Thursday 25th August 2016

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

NEWS

Blasphemy: Yari Explains How Eight People Were Killed in Zamfara Says they were Muslims, culprits will be prosecuted Sultan condemns attack Tobi Soniyi in Abuja Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, has vowed that perpetrators of the violence in Talata Mafara in the state on Monday, resulting in the death of eight persons will be arrested and prosecuted.

Eight persons were set ablaze following an altercation between two students of a polytechnic in Talata Mafara. One of the students was alleged to have committed blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed, resulting in a mob reaction and violence that led to his death and that of seven others when they were burnt alive in a residence.

The governor, who explained the incident to newsmen after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday at the State House, Abuja, said even though no arrest had been made by the police, investigations were ongoing to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime do not go unpunished.

Yari said: “At the time I left Zamfara, no arrest had been made. Immediately

the incident happened, the school authority shut down the institution.

“The police and DSS are carrying out their investigation and soon there will be arrests. The government will not take this lightly, people taking the law into their hands?

“If you say the punishment of those who abused the Prophet should be death, and you now kill innocent people, and by the way there is a government in place; there are laws and there are courts where Islamic laws are practised in Zamfara.

“So why should someone take the law into his hands?

So definitely all the culprits will be brought to book.”

Dispelling the perception that the violence was religious in nature, the governor explained that it was a fallout of a disagreement between two students.

He explained: “I think what happened was unnecessary and it was not supposed to happen. From the intelligence report I got from the security agencies, there was a fight between two students and I think one of them injured the other and started shouting that

they went to the hospital.

However, the boy was rescued by soldiers in the hospital. But I don’t know if the boy is alive or dead now.

“Then the students went back to the polytechnic and burnt the shop of the person who gave his car to rescue the boy and they came back to town again and you know the police in the division, they don’t have enough men to contain riots, so before reinforcement could arrive, the crowd threw tyres on the man’s house and burnt the house down.

“That was how everyone in the house was killed and everyone killed in the house was Muslim and not the rumours going around on the social media that Christians were killed in Zamfara.

“In fact, the mob wanted to go and burn churches and attack non-Muslims but the security forces stopped them.

Talata Mafara is my home town and that's where I live.”

Reacting to the attack in Zamfara, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), an Islamic body led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday condemned the violent attack in the state,

following the alleged blasphemy on the Prophet of Islam.

JNI described the attack as “most unfortunate”.

“This recurring matter is becoming tediously monotonous and remains condemned in the strongest terms,” the JNI said in the statement signed by its general secretary, Khalid Aliyu.

The JNI said all Muslims should see themselves as faithful in the practice of the religion and not assume the position of judges to mete out punishment against anyone.

“The nasty behaviour of some miscreants should not be misconstrued as the Islamic teaching,” the JNI said.

It conveyed the condolences of the Sultan to “all the affected victims of the unfortunate incidence” and called on “respective predominant Muslim communities to be very wary and cautious of the crafty art of blasphemy within or around their respective communities and learn to handle such matters with utmost caution no matter the provocations that may arise therefrom”.

But as the banks allayed the concerns of their customers, shareholders and other stakeholders, the shares of seven of the nine banks barred from the FX market took a bashing on the stock market yesterday as investors reacted

negatively to the sanction.

Of the nine banks barred from the market, seven are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and at the close of trading yesterday all seven witnessed a decline in their share prices as investor sentiments turned negative.

Diamond Bank recorded the highest decline of 8.9 per cent, falling from N1.24 to N1.12.

FCMB followed with a decline of 5.0 per cent to N1.14, from its opening price of N1.20.

UBA shed 2.9 per cent, sliding from N4.53 to N4.46 per share. Skye Bank went down by 1.5 per cent to close at N0.64, against its opening price of N0.65.

Fidelity Bank fell by 0.9 per cent to N1.00 per share, just as FBN Holdings fell by 0.3 per

cent to end the day at N3.16.

Contrary to expectations that the decline would drag down the market, a late rally

by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc lifted the NSE Banking Index to close higher by 0.2 per cent.

Also gains by Dangote Cement Plc, the most capitalised stock on the Nigerian bourse, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Oando Plc and Forte Oil Plc lifted the benchmark index (NSE All-Share Index) by 0.25 per cent to 27,880.46, compared with the marginal decline of 0.1 per cent on the previous day. Market capitalisation also added N24 billion to close at N9.55 trillion.

agencies had negatively impacted on the development of Rivers State, with several anti-people measures instituted to work against the peace of the state.

He said: “Developments in Rivers State in the last few months point to the capture of the state’s security system by some special interest groups in their attempt to over-awe the state government and achieve their political agenda.

“Thus, frequent transfers of the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the State Security Services has become the norm. I am currently working with the fifth Commissioner of Police since I assumed office barely a year ago.

“Indeed, things have become so bizarre that senior officers who had political brushes with me now head every sensitive police formations in the state.”

Wike restated that the manipulation of the electoral process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was extremely worrisome, with the state being denied representation at the National Assembly while the state House of Assembly has not been fully constituted.

He pointed out that the most shocking aspect is Tai Local Government Area in the state, where he accused INEC of plotting to “sneak in concocted results” for cancelled polls.

“The failure to conclude the re-run elections in Rivers

State is a distraction, for which the state is paying on account of INEC’s institutional weaknesses and inefficiencies,” he said.

The governor pointed out that despite the federal government’s stumbling blocks on the path to development, his administration has ensured that the people of the state enjoy governance and development.

He said the state judiciary, which was crippled by the immediate past administration, has been revived, made more functional and independent.

The governor stated that the House of Assembly today enjoys independence while the hitherto moribund civil service has been revived.

Yari his assailant had abused Prophet Muhammad and other students came and beat the other boy who is Yoruba and from Kogi State.

“Some people said he was a Muslim and some said the boy was a Christian, so they beat the student until he

collapsed and thought he was dead. Then security personnel requested help from one shop owner who then took the boy to the hospital in his car.

“Then the students heard that the boy was still alive and was in the hospital. So

TSA: CBN ENFORCES SANCTION, SHUNS NINE BANKS IN DOLLAR SALES “All our efforts are geared towards a very timely resolution as we understand the importance of sourcing foreign exchange for our customers’ needs to support economic growth.

“Note, however, that this development does not adversely affect your existing transactions with us, except that there will be constraints in establishing new letters of credit until the issue is resolved.

“We enjoin you, therefore, to continue to patronise Keystone as we remain committed to rendering exceptional service on all our other banking products including best rates on deposits, visa card products, electronic banking and mobile banking transfers,

etc,” it added in a statement last night.

Sterling Bank, in its statement, rejected the suggestion that it failed or neglected to disclose at any time, any sum held on behalf of its clients to the regulatory authorities, saying the funds were fully captured in the relevant regulatory returns.

“In actual fact, the bank affirms that it went beyond this basic requirement of disclosure and reporting to holding several meetings with the parties involved.

“While the current situation is a broader sector issue arising from the foreign currency illiquidity in the domestic banking sector, Sterling Bank continues to work with its client and the

banking regulator to resolve the situation in the shortest possible time.

“We would like to restate that the bank at all times reported the balances involved to the central bank and at no time concealed or refused to remit the funds as documented in several written correspondences.

“Arising from our continuing efforts in this regard, we have reduced the outstanding sum to the current level within a very short period.

“As an institution built on the core values of integrity and sound corporate governance, Sterling Bank has always complied with all regulatory and other operating requirements and the TSA regulation is no exception

to this proud record.

“We take this opportunity to thank all those who have reached out to us with goodwill messages for your understanding and continue to count on your support as we work with the larger banking sector to resolve this matter in the shortest possible time,” the bank’s management said yesterday.

Banking Stocks Nosedive

FG’S OVERBEARING ACTIONS SLOWING DOWN STATES’ DEVT, SAYS WIKE Addressing the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 9 at the Institute of Security Service (ISS) in Abuja yesterday, the governor called for the reform of relevant federal and state institutions to ensure that they contribute to development rather than impede it.

He said: “The federal government is simply too overbearing with too much powers and resources at its disposal. We know the recurring rifts between the federal government and the states on development issues, including revenue sharing, resource control, on the excess crude oil account, appointments into federal agencies, and the arbitrary

location or withdrawal of federally funded projects.

In his paper titled, “Institutional Weaknesses and Challenges of Development in Rivers State,” the governor argued that federal government agencies had been turned against state and local governments and constitute themselves into stumbling blocks as they deliberately embark on unconstitutional activities that stall development.

He said Rivers State had been at the receiving end of the failure of federal institutions, as no new projects had neither been earmarked nor established in the state by the federal government for years.

The governor stated: “Given its contributions to national development, Rivers State deserves to be accorded special status and consideration from the federal government, but it is not.

“Rather, the state has suffered sustained neglect, marginalisation and injustice from successive federal governments and its agencies.

Even as no new development project has been initiated in the state for decades, what is most distressing is the failure of the federal government to adequately maintain some of the critical federal infrastructure in the state.”

He noted that the centralisation of security and the poor use of the security

THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

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

N’Delta Militants: Okah Brothers Controlling MEND from Prison Face your oil bunkering, leave us out of attacks on soldiers, N’Delta Avengers tells JTF

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa and Sylvester Idowu inWarri The Niger Delta Warriors (NDW), one of the many militant groups in the Niger Delta region yesterday alleged that the duo of Henry and Charles Okah, who are currently in separate prisons in Nigeria and South Africa, were giving orders to the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) in its purported bid to be secure peace in the region.

The group, which described MEND as “defunct,” urged the federal government to be wary of the ex-militants, noting that releasing the Okahs would further deepen the crisis in the area.

In a statement by Sibiri Taiowoh, the group’s spokesman, it advised the federal government to stick with the Chief Edwin Clark group if any headway is to achieved in the proposed negotiations.

“We want to use this medium to send a strong warning to the federal government to be wary of those using the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to seek political relevance and to free incarcerated Henry and Charles Okah who are dishing out commands from their prisons.

“Their proposal would cause more crisis in the Niger Delta if the government fails to heed our persistent warning. The MEND that is issuing statements is just a scam. It is a diversionary and a

divide and rule vehicle deployed by some jobbers. You will follow them at your own peril,” the NDW warned.

It added: “We would rather advise the federal government, if it really wants genuine peace, to leverage on what Clark and the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, started in Warri, Delta State, and start the dialogue that would involve all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region.”

According to the group, the federal government could use the Clark template to start engaging genuine stakeholders in the region for an “all round peace and development of the region.

“Our demands have been made bare overtime and we don’t want to repeat ourselves. We believe once the government shows sincerity and kick-starts these plans, we would do everything possible to give them the peace they want, to continue the oil exploration, which is the sole interest of the federal government in the region.

“We are still observing the ceasefire as a mark of respect for our elders, leaders and various stakeholders who have pleaded with us because we want development to come to our impoverished people.

“We want our people to enjoy electricity, pipe borne water and healthcare like Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and other IOCs are enjoying while exploring oil in our communities.

“However, while we are observing this momentary peace, MEND, which is playing the role of spoiler, should not dare us, otherwise the October 1, 2011, experience would be their portion during their slated tour.

“If Henry and Charles Okah want amnesty which they rejected because they want to continue with their gun running business, they should do that quietly without rubbing it on our face. MEND should not push us into facing them.”

Meanwhile, after formally declaring ceasefire on oil facilities, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) last night took on the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) code- named Operation Delta Safe, accusing the outfit of involvement in oil bunkering.

The militant group which has been claiming responsibilities for bombings of oil pipelines in the region accused the military of justifying its operations by labelling every criminals as members of NDA. The group, which declared ceasefire last weekend, was reacting to the claims of arrest of three of its members involved in the killing of soldiers in Nembe in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State by the Joint Task

Force (JTF).

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the NDA condemned security reports linking its operatives to the killing of the said soldiers.

“The High Command of the Niger Delta Avengers condemns the entire security reports linking our forces to the killing of Nigerian troops in Nembe, Bayelsa State.

“NDA still wonders when this charade and acts of desperation of the Nigeria military, by always linking crimes in the southern part of Nigeria, to our fighters will stop,” it added.

NDA noted that it was a shame that Operations Delta Safe is still employing the old habits of deliberately dinning and wining with unaudited intelligence from political thugs, political paymasters and enemies of the Niger Delta to perpetuate its continuous funding and relevance by catching in on the hunger in the land.

“One question for the Commander of Operation Delta Safe: Who are the people perpetuating the ongoing illegal oil bunkerings in the Niger Delta at the moment? Because we have both video and pictorial evidence of your troop’s serious involvement in the pervasive crude oil thefts.

“We have records of how much profit you collect and make per day from these atrocities in the Niger Delta,” it asked.

To set the records straight, the destructive militant group said it cannot go after the military’s Dane guns and ammunition “Since the, start of ‘Operation Red Economy,’ our forces did not fire one shot until we have achieved this great success of crippling crude oil productions in the Niger Delta to about 800,000 barrels per day.

“Those gangs members paraded as killers of troops of ODS are well known followers of Mr Africa Ukparasai and Mr. Timipre Silva, who were purposefully armed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the governorship elections of Bayelsa State.

“If your forces and formations come under attack by notorious elements of your own political collaborators and calculations, you should accept it as a friendly fire ( from your own dubious creations getting loose and fighting back to protect their territories and bellies) and enjoy it whilst it last but excuse the NDA from your ‘pig and mud squabbles.’

“Yesterday was Arepo in Ogun State, today is Nembe in Bayelsa State where is the next state you

want to involve the NDA in this your bread and butter security conspiracies and collaborations?

“Please count us out of your incapacities and blackmails. Is this not the Operation Delta Safe that is the puppet and child of necessity of some jailbirds and political shenanigans?

“We the NDA and Niger Delta people know that you are not here to protect anything in the region rather you have come to perpetuate more crude oil thefts that are worst. As such, we have avoided everything that will justify your continuous stay and sour your illicit funds.

“Just a moment, in our reality checks, from Operation Hakuri two, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Pulo Shield and today Operation Delta Safe, your formations and troops have always been the merchants of illegal oil bunkering activities in our Niger Delta.

“Your outfits in most cases deliberately trigger killings and kidnappings to make your services relevant.

“Conclusively, we want to ask if it is best practices for heads of military formations in the Niger Delta to become super rich months after been deployment, acquiring properties locally/internationally?”

Baru: NNPC Recorded 1,447 Pipeline Breaks in Five Months Seeks collaboration with NSCDC Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Maikanti Baru, yesterday said the corporation has recorded 1,447 incidents of pipeline vandalism between January and May this year.

The wanton destruction of pipelines, he said, had led to loss of 109 million litres of petroleum products and 560, 000 barrels of crude oil to refineries.

While lamenting the growing incidence of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region in 2015 alone, he added that government lost over N51.28 billion through deliberate pipeline burst by vandals.

Baru made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana, in Abuja.

According to the NNPC boss, the time has come for NNPC to seek greater collaboration with NSCDC, adding that in five months, between January and May this year, no less than 1, 447 incidents have been recorded leading to loss of 109 million litres of petroleum products and 560, 000 barrels of crude oil to refineries.

He said: “Domestic natural gas supply to power is equally impacted with estimated drop

of about 50 percent resulting in significant power outage.

“Petroleum products supply and distribution pipelines have also suffered huge products losses with attendant cost of repairs.

“For example, over 3,000 vandalism incidents were recorded every year from 2010 to 2015. In 2015 alone, pipeline losses of products volume of over 643 million litres amounting to N51.28 billion were incurred.”

While appreciating the importance of NSCDC in the nation’s security architecture, Baru said: “NNPC recognises the importance of the NSCDC being a grassroots paramilitary agency much closer to our facilities than any of the security agencies.”

He expressed confidence that under the commandant’s watch, the corporation would effectively collaborate with the establishment to safeguard critical energy assets.

In his remark, Gana expressed the readiness of the corps to continue to discharge its mandate, saying the nation cannot afford to incur further losses as a result of the activities of organised criminal gangs.

Though, he expressed pain at the loss of some of his personnel in the creeks of the Niger Delta, he said NSCDC would not be deterred by such attacks.

LET’S PRAY

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. David Babachir Lawal; and Chief of Staff to the President Alhaji Abba Kyari at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja...yesterday Godwin Omoigui

FG Begins Audit of Projects in Water Sector Alex Enumah in Abuja

As part of measures to achieve the nation’s set target in the water sector, the federal government has commenced the technical auditing of all ongoing projects in the water sector, with a view to assessing their viability, prioritising as well as determining the most appropriate options for their completion.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this at the public presentation of the Water Sector Road Map in Abuja, tagged: ‘Immediate and Long Term Strategies for Water Sector (2016 - 2030).’

Adamu who disclosed further

that the road map was approved

by President Muhammadu Buhari in June this year, stated that the ministry was committed to aligning all future projects in accordance with the master plan for sustainability.

The minister said the auditing of the ongoing projects was a proof that of the ministry must deliver on its mandate, lamenting that some of the ongoing projects have been abandoned for up to 15 years. According to Adamu, “A total of 116 projects are ongoing with a total contract cost of N505, 571,966,351.10. Most of the projects are at 40 – 60 per cent level of completion while

some projects have been stalled for up to 15years.”

Adamu wondered why nobody could even raise a query as to why those projects were abandoned for that long.

He stated that the ministry would not embark on new projects but rather focused on prioritising and completing the ongoing projects.

Out of the 116 projects, irrigation and drainages consist of 38, dams – 37, while water supply has 41.

He stated that the projects had been prioritised based on some established criteria such as the stage of completion, time of

completion, cost of completion and envisaged impact of the projects on citizens as well as the economy amongst others.

When effectively implemented the road map is expected to be a catalyst in employment generation, increase in electricity generation as well as food supplies.

“In recognition of our nation’s agricultural potential to not only boost our ability to feed ourselves, but also provide the largest opportunity to create jobs for our teeming young population, we have, in the last six months taken concrete steps to resuscitate the River Basin Development Authorities,” the minister said.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Justice Minister Cautions Judiciary against Conflicting Orders on Same Issues Says practice capable of eroding confidence in courts Collects 8,000 cases from police for effective prosecution Tobi Soniyi in Abuja The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said a situation where courts of coordinate jurisdiction give conflicting decisions on the same issues will not encourage the desired confidence building in the judicial process.

Addressing lawyers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the national conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Malami called on the judicial arm of government to demonstrate its willingness to align itself with the overwhelming desire of the people for a national change and rebirth, through the transparent use of its powers enshrined in Section 6(6)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He urged the judiciary to exercise its powers in a manner that would protect the overall national interests, “promotes the predictability of the law, and expeditiously addresses cases brought before it in a manner that would encourage our citizens to continue to have confidence in the judicial process and in democratic governance.”

He said: “Multiplicity of counter judgement and orders by courts of coordinate jurisdiction

on the same subject matter by the same parties does not encourage the desired confidence building in the judicial process.”

Malami, stated that his office had taken over 8,000 case files from the Nigeria Police Force for effective prosecution.

He said his office took over the case files pursuant to the enforcement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

According to him, section 106 of the Act has substantially transferred the responsibility for the prosecution of all criminal matters to the Federal Ministry of Justice by expressly prohibiting prosecution by policemen who are not trained lawyers.

He said that government remained committed to the fight against corruption and would also observe rule of law in doing so.

He said government had recorded some successes in recovering stolen wealth while prosecution of those indicted were on going.

On the international scene, he said Nigeria had started reciveing greater cooperation from the international community.

He said: “We have therefore begun to receive greater

cooperation from all such foreign entities.

“Recently, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Switzerland governor that will ensure the imminent repatriation of $321 million Nigerian funds in Switzerland. We are equally addressing, through a robust Mutual Legal Assistance mechanism, the legal challenges which had hitherto tied down assets in excess of $500 million Dollars in jurisdictions such as the United States, Jersey Islands and the United Kingdom.

“In January, we signed four

critical agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is a favourite destination of Nigerian funds, to enable us commence long-term cooperation to block and recover illicit funds in that jurisdiction.”

Malami said the gaps in legislation had led to a situation where Nigeria continued to face the potential erosion of its sovereignty through the insistence of foreign partners in monitoring the use of recovered funds, due to the absence of an institutional mechanism for the management of such recovered assets.

He further noted that at present, the procedures for assets recovery and management were spread out across various laws which did not give sufficient guidance in relation to predictability and comprehensiveness, thus rendering them inadequate.

He said: “In addition, the current laws do not provide for a central management and regulation of procedure to secure assets recovered from suspects, thus creating the possibility of fraud, abuse or poor implementation.

“It is to cure the above defects

that the present administration took steps to re-transmit the bill for the establishment of the ‘Proceeds of Crime Agency’ (POCA) to the National Assembly for re-consideration and eventual passage into law. The bill has become very important in order to enable Nigeria meet international standards in the recovery of stolen assets.”

He said the bill would also ensure coordination and proper management of assets recovered from those suspected or convicted of embezzling public funds.

Salary Reduction: Nasarawa State’s Absence Stalls Meeting between FG and Labour

NLC suspends protest Paul Obi in Abuja The absence of the Nasarawa State Government yesterday stalled the proposed dialogue expected to bring peace and harmony to the troubled state where the government and labour are battling each other.

Though the state government did not give reason for its absence, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige explained that the federal government team and organised labour were already prepared for the dialogue, but that the pull out of the state government at the last minute deprived the parties the opportunity to end the crisis.

The minister further told journalists that the meeting would hold next week Tuesday when the state government would be ready.

He promised that at the end of next week’s meeting, “the parties will down the issues and consign them to the dark side history.”

Ngige had earlier reiterated the federal government warning to states “to avoid further escalation of disputes of this type all over the states of the federation” stressed that, “state governments are hereby advised to always negotiate

any issue that touches on the salaries and wages of workers, in order to ensure that they obtain a Collective Bargaining Agreement (BCA) before these remunerations are tampered with.”

Ngige contended that “the issue of minimum wage flows from the Minimum Wage Act, 2011. It is therefore a law of the land that must be respected by all in both public and private institutions.”

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba, who led organised labour to the aborted meeting, explained that the crisis would have been avoided had the state government reached out for NLC’s industrial dispute resolutions platforms.

Wabba stated that labour was prepared for the dialogue, and as it had decided to suspend protest and demonstration against the Nasarawa State government earlier planned.

Trade Union Congress (TUC) Deputy President, Augustine Etafo, said the union would continue to abide by the extant laws governing labour negotiations, adding that the state government failed to adhere to laid down procedures on such issues as minimum wage reduction.

SPIRITUAL ELEVATION

L-R:Dr.OlumidePhillips;RtRevdRantiOdubogun;andrenowned photojournalist,Mr.SunmiSmart-Cole,attheinaugurationofministryandenthronement oftheRt.RevdBabatundeColensoAkinpeluJohnsonastheDiocesanBishopoftheDioceseofLagosMainlandat theCathedralChurchofSt.JudeEbuteMetta,Lagos.....yesterday

Saraki, Wike, Bello Congratulate Sultan at 60 Say he’s ambassador of peace, national unity Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Laleye Dipo in Minna Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Niger State counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, have described the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Saa’d Abubakar III, who clocked 60 years yesterday, as a ‘relentless bridge builder’ and peacemaker.

The three leaders in their separate statements yesterday, described the Sultan as an ambassador of peace, promoter of national unity, champion of of national development, embodiment of tradition and culture and a source of inspiration to many Nigerians.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki said he was specifically delighted to identify with the royal father in view of his worthy lifestyle, egalitarian leadership, compassionate support for the downtrodden and acting as a

voice to the voiceless in society.

Saraki said: “I am delighted to congratulate you on this epoch anniversary of attaining the age of 60. Your legacies as the Sultan of Sokoto, the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), are visible to all. You have continued to diligently serve humanity both in your immediate domain and the country at large.

“You remain a great source of blessing and inspiration to the entire country, especially your quest for peaceful coexistence, religious tolerance, fight against insurgency, free and compulsory education for the less privileged and the holistic development and unity of the entire country.

I pray that the Almighty Allah will continue to grant you perfect health, long life and more wisdom in the discharge of your duties,” he said.

Saraki also wished the Sultan more fruitful years of service to the nation in particular and

humanity in general. While also congratulating the government and people of Sokoto State on the occasion, he called on the country to continue to pray for the Sultan for more wisdom and strength.

Similarly, Wike in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Housing, Emma Okah, congratulated the Sultan, saying he had made invaluable contributions towards national cohesion and the development of the country.

He added that the mornach’s endless pursuit of peace in Nigeria especially in very difficult times has remained invaluable for which future generations of Nigerians would remember in gratitude.

“On this auspicious occasion of your 60th birthday, I, on behalf of my wife, Suzette, our children as well as the government and people of Rivers State felicitate with you and join your family, friends and millions of the Muslim faithful in Nigeria to thank the Almighty God for His grace upon your life.

“A day of joy like this reminds

us of the invaluable contributions you are making towards national cohesion and development. Your endless pursuit of peace in Nigeria especially in very challenging times has remained invaluable and future generations of Nigerians will remember you in gratitude,” he said.

On his part, Bello, in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Jibrin Ndace, showered encomiums on the monarch, acknowledging his role and quick intervention in crises anywhere in the country which has assisted tremendously in ensuring peace in the country.

“Abubakar has also demonstrated uncommon leadership in establishing unity among the Muslim community in the country,” he added.

Bello said the Sultan’s wisdom and nationalistic disposition has ensured the sustenance of peace in the country.

He wished the traditional ruler ‘ more fruitful years and good health in the service to humanity.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

COMMENT

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

BUHARI AND NIGER DELTA AGITATORS

I

Olusola Sanni argues Victor Ndoma-Egba has what it takes to transform the NDDC

t is not in doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari is a man with a clear vision of how best to administer a country like Nigeria. Not given to razzmatazz or needless bigotry, the president knows perfectly how to solve a seeming intractable problem without a fuss.

Like the legendary British Lord Acton once said: “There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities.”

Any good handler of public administration will not dispute the fact that the 21st century model of sustainable development is what is called the PPP model. PPP simply means Platform, People, Process and it is a development model that evolved in the mid-70s when some Asian countries wanted a quantum leap transition from being under-developed to developing economies.

In response to the agitation for the development of the Niger Delta region, the Nigerian government created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as a platform for a rapid development of the oil-rich South-South region of the country.

The mandate of the NDDC was to facilitate a process where basic social infrastructure will be established in the Niger Delta and also to promote the manpower development of the region.

But if government had done the right thing creating the NDDC as a platform for the rapid development of the Niger Delta region, it cannot be said with certainty that the commission has had the privilege of being managed by people who could effectively deliver on its mandate.

It is no coincidence therefore that the NDDC which was supposed to be a platform for rapid transformation of the Niger Delta region has over the years become a conduit pipe of corrupt money for the elite of the region.

Just last week, foreign students from the Niger Delta who are on scholarship of the NDDC complained of abandonment. That is the sorry situation the NDDC has found itself.

But there appears a refreshing hope on the horizon with the appointment of Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as the new chairman of the commission.

It goes without doubt that Ndoma-Egba is a round peg in a round hole for the NDDC top job. His last public assignment as the leader of the Senate would have exposed him to the several critical challenges of the Niger Delta and thus,

THE NDDC WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PLATFORM FOR RAPID TRANSFORMATION OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION HAS OVER THE YEARS BECOME A CONDUIT PIPE OF CORRUPT MONEY FOR THE ELITE OF THE REGION

also better position him to have a full appreciation of the low hanging fruits within the governmental system.

Beyond that, Ndoma-Egba has an early exposure to public service. It is a well known fact that at age 27, he became the commissioner for works in the old Cross-River State which comprised Akwa Ibom State and current Cross River State. But what really prepares Ndoma-Egba for a job like NDDC is that he established and nourished his law practices at his homestead in Cross River State.

NDDC is a grassroots’ government establishment, and the person better prepared to steer the affairs of the commission in order for it to achieve its objective needs to be someone that is well acquainted with the environment and the immediate pressing needs of the people of the region.

Beyond his capacity to effectively drive the much-needed development of the Niger Delta region through the platform of the NDDC, Ndoma-Egba also has the kind of personality that can help rebrand the commission.

It needs to be recalled that what led to Ndoma-Egba’s exit from his former political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the inglorious ambition of the former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke to personalise the processes of the party in the state.

That was a position on which Ndoma-Egba will not agree with Imoke, and like the popular African adage goes, rather for the tiger to co-hunt with the lion, either had better go their separate ways.

But unlike Imoke, Ndoma-Egba is a steady and reliable character. He also has a squeaky clean record of public service – not tainted by any allegation of misconduct. Knowing President Buhari full well, it is not unpredictable that he is particularly impressed with Ndoma-Egba’s clean record in public service. And while Imoke has become a fugitive in the state he once rode its roads like an emperor, Ndoma-Egba is bringing a mass following into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State.

By his nomination of Victor Ndoma-Egba as the chairman of the board of the NDDC, President Buhari has succinctly unveiled his mission in the development of the Niger Delta region. The problem of the Niger Delta has for long assumed an international dimension and the lack-lustre posturing of previous governments to squarely address the problems of the region has given birth to myriads of problem top of which is youth restiveness and attendant insecurity in the region.

THE CRIMINALITY OF BUDGET PADDING

M

r Femi Falana, SAN, has enjoyed unequalled public attention over the years because of his activism and principled stand on issues. When I saw his contribution on the budget padding subject which I have followed closely since its arrival in the public domain, I naturally picked interest.

I was however shocked to read his latest piece, entitled “The criminality of Budget Padding”. I am constrained to lament that he has done himself a great disservice.

Based on these concocted stories dressed up as facts he posited legal comments on them rather like a layman on the street.

He claimed that it has emerged that about 20 people sat down after the budget had been passed and inserted projects including constituency projects into it fraudulently. The truth, from my independent findings, is that constituency projects subhead or head of expenditure was included in the president’s budget proposals to the National Assembly as has been the practice in the last three years.

It was not originated by the National Assembly even though it has undoubted right to do so.

I am sure that if the learned silk had adverted his legal mind to the Acts Authentication Act, 2004, he would have discovered that the only authority who can say authoritatively what the Senate and House of Representatives passed is the Clerk to the National Assembly who authenticated the copy of the bill as correct and a true reflection of what was passed.

We know that Mr Falana, who lives in Lagos, is aware of “Oluwole Market” where fake documents are manufactured but

Femi Falana misrepresented facts in his submission, argues Basil Okonkwo that doesn’t give him the right to presume that a solemn document authenticated by the signature of the clerk to the National Assembly is fake. The 2016 Appropriation Act has five signatories to it, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, Chairman House Committee on Appropriations; Senator Danjuma Goje, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations; Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuf, the Deputy Speaker who was brought in by the National Assembly leadership to work the executive to achieve harmony on the details of the budget; Alh. Maikasuwa, the then clerk to the National Assembly, and finally, President Muhammadu Buhari, who assented to the bill. Is Mr Falana seriously contending that these people endorsed a fake budget? How low can we go?

It should be noted that even Hon. Abdulmumin has never claimed, in any of his statements, that the insertions into the budget were done outside the legitimate appropriation framework and process; his major claim is that some people padded more than others! He cannot say otherwise because since he, rather than even the Speaker, signed the details of the budget after due insertions and processing as allowed by law. If there is anything wrong with the signed budget he will be the first culprit. The Speaker’s signature is not contained in the budget rather it is Abdulmumin’s signature that is there!

Indeed of the four functionaries he is accusing, only the Deputy Speaker is a signatory.

Having disposed of the fact that constituency projects is part of Mr President’s proposal, I will now interrogate another falsehood peddled by Mr Falana.

He claimed that the National Assembly has no right to change the figures proposed

by Mr President or introduce new budget items. He made no attempt to define what the constitution means by ‘heads of expenditure’. It may not be his fault altogether because Falana has never really set foot in any legislature, even though I recall from media reports when he was invited to address the House of Representatives in the 7th Assembly, he apparently does not know that the Appropriation Bill itself has a schedule that contains details of expenditure . It is in the body of the bill itself that the heads of expenditure are contained and even though the National Assembly can under Section 80(4) of the constitution determine the MANNER of withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and this includes discretionary power to add to the figures and propose new line items, it is new line items that some people confuse as heads of expenditure. In spite of introduction of certain words from the British parliamentary lexicon, Section 80(4) clearly has no equivalent in British parliamentary practice which some commentators have sought to rely on. It is indeed surprising that the utterances of Femi Falana, SAN, would seem to suggest that he lacks basic knowledge of the laws governing the budget and appropriation process.

The argument that any other law supersedes the appropriation act is patently unfounded. If any previous enactment is inconsistent with a later law, in this case the 2016 Appropriation Act, the later law impliedly displaces and overrides the earlier law. It is only the constitution that cannot be overruled by a subsequent legislation.

It bears repeating for the umpteenth time that the 2016 Appropriation Act is a law of the federation duly assented to by

Mr. President and Mr. Falana insults the president when he claims that he didn’t know what he was doing when in fact he meticulously scrutinised the budget before assenting to it. In any case, if he did not assent to the bill, the National Assembly has power to override his veto. Undoubtedly the National Assembly has primacy in the budget process as provided in Section 59(4) of the constitution.

Mr Falana further feigned ignorance of the provisions of Sections 3, 30 and even 24 and other enabling portions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. Even though there are divergent decisions of the courts on the constitutionality of Section 30 of the act, it is clear that it applies in this context.

Permit me to set out the provisions of these sections as follows: Section 3. “Immunity from proceedings: No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any member of a Legislative House— (a) in respect of words spoken before that House or a committee thereof; or (b) in respect of words written in a report to that House or to any committee thereof or in any petition, bill, resolution, motion or question brought or introduced by him therein”.

Section 30. “Courts not to exercise jurisdiction over acts of President, Speaker or officer: Neither the President or Speaker, as the case may be, of a Legislative House nor any officer of a Legislative House shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise of any power conferred on or vested in him by or under this Act or the standing orders of the Legislative House, or by the Constitution”.

Okonkwo wrote from Abuja

15

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

EDITORIAL THE CHALLENGE OF INSECURITY

T

Restructuring the polity has become inevitable. It is in the best interest of the country

he Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, recently raised grave concerns about the security challenges besetting the country. He listed some of the fundamental drivers of the tension and instability in the polity as the herdsmen/farmers clashes, kidnapping for ransom, and the vandalism of critical national infrastructure, particularly oil facilities.

These problems have further been deepened by ethnic nationalism, terrorism and insurgency. “These challenges singly and collectively have the grim potential to undermine the Nigerian state,” he said. “These are very potent and sensitive crisis situations that have the capacity to wreck our ship of state, if not handled with utmost care and professionalism that they deserve.”

Olonisakin’s outpouring speaks volumes about the state of the nation and signalled that the authorities are no longer in denial of the weight and size of the problem.

But the defence chief was merely stating the obvious.

The simmering communal and ethno-religious violence have raised concerns among many about NIGERIA NEEDS TO GROW the nation’s dangerous BEYOND A NATION OF trajectory. Indeed, POTENTIAL. BUT THE we have repeatedly AUTHORITIES MUST highlighted on this ALSO ADDRESS THE page the frightening GROWING CHALLENGE OF dimension of the probINSECURITY lem. Armed robberies, kidnappings, banditry and terrorism have become our daily staple. Even though the nation’s Armed Forces have recently made remarkable gains against Boko Haram – the brutal insurgent group that has murdered thousands of our citizens with hundreds of thousands of others displaced – they still constitute a grave danger to the polity.

Indeed, Boko Haram may have entered a more dangerous phase with the statement credited to the guy recently named by ISIS as its new leader who proclaimed that only Christians should be targeted for killing. The sense of

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

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alarm is further raised in the Southeast where separatist tendencies are increasingly becoming strident. And after seven years of calm in the Niger Delta, a new militant group called the Niger Delta Avengers is mounting serious pressure on an economy squeezed by declining revenue as a result of the slump in oil prices by blowing up oil infrastructure.

Just recently, the prospects of a confrontation between Niger Delta militants and the military heightened as the Nigerian Army announced that its special forces had started exercises in preparation for combat in the restive oil-rich region. Even though there are ongoing talks for a peaceful resolution of whatever the issues are, the national security situation is not helped by the activities of herdsmen who have become a law unto themselves. In the past few months, they have deepened the country’s increasingly acrimonious relations by killing, maiming or kidnapping, and laying waste many communities and farmlands.

Following the inability of the federal government to rein in these sophisticated gun-wielding herdsmen, there is a growing perception that otherwise law abiding citizens may have to make their own arrangements to secure their lives and property. This feeling that help would not come from official quarters perhaps was largely responsible for the intensified aggression and extension of the herdsmen’s brutality across the country. It is therefore no surprise that a combination of the problems has spiked the demand for the restructuring of the highly unitary federation, where almost all powers are concentrated at the centre and the federating units reduced to mere appendages.

However, in a democracy such as ours, there are many avenues through which grievances could be expressed and addressed without sounding the war drums. We believe that all factors considered, restructuring the polity has become inevitable. It is in the best interest of the country. It will diffuse the needless tensions in the polity, and even more, it will make our country work for every citizen while fulfilling its destiny. Nigeria needs to grow beyond a nation of potential. But the authorities must also address the growing challenge of insecurity.

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

CLEANING THE AUGEAN STABLES AT NIMASA When President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Dr Dakuku Peterside in March, 2016, to head the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), like the proverbial Hercules who was ordered by King Augeas to clean out the filthy stables, a lot was expected from the technocrat cum politician.

It was just few a weeks after he was denied a resounding victory he rightly deserved by the Supreme Court when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Dr Peterside. As an agency that is believed to be the cash-cow in the maritime sector, Peterside was expected to bring to bear his magic wand and turn the fortunes of the agency around.

Peterside was quick to spell out his plan for the agency soon after he took over. One of his first major priorities was to ensure major reforms in the next one year to boast its capacity to drive the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime industry. According to him, the reforms were in line with the ‘change’ agenda of the President Buhari’s administration which is committed to the diversification of the nation’s economy.

Peterside had also emphasised that the agency has the requisite knowledgeable human capital required to refocus and reposition it to provide a committed leadership. He had said that the agency was developing a medium term strategic growth plan which will aid the

management to focus on its core mandate of promoting the development of indigenous capacity in international and coastal shipping, as well as effectively regulating the maritime industry in Nigeria.

Unlike other public government officials who have cultivated the habit of manufacturing excuses when they assumed office, Peterside decided to toe a different line when he was appointed. He refused to dwell on the past on how the agency was ruthlessly mismanaged by its previous leaders. Instead, he said the public perception of NIMASA over the years would change under his leadership. He vowed to completely change the narrative from the negative perception of corruption, inefficiency and abandonment of its core mandate to that of a maritime administration that is alive to its responsibility, intents on making Nigeria the preferred destination for maritime activities in Africa.

He had also emphasised that the agency would leave no stone unturned, including seeking legislative amendment if need be, to ensure full compliance with the Cabotage Act 2003, which, according to him, was necessary to fast track the desired growth in the maritime sector.

Since his appointment, he has disappointed his detractors who have viciously wished for him to fail and fall. Instead, he has been

able to garner support from key players in the industry. For instance, a former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, soon after the appointment of Peterside, said that indigenous ship owners would support him.

Iheanacho, who is the chairman of Genesis Shipping Worldwide, had said the NIMASA boss would do well to court the support of indigenous shipping, adding that the ship owners would fully support him. “It is our hope that he would concentrate his efforts in a genuine attempt to grow indigenous capacity through a judicious use of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF),” Iheanacho promised.

Iheanacho had his expectations too. He explained that Peterside would need to understand the difference and the distinction between the administrative responsibilities for the safety of shipping and security of the maritime environment.

Also, former Director General of the defunct Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA), Mr John Egesi, had also said that “there is a golden lining somewhere in the appointment of Peterside and his qualifications. Peterside studied Management. He did an MBA and read Economics and Maritime has a lot to do with Economics.”

The former NMA boss had said that when he looked at the appointment of Peterside with

his language of Management Economics, he would understand quicker. “His knowledge of Management Economics gives him an advantage,” Egesi said.

Has Peterside fulfilled some of the things he originally set out to achieve? Yes. Are there more grounds to be covered? Of course! Before Dr Peterside was appointed, NIMASA was a seen as a job for the boys. Contracts running into billions of naira were reportedly awarded to Niger Delta militants by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. But with the assumption of office of Peterside, the unwholesome practice stopped.

In July, NIMASA under the leadership of Peterside stopped payment to Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL).

The company is owned by Government Ekpomupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.

The company was awarded the contract for the protection of the nation’s waterways in 2011 by the administration of President Jonathan.

Again, Dr Peterside, soon after he assumed office, stopped flagrant and unnecessary recruitment in the agency. When some miscreants wanted to defraud the unsuspecting public under the guise that NIMASA was recruiting, Peterside immediately intervened and advised members of the public not to be deceived by fraudsters.

Hassan Adamu, Abuja

18

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Ojuogboh: Why Peace Deal with Sheriff Failed Since the Peoples Democratic Party lost out in the 2015 presidential election, the party has been in the news for all the bad reasons. In this interview with Onyebuchi Ezigbo, one of the key allies of embattled Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and former National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South-south, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, spoke on the stalemated peace efforts and why the issues cannot be resolved in the courts

P

justice is justice and the truth is truth and the truth is only one.

DP has been embroiled in a prolonged leadership crisis leading to several court cases, why can’t people like you find a better means of resolving the disagreement?

Well, like I have always said, I am a soldier of truth. Apart from being a Catholic, the only organisation I belong to is soldiers of truth and in everything I do, I believe in the truth and I speak the truth. You see what happened in PDP is most unfortunate. Most of the chairmen that were removed from office were removed at the instance of the governors because they didn’t want the chairman anymore.

During Obasanjo’s, that was exactly what they did. They would complain and complain and forced the president to ask for a change of the chairman. It happened to Solomon Lar, it happened to Audu Ogbe, it happened to Gemade, it happened to Tukur and also happened to Mu’azu but this time around, it was the governors, who went and sourced Sheriff, but little did they know that Sheriff wouldn’t behave like the other chairmen that were forced out of office.

They thought Sheriff would do their bidding.

It turned out that Sheriff wouldn’t do so. Of course, the NEC of the party gave Sheriff three months to organise congresses, step down and go.

The governors got around and formed a zoning committee and asked Sheriff to continue. They were the ones who now approached Sheriff and Ojuogbo...Sheriff cannot be forced out as PDP chairman

Can you beat a child and tell him not to cry? So, now if God didn’t help Sheriff and those cases were dead, he would have been disgraced out of office. Remember that Sheriff never said he wanted to be chairman, these were the people that went to call him and I have been appealing to the former president. I have appealed to the Board of Trustees and its leadership; to the National Assembly that, look for a way out of these court cases and that we must find a political solution to it

told Sheriff that he should continue in office.

They specifically zoned the position of chairman to Sheriff in the North East.

The North East caucus of the party had the North East congress and said it was Sheriff they wanted. So, they went to Port Harcourt and of course, by that time we knew that, we wouldn’t take part. I was at the Abuja parallel convention because I told them that I would no longer be party to impunity. At the Port Harcourt convention, they disagreed because Sheriff told them he wanted to revisit the places we have difficulties during the state congresses so that we could return the party to the people.

But the governors said ‘look we don’t have time to tell us what we to do. We brought you here and so you must do our bidding’ and he said no. Then stories started flying that Sheriff wanted to transmute from chairman of party to presidential candidate. Sheriff said, look, he never told anybody but they started to make wild allegation and as God would have it, Sheriff said he never said so. In fact, one man came up, Dokpesi, and said Sheriff promised to make him Vice President and Sheriff explained that Dokpesi came up and said he wanted to contest the chairmanship of the party and he told Dokpesi, ‘look, why in a hurry?

You relax I will contest this chairmanship and God-willing, during my tenure when the time for zoning comes, Vice Presidency would be zoned to the South so that you can now pair with someone from the North since the party has already zoned the presidency to the North so that you can become the vice president.

Never a time did Sheriff say that he wanted to become the president.

Before this time, 17 members of the National Working Committee went to court and got a judgment and that judgment, I am telling you about till today hasn’t been vacated that their tenure will end in 2018 in a Federal High Court there in Abuja. Then Justice Bubaje in Lagos gave two orders. First, that the position of National Chairman, National Auditor and

National Secretary shouldn’t be contested and INEC shouldn’t monitor it. That was the first case.

They went to Port Harcourt, fumbled with the convention and the convention didn’t hold.

Instead of going to Lagos to vacate that order, they went to shop for judgment in Port Harcourt High Court and that is how this whole thing started and that is what Justice Abagan has said. He said they missed their way to Port Harcourt that they would have come back to Lagos to Justice Bubaje to vacate the order instead of going to justice Limah, that Justice Liman had no jurisdiction over that matter and he cited examples.

It didn’t end there, when they saw that they couldn’t have their way, they now went to another Judge to get another judgment and of course, these things are becoming very messy and this is the impunity that people are trying to fight in the party. So, you can see that at all the times, Sheriff has obeyed the court orders. Sheriff has not in any way violated any court order.

But those who justified the Port Harcourt convention said they didn’t disobey the ruling

by Justice Bubaje because he said they should not hold elections for three national offices and not that the convention should not go on. How do you address that?

It is unfortunate that they speak that way. They know what they are doing. They are telling lies and Justice Abang made it very clear that Justice Bubaje in Lagos said ‘do not tamper with the position of National Chairman and so on; don’t change them’. What they did was, they removed them from office and then, they brought in a caretaker committee. But that is not what the court said they should do.

It said don’t remove them. What is the difference between Chairman of caretaker committee and chairman of the party? These are the things that Justice Abang has always been pointing out and to that extent the May 21 convention is null and void. Take it from here to the Supreme Court even to heaven,

What do you say to the judgment of Justice Ashi of the FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja and that of the High Court in Kubwa, Abuja which declared Sheriff’s seat vacant?

Again the same thing we are talking about.

There is a subsisting order that Sheriff is the chairman of the party and that the rest should be maintained until all those cases are dealt with. Again, instead of going to discharge the orders and set them aside, they are shopping for orders from any so called judge, who can give them order. Let me make it clear, Nigeria cannot continue like this because it is important that we should call the attention of the CJN of Nigeria to all this discrepancies. Then, the need now arises for judges of the Federal High Court and Abuja High Court to be called together and a seminar organised for them to reorient them and tell them what is allowed and what isn’t allowed in this circumstance and in fact, the brilliant Justice Abang made this very clear. He said, ‘look if you get such a case and you find that there is another High Court case handling it, call the attention of the chief judge of the Federal High Court to either reassign the case or direct you on what to do’. This, the Judges didn’t do.

You see, the impunity in which this judgment of today by Justice Ogbonna was made is very unfortunate. Nigeria is in trouble. The Judiciary is getting bad. It is rotten. A case was instituted four days ago and the chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff was not served. They hid the service and somehow, the information filtered to the chairman that something was happening and the chairman went to the court.

With all these contradictory judgments from courts of coordinate jurisdiction, why can’t you appeal some of the judgments?

The judgment is being appealed but the courts are on vacation. What the caretaker committee people do if they want anything is just to shop for a judgment. Look at the way the Justice Watila judgment came. The thing came as an interim application. He granted it to the following day he converted it to originating summons and the following day, he converted it to judgment and even in that matter they are talking about, PDP wasn’t included; Ali Modu Sheriff wasn’t included.

The judgment had nothing to do with PDP. Still talking about the court orders, Senator Markafi too has accused Sheriff of buying judgments. Are you in turn accusing them of doing same?

Let’s look at the judgments that both parties have received so far. Justice Bubaje’s ruling was given sometime in May and it was adjourned for a very long time. Now, the time hasn’t come and instead of the so-called caretaker committee to go back to Bubaje’s court, they went to Justice Liman in Port Harcourt. They didn’t appeal it. Justice Liman, in a matter of three days, gave his pronouncement. Meanwhile Justice Bubaje is still waiting for his script to mature. Justice Abang gave a ruling two months ago and they adjourned the case to October 25. If we were shopping and giving bribe to people, the Judge would have done our cases in two, three days.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

The Igbo as a Blessing to Nigeria One of the reasons Nigeria is failing as a nation is because it fails to identify and explore the potential of its people, writes Reno Omokri

O

n the 15th of August 1945, the axis nations fighting in the Pacific theater defeated imperial Japan and two weeks later, Japan formally surrendered to allied forces led by the U.S. General, Douglas McArthur, who formally accepted the signed articles of surrender.

Though the U.S. defeated Japan, they never decimated Japan’s great technological and industrial complex. They were visionary enough to distinguish these from Japan’s military industrial complex, which they scrapped.

Realizing that Japan was decades ahead of the West in many technologies, the allied powers, led by the US, allowed those industries to remain as a going concern and took the unique step of enacting legislation and policies to enable them flourish.

What they did in Japan, they also did in Europe. In Europe, the US, acting unilaterally, even went a step further by introducing the Marshall Plan through which America sent financial and other types of aid to help Europe (and especially Germany) recover from the ravages of the Second World War. The point of the allied and American actions in Japan and Europe is that technological advancement belongs to the human race and should not suffer because of a quarrel or war amongst humans. This lesson was thoroughly established in 642 AD, when the Library of Alexandria was burnt to the ground during the Muslim conquest of Egypt.

It has been argued that that act set the world several centuries back in technological advancement and has become something to watch out for during the prosecution of a war.

A war is a quarrel between or amongst people that is settled by means of violence. It is not a quarrel between or amongst technology, so civilised nations have pursued the policy of fighting wars while preserving technology.

Gone should be the days of the scorched earth

The Nigerian Civil War ended on a note of ‘no victor, no vanquished’. That was a watershed moment inspired by the Christ-like mind of General Yakubu Gowon. That gesture is to be applauded.

But why did we as a nation not go the whole hog and take advantage of Biafra’s technological advances and integrate her scientists into our Research and Development sector much like the US did with German and Japanese scientists?

That is where we failed as a nation

President Muhammadu Buhari with Onu at a functin...do they understand the issues

policy, which is why despite the bestiality of the apartheid regime, President Nelson Mandela did not do a Mugabe, but rather left intact, White owned farms, industry and universities and only insisted that they be opened to Blacks and other races.

This brings me to Nigeria. I would like to state a fact that will be argued against, but still a fact that even those, who would argue against it know it to be true. The Igbo (or Ibo) ethnic nationality of Nigeria are the most technologically advanced Black race on planet earth, bar none! This is a fact. A fact that was proven to be true for 30 months while they were landlocked in their constantly shrinking enclave known as Biafra.

Cut off from the rest of the world, the ingenuity of the Igbo came to the fore during the civil war as they constructed the Uli airstrip and when that airstrip was bombed, they repaired it in record time and under the most trying circumstances. They would go on to repair Uli not once and not twice.

The Igbos refined petrol from a variety of non-fossil fuels, including from but not limited to palm products (from which they also produced diesel) and manufactured surface to air missiles, which they also adapted to surface to surface missiles (the Ogbunigwe). They converted commercial planes to fighter jets and weaponised them. That was no mean feat in 1967.

In fact, when in 2012, the Nigerian Army rolled out the igirigi and promoted it as the first indigenous armoured personnel carrier, they were wrong. I am not a Biafran. I am proudly Nigerian. And beyond that, I am a proud dark skinned Black African, yet I make bold to say that the igirigi is not the first indigenous APC. In fact, the first indigenous armoured personnel carrier in Black Africa is the Red Devil, built by the Igbos during the Nigerian Civil War. The Nigerian Civil War ended in January 1970 and the Nigerian Army unveiled the igirigi in July of 2012. If they had converted the Red Devil to their own use, they would probably be talking about a greater feat in the year 2012.

My question is what happened in the intervening 42 years between 1970 and 2012?

Why didn’t the Nigerian Army integrate the military industrial complex of Biafra into its Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, DICON? Why did we have to reinvent the wheel at great cost in terms of time and money?

The Nigerian Civil War ended on a note of ‘no victor, no vanquished’. That was a watershed moment inspired by the Christlike mind of General Yakubu Gowon. That gesture is to be applauded. But why did we as a nation not go the whole hog and take advantage of Biafra’s technological advances and integrate her scientists into our Research

and Development sector much like the US did with German and Japanese scientists? That is where we failed as a nation.

I remember growing up as a child and how other Nigerians scoffed at ‘Igbo made’ electronic products. There was hardly anything including electronics, pharmaceuticals, spirits and wines that the Igbos could not counterfeit. And rather than our leaders seeing the potential in those products, we all scoffed at them. Igbo made products were a pariah.

Did it ever occur to any of our leaders that if government had supported these technological advancement, Nigeria could have become an industrialised nation today and Igbo made products would have been exported abroad as made in Nigeria products?

It would surprise many that a number of the greatest technological advancement and products that came out of America after the Second World War were the work of German or Japanese scientists!

In an operation code-named ‘Operation Paperclip’, 1500 German scientists, engineers and technicians were airlifted to the United States and given US permanent residency and citizenship immediately after the defeat of Germany in 1945. The primary aim of Operation Paperclip was to prevent these skilled men and women from falling into Soviet Russian hands.

Hans Erich (Eric) Hollmann, who was one of the fathers of radar technology, was one of such scientists airlifted to America. Kurt Lehovec, the pioneer of the integrated circuit systems in electrical engineering is another.

He was airlifted to America in 1945, where he became a Professor at the University of Southern California and passed on his knowledge to America’s next generation of scientists.

The allies had been having issues with the jet engine and were not able to develop planes like the German Messerschmitt Me 262. But after the defeat of Germany, US forces gave safe passage to Rudi Beichel, who went to the US and became an adviser to the US army on liquid propulsion. Other German scientists such as Magnus “Mac” Freiherr von Braun and his brother, Wernher Von Braun, helped reverse engineer German jets, which led to the development of the US American F-86 Sabres, a plane that helped the US dominate the air during the Korean War. More importantly, Wernher Von Braun provided much of the know-how that helped America build the Apollo spacecraft, which allowed America to beat Russia as the first nation to get to the moon.

Methamphetamine was invented by a Japanese chemist, Nagai Nagayoshi and the drug was shared with their German allies and helped their

soldiers stay awake and focused. After the war, German scientists helped American scientist to synthesise the drug, which revolutionised the US health industry.

Why can’t we do the same in Nigeria? Can you imagine what our technological base would have been if we as a nation had a policy of patronising the so-called Igbo made products right from the end of the war till today? What if we had absorbed the Research and Production Organisation of Biafra (RAP as it was then known) into the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers? By now, we may have been manufacturing jets and we would not be dependent on foreign nations for weapons to fight terrorists.

This is why I was so disgusted with the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu for aspiring, on Nigeria’s behalf, to produce pencils by 2018! I mean, this man is the first civilian governor of the old Abia State, which today encompasses both Abia and Ebonyi states.

Right there, under his nose, Nigerians of Igbo extraction, without ANY governmental support, are manufacturing electronics and heavy machinery components and Onu is caught up on pencils!

Onu should visit Nnewi if he knows where it is. Right there, he would see a city that does not wait for government. Nnewi people are so industrious that after years of waiting endlessly for government to provide basic amenities, they have built their own roads, have their own power stations and their own water works.

Just like Japan, Nnewi has manufacturers of such things like batteries, pistons, automobiles and other products. These Nnewi manufacturers have built schools for the kids of their workers on site, just like in Japan.

You just need to visit Nnewi or Aba to see what is going on in Nigeria. These guys are Nigeria’s most guarded secret because even the federal government is not aware of them.

And the reason this is so is because these people are Igbos! It is time for Nigeria to forgive the Igbos for being Igbo and accept them as full partners and equal partners in the Nigerian project and use the entire strength of the Nigerian federal government to provide them the support to fulfill their destiny as the Black African people that are nucleus of the technological advancement of Africa.

Notice: I say Africa, not just Nigeria. I don’t say this lightly. All over West and Central Africa, Nigerians of Igbo extraction are the backbone of the commercial and technological sectors.

- Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri

20

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

The Quest for Quality Education A recent pre-departure orientation programme organised for some Nigerian students who were admitted into various higher institutions in the U.S., showed that the attraction for foreign education by the youths lies in the availability of quality of education, Peace Obi reports

E

ducation they say, is power.

And for those who appreciate the enormity of the power of quality education bequeath to every mind that diligently seeks it for the purpose of personal and general good of mankind, cost, distance and even race factors become inconsequential.

And for some Nigerian youths who have discovered the potency of education for general wellbeing of any people, there seems to be no boundary, no obstacles that worth bowing to and there is no looking back while searching for quality education.

Lion-spirited and dogged in their pursuit, they are ready to weather any storm and make the best of any opportunity within their reach. And that is why despite the pendulum of foreign currency and economic realities of the present day, Nigerian youths are not deterred from seeking and aiming for such educational opportunities that have the capacity to empower them to compete favourably with their counterparts around the world. For Nigerian students, their presence are felt in every education hub around the world from Europe, America and in other continents where they are making waves with their academic exploits.

And recently, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos played host to about 120 Nigerian students at a pre-departure orientation. The students, who have fulfilled the necessary requirements by the various American institutions were admitted to U.S. higher education institutions for both undergraduate and graduate courses. The EducationUSA Advising Centre

Education Advisor, Chinenye Uwadileke (left), during the 2016 pre-departure orientation at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos...recently

Filing into the orientation hall, one could see the dream of being great boldly written on the foreheads of these young Nigerians.

Though they appeared in different shapes and sizes, yet, they have so many things in common.

They are young, bright, intelligent, ambitious and determined…They can be best described as sojourners who in search of the best ideas and ways to better their country are willing to give up the comfort of their homes and loved ones to set out on a journey for a brighter tomorrow

had, as part of its preparatory programmes for students traveling from Nigeria to the US, organised the orientation to provide the students with necessary information that will aid their preparation and stay in the Country all through the duration of their studies.

Filing into the orientation hall, one could see the dream of being great boldly written on the foreheads of these young Nigerians.

Though they appeared in different shapes and sizes, yet, they have so many things in common. They are young, bright, intelligent, ambitious and determined. They are like a selection of the best brains where you have the likes of Korede Akinpelumi, the best graduating student of University of Lagos for 2013/2014 academic session going for his Ph.D studies and alumni of various secondary schools who finished as the valedictorians of their going for the undergraduate studies.

A brief chat with these young Nigerians reveals the passion in their hearts to make Nigeria proud while their studies last.

They can be best described as sojourners who in search of the best ideas and ways to better their country are willing to give up the comfort of their homes and loved ones to set out on a journey for a brighter tomorrow. They want to be change agents and they all seem to be saying 'we just want to be emboldened by knowledge, get more experienced and exposure for the task ahead.'

And so, seeking such opportunities that will likely make their dreams come through, starts with getting quality education.

The newly admitted students who will be leaving the shores of their father land this August, during the orientation were provided with practical experiences by some students currently studying in the U.S. as well as some former students whose experience count. With a number of speakers sharing their experiences cum counselling, the students enjoyed a wide range of practical advice about U.S. culture and educational expectations to set them up for success. Among such tips provided by

the various speakers notably believed to aid their personal commitment to succeed in their academic pursuits include building positive relationships with professors and peers, time management, and balancing course workloads with a strong social and community life.

The EducationUSA Advisers Chinenye Uwadileke and Adeola Oseni led the session with 11 current and former students from Nigeria who shared extensive wisdom from first-hand experience.

The Acting Public Affairs Officer, Frank Sellin in his opening remarks welcomed the students, noting that they are beginning a lifechanging educational and cultural experience.

Restating the EducationUSA commitment and willingness to prepare the students through the provision of relevant information, he said it is aimed at adequately preparing and setting the students up for success. "This is about setting up Nigerian students for success. If they have gone through the hard work of applying, they have the admission and they have found ways to fund their education and they have done a lot of that in consultation with us, EducationUSA. We don't want to hold back information, we want to make sure they have information about visas, about life outside academics, about staying safe, all those things they need to succeed,” he said.

In a brief chat with the media, Sellin who noted that the safety of the students was guaranteed and that despite the global security challenges, the United States of America remains a very safe country. According to him, "We have thousands of universities in the United States, you don't hear any attack on any of them. As much as I know, we have never heard about a Nigerian student or any other being affected by these things.

"We do our best to make sure they have a safe environment. There are university police forces and security forces. And the towns where they go are also surrounded by the police forces. All our forces also know that they are charged with protecting every student in the

university within its safety programme and environment. We are a big country of about three hundred million people, most people never had to experience that,” he assured.

Toluwanimi Ogbonimide, a Rising Sophomore, Liberty University, Virginia, who majors in Biochemistry, sharing his experience both on his academics and social life, especially on some of his exploits in sports, harped on the need for students to strive to live a balanced life. According to him, the success in ones academics depends largely on hard work, the student's ability to rightly manage their academic workloads, student/teacher relationship and social life.

Urging the students to maintain originality and consistency in their names as international students, Ogbonimide said that they should never feel awkward about their names because it makes them unique. And that being identified by their local names will attract their teachers' attention as well fellow students who would always like to find out some things about their country. "Maintain consistency in your name.

In every class, your name is like moved round the class and everybody sees your name. It may be awkward at first, but that is how your teachers will start knowing you. They start asking you about your country."

Speaking further, Ogbonimide informed the students that they need to realise Nigerian students are more like exotic students to the whites. "You are interesting students to them if you really don't know. You might find it easier to make friends but let them know that you are an international student. Whenever the opportunity comes, make yourself known as an international student. Look unique with your traditional clothes. They admire it. It makes them want to be involved in your culture.

Speaking on managing school workload and social life, Ogbonimide advised the students to make their studies a priority. Noting that although there are so many distractions, he urged them to always work in advance as there is always a deadline for assignments.

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• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

FEATURES

A cross of session of newly admitted and returning students during the 2016 pre-departure orientation at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos

Sharing further tips, he said, "get to know your professor early enough and build a good relationship with him/her. Know their office hours and go to them to share any problem you may be having with your studies. And even when you don't have any problem, you can just say hello to them. Manage your workload, put down the necessary dates such as exam date,” he counselled.

For every speaker that mounted the podium, there is something new to offer. And for Amarachi, the light was beamed on managing newly found freedom, language barrier, being homesick, managing distractions and remaining focused on the real business, managing ill health and dealing with some embarrassing questions. Encouraging the students to make proper and maximum use of the opportunity their admission into the various institutions of learning has brought their way, Amarachi advised that they should enjoy their freedom with caution. "There are enough distractions around but you need to be focused. Do not get involve in some things that will not add value to your life and studies." Noting that the students may in the process of adjusting to the new environment experience such challenges like language barrier, reaction to food, water and may even fall ill, Amarachi urged them to endeavour to take right steps and actions.

"When you are having challenges in your studies, please confide in your professor. And when you have such issue like ill health to deal with, don't go on self diagnosis or self medication, go to the clinic, it is important she stressed." Drawing from his wealth of experience, Mr. Oluwafemi Esan who had his Masters in Applied Geophysics from the States, with a sense of maturity told the students that it is important that they maintain a good relationship with their professors. According to him, "one principal thing students need is the interaction with their professors. Professors in the US are not exactly like professors in Nigeria.

Here, we have them as teachers and that is what forms most of the core responsibility of our lecturers but over there, it is research.

"So, you may have a professor for a whole semester he has not taken any classes. Look for professors in the line of the research you are interested in and start communicating with them,” he advised.

Speaking further, Esan advised the students not to cut corners. Stressing that hard work would earn any diligent student good grades.

"Manage your time well, do not cut corners.

If you do the hard work, you can get "A".

And getting "A" in the U.S., some people say it is easy and some will say it is not.

But if you have chosen to work hard, and will not wait till the last minute before you study, then getting "A" will be easy.

"If you are interested in cramming and you wait till the very last minute, you will find the U.S. educational system very, very difficult.

Because in most cases, by the time you get to the exam hall you are only struggling for may

be 30 or 40 per cent. Every class matters. And once you finish a class, go over your notes.

Form a relationship with your classmates."

Urging them to maximise the opportunity that their studentship as well as the environment would be bringing their way, Esan advised them to do volunteer works like volunteering to work as a research assistant to the professors.

"You have a lot to learn and those contacts matter at the end of the day. What you can also do is to join professional associations and as many as possible. For most of these associations, student membership is free. Most oil companies go to specific schools to recruit and if your school is not on the list, you may not be able to interact or do internship with them. Who knows you matters and not necessarily who you know. So, look for opportunity for people to know you, print your own complimentary cards, introduce yourself when you attend professional association meetings and conferences,” he counselled.

For the visibly excited Osifalujo Aderola, an alumni of Federal Government Girls College, 2014 set, who will be studying Psychology as a premed in the Northern Kentucky University told THISDAY, "Right now, I am at the predeparture orientation programme for students who will be going to America this August.

"I find today's programme very, very educative because I have learnt a lot about what to expect when I get there and how to adjust to life in the university education system over there."

Asked why the choice of a foreign university, Aderola disclosed that her findings revealed that the U.S. educational system is globally acknowledged to be more advanced in terms of research and practical aspects of education.

According to her, "Like I said, I want to study psychology and my course of study has to do more with research and class works. I just want to have a balanced education. And I have discovered that American educational system is a more advanced system and it is a known educational system, globally.

"It has more exposure in terms of research and practical aspect of education. And as I learnt, in the U.S., students grading is divided into assignments, projects and exam. The exam is based on like 40 per cent. It is a place of opportunity that if you put so much into your academics, you will also get so much as well. It is a privilege to actually go to a place where there is more exposure and flexibility with ones choice of course of study,” she said Aderola, who is going on a free tuition studies, revealed that she finished her secondary education in 2014, and she spent two years working and searching for admission.

"I am on free tuition to study in Northern Kentucky University. I got some funding from the International Students Department and I got some funding as a merit scholarship based on my CGPA and my external exams.”

Sharing her dreams with THISDAY, Aderola revealed, "At the completion of my four-year

programme, I hope to return to my country to utilise the acquired knowledge for the good of my country and the people. Most of what I will be interested in doing is helping people.

"And in this country, there is so much opportunity to do that, either voluntary through community service, may be in medical centres where one can render medical services. It can be in academia where students need people who will be passionate in passing useful knowledge to them. I am interested in putting smiles on the faces of my people at the end of this journey,” she submitted.

Speaking with another student, Ifeanyi Mba who is going for his doctorate in Civil Engineering, who also told THISDAY that the attraction to a foreign institution was based on availability of necessary tools, equipment and infrastructure that will aid his studies, especially in the area of research work.

Mbah, coming from the University of Lagos, renowned for producing some of the brightest academics in Nigeria and around the world, Mbah, hinted, "My experience at the University of Lagos gave me what I was expected to get. Civil Engineering in Nigeria is so much biased towards structural and I am looking out for something that is geodetically aligned.

"I wanted to do a research in geotechnics.

We don’t have certain facilities like the geocentrifuge for example. In the U.S., you have as much as 20 of them. So, that for me is the key reason for applying for American schools for my Masters and Ph.D." Disclosing that his opting for a foreign institution for his postgraduate studies was not meant to serve as a career boost, the youth said, "I am not doing this because I think it is a career boost for me. I am doing this because it is my goal, my personal dream to be a researcher and being an environmental engineer is just a past time for me to achieve."

According to him, “Nigeria has need for civil engineers and I know there are opportunities here in Nigeria to work with either the government, the academia or set up a private practice as an environmentalist. For example, many parts of Nigeria still have ground water pollution even in Lagos. And the need for civil engineers will always be there. Nigeria is still a developing nation. It cannot achieve development without having civil engineers to build its cities."

Speaking on how he wish to impact his fatherland with the advanced knowledge on the successful completion of his programme, Mbah said, "My passion has always been the environment and being an expert in environmental matters in Nigeria, will help me first of all get the attention of all Nigerians to know the importance of their environment, how it affects their health.

"You find out that in many developing nations, much of the issues with their public health is just their environment. If we have really clean environment, we will have significant drop in health related matters,”

he disclosed.

Speaking with Ilemona Ameadaji, an alumni of Dowen College, Lekki, and at the moment, a student of University of California, Beckley, studying Molecular Biology as a pre-med, she told THISDAY that she was not on scholarship. "But I am applying for a number of scholarships."

The Rising Sophomore, while sharing her experience with the new students said, "generally, there is some culture shock. They are quite different from us, like their environment, culture, academic system, among others.

You can hear some people here say that their professors are informal, more accessible.

"They make out more time for their students just to talk to them and help them out. They have more resources like helping you with project papers. They want to make sure that you are not failing and there are more resources for that.

"Pay attention during the orientation time, that is when you will get to know all the resources that are at your disposal. Be proactive, don’t shy, speak for yourself,” she said.

Ameadaji who said she is not a very social person, however said that there are a lot of organisations for one to socialise.

"They encourage extra-curricular activities.

They take extra-curricular activities so seriously and work experience during the school period. In fact, it is almost mandatory that you work during your summer holidays. They don’t have room for such programme like Industrial Attachment we do here, but they expect that every summer holiday, you are doing internship. There are a lot of hands-on things, practicals and research. A lot of their professors are involved in research, if you are proactive and you are good in your course, you might get an opportunity to work as a research apprentice or assistant to your professor. And you will really learn a lot from that. Sharing her experience on the flexibility of the U.S. education system, Chidera Egbuche who first registered to study Information Technology, said "everything went on well until we got to programming and I failed it.

"In the U.S. anything below 70 per cent is D. But when I tried to find out why I failed, I discovered that it was because of omission of some little things like colon, semi-colon. When you are doing programming, everything has to be perfect and I am not that kind of person who is given to that kind of detailed life.

"So, I had to look for a course that matched with my personality and talent. So, going through the courses online, I picked this course, e-business. One thing that I noticed is that it is the future of technology in business, sales and marketing.

“Right now, I am taking the minor requirements in order to enter the programme. Over there for every course you are going for, like medicine, you are required to do the basic requirement before going into the programme fully,” Egbuche disclosed.

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IMAGES

L-R; Musical Producer, Mr. Oscar Kidjo; Head of Culture, African Union Commission, Angela Martins; member of juries, African Music Award AFRIMA, Mr. Rab Bakari; President, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; and member of juries, African Music Award AFRIMA, Hadja Kobele Keita, at the world nominee announcement of African Music Award in Lagos...recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Representative of Reynolds Construction Company, Nigeria, Mr. Nadar Yusuf; Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya; and Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during the flag-off of the reactivated Oyo-Ogbomoso road construction, in Oyo...recently

L-R: The Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank, Lekki ,Mrs. Violet Odu; Divisional Head, Retail Banking of the Bank, Mr. Olu Akanmu; one of the winners of N1million at the second draws of the ëíFCMB Millionaire Promo Season 3íí, Mrs. Franca Hilary and the Zonal Head, Lagos Island branch, Mr. Emmanuel Comla, during the cheque presentation ceremony to the winner in Lagos...recently

L-R; Baale of Idi Araba community, Chief Luwa Olorunwa; Coordinator, FoodBank Nigeria, Mrs. Yemisi Alfred-Adenlowo; recipient, Mrs. Lateefat Ali; and Corporate Service Responsibility Manager, IHS Mrs. Chima Sholatan, at the presentation of food items to Oworonshoki Community by the Food Bank initiative in conjunction with IHS in Lagos...recently.

SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R; Honorary General Secretary, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arch. Abimbola Ajayi; Director, Aggregates & Concretes, Lafarge Readymix, Mr. Loren Zanin; and Head, Sustainability and Corporate Brand, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun, at the LafargeHolcim Awards Workshop in Lagos... recently ABIODUN AJALA

L-R: Director General, Save Democracy Group Africa (SDG-Africa), Dr. Ifedi Okwenna; Liberia Vice President, Prof. Joseph Nyumah Boakai and acting National Council Chairman, SDG-Africa, Hon. Ghali NaíAbba during the inauguration of Save Democracy Group Africa youth parliament and special session in honour of Nelson Mandela in Abuja...recently .ENOCK REUBEN

L-R: Service Operations Manager, Mantrac Nigeria, Ahmed Ragab; Recipients , Abiakun S. Samuel, Olorunlama M. Adebowale, and Shodeinde O. Seun;, MD, Mantrac Nigeria, Edmund Martin-Lawson at the presentation of Certificates and Cat Kits to three of the successful candidates of Cat on-line Technicians for Africa, by Mantrac Nigeria in Laagos...recently.

L-R; Chairman, Trade Fair Organising Committee, Abuja Chamber Of Commerce And Industry, Mr Jude Igwe; President Of The Chamber, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye; And Director Of Business, Tonnia Shoyele, At The Pre11Th Abuja International Trade Fair’s Press Conference In Abuja...Recently JULIUS ATOI

24

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, PAYMENT MODEL IDENTIFIED AS BASIS FOR SMART CITY DEVT lots of online criminal activities going on across regions. He said Nigerian cybercrime bill that was recently passed into law, would go a long way in addressing online crimes in a smart city environment. The issue of data connectivity and control was also raised by Udotai as part of the critical infrastructure that must be considered when developing smart cities.

Chairman, Smart Cities Working Group, sponsored by the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chioma Nkechika, who drew the attention of the forum to the payment model for a smart city environment, said the payment model must be factored into the early plan of a smart city development initiative, so as to have seamless payment model. Citing UBA Taxi as an example, Nkechika said the metro taxi company had a global payment system of receiving cash in dollar denomination, but that the payment system had to be altered in Nigeria to naira denomination, after few months of doing business in Nigeria, for scarcity of dollar.

AFRINIC, NIRA, ATCON HARP ON IMPORTANCE OF IPV6 ADOPTION the Nigerian ICT development.

“Other reasons the ATCON has invested and still investing heavily in the adoption of IPv6, is to increase the productivity and contribution level of our network engineers in the implementation and deployment of IPv6 for Nigerian ICT/ telecoms development, in order to enhance the performance of our network engineers on network management with the ultimate goal of ensuring the sustainable growth of the Nigeria telecom industry,” Teniola said.

Managing Director, Internet eXchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Muhammed Rudman, who spoke for AFRINIC, said most of ISPs in Nigeria did not want to migrate from IPv64 to IPv6 because they thought it would not give them any economic value. He however called on ISPs to embrace the adoption of the new IPv6 due of its advantages.

Group Business Editor

Chika Amanze-Nwachuku AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Crusoe Osagie

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritme)

NEWS

Minister, ALTON Disagree over Broadband Penetration Emma Okonji The Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has picked holes in the pronouncement made by the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu over the level of broadband penetration in the country.

The minister had declared at a telecoms forum in Lagos that the country would soon witness broadband revolution, owing to the fast rate at which broadband services are being deployed by the telecoms operators, coupled with the level of broadband penetration that the country has attained in recent times.

But in a swift reaction, the Chairman of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that Nigeria is still far from experiencing broadband revolution.

“I disagree with the minister that Nigeria will soon witness broadband revolution, because a lot of work has to be done before Nigerian can experience broadband revolution. Yes we have broadband capacities at the shores of the country, brought in from Europe by SAT3, MainOne, Glo 1 and MTN WACS, but it is unfortunate that less than 10 per cent of the huge capacities of broadband seated at the sea shores are being utilised

by Nigerians, because there are no national backbone infrastructure to transmit the broadband capacities from the shores of the country to the hinterlands,” Adebayo said.

He further explained that although the cost of mobile data is gradually reducing, but insisted that Nigerians still pay more for data services,

when compared with what is obtainable in other countries of the world. According to him, unless sufficient broadband capacities are transmitted from the shores of the country to the hinterlands where they are most needed, Nigeria will not be able to witness any form of broadband revolution.

“So we have a lot of broadband capacities at the shores of the country, but we are not able to use them, due to limitations in the distribution process to the hinterland. Unless the bottlenecks are removed

and those things that impede broadband development are removed, Nigeria will not experience broadband revolution in the near future,” Adebayo stressed.

Giving analogy with the state of economic recession that Nigeria is currently passing through, Adebayo said the cost of virtually everything in the country across all sectors have gone up, with exception of the telecoms sector, where the cost of telecoms services continues to come down, even though it is gradual. He therefore called

on the government to introduce some palliative to help sustain the gradual reduction in the cost of telecoms services in the country.

We promise not to allow cost of telecoms services to escalate like in other sectors, provided government is able to provide some form of palliatives that will cushion the effect, Adebayo said. Speaking on the impact of telecoms on the Nigerian economy in the last 15 years, Adebayo said; “So far so good, there has been significant improvement in the

telecoms sector since 15 years ago when GSM operations was introduced in the country. But that does not call for celebration because a lot still has to be done in the sector and we need continuous investment in the sector to enable us catch up with the rest of the world.”

For the telecoms sector to continue making progress, government policies must be friendly to investors and our regulatory environment must remain transparent so that we can continue to make more progress, Adebayo added.

PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR TALK ON EMPLOYMENT

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Clement Iloh; Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige and the Abuja Managing Director, Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tank Liteng, during a meeting held between the ministry and Huawei Technologies in Abuja... recently

Plateau Partners Firm to Build Fertiliser Blending Plant Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oil and Chemical International, a member of the Duncan Group of companies, to set up a 40 tonnes fertiliser blending plant in Foron in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state.

The state Commissioner of Commerce, Ezekiel Daju, who signed on behalf of the state government, said the occasion was another milestone in the Governor Simon Lalong’s - led administration.

He said: “As we all know, most citizens of our state are farmers and fertiliser is an essential ingredient in Agriculture. Due to the fallen price of oil, the state government has keyed into diversification and our Governor, Simon Lalong has vowed to transform the Agriculture sector in order to boost food production and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.”

He added: “This is the beginning of good and people oriented projects that would happen under the Rescue Administration of Governor Simon Lalong.

He is committed to delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state.”

According to the governor, when completed, plant would create jobs for teeming youths and also boost food production in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Linda Barau, who also said the promises the Governor Simon Lalong’s administration made before coming into office were being implemented.

She noted that the unique geography of the state makes it suitable for the farming of a wide range of exotic and traditional crops for which Plateau is distinguished.”

Speaking on behalf of the company, the director of Operations of Oil and Chemicals International, Michael Ekoja, said Plateau ranks one of the leading agrarian states in the country with over 60 percent of its population engaged in farming.

He said: “Today as oil prices continue to fall and dwindle, financial allocations from the federation account to the states have not only shrunk, but also unstable.

With the grim economic reality of the Nation and state, followed by the renewed commitment of the present administration to economic diversification, there is certainly no better time to tap into the huge agricultural potential of the state for sustainable and equitable development than now.

“It is in view of this that we decided to enter into Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Plateau government to build and operate a blending plant that will service the growing

demand for agro input in the state and boost productivity in the agricultural sector.”

“Until the fertiliser issue is solved and put behind us, there can’t be food security, poverty alleviation, industrialisation, equitable prosperity, measurable growth, and sustainable development.

“It is a known fact that in spite of the large number of people employed in the

agricultural sector, productivity is low and the farmers are poor. To improve the status of farmers , there has to be increased productivity and for this to be achieved, farmers must have access to critical farm inputs and support services like improved seedlings, fertilizers, crop protection products, and other improved agronomic practices.”

Ekoja said the project would be implemented in partnership with the company’s technical partners; Krilax Ltd, London and Fertilizer Consultants Group, India.

“Our technical partner will manage the project for six months, within which they are expected to transfer skill and the management of the facility to the local team”, he added.

Ngige Urges ICT Companies to Support Agriculture, Mining Emma Okonji The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has called on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies in Nigeria to support the economic diversification efforts of the federal government, by deploying ICT solutions for the enhancement of agricultural and mining sectors.

Ngige made the call at a recent meeting with the Abuja Managing Director of Huawei Technologies, Mr. Tank Liteng, and other employees and stakeholders of the company.

He said: “We urge you to support the diversification efforts of the Federal Government by deploying Information and Com munications Technology into agriculture and mining.

These areas are largely untapped and we have a comparative economic advantage therein. Your assistance in these two sectors can help Nigeria gen erate additional revenue need ed to reflate the economy.”

The minister expressed hope that international organisations doing business in the country would take a cue from Huawei, “who has clearly shown their support to President Muhammadu Buhari’s change mantra.”

According to him, Nigeria is currently facing an economic downturn, “which even the developed countries of the world would have witnessed at one time or the other.”

Addressing Liteng, the minister said, “Your country China has passed through it but emerged for reasons of hard work and resilience. Nigeria

shall certainly weather this storm and emerge a stronger and more prosperous nation.”

Ngige also commended Huawei for its set of corporate social responsibility activities in Nigeria, which include the initiative to train 2000 youths in ICT. The minister confirmed that he was fully aware that the selection process for the training had commenced.

Liteng stated that Huawei was committed to being a responsible corporate citizen, saying, “The training initiative is premised on the human capital development of the Nigerian youths in Information Technology.”

This year marks the second edition of the Huawei ICT training programme in the country.

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T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

As Furore over Proposed Communications Tax Bill Heightens Emma Okonji writes that Nigerians from all walks of life are kicking against the proposed Communications Tax Bill that has scaled through the first reading at the National Assembly

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

From the very first day when the idea of introducing the Communications Tax Bill was made public on both floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Nigerians spoke with one voice, condemning the bill, which seeks to increase tax on telecommunication services by additional nine per cent.

They have since then, called on the law makers to drop the idea in the interest of Nigerians, describing it as anti-people bill that is capable of increasing tariff of telecommunications services.

They also described the plan as a move by the federal government to negate the vision of the International Telecoms Union (ITU), which had proposed to African countries to make telecommunications services, including broadband access, a priority and constitutional right for all citizens.

At the recently concluded GSMA Mobile 360 Africa in Tanzania, which focused on accelerated access for a digitally inclusive society within the African continent, the forum condemned government policies that are inimical to easy access and connectivity and called on African governments to amend such policies in a way that will benefit telecoms growth across the continent.

The proposed Communications Tax Bill is one of such policies that the forum frowned on.

However, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa is pushing an anti-people’s bill, at a time when the globe is preaching deeper connectivity in the telecoms sector.

Disturbed by the consequences, which the bill will likely bring upon subscribers of the Nigerian telecoms sector and other sectors that are dependent on telecoms services, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), last week in Lagos, held a forum to debate the proposed Communications Tax Bill.

The proposed bill Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had since February this year, introduced the Communication Service Tax Bill and it has scaled through the first reading.

The bill seeks to impose a nine per cent tax on electronic communication service fee charged by service providers.

Section 2 of the bill provides that the bill shall be levied on the electronic communication services supplied by service providers in the areas of Voice calls, SMS, MMS, Pay per View TV stations and Data usage.

According to a document released by PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), Telecommunication services providers and internet service providers, including subscribers, will be affected by the bill if passed into law.

The tax will be charged by the service provider in addition to the electronic communication service fee. The rate will be nine per cent of

Teniola

the service charge for the use of communication service.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been mandated to take full responsibility for the collection of the tax. FIRS will pay the tax collected together with any interest and penalty into the federation account. The federal government will be responsible for the administration and management of the funds.

If passed into law, all telecoms service providers are to file tax returns and pay the tax due not later than the last working day of the month immediately after the month to which the payment relates, and there shall be penalties for non-compliance, which will attract N 50,000 for failure to file returns on due date and a further N 10,000 for each day the tax returns is not submitted.

The agitations Stakeholders present at the LCCI forum in Lagos condemned the proposed bill, insisting that its economic implications will affect consumers’ purchasing power, which they said negates the principle of neutrality. They maintained that it would also discourage investment and impede development of the telecommunications sector.

They posited that the bill potentially creates and raises the issue of double taxation since Value Added Tax (VAT) Act already imposes tax of five per cent on the supply of goods and services, calling for the suspension of the bill to allow for the rapid growth of the telecommunications sector in line with the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.

Presenting a paper on the topic: ‘Dialogue

President of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo told THISDAY that the subscribers would drag the National Assembly members to court, should they continue to push for the passage of the bill

Ogunbanjo

Session on the Proposed nine per cent Communication Services Tax Bill’, the President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola advised the law makers to listen to the voices of Nigerians, who have outrightly opposed to the bill because of its anti-policy position, and immediately trash the bill.

According to Teniola, “ATCON believes that any calculated actions that have potential to stifle further contribution of the telecoms industry to GDP must be avoided by all tiers of government in Nigeria as the perceived benefits of imposing a Communication Service Tax on telecoms subscribers has the potential to erode if not destroy the achievements that have been made since the telecoms sector was liberated. We therefore advise both the House of Representatives and the Senate to discontinue with the bill.”

“ATCON’s position is that whatever we are doing as a nation must not be done to deter investors from staking their hard earned money on the Nigerian telecommunications businesses; in other words, our policies must continue to be investment friendly. It has been established that revenue from voice is still significant and it must be stressed that the investment that is required to deepen the penetration of broadband in Nigeria is much greater than the one we used to provide voice telephony. In view of this, the said Communications Service Tax Bill should be stepped down so as to encourage investors and make the sector more attractive for foreign direct investors,” Teniola said.

He further explained that ATCON considers the bill unnecessary and prohibitive because the operators in the sectors are already faced with multiplicity of taxation.

Other stakeholders who spoke in one voice, said: “Imposition of Communications Services Tax Bill could stifle innovation and creativity in the sector and this would automatically reverse the gains already made in the past decade. This might lead to increase in unemployment, decrease in revenue accruable to government which would heighten the county’s poverty level.” Although the stakeholders believed that taxation is one of the many ways through which governments all over the world generate income to be able to discharge their duties to the citizens, they, however, said that taxes, which are inimical to economic growth, should be discouraged.

The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) is already conducting and online opinion poll on the issue, and majority of Nigerians are opposing the proposed bill.

President of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo told THISDAY that the subscribers would drag the National Assembly members to court, should they continue to push for the passing of the bill.

Other views The President, LCCI, Chief Nike Akande, acknowledged the fact that the government is seeking to diversify its revenue base in the light of the dwindling oil revenue, but stressed that the private sector players would like to see an investment friendly tax environment, especially in the light of the prevailing high cost of doing business in the country.

She said the ICT sector is very strategic to sustainable growth and development, adding that the sector has witnessed an impressive growth over the last one decade. She quoted the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as saying that Nigeria has become the largest telecoms market in Africa and the Middle East.

Partner, West Africa Tax Leader at PWC, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said the timing and the concept behind the bill could have been better, saying that making decisions without empirical evidences will only lead to wrong decisions.

He added that engagement with stakeholders in the industry and the users of the services have not been taken into consideration, saying that stakeholders must give their views before such bill is passed into law.

Government’s position However, the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, who was also present at the LCCI forum in Lagos, stated that the bill has commenced legislative process and has passed its first reading.

The minister stated that according to many schools of thought, the bill seeks to impose additional charges on users of electronic communication services in Nigeria.

He added that the proposed national ICT roadmap is poised to set out the intent and commitment of the government to continue the development of the ICT sector and implement the sector policies and plans in an integrated, focused and innovative manner that aligns with the change mantra of the current administration.

Shittu pointed out that the present administration’s goal is to provide cost effective, ubiquitous ICT access for overall national development, stating that as government plans to increase revenue, makes the bill worthy of consideration.

“I have been reliably informed that the projected earnings from this effort is over N20 billion every month, which is N240 billion yearly and this is an attraction to the government in funding our budget deficits. I must be quick to say that this government has got a human face twined around its decisions,” Shittu said.

Following the heightened agitation against the proposed Telecoms Tax Bill, it will be appropriate if the federal government and the National Assembly members listen to the voice of the people who will bear the bulk of the effect of the bill, when it is eventually passed into law.

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T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Of NITDA and Technology Devt Emma Okonji examines the role of the National Information Technology Development Agency in an era of economic recession Several developing countries, including Nigeria have come to realise the importance of information technology (IT) in building economies, creating wealth and enhancing the potential of individuals.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, while on official visit to Omatek Ventures in Lagos last month, reiterated government’s plan to reposition Nigeria through economic diversification in the area of IT. Several government agencies, including NITDA that has the mandate to formulate and implement IT policies for the country, have also stressed the need for IT development across all sectors of the Nigerian economy, if Nigeria must overcome its present economic recession.

The acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, during his official visit to Sidmach Technologies in Lagos last week, spoke of the need for collaboration between government and the private sector. He said such collaboration would bring about synergy that will result in homegrown technology solutions that could address the needs of the country, corporate organisations, as well as individual needs.

A close examination of the mandate of NITDA, which empowers it to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of information technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria, shows that NITDA has all it takes to reposition the country and raise the country above its current state of recession.

NITDA’s role therefore is to develop information technology in the country through regulatory standards, guidelines and policies.

Challenged by its role, Olatunji said NITDA would fulfill its mandate through research and development, as well as human capital and infrastructure development, which he said had since commenced. If well-articulated and planned, NITDA might just be the body that will drive technology development in the country, and save Nigeria from further economic recession.

Collaboration Addressing the need for collaboration between government and the private sector, Olatunji said the agency had in the past collaborated with the private sector to boost technology development in the country. Speaking during his recent visit to Sidmach Technologies, Olatunji commended the technology company for its homegrown solutions, which he said were already enhancing the processes of examinations conducted by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as well as enhancing e-Curriculum and the activities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“I am proud to be associated with Sidmach Technologies for supporting our drive for eGovernment initiative, which is about government rendering services to the people. We need technology skills development in the country and we are proud to have Sidmach Technologies as one of our strategic partners in the drive for national development, using IT,” Olatunji said.

He said the visit to Sidmach Technologies became important because NITDA is trying to fashion a new direction that will make government realise that the ICT sector, if well positioned, can leapfrog the county technologically.

During period of economic recession, what most countries do to get out of the situation is to invest in human capital. We have seen it in Singapore, Korea, China, and India and today, the entire world is looking up to these three countries to tap into their technology skills.

“Some fifteen years ago, the world looked down on the products that came from Taiwan and other Asian countries because the world saw their products as substandard. Today they have learnt their lessons. What they did was to go back to the drawing board and re-analysed their production process and at the end of the day, they came out with

L-R: Acting Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji; Managing Director, Sidmach Technologies, Chief Peter Arogundade, and a director at Sidmach, during the official visit of NITDA’s team to Sidmach Technologies in Lagos...recently

more realistic products that the world is now patronising. Thy have suddenly turned out to become the hub of information technology globally,” Olatunji said.

“So for Nigeria to become the hub of business for Africa, government must not leave it in the hands of private sector alone, but collaborate with them, in order to achieve results, he added. “Nigeria needs collaboration and partnerships to grow rapidly and to achieve this, we must stop trading blames at people for past mistakes,” he added.

ICT as main driver It is the vision of NITDA to position information and communications technology (ICT) as the main driver of the Nigerian economy by investing in human capital development to produce people that will develop technology solutions who will address Nigerian peculiarity and further drive the Nigerian economy. In order to accomplish the vision, NITDA has begun tour of private organisations around the country with a view to having strong business collaboration with some of them on how to drive the Nigerian economy, using ICT. Lack of trust for locally developed technology solutions, especially with local software development, has forced many organisations, including government agencies, to depend on foreign software solutions. But experts have insisted that software solution developed in

We will ensure that Sidmach Technologies deliver on all commitments and projects given to the organisation to execute, and we restate our support towards the actualisation of various goals and projects of NITDA

foreign countries cannot be successful in Nigeria because of the peculiarity of the Nigerian business terrain, but that any locally developed software that works in Nigeria, will work perfectly well in order African counties.

Most youths in Nigeria have ideas but do not know how to turn the ideas into viable solutions. They need to be supported to grow their solution and contribute to national development, hence the need for collaboration as emphasised by NITDA. According to Olatunji, NITDA had to establish the office of ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development in order to drive local content and encourage homegrown solutions. NITDA is willing to support Sidmach Technologies in various ways as well as other technology companies that are capable of solving the countries challenges “What we need do is to continue to support Sidmarch Technologies in various areas.

Already Sidmach is working with NITDA on the eGovernment strategy. What we have to do is to incorporate the company into the National e-Government plan of the federal government,” Olatunji said.

Capacity building One area through which Nigeria could develop fast and catch up with the rest of the world, is by engaging more in capacity and human capital development. NITDA, it was gathered, is already building human capital in preparation for implementation. Plans have been submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and it is only awaiting approval to begin the implementation. It is expected that once approvals are made, NITDA shall begin collaborating with more stakeholders to execute IT projects in the country.

The agency said it plans to work with innovation hubs around the country and embark on training and retraining of Nigerians in order to boost human capacity development skills.

Empowering startups Another way to enhance IT development in Nigeria, is by supporting technology startups who have great ideas, but lack the financial support to push their ideas beyond certain limits.

Angel investors within and outside Nigeria are looking at ways to groom young software app developers whose solutions are economically viable.

Last year, NITDA set aside N50 million to sponsor 10 startups in different hubs across the

country to GITEX 2015 in Dubai, where they showcased homegrown technology solutions from Nigeria to the outside world.

“What we plan doing next is to set up a national innovation fund for startups, to enable them draw funds from it to start their businesses at small scale. Aside the fund, we will provide them with office space from where they could start their business,” Olatunji said.

“Few months ago we visited Silicon Valley in India and we saw what the startups were doing there and we want to replicate some of the things they do there in Nigeria. We discovered that most of the global brand today, started as startups from incubation centres and we are trying to replicate that in Nigeria,” Olatunji said.

He said NITDA had to develop a programme under the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) that is basically hands-on training to equip fresh graduates with technology skills for three months. After the training we deployed them to companies for nine months in order to build the capacities that they needed to work with companies and the first set of trainees graduated last month.

“Now we had 100 trained interns in the first batch and after the training, we advertised them to the labour market for job placement and over 700 companies applied for the 100 trained candidates. This showed that the labour market actually wants to employ Nigerian graduates but they are not employable because they lack the technology skills needed by labour market,” Olatunji said.

ICT policy Managing Director, Sidmach Technologies, Chief Peter Arogundade, while receiving the NITDA team, called on government to formulate and implement IT policies that would enhance growth of small and big organisations.

“We strongly believe that the Nigerian IT market has great potentials and will become a point of reference across Africa and the world. We seek the continuous support of the agency to create policies and opportunities for the growth of indigenous companies.

We assure you that Sidmach will deliver on commitments and projects given to the organisation to execute, and we restate our support towards the actualisation of various goals and projects of NITDA. NITDA’s collaboration and support for startups and technology companies that were fully established, no doubt, would enable the agency meet its mandate to formulate and implement IT policies for national development.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

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BUSINESSWORLD Diamond Bank, Code Camp Set to Train 500,000 Children on Coding Skill Stories by Emma Okonji Diamond Bank, in collaboration with Code Camp Africa will train 500,000 Nigerian children on computer programming and coding within a short period of time. In preparation for objective, the organisations have already trained some of the children. The teens between the ages of seven years to 15 years, were trained over a period of five weeks on computer coding and technology development.

Showcasing the children, who benefitted from the training in Lagos recently to the delight of their parents, the Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, expressed satisfaction over the children’s performance in coding and website design in just few weeks of intense training that was packed full with extra curriculum activities. He explained that the bank’s vision of empowering young Nigerians with the language of technology, was to equip Nigerian children with technology skills, especially those that have developed interest in computing.

“The future of almost everything nowadays is technology and will depend on the ability to use technology. The Western world is outsourcing jobs to India because of this ability to write code. It is paramount that we develop in this area of development,” Dozie said.

“In 10 years’ time, the kids can work in Nigeria and across the world. It is

critical that we equip them with the ability to code and understand the language of technology,” he added.

Code Camp Africa promoter, Mr. Edwin Momife said the vision of the organisation is to train at least 500, 000 youngsters in coding within a short period of time.

“If you learn how to code you become a global citizen.

We need Nigerians to get to code and use technology to solve problems,” Momife said.

Head, Retail Banking Businesses, Diamond Bank, Mr. Robert Giles said the bank was motivated to partner Code Camp Africa in training the children because it became interested in developing Nigerian children digitally, being one of the foremost banks in Nigeria that is promoting technology development in the financial sector.

“It is important to develop Nigerian children technologically when they are still young and when they grow with technology skills, they will become stars in computer coding and other areas of computing. With technology skills, they could develop technology solutions that will address the needs of Nigerians,” Giles said.

The technology skills they acquire over the years will help generate employment in the future and also develop the society. The children will grow to become future employers of labour and create initiative that will enhance development,” Giles added.

BICSI Forum Harps on Increased ICT Infrastructure for Nigeria BICSI Group, a professional association that supports information technology systems, covering spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety and security, including project management, last week in Lagos called for the need to deepen ICT infrastructure in Nigeria, to enable the country deliver real time ICT services to its teeming populace.

Participants, who gathered for the one day forum, spoke on the need for increased ICT infrastructure for the country, owing to the high demand for ICT services from Nigerians.

Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Technical Standard and Network Integrity at NCC, Fidelis Onah, commended BICSI, a United States -based infrastructure company, for holding this year’s BICSI conference and exhibition in Nigeria. Although he commended the growth of mobile telecoms infrastructure in the country, he expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of fixed line infrastructure in the country.

According to him, “Mobile broadband infrastructure is rapidly developing in the country but that cannot be said

of fixed broadband infrastructure, where the performance has been very paltry. It is clear to all that every country of the world ranking high in ICT, has a highly developed fixed line infrastructure. All traffics generated by wireless networks are quickly deposited into fixed line infrastructure, which transport the data to their routed destinations, thereby guaranteeing good quality of services.”

He therefore stressed the need for increased fixed line infrastructure in the Nigerian telecoms space.

Speaking on the importance of ICT infrastructure, especially the fixed line infrastructure, Danbatta said true broadband services were only attainable in a country when there is a robust fixed infrastructure in the international, backbone, metro and access layers within that country.

He said Nigeria is currently connected to the world through the landing of some international submarine cables like SAT 3, MainOne, Glo1 and MTN WACS, while calling on government and the private sector to collaborate in order to extend the capacities of such international cables to the hinterlands, where they are most needed.

E-BUSINESS

NITDA Unveils NYSC ICT Centre, 36 More Underway Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The management of the National Information Technology Development Centre (NITDA), on Tuesday commissioned a fully equipped Information Communications Technology (ICT) Centre, otherwise called Knowledge Access Venues (KAV), for serving youth corps members in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

At the commissioning of the centre in Kubwa, FCT, the acting Director General of NITDA, Mr. Vincent Olatunji, pledged the agency’s commitment to establish additional 36 ICT Centres in all NYSC orientation camps across the country. He said the essence of establishing the Centres is to

align the country to the shift of using ICT knowledge and tools to drive economies of the world. According to him, the development is a paradigm from people and government relying on resource to create jobs and wealth for the citizens.

The DG, expressed optimism that the agency will cover the entire within the next three months, adding that the need to equip the orientation camps was the outcome of a survey it carried out in 2000 on the state of ICT infrastructure in schools across the con try.

He said: “The expectation of NITDA is that these Centres will become a knowledge centre to be used by the Corpers for self and capital development that will help in advancing Nigeria

to knowledge economy.”

In a remark, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier Sule Zakari Kazaure, commended NITDA for the assistance and partnership to develop the youths through ICT. He said: “That the NYSC has the biggest collection of the youth segment capable of transforming the country cannot be overemphasised.

“Therefore, technological investment in the scheme by critical stakeholders such as NITDA is very important.”

He promised that the agency will guarantee its fair use and maintenance for posterity and national development.

While urging the management of FCT NYSC to make use of it, he added that the

agency will provide broadband access to the venue for 365 days after which the centre will be expected to sustain itself. In another development, Olatunji while also commissioning another KAV at Abaji Council, urged the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Abdulrahman Ajia and the traditional ruler of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, to make the venue accessible to the entire community.

According to him, the tenacity of the traditional ruler in demanding for the facilities coupled with the interest of Ajia, no doubt, contributed to the speedy delivery of the facility made of 15 desk top computer, printer, photo copy machine and a large wall monitor.

SMART CITIES ON THEIR MINDS

L-R: MD/CEO, InfoGraphics, Chineye Mba-Uzoukwu; MD/CEO, eMaginationsPR, Sola Fanawopo; MD/CEO, Resourcery, Tani Fafunwa; Senior Manager, MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Aliyu and Chairman, Smart Cities Initiative Group of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chioma Nkechika, all speakers at the quarterly eNNovators Breakfast Series on Building Tomorrow’s Smart Cities, hosted by eMaginationsPR in Lagos...recently

Kobo Offers Free Delivery of 1000kg Package for 500 SMEs Nigeria’s premiere asset free online logistics firm, Kobo360 has announced a free delivery service for small and medium enterprises, SMEs in Nigeria.

Tagged: #Kobofreedeliveries, the free service will see Kobo moving about one metric tonne package for over 500 SMEs and individuals that will qualify.

Entries for the free service, which started since August 20, will close on Wednesday, August 31, 2016. All shortlisted entries will see their packages moved to any destination of choice both within and outside Nigeria at no cost.

SMEs and individuals can participate by visiting the Kobo website, and filling the form to indicate their pickup locations and destinations. Only 500 SMEs will be selected through a random selection and will have their packages moved across the country and internationally.

However for those that may not be selected, Kobo will be offering them a 50 per cent discount on their next shipment to any location across the country or any part of the world.

Speaking on the motivation for the free service, Co-founder, Kobo, Obi Ozor, said: “As you know, logistics, which includes package delivery, postal delivery, etc as a concept, is one that Nigerian companies still struggle with intensely. In fact, in a country with more than 75 million businesses and over 190 million people who need things moved around every day, there still is not a viable, reliable and affordable logistics solution to move goods in a safe and certain manner, until now. This is the gap that Kobo has come in to fill.”

“More so, people need to become aware of the service we have, especially when we talk of speed and affordability. Our solution leverages individual participation and reputable logistics partners in the delivery of packaged goods, effectively democratising the logistics industry. So our free delivery service is indeed a strategy to getting people to become aware of this solution which is truly disrupting the industry and providing a solution to the logistics challenge in Nigeria,” Ozor added.

Epic Hausa Series, Kukan Kurciya Debuts On StarTimes StarTimes has announced the launch of a new Hausa epic TV series “Kukan Kurciya”on the popular Hausa channel ST Dadin Kowa on StarTimes channel 162/404.

Featuring popular award winning Kannywood diva, Hannatu Bashir as star actress, Kukan Kurciya hits Dadin Kowa every Saturday at 7 p.m from 13 August 2016.

“Kukan Kurciya” is a new pulsating action packed adventure series set in old Northern Nigeria, vividly depicting an epic battle between kingdoms over land, cattle, women, river and natural resources. The movie is shot in the ancient towns of Kaduna, Zaria and other historical locations in the North. It is indeed a series that will keep you glued to your seat.

In the Series, Hannatu relives the famous Queen Amina of Zazzau with much zeal and gusto riding horses with a very dangerous spear to fight enemies. The story also revolves around love, fight, revenge, betrayal and suspense. It chronicles fierce battle between two clans,

fighting over leadership of the kingdom. It all started after the death of a king who was very rich. His relatives battle the children over resources, the relatives then devised means to dismantle the family, making the children run for survival. One of the kids grew up to become the flag-bearer in the kingdom.

The series parades a galaxy of stars including Zahradeen Sani, Al-amin Buhari, Sadi Sawaba, and Hawwa Waraka, El- Abdul, Ladidi Tubless and Hannatu Bashir. Hannatu who also played prominent roles in Hausa film series like ‘Dare Biyu’, ‘Mairo’, ‘Kukan Kurciya’, ‘Hindu’ and other high budget films, promises her fans to expect ample of suspense, intrigue and passion in the series, as she added that the movie “Kukan Kurciya” is setting a standard that can hardly be beaten.

Other Interesting programmes on ST Dadinkowa are: Yan Zamani, showing on Sundays; NauyiMai Dadi, showing Monday to Friday; and Mace Acikin Iyalin Masu Takubba, showing Monday.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

HowSenatePlanstoStimulateanEconomyinRecession Chuks Okocha highlights some of the steps taken by the Senate to stimulate Nigeria’s sliding economy The passage of the Public Procurement Bill by the 8th Senate would not have come at a more auspicious time than now. The bill when concurred to by the House of Representatives and assented into law by President Muhammadu Buhari would turn out to be the tonic needed to grow the Nigerian economy that is said to be currently in recession.

The reasons for this are simple. The bill will help to curb the frequent capital flight and increase the patronage of local content by empowering local companies to produce locally made goods. Also, it will help fight and reduce corruption in this era of crusade against corruption. In other words, the bill when eventually passed into law will enhance transparency and competitiveness, the ingredients needed for national growth.

For instance, in section 34 of the bill titled, ‘Domestic Preference’ it says, “A procuring entity shall grant a margin of preference in the evaluation of tenders, when comparing tenders from domestic bidders with those from foreign bidders or when comparing tenders from domestic suppliers offering goods manufactured locally with those offering goods manufactured abroad.”

This is a welcomed development as preferences would be given to goods made in Nigeria.

This is by no means meant to whittle down standards. No. There are several made in Nigeria goods that can compete favourably with foreign made goods, but due to the craze for foreign goods, such locally manufactured goods suffer neglect, whereas goods that are of sub-standard qualities are given patronage by Nigerians. A very good example is in the textile industry.

This law will help in curbing capital flight and improving the value of the local currency, the Naira. By so, doing, that is, by increased preferential patronage of the local industries, the usual practice of transferring profit to the home country of the manufactures would be gradually reduced. The new bill has capacity to also assist and support local business community to become competitive and efficient suppliers to the public sector.

One of the problems of public procurement in Nigeria is delayed payment by government agencies. But this bill has an answer that would cure this. In section 37, it proposed payment of interests for any delayed payment. This would act as a panacea to local competitors that took bank loans to execute government contracts.

There are several Nigerian companies (from all sectors) that are technically competent and with human capacity but lack the requisite capital to compete or bid for contracts to be awarded by government ministries and agencies, However in the proposed amendment that

Bukola Saraki

have been passed by the senate, the usual practice of 15 percent mobilisation fee is to be increased. Under the new plan, the mobilisation fee is to be increased to not more than 25 per cent. This idea is to give financial strength to technically competent Nigerians companies to bid and tender for big government contracts.

Another aspect of this bill, especially in this era of the anti- corruption mantra is the open competitive bidding. According to section 24 of the bill, “all procurement of goods and works by all procurement entities shall be conducted by open competitive bidding.” This means that everything that regards government procurement shall be transparently done. Bye bye to ‘long leg and god fatherism’. Every qualified bidder shall be given equal opportunity.

This bill that is currently awaiting concurrence by the House of Representatives will seek to harmonise all government policies as regards procurement in standards and benchmarks. It will also ensure application of fair competition, cost effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.

It is in line with this position that the chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Sam Egwu, said that he championed bill that amended the Procurement Act to encourage local manufacturers to invest more in local

Opera, Google Partner to Drive Progressive Web Apps Stories by Emma Okonji With over 350 million users of Opera web browser per month, among which 21 million are from Nigeria, Opera said it is targeting to raise the global number of users on its Opera web browser to one billion anytime soon.

To achieve its target, Opera, last week in Lagos, announced its partnership with Google to drive Progressive Web Apps for the growing population of Opera web browser users.

Currently, Nigeria has the largest population of users of Opera web browser in Africa and the third largest user globally.

Announcing the new partnership deal with Google that is expected to enhance the accessibility and usability of Progressive Web Apps for mobile phone users,

ments and agencies (MDAs) will end up the procurement with foreign goods and services, leaving our local manufacturers who produce such things without patronage.

“You know that importation is not done with the local currency; importation is done with foreign currency, and this causes a lot of pressure on the foreign reserve, and it keeps depleting everyday. But when we now patronise our made in Nigeria goods, there will be no need for much pressure on our forex”.

Egwu also stated that the Senate, in the new proposal, increased the contract mobilisation fee from the current 15 per cent to 25 per cent, as a means of addressing the issue of rampant cases of abandoned projects across the country. According to him, when contractors are mobilised with reasonable percentage of the contract sum, they will have no reason not to execute the project but when the mobilisation fee is small, they can be tempted to leave the contract undone.

He also stated that the improved mobilisation fee would facilitate timely completion of contract procurement process, which used to drag under the extant procurement Act. He further explained that the Senate decided to remove the power of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to approve contracts and ceded the power to the National Council on Public Procurement, NCPP. The legislator pointed out that the National Council on Public Procurement would be made up of professionals and bureaucrats, who know the right decisions to take in order to make things work.

For instance, Egwu noted that the Senate also approved the inclusion of Nigerian institute of Architects and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors as members of the Council.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who did not hide his excitement over the passage of the bill by 8th Senate, said that the new amendments to the act would help stimulate the nation’s economy. According to the Senate President, “We all have a role to play to ensure that the Executive comply especially in the area of giving first priority to locally produced goods.

“This has helped many countries to develop when they had issues of downturn in their economy.

“I want to commend my colleagues for passing this bill,” he said. The passage of this all important bill is in line with the agenda of the 8th senate to encourage local manufacturers by championing procurement of made in Nigeria goods and enthrowing transparency into the economy.

Android Product Manager and Development Relations Lead at Opera, Mr. Andreas Bovens said the initiative would result in considerable data savings for users.

Addressing journalists, after a recent Progressive Web Apps (PWA) roadshow in Lagos, Bovens said cost of internet access is still on the high side, even though the cost is gradually being reviewed downwards. He explained that the high cost forced most Nigerians to be more cautious when downloading apps, and they have since developed a new trend of ‘side-load’ apps from laptops and desktop computers, from where they install it to their mobile phones.

According to him, PWAs provide the convenience of an app, including push notifications, along with faster speed and offline support, without

incurring the data cost. “PWAs also take up less storage space than traditional applications, making them ideal for use with smartphones,” Bovens said.

Unlike normal apps that often require access to personal information before launching, PWAs only request such permission when needed, thus allowing users to better control their privacy, Bovens added.

Explaining the high cost of internet access in Nigeria and how PWAs was designed to allow users download more apps at reduced cost, Bovens said although mobile internet penetration in Nigeria currently stood at 94 per cent, the cost of data continues to be a significant barrier to internet access, which means Nigeria would have surpassed 94 per cent mobile internet penetration and broadband penetration, which is currently put at 10

production. He also said the bill if passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, would put an end to capital flight.

Sam Egwu who, threw more light on why he proposed an amendment to the existing act, said his decision was predicated on what he termed as “high quantum of capital flight taking place in the country on yearly basis.”

He explained that the new legislation made it compulsory for ministries, departments and agencies of government to first seek to procure certain percentage of locally made goods before considering foreign products, where such local products are available.

According to the former governor of Ebonyi stated: “I was inspired by the fact that I realised that a lot of money is appropriated for capital projects every year and most of these funds end up in the hands of foreign companies that produce the goods and services that we need.

“This is because once a budget is passed, it simply goes for procurement of goods and services. Then you start asking yourself, what is the fate of this huge amount of money that has been appropriated in a local economy?

“You will find out that more often than not the money so appropriated just ends up in - Okocha is a Special Assistant to the President capital flight because the ministries, depart- of Senate on Print Media

OdooSME ERP Solution Launched to Boost SME Growth A new software solution has been developed and launched into the market, designed to support the business growth Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and to revolutionise the way small businesses are done in Nigeria.

The solution, known as OdooSME, was developed by Matt O’ Bell Limited, with all the features of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), but at reduced price of N500 per user per month for each module in a particular plan.

Announcing the solution at a media launch in Lagos recently, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Matt O’ Bell Ltd, Mr. Dare Ojo-Bello, said “OdooSME is a robust ERP software developed for SMEs. It is simply a business application that allows SMEs

to run their businesses more transparently, efficiently and ultimately helping them improve productivity and profitability.”

OdooSME was developed from Odoo software application that was initiated over 11 years ago for big corporate organisations, with the aim of providing SMEs with the same technology tools that has helped the efficiency and productivity of big companies across the world.

ERP solution a single database that integrates all the functions and strategic business units of an organisation.

It helps in better coordination among entities, business units and operations, administration and enforcement of control and business processes, delivery of accurate and real time financial reports and much more. It is

on this same ERP platform that OdooSME was established, to provide the same features for the smooth running of SME business in Nigeria, but at a much discounted rate.

OdooSME is a suit of Odoo modules delivered as a Subscription-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution to SMEs. Modules available include: Accounting, Budgeting, Fixed Assets, Account Receivable, Account Payable, General Ledger, Sales, Purchase, Inventory, CRM, POS, HR/Payroll, Project Management, Manufacturing, e-commerce, Website Builder, Document Management, Instant Messaging, among others.

“By integrating all of these modules into single software, OdooSME is more of a communication tool amongst users,” Ojo-Bello said.

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BUSINESSWORLD

CONSUMER

Repositioning Campari through Ambassadorial Appointment

2Baba’s

As consumer scepticism about advertising continues to grow, brand owners are looking for ways to further entrench their brands in the market. That was what happened recently when the promoters of Campari, a bitter aperitif from the stable of Brian Munro appointed Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba as the brand’s ambassador. Raheem Akingbolu reports Many things are currently working against advertising as a positioning tool. Today, mass paid for advertising appears no longer reaches as many people as cost effectively as it did previously. Experts have attributed this to both the fragmentation of media (due to greater choice of channels), and also due to the growth of online and social media. In a recent Nielson survey, only 33% of consumers said they trust paid advertisements, but a whopping 92% trust peer recommendations.

This explains why most companies now appoint celebrities as ambassadors to leverage on their huge followers. Under such arrangement, the brand for which the ambassador is appointed enjoy positive word of mouth advert among consumers as long as the image of the ambassador remains intact. It however becomes a different ball game if the ambassador is trailed by any scandalous act. This notwithstanding, celebrity endorsement and brand ambassadorship still remain relevant tools for positioning globally.

It is believed that brand ambassadors humanise products because people like to buy from people. Although organisations traditionally brand themselves through logos and symbols, social media offers an opportunity to do more.

Today in Nigeria and other places, ambassadors are emotionally engaged with company’s brand promise and they espouse the brand value promoters of such brands promise to deliver to their customers. It is in the very fabric of their personalities to want to share information, solve problems and help others.

Campari example Towards the end of April, precisely during the 4th edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference, promoters of Campari in Nigeria announced Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba as the new brand ambassador for Nigeria. A first of its kind, not a few gathered there punched their calculators to determine the worth of the endorsement deal.

Known all over the world as a premium liqueur, the deal is said to be a continuation of Campari’s commitment in creating legacies with its signature products. In its over 150 years of existence, the brand has made monumental leaps in the entertainment industry with notable names in Hollywood. From Penelope Cruz to Kate Hudson, these celebrities have participated

A vintage brand, Campari’s deal goes beyond the red carpet photos and publicity photo sessions. Its mascot must embody the brand which is why most of its ambassadors are taken to Milan, where its history lies.

It is against this background that Campari took the giant stride to make 2Baba the first African ambassador to visit the historic summer home recently.

To get fully acquainted with his new brand, tubaba’s trip to know more about Campari was remarkable. Accompanied by his friend and manager of many years, Efe Omorogbe, Campari Head of Marketing, Abayomi Ajao and Public Relations expert, Ayeni Adekunle, the trip was said to have all the embellishments of classic style.

The group was given a tour round the historical landmarks. From the galleria that houses iconic designs of the Campari’s bottles to a master class in the Campari Academy. The singer also got a chance to make his own signature cocktail ‘Implication Shekarito.’ Perhaps, the peak of the trip was having lunch at the founder’s summer home where two generations lived.

For 2Baba, the trip is a historical one and a continuation of his relationship with the brand.

It is another first for the artiste whose stardom is marked with splendid firsts.

Behold! the face of the ambassador

in the liqueur’s signature activities.

While it has been in Nigeria for many years, no African celebrity has been given the opportunity to represent the brand on a global scale. Therefore, when it was revealed that the iconic ‘African Queen’ hit maker was the preferred choice in a list of robust African celebrities, it was indeed received with heavy applause.

Speaking on the rationale behind the appointment, the Head of Marketing Campari, Abayomi Ajao reiterated the unique traits that made 2Baba the best choice at the unveiling.

“2Baba is a wonderful gentleman who is a great brand in his own right. We were particular about partnering with him because he embodies

the values that the Campari brand represents – originality, passion, maturity and universal appeal. It is a mutually beneficial relationship and we can’t wait to start working with each other,” he said.

The journey so far With the appointment, the brand owners and the ambassador thus began a fresh journey together to reposition the brand in various markets. From a lavish bash to honour the singer’s latest academic prowess to a promotional campaign that saw lucky winners go on an all expense paid safari trip with the artiste in Kenya as well as witnessing his laudable concert Buckwyld and Breathless.

Brand profile Founded by Gaspare Campari in the 1860s, the Campari’s legacy is buried in the colossal property which serves as the Campari’s global headquarters and houses corporate offices, a multi-purpose venue, first-class museum, and an academy. Before its modern transformation, the site was a home to the locales as it was Gaspare’s famous Caffe Campari. The bar was the first in the city and drew tourist attractions.

Gaspare, a humble bartender innovated the signature Campari bitters at a very young age.

The success of his own bar led to the creation of other cream liqueurs and bitters in the confines of his basement.

Today, Campari has gone beyond its local production in Italy to a global brand with presence in over 190 countries in the world.

It has also acquired major drinks brand across the world, positioning itself a major competitor in the liqueur industry. These efforts are part of the vintage brand to maintain its relevance as a classic stylish drink.

7even Interactive Reaffirms Commitment to Firm Introduces New Beverage to the Nigeria Beat Old Records Market One year after establishment, the management of 7even Interactive, has restated its commitment to redefine the advertising industry and promote originality of ideas and creatives. As the agency marks its one year of operation, its Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Taiwo Agboola said the company has been able to make a mark in the industry because of what he described as ‘uncommon thinking’ He pointed out that his agency has participated in many pitches with older firms and clinched the accounts. He made reference to the Fidelity Bank creative business, which he said the agency won on merit because of the uniqueness of its presentation.

He said: The urge to shatter old records has continued to set 7even Interactive apart as it drives us to see things from different perspectives rather than being bogged down with old beliefs and idiosyncrasies. So, it has been a potpourri of good successes and as I speak, we are expecting results of three pitches” Other businesses residing with the creative firm include; Main One, GAC Motors, CMA- one of the biggest media companies in Nigeria and owners of Sound TV and Sun Salt.,” Agboola said.

Speaking on the Fidelity bank rebranding which practically announced the entry of the agency into mainstream advertising; Agboola said the bank was in search of a new

identity that will project it as not just a bank in search of customers’ deposits but a partner that is ready to meet the needs of customers.

That briefing is what gave birth to “Tough Job”, a classic campaign that has attracted positive reviews stakeholders.

Tough job is not the usual run of the mill bank advert. The 60 seconds cut of the TVC shows a group of people expertly undertaking strenuous and physical tasking exercises which reflected that Fidelity is mentally and physically prepared and certified to take the customer through seemingly daunting business and financial requirements.

The series of press and radio campaigns have been equally impressive.

A leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods company in Nigeria, Denna Rossi Limited has introduced Clue Vitamin Beverage to the Nigeria market to meet up the high demand of the increasingly healthconscious society.

In a Press Statement signed by the Head, Marketing/ Corporate Services of the company, Ifeanyi Nihe, the new offering provides a healthy, hydrating, and rejuvenating miracle elixir.

It reduces the risk of chronic disease like diabetes, gives more energy and provides a healthier immune system.

According to him, “Clue Vitamin Beverage is an alternative to soft drink and other fruit juices. It’s refreshing and healthy for an active lifestyle.

Clue Vitamin Beverage has

been designed to be sipped neat, mixed or in cocktails and offers innovative and unique gourmet and luxury experiences with extensive nutrient enrichment,” He gave some of its nutritional attributes to include immune support and antioxidant properties. In addition, nutrients were said to often juxtapose with messages related to performance and emotional well-being and benefits that go beyond conventional nutritional science.

“It has extensive micronutrient additions at levels often well in excess of nutrient requirements and very good for daily vitamin needs.

Clue Vitamin Beverage is made from highly purified water, natural flavor, citric

acid, ascorbic acid, vitamins A, C, E, B6 and B12.

Thus, Clue Vitamin Beverage provides most of the vitamins essential for the body. So drinking Clue Vitamin Beverage gives the benefit of water and vitamin replenishment at the same time,” he said.

The statement also quoted the Chief Executive/Managing Director of the company, Dr. Ifeanyi Nwafor, as saying that the product provides the benefits of water along with enjoyable flavors and added nutrients which can replenish the body. It can also provide anti-aging effects because of its anti-oxidant contents. These antioxidants protect the body from free radicals that cause cell damage and serious eye diseases.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Power, Infrastructure, Others, Top Priority List at Made-In-Nigeria Festival Raheem Akingbolu Five key sectors of the economy - Power & Infrastructure, Agriculture, Technology, Manufacturing and Sports & Entertainment, will be the focus of participants at the maiden edition of the Made-In-Nigeria (MaIN), Festival, the organisers have stated. It is billed to hold from September 26th – October 1st, 2016, in Lagos According to a statement issued by the organisers, the event will be an international festival of ideas, innovations

and opportunities that will bring the world to Nigeria to explore and engage the best it has to offer in the five key sectors.

Shedding light on the initiative, the organisers explained that their objective is to enhance innovation and creativity, promote a buy-Nigeria culture, stimulate key growth sectors, create jobs as well as facilitate trade and investment across the five key sectors.

“This initiative further seeks to renew the social contract between

government and the private sector, and also, drive the establishment of a new order.

In this regard, the initiators, emphasized, every Nigerian has a role to play and a responsibility to reignite the economy and improve the quality of Made-In Nigeria products and services,” the statement stated.

With 14 engaging business and trade related events lined up, MaIN Festivalpromises to be invigorating. They include: The MaIN Expo, MaIN Idea, MaIN Agenda, MaIN Summit and The Supremacy.

Open to all Nigerian brands and businesses providing products and services for the Nigerian market, Madein-Nigeria (MaIN) Expo, was designed to create opportunities and foster networking. Over 600 exhibitors comprising global brands and Nigeria’s biggest brands and businesses make up the exposition.

MaIN Expo will cover over 22 sectors including key thematic areas. They include: food and beverage, auto, healthcare, fashion and beauty, telecommunications,

furniture, banking and finance.

The Made-In-Nigeria (MaIN) idea –is a private sector-driven initiative that seeks to create a platform for the maximum expression of the true Nigerian spirit of creativity, enterprise and resilience among others.

The MaIN Agenda would serve as a concrete action proposal that details urgent interventions in each of the 5 key growth sectors.

The organisers further stated that the summit will be a platform for government leaders, private sector and industry

experts to address matters related to Nigeria’s economy.

It has also been stated that it would serve as a medium to explore opportunities, exchange innovative ideas and forge new partnerships.

The Made- In - Nigeria Festival is being organised by the MaIN Group, a collaboration of private sector organisations.

Board of Advisors of the initiative include: Prince Adesegun Oniru, Mr. Aliko Dangote, Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Okoli, Mr. Ronald Chagoury, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

LaCasera Clears Air on Product Health Safety, Noah’s Ark Relocates to New Office Opens Factory Door to Media In reaction to injurious rumours on the LaCasera brand, the LaCasera Company on Thursday opened its factory doors to stakeholders and journalists, who took a tour of its production plant in Lagos.

The tour exposed stakeholders, including representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and Standard Organisation of Nigeria to the production process of the LaCasera brand from manufacturing of its pet bottles to warehouse storage.

The brand had negative

experience in 2015, with rumours in the Social media claiming it contained chemical substance injurious to human health. Addressing journalists shortly after the tour, Managing Director LaCasera Company, Roland Ebelt explained that the reason for the tour is to clear any doubt customers might have had about the brand by allowing the media and industry regulators see the production process themselves.

He said: “Today’s tour is in reaction to negative rumours about LaCasera. During the heat of the rumour, we felt it won’t be right to jump to the media in defence. Instead, we contacted

the regulators who took time to conduct their investigation and thereafter certified LaCasera safe for consumption.

“We invited you here because we believe that seeing is better than hearing. That is why we have decided to open our doors wide to the consumers through the eyes of both the regulators and the media. We urge our consumers to disregard every negative rumour about LaCasera.”

Representative of the Director General of NAFDAC, Williams Effiong on his part disclosed that the Agency investigated the rumour and discovered that it was misleading.

Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading creative advertising agencies has deepened its operation with fresh businesses.

The firm also announced relocation from its Maryland Estate office to a new office in the highbrow Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the Managing Director, Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Mr. Lanre Adisa, the new office became very imperative considering the growth experienced by the company which has led to an increase in the clientele base

of the Agency and invariably increase in human resources/ capacity.

Adisa further explained that the relocation of the company to its new office is in line with the vision and mission of the company to create an excellent working environment for our people who are the most valuable assets of the company. ‘’With the new office, we have made a very bold statement; although we pride ourselves as young and nimble, sometimes size does matter.

And indeed we have grown considering the kind of clients

we service and the strides we have achieved in the industry in the last eight years”, he said.

Adisa stated that the new office for the Agency is very symbolic at this time, as the Agency would be celebrating its 10th Anniversary of redefining creativity in the advertising industry in Nigeria in the next two years.

Noah’s Ark Communications was named the Most Creative Agency in Nigeria in 2015 having emerged the overall best Agency at the 2015 Lagos Advertising Festival (LAIF) winning 1 Grand Prix, 4 Gold and 4 Silver awards.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2016

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

NEW YAM ON DISPLAY IN IBADAN; WAITING FOR BUYERS

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

CSOs: Foreign Aid Has Made African Countries More Debt-laden, Inflation Prone Urge W’Africa to source devt funds locally

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has lamented that the foreign aid culture has left many African countries more debt-laden, inflation prone and more vulnerable to the vagaries of the currency markets and more unattractive to higher quality investment.

The Institute’s Executive Director, Ms. Nana Afadzinu made this known in Abuja at the recent 2nd West Africa Civil Policy Dialogue Series, 2016 (WAC-PoDiS) with the theme ‘Financing our Development: Strategies for Domestic Resource Mobilisation for

Agenda 2030 in West Africa and the Role of Civil Society’.

Afadzinu noted that foreign aid has also restricted the policy space of many developing countries due to existence of ‘tied aid’ which dictates what a designated piece of funding should be used for, with minimal control by the recipient country.

According to her, “in most cases, the restriction is extended to procurement processes with donors dictating where goods and services should be acquired in carrying out a given project, a lot of which sees contracts given to donor country companies to the disadvantage of local

goods and services.”

Afadzinu stressed that the current development landscape and the dwindling desire by developed countries to assist developing countries one in form of development aid or the other had made the need for domestic financial resources even more crucial.

She stated: “it is evident that there is need for a mobilisation of resources to move the vision of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) beyond rhetoric to reality. This is even more evident in recent times where there is a constant decline in aid and other support for Africa’s development.

“Domestic resource

mobilisation has proven to solidify ownership over the development strategy and to strengthen the bonds of accountability between governments and their citizens. This is because locally raised funds give a government full control of designing development programmes and strategies based on the real needs of the people without any influence by external forces.

“The citizenry is also likely to hold its government accountable for the use of the taxes paid in providing the necessary services for the country,” she noted.

Afadzinu emphasised that governments that rely

heavily on foreign aid are less inclined to raise local taxes and therefore pay less attention to the demands of their citizens.

The Executive Director noted that in this regard there was more to be said for promoting domestic resource mobilisation as against sourcing funds from external donors.

On his part, the Deputy Director, McArthur Foundation, Mr. Oladayo Olaide said government spending would be the most important source of domestic resource for the SDGs in many parts of West Africa, adding that from the MDGs experience, government spending was more reliable

than aid.

He explained that in order to mobilise resources locally, West African countries must block leakages in government revenues through system strengthening and automation of revenue collection system, tax reform to improve computation and collection and review and reform of tax exemptions and concessions.

To help realise the new 17 SDGs on or before the deadline year of 2030, the private sector has been tipped as a major stakeholder in the process, with its huge funds and efficiency identified as vital ingredients for development across the globe.

Invest in Agriculture to Tackle Unemployment, Youths Urged Ugo Aliogo and Chidinma Okonkwo As part of efforts to address the unemployment challenges facing the country, Nigeria youths have been charged to invest in agriculture and harness the useful potentials of the sector.

The advice was given at a recent interactive session organised by the Centre for Ethics and Cultural Orientation (CECO) in Lagos.

Speaking at the one of the resources persons, Pastor

Michael Awopetu urged the youths around the country to determine what they aspire to become in life, adding that government needs to provide the right enabling environment to encourage the youths to engage into profitable ventures.

According to Awopetu, “agriculture is one important area in which youths can develop themselves.”

He stated that over the years there have been good policy intentions from various governments in power, which were not realised,

and therefore “government should provide skills acquisitions programmes to enable these youths gain skills and knowledge.

Government should create an internship programme where members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will venture into agriculture and acquire skills that will enable them make a viable living.”

Awopetu expressed hope that if this is done, it would tackle the food crisis facing the nation, while urging government to see this opportunity

as a means to meaningfully empower the youths and change their orientation of depending only on white collar jobs.

“If we want to diversify our economy, we should start from the youths. We should give them practical agriculture for the one year National youth service programme and you will discover that the country will be better. Nigeria has enough land for agriculture and natural resources which can be of immense use to the nation’s economy. Agriculture

is a wide area that youths can go into; there is aqua-culture, arable crop production and others.

“Agriculture can be a strong foreign exchange earner for the nation. There is no plan for Nigerian youths and except they take control of their affairs, they will not be able to survive. The main challenge we have in Nigeria is that we conceive ideas, but those ideas are not sustainable. Due to lack of sustainable youth development programmes, we have now youth uprising

as the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).”

In her address, the Sunday Punch Editor, Toyosi Ogunseye, advised the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) students to focus on their dreams and dedicate their time on their potentials, adding that hard work, mentoring and walking in the company of the right group of friends is very important.

According to her, “the only way to create a signature is discovering what others are not doing.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“It has been observed that a negligible proportion of foreign exchange sales are being channelled towards the importation of raw materials for the manufacturing sector. In order to address the observed imbalance, authorised dealers are hereby directed to henceforth dedicate 60 per cent of total foreign exchange purchases from all sources (interbank inclusive) to end users strictly for the purpose of importation of raw materials, plant and machinery” - ACTING DIRECTOR, TRADE AND EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA (CBN), MR. W.D. GOTRING, IN A CIRCULAR Nigeria: WHO Scales up Emergency Response to Meet Health Needs Abimbola Akosile

WaterAid Nigeria Unveils 5-Year Strategy Plan on Water, Sanitation Abimbola Akosile WaterAid Nigeria has launched a five-year strategic plan to focus on increasing citizens’ access to quality, equitable and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services built on a strong sector and engaged communities.

The plan was launched recently in Abuja by the WaterAid International’s Chief Executive, Ms. Barbara Frost, who was on a working visit to the country.

This plan, according to reports, will be laying the foundation for the fifteen year path to achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for everyone everywhere in Nigeria by 2030, as encapsulated in the 17 new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking on the new strategy, WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Michael Ojo said: “Our new strategy is an ambitious and challenging one but we look forward to an exciting journey that will impact positively on child health, education, livelihoods, the environment and addressing poverty and inequalities.

“Our strategic objectives target strengthening systems to reduce WASH sector blockages; empowering citizens to demand their rights and participate in WASH decision-making and strengthening partnerships to influence the WASH sector and increase access to sustainable WASH services. We will continue to work with the government, colleagues in the development sector and through our partners, to ensure universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for all in Nigeria by 2030,” he added.

Frost, on her part, said the strategy is an impressive roadmap to changing the course of history and reaching those who are poorest and most vulnerable in Nigeria with safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

“These life-saving and essential services

Water for all; still a pipe dream are fundamental to both human and national development and delivering on them will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians.

Achieving universal access for all in Nigeria is possible with the right political commitment, funding, collaborations and innovative thinking,” she said.

Despite documented progress of people having improved access to water in Nigeria, the country failed to meet the MDG targets for both water and sanitation and consequently, nearly 45,000 children under the age of five

in Nigeria still die from diarrheal diseases caused by the nation’s poor levels of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Water and sanitation are strong goals under the new global development goals, and Nigeria has for long been trying to realise these crucial goals, from when the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were in existence. But till now, millions of Nigerians still suffer from poor access to adequate potable water and also decent sanitation facilities.

The United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) is ramping up its response in north-eastern Nigeria, where initial assessments have revealed urgent health problems among populations in areas formerly held by Boko Haram insurgents.

In a UN news release, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, Peter Salama, said “Protracted conflict situations, such as seen in northern Nigeria - and the surrounding Lake Chad basin countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger - are among the greatest threats to health, globally.

“Not only are they associated with the world’s highest rates of death among children and pregnant women, they can also be breeding grounds for infectious diseases and outbreaks but are too often neglected by the international community,” he added. According to WHO, mortality rates are estimated at four times higher than emergency thresholds in some of the 15 local government areas (LGAs) formerly held by the insurgent group.

Furthermore, the rate of severe acute malnutrition is estimated to be 14 per cent, measles cases have also been reported in the area, and both the cases of polio reported by the country for the first time in two years were in Borno state.

One of the cases is from an LGA that is still inaccessible to health service delivery while the other is from a newly accessible one.

Highlighting the urgency of prompt action, WHO further noted, “The immediate goal is to urgently reduce the rates of death and disease by rapidly scaling up life-saving health services.”

The agency said it would work closely with local officials and specialist agencies to address the health risks posed by malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and long-term lack of access to basic health services.

The release further noted that the working environment in the affected areas is extremely challenging and resources and capacities required to meet the enormous health service gaps are grossly inadequate. Furthermore, insecurity is a major concern, with a number of recent attacks on humanitarian staff by insurgents, and access to the LGAs require military escort over long distances on poor roads. The working environment is further complicated by the peaking annual wet season and there are forecasts of major floods in the coming weeks.

In response to the situation, WHO has deployed expert staff to the country for emergency operations, coordination, and data management and another team is on the ground in Borno state to help in dealing with the polio outbreak response.

The agency has also dispatched emergency drugs and supplies and its emergency operations will be further reinforced by an expanded, experienced response team in coming days.

Additionally, the Government has also launched emergency polio vaccination programmes, with support from WHO and partners. The first round of vaccinations, targeting one million children, will soon be completed, according to the release.

The agency said the emergency response is built on its long-standing work in the African country, supporting the delivery of vital health services including immunisation, maternal, child and neonatal health, and HIV services.

THURSDAY AUGUST25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

45

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

LiberianVP Calls on African Leaders to Support Fight against Corruption Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta Liberia Vice President, Mr Joseph Boakai, yesterday called on African leaders to

be united in the fight against corruption, saying confronting the menace would enhance the continent’s sustainable economic development.

According to him, African

73 Killed in Italy’s Earthquake A powerful earthquake flattened mountain towns in central Italy yesterday, killing at least 73 people, burying some alive in their sleep under mounds of rubble, as exhausted volunteers and firefighters raced to free those still trapped.

The quake struck in the early hours of the morning when most residents were asleep, razing homes and buckling roads in a cluster of communities some 140 km (85 miles) east of Rome. It was powerful enough to be felt in Bologna to the north and Naples to the south, each more than 220 km from the epicenter.

“I was blown away by what I saw. We haven’t stopped digging all day,” said Marcello di Marco, 34, a farmer who traveled from the town of Narni some 100 km away to help out in the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto.

In the nearby village of Accumoli a family of four, including two boys aged 8 months and 9 years, were buried when their house imploded.

As rescue workers carried away the body of the infant, carefully covered by a small

blanket, the children’s grandmother blamed God: “He took them all at once,” she wailed.

The army was mobilized to help with special heavy equipment and the treasury released 235 million euros ($265 million) of emergency funds.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis dispatched part of the Holy See’s tiny firefighting force to help in the rescue.

Rescue workers used helicopters to pluck trapped survivors to safety in more isolated villages cut off by landslides and rubble.

Aerial photographs showed whole areas of Amatrice, last year voted one of Italy’s most beautiful historic towns, flattened by the 6.2 magnitude quake. Many of those killed or missing were visitors.

“It’s all young people here, it’s holiday season, the town festival was to have been held the day after tomorrow so lots of people came for that,” said Amatrice resident Giancarlo, sitting in the road wearing just his underwear.

“It’s terrible, I’m 65-years-old and I have never experienced anything like this, small tremors, yes, but nothing this big.

This is a catastrophe,” he said.

Zimbabwe Police Use Teargas, Water Cannon to Disperse Opposition Zimbabwean police yesterday used teargas, water cannon and batons to disperse opposition youths who were demonstrating in the capital against alleged brutality by security agents.

More than 200 youths from the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had taken to the streets two days before a planned march by all opposition parties to try to force President Robert Mugabe to implement electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 vote.

Police intercepted them and fired teargas at the protesters who were planning to hand a petition at the offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is in charge of the police. Some protesters threw back the teargas canisters, as well as rocks, towards the police, who chased them with water cannon and fired more teargas outside the MDC headquarters, forcing pedestrians and people standing in nearby bank queues to flee.

The youths had marched through the streets of the capital denouncing the police for beating up protesters and called on Mugabe to step

down, accusing him of running a dictatorship. “We have been seeing a deliberate attempt by the police to intimidate, harass and silence the people of Zimbabwe,” MDC Youth Assembly secretary general Lovemore Chinoputsa told Reuters TV during the march.

Chinoputsa said police had refused to sanction the march, saying that it would degenerate into violence. Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she could not immediately comment. The police routinely deny charges of brutality and instead accuse the opposition of using “hooligans” during protests to attack officers.

The southern African nation has a history of violence against opponents of Mugabe, where police have in the last few months crushed demonstrations against high unemployment, acute cash shortages and corruption.

A trauma clinic in Harare last month recorded a list of cases of people who had been caught up in a police crack down during anti-government protests. The MDC’s leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former vice president Joice Mujuru are expected to lead Friday’s march.

leaders should begin to do away with corruption and stop taking money out of their countries and sending it elsewhere when youths need employment.

The Liberia vice president who spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital during his courtesy call on the former President Olusegun Obasanjo stressed the need for quality investment in African youths.

Boakai, who was in Nigeria for an international conference organised by Save Democracy Group Africa, also expressed concern at the increased rate of capital flight from the continent

while many African countries remained underdeveloped and their youths unemployed.

He, therefore, urged African leaders to be prudent in the management of the resources in their respective countries for the benefit of all in order to develop sense of belonging among the citizens.

“We should begin to invest in our youths. I think if we begin to invest more in our country and demonstrate that they are entitled to the resources, then they will feel a sense of belonging and Africa will be open to all,” he said.

Boakai said Nigeria was not just a sister country to Liberia but a dependable ally who made the necessary sacrifice to ensure that Liberia survived its civil war.

Boakai who had also visited vice president Yemi Osinbajo, said his meetings with Nigerian leaders had given him a re-assuring hope that Liberia could continue to count on Nigeria for support.

“I think Nigeria is not just a sister country but a country that has been showing true love, making the ultimate sacrifice to make Liberia a free country where people can move

freely again,” he said. He however, described Obasanjo as a special friend of Liberia and commended him for strengthening cordial relationship between Nigeria and his country.

While speaking, former president Obasanjo gave an assurance that he would continue to support everything that would be in the best interest of Nigeria and Liberia.

He added: “You can count on us that we would continue to support your country because the development of Liberia is paramount to us. If any country in West/ Africa is lagging behind,then West/Africa is disturbed.”

THE MOURNING AFTER

Relatives of Irfan Ahmed, who according to local media died after being hit by a tear gas canister fired by security forces, mourn his death in Srinagar as the city remains under curfew following weeks of violence in Kashmir…yesterday

Congo’s Opposition Strikes to Call for Kabila’s Resignation Opponents of Congolese President Joseph Kabila went on strike on Tuesday to demand for his resignation when his constitutional mandate expires in December. In the commercial centre of the capital Kinshasa, home to 12 million people, rush hour seemed lighter than usual.

Many shops were shuttered in the city’s surrounding districts, especially opposition strongholds such as Limete.

Police fired teargas to disperse dozens of protesters from opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi’s UDPS party, who threw stones and erected barricades near the party headquarters in Limete, a Reuters witness said.

But the strike appeared to have significantly less uptake than one in February over the same issue. In the eastern city of Goma and southern mining hub of Lubumbashi, where foreign firms have big

investments, residents said that activity largely carried on as usual.

“I really regret seeing our Congolese brothers and sisters open their stores,” said Samuel Kazadi, a motorbike taxi driver on Kinshasa’s Avenue de Commerce, where several shops had their metal doors locked. But he added: “We are waiting for Dec. 19 ... Kabila won’t stay in power. The population will be in the street every day.”

Elections were due to be held in November, before Kabila’s mandate runs out on Dec. 19, but will be delayed as authorities enroll millions of new voters. Kabila’s opponents accuse him of dragging his feet on holding the election in order to cling to power in Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has not seen a peaceful change of government since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Western powers are leaning on him to honour the constitution, which limits a president to two terms in office, and step down. They fear political tensions could reignite a regional war in the country’s mineral-rich east that killed millions of people between 1996 and 2003.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement that Washington was monitoring the situation and was concerned “the window to reach consensus on an electoral timeline and plan for transition is narrowing”.

Toner urged government and opposition leaders to try to advance a national political dialogue that began on Tuesday with Edem Kodjo, a Togolese diplomat and African Unionappointed facilitator, who is working with the parties on a timetable for the vote.

The main opposition alliance,

led by Etienne Tshisekedi, is boycotting the talks, which it sees as a delaying tactic. The talks, expected to last until Saturday, are only meant to set a schedule for further talks whose aim will eventually be to set an election timetable.

In an olive branch to the opposition, the government agreed to free several democracy activists on Friday to try to ease tensions, but Tshisekedi called it insufficient. Some opposition leaders did show up for the opening session, including Tshisekedi’s former chief of staff Albert Moleka and Jean-Lucien Bussa, president of the CDER party. “Our doors remain wide open. Today or tomorrow, they can join us at any time,” Kodjo said in his opening remarks.

Kabila took power when his father was assassinated in 2001, then won his first election in 2006.

THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

47

NEWSEXTRA

FG Orders Fresh Screening for Aggrieved Immigration ‘Recruits’ Okiro okays aptitude tests for police recruitment Dele Ogbodo and Maryann Abin in Abuja with agancy report The federal government yesterday

ordered that fresh screening exercise be conducted for the 2,000 aggrieved ‘recruits’ who claimed to have been employed by the Nigeria Immigration

INEC Tackles Ex-NBA Boss over Criticism on Inconclusive Elections Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described as ‘misplaced and undeserved,’ the blame put on it by the outgoing President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh, regarding the reoccurring incidence of inconclusive elections in the country.

In a statement signed by the acting Secretary of the commission, Mr. Musa Adamu yesterday, it said the non-conclusion of the effected elections was caused by violence by politicians and their thugs.

He also said the commission derives its powers to declare an election inconclusive from Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

It said its attention had been drawn to a statement credited to Alegeh in which he rebuked it for conducting 136 inconclusive elections in one year under the watch of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

It quoted Alegeh making such remark at the 56th annual general conference of the NBA in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on August 21.

Though it acknowledged that Alegeh was ``highly knowledgeable and respected’’ it stated that his statement was unfortunate and grossly incorrect.

According to INEC, 163 elections comprising 80 court-ordered elections in the aftermath of 2015 general election, 70 end-of-tenure

elections, 13 by-elections occasioned by death or resignation, have so far been conducted by the new commission.

It stated that out of the 163 conducted elections, 118 were concluded at first ballot and 21 concluded after supplementary.

It added that two cases were pending, while 22 suspended re-run elections in Rivers due to violence were to be concluded. ``This shows that 72.3 per cent of the elections were concluded at first ballot, 21.8 per cent of inconclusive elections were concluded after supplementary, 1.2 per cent pending, while 13.4 per cent were suspended in Rivers. ``It is clear from the foregoing that Alegeh‘s pronouncement was ill-informed and his stern rebuke to the commission was misplaced and undeserved,’’ the statement added.

The commission maintained that inconclusive elections were caused by violence and over-voting, and that the notion of inconclusive election was not strange to the laws.

According to it, the conditions for declaring an election inconclusive are stated in Sections 26 and 53 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended. ``The commission remains unwavering and irrevocably committed to delivering elections that are free, fair and credible and to ensure that the vote of every eligible Nigerian counts,’’ it said

Obi Hails Ugwuanyi, Amaechi over Akanu Ibiam Airport The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has congratulated the Enugu State Governor, of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, on the landing of the first Cargo Plane at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Speaking with journalists during the valedictory service for the retired Anglican Archbishop of Lagos Mainland, Prof. Adebayo Akide at St. Jude’s Anglican Church Yaba, Obi said like other Nigerians, he gets excited with any positive development capable of accelerating the progress of the country.

Obi revealed that he had to call and congratulate the Governor of Enugu State because, according to him, he discussed the issue with him during their last meeting and was aware of the great efforts he was putting towards the expansion of flight operations at the airport.

He also said he called Amaechi and used that opportunity to thank him for sustaining the

development at the airport, especially the near completion of the international terminal started under the former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The former governor encouraged both the governor and minister to sustain the efforts by working towards the construction of a proper cargo shed and repair of the runway before the completion of the international terminal.

“As the only international gate way into the East, proper operation of the airport will contribute a lot to the economic development of the country,” he said.

Concluding, he took the opportunity to call on the federal government to continue to treat the federal roads in the South-east as priority projects, considering the level of their degradation.

“The people of the South-east made efforts under Jonathan for the rehabilitation of South-east federal roads, which yielded results as portion of roads were being worked on. We hope the efforts would even be doubled now,” he added

Service (NIS) since 2015.

Reacting to the 2,000 protesters in Abuja who claim to have been employed by the Service in 2015, the Comptroller General of NIS, Mr. Muhammed Babandede, while addressing Journalist in his office, said government has asked the dispersed 2000 ‘recruits’ of the service.

Babandede said such screening was not new to the law enforcement agency like immigration service, adding that: they all must attend the fresh screening exercise beginning from next Monday, or forget about the job.

According to him, the service, had earlier announced in a statement that the decision to re-screen the dispersed recruits was reached in the aftermath of an emergency meeting of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB).

Babandede said the 2,000 dispersed officers were expected to go through necessary security

clearance, undergo a drug-test, certificate verification as well as the implementation of CDFIPB policy on age on rank beginning from next week.

He said: “The aggrieved recruits should realise that those who recruited them went beyond the instruction of the former president, adding that “those who committed the offence have been punished.

“The only condition we gave them is to pass through certain test and they don’t want to pass through that test.

“Do you blame government for that? I think we should commend the president for approving this kind of procedure.

“It is very commendable; we could have started fresh recruitment with other people but we said we want to take them alone, when we screen them and they pass, the screen, they will get their jobs.

The NIS boss promised that due process would be strictly followed in the new recruitment process

which is only for the 2000 that are yet to get their status properly harmonised because of the mistake of past administration.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Mike Okiro, yesterday said the aptitude test for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force across the country had been successful.

He said this in a statement issued by Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, the Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission in Abuja.

Okiro, who is also the National Coordinator for the recruitment, said reports from the aptitude test centres showed that the exercise was orderly.

He noted that there were initial hitches on the first day of the exercise, but that it had normalised on the second day.

The PSC chairman explained that some of the problems were related to applicants who did not receive invitation through emails for the tests.

He said the commission had issued a statement, asking such

candidates to crosscheck their names on the master list pasted at the venues.

The commission boss added that some of the applicants did not have email accounts but generated one at business centres which they never went back to check.

Okiro said state coordinators were directed to admit applicants who had no copies of their invitation throsugh emails but had their names in the master list.

The chairman said the commission would begin screening of documents and physical attributes of the specialists on August 29.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the commission had shortlisted 110,469 applicants out of the 338,250 invited for the just concluded screening in 36 states of the federation and the FCT for the tests.

The tests, which started last Monday, ended today at various centres across the country.

AUGUSTVISITOR

Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong (left), and Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, during the visit of the latter to the governor’s office after delivering a paper titled: ‘Entrepreneurship, Corporate Social Responsibility and Africapitalism: The Role of the Private Sector in Fighting Poverty in Nigeria’ at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru , Jos.... yesterday

Pro-Dogara, Governor Abubakar Clash over Bauchi APC Crisis Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja It was protest galore at the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday when youth groups loyal to the feuding parties in the political dispute between the Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, held eberybody to ransom.

Although Abubakar was expected at the national secretariat along with the state Chairman of APC, but only the state chairman came with other party executives to the meeting with the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, the state APC chairman, Uba Ahmed Nana, said contrary insinuations that the warring parties were fighting because of interests in 2019 general election, the issues were not about it.

“Let the story tellers be telling you. Go to Bauchi and see what is happening please, what is before us is not the issue of 2019. The ultimate goal of all of us and the party is how do we deliver successfully on our promises. That is what we are after. We should allow time to tell. We are not talking about 2019 but how to deliver successfully to the electorate.”

However, trouble started as soon as the state Chairman arrived the party secretariat,

with the leader of one of the groups, Galadima Abba Ittas led other fierce looking thugs chanting “bamu so bama so’ meaning “we don’t want the governor.”

Speaking with journalists, Galadima said they were at the party secretariat to draw the attention of the party on the imminent collapse of the party in the state due to poor handling of affairs by the state Governor and the state Chairman.

“Abubakar has failed, he cannot pay salary of workers and unable to pay pensioners.

Most of his appointments are PDP members while the APC appointees are being removed, we are calling on the national leadership to act fast by intervening in order to save

the state from this debacle.

However, another group of youths mobilised and started chanting songs in support of the governor.

The atmosphere became charged as the chant of “Sai Barrister” (referring to governor) rented the air, drowning the voice of others.

Investigation however revealed that some of the youths were sponsored to embarrass the governor who incidentally was not at the secretariat.

Crisis rocked the state chapter of the APC with Dogara, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, other legislators from the state and other party executives were at the party secretariat to report the state governor to the national leadership of the party.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

ANED: 11 Discos Lose N1bn Monthly on Account of TCN’s Ineptitude EEDC records 78 cases of vandalism in 18 months

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Chineme Okafor in Abuja The 11 electricity distributions companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s power sector yesterday alleged that the inability of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to wheel maximum generated electricity to their respective networks was costing them a monthly revenue of N1 billion.

The Discos spoke through their platform, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) in response to TCN’s recent claims that the Discos and not it was the weakest link in the country’s electricity value-chain.

Their claim of TCN’s operational ineptitude was contained in a statement from the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan in Abuja.

ANED said the TCN still had the unholy character of defunct and hugely corrupt Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), adding that the company has not been able to guarantee its members, mostly in the north, stable power supply.

It explained that the Discos as alleged by TCN, could not be rejecting power or load-shedding their customers because the economics of their tariff was built on improved power distribution and consequent revenue collection.

It also noted that the TCN’s plan to execute 22 transmission projects and improve their wheeling apacity to above 6000 megawatts (MW) within 2016 was doubtful, given that the country was already within the fourth quarter of its financial year and no tangible fund has been given to the TCN for the projects by the government.

“It is unfortunate that the new management of TCN, with the departure of Manitoba Hydro, rather than reach out, in partnership, to work with the other stakeholders of the sector, is more interested in

pointing fingers and playing the blame game.

“No matter how TCN wants to play it to color the reality of transmission shortcomings, transmission remains the weakest link in the power value chain,” said ANED. It said: “To date, the maximum wheeling capacity reached by TCN has been 5,074.7MW versus its claims of increased capacity from 5,500MW to 6,000MW, wholly untested and unproven.

“Any plans by TCN to complete 22 critical projects captured in the 2016 budget has to be a function of the availability and release of the requisite funding required for same. Given that we are in the fourth quarter of 2016, it is not clear that TCN has received, nor will it receive, any funding that comes close to enabling it complete the indicated projects – a continued legacy of limited and poor funding of a vital aspect of power infrastructure.”

It explained that: “In view of the dire need of generation, as well as the generation thresholds in the Discos’ tariffs, which constitute the basis of their revenue recovery, it is inconceivable to think that any Disco would load-shed, thereby diminishing its revenue prospects and alienating its customers.

“Factually, a major contribution to the liquidity challenges that the Discos are currently experiencing is TCN’s infrastructure and technical limitations in wheeling power to the proper areas of a Disco’s geographical footprint.”

“Discos are currently experiencing a monthly loss in excess of N1 billion due to limited transmission capacities in various areas of the country, especially the northern part. Even worse, is TCN’s inability to meet its financial obligations, relative to this shortfall, thereby compromising the Discos’ ability to meet their obligations to the Market Operator,” it added.

ANED said it will welcome

IPOB Denies Split in Its Ranks, Says Unity Not in Doubt Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday denied reports in some quarters that there was a split in its ranks, saying that the organisation remained united and strong in pursuing the cause of Biafra self-determination.

Speaking with THISDAY on phone yesterday, the Head of Media and Publicity of IPOB, Emma Powerful, said the organisation under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had not changed and the loyalty of members was not in doubt.

“The only recognised IPOB is the one led by Nnamdi Kanu,” he said, adding that both locally and internationally there is no other group that goes by that name Powerful blamed the insinuation of leadership crisis on Dr. Dozie Ikedife of Bilie human rights group, who had some time ago, claimed that he was the leader of IPOB even

when he did not know how the organisation was formed by Kanu.

According to him, Ikedife and his group have seen that “a lot of progress has been made in the Biafra struggle” and therefore want to hijack the leadership of IPOB, adding that they have failed in their mischievous mission.

Ikedife had in March 2016 along with some people formed what they called customary government of Biafra, which they regarded as shadow government of Biafra without any recourse to IPOB leadership hence it was disowned by the members.

The IPOB media and publicity head noted that it was the detractors that were now giving the impression that IPOB is divided but the world knows better and nobody can claim what is not real.

“Nnamdi Kanu remains the undisputable leader and symbol of IPOB and no other organisation can change the situation,” he insisted.

TCN’s operational improvement which it said can only happen with proper funding, upgrade of its project management capacity, and competent personnel.

It said the power privatisation was premised on turning around the operational profile of the TCN but that progress in that direction has remained quite minimal.

Meanwhile, Enugu Electric Distribution Company (EEDC) yesterday expressed dismay over the activities of vandals in tne South-east zone, noting that it has recorded over 78 cases of vandalism from 2015 till date and in the process lost facilities worth several millions of naira.

This came as a group of vigilantes, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 23, 2016 apprehended a team of vandals after they vandalised three upriser armoured cables of a 500KVA,

11/0.415 Distribution Sub Station, property of EEDC at Rehab Road, Emene, Enugu State.

One Mr. Paul Ike, who escaped and his accomplice, Mr. Chibuike Nwosu, a dealer of electrical equipment at shop 37 Adelabu Street, Kenyatta, Enugu, said to be the buyer of the vandalised installations were apprehended by the vigilante group as they were allegedly attempting to abscond with the installations in a Nissan Bluebird salon car with registration number NSH-160 CW, belonging to Nwosu.

The latest incident came after an earlier attack on the same Sub Station on Thursday, August 18, 2016, where the vandals made away with one armoured intermediate cable, while the 2-Phase and neutral cables were recovered.

In a statement signed by the Head, Communications of

EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, the company expressed worries that it was already making arrangements to replace the stolen intermediate cable after the incident was reported, so that electricity supply can be restored to its customers who were already being inconvenienced as a result of the ugly incident, when the vandals came back to complete their unfinished business. Luck, however ran out on them.

Ezeh noted that four vandals were also recently caught in Umuahia, Abia State while allegedly vandalising Udi Street Distribution Sub Station belonging to EEDC. The group actually came to finish up their attack on the Sub Station which had also been vandalised earlier. It took the intervention of a private security man attached to a fast food eatery in Umuahia, who apprehended one of the vandals and raised an alarm, which attracted

a team of Police officers on patrol that eventually assisted in arresting the remaining three. This group confessed being responsible for other acts of vandalism that occurred in the District.

“All the apprehended vandals were subsequently handed over to the Police for further investigation and prosecution, together with all the recovered armoured cables.

“It will be recalled that we have been soliciting the support and cooperation of our customers towards ensuring that our electrical installations within their vicinity are protected against vandals; and from these incidents, it is obvious that our customers have come to realise that they can’t sit and fold their hands while some few elements who do not mean well for them put them in an inconveniencing situation for a period of time.”

NBC ANNUAL LECTURE

L-R:DirectorGeneral,NigeriaBroadcastingCommission(NBC),Is’haqModibbo;formerChairman,IndependentNationalElectoralCommission(INEC),Prof.

Attahiru Jega; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr. Ayo Adeshugba, at the second NBC annual lecture in Abuja ....yesterday EnockReuben

Police Commission to Probe Siege on Kwankwaso’s House Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it would investigate the circumstances that led to the blockade of the Kano residence of the former Governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, by policemen, penultimate week.

The Chairman of the commission, Mike Okiro, said the commission would also look into the role of the Kano State Police Commissioner over the stoppage of a mass wedding event for 2,000 indigent citizens of the state.

Although the state police chief had advanced security concerns as reasons for the stoppage of the event organised by Kwankwaso, loyalist of the former governor said there was an ulterior motive attached to the police action.

Addressing a group of loyalists of Kwankwaso who stormed the office of the commission in Abuja to present a petition, Okiro assured them that he would probe the claims by the group that their fundamental human rights had

been infringed upon over the cancellation of the mass wedding event.

He however promised to reach out to the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, as well as the police authorities in Kano to ascertain the veracity of the claims of members of the kwankwasiyya group.

“Let me express my gratitude to you for the petition. I cannot do anything for now since you have leveled accusations which bother on breaches of fundamental human rights. I will have to listen to the other parties and investigate the matter. I assure you that action will be taken within a reasonable time frame regarding the petition,” Okiro stated.

A member of the House of Representatives, Ali Madaki, who presented the petition on behalf of members of the Kwankwasiyya group, accused the police authorities of infringing on the rights of Kwankwaso to discharge his responsibility to his constituents in the state.

He said it was unfortunate that the police in Kano barred Kwankwaso from organising the mass wedding, which is part of his constituency project.

“As loyal members of the All progressives Congress (APC) and law abiding citizens, they had to seek the intervention of the police service commission to wade into the matter.

“Recently, our leader as we know, tried to organise his constituency project as part of our mandate to the Nigerian people, and as we also know, he is a serving senator with the highest population in terms of his constituency, but that project was cancelled by the police.

“We wanted to carry it out on Saturday, they refused, saying the government had a programme that day. We wrote to them requesting that it be shifted to Sunday so that government can do theirs on Saturday even though we requested for the Saturday first.

“To our dismay, we told the couples to go and hold the wedding at their various places

but to come to a particular place to collect the gifts given to them by the Kwasnkwaso. They was also blockade as police vans were everywhere and nobody was allowed to come in or out of the area.

“We felt that as citizens, protected by the constitution of the country, we do not want any breakdown of law and order in any part of the country, we felt it was necessary to come and lay our petition before you so that you can find an amicable solution to this crisis,” he said.

Also, a chieftain of the APC, who is a leader of the kwankwasiyya group and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, said what the police did by banning the activity of the group was wrong.

‘We are citizens of this country and we know our right and privileges, so we felt this was the right thing to do and we know you will do what is right in the best interest of all,” he said.

THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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Christian Leaders: Nigeria Fatally Becoming an Islamic State

Deplore arrest of dog owner Differ with Sultan over country’s secular status

Paul Obi in Abuja The Nigerian Christians Elders Forum (NCEF), an affiliate of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday said Nigeria was fatally sliding into an Islamic State under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The NCEF position came as a response to serial killing of Christians in the northern part of the country in recent times. Last week, Christian students were brutally killed and burnt in Talata Marafa, Zamfara State, over alleged blasphemy.

The NCEF also cited the arrest of Mr. Joe Chinakwe for naming his dog ‘Buhari’ in Ogun State as a clear case of discrimination against Christians in the country.

According to the NCEF Chairman, Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN), “There is a bill now pending before the National Assembly, titled: “NGO Regulatory Bill” intended to silence non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“It is not in dispute that Nigeria is an Islamic State contrary to Section 10 of the constitution. What is in dispute is whether Nigeria is ruled by mainstream Muslims or

by Islamist Jihadists. We plead with the Sultan of Sokoto to appreciate that Nigeria is safer and more peaceful when the federal or state government does not adopt any religion as ‘State Religion’.”

The NCEF explained that the overt dominance of the National Security Council by members of the Muslim faith was worriesome and expressed reservations whether Vice President Yemi Osinbajo plays any role in the council.

“It is as a result of the understanding (or lack of it) of civilized jihad that we are apprehensive of those in

the ‘Security and Intelligence Committee’ of the federal government by some unexplained reasons who are mainly Muslims.

President Buhari, (Muslim), Chief of Defence Staff (Christian), Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Defence, Minister of Internal Affairs, Inspector General of Police (IG), National Security Adviser (NSA), Director General of DSS are all Muslims from the North.

“We are not too sure whether the Vice President is a member of this committee following information that he was once excluded from the meeting which the president called. When the vice president summoned the same meeting in the absence of President Buhari who was away in the United Kingdom, there was resistance and the meeting had to end abruptly,” the Christians elders stated.

Asemota maintained that going by the activities of the Fulani herdsmen, it is clear that a jihad is being staged through the back door, adding: “The atrocities committed by Fulani herdsmen such as the number of persons killed, farmland and buildings destroyed with other property during the same period were not included.

“The conclusion which we, Christians, draw is that jihad is being committed against our country especially when the cohesive instrument of state is in the hands of three ethnic nationalities and one religion. This enlists fear in the minds of the populace, especially Christians.”

The group also differed with the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the interpretation of the secular status of Nigeria, stating that: “NCEF begs to disagree with the Sultan that Nigeria is a multireligious state based on the fact that the constitution which forms the

Ubulu-Uku Installs New King September 5 Seven months after the gruesome murder of the traditional ruler of Ubulu-Uku kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III by suspected herdsmen, his son, Noah Chukwuka Akaeze I, will be crowned on September 5, 2016 to ascend the throne of his fathers.

The ceremony which holds at the royal palace, Ubulu-Uku, will be presided over by the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who will present the staff of office to the new king, according to a letter from Government House, Asaba.

The coronation followed the conclusion of the traditional and official processes for the crowning of Obi Akaeze I who is 18 years.

The Delta State government had earlier issued a letter of formal recognition to the new king on the recommendation of Ubulu-Uku Council of Chiefs, the Council of Traditional Rulers of Aniocha South Local Government Area and the Chairman of the Local Government Area.

According to a press statement issued by the secretary to the

Ubulu-Uku Royal Palace and Obi-in-Council, Joe Obazei, the official coronation of Obi Akaeze I was delayed due to the dastardly manner of the passage of Obi Ofulue III after his kidnap.

He stated that the anxiety and tension created by the murder having died down, it is time for Ubulu-Uku to move on.

It promises to be a carnival atmosphere as all the sons and daughters of Ubulu-Uku at home and in the Diaspora are expected at the September 5 ceremony.

He called on indigenes of the kingdom in Nigeria and the Diaspora to see the September 5 coronation as a homecoming and rally round the new king.

Obazei thanked all Ubulu-Uku chiefs, sons and daughters for presenting a unified front in those trying times occasioned by Obi Ofulue III’s abduction and death.

He also thanked all well-wishers who showed concern during that dreadful time that actually tried Ubulu-Uku’s soul.

He extended an invitation to such people of goodwill to be part of the dawn of a new era in the kingdom.

basis upon which our founding fathers agreed to live together as a country, provided under Section 10 that ‘the government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as ‘State Religion’.

“Nigeria has multi-cultural and multi-religious communities, tribes, ethnic nationalities but one nation.

It is correctly assumed that in the interest of peace and justice, the constitution in Section 10 prohibits the state from religious participation by way of recognising one and two religions. Multi-religious country

does not fit the interpretation of Section 10 rather, it is its opposite.

“The Sultan’s interpretation, we submit, is intended to justify Islam and Christianity as state religions until Islam dominates to become de facto and de jure religion of Nigeria.”

On the arrest of Chinakwe, NCEF said: “If Nigeria is being run as a secular state, Sections 10, 37, and 38 of the constitution guarantees that the right of private and family life, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion should protect Joe Chinakwe and

the complainant would have been arrested but because Nigeria is an ‘Islamic State’, Chinakwe has to face trial, and in the process, promoting the most effective way to get rid of critics which is to instill fear in ordinary Nigerians. One wonders if the dog had been named Gowon or Jonathan would there have been any furore about the matter.”

The Christian leaders also queried the short change of the Niger-Delta in oil revenue since the discovery of oil in Nigeria, stressing that it has been shown that out of N96.212 trillion crude

oil earnings, only N12.3 trillion was paid to the oil producing areas as derivation.

Had 50 per cent derivation as obtained before 1966 applied, the Niger Delta would have earned N48.106 trillion.

“The fears of ‘Christian’ in the Niger Delta is that the region may be abandoned to its fate by an Islamist federal government, after all, ‘all land in Nigeria has been bequeathed to the Islamists by Allah and therefore, reserves’ the right to abandon same as the British,” they observed.

TOWARDS HEALTHY LIVING

Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (right), handing over an Araya Card to Mrs. Oso Oyinkansola, while the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, looks on during the launch of the state Community Health Insurance Cards (Araya Card) at the Awujale Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode...yesterday

Goldman Sachs: Recovery in Oil Prices is Fragile Iran moves to support OPEC’s talks Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Investment bank, Goldman Sachs, has said that the 15 per cent recovery of crude oil price since the beginning of this month on speculation of a reduction in output by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is fragile due to signs that disrupted production in Nigeria, Iraq and Libya will be ramped up.

This is coming as strong indications have emerged that Iran is sending positive signals that it may support joint action to prop up the oil market, potentially aiding efforts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to revive a global deal on freezing production levels.

Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, which has been increasing output after the lifting of Western sanctions in January, had refused to join a previous attempt this year by OPEC and non-OPEC members such as Russia to stabilise production, and talks collapsed in April.

Oil supply from Nigeria, Libya

and Iraq has been hit by political instability and conflicts that have abated recently, enabling crude oil shipments to move.

Iraq plans to increase exports of Kirkuk crude by 150,000 barrels per day while the Niger Delta Avengers, which launched attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta since February, said it was ready for a ceasefire and dialogue with the federal government.

A prolonged ceasefire by the Avengers will potentially lead to the recovery of over 700,000 barrels per day that was shut due to the attacks on oil facilities by the militant group, thus putting the anticipated price recovery in jeopardy.

Apparently due to strong indications that disruptions in Iraq, Libya and Nigeria are easing, Goldman Sachs reckons that the recovery remains fragile The investment bank said the improved supply could push the global oil market into a surplus, compared with its earlier forecast of a 230,000 barrel - per -day average demand-supply deficit.

“Even if flows fail to materially increase in each country, we reiterate

our view that the oil price recovery is tenuous,” Reuters quoted Goldman Sachs analysts as saying.

According to the investment bank, should the disrupted production rebound in a sustained fashion, crude oil prices will drop to $45 a barrel against the bank’s current $52.5 a barrel forecast.

“While oil prices have rebounded sharply since August 1, we believe this move has not been driven by incrementally better oil fundamentals, but instead by headlines around a potential output freeze as well as a sharp weakening of the dollar,” Goldman analysts reported.

“Given the large uncertainty on the timing, magnitude and duration of such supply shifts, we continue to view oil as having to price nearterm fundamentals with a lower emphasis on the more uncertain longer-term fundamentals,” the analysts added.

Goldman is sticking to its forecast of $45-$50 per barrel forecast for Brent crude oil through next summer.

On the plan by OPEC to meet next month in Algeria,

the investment bank said the meeting would unlikely affect prices significantly.

“In our view, thawing relationships between parties in conflict in areas of disrupted production would be more relevant to the oil re-balancing than an OPEC freeze which would leave production at record highs and could prove counterproductive if it supported prices further and incentivised activity elsewhere,” the analysts added.

In a related development, Iran is sending positive signals that it may support joint action to revive a global deal on freezing production levels at talks next month.

Though Iran has not yet decided whether to join a new effort, Tehran appears to be more willing to reach an understanding with other oil producers. Venezuelan Oil Minister, Eulogio Del Pino last week visited oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iran to rally support for a deal.

Despite rising this year, oil at around $49 a barrel is less than half its $115 per barrel level of June 2014.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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FG Owes Varsities N500bn Infrastructure Fund NDU lecturers suspend four-month strike Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, demanded the full release of the N495billion, being the funds needed to revamp the country’s universities as contained in the agreement entered into with the federal government seven years ago.

The union noted that the government through its technical committee, which reviewed downwards ASUU’s N1.5trillion estimate needed to lift the tertiary institutions from their current rot, to about N800billion, had consistently reneged on the agreement.

ASUU’s Zonal Coordinator, Prof.

Beke Sese, told journalists during a press briefing in the Bayelsa State capital, yesterday that aside the initial tranche that was eventually released in 2013, the government has refused to credit a dedicated account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) set up for that purpose.

ASUU’s interaction with the press, also coincided with the

suspension of a four-month sit-at-home embarked upon by the lecturers at the state-owned Niger Delta University over unpaid salaries.

However, the state government after reaching an agreement with the NDU branch of the academic union to pay two months of the owed salaries, convinced them of the need to end the strike and return to the classrooms.

Sese, who was flanked by the chapter heads in the Port Harcourt zone, including Dr. Stanley Ogoun, the NDU branch chair, also bemoaned the non-payment of the university lecturers’ Earned Academic Allowances, staff salaries, the arbitrary removal and appointment of vice chancellors in federal institutions and the introduction of the Treasury Single Account into the university system.

Added to these, he said, was the need to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, amend the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Universities Commission (NUC) and National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions Act

2004 and have an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he said had been difficult to see one on one.

“The ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement provided an estimated cost of N1,518,331,545,.304, for the revitalisation of federal universities and N3,680,000, per student in the state universities between 2009 and 2011. However, the government said it needed to conduct a NEEDS assessment to determine how the funds would be utilised.

“This led to the constitution of a technical committee on NEEDS. The technical committee came up with about N800billion as estimates amount needed to revitalise Nigerian public universities in the short run of two years, translating

into an annual intervention of N400billion.

“Government reneged on this and subsequently extended the implementation to six years between 2013 and 2018, again this has been breached.

“Apart from the initial N200billion of 2013, not even a single kobo more has been credited into the dedicated account with the central bank. This means that government is in arrears of N495billion up till 2016,” he lamented.

According to ASUU, the government has also only released N30billion of N92billion meant to settle the Earned Allowances of which only N13billion was eventually devoted for the purpose.

The union lamented that instead

of a steady rise in the yearly budget for education in the country, the sum total has fallen from 11 per cent in 2013 to eight percent in 2016.

On the non-payment of salaries of some university lecturers, ASUU noted that it was “unrealistic and irrational” to expect high standards of academic activities in any university where staff and lecturers are unable to meet their basic needs.

“We condemn in the strongest terms, the tendency of the government to shift the burden of any perceived decline in resources on the weary shoulders of poor workers while it continues to run a very expensive government bureaucracy with unwieldy size of functionaries and aides of all

kinds.

“The government must take its contractual obligation to pay workers salaries much more seriously and we as a union will not fold our hands and allow this trend to continue,” Sese fumed.

ASUU also called for the payment of salaries of university staff primary schools since December 2015, stressing that the government unilaterally took the decision to stop payment without involving the union.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement of the NDU chapter of the union with the Bayelsa State Government, but added that the strike action was suspended in the interest of the students and the public.

Delta APC Apologises to Harriman over Wrong Expulsion The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has formally apologised to state party leader, Hon. Temi Harriman, for erroneously expelling her from the party last year.

The unreserved apology tendered by the party was based on a court judgment won by Harriman following her suit which arose from her alleged expulsion by the state chapter.

Also as part of the terms of settlement from the suit instituted

by Harriman vide suit no: ID/ ADR/86/15 before Justice L.A. Oluyemi of the Lagos High Court which gave judgment on June 22, 2016, the party also reiterated its confidence in her as a leader of the party in the state.

The defendants in the action instituted by Harriman were the state APC Chairman, Jones Ode Erue, state Assistant Secretary,

Chris Onodjacha, who caused to be published, advertorials alleging that the state executive at a meeting on April 13, 2015, resolved to expel Harriman among other persons.

As part of the settlement with the defendants, Erue and Onodjacha, the party stated: “That the said publication was done in error as there was never such a meeting, and the reason for the purported expulsion is without foundation. Accordingly, the expulsion is void ab initio.

“That for the avoidance of doubt, notice is given to the public that Hon. Temi Harriman remains a bonafide member and a committed leader of the party.

“The party therefore tenders its unreserved apology for the embarrassment the publication has caused her person and reputation.

The said publication is hereby retracted in its entirety.”

Amosun’s Wife Scales up Ogun Health Community Insurance The Ogun State Community Health Insurance Scheme popularly known as Araya has received a boost as the Wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, launched the Araya Card, promising that the state government would not relent in providing affordable and qualitative health care delivery for the residents of the state.

This, according to the governor’s wife, was part of the sustainable strategy in the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State under the able leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Addressing a mammoth crowd during the launch of the Araya Cards at the Awujale Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Mrs. Amosun said the card would give opportunity for the pregnant women and children under the age of five years to visit and enjoy quality antenatal and postnatal care in any state health facility.

She said the scheme was one of the promises made by the

present administration during its electioneering campaigns, explaining that the scheme would among other things give financial assistance to very many people across the state to cushion the huge hospital bills and improve access to quality health service.

“This policy has made health care free for our children under the ages of five, our pregnant women and our senior citizens.

Under this scheme the state government will pay premium for these set of people in order to provide them with free health care,” she said.

She advised women to pay more attention to their health and maintain a clean environment.

The highlight of the event was the distribution of the Araya Cards to a number of beneficiaries.

Many of the beneficiaries could not hide their joy as they commended the state government for coming up with this laudable policy.

IT-SAVVY BANK

L-R: Group Head, Lagos Island I, Union Bank, Folake Bamigboye; Head of Sales and Business Development, CBC Netcomms, Oluwafemi Olafusi; Head of Communication and Media, Union Bank, Omotola Oyebanjo; and Group Head, Lagos Island II, Union Bank, Nwobiara Kalu, at the launch of the bank’s free WiFi network, Stallion Hotspot in Lagos....yesterday

NNPC GMD, Warned against Renewal of Oil Surveillance Contracts to Local Firms

Heineken Commences Entries for #ShapeYourCity Campaign

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Heineken, the world’s leading international premium beer, in its ongoing attempt to enhance the cities of the world, brings the third edition of its cities campaign to Nigeria.

According to a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, this year’s campaign tagged: ‘Shape your City’ is aimed at transforming great cities while broadening the imagination of the new generation city dwellers, inspiring them to contribute their quota to improving their cities.

The statement added that Heineken is taking this opportunity to call on Nigerians to visit http:// www.heineken.com/ng and share ideas to shape the city of their dreams.

“To achieve the #ShapeYourCity campaign, Heineken Nigeria has partnered ‘City Shapers’, individuals known for using their skills in creating one-of-kind experiences to make their cities more enjoyable for dwellers. They are urban visionaries who have by small actions of their own, contributed to shaping cities across Nigeria,” the statement added.

The selected ‘City Shapers’ are Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder of Nigeria’s foremost cultural hub, Terra Kulture; Theo Lawson,

Right activists in Gbaramatu kingdom yesterday petitioned the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Kacalla Baru, over the award of oil pipeline surveillance contracts to non-indigenous companies.

They warned against renewing the oil and gas facilities surveillance contract awarded toanon-indigenous firm,OceanMarineSurveillanceLimited, over the years.

In the petition signed by Isaac Bobo and WilliamsWelemu,theyallegedthat the company was forging signatures of Gbaramatu kingdom community chairmen to mislead relevant authorities as “if the communities have accepted the renewal of the said contracts.

“We maintain that such contracts should not be renewed, it should be reviewed and awarded to indigenous contractors in the kingdom,” it added.

The petitioners frowned at the attempt by Ocean Marine Surveillance company, operated by a non-indigenous contractor, to renew the pipelines surveillance contracts awarded to the company by the NNPC. The activists said surveillance of oil pipelines in Gbaramatu kingdom

would be best carried out by the indigenes of the kingdom compared to non-indigenous contractors and also inline with the local content act.

The duo, on behalf of Gbaramatu host communities, demanded that oil pipelines surveillance contracts be awarded to indigenous contractors and youths in the kingdom as a way of providing job for the teeming un-employed youths in the kingdom.

They reiterated that surveillance contracts were supposed to be awarded to the local communities who are host to oil and gas producing companies, adding that “This will end agitation and continuous attacks on oil facilities by aggrieved persons and as such will create job and give such locals a sense of belonging.

“This practice of awarding surveillance contracts to nonindigenous contractors are widespread in the Niger Delta region which was another reason behind pipeline vandalism.”

They advised that NNPC should not be deceived into believing that the Gbaramatu people were endorsing Ocean Marine Surveillance and should not renew the contract since it does not go down well with the kingdom.

Sunday Okobi

Architect of the acclaimed Freedom Park and Kalakuta Museum, and Kenneth Gyang, Director of award winning films ‘Confusion Na Wa and Blood and Henna’.

The statement quoted the Senior Brand Manager, Heineken Nigeria, Ngozi Nkwoji, as saying: “Globally, Heineken is committed to making great cities even greater and we are glad to include Nigeria in this movement.

“This year’s theme of shaping cities is focused on encouraging people to contribute to their city as Heineken believes that the smallest of gestures have the potential to bring about unexpected transformation to our Nigerian cities.”

As part of the campaign, Heineken has also launched a series of limited Heineken City Edition bottles and cans, each bearing the name of renowned cities across the globe, including 10 Nigerian cities namely: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin, Warri, Kaduna, Aba and Onitsha.

“Heineken, is reaching out to city dwellers across Nigeria to share their ideas for improving great cities.

At the end of the campaign, the winning idea(s) will be executed by Heineken Nigeria while engaging ‘City Shapers’ and other passionate urban explorers across the country to help make the project a reality.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

FG, CBN, States, Others Sued for Sponsoring Pilgrimage Akinwale Akintunde The federal government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the 36 states governments, the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and the National Hajj Commission have been sued for the continued sponsorship of pilgrimage by the governments.

Also sued in the suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer and rights activist, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, before a Lagos Federal High Court, are the FCT Minister, Attorneys-General of the 36 states in Nigeria and the welfare boards for both Muslim and Christian pilgrims in the FCT and all states of the federation.

The applicant, fundamental right enforcement suit with the No: FHC/L/CS/1119/16 is praying the court to declare the continued sponsorship of Christian and Muslim pilgrims by both the state and federal government is illegal by virtue of Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, which stated that Nigeria is a secular state.

He also wants the court to declare that it is preferential, illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful and a violation of his and other Nigerians’ fundamental rights to worship and against discrimination as provided for in Section 38

and 42 of the Constitution, for the federal government, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the CBN governor to grant concessionary exchange rate to Muslims going to 2016 hajj at Saudi Arabia, to enable them purchase their Pilgrim Travelling Allowance (PTA) at the rate of N197 to a dollar as against the prevailing market price of N318 to a dollar.

Omirhobo is therefore asking the court to compel the federal government, the AGF and the CBN to rescind the concessionary exchange rate of N197.00 to a dollar and make Muslims pilgrims pay the ongoing exchange rate of N318 to a dollar.

He is also seeking for the disbandment of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and the National Hajj Commission by the court.

He is equally seeking for the disbandment of the welfare boards for Muslim and Christian pilgrims in all states across the country.

The applicant in his sworn affidavit claimed that he secured a visa to visit the United States of America for vacation on July 29, 2016 and then approached his bank to procure Basic Traveling Allowances for his strip, only to be informed that the exchange rate of naira to dollar is N318 and as a result of the high exchange rate, he had to painfully put his vacation for this year.

External Forces behind Lingering Legal Cases in Kogi, Says Group A political pressure group, Kogi Democratic Forum (KDF), has attributed the lingering legal actions that have trailed the emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to those it identified as powerful external political forces outside the State.

The leader of the forum, Ozigi Omezie, in an interview with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, expressed concerns that these forces are determined to impose their cronies on the state through the judiciary in order to plunder the resources of the state to the detriment of the people of the state.

He further alleged that these forces would not stop at anything to derail the governor because of his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the state, as well as his presumed closeness and unalloyed loyalty to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Omezie also claimed that one of the top leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South-west had planned to infiltrate the judiciary with a view to scuttling the mandate given to Bello at the polls.

He however, commended the judiciary for standing firm in the face of media onslaughts that had been launched against the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal and Court of Appeal, Abuja, which all ruled in favour of Bello. \“What is happening in Kogi State is clearly engineered by some external forces outside the State.

These elements are obviously not happy with the emergence of Bello as the governor of the state and the good work he has been doing since coming into power. But they failed to realize that Allah’s ways are

always different from the people.

“These enemies of the state feel they can move against the divine will of the people. Their strategy is to try and manipulate the judiciary to achieve what they failed o achieve at the polls.

Thankfully so far, the Almighty Allah has demonstrated that he is supreme.

“Both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal have all affirmed the governor’s elections. Insha Allah, the Supreme Court will complete what was started at the tribunal and we shall live to see 2019.”

Between June 8 and 12, 2016, the Election Petition Tribunal affirmed that Bello was validly elected in the election that defeated Hon. James Faleke and former Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Both Faleke and Wada proceeded to the appellate Courts in Abuja to challenge the tribunal’s ruling, but in separate judgments delivered

by Justices Jummai Hannatu Shankey and Owoade Mojeed, the tribunal’s judgment was upheld.

The leader of KDF expressed satisfaction with the various court rulings that validated the nomination and eventual election of Bello as the rightful candidate in the November 2015 governorship elections.

He expressed optimism that the governor would again, triumph at the Supreme Court.

Omeiza thanked the governor for his populist-oriented programmes, which he noted are manifested in the areas of youth empowerment, health care, education and infrastructural development.

According to him, many Nigerians are also affected by the high exchange rate but it was shocking for him to hear that the CBN had approved a concessionary exchange rate to Muslims going to 2016 hajj at Saudi Arabia.

The applicant is therefore among others seeking court declaration: “That by virtue of Section 10 of the Constitution, the granting of concessionary exchange rate by the federal

government, AGF and the CBN governor to Muslims going to hajj at Saudi Arabia in 2016 to enable them purchase their Pilgrim Travelling Allowance (PTA) at the rate of N197 to a dollar as against the prevailing market price of N318 to a dollar is preferential, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of the applicant and other Nigerians fundamental right to freedom of worship and against discrimination as provided for in Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution.

“That by virtue of Section 10 of the Constitution, the concessionary granted by the FG, AGF and the CBN governor to Muslims to procure their PTA at the rate of N197 to a dollar on one hand and their refusal to grant the applicant and other Nigerians who needs foreign exchange for health, education, business, etc is preferential, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of the applicant and other Nigerians fundamental rights to freedom of worship and against discrimination as

provided for in Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution.

“That by virtue of Section 10 of the Constitution, the allocation of the sum of N500million by the Federal Government in the 2016 budget for pilgrimage services is wasteful, preferential, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of the applicant and other Nigerians fundamental rights to freedom of worship and against discrimination as provided for in Sections 38 and 42 of the Constitution.”

WE CAN NOW DO BUSINESS

L-R: Executive Vice President, Haske and Williams Limited, Oladipo Williams; President, Haske and Williams, Abdullahi Bashir Haske; and Managing Director, FGM Expert Farmer, France, Mr. Antoine Forgeard, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Haske and Williams and FGM Expert Farmer in Lagos...yesterday

CourtVacates Interim Order against RT Briscoe Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has vacated the order he granted restraining an automobile and generator company, R.T. Briscoe Nigeria Plc, from withdrawing its funds in any bank over an alleged N2.5billion debt owed Diamond Bank Plc. The court had on June 13, following an application by the bank, granted the order.

Vacating the order, Justice Buba said: “After hearing Mr. A.B Ogunba (SAN), with him counsel for the petitioner/applicant and Mr. Sulu Gambari counsel for the respondent/ applicant, it is hereby ordered as follows that the interim

order granted ex-parte dated 13/6/2016 is hereby discharged.”

R.T Briscoe, in urging the court to discharge or set aside the interim order of injunction, had said the bank allegedly suppressed and misrepresented material facts to the court.

The company said the Companies Winding Up Rules require the petitioner to make the application for injunction on notice rather than ex-parte.

“There are third party interests being adversely affected by the interim order of injunction granted against the respondent,” R.T Briscoe said.

The company denied being

indebted to the bank to the tune of N2.5billion as at May “or at any time.”

It claimed to have been servicing its loan obligations monthly despite awaiting the final approval for the loan restructuring.

R.T Briscoe said its business has been “crippled” by the order as no staff or contractors or suppliers could be paid.

“It is in the interest of justice to set aside and discharge the interim order of injunction,” the company added.

Meanwhile, the bank has appeal the ruling, contending that the judge of the lower court erred in law when he (with due respect)

deviated from the principles laid out in the case of Anakwenze Vs Tapp Industries Limited (1991) 7 NWLR PT. 202 page 177 and dismissed the appellant’s application on notice for interlocutory injunction on the ground that it cannot resort to emotions and sniff out the respondent’s admission of inability to pay its just debt.

It further contended in the appeal before the Court of Appeal, Lagos, that the trial judge erred in law when he predicated his decision to discharge the earlier made exparte order of interim injunction on an unsubstantiated allegation of concealment of material facts by the respondent.

Niger Govt Warns Riverine Communities Not to Treat NEMA’s Warning with Levity Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government has warned the people living in the riverine areas of the state not to treat the warning of an imminent flood in the areas with levity.

The Commissioner for Information Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, said the warning became necessary following the discovery by government that the people were not moving to safer grounds as the rains gathered momentum in all parts of the state.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

had named the state among 26 states in the country that could witness severe flooding this year.

This made the state government to ask those around the river banks to move upland.

Vatsa in a statement made available to journalists in Minna at weekend, advised the affected people to move to safer grounds to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property.

He stated that it was better now that there was early warning mechanism put in place unlike in the past that the flood usually caught the people by surprise, maintaining that

the state government would do every thing possible to mitigate the effect of the flood.

Vatsa appealed to traditional rulers and religious as well as community leaders to sustain the sensitisation of the people on the need to take the warning from the emergency management agency very seriously.

“We should not treat the early warning from the authorities with levity; we are calling on the villagers along the flood plains that are prone to flood to move upland so that they will not be caught up by the

flood as a result of the overflow of the river.”

He promised that the administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello takes the welfare of every body in the state very seriously and would do every thing possible to ensure that all avoidable disasters were well managed for the overall development of the state The commissioner saluted the efforts of all stakeholders especially traditional rulers and local government chairmen in the state for ensuring the management of the early warning from the agencies to eschew losses.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016 • T H I S D AY

CRIME&PUNISHMENT Man Kills Mother, Brother’s Wife in Kwara Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Police Command yesterday paraded a 25-year-old man of the Mamba Fulani camp in Patigi Local Government Area of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, for allegedly killing his mother, Khadijat Usman, 65, and elder brother’s wife, Ramatu Shagari.

Also paraded for the case of conspiracy and culpable homicide, were two suspects-Yahaya Umar and Abubakar Saletu of Kosubosuwho allegedly lured their friend into the bush and behead him.

This was just as the command said it had arrested a prime suspect who perpetrated the latest killings of five people in Share area of Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

The suspect was said to have

committed the act to avenge the killing of his family and destruction of their houses during the December 2015 communal clash that broke out between Share and Tsaragi communities over age long dispute.

Parading the suspects before journalists in Ilorin, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Olusola Amore, said the command is not in a position to determine the mental state of the Fulani man but stressed that investigation was still ongoing, and that the suspect would be charged to court.

On the case of the two friends who connived to behead their friend, he said the suspects were found with human heads after a buyer which they approached to buy raised the alarm which led to their arrest.

According to him, the police command recently got information from Kosubosu Division that revealed that one Yahaya Umar and Abubakar Saletu both of Wobe Fulani Camp via Okuta were found in possession of a bag, and on interrogation, the bag was found to contain a human head among other items, interrogation further revealed that the suspects took the head to one Alhaji Kuranga of Muhat company to buy, but Kuranga refused and raised the alarm. A search in the bush led to the recovery of the headless body who had been declared missing earlier and which the suspects confessed to have killed.

“The cutlass used in the killing and human head, already recovered.

The case is still under investigation,”

he said.

The commissioner advised members of the public to always inform their family members about their whereabouts mostly with friends.

Answering question on the prime suspect in the recent killing in Share, Amore said the suspect is neither a farmer nor a Fulani man as earlier speculated but a resident of Share who acted to avenge the killing of his brother and destruction of family compound. The police boss said the weapon used to perpetrate the killing had been recovered and that the suspect has been charged to court.

The police also paraded one suspected kidnapper/armed robber, Issa Babatunde Nurudeen, and one Lekan Bello in an attempt to rob the owner of WALEX Pharmacy.

In Brief Wounded Robbery Suspect Dies in Police Custody A suspect who reportedly belonged to a gang of armed robbers in Okaka, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has died while in the custody of the police in the state. The police authorities in the state disclosed that the deceased, one Innocent Kokorifa, and his group exchanged gunfire with the cops who were on their trail, leading to his severe injuries.

Though he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, the police said that Kokorifa died while he was receiving treatment at the hospital.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, in a statement yesterday, said members of the gang opened fire on the security operatives deployed to trail the suspected criminals before the police retaliated. “On August 17, 2016, at about 1100hours, acting on a tip-off, policemen from the Anti-vice/ Anti-kidnapping Unit, went to an uncompleted building along Airforce Road, Okaka, Yenagoa, to arrest a three man notorious armed robbery gang. “On sighting the police and in a frantic bid to escape, the robbers fired at the police, the Police returned fire, one of the suspects sustained a bullet injury while the others escaped, abandoning one locally made Single Barrel pistol, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge and wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp. “The wounded suspect was arrested and taken to the Federal Medical Centre, for treatment, but died few hours later. “The deceased suspect was later identified as one Innocent Kokorifa ‘m’. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Man Docked for Allegedly Stealing Goats and Sheep

A 32-year-old man, Wale Adeyemi, is now confronted with impending imprisonment, following the charges filed against him before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing 25 she-goats and nine sheep.

Shortly after he allegedly committed the offence, Adeyemi was arrested by the police and detained in the police custody to give room for police investigation. Upon arraignment yesterday, the police prosecutor, Inspector Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 24, 2016 at Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti. He alleged that the accused, on the said date, unlawfully stole 25 goats and nine sheep, valued at several thousandsofnaira.Accordingtohim,theoffencecontravenedSection390of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence while his counsel, Chris Omokhafe, prayed the court to grant bail to his clients in liberal terms, promising that he would not jump bail. Chief Magistrate Aderopo Adegboye consequently granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 and two sureties in like sum. He adjourned the case to September 5 for further hearing.

183 Arrested for Exam Malpractice in UNIZIK

RELEASE OUR LEADER

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), during a protest for the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakhzaky for medical treatment in Kaduna....yesterday Idris Egaji

Police Arrest Most Wanted Cultist in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi

area in the last six months.

He said: “Detectives have been The Lagos State Police Command working assiduously since the has arrested notorious cultist, gang razed down Mashanfani Balogun Oriyomi (aka Jpron), who house, where some ladies were has been on the police wanted list also raped. This led to the arrest for decades, just as it arrested 19 of Jpron who happens to be the other suspects for robbery and leader of the gang.

“Jpron is a star suspect because various crimes.

Oriyomi was arrested by the we have been looking for him combined effort of policemen from and he has killed many people.

Alade Division and a crack team of “He has been giving residents of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Shomolu sleepless nights. He is an ex-convict and has been in and out yesterday morning.

Oriyomi, was paraded by the of various prisons for rape cases, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State robbery, cultism and thuggery. He Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, has jumped bail severally.

“He was arrested again on yesterday, after he was captured after many months of trailing and August 24, 2016. He confessed to searching for the suspect, whose have been involved in multiple cases gang has been terrorising residents of murder. We hope that through of Shomolu, Pedro, Gbagada and him, other members of his gang would be arrested. His gang is Bariga axis.

According to Owoseni, the responsible for turning Shomolu suspect was declared wanted not and Pedro into theatre of war.”

Speaking with journalists, the just for cultism but for killing many innocent persons and rendering suspect admitted to the killing of many homeless, adding that the about three persons within Shomolu suspect has also been involved in and its environs.

He said: “I belong to Eiye serial ‘hired killings’ and has been contracted by several gangs to settle confraternity and we are always fighting with Aiye over who private and business scores.

He also said the suspect and his controls the area. We also fight gang were responsible for setting when they snatch our members’ ablaze a popular house in Shomolu girlfriend. It was in the course of called ‘Mashafani House,’ and the fighting that I killed two persons. killing of several persons in the Other members of my gang did

the other killings.

“I know why they are blaming me is that I am the leader of the gang. I know I would be held responsible for anything

my members do, but I am not responsible for all the killings. I don’t regret anything because I know that every day is for the thief and one day is for the owner.”

Two Arrested for Allegedly Defrauding Teachers Sylvester Idowu in Warri Crack police detectives have arrested the Supervisory Councillor for Finance and Education, Sapele Local Government, Mr. Eric Ojuromu and the Special Adviser to the Sapele Local Government Chairman, Joseph Okpereogho, for allegedly defrauding some primary school teachers from the council area through fake screening exercise.

Ojuromu and Okpereogho, it was gathered, were allegedly caught in the act and arrested on Tuesday morning at the council premises by men of the state police command and immediately taken to Asaba where they are currently being detained.

Security sources disclosed that they were alleged to be counting to confirm the sum of N500,000 brought by one of the primary school teachers (name withheld) from Okotie-Eboh Primary School, Sapele, when the Police swooped

on them.

It was gathered that Ojuromu allegedly embarked on the fraudulent screening exercise by telling some of the primary school teachers, who are being owed months salary arrears, that they have fake certificates and allegedly demanded for varied amounts of money to cover for them without verification by the issuing authorities.

It was learnt that most of the victims of Ojuromu, though have genuine certificates but were afraid to confront him.

THISDAY gathered that luck however ran out on him and Okpereogho, when the teacher from Okotie-Eboh Primary School, Sapele, who was confident of her certificates, summoned courage to petition the police on the matter, after she appeared before the Ojuromu screening panel and was told she possessed fake certificates.

About 183 persons were arrested by the authorities of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, for an alleged impersonation during the examination screening exercise in the institution. The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, disclosed the arrest in an interview with journalists at the 32nd inaugural lecture of the institution, with the theme:A ‘ natomy of Fraud and Corruption in Nigeria: A search for the Pandora Box and Panacea’ by Prof. Emma Okoye, Describing the act as the height of corruption in the institution. Ahaneku however expressed disappointment with the way the matter was handled by the security operatives who released the suspects soon after they were handed over to them for further interrogation and prosecution. The vice-chancellor accused parents of abating corruption by influencing their wards admission, warning that no amount of intimidation will deter his administration from fighting examination malpractices, cultism and other forms of vices in the institution. “We are fighting corruption head on and part of the measures we have taken is instituting an anti-corruption and transparency unit to tackle the menace at all levels. “We have also empowered the students and teachers in assisting us to courageously provide information towards exposing corruption in the institution,” he said.

Terror Syndicate Targeting Doctors in Lagos Arrested

Two women, who are members of the terror syndicate specialising in threatening and extorting money from mainly medical doctors in Lagos State, have been arrested by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the state Police Command. The operatives led by RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, had tracked down the syndicate and were able to arrest two of them, even as they have contacted the International Police (Interpol) to help repatriate the other gang members who fled to Togo. One of the affected medical doctors (name withheld), operating at Idimu area of the state had contactedTHISDAYlast month in fear, pleading for police protection. When THISDAYcontactedtheRRScommander,headmittedthatthey had already received several complaints from medical doctors and that they were working on cracking the case. Those arrested, Rita Ojobo and Mrs. Emmanuella Ossai, both sisters, along with other gang members, were fond of contacting Nigerian doctors on telephone demanding that they remit certain amount of money into account numbers or risk being kidnapped or murdered. It was gathered that Ojobo, 30, was arrested at Diamond Bank in Onitsha after she went to withdraw some money paid in by one of the victims. But the two sisters denied knowledge of the crime, insisting that their older brother, Kenechi Ojobo, a resident in Togo, who sent their account to the creditors to pay in money, is to blame. They claimed that their brother, a motorcycle parts merchant in Togo, told them that he usually gave relatives of the creditors the CFA (Francs) equivalent of the money paid in.

53

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

A F T E R M AT H O F R I O O LY M P I C S

Resign Now, Sports Minister, Dalung Told

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Proprietor of Rojenny Stadium, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka has called on the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, to resign from the post after Nigeria’s woeful performance at the just Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, Ezeonwuka said that Dalung’s resignation would be the only way to apologise to Nigerians and sports lovers for the poor outing of Team Nigeria at Rio2016.

He said this was part of the urgent steps that should be taken towards restructuring the Nigerian sports sector to forestall further embarrassment in the international arena.

While lauding the Samson Siasia led Dream Team VI for registering the country’s name on the medals table, Ezeonwuka described the general performance of Team Nigeria as disgraceful.

“Nigeria only got what she prepared for from the Olympics because the Minister, Solomon Dalung, did not show or give the quadrennial event the seriousness it deserved.

“The minister should honourably resign because he had shown himself to be more of politician than a sports administrator.

“It is good that our soccer team won bronze but we’ve know the story, they won because of their individual

commitments to the country.

“The team was stranded in Atlanta and it took the intervention of John Mikel Obi before they could get to Brazil yet we have a minister in-charge of sports in the country. We need genuine change in all sectors, most especially in sports,” stressed the proprietor.

He described as unfortunate that government at all levels have refused to invest in the sports sector.

“Our government refused to invest in sport that unites us as a country but they continue to fund religion that tears us apart. If you remember, all that matters to Nigerians when ever any of our athletes was competing during the Games was success of Team Nigeria not the tribe or religion of such athletes,” he further observed.

Ezeonwuka said it was time Nigeria identified her area of sporting advantage and streamlined her contingent to international meets instead of going for many events and not excelling in any.

“I think this jamboree should stop, let us train Olympians in events we have advantage and not go with eight or nine events and flop in all of them when smaller countries like South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia with smaller teams do better,” he said.

Dalung

My Rio2016 Experience to Impact Positively on Bauchi Sports, Says Saleh Star Lager Becomes First State Commissioner Rio de Janeiro. and to advise him on how to uplift sports. for Sports, Ibrahim Saleh, ``My Governor, in spite of best to use the pedestal of He had spent a lot of Official Beer Partner of NPFL Bauchi has promised to take the funds’ challenges occasioned sports to advance the cause resources to support the Nigeria’s leading beer brand, Star Lager, on Tuesday announced a partnership with the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), to be the first official beer partner of the NPFL. The event brought together stakeholders from the Nigerian football industry to celebrate a major milestone in Nigeria’s football history.

This first of its kind partnership will commence from the 2015/2016-football league season and end with the football league season of 2019/2020.

Commenting on the partnership during the event, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Franco Maria-Maggi said, “We’ll be finding ways to use this unique partnership of the NPFL to give our consumers more reason to enjoy the local football. Football in Nigeria and Star Lager have a proud past, a strong present and very bright future in front of them.”

Chairman of League Management Company, Shehu Dikko also remarked, saying, “We are excited about this partnership with Star Lager, and we hope to achieve more from this with the support of all stakeholders involved. Having Star as a major sponsor will certainly be the key to a bright future for professional football league in Nigeria”.

Star has consistently been a long-standing supporter of football, from championing the world cup through its “Shine On Nigeria” campaign to testing the passion, knowledge and skills of football fans through the Star Super fans game show.

The partnership is part of Star’s commitment to create numerous platforms to recognize and reward consumers for their football passion.

Star Football is Nigeria’s largest football platform, which brings fans together to celebrate and acknowledge their passion to the beautiful game of football.

An average of 8,000 fans attended games in the 2014/15 seasons, according to the LMC’s season review. This is the biggest crowd number for domestic football in Nigeria for more than 15 years and is expected to rise this year. It is common these days to see families attend local league matches in their bright club replica jerseys due to the increased security at venues across the country.

While the win-at-home at-all-cost syndrome is fast becoming a thing of the past with 31 away wins, the highest in 10 years, the league has become more competitive as clubs now chase points on the road leading to greater excitement for the fans, the biggest stakeholders.

issue of refurbishing sports infrastructure in the state to governor of the state, Abdullahi Abubakar.

Saleh who was at the just concluded 31st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, said that his experience at RIO2016 has shown that infrastructure are key top sports development. ``Some of the facilities provided by Brazil to stage the Rio Olympic Games were in excellent condition and among the best in the world,’’ Saleh told NAN in

by the global downturn in the economy sponsored me alongside the state’s chairman of the Bauchi State Sports Council and a member of a State House of Assembly to come and be part of the global celebrations of sports here in Rio de Janeiro. ``He (governor) undertook to sponsor us to the Rio Games because of his sheer love for sports and the benefit the experience will bring to the state. ``He wants us to be part of the global community

of humanity. ``We have seen for ourselves how great the Olympic is.

It is a wonderful experience being here to see the passion of the Brazilians and how they are organising the Games.

I believe that we can tap into this exposure to better our sports in Bauchi for the social-economic development our state’’.

According to him despite the `empty treasury’ that the governor inherited from previous administration, he had already done a lot

state’s soccer team, the Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and ``the club is right now doing well in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

“This is all due to the love and resources the governor had been providing to the club’’. ``I will certainly urge the governor to do more for sports development after seeing how the Brazilians have used sports to build their economy. ``We have a lot to learn from them,’’ he said.

Ese Brume Gets Lifeline for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Nigeria’s female long jumper, Ese Brume reaped her reward for hard work yesterday in Lagos, after emerging the country’s best track and field athlete at the just concluded Rio Olympic Games.

Brume, who graduated from the junior cadre to the senior team two years ago in Glasgow, Scotland, where she won the long jump gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, was again the cynosure of all eyes at the Rio Olympics, finishing 5th in the women’s long jump final.

She was the only Nigerian individual athlete to reach the final in Rio. At a time everything had fallen apart for Team Nigeria in track and field, Brume

came with a big surprise, jumping her personal best mark of 6.81m to challenge for a medal, although it was not enough to get her on the podium. No one gave her a chance of making it to the final.

She arrived the country three days ago, and yesterday in Lagos, the owner of FROT Group, an energy and construction company based in Lekki, Lagos, decided to honour the athlete and her coach Kayode Yaya.

Apart from getting them cash reward for doing the nation proud in Rio, the FROT Group boss, Frank Momoh promised to give Brume the assistant she will need to make the podium in Tokyo 2020.

Last weekend, Momoh had rolled out a red carpet for Nigeria’s table tennis stars, Aruna Quadri, Segun Toriola, Funke Oshonaike and other members of the table tennis team to the Rio Olympics in a welcome dinner, which took place at Wheatbaker hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.

At that occasion, Momoh doled out N1million to Aruna Quadri, N500,000 for Toriola, while and Funke Oshonaike and other members of the team got N1 million.

But yesterday, Momoh gave Brume and her coach the sum of N200,000, a gesture the athlete and her coach Yaya described as remarkable.

“I don’t know how to express our gratitude to FROT

Group,” Brume told journalists yesterday. “This is a man I have not met before in my entire life. I returned from Rio three days ago and he sent for me and my coach to see him in his office. Apart from giving us N100,000 cash each, he has told us to prepare a programme for my training for Tokyo 2020 Olympics and that he will help me in whatever way. I can’t believe we still have this type of people in this part of the world. I am really grateful and I pray God to help me actualise my dream of making it to the podium in Tokyo 2020. That is the only way I can pay back to Mr. Frank Momoh in particular and the management of FROT Group,” Brume stated.

54

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY AUGUST 25, 2016

THURSDAYSPORTS

11 Beijing 2008 Weightlifting Medallists Fail Retests Three Olympic champions from China are among 11 weightlifters who face being stripped of their medals after failing retests of their Beijing 2008 doping samples.

The 11 medallists tested positive for a range of banned substances, says the International Weightlifting Federation.

Among those to fail are gold medallists Cao Lei, Liu Chunhong and Chen Xiexia.

The other eight medallists to test positive are from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

Andrei Rybakou of Belarus, who holds the 85kg world record with a 187kg snatch and won silver in 2008, tested positive in the retests.

The others to fail are Anastasia Novikova of Belarus, Kazakhstan’s Maria Grabovetskaya and Irina Nekrasova, Russia’s Khadzhimurat Akkaev and Dmitry Lapikov and Ukraine’s Natalya Davydova and Olha Korobka.

They are all provisionally suspended until the cases are resolved.

Four other weightlifters from Beijing 2008, who did not win medals, also failed retests.

An earlier set of retests in June and July led to suspensions for 10 weightlifters who competed at the 2008 Olympics, including five medallists.

The weightlifting at this month’s Rio Olympics was hit by doping, with

Kyrgyzstan’s Izzat Artykov losing his bronze medal after testing positive.

Port Harcourt Club 1928 Golf Section announced it has secured a major professional golf deal from CMCL, reputed to be one of Nigeria’s biggest financiers of professional tournaments.

The deal is coming two months after it successfully staged the third leg of the 72-hole West Africa Golf Tour.

The club captain, Emmanuel Okene said the CMCL Winners Takes All Tournament will hold in Port Harcourt from November 9-13.

In addition there will be a two-day invitational for amateur golfers, with the course partially closed for each day of the event.

The CMCL Winners Takes All is a reward system that hands the entire professional prize money to the overall winner of the event rather than splitting the purse on basis of the number of players on the Order of Merit cut list.

This unusual sole winner format is preferred by CMCL Chairman, Otunba Olusola Adekanola, who believes it will result in focus, and ensure that there will be decent play by majority of the players over four rounds.

Unlike the flagship CMCL Open which has been a national staple for close to 20 years, the CMCL Winners Takes All has only been held on three occasions.

Francis Ugbong won the maiden edition in Ilorin in 2000, while the cerebral Raphael Iyonagbe, who dominated the Nigerian professional golf scene in the early in 2000s won the remaining two editions in Benin and Air Assault.

In a related manner, Port Harcourt has also secured a one year partnership package with PABOD Breweries to brand Hole 8 (Creek), organise the newly created Hero Monthly Medal in addition to a Golf Day tournament for amateurs yearly.

Yobo Joins Kano Pillars Former Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo has signed for Kano Pillars as an LMC Ambassador and could make his debut at Sunshine Stars next week Wednesday.

Four-time champions Pillars, IfeanyiUbah, Akwa United and Wikki were all in the race to sign the former Nigeria skipper Yobo, who won 101 caps with the Super Eagles.

Ex-Everton star Yobo,

drugs test, and Polish 2012 Olympic champion Adrian Zielinski was

sent home after testing positive for nandrolone.

Federer

Port Harcourt Club Grabs CMCL, Hero’s Deals Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

A Mongolian weightlifter who did not make the podium also failed a

who will be 36 next month, signed a deal with the League Management Company (LMC), which will see him feature in the domestic league as a way of promoting and adding value to the competition.

The central defender has previously played for Turkish giants Fenerbache, Olympique Marseille in France as well as Norwich City in the Premier League.

Federer Targets Australia Open Return Roger Federer is aiming to be fit for next year’s Australian Open after injury wiped out the last half of his 2016 season.

Federer, 35, has been out of action since late July - his last match was a Wimbledon semi-final loss to Milos Raonic.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner had surgery in February before a back issue ruled him out of the French Open.

“I’m working for the Australian Open,” the Swiss said. “I’m doing well.”

“I never thought I’d have a year like this. I’ve learned a lot from this year,” added Federer, who missed the Rio 2016 Olympics and will be unable to go for a sixth US Open title when the tournament begins on 29 August.

“It’s painful being here in

New York, and it was painful during the Olympics because I love competing. But you can’t have it all.

“It was a tough decision to say the least - going out of Rio, the US Open, the [seasonending] World Tour Finals.

But in some ways it ended up being a simple decision.

Health is my number one thing.”

Federer was speaking at an

event in New York to launch the ‘Laver Cup’, a Ryder-Cup style tournament named after Australian legend Rod Laver and set for September 2017 in Prague, with Europe playing the Rest of the World.

Former greats Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe are captains of the respective teams, with long-time rivals Federer and Spaniard Rafael Nadal set to play doubles together.

Big Teams Set for UCL Hamilton ‘Likely’ to Face Draw Tonight Belgian Penalty The UEFA Champions League draw ceremony comes up tonight in Monaco, alongside the presentation for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, for which Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are in the hat with Atletico Madrid and France striker Antoine Griezmann.

But the real business of the day will take place when the balls are plucked from the plastic bowls to determine who Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid side will face in the group stage of this year’s competition.

There are a number of potential opponents to excite and appal Real fans, plus the possibility of an emotional reunion.

As champs, Real Madrid is one of the seeded sides in Pot 1 and therefore avoid Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich, Juventus -- who knocked Real out of the competition two seasons ago at the semifinal stage -- and PSG, who will be

a force to be reckoned with now that Unai Emery is at the helm after winning three straight Europa League titles with Sevilla.

There are a few sides in the mix that Real will prefer to avoid when the stronger clubs are drawn tonight.

Manchester City stand out as genuine title contenders this year, not so much because of Pep Guardiola’s arrival -- he failed to get Bayern into the final in three attempts -- but because of the firepower the Premier League side possess. Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Nolito have joined Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling in the City attack this summer and Guardiola’s side have scored 11 in three matches this season.

If the clubs meet again, City can be relied on to shed the overcautious approach that they adopted in last year’s semifinals.

Mercedes yesterday said Lewis Hamilton is “likely” to suffer a grid penalty for using too many engine parts at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The team say they will know for certain today, but a decision to take the extra engine parts Hamilton needs would mean a drop of at least 20 grid places.

A series of failures early in the season meant that Hamilton used up more engine components than planned.

He heads into the race 19 championship points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Six wins in the past seven races for Hamilton have turned around what had been a 43-point advantage for the German after the first four races of the season.

A spokesman said the team were still working through the requirements and consequences related to any decision to take the penalty in Belgium.

The other option is to wait until the Italian Grand Prix the following weekend.

Drivers are allowed to use a maximum of five of each of the six parts of an engine before a grid penalty is incurred.

Hamilton has already used the maximum permitted five items of two elements of the complicated turbo hybrid engine - the turbocharger and the MGU-H, the electric motor that recovers energy from the turbo.

Teams are given a 10-place grid penalty each time they use a sixth example of any component, so using one new of each of these means a 20-place grid penalty for Hamilton.

There are only 22 cars on the grid and a driver can only go to the back no matter how many theoretical grid penalties he suffers for using additional engine components.