES AND THEIR AGENTS BULK & BREAK BULK WET & DRY CARGO IMPORTERS CRUDE OIL AND GAS EXPORTERS/CONSIGNORS/CONSIGNEES IMPORTERS OF VESSELS ON TEMPORARY IMPORTATION/ MIDSTREAM DISCHARGE CHARTERERS OF CABOTAGE VESSELS OWNERS OF CABOTAGE VESSELS COMPULSORY PILOTAGE ROYALTY MONITORS (INTELS E.T.C) JV’S AND PSC CONTRACTORS/CONTRACT MARINE SPREAD OF EPCI COASTAL TANKERS/BUNKERING/ SHIP TO SHIP DISCHARGE OPERATORS DREDGING ACTIVITIES AND RECLAMATION OPERATORS PORT CONCESSIONAIRES IN ALL PORTS ALL STEVEDORING COMPANIES ALL PRIVATE JETTIES OWNER/OPERATORS NIGERIA CONTENTS DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING BOARD. OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS

THE COMMITTEE SHALL AT A SCHEDULED DATE SUMMON EACH COMPANY LISTED BELOW TO APPEAR BEFORE IT WITH RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED IN RESPECT OF THE FOLLOWING REVENUE HEADS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NIMASA ACT; • 3% FREIGHT LEVY • 2% CABOTAGE SURCHARGE • CABOTAGE WAIVER PROCESSING FEES ON OWNERSHIP, BUILDING

AND MANNING • SEA PROTECTION LEVY • STEVEDORING • OTHER CONCEIVABLE REVENUE DUE TO NIMASA

LIST OF COMPANIES TO BE SUMMONED 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

A & C ENGINEERING A & E PETROL NIGERIA LIMITED A G BUTLER LTD A.A. ANGELS A.K.T. NAVIGATION A.P MOLAR NIG ABBEY COURT TRADING CO. LIMITED ABDON CALLAS OFFSHORE LTD ABDON GALLAIS NIG LTD ABONNEMA JETTY PHC ABSAF ABULOMA JETTY PHC ACERGY ADAMAC JETTY ONNE ADAMAC JETTY RUMUOLUMENI ADAMAC MARINE ADDAX EXPLORATION NIG LTD ADDAX JETTY CALABAR ADDAX PETROLEUM DEV. NIG. LTD. ADDAX/BUNKERING SERVICES ADNANN MANSOR NIG LTD ADVANCED MARITIME TRANSPORTS NIG LTD AFREN EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION LTD AMNI PETROLEUM DEV CO LTD AFRICA OILFIELD SERV. LTD AFRICA PORT SERVICES AFRICAN ATLANTIC INT’L AGENCY AFRICAN LIBERTY LTD AFRICAN OIL EXPRESS AFRICULTI LTD AFRI-LOGISTICS SHIPPING & ALLIED SERVICES AFRITRAMP AGIP ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES LTD. AGUSTA OFFSHORE AJEWOLE CORPORATE SERVICES AJIP JETTY IWOFE AJOLOMI SHIPPING COMPANY AKARA KUMA COMM.JETTYBADAGRY AKER SOLUTIONS LTD AKIKAN RESOURCES LIMITED AKOM SURVEY SERVICES AKPOS MARINE LIMITED AKPOTUELAGHA CONCERNS LTD NIG ALCON NIG LTD ALLIANZ LOGISTICS LTD ALLIED DOMINION OILFIELD LTD ALLIED INSPECTION SERV. LTD ALLISON FISHERIES JETTY TIN CAN ALLISON SHIPPING AGENCY LTD ALLMOR LTD ALLRAY MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED ALPHA MARINE SERVICES ALPINE ALRAINE NIG. LTD ALSTOM NIG LTD ALTEC GLOBAL ALUSTEEL CONSTRUCTION ALUSTEER ALWOOD SHIPPING AMABOMBOM AND SONS LIMITED AMASAM GLOBAL CONCEPTS LIMITED AMEC CONTRACTORS NIG. LTD AMNI INT’L PETROLEUM DEV. CO. LTD AMT (NIG) LTD

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ANBEL NIGERIA LIMITED ANKA AGENCIES LTD ANNE PRODUCT CO LTD SINGAPORE ANTEFRE SHIPPING CO. APREALA MARINE SERVICES NIG LTD AQUA MARINE INVESTMENT NIG LTD AQUA SEAL NIG LTD AQUASHIELD OIL & MARINE SERVICES ARABELA SHIPPING COMPANY ARC (MARINE & CIVIL CONTRACTOR LTD ARCO JETTY WARRI ARCO MARINE & OIL FIELD SERVICES LTD ARCO PETROCHEM ENGR COY LTD ARCO PIPELINE SOLUTIONS LTD ARGENT MARINE LIMITED ARIOSH LTD ARISE SHIPPING NIG LTD ARK CATH OFFSHORE ARMADA OYO LIMITED ARUO MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED ASCON ASCOT CONSTRUCTORS OFFSHORE LTD ASCOT FACRICATORS + CONST.LTD ASCOT FLOWLINES LTD ASE MAR E/GUINEA ASSOCIATED GAS & OIL CO LTD ASSOCIATED PORT & MARINE DEV. CO LTD AST NAVIGATION SINGAPORE ASTOR SHIPPING ATAFLOS NIGERIA COMPANY ATHENIAN SEA CARRIER NIG LTD ATIMIA INVESTMENT ATLANTIC CITY SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT LTD ATLANTIC SHRIMPER JETTY KIRIKIRI ATLANTIC TRANSPORT AND TRADING LTD ATLAS CEMENT JETTY ONNE ATLAS SHIPPING AUGUSTA OFFSHORE AUSTENS SHIPPING AVEON OFFSHORE LTD AWARITSE NIG AWESOME TREASURE TECHNOLOGIES AYOKNOX VENTURE AYUBA IDOLOR NIGERIA LIMITED A-Z PETROLEUM AZI MARINE AND GEN. SERV LTD AZTEC GLOBAL SERVICES LTD B. G. TECHNICAL LTD B & Q DREDGING BABLOLLY VENTURES LIMITED BACHEMAS SHIPPING SERVICES LTD BAKARE ADEWALE JETTYIJORA BAKER HUGES COMPANY LIMITED BAKER NIG LTD BAKER OILFIELDS NIGERIA LTD BARBRI NIGERIA SERVICES BAROID OF NIG LTD BARRY MARITIME BASILMAN & COMPANY NIG. LTD. BASLE LINE NIG. LTD BAYORANT INVESTMENT LIMITED BAYWOOD CONTINENTAL LTD BEAMCO NIG LTD BELBOP NIG LTD

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BENEPROJECTI NIG. LTD BENOSA GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED BENSAM MARITIME OIL & GAS NIG. LTD BENTECH LIMITED BENTEX MARINE BERGESEN WORLDWIDE OFFSHORE BESIKO LIMITED BGP/CNPC LTD BHN TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS LTD BIBBY MARITIME LIMITED BIG SAM MARINE SERVICES BILJEFF RESOURCES ENTERPRISES BILORITZ NIGERIA LIMITED BJ SERVICES CO. NIG. LIMITED BJ SERVICES JETTY WARRI BLUE LINE AGENCY NIG LTD BLUE SEA MARITIME SERVICES BLUE STAR SHIPPING LINE LTD BLUECHE LOMADO SHIPPING AGENCY BLUE-CORN SUBSEA LTD BOMA GROVE SERVICES LTD BONNY CHANNEL LTD BONNY OFFSHORE BONNY TRANSPORT CO. LTD BOURBON INTEROIL NIG LTD BOURBON OFFSHORE INTEROIL BRAGATH NIGERIA LIMITED BRAVA ENERGY LTD BRAWAL SHIPPING LINE BREDERO PIPELINE SERV. LTD BRITTANIA-U NIG LTD BRONE EXPLORER NIG. LTD BRONE GEO-SOLUTIONS LIMITED BRORON OIL AND GAS LTD BROWN OMARS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY BRT BONNY BSM COMPANY LTD BUGABI CONSTRUCTION & ENGR. LIMITED BULKSHIP NIG LTD BUMI ARMADA LTD BUMI ARMADA NAVIGATOR NIG LTD BURNSVILLE INTEGRATED SERVICES LTD. BUVEL NIGERIA LIMITED BW OFFSHORE NIG. LTD BWANTANG NIG LTD C I PETROLTECH C&I LEASING PLC CAAL SHIPPING LINE LTD CAKASA NIG CO LTD CALCEMO JETTY CALABAR CAMAC PETROLEUM LTD CAMERON OFFSHORE SYSTEMS LTD CAPITAL OIL & GAS CARES NIGERIA LTD CAVENDISH PETROLEUM LIMITED CAVERTON MARINE LTD CEELANDER INTERSERVE LOGISTICS LTD CENTURY BUMI JV (NG) LTD CENTURY ENERGY SERV. LTD CHAMPION LOGISTICS NIG. LTD CHANNELS SHIPPING LINE LIMITED CHEVRON NIG LTD CHEVRON/TEXACO JETTY WARRI CHIDECK OIL NIG. LTD CHIMA SHIP LTD CIACO INDUSTRIES LTD

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CISCON LTD CLEAN NIGERIA ASSOCIATES CLEDOP WEST AFRICA LTD CLID VENTURES CLOVERLEAF SHIPPING LTD CMA CGM-DELMAS NIGERIA LIMITED CNPC INT’L NIG LTD / BGP INT’L NIG. CNS MARINE NIG LTD COASTAL ATLANTIC NIGERIA COASTAL INLAND MARINE SERVICES COASTAL SERVICE NIG LTD COASTLAND ENERGY LOGISTICS LTD COFLEXIP STENA NIG. LTD. COMA INDUSTRIES LIMITED COMET SHIPPING LTD COMPACT MANIFOLD AND ENERGY LTD COMPAGNIE GENERALE DE GEO NIG LTD COMPASS SHIPPING CONIOL PLC CONOCO ENERGY NIG LTD CONOIL PRODUCING NIG LTD CONSOLIDATED PORT & MARINE SERVICES CONTRACO SHIPPING NIG .LTD CONTRACTORS NIG. LTD CONTRANS JETTTYIBAFON CRAFT OFFSHORE INTERNATIONAL LTD CROSS ATLANTIC NIG LTD. CROSS MARINE SERVICES LTD CROWN LINE LTD D. BAAN GLOBAL SERVICES LTD D.W.RESOURCES LTD DADDO MARITIME SERVICES DAEWOO JETTY WARRI DAEWOO NIG LTD DALIMORE ENTERPRISES NIG DAMAS GLOBAL LTD DAMAS OIL & MARINE SERVICES LTD DANAHRIQ NIGERIA LIMITED DANGOTE CEMENT DANGOTE FERTILIZER LTD DANGOTE FLOURS LTD DANGOTE INDUSTRIES LTD DANGOTE JETTY ONNE DANGOTE REFINERIES LTD DANGOTE SUGAR LTD DANOS & CUROLE NIGERIA LTD. DANTATA JETTY TIN CAN DBN JETTY WARRI DE WAYLES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED DE GADA NIGERIA LIMITED DE WAYLE’S INT LTD DECLASSICS SHIPPING COMPANY LTD DEE JONES JETTYBEACH LAND ESTATE DEEP FRONTLINE SHIPPERS LTD DEEP OFFSHORE SHIPPING COMPANY LTD DEEP SEA SUPPLY LTD DEEP SEA&OIL DEEPDRILL OILFIELD SERV LTD DEINBOC SERVICES DEINO MARITIME SERVICES DELAKES OIL TRADING LTD DELATTRE BEZONS (NIGERIA) LIMITED DELMAR PETROLEUM

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DELTA MARINE SHIPPING COY LTD DELTA PLUS LIMITED DELTA PORTS SERVICES LTD DELTA QUEEN JACK-UP SERV. LTD DELTAAFRIK NIG LTD DELTATEK NIG LTD DEMACK MERCHANT LIMITED DEMENS GLOBAL SOLUTUONS CO. DE-MOVIK GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED DENGHA GLOBAL RESOURCES DENMI - EDRIT & COMPANY DEOG CHRISTEN NIGERIA LIMITED DEPASA MARINE INTERNATIUONAL NIG LTD DEPRODUCT ENG & CONST CO LTD DEPTHWIZE NIG. LTD DEROS MARITIME LTD DESTINY MARINE AND SHIPPING CO.LTD DETRO MARINE IN FRANCE DEUTAG DRILLING NIGERIA LTD. DIESEL POWER (NIGERIA) LIMITED DIFEX WORLDWIDE SOLUTIONS LTD DIVINE MARINE SHIPPING NIG LTD DLB CONCERNS LIMITED DLB MARINE LIMITED DM INT LTD DOARO VENTURES LIMITED DOFE INITIAL ENGINEERING LIMITED DOFTOG INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED DOFTOL OIL & ENERGY SERVICES LTD DOLPHIN FISHERIES JETTYOJO CREEK DOLPHIN OFFSHORE LTD DOMARB NIGERIA LIMITED DOPS & SONS NIGERIA ENTERPRISES DORADO NAVIGATION LTD DORMAN LONG ENG LTD DOWELL NIG LTD DOWELL SCHLUMBERGER (NIG) LTD DOZIK (NIG.) LIMITED DREDGIN INT’L SERV. NIG. LTD DRILLOG PETRO DYNAMICS LTD DRILLPET INTL LTD DRILQUIP (NIG) LTD DSC JETTY ALADJA DSME NIG LTD DSV PIPETRONIX LTD DTD SERVICES LTD DUFAN JETTY WARRI DULLY SHIPPING DUVA OIL NIG LTD DVT/MASTER MARINE JETTY BADAGRY DWC DRILLING LTD E.A TEMILE & SONS DEV. CO. LTD EARTH MOVING INT’L NIG LTD. EBIAKPO INTEGRATED SERVICES EBIBO NIGERIA ENTRERPRISES LIMITED EBILSON NIGERIA LIMITED ECODRILL NIG LTD ED &T LTD. ED-ARRO’S INTL SHIPPING EDCAN ENGINEERING EDDA SUPPLY SHIPS NIG. LTD. EDISON CHOUEST OFF NIG. LTD. EDWARD MARINE EGERTON RESOURCES LTD EGUARE & SONS (NIG) LIMITED EHCO VENTURES NIG LTD EHIKOYA EIDESVIK OFFSHORE EJOVI (NIGERIA) LTD EKENEL NIGERIA LTD EL-ABIM LTD ELAN OIL ELANDA SEA ELDER DEMPSTER AGENCIES ELECTRONIC TECHNICIANS NIGERIA ELEX EBI FENIMINE NIG. ENT ELF JETTY WARRI ELF PETROLEUM NIG EL-MICHELLE LTD ELOHIM H. F. NIG. LTD ELSHCO (NIG) LTD EMANOJ NIGERIA LIMITED EMAS OFFSHORE SERVICES NIG. LTD EMIRATE LOGISTICS NIGERIA LIMITED EMSEE JETTYLBAFON ENERGY FACTOR MARINE & SERVICES LTD ENES AYOLO & SONS ENTERPRISES ENG. RYPAC (NIG.) LTD. ENILUX AGENCIES ENIWARES INT. CO ENOFE INTEGRATED SERVICES LIMITED ENPHIL MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED ENSCO DRILLING COMPANY LTD ENVIROMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGERS LTD EPENAL BOAT BUILDERS NIGERIA EPNL EQUATOR EXPLORATION LTD. EQUIP & OFFSHORE INT’L LTD EQUITORIAL ENERGY LAGOS EQUITY PETROLEUM SERVICES NIG LTD ESAFORDZ VENTURE LTD ESCO MARINE ESITON INTEGRATED NIGERIA LTD ESSO EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION NIG ESTEE GLOBAL LIMITED ESTHON MULTIPURPOSE COMPANY LTD ETG INTERGARTED SERVICES LTD E-TIANA NIG LTD EURAFIC OIL JETTY APAPA EURO JETTY KIRIKIRI EURO MARITIME EUROFLOW DESIGNS LIMITED EUROPA INTL SHIPPING AGENCIES LTD EVEREST ENGINEERING SERVICE LTD EXECUTIVE SERVS LTD EXPRESS GENERAL LOGISTICS LTD EXPROTECH LTD EXTERRAN NIG LTD EXXON MOBIL EYDEN PETROLEUM LAGOS EYITUOYO AND HARLIE F .A .O INTEGRATED GLOBAL SERVICES LTD FAB-RANK NIGERIA LIMITED FAGET SHIPP FAIRSHORES LIMITED FAIRWAY OFFSHORE LTD FALCON NAVIGATION LTD FAPCO RESOURCES LIMITED FAR EAST MARINE COMP.IN RUSSIA FARSTAD SHIPP. FAST FOCUS NIG LTD FATMAN OIL & GAS SERVICES LTD FATOIL SERVICES LTD FAWEL ENGINEERING SERVICE LTD FEIMA INVESTMENT LIMITED FEJUDAM SERVICES LTD

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FEMBOL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED FENDERCARE NIG LTD FIELD OFFSHORE DESIGN ENG LTD FIKI PALACE JETTYVICTORIA ISLAND FILCO DRILLG AND COMP SERVS NIG LTD FIRST ATLANTIC MARITIME LTD FIRST BALTIC FIRST MARINE& ENG. SERVICES LTD FIVE STAR LOGISTICS FLOUR MILL FLOWTEX DRILLING INTERNATIONAL LTD FLOWTIDE OIL AND MARITIME SERVICES NIG LTD FMC TECHNOLOGIES FOLTOKS ENERGY RESOURCES LTD FOMINIK NIGERIA ENTERPRISES FORTE OIL PLC FORTUNE EBIE JETTYLAGOON FORTUNE GLOBAL SHIPPING & LOGISTICS LTD FOUNTAIN & ZEMENT CONSTRUCTION LTD. FOUNTAIN SHIPPING SERVICES FOUR RUNNER GLOBAL SERVICES LTD FOUR STAR MARINE JETTY WARRI FOURSTAR MARINE FPSO MYSTRAS NIG. LTD FRAJOE RESOURCES (NIG.) LIMITED FRANIG INTERNATIONAL LTD FRED EGBE JETTY KIRIKIRI FRED OLSEN PRODUCTION (NIG) FREDAH (NIG.) ENT. FRIKKY INTEGRATED SERVICES LTD FT & K NIGERIA LTD FUGRO CONSULTANTS NIG LTD FUGRO IGN NIG LTD FUNKE -OWEI NIGERIA LIMITED FURGO SURVEY NIG. LTD FUSSION ENGINEERING SERVICES FUTEB FUTEB JETTY WARRI FYMAK MARINE G.M.T SHIPPING G.U BIKO WARRI GABSANEB INVESTMENT NIG LTD GACSHIP GALACIA LIINE GALILEE MARITIME SERVICES LTD GALOR ENGINEERING LTD GAMJI MARINE SERV NIG LTD GANI TARZAN JETTYVICTORIA ISLAND GAS DIANA TRANSPORT GASSTOCKS LIMITED GBEREFU COMMUNITY JETTYBADAGRY GE INT OPERATIONS NIG LTD GEECOMS INTEGRATED SERVICE LIMITED GEMS GLOBAL REOURCES LTD GENESIS WORLD SHIPP GENESIS WORLDWIDE GEO SURVEY LTD GEOBLUE SHIPPING GEOBOVIC INTERNATIONAL LTD GEODETIC OFFSHORE SERVICES NIG LTD GEOFLUID LTD GEOMARINE SYSTEM LTD GEOPERE NIG. SERVICES GEOTEL NIG LTD GERES GLOBAL RESOURSES GFL SHIPPING COY LTD GHAZI SHIPPING GHYSKOT INT’L SERVICES LTD GIKEN SHIPPING AGENCY LIMITED GILOLA INT’L AGENCIES LIMITED GLADWYN MARINE & MAINTENANCE SERVICE GLOBACOM NIG. LTD GLOBAL ENGINEERING CO NIG. LTD GLOBAL GAS & REFINING LIMITED GLOBAL OFFSHORE DRILLING LTD. GLOBAL PIPELINE PLUS NIG. LTD GLOBAL RESOURCES DEV. CO. LTD GLOBAL SANTAFE DRILLING NIG. LTD GLOBAL SPECTRRUM ENERGY SERVICES LTD GLOBAL ENERGY COMPANY LTD GLOBES STAR JETTY WARRI GLOBESTAR ENGR.CO.LTD. GMT ENERGY RESOURCES LTD GMT SHIPPING SERVICES LTD GMTISA NIGERIA LTD GOCALS MARITIME SERVICES LTD GODDONS CHUKS ENT GOLDEBORG SHIPPING & MARITIME LTD GOLDEN SHIPPING GOOD INTENTIONS SERVICES LTD GOODNESS SHIPPING NIGERIA LTD GOZAN GRAMEN PETROSERVE (NIG) LTD GRAPIK LTD GREAT NIG TANKERS CO. LTD GREAT SEAS SHIPPING AND FORWARDING GREAT WALL DRILLING INT’L NIG. LTD. GREATER STAR GLOBAL NIG LTD GREDOR NIGERIA LIMITED GREEN WITES GREENLINK MARITIME SERVICES LTD GREENSWIFT INVESTMENT NIGERIA LTD. GREPEDO LIMITED GRIMALDI AGENCY NIG LTD GRINKAR JETTY RUMUOLUMENI GROUP 4 SECURICOR NIGERIA LIMITED GUIDE LINE SHIPPING LTD GULF AGENCY AND SHIPPING (NIG.) LTD. GULF TREASURES LIMITED GWI VENTURES NIGERIA LIMITED H M T INT’L SHIPPING & FORWARDING BV HAASTRUP JETTY RUMUOLUMENI HAASTUP (W.A) LTD HALIBURTON ENERGY SER. NIG. LTD HALLIBURTON OPERATION NIG LTD HAM DREDGING NIG LTD HAMADA FISHERIES JETTY LAGOS HAMADAH HAMILTON TECHNOLOGIES LTD HARPS MARINE & LOGISTICES SERVICES LTD HARRIS MARINE SERVICES LTD HARRITEX ERVICES LTD HECTRA ZEON LTD HEEREMA MARINE HEMAG MARITIME SERVICES HENAN PETROLEUM CO. HENSMOR JETTY KIRIKIRI HENSMOR NIG LTD HEPA GLOBAL ENERGY LIMITED HERCULES MARINE HERCULES OFFSHORE HALL JETTY WARRI HERCULES OFFSHORE NIG. LTD

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NNPC SHIPPING NOBLE DRILLING NIG LTD NORTH WEST MARNIE NIG LTD NOSAK MARITIME LTD NOVA SHIPP LIBERIA NRG DRILLING LIMITED NURA SHIPPING LINE NIGERIA NWDM JETTY WARRI O A N NIG LTD O.C. SAMPSON AGENCIES (NIG.) LTD. OANDO ENERGY SERVICE LTD OANDO TRADING & SUPPLY OBAT JETTY PORTNOVO CREEK OBAT NIG OBELAWO FARCHA JETTY KIRIKIRI OCAN JETTY WARRI OCAN MARINE SERVICES OCEAN & OIL SERVICES LTD OCEAN BLOCKS LIMITED OCEAN ENERGY OCEAN FISHERIES TIN CAN OCEAN GLORY COMMODITIES LIMITED OCEAN HANDLER OCEAN MARINE SECURITY LTD OCEAN TIDEWAY SERVICES LTD OCEAN & PORT MARINE OCEAN TRANSPORT & SHIPPING NIG LTD OCEANEERING SERVICES NIG LTD OCEANIC CONSULTANTS NIG LTD OCEANIC OFFSHORE OCEANVIEW MARITIME LTD OCEANWIND MARINE & LOGISTICS LTD OCTOPUS CLAN NIG. LTD OFFSHORE PETROLEUM & MARINE LOGISTICS OGBE-IJOH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED OIL & INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD OIL & MARINE SERVICE NIG LTD OIL BATH OIL DRILLING & TRANSPORT OIL NIG LTD OIL QUEST INT LTD OILDATA WIRELINE SERV. LTD OILFIELD INSPECTION SERV LTD OILFLOW NIGERIA LIMITED OILSERVE LTD OILTEST WELL SERV. LTD OILTRADE TRANPORT OJUWA BROTHERS LIMITED OKAN MARINE OKRIS LIMITED OLA-OLOWO NIG LTD OLOWO JETTY WARRI OLU TEE ENGINEERING LTD OMAEPH GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED OMAK MARITIME LTD. OMEG OMEL EXPLORATION & NIGERIA LTD OMO- ORIA OIL SERVICES LTD ONOME JACK-UP SERVICES LTD OPAH MERCHANT LTD ORAMIS INTERNATIONAL LTD ORCON MARINE ORIENTAL SHIPPING LINE LTD ORIGIN GLOBAL NIGERIA LIMITED ORION MARINE LTD ORITETIMEYIN JACKUP SERVICES LTD ORWELL INTL OIL AND GAS NIG LTD OSADJERE FISHING JETTYAPAPA OSAN MARITIME SERVICES PH OSAYAME OSCAR L MARINE OVANSA MARITIME LTD OVLAS OZU-MARINE SERVICES NIG LTD P & O NEDLLOYD SHIPPING COY P.G.S EXPLORATION (NIG) LTD P’S MARITIME COMPANY NIG. LTD PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL DRILLING PACIFIC SILVERLINE LTD PAN OCEAN OIL & GAS PANALPINA WORLD TRANSPORT LTD PARADISE JETTYFIVE COWRIE CREEK PARKER LOGISTICS NIGERIA LTD PASETEK NIGERIA ENTERPRISES PDEEP OFFSHORE SHIPPING COMPANY LTD PEACE GATE OIL AND GAS LIMITED PEAK ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED PEAK PETROLEUM INDUSTRIES NIG LTD PEAK SHIPPING PELFACO LTD PELOMEACH LIMITED PETMARN ENTERPRISES (NIG) LTD. PETRO MARINE NIG LTD PETRO PRIDE SUBSEA LTD PETROBRAS NIG LTD PETROBULK SHIPPING COMPANY LTD PETRODEL RESOURCES MARITIME PETROLEUM PROJECTS INT’L LTD PETROLOG NIGERIA LTD PETROL-PRIDE SUBSEA LTD PETROTANKING & STORAGE LTD PGS EXPLORATION NIG. LTD. PHERANZY GAS LIMITED PHILLIARD REOURCES LIMITED PHOENIX NAVIGATION LTD PHOENIXTIDE OFFSHORE PIL NIGERIA LTD PIMO SERVICES LIMITED PINAC CORPORATE SERVICES PINK STAR SHIPP BRITISH VIRGIN ISLAND PIONEER ALFA PETROLEUM SERV PLANTGERIA COMPANY LTD PLATINUM SHIPPING SERVICE POINT MARINE POKAT POLARCUS NIG. LTD POLMAZ NIG LTD PORON OIL & MARITIME LIMITED PORT & MARINE SERVICE JETTYAPAPA PORTPLUS LTD PORTS AND CARGO HANDLING SERVICES LTD PORTSIDE MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED PPI TECHNOLOGY SERVICES NIG LTD PPP FLUID MECHANICS PRECIOUS MARINE SERVICES LTD PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEMS NIG LTD PRIDE FORASOL DRILLING NIG. LTD. PRIME RESOURCES LTD

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PRINCETON LIMITED PRISCO IN SINGAPORE LTD PRIZE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED PRODECO INT’L LTD PROFIELD NIG LTD PROJECT MASTER NIG LTD PROLIFIC INT’L AGENCIES LTD PROMETHEUS MARITIME LTD PROSAFE PRODUCTION NIG. LTD. PROTRACK SHIPPING NIG LTD PRUDE FORASOL DRILLING LTD. PS INTEGRATED GLOBAL SERVICES LTD PS MARITIME COMPANY NIGERIA LTD PW RESOURCES PYTHON ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED QED INT (OIL & GAS) LTD QIT JETTY EKET QUEST SHIPPING LTD R.K OFFSHORE SINGAPORE RADAM MARITIME SERVICE RAFEGOS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY RAHAMANIYYA GLOBAL RAHAMANIYYA OIL & GAS LTD RAJOSTA VENTURES RANBRIS AND SONS RANGER SUBSEA NIG LTD RANGK NIG LTD RAYCON AND COMPANY (NIGERIA) LIMITED RED TRANSPORT NIG LTD RED WAY REDBAND NIGERIA LIMITED REEFER ZORGE SHIP REENOLL NIGERIA LIMITED REES WELL INTEGRATED LIMITED REGINA INTERNATIONAL OIL & GAS SERVICES LTD RELENTECH SPECIALISTS NIGERIA LTD RELIANCE FOUR STAR MARINE LTD. REMTUN GLOBAL SERVICES NIG LTD RENAISSANCE SHIP RICHMOND MARINE & OFFSHORE LOGISTICS LTD RIMA INTERNATIONAL RISK CONTROL SERVICES NIG. LTD. RIVERMAN NIG LTD ROBERGER INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ROBERT DEBOH & SONS LTD ROKEBA (NIGERIA ) LIMITED ROLANDO GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL LTD ROMJSTEV TRIUMPHS (NIG)LIMITED RORO OCEANIC SHIPPING SERVICES ROSBY & SONS ENTERPRISES LTD ROUDO NIG. LTD ROYAL DOE SERVICES LIMITED ROZARKE NIG LTD ROZETE MARINE SERVICES LTD RUSSELSMITH NIGERIA LIMITED S INT’L MARINE SERVICES S S KUMUNE VENTURES S.B.M OFFSHORE S.J EBIBOKEFIE & SONS ENTERPRISES SABRU SHIPPING SACH OIL NIGERIA LIMITED SADISBA NIGERIA ENTERPRISES SAERJI GLOBAL MARINE SERVICES LTD SAFKO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD SAHARA SAHARA ENERGY SAIPEM (NIG) LTD. SAIPEM CONSTRUCTING NIG LTD SAIPEM CONTRACTING NIG LTD SAIPEM JETTY RUMUOLUMENI SAJE SHIPPING (NIGERIA) LIMITED SAM FRED GLOBAL RESOURCES NIG LIMITED SAM SAMUEL LIMITED SAMCHAM HOLDING SAMIRAH SEATRADE SHIPPING SERVICES LIMITED SAMSHIP AND MARINE SERVICES LTD SAMSUNG HEAVY IND LTD SANDA TECHNICAL VENTURES SANDI SHIPPING SANGOVA NIGERIA LIMITED SANKO STEAMSHIP CO.LTD SANMAR SHIPPING LTD SAPPHIRE SHIPPING LTD SBM INSTALLER INCORP SBM MARINE SERVICES NIG. LTD SBM OFFSHORE CONTRACTORS INC. SBM PROTRACK SHIPPING NIG LTD SCHLUMBERGER ANADRILL SCHLUMBERGER NIG LTD SCHLUMBERGER NIGERIA LTD SEA MARK SHIPP LTD SEA PETROLEUM AND GAS CO LTD SEA SANDS SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED SEA SHIPPING AGENCY SEA SPEED SUPPLIERS LTD. SEA SWAP NIG LTD SEA TRANSPORT SEA TRUCKS (NIG) LTD SEA WORKER NIG LTD SEABULK OPERATORS NIGERIA LTD. SEACOR MARINE (NIGERIA) LTD SEACREST NIG. LTD SEADRILL MOBIL UNIT NIG LTD SEADRILL NIG OPERATIONS LTD SEADRILL OFFSHORE NIG LTD SEAFORCE SHIPPING SEAGOLD FISHING JETTYAPAPA SEAMARK SHIPPING LTD SEA-MAYORS MARITIME LTD SEAPORT MARITIME AND ALLIED SERVICES LTD SEASEIS GEOPHYSICAL SEASWAM MARINE SERVICE SEASWAP NIG LTD SEATIDE SHIPPING AGENCY SEATRANS AND TRADING LTD CO SEATRUCK JETTY WARRI SEATRUCKS OFFSHORE LTD SEAWIND SHIPPING SEB INTERNATIONAL LTD SEDCO FOREX NIGERIA LTD. SEIYA TRANSPORT SERVICES SELES & SELES GLOBAL VENTURES LIMITED SELLYFAK NIG. LIMITED SEMCO SALVAGE SGS INSPECTION SERVICE NIG LTD SHAD - RO SERVICES (NIG) LTD

1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 1172 1173 1174 1175 1176 1177 1178 1179 1180 1181 1182 1183 1184 1185 1186 1187 1188 1189

SHAGAY BUILDING & PROPERTY DEV. CO.LTD SHARAF SHIPPING AGENCY LTD SHEBAH EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY SHELF DRILLING NIG LTD SHELL SLOT BONNY SHELL NIG. EXPOLRATION & PROD. CO. LTD SHELL PDC JETTY WARRI SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED SHIBAB SERVICES LTD SHIP & SHORE NIGERIA LTD SHIPPING TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS CO. LTD SHIREJ SERVICES NIG SHOFOL OFFSHORE LTD SHORE LINE SHORELINE JETTY WARRI SIASURE MARINE LAGOS SIEMENS LTD SIFAX SHIPPING COMPANY LTD SIGTO NIG. RESOURCES SILVER CREST NAV SILVER MARITIME SHIPPING SILVER OCEAN SHIPPING COMPANY SING JETTY PHC SINOPEC OIL & GAS SER. CO. NIG .LTD SIRPI ALUSTEEL CONSTRUCTION LTD SKANL GLOBAL ENGINEERING SERV. SLOK NIG LTD SLOK OIL & GAS NIG. LTD SLOT NIGERIA LTD SMADE INVESTMENT LTD SMIT NIGERIA LTD. SMIT SEACOR SMUTUN NIG LTD SOCAR TALAMIZ SOCATRA SHIPP SOCUS CONCEPT LIMITED SOLAR TURBINES LTD SOLEVAD & ASSOCIATED NIG. LIMITED SOLIMAN ROTTERRDAM SOLSTAD SHIPPING LTD. SOMAFALL SERVICES LIMITED SOMARINE TRADE SONGHAI ENERGY SERVICES LTD. SOUTH ENERGYX/EKO ATLANTIC CITY SOUTH ATLANTIC PETROLEUM LTD SOUTH ENERGYX SOUTHERN OFFSHORE LTD SOUTHERN STAR SHIPPING SOWSCO WELL SERV. NIG LTD SPECIALITY DRILLING FLUIDS SPRING MARINE NIG. LTD SPSC LTD SPSL LTD ST JEROME INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING STANBRA ENGINEERING LIMITED STANDARD FLOUR JETTY TIN CAN STAR DEEP WATER PETROLEUM. LTD STAR PAPER MILL LIMITED STAR VIEW NIG STARX JETTY ONNE STARZ INVESTMENTS CO. LTD. STATOIL NIG LTD STEDY STEERS SHIPPING STELUK VENT. (NIG) ENT. STENA DRILLING (NIG) LTD STENA OILFIELD SERVICES NIG. LTD. STICKLAND SERVICES LTD STIS NIGERIA LIMITED STOCKGAP FUEL LTD STOPCORR LIMITED STRICKLAND SERVICES LTD SUB SEA SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL NIG LTD SUBSEA 7 NIG LTD SUBSEA CONSTRUCTION SERV. NIG. LTD SUBSEA TECHNOLOGY SUCCESS TREND CO. LTD SUDELLETRA LTD SUFFOLK ENG & CONS. LTD SUKUNU HYDRA BASE CONCEPT LIMITED SULFOLK NIG. LTD SULFOLK OFFHORE SERVICES SULFOLK PETROLEUM SERVICES SULFOUR NIG LTD SUN LOGISTICS & MARITINE SERVICES LTD SUNDAY MARINE INTEGRATED SUNDERSON (NIG) LTD SUNNY-EBI NIGERIA ENTERPRISES SUNNYTUK NIGERIA LIMITED SUNSTIN ENGINEERING NIGERIA LTD SUNTI GOLDEN SUGAR ESTATES LTD SUNTRUST OIL COMPANY NIG. LTD SUPERMARITIME NIGERIA LTD SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT INT’L SURFER NIG. LTD SURFOLK LTD SWIRE PACIFIC OFFSHORE LTD T I MARINE SERVICES TADEMA SHIPPING AND LOGISTIC LTD TAHO MARITIME TAJAS BUSINESS VENTURES TALOD OCEANAR FREIGHT LTD TAMROSE VENTURES LTD TAP MARK NIG LTD TARABA JETTY PHC TARABAROZ FISHERIES JETTYBADAGRY TARO GLOBAL RESOURCES LIMITED TAWUDO NIGERIA LIMITED TCO MARINE LTD TDI BROOKS NIGERIA LIMITED TECHNIP OFFSHORE NIGERIA LIMITED TECON OIL SERV. NIG LTD TEEJAYSMA NIGERIA LIMITED TEETEG NIGERIA ENTERPRISES TENARIS GLOBAL SERV. NIG TEPNG NIGERIA TERRA ENERGY SERV. NIG LTD TETHYS-PLANGERIA LIMITED TFDS TROMSON THAMES SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS TIDEWATER MARINE NIG TIDEX JETTY OGBOGORO TIDEX JETTY WARRI TIDEX NIGERIA LTD. TIDI BROOKS - THAMES SHIPPING TIGER SHIPPING TIKKO MARINE NIG LTD TIKO MARINE JETTYLAGOON

1190 1191 1192 1193 1194 1195 1196 1197 1198 1199 1200 1201 1202 1203 1204 1205 1206 1207 1208 1209 1210 1211 1212 1213 1214 1215 1216 1217 1218 1219 1220 1221 1222 1223 1224 1225 1226 1227 1228 1229 1230 1231 1232 1233 1234 1235 1236 1237 1238 1239 1240 1241 1242 1243 1244 1245 1246 1247 1248 1249 1250 1251 1252 1253 1254 1255 1256 1257 1258 1259 1260 1261 1262 1263 1264 1265 1266 1267 1268 1269 1270 1271 1272 1273 1274 1275 1276 1277 1278 1279 1280 1281 1282 1283 1284 1285 1286 1287 1288 1289 1290 1291 1292 1293 1294 1295 1296 1297 1298 1299 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304 1305 1306 1307 1308 1309 1310 1311 1312 1313 1314 1315 1316 1317 1318 1319

TIKO MARINE SERVICE TILLA FISHERIES JETTYIJORA TILONE-SUBSEA NIG. LTD TIM ARIQUE TIME MARITIME LTD TIONG WOODS MARINE TIPTREE INTERTRADE NIG LTD. TOKKE MARITIME SERVICES LTD TOLOBS MARINE SERVICES LTD TOMBA RESOURCES NIG LTD TOPAZ MARINE NIGERIAN LTD TOPLINE LTD TOPSONI NIG LTD TORSING TOTAL E & P NIGERIA LTD TOTAL NIG PLC TOTAL PREMIER SERVICES LTD TOTAL UPSTREAM PET. NIGERIA LTD TOYE MARINE GLOBAL LIMITED TRAFIGURA TRANS ATLANTIC SHIPPING AGENCY TRANS SERVE SURPORT SERV. TRANSCAP NIG TRANSCOASTAL OFFSHORE TRANSCONTINENTAL INTERGRATED SERVICES LTD TRANSLOG SHIPPING LTD TRANSMARINE SHIPPING SERVICES NIGERIA LTD TRANSOCEAN SUPPORT SERVICES NIG LTD TRANS-OCEANIC SHIPPING LTD TREASURE MARITIME ENERGY TRICO MARINE TRIPPLE KAY CO. NIG LTD TRIUNE VENTURES LIMITED TROLIF NIG LTD TRUST COY COMPLEX LUX SHIPPING TSKJ JETTY BONNY TSL MARINE LTD TUBAL CAINE SHIP MANAGEMENT TUB-PHIL (IG.) ENTERPRISES TUPNI TUSKAR RESOURCES LTD. TYJ OILFIELD SERVICES LIMITED U .A. L. NIG LTD UGBEBIG NIG LTD UJOBOLO ASSOCIATES LIMITED UNICENT SHIPPING COMPANY LTD UNIGLOBE INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD UNION ADMIRALTY NIG LTD UNION MARITIME AGENCY LIMITED UNITED AFRICAN LINES LIMITED UNITED GEOPHYSICAL LTD UNITOP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED UNIWELL TECHNICAL & CONST. CO. LTD UP STUCAW. TECH UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY SERVICES URIKSON NIG LTD UTM DREDGER LTD VAKT NAVIGATION LTD VAL VERDE VALENO LIMITED VAN OORD NIG LTD VERITAS GEOGRAPHICAL NIG. LTD. VERONA SHIPPING LTD VERVERDE NIG LTD VESSEL LINK NIGERIA LIMITED VETCO GRAY NIG LTD VETTAL MEGA VIC FREG GLOBAL RESOURCES LIMITED VICALO & SONS NIG. ENTERPRISES VICEMOORE ENERGY & PIPELINE LTD VICTONJO INTERNATIONAL NIGERIA LTD. VIEGO SHIPPING LTD VIGEO HOLDINGS NIG. LTD VIGO LTD. VIKTORIO SHIPP CO VISION SUBSEA NIG LTD VIV LIMITED VNC OFFSHORE LTD VND MARINE LTD VUCO CONSULT LTD VWV GROUP LTD WABECO MARITIME OIL & GAS SERVICES LTD WACT JETTY ONNE WAD JETTY ONNE WAJUTOME NIGERIA LIMITED WALVIS NIG LIMITED WASA-DELMAS NIG LTD WEAFRI WELL SERV.CO.LTD. WEANA (NIG.) ENTERPRISES WEATHERFORD NIG LTD WECO SYSTEMS INT LTD. WEEL-WORLDWIDE ENERGY LOGISTICES LTD WELLINCO NIGERIA LIMITED WESCO ENG LTD WESSEX ARCHAELOGY WEST AFR. OILFIELD SERV.NIG. WEST AFRICA OFFSHORE LTD WEST AFRICA VENTURES LTD WEST AFRICAN PUMPING SERV. LTD WEST AFRICAN SUPPLY VESSEL SERV WEST COAST SHIPPING LINE LTD. WEST STARZS INVESTMENT COMPANY LTD WESTERN ATLAS INTL NIG LTD WESTERN GECO NIG LTD WESTRIDGE NIG LTD WHISPERING PSALMS JETTYBADAGRY WILANDSON INTERNATIONAL LTD WILBROS (OFFSHORE) NIG. LTD. WILLBROS JETTY CHOBA WINTER PORT INVESTMENT NIG WISEAB NIGERIA LTD WISETEAM NIGERIA LIMITED WIZTON ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION LTD WOLID INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LTD WONFORD MARITIME COMP WORK SHIP AFRICA LTD WORKBOAT INTERNATIONAL LTD WORKSHIP AFRICA NIG LTD WORKSHOPS AFRICA LTD WORLD CARRIER CORPORATION WORLDWIDE PREMIER LOGISTICS SOLUTION WOYENTARI VENTURES YADE BARGE OPERATORS LTD YANNIS MARITIME LTD YINKA FOLAWIYO JETTY LAGOS ZEE-BEE RESOURCES LTD ZENON OIL & GAS ZENON PETROLEUM ZOMAY MARINE & LOGISTICS LTD ZPEB NIG LTD

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95

T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

ONE YEAR OF

PRESIDENT

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

BY MEMBERS OF THISDAY EDITORIAL BOARD

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI CHIDI AMUTA FEMI FALANA OKEY IKECHUKWU PETER ISHAKA SONNIE EKWOWUSI TONY URANTA ALEX OTTI BISI OGUNBADEJO BOLAJI ADEBIYI

www.thisdaylive.com

96

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition

A Very Challenging Moment…

I

n the ‘Special Issues 2005’ on Leadership by NEWSWEEK magazine, Moses Naim, former Venezuelan Minister of Industry and Trade, contributed a piece on the management of oil wealth by his OPEC-member country which vividly captures the reality of the Nigerian condition and may help to explain the state of affairs in our country today. According to Naim, in countries without well developed democratic institutions, and an easily manipulated public sector, oil becomes more of a curse than a blessing: “It breeds corruption, inequality, jobless growth and power struggles that naturally concentrate on the control of the main, and often the only significant, national industry. Oil also gives the government enormous power and autonomy as it provides it with revenues that do not depend on taxing the voters. They, in turn, are severed from their elected officials who easily become unresponsive and unaccountable thanks to the capacity to allocate immense financial resources at their disposal.” It is exactly one year ago today that President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office and within that period, the landscape has changed very dramatically. Yet if there is any single reason that accounts for that, it is the crash in the price of oil. Having promised the Nigerians so much, the president is now saddled with the burden of expectations at a time of lean resources. But notwithstanding the challenges of the moment, nobody can write off any administration after just one year in office. President Buhari came to office on three planks: The first is to fight corruption. Even his most implacable foes will agree he is doing just that. Then, he also promised to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. He has not only reinvigorated the war against Boko Haram, his efforts in that direction have also helped to dispel two theories that some Nigerian politicians have for years held onto. One, it has put a lie to the theory that the insurgency is an invention of Northern elite to make the country ungovernable for former President Goodluck Jonathan because he is a Christian and Southerner. Two, the insurgents have also made nonsense of another theory that once a northern Muslim, especially Buhari, was enthroned president of Nigeria, the violence would abate.

The third plank of President Buhari’s electioneering promise has to do with the economy. That is precisely where the problem lies today. That is also the focus of most of the interventions in this special edition by members of THISDAY editorial board.

Although this is a continuation of a tradition that we started on 1st October 2011, many of the members with whom we embarked on that intellectual journey have since moved on. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is now the Governor of Kaduna State; Mallam Abba Kyari is currently the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari; Mrs. Maryam Uwais is also the Presidential Adviser for Social Protection Plan while Mr. Waziri Adio was appointed about three months ago as the Executive Secretary for the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

Mr. Paul Nwachukwu left the board early to serve as a special adviser at the federal ministry of finance, Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim Yusuf also left at some point to chair the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba first returned to the Nigeria Legal Aid Council as Director General before she was appointed the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), an office she also left recently. On her part, Mrs Eugenia Abu has been saddled with higher responsibilities at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as the Director of Programmes.

These are respected patriots that cannot be easily replaced but to engender greater diversity of views, we will soon be bringing new people on board to further enrich our discussions. Notwithstanding, we believe it is important to interrogate the last one year in the life of our nation by placing the current administration before a mirror. The image, as to be expected, is not a particularly pleasant one but it is nonetheless necessary at a time like this so that course corrections can be made by a government that still has three years to deliver on its promises.

In the opening shot, Dr Chidi Amuta argues that given the way things are in Nigeria today, if President Buhari were to drive through the same campaign venues and city streets where excited crowds reached out to touch his magic garment in expectation of a better life a year ago, chances are that the hecklers may now outnumber the praise singers.

On his part, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, is of the opinion that under the current dispensation, there seems to be recourse to arbitrary use of power by certain

institutions of state. He also argues that aside disobedience of court orders, the government has engaged in the illegal detention of citizens without trial.

Dr Okey Ikechukwu makes a strong argument about the ideological disconnect between the Buhari persona and the motley crowd of itinerant, aggrieved and generally desperate politicians of no particular ideological persuasion who grouped, or regrouped, under the the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In looking at the misery index, Mr. Peter Ishaka, x-rays the growing disappointment by many Nigerians about certain poverty indicators and the fact that their lives may not be getting better despite all the electioneering promises of last year. President Buhari, according to Mr Sonnie Ekwowusi, conveys the impression both in his speech and action that he is doing the Nigerian people a favour by being their leader.

Given his rich banking experience, Dr Alex Otti MFR, believes the time is ripe for the government to start the process of deregulating the foreign exchange market because as things stand, “we may get to a point where we will not have any more dollars to sell at a subsidized rate. What do we do if we get there?” he asked. Mr Tony Uranta highlights some of the issues of the last one year which include the killing in Zaria of more than 300 Nigerians in controversial circumstance; the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen as well as what he considers policy flip-flops and the 2016 Budget abracadabra.

In his inimitable style, Mr Bisi Ogunbadejo portraits with is cartoon what most politicians do, especially in a season like this. To Bolaji Adebiyi, one year into the Buhari administration, Nigerians are still waiting to see the Change they voted for.

This reporter would rather look beyond Abuja to see whether there are states where change is already making meaning with Kaduna providing a good example.

While it is difficult to write the story of an administration on the basis of just one year in office, it is our hope that by next year, the Buhari administration would have stabilized and taken measures to reposition the economy for peace and prosperity while consolidating on its achievements in tackling security and fighting corruption.

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI Chairman, Editorial Board

EDITORIAL BOARD CHAIRMAN: OLUSEGUN ADENIYI MEMBERS: CHIDI AMUTA FEMI FALANA OKEY IKECHUKWU PETER ISHAKA SONNIE EKWOWUSI TONY URANTA ALEX OTTI BISI OGUNBADEJO BOLAJI ADEBIYI AKIN OSUNTOKUN EDDIE IROH EKANEM ETIM--OFFIONG ANGELA ATTAH IYOBOSA UWUGIAREM

SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

EDITOR: TOKUNBO ADEDOJA DEPUTY EDITOR: VINCENT OBIA TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

LEADERS & COMPANY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / CHAIRMAN: NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS: ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

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T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition

The Brevity of Applause

T

he ambiguities of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency are now on full display. While most Nigerians are confident that Buhari is a President that is not likely to shame the country, his popularity rating among ordinary street people is currently quite low. The masses now look at the tattered remnants of Buhari’s campaign posters and shrug in utter unbelief and understandable trepidation about the future. So much was promised and so much hope pervaded the air.

However, twelve months later, the most popular question among the masses touches on the slogan of change that governs Buhari’s second coming.

Most lives have become harder, almost tattered.

Hope has become dangerously scanty while all great expectations have been drastically pruned.

And yet, President Buhari would insist that it is to the welfare of the broad masses that he remains irrevocably committed, not the comfort of the elite.

He wants to show street people appreciation for trooping out to vote for him. Ironically, the policies he has pursued so far have almost all produced the opposite effect: they look more like deliberate inflictions of pain and hardship on the very people that President Buhari says he loves so dearly.

Among the elite, however, the President would probably get an above average job approval rating.

The elite can understand that oil prices have tanked and the Nigerian government is statistically broke. It is only the elite that can afford the luxury of close political analysis and complex rationalization. Among them, there is a higher consensus that the President is probably doing his best but is overwhelmed by the enormity of both inherited and self-inflicted problems.

A man whose return to power was greeted by mass hysteria and palpable mob excitement a year ago has become the object of growing mass cynicism and galloping pessimism. In barely one year in office, the excited shouts of ‘Sai Buhari’ have almost been totally drownedby excruciating groans of ‘Buhari, One Chance!’ Just a year ago, “Sai Buhari’ was the anthem of a national consensus that returned the former military leader to the state house. It was a charge to overhaul Nigeria. ‘Buhari, One Chance’ on the other hand is a depressing repudiation of this choice. It is in fact the anguished cry of a people experiencing that sinking feeling of collective betrayal and loss of direction.

Hashimu Suleiman, the young man who undertook an epic trek from Lagos to Abuja to symbolically herald the second coming of Buhari has now openly regretted his much-celebrated risky venture. If the president were to drive through the same campaign venues and city streets where excited crowds reached out to touch his magic garment in expectation of a better life a year ago, the stone throwers may now outnumber the praise singers. One year of intensified hunger, more unemployment, higher gasoline prices, creeping insecurity and crippling power outages has done Buhari’s fledgling administration severe damage. What went wrong?

The burden of Buhari’s mission of national restoration has been compounded by a crisis of expectation among the people. Unarguably, the president was fired by noble intentions. But there would seem to be a mismatch between the President’s overload of good intentions and his government’s now trade mark executive inertia.

Incidentally, only the right level of executive

CHIDI AMUTA

Educated at Universities in Nigeria and the United States, Amuta who holds a First Class Honours and a Ph.D. is Chairman of Wilson and Welzmann Associates Ltd, a media and public affairs consulting firm.

capacity can translate the best intentions into perceivable and tangible public good. Admittedly, no government anywhere in the world can fulfill its electoral promises in just one year in office but good governments need only a few months to articulate a clear acceptable and sensible policy direction.

Burdened by a tradition of betrayals by successive governments and armed with knowledge of our massive potentials, Nigerians have developed a troubling and permanent sense of entitlement. From those we elect into public office, we expect almost instant reward of the fruits of good governance. This entitlement syndrome produces hasty judgment and breeds the quick spread of cynicism when public policy hits a bump.Even then, Nigerians recognize purposive direction and are good followers of good governments.

President Buhari identified three core priority areas on inauguration: anti-corruption, security and the economy. The progress in containing the scourge of Boko Haram is increasingly evident.

The leadership of the movement is in disarray.

Mr. Abubakar Shekau wherever he may be is not likely to make more silly videos to taunt President Buhari. The occasional suicide bomb may go off now and again until the fleeing terrorists run out of young innocent girls to blow up. These are the death throes of a misguided terrorist insurgency.

However, the decline of Boko Haram as a national security threat is being replaced elsewhere by more limited but equally dangerous irritations: resurgent militancy in the Niger Delta, a Biafra Spring, terrorist herdsmen, transactional kidnapping etc.

In order to fulfill his promise of a peaceful and orderly Nigeria, Mr. Buhari will need to strengthen the nation’s wobbly security apparatus to cope with these other growing irritations.

Easily Buhari’s signature undertaking is his anti-corruption project. He has come down heavily

PRESIDENT BUHARI STILL COMMANDS A SIGNIFICANT FOLLOWERSHIP IMBUED WITH A COMBINATION OF FEAR AND RESPECT. THE FEAR IS FOR HIS ABILITY TO ENFORCE PUNISHMENT FOR INFRACTIONS. THE RESPECT IS FOR A MAN WHO HAS RETAINED HIS PERSONAL INTEGRITY AND CREDIBILITY IN A COUNTRY WHERE CORRUPTION AMONG POLITICALLY EXPOSED PERSONS SEEMS TO BE THE NORM

on the Nigeria’s shameful culture of humongous corruption, especially in the Jonathan era. The sums involved are frightening just as the geopolitical spread of the accused is global. However, the trials continue to drag just as the judiciary itself is increasingly mired in acts of corruption.

Unfortunately, the president failed to carry out a thorough shakeup of the nation’s judiciary as a prelude to the launch of the anti-corruption project. One year after, the EFCC has hardly obtained more than two credible convictions. At this rate, many doubt that much will be achieved in four years.

Beyond judicial somersaults and investigative tardiness, many have pointed out that the politicians being arrested and investigated are mostly those from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Glaringly, some politicians of the ruling party who held key public offices in previous parties before the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) still carry the odium of corruption but are being protected by the Buhari anti-corruption machinery.

A combination of budget delays and unclear role profiles has given the Buhari cabinet a less than impressive outlook. Given the long wait to appoint this cabinet, public expectations heightened for an unusual level of efficiency from the team. That has not happened as majority of the ministers seem to have simply disappeared in the midst of bureaucracy and their imprecise job description.

It would appear that the novelty and energy that the ministers should have brought to their job has been drowned by Buhari’s insistence on the supremacy of extant civil service rules. Even at that, there is what may be described as portfolio overload in some of the job profiles of some key ministers.

Concerns have recently grown about the President’s sense of judgment especially on economic issues. At first his talkative junior petroleum minister came up with a gasoline import and distribution policy that more or less made the state a virtual monopoly. Literally, the state through the NNPC assumed the menial role of gas station attendant; importing, distributing and retailing gasoline at the pumps with disastrous consequences. The government has neither the foreign exchange nor the capacity to deliver gasoline painlessly and efficiently. Scarcity and endless queues followed to the embarrassment of government and people. That foolish initial arrangement has now been replaced by a deregulation that should have taken place nine months back.

Meanwhile, the President still needs to define his economic direction and objectives more clearly as most of the major indices show red. Inflation has climbed from 9.5% to over 13%. GDP growth rate for 2016 is estimated at a miserable 2.5% and could drift into negative territory. People are too impoverished to buy houses, cars or even decent grocery. Retail figures are dwindling even in the open markets as inflation literally wipes out purchasing power. Unemployment of youth remains uncomfortably high. In the last three months, the unemployed figure as released by the Federal Statistics Bureau grew by 518,000.

Foreign Direct Investment has declined by74.5% in the last six months as existing foreign investors cash out and bail out of Nigeria. In spite of foreign exchange concessions by the Central Bank, Continued on page 98

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special edition manufacturing continues to shed jobs and manufacturing capacity is not showing any significant improvement.

These omens portend economic doom if not stemmed quickly.

The problems in Buhari’s handling of the Nigerian economy stem principally from a fundamental conflict between his conception of the national economy and the dominant economic behavior of Nigerians. On economic matters, Buhari is at best the equivalent of a regimental Sergeant Major. But Nigerians are essentially libertarians, natural adherents and agents of a free market. The president insists on controlling nearly everything: exchange rate, forex allocations, government bank accounts and even private spending on credit and debit cards. There is now talk of resuscitating a National Shipping Line, a national carrier airline etc., a return to the days of government control of the so-called commanding heights of the economy. While some of these measures may be justified by the fall in oil prices, it remains to be seen how re-nationalizing the economy under the central command of the state in this day and age can aid economic development and recovery.

The administration’s albatross remains the management of the exchange rate policy. Admittedly, the drastic drop in oil prices and the residual impact of past corruption has put immense pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange capacity. Yet the recourse to a dual exchange rate mechanism has created a credibility deficit and introduced distortions in the economy. Government has defined what is essential to be funded from the concessionary Central Bank foreign exchange supply at official exchange rate while other sectors are to resort to unofficial rate.

While the government insists that it is opposed to formal devaluation, the currency has since devalued itself as the parallel market rate hovers along a sliding range between N325-N375 to the dollar as against the official N200. How long it will take before Mr. Buhari bows to market forces and bite the bullet of devaluation may be determined more by how far he can implement the 2016 budget without running to the IMF and World Bank for bail out loans.

Politically, Buhari is flying into turbulent skies. Between him and his ruling APC, there is a visible divide. Buhari cannot be described as a politician by most definitions.

He was merely recruited by the APC to decorate its presidential ticket with qualities that the Nigerian public was hungry for.

That shrewd calculation won the election but can hardly sustain a party in power for longer than one term. The core politicians in the APC are smarting from starvation from pork occasioned by Buhari’s anti-corruption stance. The president insists on being his own man and demonstrating that he is both in office and in power to the alienation of his party leadership.

Nigerians can thus feel the hands of a strong president but are denied the mass appeal of a vibrant ruling party. The full meaning of this debilitating schism will unfold as we get close to 2019.

Initial reservations about Buhari’s nativist inclinations did him no good. At the initial stages of his administration, he tended to look mostly northwards in key appointments. This early primordial fixation has begun to recede as the president grapples with existential concerns that cut across sectional demarcations. Poor electricity, absence of opportunity, hunger and unemployment do not obey silly geopolitical calculations.

The presidential system thrives on televised image and instant communication. When during the presidential campaigns his image managers forced the man into a three- piece suit, it was the fashion equivalent of sacrilege. Far from being a celebrity president, Buhari cuts the image of the stern old school teacher disciplinarian devoid of fashion or glitz. That image inspires both respect and some trepidation but not necessarily admiration.

He could never possibly hope to be charismatic. Cold, distant and taciturn, Buhari lacks that personal electricity that aids even less focused leaders. He is not helped by a less than fluent elocution. Therefore, where the public expects instant direct presidential responses to burning issues, Buhari responds with stony silence that could be mistaken for arrogant indifference.

Only rehearsed statements by his media aides bridges a deadly communication gulf.

Therefore, Buhari could only hope to be loved through the success of his policies and programmes. He still commands a significant followership imbued with a combination of fear and respect. The fear is for his ability to enforce punishment for infractions.

The respect is for a man who has retained his personal integrity and credibility in a country where corruption among politically exposed persons seems to be the norm. In Machiavellian terms, the mixture of fear and love in a leader is more weighted in favour of fear in Buhari’s case. Insulated from fear by the rights under democracy, more Nigerians tend to respect President Buhari almost to the point of idol worship.

Idolatry in a leader can only lead to a personality cult, which will evaporate at the end of his tenure.

In a bid to enlist international support for Nigeria’s security and economic troubles, Mr. Buhari has scrambled the presidential jet and flown to so many countries.

Arguments abound as to whether some of these trips are necessary for a president who has a Minister of Foreign Affairs. What is troubling is not the frequency of the trips but the absence of a foreign policy context for Buhari’s all too frequent external forays. Sooner or later, the administration will need to update Nigeria’s foreign policy in the light of the present economic and security challenges.

Ultimately, the Buhari tenure is very much work in progress. Perhaps his greatest achievement in the last one year is to have showcased his strengths and weaknesses and in the process starkly defined the challenges ahead.

His historic vindication will depend on how quickly he course corrects and regains the support and confidence of Nigerians and thus justify confidence in his second coming.

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The Unending Culture of Impunity

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pon assumption of office on May 29, 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari Administration promised to fight corruption and impunity, respect the human rights of all persons and operate under the rule of law. But in spite of such avowed commitment, the Police, the armed forces and the other security agencies have continued to infringe on the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people.

The extra-judicial execution of criminal suspects by the police and the unlawful killing of unarmed civilians including women and children by security forces have been on the ascendancy. At the judicial commission of enquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to probe the clash which occurred between the army and the members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria last December it was disclosed that 347 people were killed by the army and that their bodies were secretly buried in a mass grave.

Notwithstanding that the Constitution has recognised the right of Nigerian citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly the police force has violently attacked peaceful protests by aggrieved groups. Aside disobedience of court orders the government has engaged in the illegal detention of citizens without trial. Out of 52,000 prison inmates, only 12,000 have been convicted while others are awaiting trial. The bail granted to the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is standing trial for money laundering and criminal diversion of public funds has been disregarded by the Directorate of State Security (DSS). Similarly, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, and his wife have also been detained by the DSS for over six months without trial.

In several parts of the country, violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers have resulted in mass killings. For instance, in Benue and Taraba states not less than 500 farmers were recently killed by armed herdsmen due to negligence on the part of security forces. In Enugu state over 40 people were killed during a similar clash. While the government has consistently condemned killing of innocent people by terrorist attacks in foreign countries it has been silent or slow in reacting to the unlawful killing of unarmed civilians in Nigeria.

However, having confirmed that the funds earmarked for procurement of arms and armament were diverted by a coterie of military officers the government decided to reinstate 3,000 soldiers who were dismissed by the former military authorities for demanding to fight the terrorists. The government also reviewed the plight of the 70 soldiers who were charged with mutiny, tried and convicted and sentenced to death by military courts for the same reason. At the end of the review, 66 out of the 70 condemned convicts had their death sentences commuted to 10 years imprisonment. But the case ought to be further looked into with a view to granting pardon to all the convicted members of the armed forces in questionable circumstances.

While the federal government deserves commendation for the success recorded so far in prosecuting the war on terror, the failure to sanction the army officers and soldiers who engage in the unlawful killing of innocent people in the north east region has been condemned by local and international human rights organizations. Local and international human rights bodies have condemned such human rights abuse. Owing to alleged refusal of the government to punish the culprits the ‘New York Times’ has asked the United States’ Congress not to approve the sale of war planes to Nigeria to prosecute the war on terror.

AS CORRUPTION FIGHTS BACK Last November, President Buhari removed Ibrahim Lamorde, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and replaced him with Ibrahim Magu. Apart from the change in the EFCC leadership, the government appointed a presidential advisory council on corruption headed by Professor Itse Sagay (SAN). A presidential panel was also inaugurated to investigate the diversion of billions of dollars earmarked to procure military hardware from 2007-2015. Following the

FEMI FALANA

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Falana is a pro-democracy and human rights activist.

He is an alumnus of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

earthshaking revelations of the theft of huge sums of money by military officers and politicians, there has been a wave of arrests of many alleged looters of the treasury by the EFCC. The EFCC and the other anti graft agencies have not been restructured and repositioned to fight corruption in a sustained and consistent manner. With no clear cut direction the anti graft agencies have been accused of watching the “body language” of President Buhari in prosecuting the renewed war against corruption and other economic and financial crimes. Although there has been allegations of selectivity in the prosecution of the war against corruption there has been no evidence of official interference in the work of the anti graft agencies.

Through the operation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) into which all revenues accruable to the federal government are paid the federal government has saved about N3 trillion. The illegal collection of the salaries and allowances of 36,000 ghost workers in the federal public service by an illegal syndicate has been stopped. The introduction of BVN has stopped the operation of secret bank accounts by public officers. No doubt, the administration has recorded some success in the recovery efforts. The EFCC has so far recovered the sum of $3.2 billion and over N30 billion which has been paid into a special dedicated account in the Central Bank.

The government has ordered an audit of the payroll of the entire armed forces following the disclosure in a criminal trial that a particular military officer was stealing N558 million from the salary account of the Nigerian Air Force on a monthly basis.

The military authorities inquired into the role of the military officers and soldiers who were used by politicians to perpetrate electoral malfeasance in Ekiti and Osun states during the governorship elections in 2014. Those who were indicted by the investigation panel have been flushed out of the Nigerian army and recommended for prosecution by the EFCC. After the presentation of the 2016 budget by President Buhari, it was discovered by the Senate that the document had been altered. The allegation was investigated and confirmed by the government which has promised to sanction the cabal of civil servants who padded the budget. In addition to indicted retired and serving military officers and politicians who were arrested for alleged looting of the treasury, bank executives have been asked to account the millions of dollars deposited in “secret accounts” from where humongous sums of money were withdrawn and disbursed to politicians to campaign for the re-election of President Jonathan during the 2015 general elections.

The governments of the United Kingdom, United States, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland have promised to lend a helping hand in the recovery efforts of the Buhari administration. But when the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, recently described Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt” nation, President Buhari reacted by asking the British government to ensure the recovery and repatriation of Nigeria’s looted wealth warehoused in the United Kingdom.

However, the ICPC has over 400 corruption cases pending in the various courts. Some of those cases were filed in the courts as far back as 2001! Thousands of others relating to economic and financial crimes are being prosecuted in the various courts and tribunals by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Code of Conduct Bureau, Nigeria Police Force etc. Some judges have specialised in granting interlocutory or perpetual injunctions to restrain the anti graft agencies and the police from arresting, investigating and prosecuting politically exposed persons.

According to the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, about 55 ex-public officers standing trial for

allegedly stealing N1.3 trillion have had their cases subjected to interminable delay. The trial of such politically exposed persons which commenced in 2007 has not been concluded till now. Apart from two of the ex-governors who opted for plea bargain and were convicted the cases of others have been stalled through preliminary objections and stay of proceedings filed by the defendants and lavishly granted by either the trial or appellate courts. In frustration President Buhari recently expressed displeasure over what he perceived as the negative role of the courts in the prosecution of corruption cases.

Even though there are shortcomings in the criminal justice system the courts appear to have risen to the challenge of the moment. In the last one year. The EFCC has concluded about 160 economic and financial cases and secured the conviction of a commissioner in Adamawa state, local government chairman and councillors in Kogi state and a former DirectorGeneral of the NIMASA. Following the dismissal by the Supreme Court of the appeals filed by ex-governors Joshua Dariye and Orji Kalu, their trial suspended since 2007 have commenced.

Since the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 is a federal enactment it is not applicable in the state courts.

To that extent, the trial of the majority of corruption cases which are pending in the state high courts is being conducted under antiquated criminal procedure laws. With the ongoing investigations into serious allegations of massive corruption in the office of the NSA, NNPC, CBN, NIMASA, NPA etc it is clear that the regular courts cannot cope with the trial of the many suspects that are likely to be indicted and recommended for prosecution. There has therefore arisen the urgent need to set up a special court to try economic and financial crimes.

The proposed court should be manned by carefully selected judges of proven integrity. Each corruption case should be heard and concluded by the trial court within 120 days. All appeals arising from the decisions of the anti corruption court should be heard and determined within 60 days by either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the of Conduct Tribunal and the Security and Exchange Tribunal should equally be reorganised to discharge their statutory duties of promoting ethical values in the public service and sanity in the capital market respectively.

No doubt, the Nigerian people are in support of the renewed fight against corruption and impunity in the country. Regrettably, the federal government is yet to appreciate that the anti corruption battle cannot be won through the regular courts. In spite of the overwhelming evidence of large scale looting the anti graft agencies the federal government is not in firm grip control of the war against corruption. Owing to lack of coordination in the trial of politically exposed persons corruption is fighting back. Painfully, the federal government is on the defensive as it has failed to counter the deliberate manipulation of the criminal justice system by the indicted looters of the public treasury.

At the end of the day, the success of the anti corruption policy will not be measured by the number of investigations conducted by the anti graft agencies. If the status quo remains the Nigerian people and the international community will blame the administration for its inability to secure the conviction of corrupt politically exposed persons. There is no doubt that official corruption has continued to arrest the development of the country. This is not unexpected given the nature of the country’s neo-colonial and predatory capitalist economy compounded by impunity on the part of the ruling class.

Therefore, to succeed in the fight the government has to ensure that the economy is managed in the interest of the people. The Buhari Administration should ensure that the stolen wealth of the nation is recovered and invested in promoting the welfare of the people. For the fight to succeed the government has to strengthen the anti graft agencies, fund them and guarantee their autonomy. So far, corruption has been able to fight back because the people have been reduced to onlookers in the fight against corruption. To reverse the trend the government should sensitise and mobilise the

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Not by Buhari Alone “Nchamelu boys” (the boys are in dire straits) was the exclamation of the Onitsha trader when he saw how his business had shrunk in the last one year. He is on the verge of exclaiming “Nchaemetopu boy” (the boys are finished), but his plight is not our concern here.

O

THE ONE-ITEM GOOD NEWS

ne year of Muhammadu Buhari Presidency has seen a revitalized anti-corruption war. The signal is: do not think you can take what belongs to all of us and get away with it. The government deserves encouragement in this regard and needs to understand and rightly contextualize the concept and scope of corruption, for greater success. The real challenge is the socio-cultural context of the anti-corruption war, because the government is fighting corruption in a society where citizens are still making the very demands that push otherwise straightforward people in public office to reach beyond their means.

The chieftaincy titles are still going to `illustrious` sons and daughters with questionable and explosive wealth. Many leaders of religion are still rewarding people of controversial financial circumstances. Some otherwise sensible people are calling Buhari names for `delaying` their blessings in this regard. Friends and relatives of public office holders are still expectinglargesse that presupposes a society underpinned by corruption.So the Buhari Presidency should review the assumption that “once you fix the problem of corruption you have fixed the problem of Nigeria”. This assumption is incorrect, because the political economy of corruption is more complicated than the government knows or believes. The `human raw material` on behalf of who the government is fighting corruption is the syndicate that has been cleaning out billions of Naira (every month) from the national payroll for decades. They are not happy at the moment. They are also not giving up.

Beyond that, the perception that the anti-corruption crusade is one-sided should be taken seriously. This perception, if it is unreal, should be boldly addressed with details, to end the antics of mischief-makers. To say that the government is prosecuting only members of a particular political party is not the same thing as saying that the people being prosecuted are innocent. The failure, or inability, to make a case for the perceived tendencies in the anti-corruption war has already created a bogeyman in the mind of the public. It is particularly sad to see the wretched performance of the government information machinery in its one year in office. The Buhari government has enough trouble as it is, without going about looking for more.The suggestion here is that the anti-corruption effort should be seen to be more objective and guided by national interest.

The antics of some officers of some of the agencies who appear to be on the payroll of individuals striving for personal vendetta should end now. It is also time to review the relationship between the office of the Atttorney General of the Federal (AGF) and some agencies that are ostensibly prosecuting cases on its behalf. Situations where the custodian of delegated authority challenges the original custodian of the powers, as sometimes happens in open court or by some agencies refusing to obey explicit written directives of the AGF, is actually a form of institutional corruption.

Having said all that, and having given kudos to the Buhari regime for its bold confrontation with some aspects of socio-political corruption in Nigeria, let us now do an exegetical close-up on the crises facing the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the Buhari Presidency.It is on account of these crises that our good friend from Onitsha has been shouting: “Nchamelu boys” for some time now.

LEST WE FORGET A broad assessment of President Buhari`s one year in office should keep five key issues in mind. The first is that the foundations for the national crises now confronting us under a perfectly baffling, and slightly disoriented, Buhari Presidency were laid many decades ago. It would seem that President Buhari has neither revised his original understanding of Nigeria`s problems and the solutions to those problems, nor updated his ideas about who, or what, is (are) responsible for the problems.

OKEY IKECHUKWU

He is a Leadership and Governance Consultant. Ikechukwu who is director of Development Academy is an alumnus of the University of Lagos. He holds a Ph.D.

The second point is that the Jonathan Presidency was itself an offspring, victim and casualty of the challenges of decades of elite irresponsibility sustained by a political culture of distribution and consumption – with no thought about production, accountability and genuine national development. The seeming weaknesses of that era, including its nauseating deployment of neophites in strategic positions, as well as its near-inability to even know what it was doing at any particular time,only worsened an inherited political culture that represented anti-development in a 21st century world.

The third point is that there was no basis, given the facts which casual research could easily have unearthed, for the reckless optimism of the APC in the run up to the elections. Some people say it was all deliberate propaganda, but no! Ignorance and political immaturity were major contributory factors. It just did not make sense to hear them, particularly Lai Mohammed and the APC Presidential Candidate, speaking of Dollar/Naira parity, the instant annihilation of Boko Haram within minutes after an APC victory, reduction of the pump price of petrol by over 50%, a magical new trajectory in electricity supply and and much more. The signs of trouble were all there.

The fourth point is that there was a clear ideological disconnect between the Buhari persona and the motley crowd of itinerant, aggrieved and generally desperate politicians of no particular ideological persuasion who grouped, or regrouped, under the APC. Unlike Buhari, they had little thought for Nigeria, the citizens and the prospect of a greater future for the fatherland. But everyone carried on as if there was, indeed, a group consensus on what to do after winning the elections. Yes, there were some ideas on paper about what the APC represented and what it would offer Nigerians, at least theoretically.

Finally, it is really troubling that anyone you speak to in the ruling party today tells you that they do not know “what the man is doing”. The complaint ranges from his inaccessibility and strange economic policies to his rather unsettling practice of often speaking in the first person in matters of policy and also of making what can be termed policy statements off the cuff and in foreign lands.

What seems to have emerged this past year is the troubling reality of a lack of strategic capacity and the right policy choices to place the nation on the right trajectory and ameliorate some of the worst potential outcomes of what the Buhari Presidency inherited in addition to the current global economic downturn.

BEFORE THE CURRENT BEGINNING The country was already in dire financial straits one year before Buhari became president. This fact, at first muted here and there, but later succinctly captured in several national economic performance indicators and the magisterial and informed interventions of ChukwumaSoludo, was finally tangentially hinted at by the PDP government. This secret admission was summarily confirmed when, just weeks before the lections, the then leadership of the Finance Ministry caused a crucial meeting to be held between its principal officers and the principal officers of the ruling party.

The list of issues to be discussed at the meeting came down, at the end of the day, to one item: how to pay salaries after the elections.

The PDP still expected to win the elections, so it was a simple `house keeping` matter; since it would not be nice to emerge from an election victory to declare bankruptcy.

However, the party lost the elections and the APC chieftains who knew about this meeting somehow managed to persuade themselves that not being part of the defeated party also abolished the glaring dangers the former ruling party was alarmed about. Thus the new ruling party walked into a collapsing building with good cheer, assuring Nigerians that their woes were over. But they soon realized that the verbal

enunciation of CHANGE conferred no immunity in regard to economic matters.

Rather than sit down to set up a government and address matters of state, the party and its elected members became the Biblical Church of Antioch; wherein everyone had his own prophesies, had his own visions and preached his own truths and versions of the gospel. Nigerians watched in consternation at every new pronouncement of either the President Elect, the party Chairman, the party spokesperson or the Senators elected on the party platform. They contradicted, or contested with, one another or hedged on earlier campaign promises. The party machinery and the major stakeholders came across as confounded, unable to relate to or manage the president elected under their party umbrella and, to boot, as totally unprepared and unwilling to pay close attention to the dangers everywhere.

The new-emergent ruling party thus finally presented itself as having been ambushed by its own victory. For instance, itwas after a few more weeks of `opposition` speech-making that Lai Mohammedwas politely reminded that his party was now the government and should be working on a blueprint for a national Change Agenda, rather than grumbling about what was wrong with Nigeria. The new Presidency seemed, by its reflexes, to be affiliated to Bedlam!

Thus the expected take-off did not occur with the swearing in of the new president. There followed, instead, a scandalous and totally unnecessary interregnum that effectively deconstructed the wobbly foundations ofthe APC. The unresolved internal contradictions soon became manifest in a rogue Senate Presidency. The failure to appoint aides and ministers on time, amongother troubles, took away the government`s capacity to stem some of the expected negative economic fallouts of the situation it inherited. The international goodwill dwindled rapidly. The merciless laws of economics took the Naira and the economic Nigerians to the doldrums.

In sum, the nation now stands at a bus stop, with the citizens inside a bus without fuel. The driver measures hisprogress by the sound the engine makes when his foot presses down on the accelerator pedal and also by his out-of-the bus saunters, to tell people where he is going and how fast he believes driving in the right direction. Meanwhile,those looking at his `location`, relative to where he was before turning on the engine and pressing the pedal,can see that nothing has changed.

Worse than the fact of standing still when you are inside a stationary bus is the possibility and danger of the bus moving backwards. Look at the value of the Naira and other economic indices and decide for yourself whether the bus our president is driving is moving forward of or backwards. The anticipated gains of the budget will go into addressing already incurred loses.As for the Onitsha trader the mantra is still: “Nchamelu boy!

MATTERS ECONOMIC Put simply, the economy is not working. It is also not about to start working with the passing of the budget. The replacement cost for a business that formally restocked withN150 thousand ($1000) is now N370 thousand. So the business must shrink by over 50%. Ditto for manufacturers whose imported inputs have gone up by a merciless 120%. Retrenchments are going on everywhere. Summary: the alleged gains of a national budget that was delayed by lack of executive capacity are already taken way.What we shall see is a redistribution of poverty. Details in the next bulletin of national disquiet! All our dear Onitsha trader could say in the face of all this is: “nchaemetopu boys” (the boys are finished)”.

CONCLUSION The Buhari government has not done well in its first year in office in the areas of security, economic management and national cohesion.This is not just due to our national political history and what the government inherited. With one year gone informed circles believe that this government is not guided by contemporary economic and socio-political realities. It is not by Buhari alone that Nigeria will change, but he is a major factor today. He should brace up before “Nchaemetopu boys!

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A Nation at a Crossroads

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resident Muhammadu Buhari was ushered into Aso Villa, Nigeria’s seat of power, in a buoyant mood. That mood extended to many states across the nation. One young man in Abuja, the capital, tied a bowler hat, often called “resource control” and often worn by former President Goodluck Jonathan, to the back of his tricycle and dragged it on the street.

People cheered him on, unmistakably kicking out, in his own way, a lax administration suffused with corruption. Even before his inauguration, Buhari was already in an expansive mood: “You voted for change and now change has come,” he said.

However, one year after, Buhari’s promise of change seems like a sick joke. Perhaps, after the civil war, no other time in our history looks more depressing and troubling. The administration, in many people’s estimation, has become a drag instead of a boon, blighted by widespread shortages of everyday necessities, spiraling inflation and rising insecurity. The effect, obviously, has been terrifying rather than inspiring. How bad are things likely to get? Is the Buhari administration making things better or worse?

“At home we face enormous challenges,” President Buhari admitted during his inaugural address. “Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.”

President Buhari is trying admirably to fix corruption, evidently Nigeria’s greatest scourge, but how far he could go is still a matter for conjecture. Many are critical of the discrepancies and standards used in hauling people before the anti-graft agencies and the Code of Conduct Bureau. But there is no doubt that he is making a big difference.

The unearthing of the arms deal, dubbed Dasukigate, involving billions of diverted dollars, his ruthless intervention in the budget padding sleaze, leading to the sacking of some staff and the search light on other related dark spots, marked him out as a man committed to routing the menace that has tarnished our image and drawn much negative attention to the country. Barely two weeks ago in London at the anti-corruption summit, Buhari pledged the government’s commitment to the Open Contracting Data Standard which would ensure greater transparency in public contracting.

Besides all this, the reality is that things are not just exceedingly bleak, but getting worse. Statistics are patchy, but there is no denying the fact the misery index is growing and disappointment has grown louder. It is for instance difficult to exaggerate the country’s power poverty.

On assuming power, Buhari described as a “national shame” a situation where the seventh most populous nation on earth struggled to generate 4,000 megawatts of electricity and distributed even less. One year after, the “turnaround” is still negative and getting worse. The nation still generates about the same quantity of energy, but distributes even more negligible quantity. Power shortages are so routine and frustrating, particularly in a period of extreme heat. To worsen matters, the electricity distribution companies have increased their tariffs astronomically even when they cannot keep the lights on.

But the shortages overlap. Almost a quarter of the All Progressives Congress’ administration in office, the supply of petrol has been, at best, intermittent in the world’s seventh largest exporter of oil. The product was more on the streets, selling for as much as N300 per litre in some places, than in the filling stations. The prolonged scarcity of petrol in a period of darkness inflicted so much hardship on the nation and its commerce. It was some relief recently that the authorities were bold enough to liberalise the importation of the product.

But there are greater challenges for an economy that is wholly dependent on crude oil for more than 70 per cent of its foreign earnings. In the past two years, the cost of crude oil has been on a free fall, from an average of $100 per barrel to less than $30 earlier in the year, thus depriving the nation a significant part of revenue. For a country that is dependent on imports, from

PETER ISHAKA

Educated at University of Lagos, Ishaka is presently the OP-ED editor of THISDAY Newspapers

toothpick to cell phones, the impact is hard on the economy, prompting the central bank to restrict the importation of items and the rationing of dollars to conserve foreign exchange.

The naira has been devalued twice and now stands at 197 to the dollar at the official window. But on the black market there is a yawning gap as the dollar sells for as much as N360.

Against all persuasions, the authorities held on to the “command and structure,” a streak of the damaging authoritarianism reminiscent of the first coming of Buhari as head of state, and kept the artificial rate of the naira, even when it has lost half its value. Many foreign investors were rightly hesitant. Fortunately, last week the central bank announced, even if belated, that some flexibility would be brought to bear on the foreign exchange market.

But the economic difficulties are apparent, biting hard and deepening. There is high rate of price inflation in a country where many of those who work are owed months in salary arrears while unemployment is at a dangerous level. Jobs are extremely scarce. As the economic misery escalates, Nigeria’s many poor are further pushed to the wall. Worrying still, governments at all levels are being run as if the party is still on.

Prudence is at large.

President Buhari

The rising insecurity in the land has only made things worse. Besides Boko Haram, the brutal insurgent group whose murderous activities are gradually being contained, there is a new “terror” group called Fulani herdsmen who are maiming, killing and destroying farmlands across the nation and raising temperatures unnecessarily among the ethnic groupings. It is difficult to tone down the criticisms of official leniency or rather, inaction, in the handling of this new menace. They are right.

It is hard to stomach, considering the bloodshed and the large scale displacement. Besides, there is the Biafra separatists group named Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), not to talk of the Shi’ites’ rebellion. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies and general banditry, all help to add to the prevailing air of uncertainty. The renewed militancy in the Niger Delta threatens to further increase the country’s economic woes. “In one year,” said Idayat Hassan, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, “the existing fault lines in the country have once again been widened.”

But Buhari is a man of courage and it takes exceptional bravely to stare down one’s party rather than compromise on issues of great importance. He has said repeatedly that time was on his side to right the wrongs. The 2016 budget earmarked some N350 billion for capital projects, essentially to stimulate the overheating economy. “We are working night and day to diversify the economy such that we never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country”, said President Buhari. “So that we can produce the food we eat and most of the things we use. We intend to create the environment for our young people to be able to innovate and create jobs through technology.”

It will not be easy. But there is a resolve. That is why he needs all the support.

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Buhari, the People and Democracy

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ike the morning dew that falls and instantly disappears, the euphoria that greeted the 29th May, 2015 inauguration was not only short-lived but was soon replaced with a lull. First, it took President Muhammadu Buhari nearly six months to form his cabinet. Even after the formation of the much-vaunted cabinet, the emptiness continued unabated. At the onset, President Buhari wanted to dismantle the pre-existing Goodluck Jonathan structure. He wanted to make a clean break from what he considered as the corrupt past. However, from what has been happening since the May 29 2015 inauguration, it is obvious that after dismantling the Goodluck Jonathan structure the Buhari administration has been unable to replace it with an alternative viable structure.

Some analysts maintain that President Buhari and the APC were so obsessed with wresting power from the PDP that they gave little or no heed to envisioning policies to improve the worsening living condition of the Nigerian people. In other words, prior to assuming power, the APC had no pre-conceived ideological vision worth experimenting with.

That is why it has now quickly crafted what it termed the 34 Priority Projects which include governance, security and diversification of the economy. Which means that before coming to power the APC was not prepared for political leadership.

It is very clear today that the APC came to power with empty hands. It came to power to learn on the job. If the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, is not quarreling with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in public, Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is gesticulating somewhere making policy summersaults. Before now, the leadership of the APC rejected subsidy removal. Now it has made a volte-face and embraced subsidy removal.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has been failing to keep his election campaign promises. For example, he has reneged on his promise to pay unemployed Nigerian N5, 000; he has failed to crush Boko Haram six months after assuming office as he promised; he has removed fuel subsidy which he said he would never do and he has failed to make N1 to equal $1 US. From liberation we are now walking towards retrogression.

Poverty continues to ravage the country with greater intensity.

Prices of foodstuffs have risen astronomically. With the increase in the pump price of fuel, the average Nigerian motorist who is probably earning about N18, 000 minimum wage per month will have to cough out a gargantuan N10, 000 every now and then to re-fuel his or her car.

In response, President Buhari pleads for patience and understanding. Mr. Tony Momoh pleads for time. He advises the Nigerian people to stone the APC if it fails to perform after two years. Considering Nigeria’s myriads of problems, no reasonable person expected a magical transformation of Nigeria in the last one year. What has been missing in the Buhari government is proper direction. The Buhari government has not able to strike the right chord that will produce the right music.

We are seeing a government that is not moving according to the people’s pace.

Doubtless, the Buhari government has succeeded in the last one year, even if symbolically, in passing a strong message that the days of profligacy, reckless expenditure and looting of government treasury are over in Nigeria. For sure, Buhari enjoys the full support of the Nigerian people in the war against corruption. Surely, if President Buhari manages in the next two or three years to reduce corruption in Nigeria he will carve a special niche for himself in the political history of Nigeria. But all that Nigerians have been telling Buhari is that the war against corruption should be waged across board. No selective justice. No sacred cows.

The truth of the matter is that ridding Nigeria of corruption and improving the living conditions of the ordinary Nigerians are not mutually exclusive. Therefore the former cannot supplant the latter. Neither should the government take refuge in the former. The Buhari government should understand that government is not an end in itself: it is only a means to an end- the welfare of the people.

SONNIE EKWOWUSI

A legal practitioner, Ekwowusi has been assisting governments and private clients on public reforms

It was John Dewey, an American philosopher and educationist, who once stated that since we need a shoe maker to make shoes we equally need a shoe wearer to say where the shoe pinches. In same way, since the people directly bear the full brunt of visionless leadership, the government ought to conduct its activities in line with the aspirations of the people. After all, Vox Populi Vox Dei (The voice of the people is the voice of God). And the one aspiration binding all Nigerian people is to have access to basic necessities of life. Therefore, as President Buhari marks one year in office he should invest heavily in improving the welfare of the ordinary citizen.

For me, the most powerful and promising statement made

by President Buhari since he assumed office was made while signing the budget into law. Mr. President said, inter alia, that he would diversify the Nigerian economy. Therefore the greatest challenge facing the Buhari government is diversification of the economy by making the country less dependent on oil. The government should immediately marshal out concrete initiatives to boost food production in Nigeria.

If neigbouring African countries such as Cameroun which are not as richly-endowed as Nigeria are producing enough food to feed her citizens, why can’t Nigeria do so with all her abundant resources? Basic food production must not fall prey to power politics. Government and banks should develop schemes to provide credit facilities to farmers to invest in mechanized agriculture. Massive rural-urban drift decimating the rural farm workforce should be tackled by making the rural areas attractive for young rural job seekers.

Paradoxically, successive governments in Nigeria have always initiated projects towards promoting agriculture but the projects failed to yield the maximum results due to corruption, structural weaknesses, mismanagement, undue politicization etc. For example, the second National Economic Plan (1970-74) of Yakubu Gowon made agriculture a priority, but unfortunately that effort failed to yield maximum results.

Between 1975 and 1979, General Olusegun Obasanjo initiated a gargantuan agricultural scheme popularly called Operation Feed the nation (OFN), but the scheme failed to tackle the country’s food crisis.

Upon coming to power as the first Nigerian democratically-elected President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari

A COUNTRY AS RICHLY-ENDOWED AS NIGERIA SHOULD NOT BE LITTERED WITH SO MANY FRUSTRATED PEOPLE VENTING THEIR ANGER IN THE STREETS. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IS THE EPICENTER OF ALL DEVELOPMENTS. IT IS A SHAME THAT WHILST NIGERIA IS BEATING HER CHEST IN EUPHORIA OF BEING THE ‘GIANT OF AFRICA’ SHE CANNOT FEED HER CITIZENS

introduced the Green Revolution Programme with a view to increasing domestic food production and curtailing the increasing food import bills. But after recording a partial success, that programme also failed calamitously especially from the scandals surrounding the importation of rice. The Idiagbon/Buhari/Abacha military regimes made little or no efforts to boost food production in the country. The Obasanjo civilian government merely paid lip service to agriculture.

The point has repeatedly been made that a country as richly-endowed as Nigeria should not be littered with so many frustrated people venting their anger in the streets.

Human development is the epicenter of all developments.

It is a shame that whilst Nigeria is beating her chest in euphoria of being the “giant of Africa” she cannot feed her citizens.

As President Buhari marks one year in office, he should refrain from doing anything that could lead to the abuse of democracy. It was to guard against abuses in democracy that Plato wanted the experts, the enlightened or the guardians as he called them in his Republic to be in charge of politics.

Therefore the Buhari government should have a human face.

The President’s handlers and advisers should polish Mr. President’s public image.

I have listened to some Buhari’s interviews and I have the feeling that he is arrogant in his speech. Besides, President Buhari conveys the impression both in his speech and action that he is doing the Nigerian people a favour by being their President. It is a wrong way to think. The Presidency is neither his personal fiefdom nor anybody’s fiefdom.

Democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people.

If there is one cardinal democratic principle which was aptly demonstrated in the last elections in Nigeria it is that popular participation is the ultimate safeguard of democratic norms. The American founding fathers aptly recaptured this ageless truth when they said many years ago that, “governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”. By voluntarily entrusting to a few elected people with the responsibility of governing their affairs, the people have not relinquished their power.

In short, the people are the repository of political power.

They can invoke that power at periodic elections to either vote for a popular government or even vote out an unpopular government. In the same vein, they can invoke that power in their perfunctory assessment of government policies.

After voting in favour of independence on 2 July, 1776, the American delegates debated the text of Thomas Jefferson’s declaration of Independence for three days. In the aforesaid famous text, Jefferson stated what the English political writer John Locke stated about 90 years earlier that government originates from a social contract between the government and the people and that contract is breached by the failure of the government to perform its obligations under the contract.

Finally, as the APC-led administration of President Buhari marks one year in office, it should espouse some ideologies to enable the people identify with it as a political party capable of improving their well-being. It should implement policies that can advance the best interests of the people. The APC change philosophy should be properly defined. The change mantra should have a political component, social component and an economic component.

The political component should be hinged on politics of inclusion not exclusion. Lest President Buhari forgets, some parts of the country especially the South-East still feel marginalized in the scheme of things in the Buhari government. The gross negligence of the Buhari government in tackling the menace of the herdsmen has heightened this fear of marginalization. Whether this fear is real or imagined, President Buhari and the APC should endeavour to address it and if possible offer concrete solutions to it. The Buhari government should run an all-inclusive government. It must eschew hatred and partiality of any sort. That is the only way it can succeed in building a new national aspiration aimed at promoting justice, unity, peace and mutual understanding.

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Tortuous and Difficult Change!

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hese are not the best of times for Yakubu Mohammed. Married with three children, things have not been nice with him. Since he lost his job two years ago, he has had difficulties making ends meet. Yakubu, who lives in Kwali, a suburb of Abuja, heaps his woes on government, which he says has not do enough to create the enabling environment for jobs to be created for the like of him to earn a living. He is one of those who are enlightened enough to believe that they could go beyond complaining to change their condition.

Believing that the government of the day was responsible for his condition, he decided to use his vote wisely, at least so it seemed. Yakubu voted for Muhammadu Buhari. “He was a candidate that promised change. I was feed up with President Goodluck Jonathan, whose government could not provide me a job. There was no light, no fuel and people were just being killed in the North. But he promised to change all these,” he said.

One year on, Yakubu has this to say, “Do I regret voting for Buhari? I should say I am disappointed because my condition has not changed. In fact, it has worsened. Not only am I still jobless, but life has become more difficult. I pay more for food stuff these days and the free lunch promised our children has not been fulfilled. I pay more for light but receive more darkness in return. Meanwhile, the recent increment in price of petrol has made my daily routine of searching for job a more expensive schedule because of high cost of transportation.”

Not a few Nigerians would agree with Yakubu’s testimonial on Buhari, which as it were is an expression of disappointment with the President’s performance in the last one year. Viewed against his electioneering promises, President Buhari is at best still revving his engine. He rode into office on the back of perceived failure of President Jonathan’s administration to secure the country, tame corruption and revive the economy. Specifically, he promised to improve power supply, stabilise availability of petrol and provide jobs for the teaming army of unemployed youths.

He said he would pay N5, 000 to the unemployed and give free lunch to school children. He would diversify the economy, revive agriculture and encourage the exploitation of the country’s vast mineral resources.

All these are obviously still in the pipeline. But the indication that it will come to this were there early when the President could not point to any concrete achievement in his first 100th day in office. He told Nigerians that there was nothing sacrosanct about the day, which was a tradition celebrated in the past. Told that his approach to governance was at snail speed, President Buhari apprehended his predecessor as the reason for his non-performance, complaining that the Jonathan administration ran the country aground before he took over on 29 May last year. This recourse to the deficiencies of the Jonathan administration as excuse for the non-performance of President Buhari is obviously spent.

Although President Buhari came into office at a time the economy ran into a stormy weather, the raw data show clearly that the situation was not as bad as the President and his men want Nigerians to believe. The President inherited an economy that was the largest in Africa with a US$ 504billion size and a 6.3% growth rate. The value of the naira was N218 to US$1, while inflation stood at 9%.

The nation’s capacity utilisation was 51.95%, helping to reduce unemployment rate to 8.2%. The volume of FDI was US$4.9billion. The power generation capacity was about 5,000MW with actual generation in the neighbourhood of 4,000MW. Of course petrol pump price was N86.50 and queue had diminished until on the eve of the presidential election when it curiously returned.

In one year of President Buhari, the figures have changed, though in the negative direction. The value of the national currency now hovers around N340 to the US Dollar. Inflation has moved up to 13.7%. Our growth rate has sunk to an alltime low of 2.3% even as capacity utilisation moved down to 50.69%, growing unemployment rate up to 9.9%. Meanwhile,

BOLAJI ADEBIYI

Adebiyi has practiced journalism for 26 years and is presently deputy editor, THISDAY Newspapers. Grounded in political reporting, he is at home with the nuances of governance, having served Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan as Special Assistant on political matters as well as media.

foreign direct investment reduced to US$3.4billion in spite of the President’s several trips abroad.

The administration’s excuse for its abysmal performance in the power sector is insufficient supply of gas to power plants, caused largely by vandals who rupture gas pipelines, carrying gas to the power plants; and the sabotage of transmission lines by economic saboteurs. These, however, have been the usual excuses given by past administrations for the failure of the sector to provide constant power supply. Interestingly, the Buhari administration forgot that its promoters had told the people during the campaign that it was the incompetence of the Jonathan administration that had worsened the matter and that if elected, they would deal decisively with the vandals. One year on, the vandalism has not only persisted, the vandals have also become more audacious, blowing up flow stations at high seas.

Petrol supply has been as intermittent as electricity supply.

More serious is the return of queues, which has lasted for most of the last 10 months. As scarcity persisted, the price of the critical product went through the roof, peaking at as much as N300 per litre, depending on the region of the country. The Buhari administration generated several excuses for the acute shortage and when it ran out of blames for other people except itself, it decided to raise the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre.

Yet in raising petrol price, the Buhari administration offered no new arguments different from those its promoters opposed in 2012 when President Jonathan deregulated the downstream sector of the oil industry. It is doubtful if the labour resistance collapsed because the people appreciated the argument of the government. And the Buhari administration would be playing the ostrich if it read the people’s response as such.

Obviously, the people perceived labour agitation against the price increase as half-hearted. After all they had been buying the product at about N300 per litre for months without a whimper from the labour organisation. In any case, labour had, in the face of states and local governments’ failure to pay salaries for upwards of six to eight months and the increase in electricity tariff, neglected to take any concrete action. The official price increase, though an additional

THE BUHARI PROMOTERS HAD TOLD THE PEOPLE DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT IT WAS THE INCOMPETENCE OF THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAD WORSENED POWER SUPPLY AND THAT IF ELECTED, THEY WOULD DEAL DECISIVELY WITH THE VANDALS. ONE YEAR ON, THE VANDALISM HAS NOT ONLY PERSISTED, THE VANDALS HAVE ALSO BECOME MORE AUDACIOUS

burden, was perhaps a relief to the people who hope that it would improve supply and end the long hours to queue at petrol stations.

Long before the official petrol price increase, however, inflation had pushed prices of essential commodities to the roof top, forcing people to complain that basic food items, including garri, rice, beans, yam, pepper, onions and tomatoes, are now becoming unaffordable, largely because there is no money to spend as the Buhari administration, owing to dwindling revenues has found it difficult to reflate the economy.

Although the massive fall in the price of crude oil is not the fault of President Buhari, he, however, must bear responsibility for his administration’s inability to reengineer and tap other revenue sources to meet the requirements of financing the country. It is generally settled that his refusal to take some policy options to tackle for instance, the chronic shortage of foreign currencies and the value of the naira, has, more than his habitual complaint about corruption, been responsible for the comatose state of the economy.

Added to this is his poor sense of political management that stalled for a long time, the nomination and passage of his ministers, and also prolonged the budget process and passage. The delays in the formation of cabinet and the passage of the budget contributed in no small measure to the stagnation of the economy as there was no concrete economic policy direction that could aid investment decisions by investors and other players in the economy.

Hopes that the signing of the budget by the President earlier in the month, and a promise of speedy implementation, would reactivate the economy, is, however, threatened by the rising threats to security by the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta and the murderous activities of killer herdsmen. While the former is restricted to a part of the South-south region, the later spreads across the nation and could ignite violent national crises.

The escalation of the two has dampened the seeming success point of the Buhari administration: the subduing of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east. In spite of the clear orders of President Buhari to the security forces to deal decisively with these violent crimes, both the herdsmen and the militants have persisted in their nefarious activities with uncommon audacity to the consternation of many Nigerians.

President Buhari’s war on corruption has no doubt generated more attention in the public space. But in concrete terms there is no fundamental change in policy and law.

Relying on the existing structures of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry forward the fight, the administration has put on trial largely opposition politicians and military chiefs for using security votes to prosecute the last presidential campaign. The EFCC has also dug up some old cases and its prosecuting them. But as usual, the cases are dragging in court in spite of the signing into law of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act by President Jonathan. The law, among others, seeks to speed up criminal prosecution by removing the several loopholes that prolong trial of suspects.

In fairness to the President, however, his perception as a man with zero tolerance for corruption has put many on the edge, with at least a minister receiving a query for alleged misconduct and abuse of office. The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had been accused by a security consultant of covering up the stashing away of over N300 Billion of federal government money in some commercial banks in spite of government’s directive that all such monies should be lodged in the TSA at the Central Bank of Nigeria. He has since replied the query. The release of the resolution of this query to the public would definitely increase the moral credit of President Buhari and serve as a clearer warning to all that indeed no one would be spared in this war.

For now, it is safe to say that time is still on the side of the President. After all, his mandate is for four years. Only one year has been done. He therefore has three more years to make the difference and deliver the change promised in 2015.

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

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If Only Buhari Would Listen!

“That it is better that 100 guilty Persons should escape, than that one innocent Person should suffer, is a Maxim that has been long and generally approved.”

– Benjamin Franklin [1706-1790] n 1978, I stood opposed to both my iconoclastic ‘Egbon’, the Great Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and my inimitable NEWBREED Magazine Publisher, Chris Okolie, (plus,possibly, the majority of Nigerians then!) when I wrote against what I termed the “Conviction Via Media” of erstwhile Federal Commissioner of Petroleum, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, whom the Nigerian Press had pilloried so viciously, that it had led the Nigerian public to believe he had embezzled N2.8billion of Oil funds. Nigerians were baying for his blood, and my stance was highly unpopular then.But, I have never regretted my decision to stand against the tide of public opinion in support of a man for whose blood righteously enraged Nigerians had started crying out.

Respected pundits abused me at the time, but I stood my ground.

I did not do so, necessarily, because I believed, at the time, that General Buhari was innocent of the accusation. I did so simply because I just believed, as I still do, in the principle of Justice that holds a man to be innocent until proven guilty, and, knows too well [as Hitler and Goebbels had proven!]how easily the media could be used to negatively mass-influence even the most objective of minds. Which was as well, because, as it turned out, the Commission of Enquiry subsequently set up by the Federal Government to look into the allegations regarding the allegedly missing N2.8billiondid not find the General guilty!

In fact, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, our more recent Minister of Petroleum reminded us in an interview she had with gadfly publisher, Dele Momodu, even more recently, that, “Everyone agrees that Muhammadu Buhari is a man of unquestionable character and impeccable pedigree, yet it was alleged that N2.8billion vanished under his nose. Fela even sang about this humongous disappearance. Till this day no one has been able to prove that the then Major General Buhari stole a kobo.” Yes, it is easier to indict and convict a person through deployment of the Big Lie via Media, than it is to do so employing the tools of the Rule of Law. We must never allow our thirst for suspected villains’ blood to supersede our need to always do the right thing, the right way and the right time, as much as possible.

Can you imagine what General Buhari’s fate and future would have been if he had been subject solely to Trial

by Media, and not been afforded the fullest opportunity to defend himself within the ambit of the Nigerian Legal system, that considered him innocent before commencing to try him and his portfolio as Oil Minister?! Many still refuse to believe the Commission’s findings that exculpated him from wrongdoing, because they never have been able to erase the negative hatchet jobs that the media had done to tarnish his otherwise clean record, then.

Isn’t it therefore surrealistic that I am now having to write to very strongly urge the erstwhile-accused Buhari to get onto Nigeria’s Wall of Greatness, through being recognized as calculatedly and consistently seeking to enthroneRespect for Rule of Law, by ensuring that his Administration obeys court orders, desists from detaining suspects extrajudicially and reigning in the ugly‘trial-by-media’ monster that is currently goring the sensibilities of all right-thinking people worldwide, and being encouraged to so continue to do, by his men?!

Before I get besieged by pro-PMB attack dogs, to whom Mr. President is infallible, let me briefly reiterate, for the umpteenth time, that even though President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was my preferred candidate in the 2015 general elections, I very publicly implored Nigerians to rally round and support President Buhari, right after GEJ conceded the elections to PMB; that I have worked with PMB, in the past, as National Spokesperson of the APC’s premier predecessor, the Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD), which had Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku, Nwodo, Falae, Bafarawa, Galadima, Braithwaite, Utomi et al, as its Leaders and I have NEVER been a card-carrying member of ANY political party. Even

I

TONY I. URANTA

A Civil rights activist and public affairs analyst, Uranta is Secretary of United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS).

at the risk of sounding immodest, I can also say that I have, since General Abacha’s regime, paid my dues as a promoter of the common good in defence of human rights and social justice.

All that having been established, I do sincerely believe, and ceaselessly urge, that it is in the enlightened self-interest of every Nigerian to rally round and help President Buhari’s “Change Agenda” (what’s in a name, anyway…change is synonymous with transformation, is it not?) so as to ensure that Nigeria expeditiously gets out of this rut it currently finds itself in.

However, I must also add the caveat that I sincerely believe that President Buhari may unwittingly be his own greatest antagonist, both by his refusal to let go of some past and the challenge of his men trying to build him up as a “can do no wrong” cult personality, ala, say, Kim Jnr. of North Korea! It is this old-school insistence on running things the way they were in Buhari’s first coming as Head of State, in 1983, in my humble opinion, that could constitute an albatross around the president’s neck…and, I fear that his kitchen cabinet is too awed by his larger than life persona to tell him the truth.

Some of the negatives weighing on this Presidency include the still-inexplicable alleged Shiite massacres; the unchecked impunity of herdsmen (be they Nigerian or foreigners!), perpetrating genocidal actions nationwide; the heavy handed putting down of peaceful demonstrations by putative-separatist groups of the South-East and South-South; the unnecessary over-vilification of Nigeria and Nigerians during his too-many foreign trips; the excessive policy flip-flops, the “opaqueness of his style” (to paraphrase Oby Ezekwesili); the Budget abracadabra; the seeming refusal to take experts’ advice on how to turn the Economy around; the badly-presented pseudo-deregulation/petrol price hike etc., are but a few of the many minuses (to give them a kind nomenclature) PMB has, regrettably, been known for, to date.

One thing is indisputable, however; and, that is that President Buhari’s anti-corruption efforts are winning him points among the general citizenry! If only he could start pursuing this war less selectively, more universally, more comprehensively, more conclusively, more according to the Rule of Law, without the accompanying excessive trial by media (which, I believe, will have its severe backlash in the not-too-distant future), he could improve his ratings as a truly National Leader even more dramatically.

PRESIDENT BUHARI’S TRUMP CARD COULD BE HIM ANNOUNCING THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROCESS OF RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA. THIS WOULD WIN HIM THE HEARTS OF SO VERY MANY SCORES OF MILLIONS OF NIGERIANS, WHO MAY HITHERTO HAVE BEEN LUKEWARM TOWARDS HIM. AND, HE DOES NOT HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL TO EFFECT THAT!

Also, if his perception managers could be more strategic than tactical in developing his messaging, he could avoid a lot of flak…even on a putatively unpopular decision as the petrol price hike, he should have softened the ground by launching the Maryam Uwais-anchored Social Benefits Packages BEFORE the price hike!

If his ‘Spinmeisters’ could succeed in helping him re-invent his image, so we could perceive him not as Iron Man, but as Empathetic National President, they would be doing him (and, the nation) a great favour. Enough of this fawning pandering to his image as the stoic man of steel. And, this is not about age! I posit that both his and OBJ’s putative resistance to new modus operandi is probably more due to their military backgrounds, than to their being gerontocrats…after all, globally-respected President José Mujica of Uruguay was born in 1935 and cannot be said to be averse to change.

President Buhari could even, on his own, rein in his overzealous “Sai Infallible Baba” acolytes by publicly admitting to Nigerians in his May 29, 2016 Democracy Day Address, that he has committed a few costly faux pas…like declaring publicly that certain people will not be granted bail, regardless of what the Courts rule; like ceaselessly presenting Nigerians to the world as being “fantastically corrupt”; by not cautioning overzealous security agencies who have allegedly carried out avoidable extrajudicial killings that are now causing his administration great embarrassment globally etc.

President Buhari could tell Nigerians in his 29th May 2016 address that he intends to do better; that we should bear with him, because the realities he is confronted with now, were beyond his anticipation in all his years of seeking to change Nigeria democratically; that he will henceforth commit to respecting the Rule of Law, to recognising that this is a civil democracy, not a military dictatorship; and that Nigerians deserve to not be fed asinine campaign-style mendacities or unfeasible promises anymore.

His trump card could be, however, him announcing the commencement of the process of Restructuring Nigeria. This would win him the hearts of so very many scores of millions of Nigerians who may hitherto have been lukewarm towards him.

And he does not have to reinvent the wheel to effect that!

All he needs to do is set up a team of experts to study the Report of the 2014 National Conference, which contains the Resolutions that were agreed to by consensus, by the 482 Conference Delegates that virtually represented all strata, demographics and component parts of Nigeria.

This 2014 National Conference, just as the truncated one convened by President Olusegun Obasanjo, clearly was all for a rational restructuring of this system along Federalist lines.

In his book, “Thoughts on Nigerian Constitution”, this is the way the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo put the issue: “From our study of the constitutional evolution of all the countries of the world, two things stand out quite clearly and prominently.

First, in any country where there are divergences of language and of nationality - particularly of language - a unitary constitution is always a source of bitterness and hostility on the part of linguistic or national minority groups. On the other hand, as soon as a federal constitution is introduced in which each linguistic or national group is recognised and accorded regional autonomy, any bitterness and hostility against the constitutional arrangements as such disappear. If the linguistic or national groups concerned are backward, or too weak vis-à-vis the majority group or groups, their bitterness or hostility may be dormant or suppressed. But as soon as they become enlightened and politically conscious, and/or courageous leadership emerges amongst them, the bitterness and hostility come into the open, and remain sustained with all possible venom and rancour….”’

So to President Buhari I say: We all would love to help build a great, united and prosperous Nigeria premised on democratic federalism, social justice and economic equity! We all really prefer to remain One Nigeria. But, not one of us wishes to be a slave in any Nigeria! Just show us that you are a listening President who respects the Rule of Law, and is committed to the holistic Restructuring of Nigeria, and, you will find that all of us will unreservedly begin to chant ‘Sai Baba’!

Viva Nigeria.

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T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition

Of Course, Something Can Go Wrong!

“If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong” – Edward A. Murphy t is exactly one year today that President Muhammadu Buhari came to office. To say that it was a landmark event in Africa where an incumbent President lost election and conceded defeat is to state the obvious. The whole world cheered and celebrated our country for having advanced in the democratic process. On the part of Nigerians, the expectations were very high. And there were genuine reasons for this.

The new President had contested on three previous occasions and failed. It was therefore expected that this President who had been a military Head of State in the 80s must have something to offer Nigerians. Secondly, President Buhari is generally accepted as an honest and incorruptible leader who would fight corruption to a standstill. Again, the campaign promises were quite attractive and people really needed a change from the old order. One year after, however, the pertinent question is: how has the President and his party fared?

Most people believe that the President has done well with fighting corruption, though there remains a loud noise about the fight being one sided as most of the people being investigated are from the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The President’s men had responded by arguing that it is natural that the people who would be investigated were people in government and not those that are just coming into government. The outcry can be likened to someone who was caught stealing, alleging that because someone else also stole and had not been caught, he should be left off the hook!

One other reality that must have dawned on the President is that quite unlike his first coming in 1983, this one is a democratic setting where he must comply with the rule of law. So, for you to successfully put someone in prison, even when he is caught red handed, you must prosecute him and the accused remains innocent until he is proved guilty. Even when that happens, he still has his right of appeal up to the Supreme Court level. Given that we just learnt that it takes over 20 years to conclude a case to the supreme court, your guess should be as good as mine as to how many successful prosecutions that would be concluded by this administration.

On the fight against Boko Haram, most people agree that the government has done well, though there is still a long way to go. Our armed forces have dislodged the terrorists and reclaimed all the territories in the North east where they captured and hoisted their flags. Most of the attacks from Boko Haram are no longer as brazen, but pockets of suicide bombings and hits at soft targets. The enlisting of our neighbors in the Chad basin has engendered regional cooperation in routing out the insurgents. Unfortunately, we have made very little progress with rescuing the over 200 girls of Chibok Secondary School who have been in captivity for over two years.

Many Nigerians are unimpressed with the President’s reaction time. Some have wondered if the President realizes that he has only 48 months out of which one quarter is gone. It took over six months for the President to set up his cabinet. Someone cracked a joke that when the President was taking his time to announce his cabinet, he thought he was trying to import people from China or India, but was disappointed when the announcement was made and they were all people who had been here with us. After one year, boards of parastatals have not been reconstituted throughout the country. Our diplomatic missions have remained without ambassadors and high commissioners. Governing Councils of Federal educational institutions have also not been reconstituted and the necessary oversight has been left in the hands of people who require to be supervised and guided.

An area that had received the greatest attention is the economy. Most people are in agreement that the President should have done a whole lot better with the economy which is almost prostate. Oil prices dropped from around

I

ALEX OTTI

A first class graduate of economics from the University of Port Harcourt, Otti is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Wharton Business School and Stanford Business School. He was a Bank MD until 2014 when he voluntarily retired.

$115 per barrel mid 2014 to less than $30 per barrel early in the year, though it has gradually increased to around $50 per barrel at the moment. Given this ugly scenario, foreign exchange rate came under severe pressure. As Central Bank refused to adjust the exchange rate in line with the President’s position of not devaluing the Naira, the free funds market moved from around N170 per dollar to over N400 per dollar, coming down subsequently to N325 per dollar and going up again to around N350 per dollar after the Minister of State for Petroleum announced price increase for PMS. Meanwhile, given the rapid run down of our foreign reserve, CBN introduced controls and rationing. It has got so bad that a lot of businesses including airlines are complaining very vehemently about their inability to procure foreign exchange from the CBN. Some of them have stockpiled so much Naira in the last couple of months that if something is not done, such businesses may begin to head south. Then, enter the fuel crisis that almost brought the economy down on its knees. We are going to spend sometime looking at the foreign exchange policy and Petroleum policy of the Buhari government. These two interrelated issues are major areas that if the government does not address robustly may affect most other policies of the government and prevent it from delivering on its promises to the people.

On Foreign exchange, we had articulated arguments in the past on how we got here and what we think we should do (refer to “The Foreign Exchange Monster” THISDAY, March 13, 2016, Backpage). We believe that we cannot continue to encourage rationing of foreign exchange in this day and age. Rationing is like import licensing of yesteryears which we all know was riddled with corruption. And it is not about who you put in charge. Even if you succeed in identifying saints to handle the rationing, because it is open to abuse, it will sooner or later be abused. That is the essence of the quote with which I started this piece which is referred to as Murphy’s Quantum law.

Perhaps, a little modification of this law into “everything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong” by Colonel John Stapp elucidates the law further. It simply warns us that if there is a chance that something will go wrong, we should assume that it will go wrong and put adequate mitigants in place. So the question remains, why set up a system that we all know is not only subject to abuse, but is also not transparent?

Given everything we know, we call on the government to start the process of deregulating the foreign exchange market as soon as possible. We must realise that we may get to a point where we will not have any more dollars to sell at a subsidized rate. What do we do if we get there? How do countries that have no oil fund their foreign exchange market?

We are of the strong conviction that deregulation would lead to an initial rise in the rates and stabilize at the real market rate. It will also lead to some shock therapy which will eventually settle. Central Bank may choose to intervene from time to time to regulate the market and move rates in directions that would achieve the monetary policies of the government.Imports of frivolous items will go down, exports will be encouraged, consumption of locally made goods will be encouraged, foreign investment will go up and the government will earn more Naira for every dollar that it sells. Of course, arbitrage and round tripping income which distorts the economy will disappear and corruption will be

arrested at that end.

On Petroleum, the government had recently increased the price of PMS to N145 per litre. This action generated a lot of debate and protest which have eventually subsided.

One initially thought the government was removing subsidy and deregulating the market. However, the fact that the government retained a cap left an impression that the product remains regulated. We had expected that the authorities would have used this opportunity to bite the bullet once and for all.

The danger in government’s action is that sooner or later, there may be a need for further upward adjustment with all the social tension that it generates. This is certain to happen because crude prices and exchange rates are sure to continue to go up and these are major components in the price template used by PPPRA. In fact, the mere fact that the PPPRA is retained suggests that the government has not removed subsidy, even though we are aware that it was not provided for in the 2016 budget. We believe that if we deregulate this market, we will see prices that may be lower than the N145 per litre and the reason is simple. Initially following the deregulation, prices will spike. But as more importers enter the market, and supply improves, prices will slump and normalize at an efficient market rate.

Government had since deregulated the diesel (AGO) market and prices seem to have stabilized at between N125 and N130 per litre for a long while now? The question to ask is why didn’t the prices hit the roof? The answer is simply that given the number of traders selling the product, no one can successfully increase the price to unreasonable levels, otherwise, he would not sell. Competition drives prices down.

So what is different between PMS and AGO? Another area we believe the government needs to take a position on is our four local refineries in PH, Warri and Kaduna. The Minister of State for Petroleum and GMD of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu was quoted to have said that it would cost up to $700million to bring our refineries to full refining capacity. Some people had continued to argue that the refineries are too old and should be scrapped and sold.

I find this argument preposterous. Port Harcourt Refinery 1 was built in 1965, Warri, 1978, Kaduna 1980 and Port Harcourt 2, 1989.

Now compare these to the six operating refineries in Britain. Fawley, (owned by Exxon Mobil) started operations in 1921, Grangemouth (owned by PetroChina and Ineos) 1924,Pembroke (owned by Valero) 1964, Stanlow, (owned by Essar Oil) 1964, Lindsey, (owned by Total) 1968 and Humber, (owned by Phillips)1969. I have deliberately highlighted the ownership of the refineries to make the point that we seem not to have planned very well in the past, otherwise we would have got our major exploration and production companies to invest in refining crude in country.

The refining business is not necessarily attractive on a stand-alone basis because it is a thin margin business. Most times, major companies are made to offer it as a value added service. Be that as it may, we still believe that we should rehabilitate our refineries and thereafter decide whether we have capacity to run it as a public enterprise or want to sell it to the private sector. It is only when we are able to refine locally that we will be able to benefit from the upsides of a low crude oil price regime. This is because locally refined petroleum products are not exposed to the foreign exchange rate as we wouldn’t be importing. We also benefit from cutting out the logistic costs of shipping crude and importing finished products in terms of dual loading, offloading, tariff, freight and all such costs, including demurrage.

It is our contention that the government should deregulate both the foreign exchange market and the PMS market and take away all the subsidies, both overtly and covertly embedded in these products. The government is not only losing revenue that could be channeled to development of infrastructure, but also wittingly or unwittingly encouraging abuse and illicit profiteering by those who were not supposed to be beneficiaries of the subsidies in the first place. The government may choose to subsidize productive activities that would create jobs in the economy.

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition

How the ‘Giant’ Shows the Way

A

s we sat frustrated in traffic on Ahmadu Bello Way in Kaduna after attending an event last August, the Director General of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Ms. Jacqueline Farris, said: “Segun, look at this town very well now. When you come back in two years time, it will wear a totally new look because Nasir (el-Rufai) is going to make a difference here.”

If there is one state chief executive that most Nigerians believe will “perform”, to use a common lexicon, it is the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; and while it is still early days, there are positive signs that the man fondly called ‘Giant’ by friends and admirers, is making slow but steady strides in the once-upon-atime headquarters of Northern Nigeria.

While some governors are still in pre-election mode, fighting imaginary enemies one year after they were sworn into office, a few of them have actually started making meaningful contributions by setting their priorities right, despite lean resources. For instance, in Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has allocated 29 percent to education in the 2016 budget while placing greater emphasis on harnessing the potentials in the agricultural sector and solid minerals deposits. The results may take a while to see but they will come.

In Kebbi State, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is pursuing his rice project with missionary zeal. By tapping into the Anchor Borrower Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to develop rice production in the country with Kebbi pioneering the model, Bagudu is already positioning the state to reap bountiful harvest from the agricultural sector that is Nigeria’s way to the future. And in Lagos State, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has also been at work, putting greater emphasis on security, urban renewal and rural development. He is also tapping into agriculture in a way that positions Lagos to literally reap much from where it has not sown!

In Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has demonstrated maturity and leadership in the manner in which he handled the provocative killings by some invading herdsmen while in Borno State, Governor Kashim Shetiima is gradually picking the pieces of years of damage done by Boko Haram. But the challenges ahead for him and the other governors are quite enormous.

While most Nigerians would blame the president for all the woes in the country, what is often forgotten is that Nigeria will not develop until there is also meaningful progress in the 36 states. That is why it is important that we focus at that level of governance, especially on a day such as this. For sure, there are many governors also making impacts in the lives of their people and they deserve all the encouragement they can get but I want to zero in on Kaduna where el-Rufai started with a clear determination to change the focus of governance at that level from the lazy fixation with erecting boreholes and repainting schools and hospitals.

Determined to effect long-lasting impact in Kaduna, el-Rufai began by reducing the ministries from 19 to 13 and even though the previous government had 24 commissioners he decided to have no more than 13 with their specific portfolios attached to the nominations he sent to the House of Assembly. To tackle the menace of fraud in the system, el-Rufai introduced a verification process not only for workers but also pensioners and with that, the monthly wage bill reduced by half a billion Naira from N2.7bn to N2.2bn. Rather than cancel the contracts he met on ground, el-Rufai renegotiated them. He also subscribed to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) by closing the multiple accounts operated by MDAs in the state and transferred all balances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)--a bold move against leakages. He has prohibited cash receipts by government agencies and crushed the fertilizer racket.

However, if there is any area where el-Rufai’s intervention has become most visible, it is in access to basic education where there has been a big expansion. He introduced free education for the first nine years of schooling while abolishing the collection of fees and levies in public primary and junior secondary schools. He also prohibited the sale of forms to students seeking admission to public schools so that it would not be an impediment or excuse against enrollment.

OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

Former editor of THISDAY and current chair of editorial board, Adeniyi was spokesman to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Not one to throw money at problems, el-Rufai has obviously taken time to think through his policies and there is no better demonstration of that than a recent interaction over the education sector in Kaduna State. “On the school feeding the system, the budget per meal is N50 or N250 per pupil per school week. The pupils are served proper meals on Mondays through to Thursdays while they get a snack of biscuits with yoghurt, milk or fruit juice on Fridays. Since announcing our free basic education programme, we have seen primary school enrollment jump by 64 percent and secondary school by 60 percent. We now have to deal with challenges of congested classrooms and the legacy of about 700,000 pupils sitting on bare floors to learn, compounded by about 40 percent unqualified teachers at the same time” said el-Rufai.

To underscore the gravity of what el-Rufai inherited, it is important to recall that in 2012, the then Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Usman Mohammed, revealed that about 1,300 teachers in Kaduna State failed a test meant for primary four pupils. According to Mohammed, a total of 1,599 teachers selected from across the state were given primary four tests in Mathematics and Basic literacy. Just one teacher scored 75 percent, 250 scored between 50 and 74 percent while 1,300 failed outright--scoring less than 25 percent. Of course, the pupils also failed when the same test was administered on them.

The Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Education at the period, Hon. Yunusa Mohammad, estimated that, out of the 36,000 teachers in the state, 15,000 were unqualified.

Against the backdrop of lean resources to tackle such challenges, the governor said he resolved from the beginning to deal with the issues sequentially and concurrently as necessary.

Despite motivating the teachers in the state by removing the glass ceiling (they can now rise to Grade Level 17 without having to stop being teachers), el-Rufai admits that the quality of teaching is a problem that would take all the three tiers of government to address over a period of time. “Our national policy on education, at best, is a flip-flop! We are even yet to determine if teaching is a profession, despite all the noise that the National Certificate in Education (NCE) is the minimum teaching qualification.”

To el-Rufai, the problem is both national and systemic.

“The NCE curriculum I once read addressed, perhaps, at most the junior secondary (form one to three) school teaching methodology It addressed child psychology, principles of teaching methods as regards to children and the accepted Montessorian methodology only superficially. The need for returning to the old Teacher Training Colleges as well as, for rapid result, pivotal teacher training (which gives a secondary school leaver a 2-year teacher training and then deployed to primary schools) necessarily urgently and imperative” he said.

On how he plans to address the issue, this was the way el-Rufai explained it: “We are first getting the classrooms to have windows, doors and roofs and the schools to have water and toilets. We have 300,000 items of furniture awaiting installation once the classrooms are secure enough to have them. We are working with NOUN (National Open University of Nigeria) and have approached NTI (National Teachers Institute) and ABU (Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) to train our teachers. We will begin the construction of Multi-storey classrooms next year to reduce congestion. In the meantime, we may have to introduce morning and afternoon classes in primary schools to deal with the explosion in enrollment.”

However, it is not only in conceiving the idea that el-Rufai has scored big but in the implementation. “We felt strongly that improved nutrition is key to the long return success of the

education programme of the state. We chose not to pilot but do a Big Bang implementation while correcting any lapses as we move. We are monitoring it closely and taking corrective measures. Every commissioner, Adviser and Assistant is required to make unscheduled school visits at KAEDCO once a week at 10am to taste the food and report back”, he said.

For a man who, as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was not seen as people-friendly, it is interesting that el-Rufai tailors his policies in such a manner as to generate employment.

“We started the school feeding programme by recruiting the food sellers around the schools before reaching out to other areas for enrollment. We got some 17,000 women organized into cooperative societies for the purpose. They went through training in hygiene and cooking standards weeks before the Programme. On the whole, we think the first week went well in most of our over 4,265 public primary schools. The challenge is to sustain it in the light of our attitude to public services, dwindling resources and likelihood of disruption to supply chains. Our budget for this in 2016 is about N16 billion. We think it is money to be well spent.”

Leveraging on his personal reach and network built and sustained over the years both at home and abroad to help his efforts in Kaduna, el-Rufai is also collaborating with development partners, multinational companies and local investors for some of his programmes. For instance, General Electric is supplying equipment for 255 Primary Health Centres, one in each of the state’s 255 wards while he is also in partnership with UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Dangote Foundation to support health care delivery in Kaduna State.

What makes most of the programmes by el-Rufai attractive is that they are also tied to job creation. I gathered last week that the procurement process for the seedlings for the Tree Planting Campaign has commenced with the programme targeted at engaging 25,000 women across the state to plant and nurture 1.5 million economic trees. The governor is also tapping into the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme for crops of comparative advantage: rice, maize, soyabean, wheat, sorghum and ginger while N20 billion will be provided for 40,000 farmers to harness 50,000 hectares. He is already in collaboration with World Bank on Fadama 3 with the target being increased tomato yields.

In partnership with the private sector, the groundbreaking for largest poultry in sub-Saharan Africa has been done with Olam Poultry; Dangote Industries has also agreed to do out-growers scheme for tomato and build tomato paste factory while Flour Mills of Nigeria is investing in production of maize, wheat and soyabean just as Reliance Industries is about to start a 10,000 hectare rice farm.

Under el-Rufai, the Kaduna State Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) is training 5000 entrepreneurs in business skills with the aim being to assist them to develop business plans that can be funded by the Bank of Industry. The first batch of 300 KADSTEP trainees graduated on 17 May 2016. There is also the Kaduna Artisan Training Academy (KADAT) approved to train artisans with skills in construction industry trades.

Interestingly, why all the foregoing would be enough to task any man, the governor would not be el-Rufai if he still cannot create time to dabble into needless controversies with some critical stakeholders, including religious leaders.

But notwithstanding, in terms of trying out new ideas and demonstrating enhanced problem-solving abilities for greater productivity, there is no doubt that with el-Rufai in the saddle, Kaduna is on the right path. With that, he is also showing the way to some of his colleagues that their job is not about awarding contracts, it is essentially about identifying problems and looking for cost-effective solutions.

The bottom-line is simple. For Nigeria to develop and thrive, it will take more than good leadership at the federal level, we also need thinking governors who know what they are doing and would bring to bear their intellect, time and energy for the greater good of their people. The ultimate lesson, however, is that now that the “Niger Delta Avengers” have shown enough capacity to practically cripple the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, state governors who base all their calculations on revenues accruable from that sector are already candidates for failure.

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T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition ONE YEAR IN THE SADDLE

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo taking the Oath of Office. With him are his wife, Dolapo, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed

President Buhari at his inauguration on May 29 last year

President Buhari (right) at a meeting with the National Peace Committee

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President Buhari, former President Jonathan and Chief Emeka Anyaoku at the inaugural dinner for Buhari

President Buhari at an event in Abuja to mark one year without any recorded case of polio in Nigeria

L-R: Vice President Osinbajo, President Buhari and General Theophilous Danjuma at the State House Buhari receiving former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the State House, Abuja

President Buhari with the wife of late Gen. Murtala Muhammed, Ajoke, during the 40th anniversary of Muhammed’s assassination

President Buhari declaring the International Islamic Conference open. With him are Senate President Bukola Saraki (right), Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II (2nd right), Zamfara Governor, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari (middle)

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition ONE YEAR IN THE SADDLE

President Buhari (middle) and Vice President Osinbajo with the service chiefs and their spouses shortly after they were decorated with their new ranks

President Buhari (right) and Vice President Osinbajo (3rd right) at a meeting with a delegation of Maersk Group led by former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan (middle)

President Buhari (middle) in a handshake with the MD, Exxonmobil Nigeria, Mr. Nolan O’Neal, shortly after he was presented with a working document on Exxonmobil, while Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, looks on

Buhari being captured for the Integrated Personal and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja

President Buhari (middle), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, at a meeting to resolve the crisis over the emergence of the National Assembly leadership Buhari (middle) with APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja

The President (left) cracking jokes with some of his aides

Buhari receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters from the Kaduna State University

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T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition ONE YEAR IN THE SADDLE

President Buhari surrounded by state officials while signing the 2016 appropriation bill into law

President Buhari (3rd right) and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (2nd right), receiving leaders of unions in the oil sector

President Buhari (right), Vice President Osinbajo (middle) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during Tinubu’s colloquium in Abuja

President Buhari (left) with Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama (middle), Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze and John Cardinal Onaiyekan (right), at the State House

President Buhari (left), Vice President Osinbajo (right) and Minister of Budget, Udo Udoma, looking at details of the 2016 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly

President Buhari (right) receiving the Council of Retired Permanent Secretaries in Abuja… recently

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 • T H I S D AY T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

one year of president muhammadu buhari

special edition MEETING THE MEDIA

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) in a group photograph with members of the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria

L-R: President Buhari, NPAN Past President and Life Patron, Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, and NPAN President and Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, at the meeting in Abuja

R-L: General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspaper, Gbenga Adefaye; newly appointed Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Bayo Onanuga, and Managing Director, The Nation Newspaper, Victor Ifijeh

R-L: President Buhari (right) in a handshake with Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Sam Amuka. In the middle is NPAN President, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, while Publisher, The Source, Ms. Comfort Obi, and newly appointed Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bayo Onanuga, look with interest.

L-R: Chairman, New Telegraph, Alhaji Idi Farouk; Publisher of Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike; Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, the Sun Newspaper, Eric Osagie, at the meeting

President Buhari arriving for the meeting

R-L: Publisher of The Diplomat, Oma Djebah; Executive Director, The Guardian, Mr. Toke Ibru; Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief, Independent Newspapers Limited, Mr. Ted Iwere, and Managing Director, New Telegraph Newspaper, Mrs. Funke Egbemode (left)

SEE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PRESIDENT IN STYLE

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special edition

THE BUHARI

INTERVIEW

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Buhari

PHOTOGRAPHS: GODWIN OMOIGUI

Buhari: Prospect of Going into Recession is Frightening President Muhammadu Buhari fought the election on a platform of anti-corruption, economic recovery, and security. One year after his swearing in, today, opinion on the street is divided on whether Buhari has delivered on his promises. Considering the impact of government’s policies on the populace, many believe his performance in the last one year has failed to meet expectations. But there is also recognition that one year may be too short to make appreciable impact. For a citizenry that groaned under the weight of poverty, unemployment, infrastructural decay, and corruption by public officers, the general expectation was that the president would hit the ground running. In this interview with some journalists in Abuja last week as part of activities to mark his one year in office, Buhari speaks on the challenges that have affected his administration, but says he is confident of national recovery under his watch. Excerpts: Looking at the last one year, how would you access what has happened in terms of your expectations when you took office, the challenges you met and the progress made or lack of it? am sure you will recall that during our campaign, we identified three problems for our country.

First, was security –the situation especially in the northeast then. Second was the economy – unemployment - and third was corruption. I am sure you can recall that these were what we identified. In the northeast, when we came in,

I

Boko Haram occupied 14 local governments and they had hoisted their flags and called the areas their Caliphate.

But I can assure you that Boko Haram is not holding any local government presently, but they have progressed to using IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and by taking on softer targets – people in mosques, churches, market places, motor parks, killing them in tens, twenties and fifties; that you all know about, and killing school children. So I think we have made substantial progress in that area. If you know anybody living in Maiduguri or Yobe, he or she will tell that people are going back to

their homes, those who moved to Kano, Kaduna or even here in Abuja are now moving back and they are trying to continue with their lives.

On the economy, again we were unlucky. We are now a mono-economy and everybody is dependent on oil revenue. The oil price collapsed and we were exposed.

From 1999 to 2014, the average price of Nigerian crude that was sold was $100 per barrel, but when we came in, it plummeted to about $30 per barrel and now it is between $40 and $50 per barrel. At some stage, I got the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to give me a

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special edition Jonathan’s Ministers Frustrated Smooth Take-off of My Administration list of the things we had been spending our foreign exchange on and it showed food items such as tomato puree, grains, rice, wheat and even toothpicks. I didn’t believe it and I still don’t believe it because if he said we were building so many factories, buying essential raw materials and spare parts, machinery, I would have believed it. But to show me that what we were consuming majorly were just food items! I believe that Nigerians from the eastern part of this country, from the west and north, about 60 per cent of them eat what they produce because they cannot afford to buy foreign food. So what was happening was that people who had plenty of naira, they just filled Buhari the papers that they were importing food, were given foreign exchange and they go and invest the money outside in whatever form.

My belief was strengthened when we got into trouble about the import of petroleum products. We conducted a survey and we found out that one-third of what Nigerian marketers claimed to be bringing in, they were not bringing it in. They were just signing the papers and taking the money out. So people were doing the same thing with food products. But I think subsequently when we get to court with some people, you will hear more about it.

The third one was on corruption, I would speak about that in two days’ time (today) and also on subsequent attempts to prosecute where we have found evidence; about where the monies have gone and the different banks either here or outside the country, we would let you know.

Nigeria is said to be difficult to govern. Did you find it to be so?

There are a lot of problems in the country. You have insurgency in the North-East. But how did Boko Haram start? If you could recall, it was like a group of political thugs, and along the line a young charismatic leader called Mohammed Yusuf emerged. That young man assumed that reputation in the North East because of the way he preached. One afternoon the group wanted to go and bury one of their own. Most of them were on motorcycles; some wore helmets and some did not. Then, there were the military patrol vehicles. The normal thing was for them to wear helmets, but the group had a way of wearing their headgears, which made it difficult to wear helmets. Instead of arresting them and taking them to court to pay a fine of some N250, the patrol team just shot six of them. Hell was let loose. The situation went out of control for the police, and the military took over. Mohammed Yusuf went into hiding; the military looked for him, arrested and handed him over to the police, and he was murdered.

That’s why we now have Boko Haram. I know all these because I was once a governor of North-East state and I follow the political developments there closely. For unemployment, things became clearer and compounded when we became a mono economy. We abandoned agriculture, left solid minerals, and everybody rushed to the town to get oil money. Now, we’ve found out that that oil money is not available. Then, corruption is what we are going through now. How can you take $2.1 billion meant to fight insurgency and share among yourselves, and think that nothing should happen? Not to talk of when political money was being raised for elections and the Central Bank, NNPC, Customs were where the funds were collected from. We’ve made some progress in recovering this money, which I promised I will

tell the nation in the next two or three days, just to show Nigerians that we haven’t given up and have no intention of giving up. We’re giving the people the opportunity of fair trial. They take the money and pay into some persons’ accounts, and there are signatures of some persons who admit that they had taken the money. Somebody comes and calls another, saying: ‘you’re a member of this party?’

The other person responds by saying: ‘yes’. Then, he’s told: ‘take a N100 million to go and keep,’ and the other person doesn’t ask any questions. You take a N100 million and disappear, and subsequently you complain that you have received money for doing nothing?

The biggest shock was when oil price went down to less than $40 per barrel. I asked the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to go and bring to me what we had been doing with the foreign exchange we had earned. He came back, and we discovered it’s all food items. Grains, tomatoes, rice… That was unbelievable!

All those billions of dollars went into the purchase of food! I believe 60 per cent of Nigerians eat garri, yam, grains that they grow. So what was happening was this: those who had a lot of naira on their hands changed it into dollars and kept. I had this experience in the 1980s when we were told that Nigeria consumed more sugar than all Africa in the south of the Sahara, except South Africa. Even now, when we conducted an investigation into marketers who claimed to import fuel into Nigeria, we discovered that one-third of what they claimed was not true. Some people were just taking the money out.

Thirty years down the line, we still discover that the Nigerian elite do not care about the country.

We know that your party did not support the idea of a National Conference when it was held, but one year after, it is like the clamour is rising again given some of the challenges such as security and the economy, and people say all these issues were addressed by the National Conference report. Would you have a rethink by going back to see what is good in that report?

No, I don’t want to tell different stories. I advised against the issue of National Conference. You would recall that ASUU was on strike then for almost nine months.

The teachers in the tertiary institutions were on strike for more than a year, yet that government had about N9 billion to organise that meeting (National Conference) and some (members) were complaining that they hadn’t even been paid. I never liked the priority of that government on that particular issue, because it meant that the discussions on what the National Assembly ought to do was more important than keeping our children in schools.

That is why I haven’t even bothered to read it or asked for a briefing on it and I want it to go into the so-called archives.

The progress that has been made in the fight against Boko Haram is widely acknowledged not only in Nigeria but outside the country. But as we have made progress with Boko Haram, other serious security challenges have arisen. You have the issue of the herdsmen and the killings; you have the Niger Delta Avengers; the Biafra agitation; and incessant kidnapping. Can Nigeria’s security infrastructure deal with these multiple fronts that are opening up?

To speak in the order the question was asked, on the herdsmen, note that Gaddafi ruled Libya for 43 years.

During his 43 years, Libya was a small country in terms of population, but very big in terms of resources.

They have oil reserves, light crude like Nigeria’s crude. But he was quite generous to some of the countries in the Sahel. He took their young men and trained them. But unfortunately, he didn’t train them to become electricians or plumbers, bricklayers or mechanics. They were trained to shoot and kill. When that administration was removed, of course those who removed his administration knew that he stabilised his country by using these people from the Sahel. So they pursued them and they went back home. You know what happened in Burkina Faso, Mali, and a few of them we believe are around the northeast. I am sure you know that here in Nigeria, our border with our northern neighbour, Niger, is at least 1,500km-long. It is an open country and you cannot stop donkeys from crossing, you cannot stop camels neither can you stop people from crossing the borders. Only God can effectively guide these borders. So some of them found their way here. Even on the recent herdsmen (killings), I asked one of the governors if the herdsmen were fighting perennially with the farmers and he said there was a difference. Which means that these people were either hired to come and fight and worsen the ethnic relationship in Nigeria or they have no profession other than fighting for a fee. But these are just reports that still have to be confirmed later. So that is what I can answer about the herdsmen and I think the law enforcement agencies are working very hard to identify them.

Now about the militants in the South-south: when we came in, I got one of the senior officers (in the army), a major general, and asked him to revisit the agreement the late (President Umaru) Yar’Adua signed with them. I said he should get a copy of the gazette so that we can see the agreement to know what stage we were in. I haven’t received a comprehensive report on that yet, but I believe the officer is working hard. I saw him responding to some of your colleagues (journalists) a couple of days ago in the papers. Meanwhile, I have told the military and law enforcement agencies that the promise this government took was that this country has to be secured before it can be effectively managed. So we can’t wait for that report before the military re-organises itself and secures the Niger Delta area. So I think very soon they would do some serious operations there.

But for Biafra, those looking for Biafra have a tough job.

A lot of them that have participated in the demonstrations (recently) were not born and didn’t know what people like us went through (fighting Biafra) by walking from the northern border to initially Abakiliki, then came back and started from Awka to Abagana and to Onitsha, and we lost our friends, our relatives and about two million Nigerians were killed. They thought it was a joke. So I think they have a problem.

Kidnapping is a very serious thing because like the operations of the militants where they are destroying installations (in the Niger Delta). I was going round the world telling people that we are going to secure Nigeria and by our performance in the northeast, they believe us and people are prepared to come and invest in Nigeria.

But nobody would invest in an insecure environment.

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special edition Very Soon Military’ll do Serious Operations in Niger Delta Those who had been in Nigeria for so many years can conduct feasibility studies. But why do they put money paying militants or paying for corruption? This means with all the goodwill we are winning, we may not be able to benefit in the long run because of the kidnapping and the actions of the militants. So it is a top priority for this government to address. Once we settle down to make sure that we deal with militants, we will deal with kidnappers also.

There have been so many pronouncements by your government that once the budget is passed and assented by you, that we would see progress in the economy. But even the budget assumptions today are threatened, that is from where you expect to get your revenue to implement your projects and even the N500 million needed for the palliatives. For instance, oil production has dropped to almost half due to militancy; even revenue coming from taxes is declining. How are you going to assure Nigerians that this budget which the government is hinging its programmes on is going to be implemented in such a way that it trickles down to the masses?

That is a major challenge for us. It is not going to be easy to complement the revenue as we promised in the budget. I think I mentioned initially that the market plummeted from an average of $100 per barrel for crude oil from 1999 to 2014, and suddenly went down to $30 per barrel and now it is between $40 and $50 per barrel. I was constrained to approach the Governor of the Central Bank to find out how we spend our foreign exchange.

When he went and checked the records, he found out mostly food bills such as wheat, rice, flour, bread and toothpicks – Nigerians are so sophisticated that they use only Chinese toothpicks. I was shocked, I didn’t believe it and I still don’t believe it because I think if we can sit down, reflect and try to be fair to Nigerians, people from the east, west and north, 60 per cent of them eat what they grow; be it either garri, yam or grains. I know they also spend money on cooking oil. So who is taking all the billions of dollars in terms of foreign food (imports)?

What is happening is that people are just buying dollars and taking the money outside the country. My belief was strengthened when the price of oil fell and the marketers were insisting that they want foreign exchange to import fuel. We tried to conduct a survey and we found out that one-third of what they were claiming was fraudulent.

They just stamped papers and claimed the money.

Still on the economy, the new song is diversification. But using the 2016 budget as a guide, it is surprising that agriculture which is the new hope of this country has just N75 billion, both recurrent and capital expenditure, allocated to it in the budget; solid minerals is even less. If agriculture is going to be the saviour of tomorrow, are you convinced that with that budgetary allocation, we shall get it right?

Well, you are absolutely right. You are forcing me to go back to the issue of budget which was difficult to overcome. I am sure you noted (the issue of) padding?

I didn’t know of it until recently, although I started being in government since 1975. The Minister of Budget and Planning had my attention during the budget sessions because I tried to follow up on what he was doing – taking presentations from each ministry. Having done that, he wrote a comprehensive memo to the Council of Ministers, which I presided over and some corrections were made by the ministers. So we thought it was completed and I was ready to go and bow and deliver it to the National Assembly as the constitution has directed. But what I did not know was that the real thing had been removed and that they put their own. I have to repeat this because I told it to your colleagues earlier on: for instance, the Minister of Health was sitting before a committee (at his budget defence). I wasn’t even sure of the committee and they were very excited and happy with what they were doing. They then asked the minister to defend his budget. So they handed over to him his supposed budget and he looked at it and said, ‘I can’t defend what I didn’t present. This was not what I presented.’ Instantly I was alerted. Also a number of the ministers that were asked to defend their budget, it was not what they presented that they were asked to defend.

So what happened is that some group somewhere at the National Assembly had done their own budgeting and they called it padding.

Meanwhile, I became governor of the North-east made up of six states in August 1975, later I went on

Buhari to become the Petroleum Minister and then Head of State, and I never heard of padding until now. So I said whoever is linked to the padding has no room in this administration…… This was because the government decided that we should have at least 30 per cent allocated to capital projects. We can’t help our country and our state of development year after year with more than 90 per cent on overheads and no capital projects. So we decided to have at least 30 per cent on capital expenditure. So on that observation you have, don’t worry; even the central bank alone has assisted by giving more than N200 billion to agriculture.

Are we really close to an economic recession and in what ways can all your foreign trips and the foreign investments you are anticipating mitigate this looming recession and what would you do with the loot recovered?

With what happened to us so far and what I mentioned to you, I wouldn’t doubt a recession. I have just told you that from 1999 to 2014, Nigeria’s crude was selling on the average of $100 per barrel. These are facts you can cross check. The average production was about two million barrels per day. If you take about half a million for consumption at home, about 445,000 per day, which was what was officially budgeted for local refineries, only to be complemented by marketers. But suddenly when the oil price plummeted, we looked left, right and centre, and no arrangement was made to support the economy if such a thing happened. That was why when I called to know what we were spending our foreign exchange on and it was on food items. However, low-income

I HAVE TOLD THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT THE PROMISE THIS GOVERNMENT TOOK WAS THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TO BE SECURED BEFORE IT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY MANAGED. SO WE CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT REPORT BEFORE THE MILITARY RE-ORGANISES ITSELF AND SECURES THE NIGER DELTA AREA. SO I THINK VERY SOON THEY WOULD DO SOME SERIOUS OPERATIONS THERE

earners cannot afford imported food, people that are not working who are the majority, live on what the farmers produce. So really, it is frightening. I agree with you that the prospect of going into recession is frightening and I believe that the leadership of this country should bear the consequence for not meeting up. I blame the elite for not alerting the other government sufficiently for us to realise that if anything happens to oil, we would be in trouble.

What is my solution? It is to advise the Nigerian elite to please for once be patriotic. Let them work very hard to support this country. Not only politicians, but for the leadership at every level to take responsibility to make sure that the economy of this country is resuscitated.

Looking at the anti-corruption fight by the EFCC, the probe of the arms funds has ended up showing that some of the funds were allocated to the PDP campaign. But your critics have accused you of probing the PDP campaign funds while not probing your own campaign funds and that you have people in your government that allegedly used state resources to sponsor your campaign. How will you explain this?

I don’t know whether I have some official protection. If I don’t have it, why haven’t you started the investigation?

(Cuts in) Because the constitution gives you immunity?

I see, very good. But then, it doesn’t extend to all the executives and party leaders and the party leaders are there. If anybody has received $100 million to give to the party, I think he should be asked to tell us where he got the $100 million. I know those we would eventually successfully prosecute, they wouldn’t leave it, neither will (they) let their friends leave it. We do not believe if we were so reckless we would get away with it. I don’t believe it. Do you remember the three and half years when I was in charge of the petroleum ministry, have you forgotten the $2.8 billion (issue)? If you have forgotten, I haven’t. Have you forgotten the PTF (Petroleum Trust Fund)? In the PTF, at one stage we had more than N53 billion at a time, we planned and spent it. It was investigated subsequently. So I assure you that I feel perfectly safe. But nobody is perfect, only God is perfect.

But let me tell you, from being governor of the six states (the old North Eastern State) which was only for seven months, to the petroleum ministry, to Head of State, and to PTF, I tried not to expose myself, and I hope God will continue to help me.

Considering the hike in the price of fuel and the devaluation of the Nigeria, which have led to hardship, what would you tell Nigerians to give them the hope that things will be better?

In 1984, we were advised to devalue the naira and withdraw subsidy, whatever their perception of subsidy was in Nigeria. We even had subsidy on flour. The IMF and World Bank talked about subsidy removal. My argument has been that those who devalue their currencies have

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special edition Claims About Importation of Consumables are Largely Made Up to Aid Money Laundering HOW CAN YOU TAKE $2.1 BILLION MEANT TO FIGHT INSURGENCY AND SHARE AMONG YOURSELVES, AND THINK THAT NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN? NOT TO TALK OF WHEN POLITICAL MONEY IS BEING RAISED FOR ELECTIONS AND THE CENTRAL BANK, NNPC, CUSTOMS ARE WHERE THE FUNDS ARE COLLECTED FROM. WE’VE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN RECOVERING THIS MONEY, WHICH I PROMISED I WILL TELL THE NATION IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS, JUST TO SHOW NIGERIANS THAT WE HAVEN’T GIVEN UP AND HAVE NO INTENTION OF GIVING UP. WE’RE GIVING THE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY OF FAIR TRIAL Buhari developed economies, where there is local production and they export the excess. They have good infrastructure. So they devalue their currencies to sell their products outside their shores, and employ their people. We claim to import food, but this is a lie. People just take the money out of the country. How many factories have we built? So I refused to devalue the Naira. They talk about petroleum subsidy.

I say what do they mean by subsidy? They say Nigeria’s petroleum is so cheap that it encourages smuggling into our neighbouring countries: Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria.

But I know the four refineries we built could produce 450,000 barrels, we have 20 depots … we didn’t borrow a kobo. So even if we put something on top and pay the cost of refining and transport to filling stations and small overhead, we’ll still be selling at a good price. But they say there’s a lot of smuggling. I said these countries where they claim petrol is being smuggled to can’t consume more than what one city in Nigeria consumes. I was asked how I knew, and I said, for three and a half years I was Commissioner for Petroleum under Obasanjo. At the time I was removed naira exchanged for three dollars. Now you need N350 to get a dollar! I challenged Nigerian economists to tell me what benefits Nigeria has earned from the devaluation so far. How many factories have we built by killing the naira? I have to reluctantly give up because the so-called Nigerian economists come and talk things to me, and when I raise issues they talk over my head instead of inside my head. For us to lose over N300 (every year we’re losing the value of the currency by N100), what for? Let them tell me how many factories they’ve built. I find myself in a very difficult state because the economists cannot tell me why we should continue to devalue our Naira. People say import, and we find out that we are just importing food! We’re now planning to stop importation of rice, wheat, maize in three year’s time.

On the value of the naira, I’m still agonizing over it, that the naira should be reduced to such a disgraceful level over the last 30 years. I need to be educated on this. But I’m not ruling this country alone. I’m under pressure and we’ll see how we can accommodate the economists.

What are you thinking about privatization of refineries?

I believe in privatization, but I believe before you do it you have to look at your state of development as a nation.

The first refinery in Port Harcourt was built to refine 60,000 barrels per day. It was upgraded to refine 100,000 barrels per day. Another one was in Port Harcourt to refine 150,000 barrels per day. So Port Harcourt alone has the capacity to refine 250,000 per day of Nigerian crude.

So you’re not importing anything. As Commissioner for Petroleum, I signed the contract for Warri to refine 100,000 barrels per day; Kaduna, 100,000 barrels per day.

We laid pipelines up to Maiduguri, Gusau, all over the country… We took tankers off the road, and then some

greedy people in this country took over and now all the refineries are not working. Nigeria has go to cap in hand, like a non-oil producing country and buy fuel and bring into Nigeria. With this background in mind, do you want us to privatize our infrastructure as scrap? So, we’re just starting to get them repaired. We want to make them work so that we don’t sell them as scrap. We can’t spend so much money to put up the refineries, just to sell them as scrap. I think that will be disservice to the country.

Let’s repair them and negotiate with them to sell them at good prices. We don’t want them to dictate how much we sell fuel in this country after we’ve sold the refineries to private investors.

There are many initiatives to rebuild the NorthEast. Why can’t we have one cohesive approach in this regard?

If you could recall, during the week I was sworn in, I was invited to G7 meeting in Germany. I was impressed, but I was surprised that I was the first item on the agenda. I was told to brief them on the security situation in Nigeria and in the North-East. I spoke, and all of them promised to help Nigeria. When I returned I told the governors of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to make a survey of the entire infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram: schools, local government headquarters, health centres and broken bridges. They did and put costs to them. I sent it to the headquarters of G7. Then I learnt of T.Y Danjuma Committee. He contributed $10 million and Aliko Dangote contributed something substantial. So we reinforced the committee and Danjuma is in charge of it. We persuaded him to stay. We drafted the legal instrument that would give them the legal powers to spend that money. I sent the request to AGF. He sent me a draft and I gave to Danjuma. Instead it went into some hands and what I got when it returned was virtually another government, with many governors and important people involved. So, I feared that all that money would finish on overhead. I returned to the original draft from the Ministry of Justice and see if we can put few people from Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba to handle the rebuilding of the North-East. Each of the governors should send directors or some officials from ministries of works, health, education, governors’ offices, and form committees. So whoever comes to help from Nigeria or outside would work with these people under the control of the Danjuma committee. If anybody wants to help he would be taken to locations and he would decide what to do. If United Nations identifies a project they will go there and do it. We have plenty of retired but not tired people who could manage things like that. It will take another two weeks or more before the committee members will be announced. But I don’t want a big organization that will just consume the resources but not produce anything.

Are you satisfied with the performance of your team and do we expect changes?

I expect to hear from you. But look at what has been happening: after the election, I went to thank Jonathan for what he did – conceding defeat. A former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), told me he had an experience in handover and asked if he should advise me. I said, yes. He said committees in the ministries met and wrote handover notes and Obasanjo set up transition committees to work with each ministries and at the end Obasanjo took whatever he wanted from the reports. I agreed. Jonathan agreed. When I came to sit down, Jonathan’s ministers complained, saying ‘why would Jonathan allow Buhari to take over government before he is sworn in’. They refused to cooperate.

So I took over without knowing what Jonathan’s government contained. After we were sworn in, I began to debrief the Permanent Secretaries, taking two ministries per day, to just try and find out what they had. They had 42 ministers; the economy had collapsed. We reduced 42 ministries to 24 and we had to ask some permanent secretaries to go on several grounds.

After taking over we had a strange encounter on the budget, which was called ‘padding’. I was in government since 1975 in one form or another, but I had never heard of the word, padding, until this time around. I pity the Minister of National Planning. All the ministers made presentations to him, he compiled them and took them to the council of ministers. It was corrected by the council and I was allowed to go and bow and deliver to the National Assembly. I didn’t know I delivered a sham!

Some [civil servants] removed what the ministers put and put what they wanted. How did I know about it? I was sitting, watching the television and I saw the Minister of Health appearing before a committee to defend the budget. They gave him the document and he said there was nothing to defend. ‘How can I defend what I haven’t presented,’ he argued. I was shocked. He was not the only one. Many of the ministers spent months, hardly eating, and some [civil servants] removed what the ministers had put there and put what they wanted. I called the minister of National Planning and said I thank you for your hard work, but I can’t assent to this. I don’t normally sign what I don’t understand. He begged me to sign, but I said because I trust you I will sign, but I will put you in front of me. Wherever there is trouble I will put you in front. Not up to 24 hours, he began to look for me desperately. I said, ‘what is it, Honourable Minister?’

He said, ‘please don’t sign,’ because he sat down to look at it and discovered what damage those terrible Nigerians had done to us. It took about six weeks to correct it before I agreed to sign it.

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CONGRATULATIONS

His Excellency

Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi

Governor, Enugu State We, the members of the Enugu State Caucus at the National Assembly congratulate our Leader and dear Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the occasion of the Democracy Day celebrations.

We are, indeed, proud of your numerous and outstanding achievements which have benefited our people in just one year in office.

We are reassured that with your zeal and well-structured on-going development initiatives, better days lie ahead.

Once again, congratulations.

Signed: His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (CFR) Senator Gil Nnaji Senator Chukwuka Utazi Hon. Pat Asadu Hon. Stella Ngwu Hon. Toby Okechukwu Hon. Kingsley Ebenyi Hon. Chime Oji Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam Hon. Dennis Amadi Hon. Dennis Agbo

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R • MAY 29, 2016

SUNDAYSPORTS

Edited by Demola Ojo Email demola.ojo@thisdaylive.com

Real Madrid Outlast Atletico, Win UEFA Champions League Demola Ojo

R

eal Madrid yesterday confirmed their status as aristocrats of the European game by winning their 11th European Cup/ Champions League, defeating city rivals Atletico Madrid 5-3 on penalties after normal time and extra time finished a goal apiece in Milan.

Portuguese striker, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning penalty after Atletico’s Juanfran hit the post with his team’s fourth spot kick. It was Madrid’s second title in three years after beating the same opponents 4-1 in the 2014 final in Lisbon.

Yesterday’s game started with Real Madrid applying the early pressure by taking advantage of their aerial prowess. Within ten minutes, Atletico keeper Jan Oblak was called upon to save off the line with his left foot. On fifteen minutes, Real drew first blood via a set piece. Toni Kroos floated in a free kick which was nodded on by Gareth Bale before Sergio Ramos scrambled in from close range.

The goal was deserved despite suspicions of offside from Ramos. Replays also cast doubts on who scored the goal with no visible touch from Ramos but Real could care less.

However Atletico got a foothold as the game progressed and by the half hour mark were the more dominant team.Against all expectations,Atletico – who got to the final averaging 30 per cent possession in their previous four matches – bossed possession as Real were content to sit back, soak up pressure and counterattack.

The second half started with Atletico manager Diego Simeone using one of his trump cards by throwing on Belgian winger, Yannick Carrasco, in place of defensive midfielder Augusto Fernandez.

The substitution paid immediate dividends asAtletico started the second half on the front foot and within three minutes, Fernando Torres conned Real’s Pepe

Real Madrid are the new European champions into conceding a penalty.

However, Atletico’s standout player of the season, FrenchmanAntoine Greizmann, thumped the spot kick against the crossbar to the relief of Real fans at the 70,000-capacity San Siro stadium.

Not long after, missed Stefan Savic somehow missing the target from six yards after Diego Godin and Griezmann had kept a corner alive.

Real should have made sure of victory when BenzemawasthwartedbyOblakafterLukaModric

had impressively sent him through on goal.

They came even closer when the otherwise quiet Ronaldo was denied by Oblak twice in quick succession, with Bale’s goal-bound attempt from the rebound cleared off the line by Savic.

Atletico kept pressing on though and with ten minutes left of normal time, Carrasco finished off a smooth Atletico move by converting Juanfran’s cross.

Extra time followed, with Atletico keeping the

ball better but Real looking very threatening on the break. Thirty minutes of extra time couldn’t separate the two teams, so it was down to the lottery of penalties to decide of Real won their eleventh European trophy or Atletico their first.

Real chose to play first and Lucas Vazquez, Marcelo, Bale and Ramos were successful, while Greizmann, Saul NIguez and Gabi all converted forAtletico before Juanfran’s miss handed Ronaldo the chance to win it for Real with the final penalty.

Zidane Magic the Difference for Real Demola Ojo Against all odds, Real Madrid fought back from a mid-seasonmeltdowntoclaimanhistoric11thEuropean crown. The same team that was thrashed 4-0 at home by arch nemesis Barcelona earlier this season, end it as European champions.

Real’s change in fortunes can be traced to the January appointment of club legend and one of the game’s most accomplished players as first team manager, replacing the out-of-sorts Rafa Benitez in the process.

Zinedine Zidane might not have demonstrated tactical innovations to the extent of Pep Guardiola so far in his career, but Florentino Perez’s gamble in trying to promote from within has paid off.

The three-time World Footballer of the Year has now played his part in the last three Real Madrid European Cup victories. There was that volley against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 which proved the game winner.

Two years ago, he was assistant to CarloAncelotti when Real claimed their 10th title and now within six months of his being a first team coach, he has again won it.

Zidane’s short road to success has been made pos-

sible by meshing the ideas of his predecessors, Ancelotti and Benitez.

Benitez was booed and ridiculed for putting Casemiro in the team at the expense of James Rodriguez and Isco as starters. Zidane’s midfield plays in a similar manner to that which Benitez intended with Casemiro giving the team much needed balance.

Zidane has only lost two matches as Madrid manager, at home to Atletico Madrid in La Liga and away to Wolfsburg in the Champions League.

Alate charge in La Liga saw Real cut Barcelona’s eight point lead at the top to a solitary point at the end.All within a few weeks. It all started with 10-man Real coming from behind to beat Barca 2-1 at the Nou Camp.

He has now proven he has the Midas touch as a coach to go with being one of the best players of all time. He is only the seventh person to win the European Cup/Champions League as a player and a coach, the second man (after Miguel Munoz) to win with Madrid and the first French manager to win the Champions League.

Madird players celebrating Zidane

Wembley to Host Tottenham’s Diarra Ordered to pay 10m Euros Champions League Matches Next Season Fine to Lokomotiv Moscow Tottenham have reached a deal to play their Champions League home games at Wembley next season. The Premier League club also has the option to play all home league and cup matches, as well as any European games, at the national stadium during the 2017-18 campaign.

Spurs are having a new £400m stadium built next to their existing White Hart Lane ground. The development is due to be completed in time for the 2018-19 season.

“Our season ticket waiting list is over 50,000 so this now also offers us a great opportunity to provide more of our supporters with a chance to

see the team play live during our Champions League campaign,” said chairman Daniel Levy.

“Importantly, as we know it was our fans’ preference, it means that we can play our home matches in London during our season away.”

Tottenham’s third-place finish in the Premier League qualified them for the group stages of next season’s Champions League, which means they will play at least three home matches in the competition.

Their north-London rivals Arsenal hosted Champions League games at Wembley in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

France midfielder Lassana Diarra has been ordered to pay a fine of 10m euros (£7.6m) to his former club Lokomotiv Moscow.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the 31-year-old had breached his contract when leaving the Russian club in 2014.

Diarra, now with Marseille, left Lokomotiv after having his salary cut. “I will accept the situation as I have always done,” said the former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth player.

Diarra, who won the FA Cup in 2007 with

Chelsea and then with Portsmouth a year later, was named in France’s final 23-man squad for Euro 2016 yesterday.

Having left Lokomotiv after a year with the club, Diarra was banned for 15 months before signing for Marseille in the summer of 2015. “It boils down to a 15 month-match suspension (already served), a 15-month-salary suspension (already served), 110,000 euros for the benefit of CAS and a 10 million euro fine,” he added on his Twitter account.

Sunday May 29, 2016

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Price: N400

MISSILE

LCCI to FG

“While the policy goal of eliminating corruption is laudable, the need for concerted effort on the side of the government with respect to policy, legal and regulatory environment in order to boost private sector participation is highly desirable.”

– Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) suggesting way forward to government in its assessment of the nation’s economy in the last one year.

SIMONKOLAWOLE SIMONKOLAWOLELIVE!

simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com, sms: 0805 500 1961

One Year of President Buhari...

A

few days to the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari last year, a lady went to buy fuel at her neighbour’s station. In the commotion of a queue and lengthy frustration, the neighbour allowed her to jump the line based on their personal relationship. A riot almost broke out. One motorist yelled: “All this nonsense will stop on May 29 when Baba is sworn in as president. You people should continue to do whatever you like for now.”

Instinctively, the motorcyclists started chanting: “Sai Baba! Sai Baba! Sai Baba!” The excitement was childlike. Change was hanging in the air like Christmas lights. Expectations went through the skies like a rocket.

Soon enough, after Buhari’s inauguration, fuel queues faded away, power supply became bright and stable, and social media flew into a whirlwind — celebrating the triumph of “body language”. Why did we suddenly start having petrol after what seemed like an end-time Tribulation? “Body language”. Why was PHCN suddenly giving us power almost twenty-four seven? “Body language”. There was breathless enthusiasm. Suddenly, Nigeria began to look like a proper country, not an asylum. For once, many sceptics began to see hope. They saw a country that could work. Welcome to the Nigeria of our dream. Praise the Lord.

May 2016. One year after. And what is left, for many Nigerians, is a huge carcass of the enthusiasm. The fuel queues got much longer at regular intervals, and power supply — supply???

— dimmed more often than not. Suddenly, things were no longer looking bright. It did not take very long for many critics to write Buhari off, with this told-you-so gloating. Even many hawkers of change were getting frustrated: only shame, or pride, or both, did not allow them to openly denounce Buhari, who took half-a-year to name a cabinet full of people we already knew would make the team long before he won the election in March 2015.

But has Buhari failed? Or have we failed him? By expecting too much? Was he overmarketed? He made precisely three promises during his campaign, although his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), made like 10,000 more. One, he said he would fight corruption.

Two, he promised to tackle insecurity. Three, he pledged to create jobs. He would want to be judged by the promises he made when the microphone was in his hands, not the ones made on his behalf by APC in sugar-coated campaign leaflets. This excuse would not sell, of course.

He ran on the party’s platform. Nobody would accept the pretext that APC was a mere coalition to win an election.

How has Buhari fared? One, Buhari promised to fight corruption. One year after, is Nigeria less corrupt? The jury is still out. Many jurists will point at the recovery of cash and property running into billions and billions of naira as evidence of a successful anti-graft war. And the rejuvenation of EFCC. And the wrapping of cold metals round the wrists of Olisa Metuh. And the arrest and trial of politicians and former security chiefs. And the implementation of treasury single account (TSA). And the “body language”. And, most importantly, the message out there that it is no longer business as usual.

All these are bits and pieces to celebrate, if you

Buhari are impressed.

However, Buhari must now go on and expand the scope of the anti-graft campaign. As I have often said, corruption is a mindset. Indiscipline is a mindset. We need reorientation. We need a surgery on the mind. Buhari’s biggest credential is his integrity. So if I were him, I would be thinking: how do I impart this integrity on the psyche of Nigerians? How do I catch the young?

How do I get Nigerians to voluntarily enrol in my integrity academy, to begin doing things the right way with fewer bullets to the head?

What would I do so that long after I have left the stage, integrity and discipline would remain alive in Nigerians? That is the next challenge, more difficult than buying handcuffs.

Two, Buhari promised to tackle insecurity. The seriousness with which he has confronted the insurgency in the north-east is a clear departure from the past when pot-bellied military chiefs were treating us to tragicomedy. There is no doubt whatsoever that the new service chiefs are not only trim and fit, their brains are more useful that those of their predecessors. Our soldiers are proud and eager to fight again, and they are no longer demoralised and endangered.

We are yet to recover the Chibok girls, what a shame, but we have recovered our territories, and hopefully these Boko Haram thugs will never be able to mount a full-scale war against the country again.

But there you go again. As we fumigate the

Going into his second year, therefore, Buhari has another opportunity to renew his covenant with Nigerians, to revamp sagging hopes, to refresh enthusiasm. Change rides on the back of enthusiasm and once the enthusiasm wanes, it gets more difficult to secure the buyin of the people

north-east and get rid of these retarded elements, we’ve dropped the ball in the Niger Delta, and the bad boys are back in town, ripping up pipelines and setting the economy on fire. At the rate they are going, oil export will be closer to zero mbpd than the 2.2mbpd on which 2016 budget is based. It will look like another budget padding. Kidnappers are unrelenting and more demanding. The herders are hounding us. They are now venerated as the new Boko Haram, a slight exaggeration. Alas, security is not just about ending Boko Haram. We quench a fire in the kitchen and another starts in the bedroom.

There is more work to do.

Three, Buhari promised to create jobs. Millions of them. But the unemployment figures are not flattering. We are jogging to a recession. I mean running. Sprinting. We all know Buhari inherited a bad economy: low crude oil prices, foreign reserves that did not reflect the average oil price of $100 in the previous years, uncompleted projects running into trillions of naira, battered financial markets, and an over-milked treasury. However, many would argue that his antidotes so far have turned what looked like ulcer to cancer.

His failure to act immediately and decisively may have inflicted a collateral damage on the economy and complicated the ailment.

All said and done, I think Buhari is making progress on his first two campaign promises, but the third — the economy — is not doing him any favours. I know we won’t finish tackling corruption and insecurity in one year. Things have to be done in stages and phases, and I am more inclined to think things can only get better on those two fronts. On the economy, though, Buhari is evidently on the back foot.

Clearly, the economy is not his forte and he is, unfortunately, allowing ideological hangovers to get in the way. He needs some help and he must get some help. His policy positions in the last one year have not shown any signs of solving any problem.

Going into his second year, therefore, Buhari has another opportunity to renew his covenant with Nigerians, to revamp sagging hopes, to refresh enthusiasm. Change rides on the back of enthusiasm and once the enthusiasm wanes, it gets more difficult to secure the buy-in of the people. Plus, Buhari needs to communicate more to Nigerians and show more empathy. People are not unreasonable when they are spoken to — with respect. Some statements made by his ministers in recent weeks are very disrespectful of Nigerians. We don’t need anybody telling us change is not “instance coffee” or that we want “change in our picket”. Talk to us; don’t talk down on us.

Unlike many Nigerians, though, I am not in the mood to give up on Buhari. All the president needs is a larger heart, a flexible mind, a broader perspective, and Nigeria would be on the path to greatness again. He has demonstrated courage and tenacity. These are fantastic attributes you need in running an asylum. But to get the best out of the system and the people, pragmatism is key. Flexibility is non-negotiable. Pragmatism allows you to be flexible, to assess the facts, to evaluate your position and make the necessary adjustments. Even when a doctor gives you a medication, she wants to be sure it is working.

Else, it needs to be changed. I repeat: pragmatism is not corruption.

And Four Other Things...

TOMATO TROUBLE As if the economic hardship was not enough torture, tomato has added its own sting. It is like shooting the wounded.

A pest called tuta absoluta (the idiot even has a surname) is spreading havoc across northern states, wrecking not just the economies of farmers but also our dining tables. A basket of tomatoes that used to sell for N5000 is now N40,000.

You now get fewer grains of rice or smaller balls of pounded yam, since the food seller cannot react by giving you a teaspoon of stew. Government must act quickly. We can’t afford this food crisis.

Calamity.

OIL AUDIT The audit report on the extractive industries just released by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) revealed too much for our own good. Unremitted revenue, undervaluation of national assets, confusion over who manages the NLNG dividends (federation or federal government?), the problem child called NPDC, and opaque crude oil deals. The list is depressingly endless. And to think the report is only for 2013! NEITI has promised to expedite the reports for 2014 and 2015, and there will now be interim reports. I hope President Buhari, the lawmakers and other key stakeholders will be guided by the recommendations. Reform.

SHARIA SHAKE-UP Americans will say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. To be honest, I’m confused over the utility of the bill before the House of Representatives seeking to scale up the implementation of Sharia. Of all the challenges we are facing I would not rank expansion of Sharia as a matter of urgent national importance. Anything religious is always going to excite passion in Nigeria. Predictably, commotion has ensured in the public sphere and brickbats are flying in different directions. The lawmakers need caution. We have too much in our plate now. One headache at a time is enough. Reason.

THE BIAFRANS We are all Biafrans, according to author, activist and journalist, Chido Onumah.

Or that is the title of the book he is launching on Tuesday in Abuja. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will chair the launch. The collection of essays is not about how to Balkanise Nigeria, but rather Onumah’s takes on the nationbuilding issues over which we’ve been yelling at each other since the 1960s.

Unfortunately, we love to hide our heads in the sand, yet at various junctures virtually every component of Nigeria is raising these issues in different ways and forms.

We are all Biafrans without knowing it.

Irony.

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