Thursday 15th September 2016

Foreign Loans: Prioritise Manufacturing, Society of Engineers Urges FG Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the federal government to give priority to the manufacturing sector in its foreign loan procurement, saying the

emphasis on infrastructure development will not help the national economy to attain the vibrancy to compete in the global economy.

Giving the advice in Abuja yesterday, the NSE said that instead of borrowing to spend

solely on capital projects or infrastructure as stated by the government in its 2016 budget, it should give high priority to spending to rebuild the manufacturing sector.

The society’s president, Otis Anyaeji, said this when

he inaugurated the Nigerian Institute of Safety Engineers (NISE), an offshoot of NSE, adding that it was important Nigeria looked for ways to become self-sufficient and able to locally meet its developmental needs than

just looking for quick-fix for the recession that the economy had slipped into.

He said borrowing to spend on just infrastructure might not necessarily guarantee the country the needed economic independence to take care of

her citizens but making sure that her manufacturing sector was strengthened to provide the materials and equipment needed to build the country's infrastructure.

Continued on page 6

Nigeria’s Josephine Orji Shatters World Record at Rio Paralympics… Page 6 Thursday 15 September, 2016 Vol 21. No 7812. Price: N250

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Two Years After, Amaechi, Ambode Reflect on Ebola, Call for Strong Surveillance System New movie '93 Days' debuts in Nigeria after rave review at Canada Film Festival Showing at the cinemas this weekend Nseobong Okon-Ekong Two years after Nigeria survived the scourge of

the dreaded Ebola disease, prominent Nigerians, including the Minster of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi,

Representative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is also the Majority Leader of the

House of Representatives, and Pastor of the House on the Rock, Mr. Paul Adefarasin, yesterday reflected on the harrowing

experience of the survivors and made a passionate plea for the development of strong surveillance systems to ward

off potential outbreaks of such a disease in the future.

Continued on page 6

Economy: Catholic Bishops Want Buhari to Take Responsibility ‘If the previous government did badly, that was why we voted a new government’ Quit now, says PDP

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) bishops in Nigeria yesterday entered the raging conversation about the dire state of the economy, telling President Muhammadu Buhari and his officials to abate the blame game and take full responsibility for the task of retrieving the

economy from the recession it has slipped into under his watch.

The bishops, who spoke through the Arch-Bishop of Sokoto Dioceses, Mathew Kukah, said the president ought to prevail on his aides to stop passing the buck over the prevailing economic challenges and Continued on page 8

Tension in Ondo APC over Alleged Plot WE APPRECIATE YOU to Tamper with Primaries Result… Page 6 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right); presenting a State plaque to the Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja… Wednesday

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Nigeria’s Josephine Orji Shatters World Record at Rio Paralympics Team Nigeria wins 8 gold medals Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigerian power-lifter, Josephine Orji, last night shattered the world record of the women’s -+86kg power-lifting event at the ongoing 2016 Paralympics Games in Rio, Brazil with a lift of 154kg to win the gold medal.

The gold medal is Nigeria’s eighth at the 2016 Paralympics.

Team Nigeria is comfortably seated in the 10th position on the overall medals table with eight gold, two silver and one bronze.

Poland’s Marzena Zieba, who finished with 134kg, settled for the silver while Holland’s Melaica Tuinfort got the consolatory bronze with her best lift of 130kg in the +86kg category.

Orji’s performance yesterday

capped the brilliant performance of Team Nigeria’s special athletes at the Games. The swashbuckling fair complexioned Nigerian lady who was sure of her capacity opted to enter the battle with the other competitors on a frightening scale.

She entered the contest with 151kg lift, a weight that was far beyond the capacity of any other competitor in her category.

The only other lifter who came close to her effrontery, Egypt’s Nadya Ali, failed in all her three attempts to lift 145kg.

With the gold already in the kitty, Orji now set her mind at taking the world record. Twice she failed to lift the 154kg but buoyed on by her vociferous teammates and Technical Adviser, Areh Feyisetan, Orji dug deep into her inner strength in

the third attempt to surmount the obstacle and pocketed the world record.

Her attempt at lifting 160kg was a mission impossible but was however consoled with climbing the podium for the precious gold and a world record to butt.

Earlier in the day, Flora Ugwunwa had won the Women’s Javelin Throw – F53/54 event.

With a throw of 20.25m, Ugwunwa set a new world record to beat Tunisia’s Hania Aidi and South Africa’s Ntombizanele Situ to second and third places respectively.

Petit Lauritta Onye won Nigeria’s other track and field gold in the Shot Put event.

Competing in the women’s shot put f40 event on the Day-four of the Rio Paralympics, Onye first

heaved 7.83m that saw her break her world record of 7.72m set at the IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar in 2015.

Her second throw was 7.54m.

She however went one centimetre further on her third attempt.

Onye’s fourth attempt of 8.40m sent Team Nigeria camp into jubilation mood as it secured the fifth gold medal for the country.

Onye’s medal is Nigeria’s seventh at the Rio Paralympic Games.

Ndidi Nwosu defeated the defending champion to win women’s -73kg Powerlifting event gold medal.

Nwosu was set for the bronze medal before she stepped up in her very last attempt, lifting 140kg to equal the Paralympics Record

(PR) and usurp France’s Souhad Ghazouani for the gold.

Another Nigerian, Bose Omolayo, broke her own world record and set a new one of 138kg to win gold medal.

Earlier at the weekend, Team Nigeria’s captain, Lucy Ejike, broke the Paralympic and world record three successive times, to win the women’s -61kg event in power-lifting. Her successful attempt at 136.kg on Sunday set a new Paralympic record and world record.

Ejike went on to set a bigger mark of 138kg, before lifting a massive 142kg.

Another power-lifter, Paul Kehinde, had earlier at the weekend given Team Nigeria her second gold medal of the

Games. Kehinde in the -65kg men’s category, lifted 218kg to beat his rivals to the gold medal.

His gold came after Roland Ezuruike had on Friday won Nigeria’s first gold in Rio, also in power-lifting.

China’s Peng Hu (200kg) finished second, while Egypt’s Shaaban Ibrahim (193kg) won the bronze medal.

Latifat Tijani won silver in the women’s power-lifting -45kg on Friday, with Esther Oyema adding another silver in the women’s power-lifting -55kg category on Saturday.

Team Nigeria’s eight gold, two silver and one bronze haul is better than the Sydney 2000 Paralympics all-time haul of seven gold, one silver and five bronze medals.

Tension in Ondo APC over Alleged Plan to Tamper with Primaries Result Appeal panel chair smuggled to Lagos

Olawale Olaleye Tension is currently brewing in the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged plan by some section of the party leadership to tamper with the result of the primary election, which produced a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Already, chairman of the Appeal Panel set up to look into the complaints that attended the exercise, Mrs. Hellen Benbager

(from Benue State) was said to have been smuggled into Lagos State by some powerful forces ahead of the submission of the panel's report, with a viewing to influencing the report that would ultimately undermine the result of the ballot.

Sources close to THISDAY hinted that signal from inside sources in Lagos told of the efforts being made to prevail on the Chairman to influence the report, including promises to get her an appointment amongst other added inducements.

"As we speak, the chairman is in Lagos, where they are promising

her heaven and earth for as long as she is able to upturn the result that produced Akeredolu. They promised her money, landed property and appointment. This is desperation and the world must know. We cannot go on like this," said a source displeased with the dimension the matter is assuming.

Continuing, the source said, "This is why the Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, refused to let any known person in that axis work with him. He literally brought everyone who worked with him from his state and the exercise was free and

fair. This is no less an attempt to embarrass the governor and it is unbecoming of anyone doing this.

"Besides, how do you explain the fact that the exercise was beamed live and by a television station believed to be owned by people, who are now crying foul. Nothing was shady in that exercise and it is unfortunate that we have to travel this mischievous road because the exercise didn't favour a particular interest," he said.

THISDAY further learnt that other stakeholders in the party have resolved to defend the exercise and

would go to any length to make sure that the result produced by it is protected. They were said to have been able to identify a common enemy and are ready to do battle with him.

"We will not watch anyone undermine the rest of us. We all signed up for a free and just process and that process we had. But for anyone to now turn around and want to manipulate the rest of us to submission is impossible. We will fight it to the last and that is what we will do," the source said.

The APC primary held recently in Ondo had produced Akeredolu

as the winner after polling 669 votes to defeat his closest rival and the candidate believed to be the choice of the aggrieved section of the leadership, Olusegun Abraham, who scored 635 votes.

Olusola Oke polled 576, Senator Robert Borrofice, 471; Tayo Alasoadura, 206; Bode Ayorinde, 67; Jumoke Ajasin-Anifowose, 1; Tunji Abayomi, 5; Jamiu Afolabi, 44; Adefemi Mayowa, 13; Ayo Akinyelure, 3; Adekunle Adekunle, 8; Adegbonmire Adebiyi, 8; Olabimtan Victor, 18; Tunji Ariyomo, 2; and Oyewunmi Taiwo, 7.

TWO YEARS AFTER, AMAECHI, AMBODE REFLECT ON EBOLA, CALL FOR STRONG SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM The plea was made in Lagos at the premiere of a movie titled, ‘93 Days,’ which after a rave review at the Canada Film Festival, would be available at the nation’s cinemas at the weekend.

The movie details Nigeria’s struggle to contain the virus; with a recall of the painstaking ‘in person’ follow-up, scrupulous sanitizing, vigilant and meticulous port-of-entry screening and rapid isolation of suspected infected persons carried out on 18,500 persons in Lagos and across Nigeria in the search to find any

new cases among the identified contacts.

The index patient triggered a chain of transmission that claimed the life of eight persons out of a total of 19 infected persons out of a list of 989 contacts generated by infectious disease experts.

A big compliment was paid at the event hosted by House on the Rock Church in collaboration with the Consulate of the United States of America in Lagos to underscore the exploit accomplished by Nigerians, who faced with potential disaster, marshalled the inherent

power of collaboration across racial, religious, ethnic, political and socio-economic divides, and averted what could have been a global catastrophe.

These evidence were provided in a message titled, ‘Greater Togetherthe Power of Collaboration’ by Adefarasin, a clergyman whose ministry, House on the Rock Church, sponsored the premiere of the movie that chronicled Nigeria’s fight against the Ebola pandemic.

Addressing an audience that included the Amaechi, representatives of the federal

and Lagos state governments, the American consular in Lagos, Martin Brennan, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Chief and Mrs. Olu Okeowo and Mr. Jimmy Agbaje, the clergyman re-echoed the impression of the health authorities that the sheer impact of an Ebola epidemic on the city of Lagos with 21 million people would have been nothing short of apocalyptic.

Also in the audience were Barrister and Mrs. Dapo Abiodun, Mrs. Nkiru Anumudu, Michelle Dede, Segun Arinze and Timi Dakolo.

FOREIGN LOANS: PRIORITISE MANUFACTURING, SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS URGES FG Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades as sinking oil prices and low oil output eat into its foreign reserves while the naira weakens against other currencies.

For months, the country has also been looking for sources to help plug a projected 2016 budget deficit of N2.2 trillion as President Muhammadu Buhari plans to triple capital spending in the 2016 fiscal year.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had last April in Washington said that the country would consider funding options from the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB).

"We are speaking to the World Bank and AfDB for budget support loans. We see the Nigerian opportunity as a policy opportunity and we feel the bank is the place to go to support our policy reforms. There is a lot of stigma and a lot of institutional memories in Nigeria around IMF that is not positive and we believe that this type would not be the right message for Nigeria at the

moment," Adeosun had said.

Anyaeji, however, spoke against this background and the government's plan to turn to foreign financial institutions to plug the budget shortfall.

He said: "Recession as you know it is when an economy is not active. Our economy has not been active and if it begins to get active especially in the productive areas, manufacturing of what we consume, at least, we will move away from the recession.

"We have to take into cognisance the issue of housing because it is said that any economy whose housing sector is progressive can never get into recession because of the linkage to housing. There are other sectors with such linkage effects that we should go into. The automotive sector is one of such.

"The country must immediately make investment in the mother of all sectors, which is the machine tools sector. This is the sector that makes machines that make other machines."

On foreign loans, Anyaeji said:

"We are not against government taking loans, what we are talking about are the conditions. We all agree that with the quantum of funds available to the government, there is need for foreign investment to supplement, but in taking such foreign loans, what we are saying is that the interest of Nigerians ought to be paramount.

"If you are taking loans, mind you, we are still going to pay for it and incidentally it is not us who are around that will pay for the loans but generations unborn that will be saddled with that.

"There must be great efficiency in the way the loan negotiations are going. We must be looking for loans in the things that will improve the manufacturing capacities of Nigeria - that will give Nigerians the ability to make some of the very basic things they need. What we must consume we must make here.

"Let foreigners and others participate in our economy but in the things that will make us self-sufficient - that will make

our economy rebound and we become sustainable. Don't take loans to import cement, sand and steel, we are saying take loans to build up the capacity to make the cement, steel and rubbers here and let people invest in the manufacturing activities."

Speaking on the decision of the NSE council to ratify the formation of NISE, its pioneer chairman, Biodun Oyedepo, said the incessant disregard for safety codes in the country's infrastructure sector, as well as breach of existing safety protocols in already existing infrastructure necessitated the formation of the institute.

Oyedepo stated that NISE would not compete with existing agencies that regulate safety in the country but would act more as a watchdog to ensure that the right things are done with regards to safety.

According to him, practitioners in the country's infrastructure sector have taken for granted all codes and protocols in their design of their engineering projects.

The movie, which is directed

by Steve Gukas stars Nigerian and American actors stars including Danny Glover, Tim Reid, Mackenzie Alastair, Bimbo Akintola, Keppy Ekpenyong and Somkele Idhalama among others chronicles how Nigeria battled the Ebola virus and won a harrowing 13 week-long saga of extreme ground-level work described by the World Health Organization as a remarkable the feat.

Corroborating the theme of his speech, Adefarasin said, “history correctly attributes the avoidance of a national catastrophe to the rapid, collaborative and orchestrated response by the Commissioner of Health and the Lagos State Health Management System, the First Consultants Hospital, all the doctors who put their lives on the line, health and other front line workers and undoubtedly, the late Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who after diagnosing and isolating the index patient became a casualty herself.”

The clergyman also commended the Nigerian movie industry for using its art to “reshape the nation’s value systems and reset our cultural norms for progress, development and a national sense of purpose.

We expect much more from the crucible of your collaborative endeavors… let’s together arise and reshape the future with the powerful medium of storytelling through movie making.”

The occasion was also used to honour health workers, staff of the hospital and individuals who helped to combat the spread of the disease. They were recognised as the 'real people' who sacrificed their comfort to help the afflicted.

The award recipients include the Commissioner of Health, Lagos state, Dr. Jide Idris,

Adeagbo Bolatito, Adegboye Femi, Adesina Kabiru, Adeyemi Bidemi, Adeyiga Victoria, Akindele Funke, Babatunde Kayode, Fatimat Balogun, Ekunsunmi Olubukola, Anibaba Boye, Ogunyinka Cecilia, Ojedokun Oluwatoyin, Okunowo Yinka, Olonade Abisade, Ositade Olusola and Yusuf Ramon.

Adefarasin explained his church’s collaboration with the Nigerian movie industry. “We are collaborating with Nollywood to propagate values in the society.

It will be a true notation to understand that Hollywood has shaped global culture and here Nollywood movie stands for the possibility as we begin to inculcate the best value system possible to reshape and transform Nigeria to the country of our dreams so that we can really be proud of a nation that we believe one day will be a first world nation.”

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Ecstasy in Ibadan as Institute Exhibits Diesel, Kerosene Produced from Plastics Ademola Babalola in Ibadan Ibadan, the ancient capital city of Oyo State, was agog yesterday as the Education Advancement Centre (EAC) released a set of chemical products derived from waste plastics and cans.

The products include diesel, kerosene and alum which were made from waste plastic and cans instead of crude oil.

The firm launched the products at an exhibition at its Bodija headquarters, which was one of the activities marking its 20th anniversary.

The products, which come at a cheaper cost, according to the director, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, would also reduce environmental destruction through the use of the nondegradable materials as raw materials.

Bamgbose said rather than relying on oil, which was quite expensive, the waste materials, which were available in huge quantity, were far cheaper.

For instance, he said a litre of its kerosene and diesel would cost N120 instead of

the average of N200 they were being sold nationwide.

But EAC is not willing to go into large scale production.

Rather, the firm is looking for investors or manufacturers that can produce at that level that will meet the needs of Nigerians.

Bamgbose, in an interview with reporters, said: "For the diesel and kerosene, we call them green products.

They are made from waste thermosetting plastics which do not have any recycle value. The non-thermosetting plastics can be recycled but thermosetting are useless.

From those thermosetting plastics, we have been able to produce kerosene that can reduce the cost of fuel and get our environment cleaner because they are non-degradable.

"The other part is the aluminium from cans. When people finish drinking from aluminium cans, they throw them away. Some compress them and export. But this is something that is more useful to us in Nigeria. When we export the aluminium, we later

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi import chemicals to produce alum whereas this aluminium cans have alum content which we extracted into aluminium hydroxide and reacting it with sulphuric acid, we are able to produce alum that is useful for water treatment and others.

Water works need alum to make water cleaner. We have been able to put all these together based on basic science coupled with research and development. We believe that

is the function of education.

Education should research and find new solutions to new problems.

"Right now, it is at a pilot scale. We can produce about 500 litres of kerosene and diesel per day. We are able to produce a trailer load of alum in two days. We will begin to offer the products in the next few days.

"We have approached the Standards Organisation of

Nigeria (SON) for quality control and standardisation and they are happy to visit our factory.

"But we are not interested in producing in large scale.

We are looking for factories or investors that will do that.

We will just sell the licence to them and they can produce in large scale for Nigerians.

They will end up helping our environment by ridding it of the wastes which have constituted nuisance all over the country. If we find people who are willing to finance the production, we will give them the licence and the know-how.

"We will serve as technical partners to them because these processes are not static. We went through various processes to arrive at where we are. That also tells us that we cannot stop at where we are today. We are never satisfied with whatever we achieve.

"Even for the kerosene and diesel, while we are saying it is a licensing model we are looking at whereby we will be involved continuously, we may find a better way

of doing it. When we started we were using naked flame to heat. Now, we are using electric energy. That's why we want to participate rather than just sell technology to users. Manufacturers will need to continue to upgrade the process. The same for the aluminium from cans. We are willing to participate so that continuously we can improve on the products."

On sustainability, Bamgbose said plastic use had become part of modern life, meaning that they will continue to be there in large number. He added that the technology is completely home-made while the Nigerian population would continue to need the products.

After participating in the exhibition which also featured some educational materials, including software and other educational technological materials, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof.

Adeniyi Olowofela, said the products developed by the firm showed that there was great future for Nigeria.

party denied responsibility and told him to leave office if he is unable to take the economy beyond where he met it.

According to Adeyeye, the opposition party felt it was the crass ineptitude and lukewarm attitude of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government that brought the economy to its knees, saying the PDP left behind a vibrant economy.

"The crass ineptitude and lukewarm attitude of this APC government is no longer tolerable, and therefore, we are calling on President Buhari and his team to return Nigeria to its state of booming economy before they assumed office in May 2015, and then quit immediately to allow other capable leaders recover our ailing economy," it said.

The party’s statement read: "For instance, recall that about three Airlines, local and international like some banks, have suspended operations and sent their staff on indefinite leave due to the poor state of the Nigeria’s economy.

Nigerians are aware that the PDP government invested heavily in most of our airports in the country that resulted to obvious ‘facelift’ and improved operations through remodelling, construction of new airports, refurbishing and equipping of the local and international airports to meet best practices in the aviation industry.

"But the APC’s administration has frittered away all the good policies and programmes which the PDP put in place, thereby crumbling the aviation sector in the country amongst other catastrophes it has caused.

"What Nigerians want from this administration are results, simple! And not resorting to

throwing tantrums on the PDP at every given opportunity.

Our call for the president to return the country to how he met it in 2015 is justified on the following grounds: a bag of rice was N7,000 and now is above N20,000; a mudu of beans was N150 and now is N500; one US dollar was trading for N197 but now over N400; a litre of fuel was N87 but now N145; cost of transportation and other services have skyrocketed.

Given our observation since the inception of this government, they have nothing to offer and as such, quitting will be a solution because nobody can give what he/ she does not have. APC has failed."

The PDP calls on Nigerians to recall President Buhari's purported 'body language' at the beginning of his administration and reiterated that governance is a serious business and not about someone's body language' and de-marketing strategies of Mr. President while 'globetrotting'.

PDP said: "When this government came to power in May 2015 riding on the achievements of previous PDP administration, President Buhari's handlers and his party, the APC claimed it was his 'body language' that brought some positive changes the country was witnessing at that time; so we want to know what are the results of the so called 'body language'?"

The party concluded that the earlier the president and his team quit, the better for the country, saying: "There is no better time than now to make this call for the president to return the country to how he met it and quit, or right away quit for a more experienced team to take over."

ECONOMY: CATHOLIC BISHOPS WANT BUHARI TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY pay more attention to telling the people what his administration was doing to pull the economy out of recession.

“If the previous government did badly that is why we voted a new government. We didn’t vote a government to complain about yesterday.

If we wanted yesterday, the new government would not be there,” Kukah said at a dinner organised on the occasion of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) 2016 by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the International Event Centre (Dome), Akure on Tuesday.

Since the advent of his administration last year, Buhari has persisted in blaming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations for the economic downturn, saying their failure to diversify the economy coupled with high rate of corruption were responsible for the virtual collapse of the economy under his watch. ‘‘I want Nigerians to realise that what this government inherited after 16 years of the PDP government was no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security,” he told journalists in his Daura hometown after the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations on Monday.

Even as the critique of the Bishops became public yesterday, the PDP reiterated its rejection of Buhari’s prognosis, declining responsibility for the prostrate state of the economy and asked the president to turn in his resignation letter if he could not use his inheritance from the Goodluck Jonathan administration to take the country to prosperity.

“We ask President

Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he is unable to manage the economy,” the PDP said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja yesterday.

The Catholic clergy were similarly inclined at the end of their Akure conference as they urged the present government to stop the blame trading and dissuade its supporters from attributing the economic woes of the nation to past governments.

Rather, the Bishops said the president should consolidate on past achievements and find ways of ameliorating the sufferings of the people.

“It is really about taking responsibility. No matter how much you praise or abuse Jonathan, he is not the president of Nigeria. I think that people must understand, you take power to solve problems not to agonise. As the head of a family, no matter how bad things are if there is no food in the house; you as a father can’t enter the house crying,” Kukah said.

He added: “It is the question of developing the mechanism: you can’t solve the problem by guess work. Even my best friends in APC now realise that nobody can sing the song about Jonathan being responsible for the problems we are in. We are not asking you to change the whole world.”

Saying it might be true that the Jonathan administration created problems for the economy, he contended that it was better to play up the good deeds of the administration and improve on them than become slave to its shortcomings.

“We are now riding a train between Abuja and Kaduna now; the train wasn’t there

before. Things that Jonathan did that can help Nigeria, let’s continue with them. The bad things that Jonathan did and those who deserve to go to prison should go to prison.

But sending people to prison will only be useful if it puts bread on the table of people,” Kukah said.

He said that the situation became more complicated because government had failed in its responsibility to be open with the people.

According to him, “I think the challenge government is facing is this: just to be able to explain to the people that this suffering has something redemptive about it because if you know that at the end of this suffering something good is going to happen, people will be ready to live with the consequences.

“But so far, I don’t think government is communicating effectively with ordinary Nigerians and to know where we are and the state of things. So, this is why you increasingly have a situation which people are not willing to make sacrifices because they still believe that their obligation is to protect themselves.”

The bishop also spoke about the Buhari administration’s fight against corruption and said it was essentially superficial.

He said: “I have always said, you can’t cure malaria by just providing tablets; you might provide tablets to cure malaria but you have to look at the cause of malaria. As long as dirty waters and mosquitoes are around, there will still be the disease.

“My argument has always been that we are not really fighting corruption, we started off with the assumption that corruption is all about people

stealing money. But stealing money is actually the other end of corruption. The reason we don’t seem to make much progress is based on the kind of diagnosis; how we diagnose the problem.

“I still believe that unless we get to the root cause of poverty, inequality, which is really the evidence and symptom of corruption; you can talk of fighting corruption all the rest of your life and very little is going to happen.”

The Catholic clergy, who declared that the present economic crunch is also having a big toll on the church, said recession had meted out difficult times on Nigerians.

“But don’t forget, while people are having difficulties finding food to eat, Nigerians are still drinking and buying champagne for N1.5m or more. We are still the highest consumers of champagne outside France.

“So, the real question is this: how do we get to this situation, literally, living in two worlds so to say: a tale of two cities.

The difficulties are there like I said, but I think that all that government needs to do is to think out, a bit more clearly, how it can engage ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

Kukah faulted some of the measures put in place by the government to bail out the country, saying: “It is not enough to tell people to get back to the farms, the issues are much more than that; it is not enough to say you have big plans for agriculture.”

PDP Tells Buhari to Quit Reacting to the president’s persistent claim that the PDP laid the foundation for the current economic crisis, the

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

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

In Latest Video, Boko Haram Threatens Buhari It’s a ruse, DHQ Cautions journalist against coverage in N/East without authorisation Five soldiers, 30 terrorists killed in Niger clash Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Zacchaeus Somorin with agency reports The terrorist group, Boko Haram, yesterday released another video threatening to capture President Muhammadu Buhari.

The footage, narrated in Hausa Language, was said to have been shot somewhere in Borno State, where the sect sprang from. It showed suspected terrorists praying on what the narrator said was an Eid ground on Monday, Sallah day.

The video was posted on YouTube yesterday and the

group said it was using it to send out message that it remained a strong force.

But the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has rubbished the video as an invention of the social media.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in response to THISDAY inquiries yesterday, urged members of the public to ignore the latest Boko Haram video as a photo shop creation.

Abubakar stated that the terrorists had been decimated militarily, lost ground and only pretending to be alive through the social media.

EFCC Declares Former Katsina Governor, Shema Wanted Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, wanted over diversion of funds.

In a released signed by the spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, This was contained in a public notice signed by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren,informing members of

Earlier yesterday, 30 members of Boko Haram and five Nigerien soldiers were reported killed in fighting in the South-eastern Diffa region of Niger, the defence ministry said in a statement.

According to Reuters, the clash took place on Monday near the village of Toumour, near Lake Chad and the Nigerian border, an area that has been plagued by violence from the Islamist militant group and is under an extended state of emergency.

Fighting began on Monday morning when the army fell into an ambush, the statement said, adding that six soldiers were also injured and two militants were captured. “The Boko Haram fighters were trying to prevent people from praying to mark the feast of sacrifice,” said Laouan Boukar, a resident of Toumour, referring to the

important Muslim holiday Eid-el-Kabir that was on Monday The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, did not appear in the video, but the narrator said his deputy, whose name was not mentioned, represented him at the gathering. In the video, which was recorded in composite to capture two Eid grounds, the group stated its willingness to continue its jihad against the Nigerian government.

The group also called Buhari an infidel and threatened to capture him.

“This is our Eid prayer from us and by the support of our leader Imam Abubakar Al-Shekau. We are extending our greetings to our people and fighters.

“Message to the infidels and the leader of the entire infidels (kefir) who

is the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, that he should know we are very strong and doing very good.

By the will of Allah under the leadership of our leader (Shekau) we will capture Buhari with our hands.”

The video comes exactly a month after the sect released a similar one which purportedly showed how the Nigerian military coordinated an aerial attack on its hideout that left some of the abducted Chibok girls dead. The military appeared embarrassed by the video and declared three people wanted for allegedly taking part in its release.

The new video also comes a few days after rumours on social media that the federal government had already commenced a prisoner swap with the sect. The rumours said Kabiru Sokoto,

a leader of the sect who was convicted for the Christmas Day bombing in 2013 had been released. The rumour later turned out to be false as the prison authority said that the terrorist was still in prison.

The Boko Haram had indicated willingness for a prisoner swap with the federal government in order to release the kidnapped Chibok girls, a move the federal government has said it is willing to consider.

The DHQ, however, dismissed the latest video as an invention of the social media.

Abubakar said the video was photo shopped, adding that the terrorists had been decimated militarily, lost ground and only pretending to be alive through the social

Cont’d on Pg 13

public about the development.

Uwujaren said Shema was first invited in December 2015 for questioning without success.

He announced that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain has since ignored all invitations extended to him.

According to him, “The former governor is wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy, inflation of contract, abuse of office, diversion of funds and embezzlement running into billions of naira.”

Tambuwal: States Deserve More Allocations than FG The revenue allocation formula should be restructured to ensure the federating units get more allocations than the centre, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has advocated.

“There’s urgent need to review the allocation formula in the country because doing so will strengthen the Nigerian federation and help to shed off some of the excess powers the federal government currently has,” the governor said in Sokoto yesterday when hosted various groups who paid him a Sallah homage.

The groups included the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Association of Resident Communities, Sokoto Women Association and a coalition of non-governmental organisations, among others.

Tambuwal added that the states and local government areas deserve more allocation because they shoulder overwhelming responsibilities of the citizens of the country.

According to him, states and the local governments are the closest tiers of government to the people, but they are getting less than the federal government’s allocation from the federation account.

“The ugly trend should be reversed in favour of the federating units, to enable them meet the overwhelming demands of the people at

grassroots level,’’ the governor added.

Tambuwal disagreed with those advocating the “geographical” restructuring of Nigeria, saying with good governance in place, all Nigerians will be made to have a sense of belonging.

On Nigeria’s unity, Tambuwal said: “We believe in the unity of the country and the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable. Dialogue is also the most potent tool to resolve all problems, anywhere and at anytime.

“There are really challenges in Nigeria, and it is not peculiar to the nation, and these challenges are surmountable,’’ he said.

Speaking to the members of the resident communities, Tambuwal described them as equal partners in running the affairs of the state.

He also promised that his administration would not discriminate against anybody, irrespective of his tribe or religion.

Tambuwal also challenged NGOs and various groups to offer constructive criticisms to the government.

The President of the chambers of commerce, Alhaji Kabiru Tafida, as well as the chairman of the association of resident communities, Mr. Augustine Onumba, all hailed Tambuwal for his ‘’steadfastness’’ in governance.

CORPORATE GURUS

L-R: Chairman, Diamond Bank Plc, Chris Ogbechie; Chairman, Julius Berger Plc, Mutiu Sunmonu; and Director, Computer Warehouse Group, Philip Obioha, at the 2016 Fellows investiture ceremony by the Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD) held in Lagos...recently

Ambode, Bala Usman Meet, Say Permanent Solution Coming on Apapa Gridlock Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday expressed confidence in the ongoing efforts to permanently resolve traffic congestion in the Apapa axis due to activities at the Port, just as he restated his administration’s commitment to restore the glory of the area.

Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when he received the management team of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) led by its Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, on a courtesy visit, said he was highly desirous of transforming the Apapa axis to be a beauty to behold.

While expressing confidence in the ability of the new NPA management to make positive difference, Ambode said he was extremely delighted that the agency was being led at this

time of economic turbulence by a thoroughbred professional who is equally grounded in the political terrain.

He said Lagos, being the commercial nerve centre and a city surrounded by water, deserved more than one port, adding that his administration would not hesitate to partner with and support the NPA to succeed in whatever form needed.

“We have had issues about movement of cargo and every other vehicular movement that relates to traffic congestion in the Apapa axis and I think with the new management in charge of NPA, a whole lot of things will be resolved so quickly and I am very glad that this is the way we have decided to go and we will support everything to make Apapa a place that we

will all be delighted to speak about,” Ambode said.

He commended the NPA for investing in the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, saying that there was no doubt about the fact that such partnership would go a long way in driving more investment into Lagos.

Earlier, Usman said she was at the Lagos House with her team to expand the existing relationship between the NPA and the Lagos State Government for the benefit of the people.

In an interview with Government House Correspondents, she said the major area of partnership principally centred on decongestion of Apapa gridlock as soon as possible and the success of the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, among others.

“We discussed various areas of cooperation and one of the priorities was the decongestion of the Apapa area. We have looked at the priority activities that we need to do to decongest the area and we would proceed with that in the next few weeks.

“There are several partnerships that exist and we intend to forge ahead with them. We have the Lekki Deep Sea Port development which both Lagos State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria through the NPA have shareholdings. We believe that it is a project which we need to take forward within the shortest period. We have reaffirmed our partnership and commitment to drive the project and we want to do that within the shortest period,” Usman said.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Oshiomhole Has Lost the Confidence of Edo People, Says Wike PDP plots mayhem in Edo, says Ogie

Davidson Iriekpen Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has berated Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over his penchant for lies and inconsistencies, because he is in a panic mood over the rejection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his state.

Wike stated that it was completely untrue that he and his Delta State counterpart, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, mobilised militants to Edo State.

The governor further denied the false allegation

by Oshiomhole that he sent N2billion to the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.

Speaking when he granted audience to state the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said it was shocking that at his age, Oshiomhole still believes in drama and lies.

IPAC comprises of all registered political parties. Only the APC was absent at the solidarity visit by the registered political parties to Wike.

The governor said he was shocked by Oshiomhole’s allegation because on the day of the campaign, he met with the outgoing governor alongside other APC governors at the Benin airport where they all embraced.

“Oshiomhole even cornered me and said ‘don’t mind these people, they don’t know that we meet and talk,”’ he said.

He added: “If Oshiomhole has lost the confidence of his people, he should not blame me. He brought the president and 10 APC governors and he was not satisfied. Only because two PDP governors visited Edo State, Oshiomhole is panicking.

“Oshiomhole at his age should stop dramatising and telling lies.

What will his children say when they see him behave like that.”

Wike added: “If you cannot win election, you cannot win election no matter the number of security reports that you write.

“Oshiomhole doesn’t know

when to stop lying. Why do you think that you will continue to deceive the people. This was the same man who praised former President Goodluck Jonathan for promoting free and fair election, one man, one vote which saw him wining a second term. Today in his notorious inconsistency, anywhere Oshiomhole goes, he insults the former president.

When President Buhari leaves office, Oshiomole will do the same to him. What ever he is doing now, is to deceive him. He knows how to deceive people a lot.”

He noted that he was in Edo State to campaign for the PDP the same way Oshiomhole stormed Rivers State in 2015 to campaign for the then APC governorship candidate in the state.

The governor explained: “What I told Edo people that has set Oshiomhole in panic mood is that they should not trust INEC or the security agencies because they will never be neutral. I still repeat that the Edo people must remain vigilant so that they their votes will count.”

Wike charged Nigerians to disregard Oshiomhole’s lies as he is no longer pro-people.

He said: “The comrade in Oshiomhole has died long ago. There is no comrade in him. From khaki, he is now wearing expensive imported safari suits.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has urged the people of the state to remain focus and refuse to be provoked by the tricks and devious plans of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), advising the electorate to remain resolute in their determination to kick out the APC from the state in the coming election.

The Media Unit of Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation stated this yesterday while reacting to a statement credited to the Director-General of the Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, who accused PDP of planning to create tension

Jadesola Aboderin’s 80th Posthumous Birthday Holds Tomorrow The 80th posthumous birthday celebration of Mrs. Florence Jadesola Aboderin, the wife of the founder of Punch Nigeria Limited, publishers of The PUNCH newspaper titles, Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin, holds on Friday, September 16, 2016, in Lagos.

Tagged: ‘Time Out With Florence Jadesola Aboderin’, the occasion holds at 1p.m. at The Haven, Oba Akinjobi Road in the Ikeja GRA. Born on September 11, 1936, Jadesola Aboderin died in March, 1993, at the age of 56.

The late Jadesola Aboderin, who was the first female mortgage banker in Africa, attended the North Western Polytechnic, London; City of

London College, London; Building Societies Institute, Ware, UK; and the School of Mortgage Banking, Stanford, UK. She was a member, Soroptimist International (Mainland Club), Lagos; member, Nigerian Association of University Women; and the Second Vice-President, Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria from 1984 to 1985.

Jadesola Aboderin’s children are Mr. Wale Aboderin, who is the Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited; Mrs. Angela Emuwa, Ms. Omoshalewa Aboderin, Mrs.Omowunmi Obe and Mr. Jaiyejeje Aboderin (deceased).

and possible mayhem in the state ahead of the September 28, 2016, governorship election.

Describing the APC governorship campaign organisation as a consistent liar, Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation said its candidate would not be distracted by the ‘’senseless alarm,’’ of Obaseki campaign organisation, saying the organisation had succeeded in revealing its evil plot against the people of Edo State. ‘’We are used to APC’s ungodly strategy; when their leaders are plotting evil against the people they will be the first to raise the alarm against themselves. The people are now used to their tactics; unfortunately, it is too late for them, and the people will punish them in the coming election,’’ Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation stated. ‘’As Head of Economic Team of Edo State Government for over seven and a half years, Godwin Obaseki was seen as the brainbox of Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole-led government.

The governor himself had admitted that many times. When the government was sworn in nearly eight years ago, the hope of the average Edo people was justifiably raised to the zenith. ‘’As former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), many had believed that one of their own----Oshiomhole, who knows exactly how things should work, had been thrown up by providence as governor. But, today, those high hopes have far dimmed as depression and hunger have been the lot of many Edo people. ‘’The local debt profile of Edo State under Oshiomhole-led APC government, has galloped from N4billion in 2007 to over N700billion in 2016, plus $242million foreign debt. ‘’Insiders in the government had said that the road and school rehabilitation, which would have been to the credit of the Oshiomhole administration, had been turned to channels for looting the state blind. For example, they said the Airport

Road, a non-coastal road, was constructed at N1.5billion per kilometer - a road without a single bridge.’’

The Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation added that Edo State’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had been turned into a cesspool of fraud and corruption where mere rehabilitation of a classroom block costs as much as N500 million; while local government councils and pensioners are currently being owed 12 to 18 months salaries.

Ogie, had raised the alarm over sinister plans by the PDP to create tension and possible mayhem in the state ahead of the September 28, 2016, governorship election.

According to him, “We have information on the plot by the PDP to acquire rickety vehicles in different parts of the state, brand them with PDP logo and posters and thereafter set them ablaze. They will then claim that supporters of the APC were mobilised to attack them.

“The purpose of this evil plan is to portray the APC as a party which abhors opposition views and brand its supporters as violent, thereby causing public disaffection against the party and its candidate.

“We wish to inform the good people of Edo State that the APC has no plan to attack, vandalise or set ablaze any campaign vehicle of the opposition PDP because the APC is a peace-loving party.

“On the contrary, the PDP has a long history of attacking the opposition. We recall how the campaign train of the APC was attacked in Jattu and some vehicles were vandalised and some APC supporters injured and this was done under the direct supervision of the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu.

“We also note how some thugs were deployed by the PDP to vandalise the campaign billboards and banners of the APC candidate, Godwin Obaseki in several parts of the state.”

PROMOTING CULTURE

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona; Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; and Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival Committee, Wahab Osinusi. at the 2016 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu-Ode....yesterday

SERAP Urges FG to Prosecute Patience Jonathan Now over $15m Unexplained Wealth Davidson Iriekpen

A civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to exercise his powers under Section 174(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to urgently institute and undertake criminal proceedings against former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, over $15million unexplained wealth frozen in four companies’ accounts.

The organisation consequently gave Malami a seven-day ultiimatum, failing which it would institute legal proceedings to compel the AGF discharge his constitutional duty in this matter.

The letter dated September 13, 2016 and signed by SERAP its Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP argued that Mrs Jonathan

is a politically exposed person under anti-corruption standards, adding that she is also covered under the definition of ‘public officials’ contained in the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.

He stated that under article 2 of the convention, public officials include Mrs. Jonathan or any other family members of the former President Goodluck Jonathan who exercised official duties while he was president.

The letter read in part: “According to article 2 “for the purpose of some specific measures contained in chapter II of this convention, “public official” may mean any person who performs a public function or provides a public service.”

“Thus, article 2 makes it very clear that any person, such as Mrs Jonathan performing a public function, entrusted with a public task or to whom public

functions have been assigned are public officials, regardless of whether they have been elected or appointed, paid or unpaid.

“In this context, it is the character of the duties performed by Mrs. Jonathan while her husband was president that is the overriding consideration as she held a position of trust by virtue of performing public functions or services. In addition, such public duties or services by her are expected to be performed in good faith.”

“Under article 20 of the convention, this government has an obligation to prosecute intentional illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income “The fact that the $15million found in the four accounts belong to Mrs. Jonathan raises serious suspicion or at the very least a prima-facie case of unexplained

wealth/illicit enrichment, and imposes an obligation on Mrs. Jonathan to explain and justify the source(s) of the $15million.

“In the event that she is not able to justify, explain or put forth evidence demonstrating the legitimate origin of the $15million, SERAP urges you to take immediate steps to forfeit the asset under appropriate legal proceedings, and to institute criminal prosecution for unexplained wealth in the matter.

“Similarly, section 44 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act criminalises unexplained or illicit wealth and allows criminal penalties and forfeiture if in the course of an investigation there are reasonable grounds to believe that a corruption offence has been committed, that is, the failure to explain the origin of the $15million given present or past emoluments, and other relevant circumstances.

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NEWS

No Plans to Redeploy Election Officials in Edo, Says INEC PDP: Commission must use card readers for accreditation

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is not making any move to rejig the posting of election officers for the rescheduled governorship election in Edo State.

While reacting to allegation made by the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the effect that it is under pressure from the Governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remove some election officers, INEC said such cannot be possible.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, told THISDAY on telephone yesterday that the commission does not take instruction from any governor or political party.

“That must be a rumour, it is not true and can never be true. INEC operates under a body of laws and is independent, it does not take instruction from government or anybody to

withdraw an electoral officer.

So it is not true, no governor can influence INEC. “There is no opportunity for any governor or political party to put pressure on the commission for it to redeploy or remove any electoral officer, that is not possible. I do not why the PDP is making that allegation but I can assure Nigerians that it is not possible and can never be possible. Something like that is never allowed.

On whether the commission is considering making changes in the posting of electoral officials, Oyekanmi said he was not aware of any such plan.

“The issue of changing electoral officers does arise.

We have a plan already for the governorship election and that plan is still on. It is only being delayed, there is no way of changing it. Practically it is not possible unless on health grounds. For instance, if an electoral officer comes forward to say that he or she has a health challenge,” he said.

Another official of INEC,

Deputy Director in the Voter Education and Publicity, Nick Dazang, said he was unaware of any move to redeploy staff already posted for the Edo poll.

“The commission has the right to redeploy its staff as it deems fit but right now I am not aware of any such plan,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, has alleged a plot by the APC to rig the September 28 governorship election through the use of manual accreditation of voters.

Orbih, however, stated at a press conference yesterday in Benin that the PDP would insist on the use of the card readers for accreditation of voters in the election.

He said the APC had planned to influence

the INEC to dump the card readers for manual accreditation as part of its grand plan to manipulate the process and skew the outcome in its favour.

Orbih stated that the APC is using the 18 days by which the election was postponed to, among other vote-catching gimmicks, perfect its rigging plot.

According to him, “It is clear to the APC that there is no way it can win in a free and fair contest.

Consequently, there is a plan by the APC to, among other things, ensure that the card readers do not function.”

He accused the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and his agents of instigating the mass arrests of PDP leaders and members by the police ahead of September 28 so

as to dampen the morale of party members and its supporters.

He alleged that the mass arrests and intimidation had since commenced.

Orbih displayed a letter of invitation from the police to a party leader claiming an investigation into the leader’s conduct that could lead to a security breach, pointing out that this was a pattern being adopted to harass PDP members.

He also said as part of the plan to intimidate uncompromising influential members of the party, the state governor and his agents had sent thugs after them.

He stated that the PDP has recorded casualties with members sustaining various degrees of injury from gunshots.

He displayed

photographs of some members who were allegedly attacked.

Orbih also alleged that as part of the grand plan to rig the rescheduled election, the state governor acting in concert with his highly influential contacts at INEC, is planning to replace all the Electoral Officers in Edo State with Electoral Officers from APC-controlled states.

While thanking Edo people whose resolve to change the APC has put the ruling party on edge, Orbih assured them that the PDP would do everything legally possible to ensure that their votes for the PDP in the September election count.

He stated that the PDP would resist all attempts by the ruling party to rig the election.

Arik Resumes Operations Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s largest carrier, Arik Air, yesterday announced that it resumed flight by 11a.m. and operated 85 flights both on the local, West Coast and Lagos-London service.

THISDAY learnt that it operated three flights to Accra, Ghana yesterday and according to the airline, it would operate 120 flights from today.

“Members of the public and our esteemed customers are advised to discountenance the disparaging allegations, unsubstantiated and uninformed claims about the airline’s inability to meet its financial obligations to aviation fuel marketers and a purported withdrawal of insurance services to Arik Air by its insurers,” spokesman of the airline, Adebanji Ola said.

Ola said while the current scarcity of aviation fuel has impacted on the operations

of airlines in the country, Arik Air “is in good standing with its fuel suppliers and has been meeting its obligations to them and to our insurers.”

“Arik Air regrets the unfortunate inconvenience caused to its customers and reassures our customers of expedient rebooking of any affected flights,” Ola said.

PROPERTY

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PERFECT HOST

R-L: Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama; and Vice President, Most Rev. Augustino Akubuese, at a dinner to round up the Catholic Bishops Conference in Akure...yesterday

FG Resolves to End Health Sector Crises Sets up committees on salary adjustment, skipping Paul Obi and Peter Omale in Abuja The federal government yesterday resolved to end the lingering crises in the health sector as three of the ministers in the Ministries of Health, Labour and Employment, met to seek possible solutions to the crises bedevilling the sector.

The government’s negotiating team for the resolution of the lingering crisis in the health sector at the meeting took another firm step towards the restoration of industrial harmony in the sector.

The team which comprises the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator

Chris Ngige, Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, Minister of State for Health, Dr. O. Ehanire, Chairman of the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Clement Iloh, met today at the instance of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The meeting took farreaching decisions among which is the setting up of two committees to look into the issue of the circular on salary adjustments and the payment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure skipping arrears.

According to Ngige who spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting, there was an overriding need for social dialogue as the only sure way to industrial peace.

“We have set up two committees; one is to look into the issue of JOHESU demands for relativity circular to enable them get reasonable wages while the other is to look into the issue of skipping because members of the health sector unions, nurses and midwives Association, laboratory association want to skip a particular grade level,” Ngige said.

He revealed that the Nigerian Medical

Association (NMA) also made a joint position on skipping, hence the need to harmonise the positions in the spirit of collective bargaining, bearing in mind the extant economic down turn in the country.

In the same token, the Minister of Health, Adewole, emphasised the essence of peace in the all-important health sector, promising that “this is the beginning of lasting peace.

“We wish to take every complaint on board. We will look at them critically in a way that will remove any form of interruption in the national healthcare delivery,” Adewole stated.

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NEWS

BPE Boss Wants Gencos, Discos to ‘Think Outside the Box’ to Improve Electricity FG hastens MDAs to pay up legacy debts James Emejo in Abuja The acting Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Dr. Vincent Onome Akpotaire, yesterday urged owners of the successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to think outside the box and make long- term investments to improve their plants’ network and infrastructure despite the seeming unfavourable operating environment in the country.

Speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the flag- off of the agency’s periodic post privatisation monitoring exercise at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), he reminded Distribution Companies (Discos) that they won the bid of their respective companies based on the Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) which they had submitted.

He further enjoined the investors to approach local and international funding sources to improve on their operations such that when the environment stabilizes, they would not be caught napping since their investment is in perpetuity.

According to him, they could only achieve that if they consciously expand and improve their network

operation “because if the director, however, commended He tasked them on the was received by the IBEDC to the company’s various network is not improved the company for its effort at need to have a team of Managing Director, Mr. John facilities and the embedded and metering not aggressively upgrading facilities and urged professional staff to drive Donnachie, who briefed plant at NAMPAK Properties pursued you cannot reduce the management to make the new technology they the team on the company’s which is being built for the technical and collection losses.” conscious effort to meet, if had deployed in information operations, progress, company’s captive market Akpotaire noted the not exceed the agreed Key technology and other areas. challenges and prospects. for industrial clusters at Oba impressive investments and Performance Indicators (KPIs).

The BPE monitoring team He later took the team Otudeko Avenue in Ibadan. progress the IBEDC has made especially with the embedded generation project in collaboration with British America Tobacco (BAT), and admonished that “it is still not enough because any investment you make is in perpetuity. You need to find answers to the liquidity challenge.’

He informed owners of the IBEDC that the Vice President and Chairman of National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, were working assiduously to ensure that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) debts were paid as soon as possible and enjoined the power owners to work to improve power efficiency in view of the effort the government was making to get electric power to the people and to get them pay for it.

He said the general impression was that the Discos were not performing.

In a statement by the Head, L-R: Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Council, Alhaj Ibrahim Sulu - Gambari; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; and his Public Communications, BPE, wife, Omolewa, during Sallah homage to the governor by the Emir in Government House, Ilorin...yesterday Mr. Alex Okoh, the BPE acting

ROYAL VISIT

Court Berates DSS for Illegal Detention of Ex-Air Force Commodore The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared as unlawful, the arrest and continued detention of retired Air Commodore Umar Mohammed, a member of the presidential team investigating the arms deal in the country.

The judge, Nnamdi Dimgba, made the declaration yesterday when he delivered a judgment in a suit filed by Emeka Ohazurike and 19 others.

Justice Dimgba said the continued detention of Mohammed by the Department State Service (DSS), even after he had perfected his bail conditions was illegal.

He said if the DSS continued to detain Mohammed even after the court had signed for his release, it would be an assault on the judiciary which is the third arm of government.

The judge, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), held that his detention was unlawful and asked the counsel to the SSS, Shimana Adzer, to convey the message.

Dimgba, however, said the issue of money and an apology were personal, adding that since he was sure Mohammed did not authorise the suit, he could not grants such reliefs.

The judge had berated the DSS for refusing to produce Mohammed in court following a court order when he was arrested on June 19.

Ohazurike and his group sued the DSS for alleged violation of the fundamental human rights of Mohammed.

Some of the reliefs sought included that the court should declare that the arrest and detention of Mohammed was unlawful, unconstitutional, malicious and an abuse of his rights to human dignity.

They also wanted the court to order the DSS to pay N500 million damages to Mohammed as well as publish an apology to him in at least two national newspapers.

The group, who said they were acting on behalf of Mohammed as a human rights activist, also sought an order directing the DSS to release the defendant.

The DSS had arraigned Mohammed over allegations of money laundering, possession of fire arms and violation of Official Secret Act. Mohammed had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million.

FG Moves to Unravel Cause of Kaduna Earth Tremor Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The federal government, through the National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) yesterday began investigation into the recent earth tremor in Kaduna State, which led to displacement of several persons last week end.

Responding to enquiries made by THISDAY through text message, the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix Ale, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, said the nature of the source of the passive earth movement would soon be determined after the completion of the on-going investigation of the incident led by Mr. Ofonime Akpan of the Kaduna seismic centre.

According to the statement, “The NASRDA has attributed the cause of the recent tremor in Jama Local Government Area of the state to passive sources.”

Ale said reports had established that the incident were recorded in Kwoi and surrounding villages of Nok, Sanbahand Chori in Jama Local Government Area of the state last Sunday and Monday.

He said: “The current findings were the outcome of a preliminary report by the team of experts immediately

deployed to the affected communities from one of the activity centres of the space agency.

“The Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics were on-the-spot assessment to carry out a survey and investigation into the incident.

“The team which was led by the Head of Seismology division of the agency, Mr. Ofonime Akpan, was able to establish that the Seismological Station of NASRDA in Kaduna accurately recorded the unfortunate incident which made it easy for collation of data and early release of preliminary reports on the incident.

“The analysis showed that the first event occurred at 12:28:16.50 seconds GMT on September 11, 2016, and the event has an epicentre located Latitude 9.825N and Longitude 7.885 E while Local Magnitude was 2.6 and Moment Magnitude was 3.0 and Focal Depth was 10kilometre.”

Further analysis of the report revealed that the second event occurred on September 12, 2016, at 03:10:48.80 seconds (GMT) with Local Magnitude of 2.6 and Moment Magnitude of 2.9 with Focal Depth of 10km while the epicentre was Latitude 10.879N and

Longitude 7.188E. The statement further revealed that: “This was followed immediately by another event at 03:11:20.00 seconds (GMT) located at an epicentre of Latitude 9.927N and Longitude 7.297E, Local Magnitude 2.9 and Moment Magnitude 3.0.

“The reports revealed that the time of occurrence of these events and intensities of the locations as reported by inhabitants of the communities which included cracks on walls of buildings, falling off of ceiling fans and other items correspond with the results of analysis carried out by the team of experts from NASRDA’s Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics.”

The agency therefore appealed to residents of the various communities to remain calm as no stone will be left unturned by it to unravel the situation as more data are aggressively being collected from other seismological stations.

“The space agency promised to make its detailed reports known to the public as soon as further investigations on the incident are completed.

“The Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics located in Bauchi State is one of the activity centres of cxcellence of the Space Agency located in different

geo-political zones of the country.

“The Centre is charged specifically with the mandates of crustal and coastal deformation monitoring, seismic hazard evaluation and monitoring as well as research in natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsistence among others.

“The NASRDA’s centre has successfully carried out several projects and research for national development among which are series of investigations on peculiar geo-hazards in Nigeria which include the application of Laser Technologies for subsistence monitoring along the coastal lines of Lagos and Port Harcourt, development of a geo-hazard map showing some areas that are susceptible to natural hazards,” it stated.

The agency had established the Nigeria National Network of Seismic Stations in Abuja, Kaduna, Ile-Ife, Awka, Abakaliki, Minna, Ibadan, Nsukka and Oyo town to monitor future earth phenomenon across the country.

This according to NASRDA is to improve Seismic data acquisition and encourage more research activities regarding seismicity in the country.

13

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

Fashola: Most Nigerians See Govt Housing Loan as ‘National Cake’ Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday said most Nigerians see governmentbacked housing loans as their share of the country’s financial resources, fondly referred to as ‘national cake.’

Fashola stated that it was for this reason that the national housing loan administered by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has not yielded results over the years.

He alleged that the bank has a lot of defaulters from this practice and cannot go on to support housing acquisition on this structure.

The master spoke at the 32nd Annual Conference and General Meeting of the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) in Abuja.

He was represented by the ministry’s head of public private partnership, Eucharia Alozie, at the meeting.

“The National Housing Fund of 1992 is a collating reservoir of long term funds in terms of monthly contributions from workers in the public and private sectors. Unfortunately, most Nigerians see mortgage loans from government as part of their share of the ‘national cake’ leading to high default rates,” said Fashola in his remarks.

He stated: “This has forced the government to encourage prospective home owners to approach commercial banks who regrettably have high interest rates. Thus, the government who is supposed to be a major player in the provision of homes is now seemingly not on the frontline.

Fashola also said it was because of this reasons that the government established the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) to help reduce the cost of mortgage loan by improving market efficiency.

According to him: “From

the inception of government initiative in organised housing finance system to date, only a meager sum have so far been injected to the system. This accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as compared to other climes like United Kingdom and South Africa due to the inability of financial systems in providing low cost finance that meets the need of low and medium income earners.”

The minister said for this to change, the FMBN has to be strengthened by ensuring that full compliance with the National Housing Funds (NHF) Act. He said despite these

challenges, the federal government has renewed its desire to ensure that Nigerians are able to get homes they can call their own.

“I am happy to note that despite the challenges that housing delivery has encountered in the country over the years, the renewed vigor and policy re-orientation of this administration have set the agenda for housing revolution.

“In this regard, the ministry has produced six designs of one bedroom, two-bedroom, threebedroom flats, bungalows and condominiums that will represent the Nigerian house which responds to our cultural diversity.

“Another key area of

achievement is the pursuit and promotion of local content and standardisation of building components such as doors, windows, tiles, roof boards and other accessories to be produced by local manufacturers as part of our support for local industries and in pursuit of diversification and job creation.

“Effort is already being made to embrace and deploy modern technology to mass production of housing in all the states of the federation and FCT using the traditional procurement platform and the contractor finance initiative model, to reduce the housing deficit,” he explained.

Fashola also said the government plans to de-

risk lending to approved housing developers as an incentive to make the housing sector attractive to private developers.

According to him:, “This will entail the government providing guarantees and other credit enhancement to developers. Government therefore plans to issue promissory notes to reduce developers financing requirements. Government recognises that provision of leverage and guarantees are critical in attracting private sector funds into the industry thereby creating thousands of affordable houses each year as well as generate considerable employment and commercial activities.

30 Countries to Meet in Abuja for Drugs, Alcohol Conference Okon Bassey in Uyo Experts and researchers from more than 30 countries are expected to meet in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for a two-day international conference on drugs, alcohol and society in Africa.

The meeting coming up from September 21 to 22, 2016, at Reiz Hotel, Abuja, is being organised by the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The Director of CRISA, Professor Isidore S. Obot, in a statement issued in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday said the conference series which began in Jos in 1991 holds every two years with participants from more

than 30 countries.

Obot, who is the Chairman of the 12th biennial international conference on “Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa,” said no fewer than 52 papers would be presented on various aspects of drug policy in African countries.

Issue of data availability, legal and law enforcement matters, lack of treatment opportunities, and the outcome of the UN General Assembly meeting in April are some areas for discussion.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Public Health and Drug Policy in Africa: Beyond the General Assembly Session on the World Drug Problem.’

The keynote speaker for the conference is Hanna Heikkila of the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, Drug Prevention and Health Branch, UNODC, Vienna, Austria.

Buhari Rejoices With Veteran Journalist, Barret at 75 Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday joined the media and literary world in wishing Jamaican-born veteran journalist, Carlton Lindsay Barret, a happy birthday as he turns 75 years on September 15, 2016.

Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, rejoiced with the poet, novelist, academic and versatile journalist, who has lived and worked in Nigeria for 50 years, since 1966.

The statement read: “As he turns 75 years, the president commends Barret for his love for Nigeria, which inspired his

relocation from the Caribbean to settle in the country, raise a family and also take up citizenship in the 80s.

“Buhari believes the thematic thrusts of Barret’s writings on Africa, Africans in Diaspora and Afro-Americans have contributed significantly to global discourse on the history and identity of the black race, and the renewed interest in the future of Africa and people of African descent.”

The president prayed that the Almighty God would grant Barret longer life, good health and strength to keep projecting his ideas.

AGENTS OF TRANSPARENCY

L-R: Executive Director, CSR-in-Action and Convener, Sustainability in the Extractive Industries (SITEI), Ms. Bekeme Masade; Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Director of Communications, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Ogbonaya Orji, during the pre-conference meeting tagged ‘Road to SITEI 2016’ in Abuja...yesterday

IN LATEST VIDEO, BOKO HARAM THREATENS BUHARI media.

He said: “The only ground the BHT can go into and hide and pretend to be alive is social media because it is everybody’s home without tracing the source.

“More so, in this era of cut and paste anything is possible in Information Technology. We reiterate our total commitment and resilience in stamping them out, but people shouldn’t be deceived by their use of photoshop.”

The Defence spokesman noted that the Boko Haram video release was a sign of weakness and an indication that the terror group was a spent force.

He dismissed its threat to kill the president and other key figures mentioned in the video as a huge joke and empty threat to stay afloat through the social media.

“More so, which Boko

Haram? I believe the issue of the group is near ending by the special grace of God. The video is a complete sign of weakness and poses no threat to us. The so called video is an attempt by the remnants to remind us that there was once a Boko Haram elements.

“Empty vessels make the loudest sound. Issue of threat to PMB is a complete joke and dream of the century.

Therefore, the entire clip is a washout as everybody is appreciative of our feat against BHT and there is no doubt about it . They too know,” he said.

In a related development, Abubakar noted that certain journalists embarked on the coverage of security areas in the North-east for documentary purpose and the like without due authorisation from the military authorities.

He warned: “This practice is not only capable of jeopardising the success of the on-going military operations in the area but also poses great concern to the safety of the journalists concerned.”

He stressed that inasmuch as the military was not trying to gag the press from carrying out its legitimate duties, permission should be sought from the Armed Forces before embarking on such venture.

According to him, this will enable adequate security to be provided for such journalists by the military.

“Even though Boko Haram has been substantially decimated, any roaming journalist could be a target of unsuspecting fleeing Boko Haram member and this will not be in the best interest of media organisations and the nation at large,” he added.

Abubakar advised that any journalist desirable

of covering conflict areas should seek permission from the military hierarchy so that adequate security arrangements could be provided by the troops on the ground.

He maintained that it was also the responsibility of the military to safeguard the lives and property of the Nigerian citizenry, including law abiding journalists in the theatre of operation and in Nigeria in general.

A reliable source from the Nigerian Army told THISDAY yesterday that preliminary investigation showed that the latest Boko Haram video was an edited version of the one it released in 2014.

“I am still laughing at the gullibility of some people; the video was shot in 2014. They only edited and imposed some aspects,” the senior officer said.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

COMMENT

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

BUHARI, APC AND THE ROAD TO 2019

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It is time to arrest the deteriorating economic situation, writes Abiodun Komolafe

ll things considered, I think Nigeria has been punched into coma and only God can bring her back to life!

From the man who opted for a bag of rice in exchange for his son; to the pregnant woman who stole N300.00 to answer the call of a normal symptom of pregnancy, there is a rise in Nigeria’s socio-political temperature and no one really knows where Nigeria is headed.

Warningly, inflation rate is on the high side and our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate is unsmiling either. From the cosmetic to the substantive, politicians have chopped our country into pieces with each of the parts selfishly kept to themselves even as the gladiators continue to fight in another person’s corner. The naira gets worse with each passing day, which in turn deeply traumatises the fortunes of our country.

Even as a Buharist whose fierce support for ‘Change’ has been unflinching, I believe it’s time government clipped the wings of this trajectory of sham and uncertainty that is capable of corrupting our national cohesion and national peace. The threatening trend of poverty-inspired suicide cases among Nigerians calls for concern and the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration must find resourceful means of destroying this deadly temple of want and turpitude before it springs into something else. In strict terms, Nigerians are tired of the ritual of wringing hands in lamentation. So, relevant authorities must devise creative means of putting value on intentions before a line does damage to an entire song.

2019 is around the corner and ahead of this politically-charged and highly volatile socio-economic environment lies a fiercelyloyal-but-highly-critical support base. As we are aware, one of the biggest challenges in running Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape is that of ensuring that best practices are employed in creating ventures for the economy to pick up. However, the irony of our policy somersault in this part of the world is that it sympathises with the criminals but penalises the victims.

Basically therefore, the fear of failure should encourage the Buhari to travel back to the past, look at the risks, weigh benefit options, then make decisions which show greater consistency, courage and determination in preventing ‘Change’ from being a threat to our survival.

I am not an expert on economy-related issues. But, beyond economic jargons, being in a state of recession, in my own view, is not the end of life. Instead, what matters is what is done to navigate through the temporary setback. United States of America, United Kingdom and Canada, have at one time or the

NIGERIANS ARE TIRED OF THE RITUAL OF WRINGING HANDS IN LAMENTATION. SO, RELEVANT AUTHORITIES MUST DEVISE CREATIVE MEANS OF PUTTING VALUE ON INTENTIONS BEFORE A LINE DOES DAMAGE TO AN ENTIRE SONG.

other in their chequered history hit this bottom but they all came out of it, possibly bruised but unbowed. South Korea, incidentally, Asia’s fourth largest economy, is currently having her technical dose of it while South Africa, Africa’s touted largest economy, narrowly escaped it in the second quarter of this year. So, what Nigeria needs at a time like this is a bit of creative wake-up by introducing higher dimensions of consciousness into the complexities of governance.

With the benefit of hindsight, Buhari comes across a very different, special leader with a magnetic and personable charisma, divinely positioned to rescue Nigeria from the damaging and dangerous remnants of the past. But, in his efforts at righting past wrongs, he should always remember that rumblings of dissent or wrangling of misery among members of his party can gravitate into a catalyst for implosion. So, he will be doing internal democracy a great deal of good if, within the dictates of the law, he dines with situations that are incapable of promoting unity within its rank with a long spoon.

Nigerians are also never in doubt of the president’s ability to move the country up out of the fantasy of ancestral authority and the excitement of collective captivity that have become predatory threats to her survival into a hub of business and cultural opportunities. Along this line is the saga of unpaid salaries which is currently rocking no fewer than 27 states. Government needs to proactively solve this problem before the next general election if the ruling party must retain the confidence of this integral part of the electorate. Also in need of renewed vigour in its prosecution than it is witnessing at the moment is the anticorruption war, lest political principalities, terrorists and businessmen shortsightedly exploit its manifest weakness as a bargaining tool for access to power in 2019.

Contrary to claims in some quarters, Nigeria’s large and diverse voting public is not always the classroom professor or the parasitic analyst but the poor folk out there who is even ready to die for a cause he believes in. So far, this class of Nigerians has been the president’s strongest pillar of support and most-treasured asset. The toxic truth is that things are currently not looking good for them and this is as a result of government’s rather biting policies. It is therefore in the president’s interest to roll out practical solutions that can help lighten their yokes and give them some sense of direction before things get out of hand.

Komolafe wrote from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State

CELEBRATING HUMANITY AND THE QUNITESSENTIAL GENTLEMAN

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Emeka Iwelunmor pays tribute to Munzali Jibril, emeritus professor of English and a gentleman

ccording to William Barclay, there are two great days in a person’s life - the day we are born and the day we discover why. Sadly however, while many people know the day they were born, they fail to discover why they were born. Purpose gives perspective to life and until we discover that ‘thing’ that gives meaning to our very existence, we will continue to drift like a rudderless ship. This is because the heart of human excellence often begins to beat when we discover a pursuit that absorbs, frees, challenges, or gives us sense of meaning, joy, or passion.

It is in this context that we celebrate one of mankind’s rare gifts to our generation, Emeritus Professor Munzali Jibril. A perfect gentleman, consummate scholar and administrator with impeccable credentials, he represents a refreshing breath of fresh air and oasis of sanity in an otherwise crooked and perverse generation. Talking about the professor is to provoke several narratives but one common denominator is that he is a jolly good fellow, and indeed a good man.

Perhaps, more than anything else, it is his humanity, self-effacing nature, well grooming, and a life dedicated to service that stands him out of the crowd.

Any chance meeting with this man is always a humbling experience. It was the great Budha that once remarked that a generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things that renew humanity. Similarly, Brad Garret says that if you take away all the other luxuries in life and if you make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift, which is happiness. Prof is not just hooked to lifting others up but gives you reason to be grateful to God irrespective of your circumstances. He does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic-

ity, social status, or religious persuasion, he is just himself and at home with everybody, extending the same courtesies to both the lowly and high.

Although of northern extraction from Kano State, he is as comfortable with an Obi from Anambra as he is with a Jide from Ogun State or a Mohammed from Katsina. Such is his humanity that he recognises that irrespective of our different cultural, religious or ethnic orientations, we are all humans, for the beauty of the soul is its purity devoid of any coloration. His personal driver, Mr. Nwamadi is of Igbo origin as were, and are, many of the staff from different parts of Nigeria he worked with and continues to work with. He quotes liberally from the Bible and you could also hear him regularly telling his Christian friends that ‘God is on the Throne’ and this, in spite of the fact that he is a devout moslem. In this country where there has been so much blood letting on the basis of ethnic and religious differences, as our extant experiences suggest, we all, could do, with a lesson from the life of the emeritus professor A veritable bridge builder, he is bent on destroying walls of hate, mutual distrust, and religious intolerance, as he transverses the length and breadth of Nigeria making friends. He reminds us that beyond the narrow interpretations of our prejudices, we are first and foremost humans from the same creator. Not given to pedestrian inclinations, Prof. Munzali responds to higher ideals that are ennobling and worthy, always seeking to leave you better than he met you.

A truly humble man in spite of his prodigious achievements, it is easy to conclude that he had a privileged background but what most people do not know is that, unlike those who had their nuts cracked for them by benevolent spirits, Prof. Munzali practically worked out his salvation by dint of hard

work, perseverance, honesty and abiding faith in Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful, and the Most Gracious. His life trajectory is one that took him through turns and bends, from primary school as a teacher and headmaster, to secondary school as a teacher, and ultimately the ivory tower as a university lecturer, professor, and today retired as an Emeritus Professor of English.

In these days and times when our youths look for quick fixes and short cuts to riches, fame and glory, his exemplary life should inspire a whole generation to appreciate the fact that there is dignity in labor. For it was Helen Keller who said “I long to accomplish great and noble task but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker”. Prof.

Munzali epitomises the timeless statement that true humility is intelligent self-respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.

He neither craves the limelight nor is he enamoured by the trappings and paraphernalia of office. It is to his credit that having served the country meritoriously in various capacities, not even a wimp or the slightest accusation of malfeasance of any sort has been made against him. He was Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) and Coordinator, Police Academy, Wudil, amongst other appointments where huge amounts of money were at his disposal but came out untainted. If the recent sleaze and odious tales emanating from several hallowed chambers in these days of change are anything to go by, then certainly we should roll out the drums to celebrate our very

erudite professor for he is indeed worthy in character, and in deed.

Again, unlike some, who cling to positions like grim death, Prof. Munzali sees public office as an opportunity to serve humanity and one to be left when the ovation is loudest, teaching us another lesson in the transient nature of power and positions. Yet judging by our experience, you wonder why some are even prepared to kill just to have their way.

A man of good grooming, he displays such nobility of spirit that he respects everybody’s turf and allows you your space.

Prof. Munzali is always gracious in speech and manner, recognising that people should be allowed to exercise initiative while being guided to become better human beings.

This is because in the final analysis nobility knows responsibility, understands rules, and recognises the real reasons for staying within the border lines of rules that uphold dignity as a sacred responsibility.

In Prof. Munzali, we have seen a leader who is investing in building bridges not walls, books not weapons, morality not corruption, intellectualism and wisdom not ignorance, stability not fear and terror, peace not chaos, love not hate, convergence not segregation, tolerance not discrimination, fairness not hypocrisy, substance not superficiality, character not immaturity, transparency not secrecy, justice not lawlessness, and truth not lies.

Little wonder, he wears such a calm visage and appears to be at peace with the world around him. This is because in the end, true happiness is not attained through self- gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy cause.

Happy birthday, Emeritus Professor.

Iwelunmor is Head, NIM Management Center, Port Harcourt

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

EDITORIAL TIME TO SELL OFF THE REFINERIES

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Keeping the refineries no longer makes sense. They are draining the economy

he operations of the three refineries operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt have shown that they are loss-making cost centres the nation cannot afford to keep at this period of economic recession. According to the NNPC monthly operations and financial reports, the refineries have in the last 12 months largely operated below commercial thresholds and may continue on this trend for a long time.

Indeed, due majorly to the recurrent issue of pipeline vandalism and resultant losses from its operations, the refineries have been a drainpipe on the financial operations of the NNPC. Save for the months of January, February, April and May 2016, when their consolidated account reported some ridiculous profits of N5,670, N839, N1,300, and N7,357 respectively, the refineries have largely gone on a record losing streak, despite all the reform measures put in place by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

For instance, the June 2016 financial report of NNPC indicated that “the WHAT WILL THE combined value of GOVERNMENT LOSE BY output by the three LETTING GO OF THE LOSS- refineries (at import MAKING REFINERIES parity price) for the AND ALLOW PRIVATE month of June 2016 INVESTORS REVAMP, AND amounted to N24.68 billion while the RUN THEM ON AGREED BUSINESS FRAMEWORK? associated crude plus freight cost was N22.25 billion, giving a deficit of N4.69 billion after considering overhead of N7.12 billion.”

That the three companies have an average consolidated monthly overhead of about N7 billion while producing little at a time the country continues to spend vital foreign exchange to import petroleum products, speaks volume about the economic priorities of the President Muhammadu Buhari government. Incidentally, this same government claims it wants to cut wastages in its businesses, and shore up production and distribut-

Letters to the Editor

T

able revenue. Yet, it has so far failed to act decisively on Nigeria’s refineries which, from all available records, are largely unprofitable.

If we may ask: what will the federal government lose by letting go of the loss-making refineries and allow private investors revamp, and run them on agreed business framework? It is recalled that 10 months ago, Kachikwu stated that the refineries were working at a 30 per cent capacity but added that the president would not permit that they be sold or privatised. “Personally, I would have chosen to sell the refineries, but President Buhari has instructed that they should be fixed,” said Kachikwu.

“After they are fixed, if they still operate below 60 per cent, then we will know what to do.”

T T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITORS BOlAJI ADEBIYI, JOSEPH USHIGIAlE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOlA BEllO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOlAfE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OlUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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he implication of that statement is that the federal government will continue to pump scarce resources into what has become a drain pipe. To the extent that such a decision makes no sense we believe that it is time to privatise the refineries and allow fresh resources – financial, material and human, to be injected into them. The government should realise from the 650,000 barrels per day refinery project which the Dangote Group is building, and should be ready by 2019, that refinery businesses are no longer fanciful in the hands of government, especially in a country whose government has shown deep incompetence in managing economic ventures.

When completed, Dangote’s refinery in Lekki, Lagos, would have toppled South Africa’s Sapref Refinery, which has a production capacity of 180,000bpd and currently the largest in Africa, as well as Egypt’s Mostorod Refinery with a capacity of 142,000bpd. Both Sapref and Mostorod are however operated in a joint venture arrangement.

We understand where President Buhari is coming from and his ideological position on state-run enterprises.

But this is not a time for nostalgia. It is a season for taking practical decisions that will help the nation at a time of economic recession. Keeping the refineries by government no longer makes sense. There is no better time than now to sell them off.

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.

DONATUS ETIEBET’S STRIDES AT 72

hough he was born into a wealthy family, at least by the prevailing standard of living then around his impoverished native community of Ikot Ekpuk, Oruk Anam Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom, his growing up from that relatively obscure background to national recognition and international connectivity, is indeed self-evident of outstanding accomplishment.

But in many instances success has proved to be one substance susceptible to forces of ephemeral status. That is why septuagenarian Donatus Obot Etiebet who turned 72 on September 15, 2016, may need to roll out drums, blow his trumpet, and invite many to gather round him for a birthday bash, if no one is ready to do that for him. At the same time, he has more than a reason to think thoroughly on his sojourn on earth so far, especially on areas of his unfulfilled dreams, with a view to fulfilling them and ensures they last even beyond his days in this world.

Being a millionaire in his 30’s was no mean thing as only negligible percentage of our population was lucky to count their blessings in currencies of any kind up to hundreds. Unlike what is commonly the case these days, he did not launch himself to elitist and affluence club through the spoilt of political offices but through proceeds of his personal enterprises. In Nigeria, his Data Sciences has taken the lead and innovational impact in ICT, which is almost a household item in the global community today. He remains one of the poster persons in Nigeria, showcasing that our undergraduates do not need to go through rigours of compulsory

training on entrepreneurship before becoming creators of jobs and wealth instead of seekers of job and beggars for cheap wealth.

His enterprises have not only made him what he is today but have hatched and laid many eggs, who are today egg-heads in their private enterprises. They cut across the country, with a chunk of them from his native Akwa Ibom State. Chris Ekpenyong, former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom, who is today one of the highest employer of labour in the state cut his professional engineering and entrepreneurial teeth in Data Sciences. Likewise, Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Federal Government.

There is no doubt that success in business and professional callings have significantly enhanced the geophysicist and ICT guru’s influential role in the Nigerian politics since the fourth republic. Buoyed by deep pocket, broaden personal relationship and intellectual power, he took many by storm in not only being a founder and sole financier of a political party, but for daring to slug out in a race for presidency at a time the then incumbent military head of state, Sani Abacha, was pulling all strings to succeed himself as civilian president.

In post June 12, 1993 era, after a stint as Petroleum Minister, he was neck-deep in pursuit of political power through democracy but without affixing pro democracy activist to his name, which was commonplace among those that purportedly sought revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election. While a number of politicians were either feasting on the June 12 debacle or feeding fat from what was dubbed “the five leprose” fingers of Abacha

political parties Etiebet was fervently fostering the frontiers of his political career on personal finances.

Indeed, his awesome and courageous trajectories in politics have, time and again, caused green eyes political competitors, trailing him with the aim of seizing any slightest opportunity to cut him to size. Politics appears to have constituted a drain on Etiebet’s other ventures; that Etiebet has not dried makes a bold statement of his being a cat with nine lives and further informs the need for his constant thanksgiving to his creator.

He survived by the whiskers under Abacha. Though he has been a towering figure in the politics of Akwa Ibom, where has doled out political patronage to the who’s who in the politics of the state, including all the governors but the incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel since 1999, he has been a victim of what Ray Ekpu is wont to call “poisoned politics”. Often, those that reap from his political magnanimity reciprocated by handing him caterpillar honour: not worthy to access its bulldosed tract.

As far politics in Nigeria is the crux of the matter, Etiebet has his foibles. He can hardly go scot-free for being too liberal in a society where turning of public offices to private fiefdom by politicians is the rule rather than exception. He has been further described as being a strong-willed person. Also, becoming a terror to tyrants in democracy has been considered felony that attracts capital punishment of elimination through clandestine plots without trial let alone fair hearing.

Nsikak Ekanem, Lagos

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

POLITICS

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

T H E G U B E R N AT O R I A L I N T E RV I E W

Madumere: I’ve No Ambition in 2019 In an interview with Amby Uneze, the Imo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Eze Madumere dismissed nursing any ambition in 2019. On the contrary, he said his major interest was to assist his boss, Governor Rochas Okorocha to deliver on his promises. Excerpts: needed progressive challenges because the policy in itself is worthy of appreciation by all. And to the best of my knowledge, there are no hidden charges.

How do you see the victory of your party in the recent rerun in the state, which gave rise to a senator from South-east?

It is refreshing news having an All Progressives Congress Senator, who will not only represent the Imo State but the entire Eastern Region. I believe he would do well given his legislative background as the immediate past Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly. I wish Senatorelect Benjamin Uwajumogu all the best as we are hopeful he would deliver the goods when he gets into the mainstream national politics.

What do you say to your people in view of the current state of the economy?

My message is message of hope and encouragement. It is a message of bonding together to defeat the common enemies of man which are want, poverty, security of life and property and building a free state with the hope of a better future for our children and generations to come. My advice to them is that hard times never lasts but people with vision, hard work, patience and determination will out-live times as this. I know it is just for a while. Let us wear our thinking cap and put our ingenuity to work, I believe, we shall surely sing another song.

You’ve been in charge of the affairs of the state for the past one month that your boss has been away, do you think his absence was felt by Imo people?

My leader and boss, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for the record was not away for one month but for only three weeks. Of course there are things my Governor does that the good people of Imo State will always feel his absence whenever he was not around. Again, he has groomed personnel, who are capable of standing up to any challenges whenever duties call.

Let me clarify that it is never an aberration for any leader to take a break to focus on other areas that will add value to the state. These include summits, roundtable discussions or even conventions and high powered investment tours, which could be investment or peace initiative. Again, he is also entitled to go on vacation just like every other worker is entitled to periodic leave, either for check-ups or some rest from work.

It is generally believed that your experience so far in government has put you in good stead to steer the ship of the state from 2019, when Owerri zone would be presenting its first eleven for the governorship. How prepared are you?

You know we are just about one year and three months in office in this dispensation. I have heard people talk about 2019 on the pages of newspaper. For me, I am more interested in joining hands with my leader, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in his effort to reposition Imo State for the future. The truth is that I am part of the government in power. The good people of Imo State have given us the opportunity to serve them. You also know that I am on the same ticket with our governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Rising from this premise, we are more interested in repositioning Imo State as non-oil producing State. From the prevailing realities, the problem of monoculture has eaten deep into the economic fabric of our States and the nation at large. By the special grace of God, we have attracted a company that would soon begin to produce electric meters and other electrical and electronics in the state.

In the next few months, Mbaise will become a destination for those who deal on electrical and electronics. Of course, many others are coming.

It may also interest you to know that we are very much focused on renewing the Owerri Urban to meet up with the modern cities of the world and to prepare it to be most conducive for investment and businesses to thrive. We cannot continue to procrastinate. Remember, this is not the first time such had been tried but just because those who championed this all-important project lacked political will to carry it to safe delivery. We are aware of the effort at dualising some major roads but ended up not achieving that.

We strongly believe that the end will justify the means. There is need to plough into the status of the state as a tourist destination owing to the large private sector-driven investments in the hospitality sector. There is need to add

Madumere...soon, our efforts will start manifesting

value to this development by ensuring that Owerri Capital city becomes the envy of all.

Beyond this, we are not against those priding around and using 2019 as pendant but we are, for now, focusing on how to kick-start the 27 state-of-the-art hospitals in the 27 local governments of Imo State.

By the special grace of God, some of them would have got off the ground in the month of December 2016.

We are faced with challenges of bringing about succor to our people with the present recession being experienced. We are saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing our people towards productive sector and not dwelling on cash and share.

We have come up with a sound policy towards re-engineering the system. We are re-focusing effort towards agriculture and other small scale enterprises.

I am from Owerri zone and Owerri zone has the inalienable right to seek the understanding of other zones to allow it go solo in producing a governor for the state but that is not at issue right now. Making the economy work and making Imo State work on sustainable basis is the key here for now.

Having come from a zone believed to have suffered marginalisation in the power equation, do you hope such wrong could be put right by 2019?

These questions are carefully laid land mines by you guys my brothers. Never mind. Owerri Zone has rather benefitted immensely from the system in the area of infrastructure, road networks, real estate and as the preferred destination for major hospitality merchants and of course, houses monumental projects of Rescue Mission Government and the past administration. Like I said earlier, we beg to face governance for now and leave politics alone.

As the number two citizen of the state, how

prepared is your government in finishing the road construction and other projects begging for attention before 2019?

My leader, our Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has at different fora promised that our government will complete all the projects it embarked on before the end of this dispensation.

Remember that Rescue Mission government led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha has completed most abandoned projects begun by previous administrations. People should rest assured that whatever project we began will be given due attention until completion.

Remember that our Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha knows that if you want to beguile the time, you have to be like the time. Some of our people who complain are those I feel are not in the know of the vision behind the ongoing Owerri Capital renewal.

I share in their feelings and fear but there is no other better time than now.

Change is the hardest thing people embrace but it is inevitable. In the next five years, when the expected growth in population and economic activities will manifest, I am sure we shall all begin to appreciate the vision.

If we do not make a change, the world will leave us behind. Just the way we are petting our civil servants to seize the opportunity given to them to build on other areas and to develop other streams of income through agriculture.

We have given them two days farm holidays and I feel those who understand the ample opportunities, may even build their “business empire” therefrom. We need to make input at this time. It is on occasion like this that J.F. Kennedy made a popular statement that has remained valid even in today’s world, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Again, Imo State populated with highly educated people and I expect at this time that they should be throwing back at us the

Do you think that the way out of the present economic quagmire is a return to agriculture and is that the reason for your government’s policy on back to agriculture initiative?

For me, the present economic downturn, like I said earlier, presents to us another opportunity to redesign and re-engineer our economy – an economy that is environmental sensitive; that will tap into the resources that give us a comparative advantage. Again, there is need for more effort in research as idea rules the world. At present, what is paramount is to channel energy in agriculture and agribusiness.

This is so because, if you have food security, there is no recession in the future that you cannot conquer. Whereby, you depend on foreign goods to feed your population, you are doomed.

In Imo State, we are looking at time management. We are focusing on ensuring that our people get involved in agriculture and agribusiness. This is a well thought out policy, which puts so much into consideration before settling for it. In Nigeria, Fridays are usually engaging with all manner of social activities thereby keeping civil servants off work with excuses coming from such established traditional pattern of behaviour.

It could be marriages; it could be funerals and other social activities. We are saying, get involved; use Thursday and part of Friday to do some productive work to add to the food security. It may interest you to know that whatever you make from this exercise is your extra income and yet your income is intact for you. Let me also add that idea rules the world. Think it out, hit it and you are there. People like Mark Zukerberg, Emeagwala among others made it by their idea.

How do you spend your free time as a deputy governor?

I spend it with people. It is the time I use to speak to my children or see those who wish to see me for one thing or the other. I can also take that time to browse through the webs, social media and other relevant sites to get myself acquainted with some developing stories on local and foreign issues.

It is true that I usually go to bed by morning because I always take time out to attend to some issues of urgent attention that affect people.

It could be mere advice or sense of direction.

Such relaxed atmosphere allows me to weigh in on some feedbacks on policy issues and as they affect the people by themselves.

This is the reason my phone line since the emergence of GSM has remained the same and unchanged. I may not pick strange numbers but text messages allow me the time to go through the messages by this time and place invitations to some of them.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

INTERVIEW

Ebiseni: Ibadan Factional PDP Primary Can’t Stand Chief Olusola Ebiseni was the only aspirant that contested the Modu Sheriff factional gubernatorial primary of the Peoples Democratic Party against Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim in Ibadan, Oyo State. In this interview with James Sowole, he argues that the exercise would not stand and gave his reasons. Excerpts: the party, they overlooked it. So, if Ikpeazu had been a civil servant and he was sure of his tax and his entire document, why was he telling them that he didn’t want the case to be tried in Abuja before he lost and lost to the Supreme Court? But the law has taken its course with Justice Abang sitting on the case and declaring the continued stay of Okezie Ikpeazu as governor illegal.

A former Commissioner of Information in Abia State, Chikamnayo, recently said a lot of things about the ongoing governorship crisis and actually referred to a charter of equity put in place by the founding fathers of the state, which he claimed your candidate is trying to truncate by trying to stop somebody from the South from being a governor. Wouldn’t you agree?

Nobody is against zoning. As far as I am concerned, I can agree with zoning. But about the issue of zoning, he should not tell us it is the people of Abia or the founding fathers of Abia that agreed on the charter of equity. Former governor, Theordore Orji was the architect. He was the one who created all these problems for Abia people and Abia State is too big for such a person, who was governor for eight years and could not perform. I don’t think he has any reason to give Abia a charter of equity and then you now say you want to concede zoning power to Ngwa. Nobody is against power going anywhere, but what is disturbing people today is that Okezie Ikpeazu sitting as governor today has created a very bad precedent in the history of Nigeria.

How do you mean?

What I mean is that if a governor could not meet the requirement of INEC, in the whole world people talk about tax, even in America today, Trump is talking about tax, Clinton is talking about tax. In Nigeria, if a governor could not meet the requirement in the area of taxation, what do we do about it? If they had given somebody, who had been able to meet all those requirements, nobody will challenge them!

But what about the argument that he was a

What do you think is the take of the Abia people on this matter because the people seem to love the governor in power?

If you put Okezie Ikpeazu in the presence of Ngwa people, where he comes from and Dr. Samson Ogah; let them cast a vote, if there are 100 people there Ikpeazu will not get 20 there.

Ebiseni

civil servant and that he had been paying his tax under the Pay as Your Earn (PAYE) structure?

The explanations we have given so far have answered all those questions. If he had been a civil servant, what he submitted to INEC was different from when he was a civil servant.

This case has been on since 2014, you know? It was before the primary that Dr. Samson Ogah reported this case and when he reported to

Why would you say that?

The reason is because in Abia State today, Uche Ogah has created the highest number of employment. Even the Ngwa people are benefitting. Okezie knows that he wouldn’t have been governor but because of some people – the so-called stakeholders – those who have been in one position and they want to keep on milking the state through one man and they want to get somebody who they are very sure is incompetent.

That is the same allegation raised against Ogah; that it is because he is very rich and he has the connection of some very big Igbo bigwigs, who are supporting him to pull the Ikpeazu government down, how do you react to that?

Uche Ogah is the last person, who will go into the fracas of pulling anybody down. He

contested the governorship election by himself and with his funds; nobody sponsored him.

If they are saying that believe me, they are saying it out of ignorance. Okezie Ikpeazu has made a mistake, which they are looking for ways to correct and they will never find a way to correct it. Uche Ogha is coming to Abia State to assist the people of Abia State, to help people; it is not even to govern. After the judgment, you will see how government is run. It will not be a government of come and carry.

Talk about Ogah, why do you think he has not been reacting to the litany of media attacks on his person?

I must tell you that Dr. Ogah is a man who believes in what God can do. He doesn’t rely on any man. Even we around him, we do tell him to do certain things – as we are talking here, he may be ministering or praying somewhere. He is a man who believes it is only God that can give or take power, so he doesn’t believe in media war.

It is only those of us that are volunteers around him that are suggesting how to mitigate the attacks on his person. He is a quiet man. He is a man of discipline.

But he has been described as a moneybag doing all what he is doing because he has money to throw around If he is throwing money around like they are saying, you would have gotten some but I believe there is God’s hand in what is happening in Abia State today.

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

Uchechukwu: Supreme Court Will Vindicate Ogah In what is coming as a direct response to a position taken recently by the Executive Director-General of Abia Interest Group and former Commissioner for Information in Abia State, Eze Chikamnayo, on the activities of Dr. Uche Ogah in Abia State, the National Coordinator, Voice of the Common, Don Samuel Uchechukwu, in a chat with Shola Oyeyipo said wrong information were being propagated about the politician seeking to unseat Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and that he hopes the Supreme Court would do justice to the issue. Excerpts: A former Commissioner of Information in Abia State, Chikamnayo, recently said a lot of things about the ongoing governorship crisis and actually referred to a charter of equity put in place by the founding fathers of the state, which he claimed your candidate is trying to truncate by trying to stop somebody from the South from being a governor. Wouldn’t you agree?

Nobody is against zoning. As far as I am concerned, I can agree with zoning. But about the issue of zoning, he should not tell us it is the people of Abia or the founding fathers of Abia that agreed on the charter of equity. Former governor, Theordore Orji was the architect. He was the one who created all these problems for Abia people and Abia State is too big for such a person, who was governor for eight years and could not perform. I don’t think he has any reason to give Abia a charter of equity and then you now say you want to concede zoning power to Ngwa. Nobody is against power going anywhere, but what is disturbing people today is that Okezie Ikpeazu sitting as governor today has created a very bad precedent in the history of Nigeria.

world people talk about tax, even in America today, Trump is talking about tax, Clinton is talking about tax. In Nigeria, if a governor could not meet the requirement in the area of taxation, what do we do about it? If they had given somebody, who had been able to meet all those requirements, nobody will challenge them!

How do you mean?

What I mean is that if a governor could not meet the requirement of INEC, in the whole

But what about the argument that he was a civil servant and that he had been paying his tax under the Pay as Your Earn (PAYE)

Uchechukwu

structure?

The explanations we have given so far have answered all those questions. If he had been a civil servant, what he submitted to INEC was different from when he was a civil servant.

This case has been on since 2014, you know?

It was before the primary that Dr. Samson Ogah reported this case and when he reported to the party, they overlooked it.

So, if Ikpeazu had been a civil servant and he was sure of his tax and his entire document, why was he telling them that he didn’t want the case to be tried in Abuja before he lost and lost to the Supreme Court? But the law has taken its course with Justice Abang sitting on the case and declaring the continued stay of Okezie Ikpeazu as governor illegal.

What do you think is the take of the Abia people on this matter because the people seem to love the governor in power?

If you put Okezie Ikpeazu in the presence of Ngwa people, where he comes from and Dr. Samson Ogah; let them cast a vote, if there are 100 people there Ikpeazu will not get 20 there.

Why would you say that?

The reason is because in Abia State today, Uche Ogah has created the highest number of employment. Even the Ngwa people are

benefitting. Okezie knows that he wouldn’t have been governor but because of some people – the so-called stakeholders – those who have been in one position and they want to keep on milking the state through one man and they want to get somebody who they are very sure is incompetent.

That is the same allegation raised against Ogah; that it is because he is very rich and he has the connection of some very big Igbo bigwigs, who are supporting him to pull the Ikpeazu government down, how do you react to that?

Uche Ogah is the last person, who will go into the fracas of pulling anybody down. He contested the governorship election by himself and with his funds; nobody sponsored him. If they are saying that believe me, they are saying it out of ignorance. Okezie Ikpeazu has made a mistake, which they are looking for ways to correct and they will never find a way to correct it. Uche Ogha is coming to Abia State to assist the people of Abia State, to help people; it is not even to govern. After the judgment, you will see how government is run. It will not be a government of come and carry.

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

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

A Reporter’s London Experience Ten Nigerian financial journalists recently spent five days at the business capital of Europe, London. Nume Ekeghe who was part of the trip, reports about her experience

T

his year, after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, thousands of Londoners petitioned the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to allow the UK rejoin the EU. Their argument was simple: London is an international city and it must remain at the heart of Europe.

This is a truism. So, when I got a letter from my editor nominating me for a financial journalism training at the Associated Press, London, a trip to be sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), I knew it was going to be a pleasant experience.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), FBN regularly trains Nigerian journalists, with the aim of building their capacity and skills, so they can improve their contribution to the country’s economic growth and development. The London trip was the fourth in the series of trainings the bank has put together, and it brought together nine other journalists from both the print and electronic media together. The objective was simple: we were to learn the modern techniques of reporting financial matters for the future of Nigeria in the internet age.

Addressing the delegation, Babatunde Lasaki, Head, Corporate Communications, First Bank Nigeria Limited, said “the bank’s sponsorship is in keeping faith with First Bank of Nigeria’s quest to support knowledge-based journalism among Nigerian practitioners.”

He urged participants to take advantage of the unique training to equip themselves in order to boost their reportage skills that would in turn help to boost the socio-economic development of Nigeria and the world in general.

For all of us (10 journalists), the invitation process started the same way: we got a letter from our editors nominating us for the training, then we received a letter from the sponsor and a letter from Press Association.

With these letters, I gathered all the necessary documents needed to apply for a UK visa and was declined on the first trial. However, on the second trial, I was granted a UK visa.

With that at hand, we all converged at FBN’s Corporate Head Office to receive our

But the highlight of the trip, for me, was our visit to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

For someone who has always wanted to be a journalist, it was a humbling experience. Once inside, we were shown around and, yes, we saw the famous BBC newsroom. Right in front us we could see BBC broadcast live. It was an amazing sight.

There were different studios for different shows

Participants receiving classes

L-R: Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney (4th left), Head Media and External Relations Firstbank, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki (4th right) and participants after a late dinner

tickets and itinerary and then off we went.

The training programme, which was scheduled to take place at the Press Association Building in Central London, would focus on macroeconomic analysis, trends in financial journalism, social media, data journalism, CSR and culture. On the day of departure, all went smoothly. On arrival, Lasaki was waiting at the airport to receive us. We were treated to a late, sumptuous dinner and lodged in a hotel in central London, some minutes' drive from Press Association training school.

On the first day of training, we were chauffeured to the training centre. The programme, bespoke for financial journalists, gave all the participants a broad and in-depth understanding on how to report using various tools. The sessions were always interactive and the course leader, Mr. Neil Fitzgerald is a renowned business journalist with over 30 years experience.

We extensively discussed on the trends in business journalism, what readers want from business pages especially with info-graphics and getting stories from figures. We were also taught how to create graphs and easy info-graphics.

A copy of the latest Independent Press Standards Organisation’s ‘The Editors Code of Practice’ was given to all participants and a well-rounded discussion was centered on it.

Another eye opening lecture was delivered by the Social Media editor at Press Association UK, Mr. Steve Jones. We were taught on how to use social media tools for spotting trends and events before they become stories and on how to engage readers through social media.

There was also time to visit the London Stock Exchange (LSE). I have been to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and know a lot about the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), but the LSE struck me differently.

The LSE is the third largest stock exchange in the world. As of August 2016, the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$6.6 trillion.

We all expected a crowed and rowdy trading atmosphere. However, it was extremely calm, like a regular office with clerks in front of computers. In their words, “trading is all online and digital, what you see on television are all acting.”

We were ushered into a conference room where we were educated on the status of their market, the various services they offer

and some insights on the eight Nigerian companies listed on the LSE. But the highlight of the trip, for me, was our visit to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). For someone who has always wanted to be a journalist, it was a humbling experience.

Once inside, we were shown around and, yes, we saw the famous BBC newsroom. Right in front us we could see BBC broadcast live. It was an amazing sight. There were different studios for different shows.

We were also taken to the studio floor where they record BBC Africa and BBC Hausa.

We were surprised to learn that there were over 40 Nigerians working at the BBC and the head of BBC Hausa is a Nigerian.

But our London visit was all not work related. At the end, we were taken to watch a Disney stage play, ‘The Lion King.’ The stage, custom, live music with an orchestra, was all breathtaking. Later that night we were treated to African cuisine, after eating oyibo food for the past four days. We were all happy, especially knowing it was as-much-as-you-can-eat. It was a time to let loose and reminisce on the journey, the training and how it would impact on our reporting.

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• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

PERSPECTIVE

Charter of Equity: Path to Enthronement of Fairness in Our Polity Oliver Okpala

T

here is no doubt that politics is essentially a game of distribution and sharing of interest. No person or group likes to be short-changed in the process.

Everybody wants his interest to be protected.

This is not abnormal therefore; after all, this is what politics is all about - who controls the machinery of government. Now, it has been observed that perhaps the greatest challenge of our recent political experience is the sharing of political offices. This problem has torn many political parties apart. It has generated disunity, rancour, acrimony, recrimination and bitterness nationwide.

In view of agitations over the spread of political offices over the years, it has become necessary to consider the adoption of the political principle and practice which have been widely termed the charter of equity.

It should be enshrined in our constitution as a sure way of enhancing peace, unity and stability in the polity as it has proven to be the easiest path to the maintenance of fairness, justice and equity in the distribution of public and elective offices across the nation.

At this critical point in our political history and democratic evolution, it has become apposite and auspicious to begin a process of enshrining the charter of equity in our constitution. The Charter is indeed a sine qua non for peace and unity.

It is the most critical ingredient in the distribution and sharing of offices and democratic dividends. This principle is recommended nationally and in all the states of the federation as a way of enthroning lasting peace and stability in the polity.

The charter of equity will ensure even distribution of offices among the various contending forces either at the national or state levels. At the national level, the adoption of the charter will take care of all separatist agitations from diverse ethnic groups and nationalities who want a re-negotiation of our union as a federation.

It does not need a soothsayer to determine that the reason for agitations across the country is because of real, imagined or perceived marginalisation in the nation.

But the principle of charter of equity will address these agitations as it will instil in the various segments of the nation, a sense of belonging.

It will ensure fair distribution of political offices such that no region, religion, ethnic group will hold the country to ransom. By extension it would create room for even sharing of the dividends of democracy. By this tested mechanism, choice and plum political jobs will not be the preserve of any people or group.

There will be easy access by all and sundry to the corridors of power. The Charter will take care of the proverbial high and the mighty, the vast unlettered, the privileged and the less-privileged, the rich as well as the poor. The adoption of the principle of charter of equity particularly at the national level will check certain imbalances which trigger suspicion and it will enthrone national cohesion as a way of advancing national development.

At the level of the states, there have been cases of bickering, rancour and distrust over the distribution of offices. In Lagos State for instance, two former governors of the state were Muslims. In the build-up to the 2015 governorship election, certain elements began the advocacy for a Christian governor as the only way to ensure equity in the state.

This idea spread like wildfire across the state and the ruling party keyed into the idea which has now produced Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, a Christian.

In virtually all states of the federation, there are agitations for equity in the race for the office of Governor and other key political offices. The agitation is often for rotation and even spread of these positions

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano

so that every part of the state would have a sense of belonging. This has happened in Benue, Sokoto, Kano and many states in the Northern part of the county.

In the South, the agitation for political inclusiveness and equity in the sharing of political offices is as old as the states themselves. In the South-south state of Akwa Ibom State, for instance, one of the key campaign issues in the last governorship election was the need for power shift from one senatorial zone to the other.

This issue also reared its head in Rivers State where political watchers observed that the present Governor Mr. Nyesome Wike, then a candidate and his successor Mr. Rotimi Amaechi were from the same Senatorial Zone. In Delta and Cross River States, power shifted from one Senatorial Zone to the other. Edo State is also on the path of experiencing same as the candidates of the two main parties in this election are from Edo South, moving away from Edo North where the current Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole hails from.

In the South-east, agitations for rotation and power shift were perhaps the key issues during the last elections. This idea of charter of equity was approved in virtually all the South Eastern states. In almost all these states, Governors had hitherto emerged from the South and Central Senatorial Zones of the states.

The Northern Senatorial Zones and in some cases Southern Senatorial Zones felt cheated and outwitted in the power game.

They advocated for the application of the charter of equity so that there would be political inclusiveness which would enable them to produce governors from their various zones. This made it possible for Mr. David Umahi from the Southern Senatorial Zone to emerge as the Governor of Ebonyi

State. It is a historical feat that this is the first time since 1999 that the zone would produce a Governor.

The same scenario played out in Abia State where the Ngwas who had never produced a Governor, did so in the person of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu through the application of the concept of charter of equity, perhaps this is why he has continued to weather all the political storms after the polls.

A similar circumstance was replicated in Enugu State. For a long time, since the advent of the present democratic experience, Nsukka Zone produced a Governor in the person of Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

The case of Anambra State was not different. All the zones in the State except Anambra North had been Governors at one time or the other. Anambra North was even more peculiar as apart from governorship, nobody from the zone had even held any prominent political office.

But the adoption of the charter of equity in the state during their last governorship election changed the scenario as Chief Willie Obiano from Anambra North mounted the saddle and has been positively justifying his emergence since then. Some political analysts believe that the first Anambra North extraction as governor of the State has made the state a first choice destination for investors in the South-east.

By the great work Governor Obaino is doing in Anambra State, there is no gain saying the fact that the doctrine of charter of equity will help create room for more ideas-driven governance. It therefore, behoves on the good people of Anambra State to work harmoniously with Chief Obiano so that he will continue to provide dividends of democracy in the state and actualise the laudable programmes he has embarked upon for the transformation of the state.

There is no doubt that Governor Obiano deserves a second term, given the tremendous work he has done so far in Anambra State, which is in sync with the prescription of offering second terms to performing governors, as was done for his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi. This will also amount to fairness to the good and resourceful people of Anambra North Senatorial Zone. Given this scenario, all the campaign of hate, spite, bitterness and calumny in the state are unnecessary and un-called for. This is because Governor Obiano deserves a second term not only because of his laudable achievements which are there for all to see, but also as a way of promoting equity and fairness for the good people of Anambra North Senatorial Zone which had been politically marginalised until the emergence of Governor Obiano.

This same position should also apply to Enugu and Ebonyi States where the Governors have done very well and deserve a second term and as compensation to the marginalised zones from where they come. The same should also apply in some respect to Imo State. This is so because the people from these areas are tasting power for the first time. It is also their right to retain the Governorship slot despite the machinations of political fifth columnists and their collaborators.

The essence of the principle of charter of equity can hardly be over-emphasised.

We need this charter to be entrenched as part of our political culture. This is the sure way to enthrone fairness, stability and orderly election in our nation. As things stand now in the country, it is the best and only sensible way to go as nothing less will do.

Okpala, a political analyst, writes from Awka

22

IMAGES

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,acknowledging cheers from Muslim faithfuls, during the 2016 Eid-El-Kabir, celebrations in Osogbo...recently

Children at Airport road praying ground during the sallah celebration in Abuja...recently KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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

Major N A Uduma (left) presenting a plaque to the MD/CEO of Fundvine Capital and Securities Ltd, Lagos, Dr. Michael Kasarachi Eyinna, in appreciation of the companyís contribution towards the Ammunition Transit Depot (ATD) Quarter Guard Renovation exercise of the Nigerian Army, as part of the companyís Social Responsibility (CSR)...recently

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule (middle); flanked by the former Deputy Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA), Hon. Adetoun Adediran (left) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson,, at the Dodan Barracks praying ground, to mark Eid-El Kabir celebrations in, Lagos....recently KOLA OLASUPO

Muslims at the Anser-Ud-Deen mosque praying ground to mark Eld- El-Kabr celebrations in Lagos...recently

L-R: Vice President, Nasrul Lai-L-faith Society (NASFAT), Mr. Mijinyawa Mohammed; former Publicity Secretary, Nasfat, Mr Biyi Bamgbose; Past President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI),Mr. Remi Bello and former Librarian Lagos State University (LASU) Dr. Tajudeen Seriki, during Eid- El-Kabir prayer at old Secretariat, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos...recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

Chief Rasaki Akanni Okoya (3rd left), and other muslims faithful , during sallah festival at the oluwanisola praying ground in Lagos...recently

Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, Mrs Funlola Odunlami(left) and Representative of the Commissioner and Director, Citizens’ Mediation Centre, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Odusanya, at the briefing on the International Day of Peace in Lagos...recently YOMI AKINYELE

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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Quick Takes OLX Do-It-For-Me Service Lauded

SUCCOUR TO IDPS

L-R: Executive Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima; Regional Manager, Maiduguri, Unity Bank Plc, Mustapha Mohammed; Director, Unity Bank, Yabawa Lawan Wabi, Executive Director, Abba Bello and BM, Lake Chad Road, Abubakar Mustapha Lawan, also of Unity Bank Plc, during the presentation of relief materials in Maidugiri … recently

Subscribers Threaten to Drag NCC to Court over Unsolicited SMS Stories by Emma Okonji The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has threatened to institute an action against the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in court over the regulator’s failure to sanction telecoms operators and Value Added Service (VAS) providers who consistently send unsolicited text messages, otherwise known as Short Message Service (SMS) to subscribers. The warning came on the heels of the recent statement credited to NCC that

TELECOMS it would continue to protect telecoms subscribers from unsolicited SMS by operators.

NCC had last week, issued a strong warning to telecoms operators to respect the rights of consumers and put an end to unsolicited SMS, but the warning rather angered subscribers, who felt NCC no longer have the feelings of subscribers, hence it kept ‘barking without biting’ on the issue of unsolicited SMS, which they said, had lingered for too long, without any definite action to stop the embarrassing situation. President

of NATCOMS, the umbrella body of telecom subscribers, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, who gave the warning in Lagos, told THISDAY that subscribers would not hesitate to challenge the NCC in court over its delay in taking action against telecoms operators, who consistently broadcast unsolicited messages to subscribers, a situation he described as highly embarrassing, because subscribers are charged for such unserious messages, which are rather promotional and market-driven for the operators.

According to Ogunbanjo, operators and VAS providers

have long been involved in the broadcast of unsolicited messages, and the subscribers had long been complaining to NCC and the operators themselves, yet NCC kept warning operators without taking decisive action that would compel them to put a final stop to such broadcast.

“After several complaints from subscribers, NCC had to introduce the uniform ‘Do-Not-Disturb code that gives subscribers the freedom to choose the messages they receive, and went ahead to fix Continued on page 24

Danbatta: Nigeria Can Bridge Broadband Gap through FDIs Given the recent increase in broadband penetration from 10 per cent in 2014 to 14 per cent in August 2016, coupled with the over $35billion recorded from Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has said Nigeria could further grow broadband penetration to surpass the projected 30 per cent broadband penetration level by 2018, through FDIs. Danbatta, who gave the assurance at a recent telecoms forum in Lagos, said he was convinced, based on the broadband infrastructure on ground, that it is not impossible for the county to attain 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018, contrary to widespread speculations that Nigeria may not meet the country’s projected

ICT broadband plan of attaining 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018.

Danbatta said NCC has lined up several projects driven by broadband that would be showcased at the forthcoming ITU Telecoms World in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 14-17, 2016, intended to woo foreign investors to come to Nigeria and invest in the country’s broadband initiative.

According to Danbatta, the NCC would be hoisting an investment forum, where foreign investors would be invited to listen to the Nigerian broadband revolution, with a view to convincing foreign investors to come to Nigeria and invest in the country’s broadband.

He said there were plans by the Nigerian local organising

committee, for ITU Telecoms World 2016, to sponsor and showcase technology startups who have developed solutions in the areas of security, e-health, energy and car tracking among others. Their solutions would be displayed at the Nigerian pavilion during the event.

Membership of the Nigerian local organising committee is drawn from the ICT industry and headed by the Director of Spectrum Administration at NCC, Austin Nwaulunne.

Danbatta called on Nigerians, especially technology companies that have something to showcase to the entire world at ITU Telecoms World, to endeavor to attend an display their products and solutions at the Nigerian pavilion.

“We are already strategising on how we can attract more meaningful investments into our

country through FDIs. There is need to fine-tune our Nigerian story in line with the growth and development of our sector.

We are meant to think of ways to convince would-be investors on the potentials and capacity of our country,” Danbatta said.

He further explained that Nigeria had to be at ITU Telecoms World 2016 to tell the world of our enviable regulatory processes that have enhanced the growth of telecommunications in the country. “We will tell them how effective and transparent we are in terms of regulation, and we will still tell them about the growing demand for fast, stable and reliable internet connectivity in our country.

We will tell them how the country has been receptive Continued on page 24

Customers to OLX, the online classified platform for selling and buying used items have continued to pour encomiums for OLX, for its ‘Do-It-For-Me Service’((D.I.F.M), which they say, has made it a lot easier to sell and buy on the OLX classified platform.

Recently, OLX.com.ng, launched a new premium product called D.I.F.M, where OLX Champs who are sales experts manage the entire selling process on the site from posting the item to closing the deal. This service addresses the needs of users who have no time to post, meet with potential buyers and want to sell quickly and conveniently.

Mrs. Oluchi Afuberoh, a housewife with four children, recently sold her car on the platform using the OLX D.I.F.M service. Afuberoh stated that the juggling demands of four young children is quite hectic which is what made her opt in for the service.

“I was excited when I learned about this new service from OLX. I had used OLX previously to sell my fridge and buy several decorative items in my home like a bedside lamp and wallpaper for my living room. I did not want to be bothered with calls from potential buyers or make out the time to meet with people,” Afuberoh said.

“In a matter of days after the ad went live on the site, the OLX Champ informed me that my vehicle has been sold and I was so excited especially because of the extra cash I now had to attend to my families’ needs,” she added.

More Participation for Commonwealth Forum

Delegations from small island developing states (SIDS) from the Caribbean and the Pacific regions are among the 29 countries taking part in the 2016 Forum of the CommonwealthTelecommunications Organisation (CTO) in Denarau Island, Fiji.

The event, which is held every year in a Commonwealth country, took place last year in Nairobi, Kenya.

In a goodwill message during the opening of the event, Chairman of the CTO Council and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, invited the participants to a spirit of collaboration.

“The CTO is celebrating its 115th Anniversary this year. Throughout its existence, it has remained an example of collaboration and partnerships. It is with the same spirit of collaboration and partnerships that I would like to invite all distinguished participants to engage in the discussions to follow over the next three days,” he said. Held this year under the theme ICTs for Inclusive Growth, the three-day event hosted by the Fijian Government started with a panel of eminent persons to discuss government ICT policies for inclusive growth.

In his welcome address, Secretary-General of the CTO, Shola Taylor invited members of the Organisation to engage more effectively with SIDS.

Oracle to Boost Industrial Revolution

The technologies defining the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, more commonly referred to as Industry 4.0, are being powered by cloud infrastructures, according to report from Oracle Corporation.

The Oracle Cloud: Opening up the Road to Industry 4.0 report has found that from robotics to artificial intelligence, businesses view the cloud as a blank canvas upon which to build their innovation strategies.

The research investigated how companies in EMEA are managing the transition to Industry 4.0 and sheds light on which technologies they are investing in to continue succeeding in the data-driven age.

The majority of businesses are currently implementing, or plan to implement, new innovation strategies, the report said, stating that 62 per cent have or plan to implement robotics technology, while 60 per cent have or plan to work with Artificial Intelligence.

Most companies also recognise a cloud infrastructure is required to bring these technologies to life – 60 per cent believes an enterprise cloud platform provides the opportunity for organisations to capitalise on innovation such as robotics and artificial intelligence, report said.

Encouragingly, a large majority of businesses are on course with their plans to establish a single integrated cloud model across their organisation.

“SMEs must drive their businesses with technology solutions, if they must remain relevant in business during this period of economic recession”

Managing Director, Business Connexion Nigeria, Mr. Ayo Adegboye

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

SUBSCRIBERS THREATEN TO DRAG NCC TO COURT OVER UNSOLICITED SMS

FG Urged to Enforce Compliance of Local Content Policy in IT

July 1, 2016 as the deadline for compliance, yet the operators continue to broadcast such messages after the deadline, for their personal gains and to the embarrassment of subscribers, without the NCC acting,” Ogunbanjo said. According to him, “Enough of all these warnings from NCC, what we want as subscribers is for NCC to sanction the operators involved and others will sit up.” Describing unsolicited SMS as embarrassing, Ogunbanjo said there would be times when a subscriber decides to cool-off his or her head for a while, only to be distracted by unsolicited SMS or calls used basically by operators for marketing purposes. He said a subscriber may be expecting bank alert on monetary transfer, only to be distracted by unsolicited SMS that has nothing to do with the expected financial transaction.

Other subscribers complained that the rate at which the messages were broadcast were so rampant that the storage capacity of their mobile phones gets filled up fast.

Part of the NCC’s statement last week to protect telecoms subscribers read: The Nigerian Communications Commission has reiterated its readiness to protect subscribers from the nuisance and irritations of unsolicited text messages and calls from mobile network operators.

Emma Okonji

DANBATTA: NIGERIA CAN BRIDGE BROADBAND GAP THROUGH FDIS to investors through policies that include tax holidays and that some investors have been so encouraged to invest in the country’s Digital Mobile Licences (DMLs) since 2001,” Danbatta said.

“At Bangkok, we will also tell would-be investors that the regulator has ensured it conducts its business according to international best practices and standards, through regular interactive sessions at consultative fora with stakeholders, before arriving at directions and regulations that guide the smooth operations in the sector,” Danbatta added.

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)

In order to encourage patronage of locally developed products in the Information Technology (IT) sector, the federal government has been advised to enforce the local content policy in the IT. The Managing Director of Beta Computers, manufactures of SPEEDSTAR computers, Mr. Will Anyaegbunam, who gave the advice last week in Lagos when the acting Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Vincent Olatunji and his team paid a courtesy visit to the company’s assembling plant in Lagos, noted that Nigeria would continue to be a consuming nation in the 21st century knowledge economy, if adequate steps were not taken to encourage local manufacturers.

According to him, “Nigeria quest to use IT to significantly increase her GDP in these days of dwindling oil revenues may not be achieved in the nearest future if the federal government does not take urgent steps to ensure compliance of local content policy in IT, among government agencies.” He said although the policy for government agencies to patronise locally assembled computers has been in existence for several years, implementation had always been an issue as government agencies still prefer to patronise foreign brand of computers to the detriment of the locally assembled ones.

Anyaegbunam stressed that local PC assemblers needed to be encouraged and supported by the government so that they can increase their capacity and generate employment in the whole value chain of PC manufacture, up to content

development and customer support.

The visit of NITDA was part of the renewed engagement process of the government to re-connect with the stakeholders in the Nigerian information technology ecosystem, designed to grow the digital economy.

The initiative to support local manufacturers of computers started in 2002 when the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, through the office of the secretary of the government, issued a circular dated 7th of March, 2002, to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government that only locally manufactured computers, certified to be of acceptable quality standard should be patronised by all

federal establishments.

The directive was followed up during the last government with the establishment of the Office for Nigerian Content in Information Technology (ONC), to drive the process deeper and to ensure increased implementation, monitoring and compliance.

Explaining how Beta Computers has been assembling SPEEDSTAR PCs, years before government started recognising local hardware, Anyaegbunam said, “Government cannot be developing local capacity and be using foreign brands in their offices. We need to be enabled and supported to make Nigeria a hub of PC manufacturing in the West African sub region and capable of generating

significant foreign exchange earnings for the country.”

According to him, “NITDA is a development agency. The local content policy has been there but monitoring and implementation remain the issue. If Nigerian PC manufacturers were not developing, I am sure that NITDA would feel that its mandate as a development agency was not realised.”

No local PC assemblers in the country can claim enough patronage from the government. Lack of government patronage is killing local capacity. I do not see the reason why government agencies should be using foreign brands in the office.

It amounts to gross violation

of her own policy on local content in IT. While commending Olatunji for supporting the formation of Certified Computer Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON), he said the group would look forward to the Office of the Nigerian Content on IT, for a more robust implementation of its policies.

He said Beta Computers assembling plant has the capacity to assemble no fewer than 200 PCs per day, adding that computer assembling company has a renewed expectation from NITDA. In his remarks, Olatunji assured local PC assemblers of government’s commitment to support and grow local capacity in IT.

TECHNOLOGY ON THEIR MINDS

L-R: Chinese Consul in Nigeria, Mr. Xie Chao; Vice President, ZTE Corporation, Mr. Shen hui; Chinese Consul General in Nigeria, Mr. Chao Xiaoliang and Managing Director, Middle and West Africa, ZTE Terminal Business Activation, Mr. Xiang Pingnian, at a technology event organised by ZTE in Lagos...recently

‘Technology Empowerment Will Save Nigeria from Recession’ Emma Okonji The Managing Director of Ericsson Nigeria, Mr. Johan Jemdahl has advised the federal government to expedite action in empowering the Nigerian citizens with technology, insisting it is the fastest way for the country to move out of the economic recession.

Jemdahl , who gave advice in Lagos, during an interview with THISDAY, said most countries that passed through recession in the past, were able to move out of recession through empowerment of their citizens with technology.

“If you take a look at Nigeria’s GDP, you will discover that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is a major contributor to GDP. There is need for increased mobile banking, financial inclusion, and connectivity.

If people are connected with their devices, they will not feel the impact of recession. This is true because connectivity gives access to the internet and there are lots of things Nigerians could do on their own when connected to the internet, without relying on government,” Jemdahl said.

So what government needs do in the time of recession,

is to empower its citizens technologically and allow the citizens to drive the economy, specially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Jemdahl added.

He insisted that empowerment of people in the society remained the key because it would drive development and cushion the effects of recession.

Empowerment in the area of technology is the way out of recession.

When people are empowered they will be encouraged to go into small scale manufacturing through which they could sustain the country and even have surplus for export, thereby supporting international trade that will bring in foreign currency into the country. According to him, “Once Nigeria begins to exchange goods and services with foreign currencies like dollar, the economy will quickly bounce out of recession.

If people are empowered, they become creative on their own and creativity is what is driving developed economies of the world and creativity is exactly what helped most developed countries to go out of recession fast at the time when they witnessed recession.”

Jemdahl who also advised government to make her policy regulation a lot easier for tech-

nology companies, insisted that policies on import duties for technology equipment should be reviewed downwards and policies that will protect home grown and locally developed products should be encouraged.

He said Nigeria should begin to move to a more

knowledge-based economy and make broadband available and affordable for all its citizens. We need broadband connectivity in this country.

Although government is trying to increase broadband penetration in the country, but this has to be done fast because

connectivity is key to speedy economic development.

Nigerians are technology savvy people and the sure way out of recession, is to empower the people technologically, because empowerment will lead to better and informed decision making, Jemdahl said.

Unity Bank Donates Relief Materials to IDPs Borno State Governor, Hon. Kashim Shettima has commended Unity Bank Plc for donating relief materials worth millions of naira to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State to help alleviate the sufferings of victims of insurgency in the North East.

The Executive Director in charge of North East/North West, Alhaji Abubakar Abba Bello and former Minister of State for Finance and Director of the Bank, Mrs. Yabawa Lawan Hamma Wabi led the Unity Bank’s delegation to deliver the relief items to the Borno State Government, Maiduguri, recently for onward distribution to different IDP camps.

Presenting the relief materials, the Executive Director recalled that the partnership between the Bank and Borno

state over time motivated Unity Bank to make the donations as part of its corporate social responsibility to make meaningful impact and intervention in areas where it operates. He added that the current gesture is aimed at complementing the previous donation by the Staff of Unity Bank Plc to support the cause of the displaced persons and rehabilitate victims of insurgency.

Bello also said that the Bank is willing to partner Borno State to rebuild its agricultural base as a means of fast tracking the process of reintegration of the IDPs with their communities and also sustaining improvement of living standards of the victims.

“Unity Bank is well acclaimed for being in the forefront of initiative for supporting agriculture in Nigeria and since rehabilitation of the

victims of insurgency can be achieved faster through agriculture, the Bank is undoubtedly your preferred partner in this regard” the ED stated.

Shettima praised the numerous gestures of Unity Bank Plc and acknowledged the Bank’s consistent support to the state, especially the donation of N25 million in support of the State’s University projects in 2014.

Unity Bank is the only Bank in Borno State that did not close operations to its teeming customers even in the thick of the insurgency experienced in the state.

Given the Bank’s focus on growing the Agriculture, Rural economy and SMEs, the early resettlement of the victims of the insurgents aligns with initiative for the Bank’s corporate social investment.

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E-BUSINESS

Rekindling the Hope of Single Database for Nigeria The renewed efforts by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to begin harmonisation of all data that were hitherto housed in various government and private entities, will help address national security among other sundry issues, writes Emma Okonji In 2011, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, introduced the registration of Subscriber Identification Module otherwise known as SIM card registration for the telecoms sector.

According to NCC, one of the objectives of SIM registration is to assist security agencies in resolving crimes and by extension to enhance the security of the country.

SIM registration became necessary in 2011 following the rampant manner at which masterminded assassinations and kidnappings were carried out with the aid of mobile phones. There were political assassinations and kidnappings and the families of victims were contacted by their abductors to demand for ransom through the mobile phones and the abductors could not be traced because their SIMs were not registered and they have no form of identity attached to their mobile lines.

In order to address the situation, NCC ordered all telecoms operators to begin SIM registration of new and existing members on their networks, where vital information like address, age, name, biometrics and even photograph of subscribers were recorded against their SIMs. The data of all registered subscribers from different networks were later sent to NCC, and the information was collated to build a database of telecoms subscribers. Today, we have 157 million registered active telecoms subscribers and the data is with the NCC. Apart from NCC, Nigeria has pockets of databases with different government agencies like the National Identity Management Commission, Federal Road Safety Corporation, Banks, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Vehicle licensing office, National Population Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, among several others. All these agencies and government parastatals were involved in one form of registration or the other, like census, Bank Verification Number, driver’s licence, vehicle licence, insurance licence, among others, and the data collected were kept separately in their individual databases. But one thing that is peculiar is that the different agencies and parastatals, were always registering the same data from the same set of people. They have not been able to link the different data to each database for uniformity, and Nigerians are worried about the multiple duplications of data, and had since called for harmonisation of those data.

NIMC, the government agency empowered by law to collate all pockets of data and synchronise them into a single database for Nigeria, like it is done in developed countries of the world, had before now, not been able to achieve data harmonisation, for various reasons. Instead, NIMC became involved in another set of registration for the purpose of national identity cards. But last week, the commission announced that it has commenced harmonisation of all data in the country, and that some government agencies like NCC, has agreed to release their data to NIMCfor harmonisation purposes.

The news which came as hope rising for many Nigerians, have continued to attract reactions and commendations.

Need for data harmonisation The fact that different agencies of government as well as some private organisations have different databases atvarious locations, makes the whole idea of registration very clumsy and cumbersome, since the different agencies cannot synchronise their data with the data of other agencies. If for instance, the FRSC could link its data with that of banks, then a citizen whose details have been captured by banks for the purpose of BVN, do not need to begin a fresh process of registration when he or she needs a driver’s licence from the FRSC. All they need do is to key into the computer system and the details of the person pop up on the computer screen. But what is been done is that a single

Danbatta

individual is subjected to fresh registration by the time the individual goes to different agencies for different purposes.

Another simple analogy is that a Globacom subscriber , who has duly registered his/her SIM on the Globoacom network, will be subjected to fresh registration if he/she wants to register an alternate line on the MTN network. The two networks will have the same details of registration, yet they cannot link themselves for the purpose of interoperability. The situation makes it extremely difficult to trace an individual or even get comprehensive information for the purpose of research work, hence the need for data harmonisation.

Nigeria has pockets of databases with different government agencies like the National Identity Management Commission, Federal Road Safety Corporation, Banks, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Vehicle Licensing Office, National Population Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, among several others

Aziz

Data release Following the persistent demand for data harmonisation into a single database, the NCC, penultimate week announced that it has approved the release of data it collated from telecoms operators for SIM registration, to NIMC, for data synchronisation and harmonisation.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who made the announcement, said the decision to release the data is in line with federal government’s instruction to transfer validated data to NIMC. He said the release became necessary for the purpose of inter-agency and other stakeholders’ collaboration, which he said, is a key component of his eight point agenda unveiled in February this year, with a view to moving the industry forward.

“I would like to pledge our commitment to this cooperation between the NIMC and the NCC to ensure that we have a secure, reliable database containing biometric information for all Nigerians, which will definitely augur well for the security of the country among other benefits,” Danbatta said. “So we are committed to this. We recognise the importance of this cooperation and I would like to stress the need to give it all the seriousness it deserves,” he added. Danbatta, however, called for the reinvigorating of the existing inter-agency committee handling the exercise in order to fast-track the data transfer to NIMC. In the same vein, the EVC directed the NCC to ensure that the data transferred to NIMC are fully backed up to avoid any hitches in future.

Data harmonisation NIMC said it has begun the process of harmonisation of existing data that were hitherto scattered around different government agencies.

NIMC, which reaffirmed its commitment to carry out its statutory responsibility to Nigeria and to Nigerians, has given its assurance that the harmonisation process, when completed, would help in creating a single database for the country, from where information about people, organisation and statistics could be sourced on request. The assurance was made in Abuja, by the DirectorGeneral/Chief Executive of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz.

According to him, NIMC has commenced

the harmonisation of data on BVN that was carried out by banks, and thereafter, would begin the data harmonisation of SIM cards that was carried out by the NCC and the telecoms companies.

“We have commenced harmonisation with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) on the BVN records, so any one that has registered for the BVN will get their National Identity Number (NIN). So far we have processed two million records from the BVN data collected,” Aziz said. He added, “The NCC has also agreed to release data from the ongoing Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards registration exercise to the Commission, all these are in line with the federal government’s directive to sister agencies collecting biometrics to harmonise and integrate with the NIMC being the central repository of biometric data in Nigeria.”

It is projected that by 2019 NIMC should have over a 100 million unique records at the central database. “ At that time, we would have commenced the enforcement of the mandatory use of the NIN for all services and transactions requiring the authentication and verification to confirm individual’s identity. At that time also, whoever did not enroll and the person is above 18 years of age, will be required to pay a token in order to get enrolled for the NIN,” Aziz added.

Rekindled hopes Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to commend the federal government for the initiative to harmonise data of all government agencies and the private sector.

They said the move would enable Nigeria create a single database from where information could be sourced from directly. Chairman of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, told THISDAY that the move was a welcomed development, as it would help reduce crime rate in the country, aside enhancing academic research. He gave instances of how single database in developed countries, has assisted in reducing crime rates in their countries.

He called on software application developers to assist government in developing solutions that will help address the issue of seamless interoperability of different data collated from different organisations.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Jemdahl: Collaboration Imperative for Technology Development Managing Director, Ericsson Nigeria, Mr. Johan Jemdahl, spoke on the relevance of collaboration in the technology sector, and how the recent partnership between Ericsson and Galaxy Backbone will drive technology development in Nigeria. Emma Okonji brings the excerpts Ericsson, penultimate week, signed MoU with Galaxy Backbone on technology solution. What value will this bring to Nigeria?

Yes, Ericsson and Galaxy Backbone partnered to use information and communications technology (ICT) to transform public services in Nigeria and the initiative will make Nigeria strides towards deploying e-Government solutions to enhance public sector delivery.

The partnership will enable Ericsson work closely with Galaxy Backbone, the government and private agencies to build new roadmaps and implement solutions for industry transformation.

The partnership is in keeping with government’s commitment to leverage ICT for job creation, improved security, economic diversification and social inclusion as well as supports the Minister of Communication’s vision to deploy e-Government as a tool to improve governance and efficiency in the delivery of quality public services.

Under the terms of the partnership spanning three years, Ericsson will serve as advisor, systems integrator and implementation partner for ICT based solutions and services covering the transport, utility and safety and security sectors of the economy.

Ericsson will also manage all deployed solutions and services while building capacity within Galaxy Babckbone and partner public parastals ensuring that all deployments are eventually handed over to the government along with selected private sector players.

What prompted the MoU signing between Ericsson Nigeria and Galaxy Backbone?

Societal needs triggered the collaboration. Nigeria has needs and both companies are technology companies that could use technology solution to address the needs of the country, and this is the reason why we had to sign the MoU in order to bring our technology expertise to bear and address the needs of the country. The needs of the country transcend the citizens and it is our desire to address these needs with our technology solutions.

Again, the MoU agreement signing was triggered by the discussion that took place between Ericsson and Galaxy Backbone some months ago in Abuja, where we had a couple of meetings with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Before the discussion, we knew that Galaxy Backbone was working on a project to provide connectivity to government agencies and offices, and based on our own technology background, we found some areas where both organisations could collaborate to provide world-class technology solutions to government. The collaboration, when concluded, would drive Business-to-Business.

We are a technology company with presence in 190 countries, empowering technology business and connectivity and we desire to continue doing same in Nigeria, having been in Nigeria for 40 years and paying tax regularly.

Although we have not streamlined what each company will be doing in the collaboration as regards to specific projects, but we have agreed to work together as technology companies. What we did was to set out three areas we could collaborate, which include security, transport and power.

Based on the new areas of collaboration, how do you intend to address the issues with transport, security and power in Nigeria?

Ericsson already has solution for the transport system that will make transpiration a lot easier without spending so much hours in traffic. In the area of power, we need to ensure best use and distribution of generated power. Still on power, the issue of smart metering has to be addressed. We intend to provide solution that will give accurate billing of power consumption.

For security, there is need to develop solution

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Empowerment of people in the society is key because it will drive development and cushion the effect of recession.

Empowerment in the area of technology is the way out of recession. When people are empowered they will be encouraged to go into small scale manufacturing through which they could sustain the country and even have surplus for export, thereby supporting international trade that will bring in foreign currency. So my advice is that government must empower her citizens technologically. Again, government must make policy regulation a lot easier for technology companies. Policies on import duties for technology equipment should be reviewed downward and policies that will protect home grown and locally developed products should be encouraged.

Jemdahl

that will connect the police in better ways to enable them perform at their best. Apart from fighting crimes, the police should also be able to prevent crimes if they have the right technology solution that will assist them in doing so. These three areas are key to national development and we are going to be working together to achieve results in these areas, but it is too early to decide on the measures we will take to address issues in these key areas, because we just signed the MoU penultimate week.

Singling transportation from among the identified key areas of collaboration, how does Ericsson intend to reduce the heavy traffic situation on Nigerian roads, especially roads in the cities like Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Kano, using technology solutions?

We have solutions for efficient traffic management and the same solutions could be applied in different cities where people experience traffic jam. For us to successfully address transportation issues, first, there is the need for us to know the volume of demand and supply of vehicular movement in any given city, the number of registered cars in that city, the peak hours of vehicular movement, and the directions of movement. If we have these data, we could plan vehicular movement in a more dynamic way such that there will be less cars on the roads at the same time. We will also weigh other means of transportation apart from road transportation, and see how they can work well for Nigerians. If the transportation system is well addressed, commuters will find it a lot easier to move without spending hours in traffic, and they will consume less fuel and save money.

Several state governments have the vision of developing their states into smart-city states.

How will the collaboration of Ericsson and Galaxy Backbone help in driving smart-city initiative in the country?

Smart-city vision is a good initiative that should be encouraged and only technology solution can make smart-city dreams come through. Like I said earlier, the two companies are technology solution providers and we can collectively work out solutions that will drive smart-city initiative in the areas of power, security and transportation, which are the three key areas we are collaborating on.

For me, smart-city initiative is all about connecting the cities, and technology is driving the initiative. If every city is fully connected, it means there will be orderliness. Everything will be timed and there will be situations where trash

At the World Economic Forum held in May this year, Ericsson announced a strategic partnership with the SMART Africa Alliance. Is there any possibility of Nigeria becoming a member of that alliance?

Nigeria is not part of the alliance and the benefit for member country is enormous. About 10 to 11 countries formed the Smart Africa Alliance bins will communicate and call for evacuation initiative and Nigeria and South Africa are not of contents and fridges as well and refrigerators part of it. There is an interest for Nigeria if it will communicate to inform the household that joins the alliance, but again, it depends on the drinks, water and foodstuff have been depleted. government of Nigeria to take such initiative.

It is an era where virtually everything will be Ericsson was only given a role by some specific connected with wifi and 4GLTE technologies and countries and that is where Ericsson came into they will begin to communicate with humans, the scene. including roads, hospitals and schools. This is what smart-city initiative is all about, and we Ericsson has been at the forefront driving the have the solution to drive the initiative. network society initiative. How far has this initiative gone?

There is a new thinking about smart-city initia- The network society is Ericsson’s vision and tive, which is about whether to develop new initiative and the vision is to ensure that everything infrastructure in an entirely new community that needed to be connected, must be connected. and make it smart-city ready, or develop smart- It is a long term vision and we believe that the city in an existing community. Which is more vision is playing out well, because that is where appropriate judging from economies of scale? the world is actually heading towards. It is about I will say one is easier and the other complex. connecting everything possible to make life a Now it is easier to develop smart-city in an entirely lot more easier for everyone. Now the number new community, and create new infrastructure of people with SIM cards in Nigeria is over in that new community. But I tell you, this will 150 million and the number runs into billions be more expensive to achieve, considering the globally and what this means is that people financial involvement. are connected globally and can communicate However, it will be much cheaper to develop with each other, and that is Ericsson’s vision for existing communities into smart-cities, but it the world. Demand for data is on the increase is a complex job to achieve because many and the more we have enough broadband data existing structure will be affected and many connectivity, the world will become a better place have to be redirected, while some will give for everyone. This is true because people will way completely. But whichever is chosen, there get information from any part of the world, and is cost implication and the end result is that that is the vision for Ericsson. Again, today we people living in smart-cities are more comfortable are talking about 50 billion connected devices and government generates more money in a globally and that means more people and devices smart-city environment. The analogy is this. It is will be connected. easier to build a new house than to reconstruct an existing house to taste.

Technology providers are gradually moving But Nigeria has no choice but to build smart- from 3G to 4G LTE technology. What value cities, be it in new communities or in exiting is the 4G LTE technology bringing to the communities like Lagos. technology space?

The fourth generation Long Term Evolution (4G Nigeria is currently passing through economic LTE technology) is the latest technology that is recession. As a technology company, what kind gradually driving development in the world. Most of advice will you want to give government countries are beginning to adopt the technology in moments of economic recession? because of its unique value proposition, which If you look at the country’s gross domestic product is all about speed of connectivity. People are in a (GDP), you will discover that ICT is a major hurry to do things and they want the technology contributor to GDP. Therefore there is need for that will give them the required speed, and that increased mobile banking, financial inclusion, is what 4G LTE is offering, aside other benefits. and connectivity. If people are connected with their devices, they will not feel the impact of The Founder of FaceBook, Mark Zuckerberg recession. was in Nigeria penultimate week to energise This is true because connectivity gives access to Nigerian technology startups. What is your the internet and there are lots of things Nigerians impression about his visit, which is his first could do on their own when connected to the to Africa? internet, without relying on government. So what The visit was a welcomed development for government needs do in time of recession, is to Nigeria because Nigerians are very active in empower its citizens technologically and allow social media interaction like Facebook, and the citizens to drive the economy, especially Instergram.

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BUSINESSWORLD Science Agenda for Delta Will Bridge Digital Divide, Says Okowa Stories by Emma Okonji Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has stressed the need for state governments to develop science agenda that will bridge learning gaps.

The governor gave the advice in Asaba, Delta State, while receiving certificate of eGovernance from the Delta State Innovation Hub (DS-IHUB), a private sector initiative, designed to train Nigerians on computer skills.

According to Okowa, “In driving the state’s economy, we are developing innovation and science agenda as a key component in bridging the huge gap and deficiencies in our education, health, industry, entertainment, governance, social and state security systems.”

He said the state aims to achieve this through a Private-Public-Partnership model strategy on innovation development.

“In this regards, we have resolved to partner Mobile Software Solutions Limited, a renowned content solutions provider in the Information and Communications Technology industry and the winner of World Summit Award 2014 for Africa Best Mobile Content Developer in the Life-Style and Entertainment category,” he said. Delta State Innovation Hub - DS-IHUB, the governor said, could attain noble heights if they put our minds to work.

“In moving this project forward, we will rely on the support and patronage of Delta State citizens at home and in the diaspora, entrepreneurs, the academia, students, industry leaders, stakeholders, and indeed, all friends of Delta State, to ensure that this envi-

able knowledge venture is not only successful, but significantly beneficial to all concerned and sustainable for generations yet unborn. “We realise that our success story will be dependent on how much support and partnership we get. We must pay glowing tributes as a State to Zenith Bank Plc, for donating the DS-HUB complex, and look forward to partnership with as many that may wish to develop positive minds for our greater tomorrow,” Okowa said.

He made history when he recently became the first state governor in the federal republic of Nigeria to acquire the e-Government certification.

In line with Global standards, 21st century leadership and governance is incomplete, inadequate and indeed unproductive without digital proficiency in e-Government process certification.

Global assumptions on the emerging information society (IS), point to the fact that the ICT Policy and e-Government domain will be the main battle field for 21st Century globalisation, democratic government and national survivability. This “paradigm shift” makes the education of future leaders, of high priority and a strategic imperative for all nations – as we approach the critical path of the 21st century.

Director General of DSIHUB, Mr. Chris Uwaje said the e-Government Leadership Certificate Programme for the political class is designed to assist policy and decision makers achieve a dynamic and positive solution to crisis-prone challenges in governance.

He said the certification is based on UNESCO advisory standards.

Inlaks Organises Free IT Training to Boost Entrepreneurship In a bid to promote entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths, Inlaks Computers has organised a free training for youths on how to build and install solar power panels and inverters. The Technical Operations Manager of Inlaks Training Academy, Mr. Sola Fasogbon, who made the disclosure in Lagos, said the long-term goal of the workshop is to help provide Nigerians with alternatives to government power supply.

According to Fasogbon, the training is part of the organisation’s corporate social responsibility.

“We are giving back to the society. We want to empower people and let them know that they don’t need to depend on the government before they can generate their power supply As everyone knows, the federal government has been unable to attain the megawatts of electricity they promised us.

And in every challenge, there is always a blessing. We are using this opportunity to train entrepreneurs and the youths to see the opportunity in this situation. We want to let them know that they can feed themselves without waiting on their family and friends or the government.

We also want to make Inlaks Computers the employers of choice,” Fasogbon said.

He further explained that the training, which was organised for the company’s clients free of charge, would be extended to other Nigerians, including students of tertiary institutions in order to empower them before they graduate from school. He said:“Presently, we are partnering the University of Lagos to train 200 students on building and installing solar panels and inverters for free.

What we are doing now is the first phase, whereby we are training our top clients.

They are our customers in the banking industry.”

“We have energy from the sun in abundance. We should be able to generate our own power.

We have competent engineers who are going to facilitate the training. Some people say solar panels or inverters get spoiled easily, but this is mainly due to incompetence on the part of the engineers who build or install them,” Fasogbon said.

A participant at the training, Ayodeji Oyede, said the workshop would enable him to build and install solar panel in his home.

“I have gained a lot about designing a solar panel and I am satisfied with the workshop. Very soon, I will start implementing what I learnt,” he said.

E-BUSINESS

Samsung Orders Consumers to Stop Using Galaxy Note 7 * Loses $22billion in market capitalisation Few weeks after Samsung launched its latest mobile phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the company has advised consumers in some markets, (not Nigeria) to stop using the mobile phone, and to immediately participate in a replacement programme, following further reports of the phones catching fire.

Meanwhile, the company has lost $22billion in market capitalisation as its share price has ranked 11 per cent since Friday last week, the largest two-day decline in eight years, according to Bloomberg.

The call came after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommended

on Friday that consumers stop using the smartphone and major airlines globally banned use during flights.

Samsung issued a recall for Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in early September in 10 markets, including the US and South Korea, but not in Nigeria, following reported cases that the battery of Galaxy Note 7 phone burst into flames after fully charged.

Defective batteries, which caught fire during charging and normal use, were apparently manufactured by Samsung SDI. Batteries made by its other supplier, Amperex Technology, have not faced the same issues.

Samsung said it is now

only using batteries made by Amperex for the Galaxy Note 7 and has ordered an additional four million as replacements, Yonhap reported. The Chinese firm, which also supplies batteries for Apple’s iPhones, is now the sole battery suppler for the Note 7.

Samsung’s battery unit previously supplied about 70 per cent of the batteries for Note 7. The world’s largest smartphone maker reportedly was looking for a third battery supplier but hasn’t found one.

As demand for the iPhone 7 models takes off, Samsung could face a supply crunch.

With an estimated 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 units sold,

analysts say the recall could cost Samsung as much as $5 billion in revenue. The smartphone was launched on August, 2, 2016.

The company has lost $22 billion in market capitalisation as its share price has tanked 11 per cent since Friday – the largest two-day decline in eight years, according to Bloomberg.

Samsung issued a statement for the Hong Kong and Macau markets, outlining that “we wish to re-emphasise that Galaxy Note 7s purchased in Hong Kong and Macau from authorised resellers on or after September 2, are not affected by the issue as those batteries are provided by a different supplier”.

UNVEILING BUSINESS PLAN

L-R: General Manager, Services, Business Connexion Nigeria (BCX), Emmanuel Akhidenor; Managing Director, Ayo Adegboye, and Managing Executive, Jakes Mogale, at a press conference to announce company’s business plan in Lagos...recently

Huawei Unveils GR5 Mini Lenovo Reveals theYoga Book for Smartphone with New Fingerprint Productivity, Creativity Technology Huawei, one of the global leading smartphone makers, has unveiled its latest device in the Nigerian market, the very elegant Huawei GR5 Mini, designed to meet the demands of today’s young professionals. Huawei also announced its partnership with Nigerian designer, Adebayo Oke Lawal of Orange Culture to give customers who purchase the Huawei GR5 Mini a designer phone case for free.

Announcing the launch of GR5 Mini in Lagos last week, the Managing Director, Devices for Huawei Nigeria, Leo Jiang, said: “Huawei is excited to partner with Orange Culture to deliver a premium experience for our customers.”

“We value our customers’ need for mobile technology which suits their lifestyles and meets their needs, and now we are aligning with customers strongest passions, one of which we have discovered to be fashion and style,” he added. According to him, the new smartphone, which features new generation fingerprint technology, has been improved 100 per cent over the 1st generation. The generation finger print is a a sensor that performs in 0.5 seconds and has 360 degree readability that

builds on Huawei’s success in delivering powerful high end smartphones with a high level of quality. Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, said Technology Distribution, an arm of Zinox Group, was happy to associate with the Huawei brand because of its quality products. “Technology Distribution that is known for distribution and sales of technology products in Nigeria and across West African countries, will be willing to push the GR5 Mini into the consciousness of Nigerians because of the quality that the product is made of,” Ekeh said.

Bound to be a delight for photo and selfie lovers, the GR5 Mini has an 8MP front camera with high chromatic resolution, 4P lens array and a 77 degree wide angle visual range which takes sharp looking selfies and also allows selfielovers to capture more people in the shot. The rear-facing 13MP MP camera features a f/2.0 aperture, 78 degree wide angle visual range, 5P Aspheric lens array with a blue glass filter to improve photo quality, and a professional mode for taking photos with parameters comparable to that of an SLR camera.

Lenovo has launched the Yoga Book, the world’s thinnest and lightest designed for unmatched productivity while on the go.

Built for mobility and to solve the most common challenge among tablet users – how to achieve productivity and entertainment in one device – the Yoga Book is a tablet that looks and acts like no other. Until now, we have been using tablets in ways we were not meant to: for productivity, for example, which becomes painful when typing or applying a stylus onto a touch screen that you are using on-the-go.

Announcing the new Yoga Book, the Vice President/ General Manager, Android and Chrome Computing, Lenovo, Mr. Jeff Meredith, said: “The Yoga Book removes that difficulty by taking the fundamental building blocks from the DNA of what makes a great tablet – namely portability, long battery life and a rich app ecosystem – and entwines it into a strand of creativity and productivity through a suite of powerful new hardware and software features, including: instant halo keyboard; dual-use stylus that writes on paper

and screen; and productivitydriven Book UI.” According to him, “We set out to redefine the tablet category conundrum, namely that consumers no longer separate their activities into productivity and entertainment – it all blends together, and so should the device they use,” “The Yoga Book introduces keyboard and handwriting input capability in an elegantly simple, unconventionally slender tablet design. We believe our unique design will offer tablet, 2-in-1 and traditional notebook buyers a first-of-its-kind option for evolving usage trends,” Meredith said. Speaking on the features of the Yoga Book, Meredith said the product comes ultra-thin and light.

“With two panels that open up like an ultra thin notebook, the Yoga Book is unconventionally slender and light years removed from the tablet that you are accustomed to using on the go or while sitting in your home. As the world’s thinnest 2-in-1, the Yoga Book is 9.6mm closed, tapering to 4.05mm at its slimmest edge – a thickness of just under three pennies,” he said.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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Job Centre to the Rescue Raheem Akingbolu writes on how the inauguration of a Job Centre by the Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola will help cushion the effect of unemployment in the state

Gov. Aregbesola (middle) inaugurating the centre in Osogbo, Osun State...recently

The government of the State of Osun recently inaugurated what it called ‘Job Centre’. With it, the state government wanted to expose residents and people of Osun to job opportunities within and outside the state.

According to the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, the centre would serve as hub of job information to unemployed youths and employers of labour in the state.

The job centre commissioning, which took place at Osogbo is an initiative of the government to tackle unemployment rate in the state and also to meet one of its six-point integral action plan, which is to create wealth in the state.

During the opening ceremony the governor said that his administration is taking job creation to a greater height with the establishment of the job centre where government will not need to employ workers directly but create an environment where finding jobs will become easy for the unemployed and better jobs for the youths.

He mentioned that the centre will provide an interface between applicants and employers by maintaining a database that will be made available to employers who need to recruit, adding that it will also keep record of job vacancies which applicants can consult.

Aregbesola stressed that before the coming of his administration there was a high and frightening level of youth disorientation which brought about the OYES that engaged 20,000 youths in public works in less than 100 days after inauguration.

According to him, “Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, O-YES policy, brought great micro-economic impact on the state with N200 million monthly allowances given to the youth under the programme. ‘’All the programmes we have implemented and the one of today have been captured in the Green Book which we entitled: “My Path with Osun“. Today, if you open the book, you will find all we have done and are doing. If anybody had told you that in Osogbo there would be the Nelson Mandela

Freedom Park, would you have believed it was possible? But is it there now or not?

“If anybody had told you that a road would start from Osogbo and run through to Ila Odo Kwara Boundary in one tenure; would you believe it was possible? But is it there now or not? When I said we would employ 20, 000 youths in our hundred days in office, many laughed and called us jokers.

Today, has the joke been translated into truth or not?’’

The Governor stated that his administration is responsible to all the people in the state and not a section of it. He revealed that of the 4 million population of Osun, there are 60

The centre was said to have been tailored towards the job creation mechanism of the late premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when he conceived WEMA Board, which served similar purpose for the people of the South West Nigeria.

thousand civil servants (retired and working), whose salary and pension are much more than the revenue accruing to the state today.

Uniqueness of the initiative The centre was said to have been tailored towards the job creation mechanism of the late premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when he conceived WEMA Board, which served similar purpose for the people of the South West Nigeria.

In her speech, former Commissioner for Human Resources and Capacity-Building, Mrs. Mobolaji Akande, who doubles as the chief consultant to government on the project, described the idea of the centre as unprecedented. She said Osun was the first state in the federation to establish such centre to help reduce employment crisis the country is battling with.

Mobolaji said the Job Centre was designed with two purposes of providing comprehensive data base of Osun job seekers and provide a robust system for collating accurate figures of employment and unemployment rates in the state.

According to her, the data collated would help the state government to plan better for economic policies through highlighting areas of skills and skill deficits.

She stated that the Job Centre would provide employment support services such as career counseling for job seekers; employability skills training; verification of certificates; job fairs to connect individuals to employers of labour and seminars to be given by experts from all fields of the economy.

“With these services, the Centre aims to turn out job seekers that are well equipped to make better choices be it in their educational training or their future careers and in so doing, set more realistic goals for themselves.

“This will enable the state government to better plan its economic policies by highlighting areas of skills or skills deficits possessed by its human resources. The Osun Job Centre is a State Government-funded programme

and its services are provided at no cost to the users of its facilities. It will serve as an intermediary between job seekers and employers, with the goal of matching the company’s needs and requirements with a job seeker’s skills, experiences and interests.

“The Centre does not create neither does it find jobs for users of its facilities. What it does is complement other youth empowerment programmes that this administration has put in place,” Akande said.

Imports If the position of government on the centre is anything to go by, Osun indigenes and residents would henceforth be able to apply and pursue any job from anywhere, from the confine of their rooms. Beyond public service, Aregbesola indicated that the centre would enable indigenes of the state to access job opportunities in the private sector, especially the multinationals.

According to him, the rationale behind the establishment of the centre was to make job seekers more employable and better placed for possible opportunities.

He said a job seeker will be made to understand what it takes to fit into a desired job better through requisite training and comprehensive engagement of applicants on the dynamism of labour market.

The governor, therefore, enjoined job seekers to develop their God-given skills and not to rely on academic qualifications alone to secure jobs.

He said the centre would be committed to training of applicants on how to perfectly package their qualifications and skills as well as connect them with different job opportunities.

He said: “There are works everywhere but our people have restricted themselves to their comfort zones, we want to use the centre as a link between employers and people of Osun State. To achieve this, we want to go beyond the online portal by exposing them to the nuances required to excel during text and interviews,” the Governor stated.

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BUSINESSWORLD

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Ahmad: Partnership with AXA Mansard Has Earned WIMBIZ Global Recognition The Chairperson of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Aishah Ahmad, in this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, speaks on the partnership with AXA Mansard, especially the feat recorded at the just concluded AXA Empower Women Contest and its attendant benefits. Excerpts: Congratulations on the award. How does it feel to be the winner of the keenly contested AXA Empower Women Contest?

We are so happy that we won the AXA 2016 Empower Women Contest and recognised for our work in empowering women in our society. 42 entries were submitted by AXA entities from 21 countries in a keenly contested competition and AXA Mansard, the Nigeria arm of AXA nominated WIMCAP, the winning project. Aside the international recognition, we are also grateful for the 10,000 Euros cash prize because it ensures that this programme can be on consistently. For us, we are concerned about building businesses that are structured for global competitiveness. With that, it will help us to improve on our impact; to improve on the 30 women average that we are taking now, to maybe 50 and more.

Tell us about the winning project, the problems it addresses and the inspiration behind it?

The winning project is called WIMCAP, which is a platform of WIMBIZ that ensures that we are supporting women owned businesses with certain skills like people management, logistics, finance, branding and to generally understand the value chain of their business.

The need it seeks to address is to ensure that entrepreneurs have better understanding of their business and are exposed to best practices. Part of the structure of the programme is a business clinic -a two-day programme, where they meet with successful entrepreneurs and share ideas. Lack of funding is a huge challenge that businesses face and this programme also addresses this.

One major reason why businesses have not been able to attract funding is because they are not properly structured in a way that is sustainable.

The inspiration behind WIMCAP is that it is linked with the vision of WIMBIZ, which is to inspire and empower women and increase their contribution to nation building. One of the key areas to increase that contribution is growing women owned businesses and by doing so we would also be increasing the number of jobs available. Research has shown that if you empower a woman, the knock-on effect is in multiple fold, which invariably affects the society.

Being a women’s focused non-governmental organisation in Nigeria, WIMBIZ is popular for women empowerment; could you share with us some of the impact WIMBIZ has had since inception?

We have impacted over 30,000 women over the last 15 years across all of our programmes.

Our programmes are structured around building leadership skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and advocacy. We have been advocating strongly and increasing the number of women on organizations’ Board of Directors.

We have a programme called WIMBoard which involves about three or four facets in driving this. We have a partnership with IE Business School to ensure that women are formally trained to be Board ready and we keep an executive database of women that have gone through that programme. In addition to that, we have an executive mentorship program for these women who have gone ahead to become a Board member.

In terms of our advocacy effort, this year, we also put our weight behind the gender and equal opportunity bill. The essence of the bill is to ensure that women are protected from violence, given equal right to education, and equal opportunities. We also have our flagship programme which is our annual conference where we attract over a thousand women across different sectors. The whole

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

idea of this is to ensure that women have a gathering where they can network with other women and share experiences in terms of challenges and opportunities. It’s also an opportunity for them to learn because we usually feature very experienced global speakers.

A more recent programme is the Big Sister programme created specifically to celebrate the 15th anniversary. It’s a one day mentorship programme for young ladies between the age of 13 and 17 in pubic secondary schools. We are targeting 1,500 young ladies this year across three states of the federation: Lagos, Rivers and Niger State. We’ve concluded that of Lagos where we had over 800 students from 14 schools and had great support of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State.

How has WIMBIZ benefitted from its relationship with AXA Mansard and how

We also see that even though quite a number of women are starting business, over 50% of businesses are owned by women, but just 20% of those businesses are in the formal sector. With this, we need to elevate their positioning and make them more competitive and impactful

does winning the AXA Empower Women Contest benefit WIMBIZ? We are very proud to partner with the AXA family and AXA Mansard in particular, worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, we appreciate that they impact the societies they operate in. We recognise that empowering women is an important aspect for them. We believe that this was the driving force that led AXA Mansard to nominate WIMBIZ, which gave us the opportunity to pitch and be selected for this award. AXA Mansard and WIMBIZ recognise that without empowering women, you cannot grow your GDP to where it needs to be.

It is exciting to see that some of the key positions at AXA Mansard are occupied by women, it shows you that they are not only driven to support women, but also live that reality.

On how the award would impact our organisation, it fuels this programme because funding is a key challenge and getting sponsorship is very difficult. So when we have strong partners like AXA Mansard, we are able to continue the good work.

Could you share some of the pressing challenges women in business face especially here in Nigeria and some of WIMBIZ’s initiatives to address these issues?

One key challenge for Nigerian women is access to opportunities and this is evident in the number of women in politics, and other spheres. Part of that is the education gap in term of opportunities, because when you give women the opportunity of high quality education, they excel. The whole idea is changing the mindset about the role of the woman and understanding that educating a woman doesn’t mean that she would not perform her wider role in the society. In fact, educating her enhances that wider role. We also see that even though quite a number of women are starting business, over 50% of businesses are owned by women, but just 20% of those businesses are in the formal sector. With this, we need to elevate their positioning and make them more competitive and impactful. What we are doing to ensure that happens is WIMCAP for example, which ensures beneficiaries take their businesses to the next level. Another challenge is what

the equal opportunity bill seeks to address in terms of rights and protection; right in terms of the right to inherit, right to school, equal opportunity, right not to be abused etc.

Despite the challenges, there are also positives. We now have women in top positions even in male dominated terrains. Women also hold key appointment in government. Even abroad, we have the first woman nominee of a major political party in the US, and second female Prime Minister in the UK. Those things inspire women all over the world to know that they can also take their place in leadership.

What advice or words of encouragement would you give to women in business and entrepreneurs, especially those who are struggling?

I would say they should never give up and must work hard. Find out what you need to know and invest in yourself. I’m a big supporter of education because it’s a leveller. Information is power, particularly synthesised information. I would encourage them to also pull up other women. Not only in terms of inspiring; support female owned businesses, invest in female owned businesses. If you say that there’s a gap in the educational sector, think of how many girls you can help put through school. Let’s keep the positive thought going, there’s no way we would not succeed.

What’s your projection for WIMBIZ in the next five years?

I see a future that is very bright considering where we have come from in the last 15 years. We have seen the organisation set up by a founding board of trustees that have handed over to the next generation. And I see that happening many times over. The sustainability of this organisation is a collective effort and I know that as we continue to inspire and empower ourselves, opening up our membership to women from all over, there’s no way we won’t be sustainable.

With partners like AXA Mansard supporting the organisation over the years, we would continue to realise our objective which is to ensure that we increase the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation building.

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BUSINESSWORLD Hong Kong Entrepreneurs to Invest in Bauchi Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Sequel to a visit by a high level government delegation, led by Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state, to Hong Kong on investment mission, the Lee Group, a well-diversified conglomerate entity, which operates from a number of African countries and Asia and specialises in the production of steel, footwear and plastic goods is leveraging on the offers made by the Bauchi State Goverment to invest in the state given the investment potentials that exist in the state.

The conglomerate, which has over 35 years in running successful businesses and plans to expand by diversifying into agro-based products and solid minerals in the northeastern Nigeria, especially Bauchi State gave the conglomerate’s willingness to invest in Bauchi state after the Governor’s visit to them in Hong Kong.

The Chairman of Lee Group, speaking through the Director, Mr Lee Mang Loog yesterday stated that the conglomerate wishes to invest in mining solid minerals especially Kaolin, Clay, Quartz, Natural Gas, Iron ore, Hydrocarbon all of which abound in commercial quantity in Bauchi state.

The Group also indicated interest in setting up of factories in Bauchi State for the manufacturing and production of Truck Tyres, Rubber slippers, Ceramic tiles, other ceramic products and Bakery that can generate hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs to the youth in the state.

According to a ress statement signed by the Press Secretary to the state Governor and made available to THISDAY in Bauchi, the governor urged the Group to look into other agro-based investment opportunities such as in the production of Sesame seeds, Soy beans, Poultry and Fishery.

The delegation that centered on deriving foreign direct investment into Agricultural, Mining and Tourism sectors comprised of the commissioner works, housing and land development, Abubakar Tatari Ali, member state house of assembly, director general, Bauchi state investment promotion agency, Muhammad Aminu Musa Kamisu Idi and special adviser/sole administrator, Yankari Game Reserve Engineer Habu Mamman Muhammad.

Others are MD, Bauchi state solid minerals development agency, Muhammad Tahir Isa, GM, Bauchi state agricultural supply company, Kabiru Adamu Sade and members of the business community.

The Governor also led the delegation to key institutions and organiations as well as the famous World Food Expo exhibition with a view to creating a platform for institutional recognition of economic potentials of Bauchi state, one of which was the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, a statutory and nonprofit body established to promote international marketing of Hong Kong-based traders,

manufacturers and service providers by organizing trade fairs, business missions and international conferences to connect companies with opportunities in Asia and beyond.

The Governor, in company of the Nigerian Consulate General and his team, Mr. William Chui, Director, International & Mainland Relations and his team, made a sector-based presentation on economic and investment opportunities in Bauchi state ranging from agriculture to solid minerals, tourism as well as Infrastructure.

He also showcased the numerous incentives, reforms on land acquisition law as well as Public Private Partnership policy, all in an effort to ease ways of doing business and sustainable support to investment climate in the State.

At the Hong Kong Tourism Development Company which invited Bauchi state government to take advantage of its trade mission, Foodexpo and its portal to showcase its enormous potentials especially in solid minerals and agriculture, the Governor requested the Hong Kong investors to take advantage of the Bauchi state investment promotion agency being a “One-Stop-Shop on investment processes and establishment for any existing and potential investor”.

The Hong Kong Tourism Development Company pledged to network within it members on the investment opportunities in agriculture and solid mineral in support of the Bauchi state investment drive.

The governor attended the famous World Food Expo exhibition on the invitation of the Hong Kong Tourism Development Company where he invited the Company to attend proposed “Bauchi State Investment Summit” slated for early next year.

He also attended the Africa Chamber of Commerce, a private and non-profit-making organization which remains dedicated to serving members by providing an effective platform for enhancement of trade and investment by moderating between investors and relevant authorities, promoting seminars and trade exhibitions in Africa and Asia, advising on investment and projects, as well as business matching and pitching.

He also showcased the numerous incentives, reforms on land acquisition law as well as PPP policy, all in an effort to ease ways of doing business and sustainable support to investment climate in the core areas of economic and investment opportunities in Bauchi state, especially ranging from agriculture to solid minerals, tourism as well as Infrastructure.

The chairman, Africa Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Mark Chan, who has an investment in Nigeria eco-friendly agrochemicals promised to open up the potentials that exist in Bauchi state to other investors in Hong Kong and mainland China in the area of both agricultural and solid minerals.

NEWS

Car Rental, Share Ride Solution Launched in Nigeria Emma Okonji An online rental car solution, NG-ride, combining the features of Uber and car rental solution, AVIS, has been launched in Nigeria.

NG-ride provides a marketplace for car owners to list their cars so that interested users can rent the cars and pay per hour at a predetermined price.

Founder/CEO, NG-ride, Osamede Evbakhavbokun, said: “We are marrying the features to create a solution for Nigerians. We are bringing something purely Nigerian and close to them as well, that they can also easily afford. So what we have done is bring the AVIS and Uber models to create a solution for Nigerians.”

Launched in April, NG-ride already boasts of more than 300 cars in its fleet, over 900 rentals and over 70 per cent

full day hire so far.

A c c o r d i n g toEvbakhavbokun,NG-ride features from simple to affordable luxury cars. These include luxury cars like limousine, Bentleys, Rolls Royce, among others, and cars purely owned by individuals who list them on the NG-ride marketplace for the sole purpose of monetising them.

“What happens is that we consider the fact that, firms like AVIS invest in car infrastructure, which has to depreciate. They also run drivers’ cost. All these contribute to make the cars more expensive. For us, we are listing cars that are owned by individuals using their cars for regular businesses. This makes the cars cheaper and the customers get value for money because the cars are cheaper and easily accessible,”

Evbakhavbokun said.

Speaking further, he said: “Our billing is per hour. For instance, you want to go somewhere that will probably take you more than an hour, you can rent a car on NG-ride. But if you are just moving to a short distance, it is cheaper to use an Uber. But if you have couple of places you want to go and you do not want to be rushed, our solution is cheaper. So, what you can do is to do a six hour booking for example and you can then have your meetings, catch-ups and do what you need to do.”

NG-ride which is currently available in Lagos only, also comes with a reverse logistics feature for trucks and haulage.

The reverse logistics feature allows haulage operators to move goods from any part of Nigeria and back to Lagos.

“Our reverse logistics aims at cutting logistics cost by half.

At the moment, what happens is that a truck that has moved things from Lagos to Kaduna most likely comes back empty.

So what our reverse logistics solves for the owner of the business is that instead of the truck coming back empty, it has to come back with something and that is the business we provide the truck with. And this is at half the cost instead of coming back empty,” Evbakhavbokun said.

NG-Ride is Nigeria’s number1 car rental and logistics marketplace. The company aims to make movement of people and goods simpler, faster and indeed more affordable by giving partners the flexibility to create cars and set rates that best work for them. That way, customers get great value by searching for excellent offers.

AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY ICON

Minister of Communication Technology, Adebayo Shittu (left), presenting the ICT ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to the Director General, Delta State Innovation Hub (DS-IHUB), Chris Uwaje, at the Titans of Tech award ceremony, where technology icons were awarded in Lagos...recently

Propak West Africa Opens Brand Extension: Sosaco Launches New Jago Gold September 20 The 2016 Propak West Africa, the largest packaging, printing and plastics exhibition in the region, will open in Lagos from September 20 to 22. The organisers expect to welcome 150 exhibitors and over 3000 visitors over three days to the event.According to the organisers of the programmes, the manufacturing scene in Lagos is a vibrant and buzzing one and the Food and beverages sector - representing over 30 per cent of the industry - is one of the most dynamic industries in Nigeria.

“With the demand for packaged food and drink growing, industry players are looking to increase their capacity to meet demands. Currently, about 85 per cent of these market players are SMEs, who account for an increasing percentage of overall sales volumes. At Propak West Africa, 80 per cent of our visitors are SMEs in this sector and as such this year we have put extra emphasis on the food and beverage markets.

Our exciting programme will see leading industry experts present on topics around

branding, innovation and technological solutions in this sector. It will allow attendees to gain important insights from multinational corporations such as Diageo and leading national organisations such as Nigerian Breweries and the Federal Institute for Industrial Research, the organisers said.

The expo has some exciting sessions lined up to cover topics, including the impact of branding on sales turnover, labelling and brand positioning.

“Delivering these topics will be industry leaders such as Baba Epega, the Founder and Manager Director of Emc3 - a leading international events organisation with significant brand management experience.

We are also delighted to welcome Lampe Omoyele, with 25 years in the FMCG industry and the current Managing Director of Nielson West Africa - a leading consumer research organisation. Additionally, Fauzi Fahm, a well-known Lagosian with significant experience in brands, will be moderating a panellist discussion on packaging innovation.

Raheem Akingbolu In line with its vision to thrill its consumers and provide them varieties of options to choose from, Sosaco Nigeria Limited has launched the new Jago Gold Full Cream Instant Whole Milk Powder in the premium segment of the milk powder market. Jago Gold comes with key vital nutrients, vitamins & minerals that ensure strong and healthy growth.

The product was said to be available in all popular pack sizes. Made from fresh Cow’s milk with the goodness of full cream, the new Jago Gold Full Cream milk powder redefines both quality and taste, and this would make it an instant winner in the market place.

The company also unveiled new brand identity for Its flagship brand JagoD’lite which is a top leading player of Popular milk Segment in Nigeria, It is now showcased in a new, exciting and more appealing New Pack design, that is part of the company’s efforts to reposition the Jago brand in the minds of the consumers to retain their

love and loyalty to the brand.

Speaking at the Trade Launch event held in Lagos, the Chairman of Sosaco Nigeria Limited, Mr. Francis Ogboro, explained that the new Jago Gold Full Cream Milk powder offering is an answer to the clarion call sounded by Jago’s loyal customers, and is a product of intense research and deep consumer understanding. “With the introduction of new Jago Gold, Jago Milk now has an offering for all segments of the packaged milk powder industry and affords our beloved consumers an opportunity to experience full cream instant whole milk powder like never before’’ he said.

Also speaking at the launch event was the Managing Director of Sosaco Nigeria Limited, Mr. Shailesh Kumar, who asserted that Jago as a brand will continue to address the needs of its consumers who come from all segments.

He further added that one of the main aims of the brand is to continually find innovative ways of delivering the best to its consumers.

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NEWS

Job Creation: FG to Spend N2bn on Graduate Internship Scheme Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti As part of the efforts to fight unemployment among educated Nigerian youths, the federal government is to expend a whooping sum of N2 billion on Graduate Internship Scheme(GIS) before the end of the year.

The Project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme, Mr Dennis Chukwu, said this in Ado Ekiti recently dur-

ing a Career Development and Entrepreneurship Skills Training for Interns.

Chukwu revealed that the scheme, being funded by the Federal Ministry of Finance, is currently training about 2,000 graduate interns across the country on skills and career development that would make them employers of labour, rather than job seekers.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government decided to sustain

the scheme initiated by the immediate past government owing to his desire to banish unemployment ravaging the potentials of Nigerian graduates by exposing them to trainings and opportunities in every sector of the economy.

Chukwu said the scheme had exited 35,000 interns, with thousands of them securing jobs in the civil service and in the business sector and contributing immensely to the growth of the economy.

Patrons Celebrate Promasidor as TV Quiz Continues Raheem Akingbolu The on-going Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show has continued to generate big excitement for students, parents and millions of viewers who watch the programme every week on television stations across the country.

Parents and other stakeholders in the education sector were also said to have lauded the company for bankrolling the initiative which is aimed at discovering and celebrating young scientists and inventors in the country Recently, one of the contestants, Jessica Austine, was said to have revealed that she draws her inspiration for Mathematics when she dances.

Austine, 13, a student of Federal Government Girls College, Owerri, Imo State explained that she loves dancing whichinspires her to solve Mathematics questions. “I love dancing greatly. It is my hobby.

When I am not solving mathematics problems, I dance…This helps me greatly whenever I go back to my Mathematics,” she told journalists in Lagos last weekend.

The soft spoken Austine who looks forward to contesting in the finals, expressed her wish to clinch the ultimate prize to honour her parents and her State. “I want to win this competition. It will be great if I do. My parents and my school will be very happy,” she said.

Earlier, Mr. Kolawole Bello, a Mathematics teacher at The Ambassador College, Ota, Ogun State advised parents on how to stem the continuous poor performance of students in Mathematics.

Bello who was speaking at the venue of the on-going Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show in Lagos explained that parents have a role to play in sustaining the interest of their children in the subject. He added that as much as teachers are trying these days to encourage students in Mathematics and in the sciences, the support and encouragement from parents will go a long way to complement the efforts of teachers.

“Many secured credit facilities and grants through Youwin, and other sources to expand businesses they set up using GIS stipends and many have set up through cooperative associations, some of which have transformed into SMEs, rather than seeking for jobs, they are now employers.

“In view of its prospect for skills building and job creation, thescheme has developed special programmes for non-oil sector.

“GIS has entered into special partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental organizations to have graduate trained in ICT, agriculture, community health, construction, financial inclusion and the feedbacks of their performances with employers have been encouraging”, he said.

A GIS Consultant, Mr. Victor Ivoke pointed out that it is imperative for job seekers to acquire special skills in order

to get good values in the job market. Ivoke in his presentation added that as difficult as situation is in getting jobs in Nigeria is, that graduate with special skills are still being employed with blue chip companies with high pay.

“There is need for job seekers to look for opportunities and in getting opportunities, you must have special skills and that is what we are exposing our unemployed youths to through this scheme.

Facebook Talks Up Payment Plans for Messenger Facebook is testing payments via its Messenger app, according to the company’s Vice President of messaging products, David Marcus, while speaking at the Techcrunch Disrupt conference recently.

The company is enabling developers to add payment capabilities to their bots without sending users to an

external website. The idea is to accelerate commerce on the platform by using credit and debit cards stored in Facebook or Messenger. Following a trial, the intention is to rollout the service across all developers on Messenger.

The social networking giant is working with PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express,

Stripe and Braintree (a unit of PayPal), among other payments firms.

Essentially, Marcus put some more substance behind comments he made previously at the F8 development event on how Messenger is becoming the vehicle for the social network’s commerce and payment ambitions.

China Faces Acute Spectrum Shortage China, which has more than 600 million 4G users, is starting to face a mobile spectrum crunch.

Deputy Director General of China’s Radio Regulations Bureau, said at a recent conference that the country’s spectrum supply is “becoming increasingly acute”, C114.net reported. The bureau is part of

the Ministry of Industry and Information (MIIT).

The ITU estimates China will face a shortage of 1,100MHz of public mobile spectrum in just four years.

Kan said the country will expand its spectrum resources incrementally, improve the efficiency of spectrum and

continue to support dynamic spectrum sharing.

A particular problem is the undeveloped high-frequency bands, which create new requirements and challenges for radio management, he said, adding that China’s approach in the 2.2-2.3GHz and 5.1-5.2GHz bands is static sharing.

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DEVELOPMENT

Ogbonna: All the Sustainable Devt Goals are Realisable if...

Acting Regional Coordinator, Africa of the United Nations SDG Action Campaign, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna spoke with Abimbola Akosile on the side-lines of a regional meeting on developing a governance and accountability mechanism for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa organised by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) at the Kempinski Hotel, Accra, Ghana, recently. Excerpts:

I noticed the name of the organisation has changed from the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) to the UN SDG Action Campaign; what is the reason behind this transformation?

Our earlier mandate of the UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) expired with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on December 31, 2015. Prior to that in October 2015, the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon invited us to present to him a new strategy that would ensure our new level of action corresponds to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and after that our mandate was now renewed under a new global campaign called the UN-SDG Action Campaign. The motive and objective of this new campaign is not too different from the earlier Millennium Campaign but in addition to that we are now enabled and empowered to be the new UN inter-agency initiative under the UN Development Group (UNDG) that would do basically three things: first is mobilise citizens and other stakeholders for the promotion and propagation of the SDGs; two is popularise the goals of the SDGs, and three is ensure accountability, monitoring and evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Now the focus of our achieving all this agenda would mean that we would work first and foremost with citizens, citizens across board, empowering them with different tools, empowering them with capacity, giving them spaces and platforms through which they would not only understand the SDGs but are able to see themselves as major players in the process of national domestication and the implementation of the SDGs, building upon the participatory processes of the post2015 process that you would all agree with me has been one of the most engaging and participatory processes in the history of the United Nations. We would also be building partnerships, multi-stakeholder partnerships working with governments, parliaments, local authorities, the private sector, the academia and civil society to forge national and global consensus in terms of implementing the SDGs, monitoring the SDGs and participatory reporting processes that would bring in citizen-generated data in form of surveys, in form of citizens’ dialogues, citizens’ tracking tools and our ability to get all these but also to coalesce them into impactful outputs would be one of our major expectation of our roles as the UN-SDG Action Campaign.

Can you shed more light on the update in meeting the various citizens’ needs encapsulated in MyWorld Survey?

What we have done with MyWorld Survey is monumental; we have shown that it is possible for the voices of citizens to not only be gathered but also to be used to influence global and national processes, and building on that, we are now at the level of going to develop a new survey that would capture the entire 17 goals, we call that MyWorld 2030. This is going to gauge, assess the vision of citizens on how their governments are implementing the SDGs; it is going to be a periodic survey where we would be asking people questions on how their government is implementing the SDGs. We hope that by later this year we would be rolling out pilot launches in different countries, the entire methodology is being developed now and we hope that Nigeria will still provide leadership as far as the rolling out of this is concerned.

For this SDGs process to be successful the role of parliamentarians cannot be underemphasised or over-emphasised as the case may be. Now I recall there was a recent parliamentarians’ retreat on these SDGs held at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria;

Ogbonna

is there any fallout from that retreat, has there been an improvement on implementation of the SDGs? Yes, following up from that retreat was a regional parliamentary conference on the SDGs under the auspices of the African Network of Parliamentarians on the SDGs that was hosted by the National Assembly of Nigeria. We have gone ahead to develop a parliamentary manual on the SDGs. This manual shows the different roles parliaments can play in the domestication, in the implementation and in the monitoring of the SDGs. We have a draft now and we hope that it would become a tool that parliaments across Africa would use. We are also strengthening engagement at national levels with national parliaments, we are providing support for the formation of parliamentary committees and caucuses; we are giving them tools with which they can use to raise motions on the SDGs, tools that they can use to further push for how their countries would be engaging with the SDGs in terms of accountability, in terms of

financing, in terms of oversight roles, all the roles that the parliaments need to play in SDGs implementation. We see that happening with the parliamentary committees and caucuses.

It has been several months since the new global 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by member-countries at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in September 2015. From your own viewpoint, is Nigeria still on the right track towards realising these SDGs? It is too early to talk of right track and wrong track. What Nigeria has is, institutions in place that were already used to implement the MDGs. Those institutions at national and state levels are still there and Nigeria is building upon it. I think it is still too early to judge whether we are on the right track or not. Nigeria was one of the earliest countries to develop a Transition Plan for the SDGs. We hope that by next year Nigeria would be saying we are implementing development strategy that has

integrated in it the SDGs. We also hope to similar initiatives at State level. I think this is a transition period; the major question should be asked from January next year (2017) with the national and state budgets, programmes and emerging frameworks.

Are all the SDG goals realisable, even the ones talking about jobs for everybody?

All the SDG goals are realisable; they are realisable if all the environment are put in place, if the right political will is put in place. They are all realisable because they are not different from the vision of governments. Governments across the world want to provide jobs for their people; governments across the world want to end poverty, there is no government that wants to spread poverty. I think these are day-to-day government vision and aspirations and I think the time has come for us to ensure that our governments own it, and that our governments ensure that they (the SDGs) are doable and achievable.

RANDOM THOTS CLARION CALL

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, has urged the local, state and federal governments to focus on agriculture so as to boost food production in the country. According to the erudite monarch, who was formerly a Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) the Federal Government also needs to construct additional dams across the country to enhance dry season farming for massive production of cash and food crops.

Sanusi’s call also buttresses recent official attempts to embrace agriculture as a viable alternative to crude oil, which has lost most of its value on the international market.

Now that agriculture appears to be on the front-burner of government’s efforts to generate new revenue and revive the ailing economy, there are a few things to consider, beyond the recent directive by a South-east governor ordering members of his civil service to boycott official duties for two days in a week (Thursday and Friday) and instead head to their mandatory farms to work and ensure food production.

If the federal government really wants to bring Nigeria out of recession, it must implement the plan by the CBN to provide interest-free loans to youths who have viable agric proposals; moribund

Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP) must be revived; primary focus should be on adequate local consumption before export so Nigerians can quickly meet the hunger target under the SDGs; resurrect the Millennium Villages and provide infrastructure and incentives to draw jobless youths to the farms, and also use the revived rail transport to move agricultural products from the farms to the waiting markets across the country. With all these in place, the present gloomy economic situation will surely change.

Food for thought...

Abimbola Akosile

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEvELOPMENT/ISSUESINBOx

Agriculture as a viable alternative

Beyond Blame Games, What Next for Nigeria?

Because Nigeria is presently in such a dreary situation and economic mess, everyone is looking for whom to blame, right from the ruling administration to the opposition, to concerned bodies, and also to the average citizens. Although someone has to take responsibility for the current mess, analysts believe this country has to move forward in her development process, to revive the economy and save millions of lives. After the blame games, what should be done next, to tackle this recession?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

* Every Nigerian is at fault therefore we must be wise, think positive, adjust our lifestyle and do what will make us happy. To be joyful in the mist of challenge is the key to victory.

- Mrs. Moses Adetoun, Ogun State

Top tip:

Change poor policies

Second:

Diversify the economy

Third:

Prioritise agriculture

Radical tip:

Re-jig the cabinet!

* I believe soon this mess will be over as PMB is on top of the recession issue to find lasting solution to it. Nigerians should have patience with the government; after all 2019 is general elections and their performances will determine their fate for second term. APC government should sit up for governance rather than giving excuses for 17 months in leadership.

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State

Total no of respondents:

13

Male:

10

Female:

3

Highest location:

Lagos (7)

* Backward integration with Discipline: My tip is for Nigeria to turn inwards and focus on what we can produce from resources within Nigeria (human & non-human) to first meet our needs and for export. However, as a people we must first curtail our lavish tastes and habits, cut off excesses and be pragmatic. Agriculture is one way to go and Nigerians are already looking in that direction. Harness the resourcefulness of ages 18-45, they are the bedrock of our future successes as a nation. Our young people have shown and developed a knack for technology innovations; we should build on that. All these will work if the public and private sectors form a partnership, with Nigeria’s good as the focus of the partnership.

- Mr. Utibe Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State * In the short term, bring in technocrats and experts to help. There is also the need to take concrete steps to diversify the economy. In the long term, a political solution must be sought by restructuring how the country is being governed and by doing this, the economy will be impacted upon. Our economic problems cannot be isolated from our political problems.

- Mr. Pacer Aderinkomi, Surulere, Lagos State * Adjust our policies and strategies to suit the prevailing challenge mitigating against Nigeria now. More food must be produced,

stored and equitably marketed to the average citizen. Improve on our immigration policies and reforms. Modern trend of events demand that we go back to our drawing board and re-strategise proactively. Nigeria must wake up now.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos * Unity. Nigeria is a blessed country with abundant human and natural resources. Our problem is that of selfishness, tribalism, ethnicity, religion e.t.c. If these differences are shelved and we can see others as ourselves, then what else, if this will not ensure greater development?

We truly need to unite and become the envy of other nations, rather than laughing stock.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * Beyond the usual blame game, the federal government must show true signs of leadership in solving the problems of this nation. There is no point in blaming someone for a problem if you cannot fix it yourself. PMB has to walk the talk and deliver answers now; Nigerians are nearly fed up! He needs to jail some sacred cows and listen to what the economic experts in his team are saying, to move the country forward. Also, the president needs to re-jig his cabinet; some of his ministers are not performing to expectations, simple truth.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * The major area I want them to solve is the power sector because it would create jobs. Change

begins with all of us as citizens of Nigeria.

We must hold our political representatives accountable, with crusade against corruption and lawlessness as well as demand for good governance and discipline as a conduct by all.

- Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Coordinator, CDHR, Aniocha South, Delta State * Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

- Mr. Ezenwa Chika, Ikeja, Lagos * The solution of each government is to identify problems or mistakes, proffer solution and never ignore sound advice that will move our country forward from political opponents.

Grievances of Nigerians should not be allowed to accumulate; it should be treated at once. The time of apportioning blame, excuses should be seen as now over, for any serious economic team aiming in that direction. We still believe this government can still make the needed change in that direction.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * Let some seasoned experts and successful entrepreneurs be invited to a one-week economic retreat to brainstorm on Nigeria’s economic problems and proffer solutions. Let them come up with a report not more than 12 pages to be submitted within one week. Then the President should set up a special economic committee with some of those who can take part in the retreat to be co-opted for implementation. Let them be given massive power backed with resources to turn around the economy within two years.

- Mr. Ore Aderinkomi, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos * Nigeria must be restructured now; diversify the economy, stop nepotistic agenda and appoint technocrats into the economic team. Until PMB is sincere in his fight against corruption, change will remain a mirage. There is the budget padding scandal which he cried out against before; and also the INEC under PMB is a total failure. Edo poll is an eye-opener to Nigerians.

Which way Nigeria?

- Pst. Obinna Osagu, Akure, Ondo State * Blame games are worst methods to resolve the current cancerous challenges progressively ravaging our socio-economic system and citizenry.

We need honesty, unity and de-politicisation of our governance, economy e.t.c. Our policies and strategies must be overhauled and refined now. Research, energy and agriculture need special attention. Mass approach is dangerous, non-proactive and failure-prone; it must be one thing at a time basis for progress. Countries that survived recession previously re-strategised and thus succeeded.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos

Next Week: Has Corruption Level Truly Reduced in Nigeria?

Although the present administration made the fight against corruption one of its cardinal aims in bringing change to governance, many analysts still believe the level of corruption in the country has not really abated. With many high-profile corruption cases yet unsolved; reports of stupendous earnings by former governors turned national assembly members, and accusations of selective anti-corruption war, some believe there are no real yardsticks to show corruption has gone down in Nigeria.

Is this true or not? What more can PMB do?

Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (Sept 15 & Monday, Sept 19) to abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola. akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/ or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, Sept 22

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

After the rains at Ayobo, Ipaja, in Lagos

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

WACSOF: 750,000 Stateless Persons Pose Security Threat to West Africa Chineme Okafor in Abuja The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) has warned that countries in the West African region are at the risk of having the security of lives and properties of their citizens compromised by about 750,000 stateless persons that currently live unregistered within them.

The forum stated that because such stateless persons could become soft targets of terrorist groups like the Boko Haram and others, they could be used as mercenaries to perpetrate terrorist acts in countries across the region.

According to a statement from the Acting General Secretary WACSOF, Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) in Abuja, with support from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), Nigeria will through the forum launch a project aimed at reducing the risk of statelessness in

the country.

The project, according to Rafsanjani, will leverage on Nigeria’s status in the region to use research, advocacy and empowerment of national authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to push for a better approach to the issues of statelessness.

He said through evidenced based advocacy and multi stakeholder sensitisation, the project will build up efforts to reduce the risks and situations of statelessness in Nigeria.

Rafsanjani explained that with the partnership of the UNHCR, the project will improve the capacity of relevant stakeholders especially civil society organisations and stakeholders to respond appropriately to issues concerning statelessness in Nigeria, develop a national action plan on statelessness with active engagement of all relevant stakeholders includ-

ing government, as well as domesticate and implement measures to guarantee the right to a nationality for anyone with relevant link to Nigeria within the context of existing legal instruments identified.

He further stated that the project will identify organisations and stakeholders which have increased understanding of the scope of statelessness to create access to reference documents on the issue and its related aspects.

“The United Nations (UN) describes statelessness as a situation in which an individual is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its laws.

Such a person is said to be invisible, without an identity and deprived of his or her fundamental human rights.

“More than 10 million people worldwide are in this situation with more than 750,000 of them found in West Africa.

With the growing rate of statelessness, if no global action is taken, it would pose a great danger to us all, as some of these stateless persons could become targets of terrorist groups and used as mercenaries,” said Rafsanjani.

He further said: “The causes of statelessness in Africa can be attributed to gaps in nationality legislation, administrative practices, historical and contemporary migration and de-colonisation process, among others.

“Combating statelessness across the world has been the UN concern. This concern has motivated the development of several legislative frameworks to protect human rights and nationality. These frameworks include the 1954 Convention on Protecting the Rights of a Stateless Person and the 1961 Convention on Preventing and Reducing Statelessness.”

Rafsanjani also stated that the UNHCR has the responsibilities

for refugees who are stateless, pursuant to the 1951 Convention, while the Abidjan Declaration of ECOWAS represents the region’s commitment to the fight against statelessness in West Africa.

“The Declaration was adopted during the first Ministerial Conference on Statelessness in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, jointly organised by ECOWAS and UNHCR in February 2015.

“In Nigeria, statelessness is not always well understood and the very nature of the phenomenon makes it difficult to assess its scope and magnitude.

“Preliminary analysis shows that risk of statelessness include failure to register birth of children, failure to provide safeguards for children who are abandoned or persons who want to relinquish their nationality, failure to provide safeguards for children born to parents of different nationalities among others,” he added.

He said the two statelessness conventions were yet to be domesticated and legislative reforms on them still pending.

According to him: “There is a need to bring all stakeholders together to support the strengthening of legal framework, improve institutional capacity and take practical steps to reduce risks of statelessness. The role of partnership between government entities and civil society organisations must be further strengthened.

“In the Nigerian context, civil society actors function to reduce the gap between national approaches and local realities. They must be able to represent and convey the aspirations of these most vulnerable segments of society, in this case, stateless persons, including women and children, by providing credible, objective analysis of their needs, while taking heed of the limits of existing policy frameworks.”

Ganduje Signs Kano Contributory Health Care Agency Bil Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has signed into law the state Contributory Health Care Agency Bill 2016.

During a short ceremony in Kano recently, the governor said history has been made as the development is a fulfillment of one of his inaugural promises

to improve the living conditions of civil servants in the state.

The Contributory Health Care scheme is a scheme that among other things facilitates payment for medical and surgical expenses incurred by civil servants in the state, which is included in their benefit packages as a means of motivating them.

He stated that as the scheme is being implemented, private sector workers would also be incorporated.

Ganduje noted that the scheme would be expanded subsequently to accommodate community involvement, so that access to health care delivery services in the grassroots would be enhanced.

Describing the scheme as sustainable because its source of funding is assured, the governor congratulated the entire civil servants in the state, whose welfare would be enhanced, promising that a management would be constituted for the agency very soon.

Meanwhile, the governor has also inaugurated a

nine-member Task Force on Graveyards, headed by the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ali Haruna Makoda.

Governor Ganduje explained the state Task Force would collaborate with the state Standing Committee on Graveyards to improve their standard and to ensure renovation where necessary, as some of the final

resting places were recently ravaged by flood and other environmental problems.

He appealed to community development associations (CDAs) to assist the government by embarking on dredging of culverts and drainages, especially those that traverse the graveyards, in a bid to check flooding.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“I assure you that this administration is working round the clock to remove the hardships the country is going through. The present recession is as a result of cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times” - PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SPEAKING IN ABUJA

IPC Launches Devt Book on Ifako-Ijaiye Communities Oluwafunke Lasisi

UNESCO Report Highlights Benefits of Adult Learning, Education Abimbola Akosile A new report from the United Nations culture and education agency has revealed that adult learning and education can improve health and well-being, employment opportunities and develop local communities.

In the report’s foreword, the DirectorGeneral of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, noted that “Policy-makers will find high quality evidence to support policies, strategies and budgets. Stakeholders will find compelling arguments for how adult learning and education promotes sustainable development, healthier societies, better jobs and more active citizenship.”

According to a news release from the UN agency, the third Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE III) was produced by UNESCO’s Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and launched September 8, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day. It takes stock of countries’ progress in implementing commitments to adult learning and education (ALE) made at the 2009 International Conference on Adult Education.

The report, drawing on 139 countries’ response to the GRALE III survey, shows that most States have made progress in ALE policy development, governance, financing, quality and reach since 2009. Furthermore, 124 countries consider that ALE has had a strong impact on health and well-being, active citizenship, social cohesion, diversity and tolerance.

GRALE III also makes a case for the major contribution that ALE could bring to meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Countries increasingly see ALE as an integral part of lifelong learning policies and part of a holistic, inter-sectoral sustainable development agenda to offer multiple benefits and have a lasting impact,” UIL Director Arne Carlsen said in a news release. “However, better data is required on participation in non-formal ALE and its results.”

According to the report, 75 per cent of

Adult literacy is vital for development the countries register a substantial improvement in their adult learning and education legislation thanks to greater awareness of the potential of ALE since 2009. Sixty per cent of countries, moreover, report overall increases in ALE participation rates over the same period.

Poor literacy is a considerable obstacle for progress in ALE as 758 million adults, including 115 million young people aged 15 to 24, around the world can still not read and write a simple sentence.

Sixty-five per cent of the countries surveyed identify lack of literacy as the main factor preventing adult learning and education from having a greater positive impact on health and well-being.

According to the report, 66 per cent of countries said literacy programmes help

develop democratic values, peaceful coexistence and solidarity.

The gender gap is another challenge that needs to be overcome, the report says. Social and community development is heavily dependent on women’s participation, but they don’t have equal access to literacy education or ALE, and still account for 63 per cent of all adults with low literacy skills.

It is however, encouraging to note that in 44 per cent of countries surveyed, women participated more in ALE than men.

With examples from different parts of the world, GRALE III shows that ALE can help empower poor and disadvantaged populations and improve their social connections, networks and communication skills but that often these are the very groups that are excluded from adult education, the report said.

To promote development in rural communities and enlighten people on their rights and privileges, the International Press Centre (IPC) has again launched a community book on Ifako-Ijaiye, a sub area of Ogba in Lagos with the support of the UKaid and ActionAid. The community book, tagged ‘Community Development Charter’, which consists of needs to help rural dwellers achieve their development desire, focused on Unity City, Ifako Titun and Coker Akosota area, all in Ifako Ijaiye. This was disclosed at the launching programme in Ogba titled ‘Strengthening Citizens Engagement in Electoral Process’ (SCEEP) in Lagos.

The communities had been facing challenges of bad roads, poor equipment for health-centre, provision of secondary schools, and borehole, among others over the years with no solution yet to the problems.

The book’s objective is to showcase information on Unity City, Ifako Titun and Coker Akosota communities, contributing to the reduction of poverty and risks and bringing the experience, knowledge and aspirations of communities in one document for easy reading and public attention that will lead to the development of the community.

Speaking at the event, the Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said the book authors are mostly concerned about the development of rural community areas where they have no idea of pushing their needs towards the government.

Due to this, he said they chose some communities in six Local Government areas in Lagos State which are Shomolu, Surulere, Mainland, Ikorodu, Ifako-Ijaiye and Amuwo Odofin so as to assist them to enable the government provide their essential needs.

Arogundade appealed to media organisations to do more effective reporting on rural areas as this would help government to pay adequate attention to the areas and provide them with necessary needs because that is the essence of their votes during an election.

Representative of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Council, Amba Ndamusa Noel, Head of Agriculture Department in the Council, said community development is pursued gradually and advised the community dwellers that where they may be lacking, they should write to the top government through the council.

He stressed that Agriculture is not meant only for the Community Development Association (CDA) but to all the communities in the areas.

He commended the IPC for what they are doing because they are going deep into the development affairs of the concerned communities which others in the same field had failed to do previously.

Chairman, National Union of Teachers (NUT), Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government, Mr. Segun Ajayi (Daggar Tolar) said communities now have a lot to do, saying there is need for community organisations such as the CDA to seek assistance either from the government, organisations or individuals.

He advised the communities to make use of the Community Development Charter’s book during campaign or elections so as to hold candidates to account and unfulfilled promises.

During an interactive session, the communities lamented that they are only remembered by their representatives during election periods where the latter ask for their votes, but after that they will fail to fulfill all the promises made concerning welfare and other social amenities.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Genetically Modified Food Campaigns and Concerns The Genetically Modified Organisms campaigners have intensified advocacy for the introduction of GM foods in the country, even as misconception over its safety continues, giving room for concerns by other health experts, Adedayo Akinwale writes

Are GM foods harmful or safe?

T

he aggressive campaign embarked on by the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) campaigners shows no sign of abating as they recently engaged journalists to further help propagate the advocacy as well as clear the air about the misconception surrounding GM foods as concerns grow about it safety.

GMOs can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. The technology is often called “modern biotechnology”, or “gene technology”, and sometimes also called “recombinant DNA technology” or “genetic engineering”. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species. Such methods are however used to create GM plants, which are then used to grow GM food crops.

GM experts believed that GM foods are produced to increase food production in order to ensure food security, to improve nutrients, as well as to improve agricultural practices by minimising the use of chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. They further explained that GM food crops available on international market today have been designed using one of three basic traits which include; resistance to insect damage, resistance to viral infections and tolerance towards certain herbicide.

The experts also argued that genetic modification does not introduce unique risks, as the anti GM campaigners have made people to believe, but added that since the risks for these novel foods are the same as for conventional foods, the issue of interaction are the same for conventional foods, for instance; consuming oranges and meat together enhances absorption of iron.

Despite the fact that GM crops are currently undergoing field trials in Nigeria, the approval given to Monstanto, a leading company in genetic engineering globally by the National

Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), the agency charged with the responsibility of regulating issues of genetic modification in the country, to participate in the country’s agricultural scene has been strictly objected to by anti-GM campaigners who are calling for the complete halt of the move and withdrawal of the permit.

However, the agency explained that the intention and content of the permit was completely misunderstood by the campaigners for obvious reasons, but it is necessary to state that the release permit granted to the company means it can go to work while collaborating with research institutions in the country to research for the development of cotton seeds that can resist insects and confront the challenges that made the country’s local cotton unproductive but not to trade in GM seeds or products.

It added that although, there have not been any scientific evidence or study to show that GMOs are harmful to either human or the environment but the fear of possible impacts have continued to be peddled by those against the the technology.

With the Ministry of Environment and agencies under it spearheading the advocacy campaign to make sure the adoption of the technology comes to fruition in the country, the federal government has continued to thread with caution as it has refused to make any distinctive policy statement concerning the full adoption of the technology.

Speaking recently at a workshop organised in Abuja by the Open Forum on Agricultural and Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) in collaboration with Journalists for Social Development Initiative (JSDI) and Programme for Biosafety System (PBS) for Journalists and Communicators on GMOs, the Director General, NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba assured that no GMOs that is not safe would be allowed in the Nigerian market either for planting, consumption or for any purpose.

He stated: “the issue of the safety of GMOs have always been in question by so many people particularly by activists; one thing is that it is clear globally that there is nothing in this world without one adverse impact depending on how you apply it. The issue of GMOs what I can assure is that with the establishment of NBMA and a law for it to implement, no GMOs that is not safe will be allowed in the Nigerian market either for planting, for consumption or for any purpose.”

“Nigeria as a country has laws and will also have a national biosafety law, any company either individual or group coming to do business in Nigeria must comply with the Nigerian law. The standards in other countries may not necessarily apply in Nigeria, we will ensure that the Nigerian standards apply and we ensure that nobody brings anything that is not useful to Nigeria, or anything that will be harmful to the Nigerian environment.”

Also, the Coordinator JSDI, Mr. Michael Bissong underscore the need to educate journalists as carrier of information in order for them to feed the public with the right information about GMOs. He opined that presently there was hunger and poverty which has now become a global problem, but said that the technology available in tackling the menace has come under serious attacks based on the misconception, thus the need to engage the media to spread the right information about GMOs. The CEO of Connected Development (CODE), Mr. Hamzat Lawal lamented that over 53 million Nigerians go to bed with empty stomachs, describing the situation as worrisome because it has exacerbated corruption cases in the country, adding that the advent of technology and science could help in curbing this menace.

Nevertheless, anti GMOs campaigners insisted that if GMOs is geared towards tackling the problem of food scarcity and hunger in the country, various agricultural varieties developed by research institute in

the country with high yields should rather be adopted to boost food production.

Even, with all the assurances given by GMOs campaigners, the Association of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (AMLSCN) has cautioned the federal government against accepting the introduction of GM foods in the country as the consequences may affect the nation in the long run.

In a communique at the end of its annual scientific conference held in Abuja and signed

by AMLSCN Chairman, Ndubisi Ebitea, Secretary, Joseph David and PRO, Musa Wazani, the association said: “on GMO and its implications for public health, we call on the Nigeria Government to build capacity of medical laboratory scientists in the detection of GMO and the diagnosis of its impact.

“GMO has its merits, but caution needs to be applied in its acceptability in a society like Nigeria considering our weak institutions and inadequate diagnostic infrastructure for detection of GMO related products, controlling and detecting the consequences of GMO in our society.”

The AMLSCN maintained that “it is, arguably, believed that GMO could be a solution in resolving world crisis of acute famine especially amongst developing nations. However, the long term adverse effect without research is a source of major concern to the association, since there has been very little testing and research done on GM foods and drugs in Nigeria.

This makes many people feel uneasy at the high use of the foods and drugs containing GMO.” They contended that “some GM products are modified using bacteria and viruses, thus there is the fear that there could be an emergence of new diseases, we therefore call on the government and other stakeholders to look critically into this issue of GMO and make provisions for further research and studies for the benefit of mankind.

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NEWS Malnutrition, Alcohol Increase Risk of Cataract Group performs free eye screening and surgery for patients Martins Ifijeh While aging has been fingered as a prominent cause of cataract, eye specialists from India carrying out free cataract surgeries for 14,000 less privileged Nigerians have revealed that alcohol and malnutrition could play a major role in the development of the disease.

The Ophthalmologists said the higher the intake of alcohol, the more the risk of cataract, adding that malnutrition deprives people of the necessary nutrients needed to protect vision, hence the need for the country to tackle these causal factors, as well as cataract itself.

According to the Hon Secretary, Rotary Eye Institute, India, Yogesh Naik, cataract was often noticed in persons older than 50 years, but that in Nigeria and some developing countries, it was now found in younger persons, which he said could be due to underlying factors including malnutrition, aging, alcohol intake, familial, among others.

He blamed the increasing number of people with cataract in Nigeria on poor awareness on eye care in the country. “There is no enough awareness regarding eye care. Again, lack of access to treatment even though the

government is doing much, but most Nigerians present late.

Some go about it for years,” he said.

Naik said under the annual ‘Mission for Vision’s free eye screening & operative Camp, supported by Rotary Club Palmgroove, Indo Eye Care Foundation, Rotary Club Island, Indian Businessmen in Nigeria, among others, a total of 25,000 Nigerians have been treated free of charge, out of which 17,000 have been operated for cataract, which cost about N300,000 per person.

“We have transplanted five Nigerians who have no eyes at all with eyes from India.

Today, they can see and are back to their normal lives,” he said.

Lending his voice, a member of the team, Tarun Sanghvi disclosed that the surgery started 4th of September and will end 24 September, adding that no fewer than 100 free surgeries were carried out daily.

A past president of Rotary, N.G. Patel who noted that most of the Indian Business people have lived in Nigeria for over 50 years, said the annual programme was part of their contributions to improve the quality life of lives of Nigerians.

FG Charged to Tackle Influx of Fake Drugs with Technology Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta A pharmacist, Mr. Odukoya Taofik Oladipupo has called on the federal government to urgently deploy technological means to tackle the influx of fake drugs into the country.

Oladipupo, Executive Officer, Vanguard Pharmacy spoke in Abeokuta, during the inauguration of the Abeokuta branch of the pharmaceutical company. He appealed to the government to start the enforcement of strict control and regulation of drugs imported into the country.

The Executive Officer of Vanguard Pharmacy company, a one stop drug company with two branches in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, lamented that the drug industry in Nigeria lacked

standard distribution channel system.

He stressed: “We ought to have a standard distribution channel of drugs in the country but the problem we have today is that drugs come in from anywhere and we cannot trace them.”

Oladipupo identified one of the causes of fake drugs distribution as corruption and therefore urged the government to not only ensure the establishment of a standard distribution channel of drugs, but also ensure its full implementation.

He also called on the government to urgently address the problem of power supply which he said was very key in healthcare delivery, lamenting that it had been affecting the

health sector.

He said, “There has been a campaign in the last two, three years by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) against the influx of fake drugs into the country. One of the solutions is to go the technology way.

“The only way we can track distribution of fake drug in the country is through the use of technology. We do not have a standard distribution channel of drugs. But once we can establish a good drugs distribution channel, it will make life easy, in that every drug coming in to the country will be monitored down to the last line, the end user and through this, you can monitor.”

He said the Minister of Health recently gave the go ahead

for the implementation of a standard distribution channel of drugs which the fight had been on since 2013. “It will be implemented by next year, and we are hoping that it will help in eradicating open market dealings on drug in the country,” he affirmed. He said no institution can exist in isolation, adding that distribution industry in Nigeria cannot run away from the corruption that exists in the country.

He wondered how the country still can’t get rid of these fake medications, saying people were supposed to be stationed at the port, land, sea and other borders doing their job but some corrupted ones among them take bribe for them to pass the drugs without proper checks.

Military Court Demotes Major General over ‘Unlawful’ Clinical Training Admission Martins Ifijeh Following the conviction of the Director, 68 Reference Hospital, Yaba in Lagos, Major General Patrick Falola, who was accused of unlawfully admitting students for clinical training without due clearance from the army headquarters, a Special Court Martial has demoted him to the rank of Brigadier General.

Maj. General Falola is said to have admitted Nigerian students studying in Espan Formation University Cotonou in Benin Republic between July and September, 2016.

Delivering judgment in the case against Maj. General Falola, who is presently a Commander of the Armed Forces Hospital in Kano, President of the Special Court Martial, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum, sentenced the accused officer to a reduction in rank from Major General to Brigadier General on count one of the charge. He was, however, discharged and acquitted of the second count of fraudulent misapplication of the hospital’s property.

Lawyer to Major General Falola, Wing Commander Enokela Onyilo-Uloko (Rtd]) however, criticised the conviction, saying it was a premeditated attempt to taint the unblemished record of his client whom he described as a distinguished medical officer

with outstanding records.

According to him, the conviction was based on nothing. “There is no law, no instruction put on the ground by the armed forces that the senior officer needs to take permission from the higher authority before allowing such training to Nigerian citizens.

“No such law or instruction was tendered in evidence, but they are saying that he should have used his initiative. When there is no law criminalising an act, when that act is done, it does not amount to criminal offence,” the lawyer said.

He further vowed to appeal the judgment of the Special Court Martial. The judgement of the Army court martial is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Army Council.

During the proceeding, the department of the Military Secretary (Army) while presenting the service record of the General to the Special Court Martial, stated that he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1982, served as a senior consultant Ophthalmologist and the Chairman Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, where he represented the army very well, and has commanded several military hospitals, including the Military Hospital Lagos (Greek), 3 Div. Hospital Jos and the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital Kano.

Team of Indian Doctors carrying out Free Screening and Surgeries for 14,000 less privileged Nigerians suffering from Cataract in Lagos ...recently

FG, Doctors to Hold Exhibition Showcasing the Health Sector Martins Ifijeh The Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors are holding an exhibition and conference to showcase happenings in the health sector.

The exhibition which will take place on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th of September, has its theme, ‘All Things Medical’.

A renowned neurosurgeon and Chief Medical Director of the first private neurosurgical centre in Nigeria, Memphys, Professor Sam Ohaegbulam, said the exhibition was timely as information and statistics about what is available in Nigeria should be known to the citizens, as this would help build a viable and functional healthcare system.

“People keep asking, where can we do this or that in Nigeria? Or who can do this procedure or that operation in Nigeria? Then, they say, we did not know that this was available in Nigeria.

For those who do not have enough information, they end up patronising dangerous establishments and charlatans.”

Citing example, Ohaegbulem revealed that the Ogun State government has closed three hospitals in Ifo Local Government Area after two pregnant women died due to lack of competence by the hospitals.

According to the neurosurgeon, “there is the issue with medical tourism.

Doctors have highlighted the dangers of going to places such as India, South Africa, United Kingdom and Egypt for medical treatment. They pointed out the problems of traveling to these countries without proper information about the doctors, their qualifications and experience.

In effect, running to India is not the solution, especially if what you need is in Sokoto.”

Also in his remarks, the Medical Director, Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Chris Otabor, emphasised the need for more information about high quality healthcare personnel and facilities in Nigeria.

“We need positive documentation of the good

practices and an end to the bad practices. We have to help our health centres, government hospitals or even private hospitals to be the best they can be. He added that Nigeria needs a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) that is effective so that all citizens can receive reasonable health care.

Otabor stressed that with an effective national health Insurance, more revenue would be available to healthcare and hospitals across Nigeria will be better equipped to provide modern services.

Also lending his voice, a neurosurgeon, Spine Fixed, Abuja, Dr BiodunOgungbo, identified many specialist hospitals which provide specialist care in Nigeria.

For instance, he said, “locally here in Abuja, there are a few hospitals you should know about. Zenith Kidney Centre does just that: looks after your kidneys and performs dialysis/kidney transplants as you may require. Kelina Hospital in Gwarinpa is a foremost urology centre in Abuja with state-of-the-art.

Similarly, Chivar Hospital

is also well equipped with highly trained personnel and equipment for your prostate troubles. “ According to him, people who have infertility issues can be rest assured at Nordica Fertility Clinic and Bridge Clinic who have helped thousands of women complete their families.

“Specialist gynaecological centres such as Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, SouthshoreWomens’ Clinic in Lagos and King’s Care Hospital in Abuja provide great care and sort out women’s troubles. Eye problems are the focus of Eye Foundation and Florida Eye Clinic. You see?

“In terms of orthopaedics, Alliance Hospital and Cedarcrest Hospitals fix broken bones expertly. They also do joint replacements if you need a new knee or hip. Spine Fixed in Abuja is a small clinic specializing in spine surgery helping people of all ages, with a variety of back, neck and spine conditions, lead pain free, healthy lives again. They have expertise in treatment of spine fractures, spinal cord injuries, and tumors of the spine.

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HEALTH

Community Approach Against Open Defecation Alex Enumah writes that if Nigeria must achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of water and sanitation, indigenous communities must be allowed to drive the initiative.

W

hile many strategies abound to achieving Goal six of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal, which is ensuring access to water and sanitation for all member countries, including Nigeria, stakeholders are of the opinion that bringing an end to the practice of open defection in Nigeria will aid in achieving the goal on or before year 2030.

This is as the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has stated that a major causal factor for the poor access to portable water and sanitation in the country was the increased incidence of open defecation, with 34.1 per cent of rural households lacking toilet facilities of any kind and about 6 per cent of Nigerians engaging in the use of open latrines, while on the average, the country has one toilet for every 500 students.

According to statistics, over 868,000 Nigerian children die annually from water and sanitation related diseases, while $5.5 billion is lost annually due to inadequate sanitation.

But in addressing this, the Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Adamu, during the unveiling of the Water Road-map in Abuja said one of the goals of the ministry was to establish functional toilets in public areas, both in rural and urban areas.

Keying into this, a non governmental organisation, Concern Universal, has through its community driven approach, successfully aided the eradication of open defecation in Beten community in New Ikeja Layout in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

While various efforts by the government and several indigenous and international organisation to eradicate open defecation has yielded little results, Concern Universal’s approach to allow communities drive the intervention programme on Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (RUSHIP) has earned targeted communities certification for being Open Defecation-Free (ODF) According to the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Officer of the local government, Godwin Aghawayan, the community embraced the initiative and they have now been certified Open Defecation-Free (ODF).

“For any community to be certified free, each household must have at least a pit toilet and make use of them; the toilet must have fly-proof cover, water station, among other essentials,” he said.

Prior to achieving ODF in the community, Concern Universal had various awareness sessions with the residents, educating them that without the sanitation and hygiene promotion, they were possibly eating their own feces and that of other people unknowingly.

“After they showed us how we eat our own feces and that of other people, we came together and agreed that defecating in the bush and river must stop.

So our first task was that every house in our community must have a toilet. We then formed a group and decided that we will construct toilets for each member, one after the other,” says a local WASH community member, Thomas Idaugu.

However, they did not stop at construction of basic latrines but were now supporting each other to construct and use improved toilet facilities such as the flush/ pour flush toilets as well as adopt positive hygiene behaviors like hand washing, particularly after using the toilet and before eating.

To achieve this goal, the group designed a WASH Card through which members were making contribution towards the construction of improved toilet.

Idaugu said, “After we finished digging pit toilet for every of our members, we contributed money, then loaned same to those needing improved toilets for them to achieve it.

While this method has ensured that every household in the community now has a toilet, the community however is not taking it lightly with defaulters as they are made to pay a heavy fine.

According to another WASHCOM member in the community, Mary Godwin, “If anyone who defecates in the bush or river is caught,

we will take the person to the chief, he will be asked to bring a goat, a carton of drink and some amount of money”.

She added that since the community attained ODF, a lot of sicknesses and diseases in the area have almost disappeared and thanked the Concern Universal for sensitizing the community on the dangers of open defecation. “Before, we use to defecate anywhere, then flies would come upon it and carry it to our food. When we eat the food we become sick. But today, things have changed, we no longer fall sick like before because we now use toilets”, she said.

Aghawayan said the secret was allowing the people drive the initiative. “Construction of toilet is not enough, there is need to establish a Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) which empowers entire community to collectively change their sanitation behavior and ensure that every member of the community uses a toilet.

When we carry out a triggering session in any community, our approach is to allow the communities decide on their own what to do with the information they have been exposed to.

“When we finish, we train WASHCOM, who now act as foot soldiers and go about to implement the policy and report back to the council. Based on their report, we would visit and verify things for ourselves before declaring the community ODF”.

The local government WASH Officer, who commended the Concern Universal for the great feat recorded in the area called on government at all levels to support the organisation, as

well as adopt its approach in ending open defecation in the country. “I have worked for twenty-eight years as an Environmental Officer, we have not been achieving result, but with this intervention, we have achieved what we could not achieve for years. I encourage them to carry this programme to every part of the nation,”he said.

Similarly, Vice Chairman of Bekwarra LGA, Hon. Cecilia Akachu Emeka, who disclosed that the council would be indebted to Concern Universal, said the council was probably the first to be declared ODF as almost all communities within the council have embraced the war against open defecation.

She said, “Initially, it was really difficult, the people believed that when you defecate behind your house, the feces turns to manure, but when they were presented with evidences of how they eat their own feces and its accompanying dangers, they had no choice but to embrace change.

“Today, sicknesses like cholera, diarrhea and other deadly diseases are no longer prevalent, and for this, we remain very grateful for what WASH is doing and call for support from all arms of government,” she said.

However, the gains recorded by international donor agencies may be short-lived following threats by the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF), to withdraw funding from sanitation and hygiene in the country by the end of the year, if the Benue and Cross River State governments do not pay their counterpart funds amounting

to $5million.

Recall that the two states governments in June, 2014, signed a MoU committing $2.2m each to supplement the GSF contribution and further expand RUSHPIN’s life saving sanitation and hygiene programmes to three additional LGAs in each of the states, while the Federal Government also committed $950,000 to ensure that sanitation facilities were in place in all public places and institutions across the 12 targeted LGAs. To date, and sadly, neither the Benue and Cross River State governments nor the Federal Government has delivered on their mandates.

According to the Project Manager, Communityled Health Improvement through Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (CHISHPIN), Oliver Okon, these governments should fulfill their financial obligation, adding that Concern Universal was ready to take CLTS beyond the village setting to facilitate a sanitation and hygiene behavior change in urban spaces.

While Okon stated that diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene are the leading causes of under five mortality, he stressed that by improving sanitation access and hygiene practices the situation can be reversed.

He disclosed that Concern Universal through its interventionist programmes has transformed the health of over 2.2m people in over 1,200 communities in both Benue and Cross River States, adding that under the RUSHPIN intervention 1,511 communities so far have been triggered, with 890 communities already certified ODF.

NYSC member, Princewill Ahante (m), with some members of Isolo community living with disabilities, during the sensitisation programme by the youth corp member in Lagos ...recently

Youth Corp Member Empowers People Living with Disability in Lagos Martins Ifijeh A National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member serving in Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Princewill Ahante, has called on all Persons Living With Disability (PLWD) in the local government to take advantage of the State’s free healthcare, free education and free transportation on all BRT buses.

He said it was important PLWD who were interested in doing business in the State to know they have access to the Lagos State

Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), adding that these informations will better position them for better living.

Stating this during a sensitisation programme for PLWD in the local government, he encouraged them to look beyond their disabilities and make good use of skills they had acquired in the past.

While calling on them to register with the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, he said he was passionate about better living PLWD because he also has the disability status.

“At the age of seven, I had a motor accident that made me disabled in my leg and in my hearing. And since then over the years I’ve had to have multiple surgeries at Igbobi Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). And I have had to cope with the physical and hearing challenges I’ve been faced with up till now.

“Because I know how challenging and frustrating it can be having a physical condition that makes one disadvantaged in our society today, I was motivated to socially empower people

living with disabilities in the community I was posted to,” he said.

According to him, the most common disabilities in Nigeria involves vision, mobility and hearing, adding that an estimated 22 million people were loving with disabilities in the country. “And they face many obstacles, including stigma, invisibility and abuse. They have a harder time in school and a tougher time finding jobs.

“They do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others in areas of transportation,

employment and education.

They are denied their rights to vote, move freely, enjoy social protection, access to justice and choice of medical treatment.

Women with disabilities face particular challenges and need to be empowered.

Disabled children especially need our protection and support.”

He said he was bringing these informations to the disabled in the communities because only few disabled Lagosians have so far benefited from the State’s special privileges for disabled people.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

HEALTH

The Nexus Between Eye Healthcare and National Development Abimbola Akosile The primacy of the eye as an indispensable organ in the body cannot be overemphasised. If you are in doubt, close your eyes for 10 seconds and in that brief period, try to walk around or carry out an activity. The result is better imagined.

This explains why the eyes are referred to as the light of the body. Therefore, if the eyes are impaired, the whole body sits in darkness. No one deserves to be without sight or vision.

Globally, research has shown that the prevalence of blindness is five-fold higher in poor than rich countries. It is also estimated that about 285 million people are visionimpaired globally with up to 80 per cent of these cases of impairment due to treatable or preventable causes. Worse still is the fact that over 90 per cent of these people live in low and middle income countries and proportionately more in Africa. In general, the most remote and poorest areas of low-income countries have the least access to eye care services.

The impact of unmet eye care needs in the country is compounded by barriers which include unavailability of professional eye healthcare services at the primary and secondary health centres, limited engagement with communities, a shortage of appropriately skilled health personnel, paucity of information about eye health from a health systems strengthening approach with poor service delivery, insufficient equipment and supplies, lack of financing,

leadership and governance as major trademarks of the problem.

Poverty and eye health, including vision disability from visual impairment and blindness are interrelated.

The relationship between poverty and eye health can be interpreted as being two-fold; poverty may be a cause of poor eye health and poor eye health may lead to or deepen poverty.

Visual disability impacts negatively on an individual’s quality of life and their functionality and has implications on the national economy as epitomised by the fact that income and livelihood are affected, as well as access to basic services such as education, healthcare, nutrition and development. Blindness is most likely to interfere with an individual’s life goals such as achieving material wealth, social status and planning for the future. In addition, people with disabilities, such as blindness, may be further impacted by a disturbance of mental health, which will affect their life goals and thus perpetuate their poverty. It therefore goes without saying that healthy eyes and good vision play a critical role in the development of an individual and how the individual interacts with others in society with a view to wealth creation and national productivity.

In view of the socioeconomic significance of blindness which often results in the loss of man-hours to the Nigerian economy, concrete and urgent steps are required to remedy the situation. When situated against the current prism as articulated above, the recent

Radiographers’ Board Upgrades CT Scan Training Curriculum Paul Obi in Abuja In an effort to standardise practice of radiography, the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) is to review the country’s Computed Tomography (CT Scan) training curriculum to current international standards.

Speaking to journalists the development, Mr Michael Okpaleke said the review was necessary given the dynamism in the radiography profession and the need to reduce capital flight and the money spent by Nigerians on medical tourism abroad.

The registrar stated that “the review would improve the standard of care and practice in the country and stop the rejection of CT scan results from Nigeria by hospitals abroad because they did not meet international standards.”

Okpaleke said: “A unified and up to date protocol of CT imaging curriculum was developed in line with international best practices that would ensure harmony in practice across the country as well make them be at par with what is happening in other places.

“We harmonised what was in use, reviewed it and also input what is obtainable globally,” he said.

The registrar stressed that “CT scan machines are expensive with a 16 slides CT Scan machine, costing N50 million to N100 million, adding that the federal government is working towards providing at least one CT scan in every public hospital in the country using the Public Private Partnership Scheme (PPP).”

The registrar also observed that “radiation from CT scans could kill which was why only trained and licensed personnel should carry out the procedure to avoid exposing Nigerians to risks like lung cancer.”

A radiotherapist and member of the review board, Chris Nwankwo stated that the adequate use of radiation is important but improper use was very dangerous to users.

“Every part of the body has its own tolerance level to radiation, so when people are not skilled or trained, they don’t know the tolerance levels nor the extent of what they are doing thereby exposing people to danger,” Nwankwo added.

move by Guinness Nigeria to expand facilities and renovate infrastructure at the Guinness Eye Hospital, Onitsha can only be described as auspicious and timely.

The Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa, noted that the re-inauguration of the eye hospital was in keeping with the company’s commitment to supporting the Guinness Eye Centres in sustenance of the company’s original vision and to ensure that the facility remains the reference point in the training of professionals and the provision of excellent

eye care in Nigeria’s health sector.

“As a company, our focus on eye care reflects our recognition of the far-reaching impact that good eyesight can have on the overall health and wellbeing of everyone. We are here to celebrate the notable accomplishments which the Guinness Eye Hospital, Onitsha, has delivered to many Nigerians.

Our investment in the various eye hospitals is keeping in line with our commitment to make a positive impact on the communities in which we operate. By helping Nigerians to preserve their sight, we play

a strong role in enhancing their ability to learn, earn an income and get the best out of life”, he said.

According to him, it was a commonly acknowledged fact that government alone cannot carry the burden of providing adequate healthcare delivery, and as such, corporate bodies need to lend a helping hand to provide succor and comfort to those in need of healthcare delivery.

To further lend credence to this position, the World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan 2014–2019, which aims to reduce avoidable visual

impairment as a global public health problem and to secure access to rehabilitation services for the visually impaired posits that developing innovative approaches to prevent and cure eye diseases via private-public partnership is the way to go.

“The greatest gift any human can receive is the power to retain or regain his or her sight, especially when they have been deprived of it.

Guinness Nigeria, through its eye hospitals has demonstrated unrivaled passion and execution in the delivery of social good to the citizenry,” the MD said.

FOR BETTER HEALTHCARE

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, MetroHealth HMO, Kola Awokoya and President, Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA), Dayo Adeshina, during the signing ceremony for MetroHealth HMO to provide Customised Health Plan for companies under NLPGA, held in Lagos ...recently

Agbami Screens Mushin Residents for Tuberculosis Rebecca Ejifoma Determined to eliminate tuberculosis in Nigeria, Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited and its Co-Venturers in the Agbami field project, screened a total of 14,352 presumptive tuberculosis cases in Nigeria with 2,126 cases discovered as it moves into Mushin area of Lagos.

This is as statistics shows that TB is the highest killer disease among infectious diseases worldwide. With over 4,100 people dying daily of the disease, Dr. Hussein AbdurRazzaq from the Lagos State Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, said there was a low awareness programme against TB; hence, the increase.

“There has been low awareness on this disease. Coughing is the symptom of TB. If anyone coughs for two weeks or more, let that person be screened for tuberculosis to confirm if it is TB or not,” he said.

According to him, everyone

should always cover his or her mouth whenever he or she coughs. “You can also cough into your folded elbows because coughing out germs indiscriminately spreads the disease,” he added.

Speaking at the Tuberculosis Awareness Campaign Launch in Mushin, the Director, DW & PSCS, Star Deepwater Petroleum, Mr. Jeffery Ewing said that since the Agbami project was opened in 2008, Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited and its Co-Venturers in the Agbami field have consistently made enormous contributions toward the elimination of tuberculosis in the country.

From his words: “In partnership with National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), 14,352 presumptive tuberculosis cases were screened; 2,126 cases were detected. Contact tracing among 701 smear positive cases yielded 321 extra smear positive contacts, 92 multi

drug-resistance tuberculosis patients were identified and 53 were treated.”

Ewing noted that the awareness campaign which was the latest tuberculosis initiative by the Agbami Co-venturers will cover Lagos, Rivers, Kano and Kaduna states.

“For the last 10 years of our intervention, we built and donated 25 chest clinics in various states of the federation, with fully-equipped laboratories, mobile x-ray units and molecular diagnostic machines in state-owned health institutions.

“We have also trained over 100 laboratory attendants and supervisors for the chest clinics and several other government owned hospitals on molecular-genetic diagnostics of tuberculosis. In several parts of Nigeria, we have implemented awareness programmes on HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases in several communities across the six geo-political zones in the country.”

Appreciating the team of Agbami for the awareness, Sole Administrator, Mushin Local Government Area, Mr. Olayinka Kazeem, said that with an estimated population of 1.2 million people in Mushin with major occupation being trading, they have their own share of TB. He lamented that due to the dense population of the LGA, the people are exposed to more infections. He, therefore, encouraged them to maintain cleanliness and good hygiene daily.

Meanwhile, he affirmed that as a council, it has strengthened its primary healthcare system to address the health needs of the people. “We have upgraded infrastructures in five Primary Health Centres.

We have also engaged four medical doctors and five nurses to complement the existing staffs in all our health facilities. We have commenced cleaning of the environment and reconstruction of our roads.”

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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 T H I S D AY

41

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Zambian President Sworn in, Pledges Focus on Economy Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, said after being sworn in for a new five-year term that he would focus on unlocking agricultural potential in his tropical nation to reduce its dependence

on copper mining. Zambia’s Supreme Court on Monday rejected an application by the main opposition party to stop President Lungu’s inauguration after last month’s contested election.

Kerry Defends Syrian Deal with Russia U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, has defended a U.S.-Russian ceasefire agreement on Syria arguing that without it violence would increase significantly with many more Syrians slaughtered or forced to flee the war-torn country.

The deal struck between Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday agreed to a seven-day period of reduced violence and increased humanitarian aid deliveries.

If the truce holds, U.S. and Russian militaries would begin to coordinate air strikes against Nusra Front and Islamic State militants in an agreed area.

The plan aims to bring together the warring Syrian sides for talks on a political transition, which would involve Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stepping aside.

“It’s a last chance to be able to hold Syria together,”Kerry said in an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition.“If you fail to get a cessation in place now and we cannot get to the table, then the fighting is going to increase significantly.”

He added:“What’s the alternative? The alternative is to allow us to go from 450,000 people who have been slaughtered to how many thousands more? That Aleppo gets completely overrun?

That the Russians and Assad simply bomb indiscriminately for days to come and we sit there and do nothing?”

versification programme,” he said. Lungu’s inauguration after the Aug. 11 election was postponed because opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema challenged the result in court, saying the vote was rigged.

A law introduced in January says the winner of a presidential vote cannot be sworn in if their victory is contested in court. On Friday the Lusaka High Court threw out an attempt

by Opposition United Party

for National Development (UPND) leader Hichilema to overturn a Constitutional Court decision not to give him more time to legally challenge Lungu’s re-election.

Prospects for resuming critical budget support talks with the International Monetary Fund have been dimmed by delays in swearing in a new head of state.

Lungu has been the head of the ruling Patriotic Front since its leader, Michael

Sata, died in 2014. He won the presidency the following year, defeating Hichilema in their first electoral confrontation.

Zambia’s economy has been hard hit by depressed copper prices but diversifying into agriculture presents a number of difficulties.

Zambian agriculture is focused on the staple maize and is mostly produced by subsistence farmers who lack the capital and technology to lift yields.

The five-year war has killed an estimated 430,000 people since the start of the conflict, with roughly 11 million people made homeless in the world’s worst refugee crisis.

Senior U.S. military and intelligence have criticized the plan saying Russia cannot be trusted. The plan envisions the U.S. military sharing targeting information for strikes against militants with Russian forces.

Kerry said the agreement had the support of U.S. President Barack Obama, with whom he met on Tuesday.“Well, the president of the United States is ready and I think the military therefore will be ready,” he said.“Nobody’s asking people to abrogate our standards, but it is important for us to keep our part of the bargain,”Kerry added.

The agreement marks the biggest test yet by Washington that it can work with Moscow to end a war that President Vladimir Putin transformed a year ago when he sent warplanes to join the fight on Assad’s side Kerry said moderate opposition fighters, backed by the United States and Gulf allies, had been losing ground to Russianbacked government forces.

Congolese soldiers arrest a civilian protesting against the government’s failure to stop the killings and inter-ethnic ten“The dynamic of Assad sions in the town of Butembo, in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo…recently hammering them and Russia hammering them is going to drive them into the hands of Nusra and ISIL,”said Kerry,“And you’ll have a greater degree of radicalization of increased intensity.”

ARREST IN CONGO

French Police Arrest Another Teenager Suspected of Plotting Attack

Get Web Africa for Launch in Lagos Get Web Africa is to be launched in Lagos today. The project is designed to help growing enterprise with free online presence for one month. The Chief Executive Officer of the organization, David Olumuyiwa Dada, said the initiative is to help businesses within the continent to explore deeper opportunities that the internet offers for their trades on the continent.

“There is a huge difference between businesses that are online and those that are not; we want to encourage more Nigerian and African entrepreneur to take good advantage of what the internet provides for their profession’’, he added.

“However, we have observed that most organizations are disappointed with a lot of web developers. So many Projects are abandoned, leaving many businesses frustrated. We have had to redesign more websites.

Lungu said Zambians should put the divisive elections behind them and work as one to develop the country. “Elections have the ability to bring out the most selfish aspects of our humanity. On my part I have learnt that there is no time and latitude to settle scores,” Lungu said in his inaugural speech at the National Heroes Stadium.

“We must promote agriculture to become one of the main drivers of our di-

In the last one year, we have redesigned over sixteen websites.

This clearly shows that there is a problem’’.

He pointed out that the situation has also made businesses wary of online presence because of design and maintenance issues; saying what the platform is doing is to offer design and maintenance of websites for organisations completely free, for thirty days.

“We have some of the best IT professionals in the industry on our team, comprising of seasoned programmers, digital marketers, graphic artists, ethical hackers with over seventy years of experience amongst us and we would be churning out the best our team can offer per design. And we hope that after the expiration of the one month period these businesses would pick up the bills for the continual sustenance of such sites,” he stressed.

French police yesterday arrested a 15-year old suspected of planning an attack and using encrypted social media channels to communicate with a French Islamist militant believed to be in Syria or Iraq, sources said. In an operation led by France’s domestic intelligence agency, police swooped on the teenager in Paris’ eastern 20th arrondissement.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve confirmed the operation. “We’re working with extreme intensity to identify those we think are likely to carry out an attack,” he told reporters, adding that Islamic State

was recruiting “younger and younger individuals”.

It is the second time a 15-year-old minor suspected of plotting to kill in the name of Islamic State has been arrested in five days. A source inside the prosecutor’s office said both youngsters had used Telegram to communicate with Rachid Kassim, an Islamic State jihadist of French nationality.

Their arrests follow the detention of three women, including a 19-year-old, who had allegedly wanted to attack a Paris railway station using a car laden with gas cylinders. France is reeling

from a wave of militant attacks on its territory that have killed more than 230 people since January, 2015, and its intelligence services are struggling to dismantle a web of militant networks inside the country.

The attacks have varied in style and profile of killer: In November last year, a squad of suicide bombers and gunmen killed 130 people in a sophisticated and coordinated attack on multiple sites in Paris; In July, a Tunisian delivery man killed 86 people when he drove his truck through a crowd on Nice’s seafront; and two militants knifed

to death an elderly priest at his altar in a church in northern France.

“What sets France apart (from other European nations) is the wide-open profile of recruit: urban or rural, Muslim or convert, man or woman,” said Arnaud Danjean, a European Parliament lawmaker who specialises in defence and security.

“Acts like the attempted attack with gas cylinders, the throat-slitting of a priest, or the guy who ploughs his truck through a crowd, that today is the face of this threat” in France, said Danjean.

Turkish Air Strikes Kill 16 PKK Militants Turkish air strikes have killed 16 suspected members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group in the southeastern province of Hakkari near the border with Iraq over the past two days, security sources said yesterday.

The air strikes came after

suspected PKK militants detonated a car bomb on Monday near local government offices in the city of Van further north, wounding 50 people including four police officers and four Iranian citizens.

The military said in a statement that nine suspected

militants had been killed in air strikes on Tuesday, in which a shelter, a cave and an ammunition depot were also destroyed. Security sources said a further seven were killed on Wednesday.

Southeastern Turkey has suffered numerous bombings since

the PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in the region, abandoned a ceasefire in 2015.

The PKK is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union, as well as by Turkey.

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T H I S D AY •THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

IFAD: Only Policies Focused on Rural People Can Eliminate Poverty Obinna Chima Governments in Nigeria and other developing nations need to tailor policies and investments to transform rural areas in developing countries if they want to eliminate poverty, according to a new global study released by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Economic growth is not enough to save those threatened daily with starvation, the report stressed. The Rural Development Report 2016, IFAD’s flagship publication, is a rallying call to policymakers and development practitioners to win the global war against poverty. It brings together leading thinkers to analyse the experiences of rural development in over 60 developing countries. The research provides a solid foundation on which leaders and institutions can base their policy choices and investments.

“The Rural Development Report marks a change in perspective,” President of IFAD, Kanayo F. Nwanze, said prior to the launch of the report at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Rome.

“It places the rural sector

into the bigger picture of the country’s development. It demonstrates the need for a far more comprehensive and holistic approach to the economy to ensure prosperity for millions of rural people. It reinforces IFAD’s view, based on 40 years of experience, that investing in agricultural and rural development means investing in the whole economy.”

The focus on rural and agricultural development is critical, the report stated, adding that the incomes of 2.5 billion people worldwide still depends directly on rural small farms which produce 80 per cent of food consumed in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The report was set in the context of a rapidly changing world, with growing demand for food, increased migration to cities and the impact of climate change and environmental degradation. It provided insight into regional and country-specific challenges and historical legacies and how factors like employment, youth populations, rights to land, access to finance, gender equality and social protection influence successful interventions.

The report’s researchers identified four models of rural economic development accord-

ing to the speeds of economic transformation and inclusiveness, and the objectives of their rural development processes.

This systematic and rigorous analysis of the rural sector gave a greater understanding of what key investments and policy reforms should be prioritised so that rural people, and society at large, can benefit.

“We wanted to look at the changes in the daily life of people, not as an isolated and individual undertaking, but as part of the economic developments of their countries and the rural sector,” the Director, Research and Impact Assessment Division, IFAD, Paul Winters explained. “We systematically looked at whether economic growth brought about poverty reduction and when increased productivity in the rural sector created more jobs and more opportunities to generate higher incomes for rural people.”

The report specifically looked at the impact of structural transformation (the reallocation of economic activity beyond agriculture to include manufacturing and services) and rural transformation (the diversification of rural incomes and gains in agricultural productivity) on poverty reduction.

NIRSAL Facilitates Improvement in Bank Lending to Agriculture The Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) said it has been hailed for its central role in enabling a significant increase in lending to agriculture by the financial sector within the last four years.

NIRSAL said it earned the commendation at the recently concluded 2016 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Nairobi Kenya where Nigeria was cited Nigeria as a country that has successfully developed a National Risk Sharing Facility for banks to lend to agriculture.

Specifically, it was stated that through NIRSAL, Nigeria witnessed a 600 per cent increase in lending by banks to the agriculture sector, rising from 0.7 per cent of total bank lending to five per cent within the last four years.

The development has led to many banks establishing their

own specialised agricultural lending desks, according to a statement.

NIRSAL’s Managing Director, Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed delivered a keynote speech at the event which was attended by agric and development experts across Africa.

The African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) is an annual forum that aims to accelerate the progress on agriculture’s contribution to economic growth and transformation for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods for all. The sixth AGRF brought together heads of state and government, farmer organisations, business leaders and captains of industry, eminent thought leaders, development partners, researchers, and finance & investment leads to share their insights on how to create, align and leverage financial, technical, policy and market-

expanding resources to develop game-changing and inclusive agribusiness models for Africa.

Speakers at the event included Uhuru Kenyatta President of the Republic of Kenya; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, African Development Bank; Dr. Rob Smith, Vice President, AGCO; Svein Tore Holsether, YARA President and CEO; Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, AGRA Board Chair, and Dr Agnes Kalibata, AGRA President, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

NIRSAL is a $500 million (N100 billion) public private initiative, wholly owned by the Central bank of Nigeria as a licensed financial institution designed to appropriately define, price and share agribusiness related credit risk. NIRSAL Plc. has a mandate to increase the flow of finance to commercial agriculture by de-risking and fixing the agricultural value chain.

Guinness Nigeria to Export Beer to S’Africa to Add Sales Guinness Nigeria Plc plans to increase exports to improve sales and generate more foreign exchange as the country’s second-largest brewer battles to overcome an economic slump in its home market.

The unit of London-based Diageo Plc will consider selling Guinness stout and the herbal drink Orijin in South Africa to boost the proportion of beverages it sends to international markets, Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ndegwa, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

That will help resolve the brewer’s shortage of foreign currency in Nigeria, which the beverage maker needs to pay for imported goods.

“With all the challenges we have had with foreign currency availability, we realise that

export is a great opportunity to gain foreign exchange and stabilise,” Ndegwa said.

“We have heard a lot of inquiries from South Africa.

We are currently in the process of seeing how we can export some of those brands to the country.”

Heineken NV is also expanding in South Africa with the recent introduction of Sol Mexican lager, part of a plan to boost its market share in a country dominated by SABMiller Plc. Guinness Nigeria will also seek to export beer to target Africans living on other continents, Ndegwa said.

Generating foreign currency from exports would help Guinness Nigeria offset a scarcity of dollars in its home market caused partly by a slump in oil

revenue, the country’s biggest earner.

The economy is on track to shrink 1.8 per cent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. That would be Nigeria’s first full-year contraction since 1991, according to data from the nation’s statistics agency.

Guinness Nigeria is seeing drinkers switch to cheaper beer brands such as Satzenbrau as disposable incomes decline, and is expanding its range of spirits to increase choice in its more affordable product range.

“We are focused on brands that are lower priced, by either improving distribution or improving awareness,” Ndegwa said. “We have spirit brands across all categories but the growth is mid-to-lower end.”

Broad street

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JUNE 2016 Broad Money (M2)

21,684,965.22

-- Narrow Money (M1)

9,125,933.16

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,379,187.93

---- Demand Deposits

7,746,745.22

-- Quasi Money

12,559,032.07

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,105,663.47

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,579,301.76

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

24,318,143.03

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,893,190.01

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

2,893,190.01

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-2,111,487.25

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,424,953.01

--Other Assets Net

-9,738,841.27

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,370,199.87

--Currency in Circulation

1,684,725.89

--Banks Reserves

3,685,473.98 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Price (N) Stanbic Balanced Fund

Buying Price(N)

Selling Price

1,660.29

1,685.29

Stanbic IBTC NEF

1,000.00

11,002.32

11,326.67.11

Stanbic SIBond

20

120.47

120.47

Stanbic IBTC Ethical

1

1.10

1.13

Stanbic IBTC GIF

142.90

143.38

UBA Balanced Fund

1.2563

1.2493

UBA Bond Fund

1.3443

1.3443

UBA Equity Fund

0.8205

0.8074

UBA Money Market Fund

1.1510

1.1510

ARM Aggressive Growth Fund

N13.0544

N13.4480

ARM Discovery Fund

N288.2515

N296.9425

ARM Ethical Fund

N22.5268

N23.2060

ARM Money Market Fund

13.1030 (Yield % ) • Monetary Policy Rate - 14%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY 13, SEDPTEMBER 2016 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $42.91 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $44.53 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The new OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Rabi Light (Gabon), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

T H I S D AY • thurSDAY, September 15, 2016

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

14-Sep-16

9-Sep-16

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

01 Dangote Cement Plc

174.51

173.00

0.87%

2,973,738,947,246.55

9.56

18.25

5.49

4.58%

4.37

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

141.63

141.75

-0.08%

1,122,998,558,767.44

4.50

31.51

3.75

2.54%

6.90

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

27.00

27.00

0.00%

794,641,839,048.00

4.20

6.43

2.22

6.56%

1.75

825.00

825.00

0.00%

653,941,407,900.00

19.41

42.50

3.94

3.52%

18.59

05 Zenith Bank Plc

14.59

14.60

-0.07%

458,074,844,337.74

3.10

4.71

1.10

12.34%

0.74

06 Lafarge Africa Plc

56.03

56.00

0.05%

255,211,148,414.30

-6.71

-8.35

1.15

5.35%

1.82

165.06

165.06

0.00%

214,987,530,861.18

4.22

39.11

1.45

2.09%

5.01

08 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

11.50

11.50

0.00%

211,019,838,972.50

0.23

50.05

0.39

5.39%

0.35

09 Presco Plc

45.00

45.00

0.00%

178,671,467,025.00

0.54

83.90

2.57

2.89%

4.37

320.00

325.00

-1.54%

177,059,300,160.00 -14.43

-22.18

1.89

4.98%

0.47

5.53

5.53

0.00%

159,971,683,119.43

2.56

2.16

0.47

9.95%

0.37

42.28

40.27

4.99%

159,957,765,450.00

0.46

91.43

2.63

0.12%

17.96

13 United Bank for Africa Plc

4.28

4.51

-5.10%

155,276,372,658.16

1.66

2.58

0.49

14.02%

0.38

14 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

15.22

15.00

1.47%

152,200,000,000.00

2.04

7.47

1.29

0.66%

1.36

15 Guinness Nig Plc

100.00

100.00

0.00%

150,588,818,800.00

3.70

27.04

1.33

0.00%

3.39

16 FBN Holdings Plc

3.04

3.05

-0.33%

109,121,690,087.68

0.30

9.97

0.22

4.93%

0.18

17 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

146.45

146.45

0.00%

93,814,458,661.35

3.75

39.07

1.05

1.50%

3.64

18 Total Nigeria Plc

241.08

241.08

0.00%

81,851,924,463.96

31.13

7.74

0.34

5.81%

3.88

19 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

6.40

6.40

0.00%

76,800,000,000.00

1.05

6.09

0.64

7.81%

1.29

20 International Breweries Plc

19.30

19.00

1.58%

63,579,011,104.00

0.17

110.64

2.55

1.30%

5.15

5.10

5.00

2.00%

61,376,556,359.40

-3.46

-1.47

0.33

14.71%

0.44

170.06

170.06

0.00%

61,322,830,255.72

17.69

9.61

0.74

4.23%

3.57

23 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

39.44

39.44

0.00%

52,060,800,000.00

0.24

162.91

0.50

3.80%

2.32

24 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

19.09

19.00

0.47%

50,096,687,899.83

6.81

2.80

0.13

10.48%

0.50

1.12

1.12

0.00%

43,367,517,116.00

-0.37

-3.00

0.96

0.00%

0.57

26 U A C N Plc

20.80

20.80

0.00%

39,953,979,249.60

2.44

8.53

0.55

4.81%

0.54

27 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc

07 Forte Oil Plc.

10 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd 11 Access Bank Plc 12 Unilever Nigeria Plc

21 Oando Plc 22 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

25 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

36.00

36.00

0.00%

34,340,760,000.00

4.60

7.83

2.79

0.28%

2.21

28 Sterling Bank Plc

0.96

1.01

-4.95%

27,638,801,400.96

0.31

3.11

0.26

9.38%

0.33

29 Diamond Bank Plc

1.13

1.20

-5.83%

26,171,239,533.84

0.11

10.24

0.12

0.00%

0.11

30 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

13.80

14.00

-1.43%

25,919,188,152.00

0.83

16.71

0.94

9.42%

2.08

31 Wema Bank Plc

0.66

0.66

0.00%

25,459,147,613.46

0.06

10.46

0.52

0.00%

0.54

32 Fidelity Bank Plc

0.87

0.91

-4.40%

25,197,449,552.04

0.39

2.23

0.17

18.39%

0.14

33 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

19.11

19.11

0.00%

22,853,199,685.68

-2.54

-7.52

0.78

1.57%

2.50

34 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.85

3.85

0.00%

22,645,177,150.75

0.76

5.07

0.68

3.64%

0.81

32.00

32.00

0.00%

22,400,000,000.00

2.36

13.57

3.22

3.59%

15.34

36 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.08

2.08

0.00%

21,840,000,000.00

0.27

7.66

1.14

2.40%

1.03

37 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

8.00

8.00

0.00%

21,195,507,024.00

0.89

9.03

1.17

6.88%

3.07

38 FCMB Group Plc

1.02

1.07

-4.67%

20,198,764,996.62

0.61

1.67

0.12

9.80%

0.11

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

18.65

18.65

0.00%

18,650,000,000.00

4.14

4.50

1.40

0.54%

0.56

40 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.30

1.36

-4.41%

10,309,256,955.40

-0.40

-3.22

0.21

12.31%

0.63

41 Continental Reinsurance Plc

0.99

1.00

-1.00%

10,269,016,868.88

0.33

3.01

0.50

12.12%

0.53

42 Skye Bank Plc

0.66

0.65

1.54%

9,160,998,930.60

-2.93

-0.22

0.06

45.45%

0.09

43 Unity Bank Plc

0.70

0.68

2.94%

8,182,536,559.40

0.54

1.29

0.13

0.00%

0.10

44 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

6.00

6.00

0.00%

7,540,066,596.00

0.44

13.54

0.68

1.67%

0.70

45 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.11

4.62

0.88

6.00%

0.43

46 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

3.50

3.50

0.00%

6,015,624,982.50

-0.05

-67.13

1.79

20.00%

0.17

47 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

4.68

0.11

0.02

0.00%

1.89

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

3.18

3.18

0.00%

5,165,015,625.00

0.15

20.62

0.64

6.29%

0.83

49 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.64

0.67

-4.48%

4,435,330,867.20

0.26

2.45

0.14

7.81%

0.47

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.69

1.69

0.00%

2,535,000,000.00

0.31

5.51

0.37

2.96%

0.40

35 Cap Plc

TOTAL

8,942,163,295,780.17

TOTAL MARKET CAP

9,495,228,819,502.09

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

94.18%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 9-Sep-16

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

27,577.52 9.47

27,642.13 9.50

0.23% 0.23%

114.60 8.92

114.85 8.94

0.22% 0.22%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Close 14-Sep-16

Change %

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open 9-Sep-16

Unilever Nigeria Plc Unity Bank Plc Oando Plc International Breweries Plc Skye Bank Plc

40.27 0.68 5.00 19.00 0.65

Close Change % 14-Sep-16 42.28 0.70 5.10 19.30 0.66

4.99% 2.94% 2.00% 1.58% 1.54%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open 9-Sep-16

Diamond Bank Plc United Bank for Africa Plc Sterling Bank Plc FCMB Group Plc AIICO Insurance Plc

1.20 4.51 1.01 1.07 0.67

Close Change % 14-Sep-16 1.13 4.28 0.96 1.02 0.64

-5.83% -5.10% -4.95% -4.67% -4.48%

Trading ends in the green zone as NSE ASI grew by 0.23% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Wednesday, September 14th, 2016 was bullish as the market ended in the green zone as risk and profit positioning continues. This was further highlighted by positive performances from the NSE Sub sectors: Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas (Save Banking and Insurance). Trading activities decreased in volume as 182.30 million shares worth N1.79 billion in 2,776 deals exchanged hands today.

This is a decrease from the 272.85 million shares worth N1.52 billion in 2,843 deals which exchanged on Thursday. Topping in volume terms was Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and Diamond Bank Plc while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed positive with a 0.23% (+64.61) increase to close at 27,642.13 from 27,577.52 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization appreciated in tandem to N9.50 trillion from N9.47 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with an increase of 0.22% to close at 114.85 from 114.60 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.94 trillion from N8.92 trillion of the previous trading day.

A total number of 15 stocks gained on the bourse today while 19 stocks declined, 65 leaving stocks unchanged. Unilever Nigeria Plc emerged the day’s toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 4.99% to close at N42.28 per share. It was followed by Unity Bank Plc with a gain of 2.94% to close at N0.70 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Oando Plc, International Breweries Plc and Skye Bank Plc, while on the decliners’ list; Diamond Bank Plc led with a loss of 5.83% to close at N1.13 per share. It was followed by United Bank for Africa Plc with a loss of 5.10% to close at N4.28 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Sterling Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and AIICO Insurance Plc.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

44

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

MARKET NEWS

Investors Gain N22bn as Stock Market Trading Resumes Bullish Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Investors gained N22.2billion at the stock market yesterday as the trading resumed on bullish note after two days holiday. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index rose by 0.23 per cent to close at 27,642.13, while market capitalisation added N22.2 billion to be at N9.5 trillion.

The performance trimmed

the year-to-date decline to 3.49 per cent. The positive close was propelled by price gains recorded

by Dangote Cement Plc, Stanbic IBTC, Unilever, Lafarge Africa and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc among others.

However, Conoil Plc led the overall price gainers’ chart as investors continued to react to the impressive 2015 full year results of the petroleum products marketing firm.

T H E

The stock appreciated by 10.1 per cent to close at N26.21 per share, trailed by Unilever Nigeria Plc with 4.9 per cent. Conoil Plc posted a growth of over 176 per cent in profit after tax to N2.308 billion for 2015, up from N834 million in 2014. Based on the improved bottom-line, the directors recommended a dividend of 300 kobo per share, up from 100 kobo in 2014.

Conoil attributed the improved

N I G E R I A N

performance to efficient management of resources, effective cost control policy, as well as reaping from its huge investment in the expansion and upgrade of its facilities.

“For us, the downstream sector remains fundamentally attractive and viable today and the future.

With our clarity of direction and focus, our company’s long-term success is assured. We will sustain this improved performance and

STO C K

vigorously pursue our aspiration to remain the nation’s leading petroleum products marketer and one of the most profitable quoted companies,” the company said.

Apart from Conoil Plc and Unilver, African Prudential Registrars Plc also gained 4.8 per cent, while Unity Bank Plc and Champion Breweries Plc went up by 2.9 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.

In all, 15 stocks appreciated,

E XC H A N G E

compared with 19 stocks that depreciated. Diamond Bank Plc led the price losers with 5.8 per cent, followed by Sterling Bank Plc with 4.9 per cent.

In terms of sectoral performance, the NSE Industrial Goods Index led with 0.5 per cent, trailed by the NSE Consumer Goods Index with a gain of 0.3 per cent just as the NSE Oil and Gas Index inched up marginally rose 0.01 per cent.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

45

CRIME&PUNISHMENT Troops Kill 15 Cattle Rustlers, Armed Bandits in Zamfara

Navy nabs N’Delta militant kingpin, clamps down on criminal elements

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The military engaged in Operation Sara Daji has killed 15 cattle rustlers and armed bandits in parts of Zamfara State.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday, said troops of 223 Battalion, 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, have continued to raid and clear suspected livestock rustlers and armed bandits camps in Zamfara State.

Usman said the troops “during a raid on suspected armed bandits camp at Dumburum forest, Zurmi Local Government Area, killed seven livestock rustlers and recovered large quantity of ammunition and a pair of military camouflage uniform”.

In the same vein, he said the

troops also cleared suspected armed bandits camp at Bagega general area in Anka Local Government Area.

He said: “Although the bandits managed to escape, an abandoned motorcycle was recovered and the camp was destroyed.

“The troops also proceeded and cleared livestock rustlers and armed bandits camps located at Gando forest, near Baruba village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the state. The troops killed eight armed bandits during an exchange of gunfire.”

The army spokesman said troops have also mobilised to Kalgo village in Maru Local Government Area in pursuit of armed bandits that attacked the village.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Navy has in its ongoing efforts to eliminate unwholesome

activities perpetuated by criminals in the Niger Delta, arrested one of the top leaders of a group which goes by the name Bakassi Strike Force (BSF).

The Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Christian Ezekobe, in a statement yesterday, named the suspected militant leader as Mr. Uduak Etim Thompson, also known as ‘Sangata’.

Ezekobe said the Sangata was arrested on September 12, 2016 at his hideout in Calabar by a joint team from Nigerian Navy Ship Victory and Defence Intelligence Agency.

“It would be recalled that some top members of the BSF had earlier been arrested,” he stated.

In a related development, he said the patrol team deployed

by Naval Outpost (NOP)

In Brief

19-year-old Commits Suicide over Failed Love Affair

A 19-year-old girl, Jessica Beer, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) II Female student of Gyegeh Memorial College has committed suicide over failed love affair. According to a source, Jessica was Ikuru arrested four suspected suspected to have drank poison when she discovered her lover, notorious sea robbers who named Labi, was having an affair with another lady. Labi who were alleged to be responsible is said to be pork seller at Wurukum Market in Makurdi, had for several attacks and robbery dumped Jessica for another girl whom he had also impregnated incidences at Oyorokoro, and promised to marry. Incidentally, it was Labi who discovered Ataba, Kaa and Oyorokoro Jessica’s lifeless body when he went to the deceased house and communities in Andoni Local saw her on the floor foaming and rushed her to an undisclosed Government Area of Rivers hospital in Akpehe where she passed on. The source also disclosed that Labi had been having some financial challenges which made State.

According to him, the it difficult for him to take care of Jessica, and so had to abandoned gang was alleged to have her. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, who particularly attacked market confirmed the incident, said Labi reported to the police that her women on September 4, 2016 girlfriend drank a poisonous substance but before the police could get to the hospital, the family of the deceased had taken at Oyorokoro Community.

Ezekobe said the arrests, her corpse away. brought to the fore the commitment of the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to stamp out the menace of criminal brigandage in the region.

He stated that “investigation into these untoward activities have commenced and the The Isolo Police Division of the Lagos State Police Command, perpetrators will be handed yesterday arrested a two-man armed robbery gang along Chemist over to prosecuting agencies Bus Stop, Okota area of the state, while on a routine patrol.

The suspects, Emmanuel Johnson and Emmanuel Sunday, were for further action.” stopped by the police operatives and when they were searched, the police detectives discovered one locally made pistol with two cartridges. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, said: “A team of policemen attached to Isolo Division while on patrol along Chemist Bus stop, Okota Road, intercepted one Emmanuel Johnson and Emmanuel Sunday both of no fixed address on a motorcycle.

“On searching the suspects, one locally made pistol with two cartridges were recovered. Subsequently, the suspects were arrested and the motorcycle impounded. Case will soon be transferred to the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.” In another development, a fight between one Ogadima Nkwaha and John Effiong, at the Ojodu area of the state, escalated to murder when the former stabbed the latter in the neck. According to the PRO, the 21-year-old Nkwaha had allegedly to stab 21-year-old Effiong with a broken bottle during a fight between them. Badmos said: “The victim was rushed to Femi Medical Clinic, Bale Street, Olodi, Apapa, for treatment, where he later died. “The suspect has been arrested while the corpse was removed and deposited at the morgue for autopsy.”

Police Arrest Two for Robbery, Another for Murder in Lagos

Again, Container Smashes Commercial Bus, Injures Five

For the umpteenth time, a heavyduty truck, conveying a container laden with goods to an unknown destination, rammed and smashed a white and blue inter-state 18-seater commercial bus in Lagos.

Although no life was lost, no fewer than five persons were seriously injured in the ghastly accident that occurred at Ilupeju, along the Gbagada-Oworonshoki Expressway, inward Anthony Bus Stop between the heavy duty truck and the commercial bus.

Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, supervising the surrendering of arms by ex-militants at the Government House, Owerri.... This is just as the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, yesterday Fatai Owoseni, who happened to be the first responder, halted his convoy to assist the accident victims. The accident happened as a fallout of the high speed of a heavy-duty vehicle laden with a container-loaded goods, whose propeller swerved to the next lane into a moving 18 passenger Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number Lagos MUS 684XC. Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele, said the agency received the distress call and rushed to the scene. He said: “The agency Suspected gunmen yesterday Nwigwe however noted that said. received a distress call today of a container accident at Ilupeju of more property. attacked the Nigerian no life was lost in the attack.

Reports have it that the state The police boss, who warned Oshodi Express Way inward Anthony. On getting to the scene Television Authority (NTA) An eyewitness however Commissioner of Police, Mr. people against taking the laws of the accident, It was gathered that the container while on high office in Onitsha, Anambra said an Improvised Explosive Sam Okaula later visited the into their hands, said the police speed developed a mechanical fault (propeller) and swerved to State, setting ablaze some Device (IED) was planted at scene with the bomb squad would get to the root of the the next lane into a moving 18-seater passenger Toyota Hiace equipment and Star Times the security gate while tyres to evacuate the improvised incident. commercial bus with registration number Lagos MUS 684XC. building within the premises. were positioned around the explosive device.

“Those who take laws into The timely intervention of the Comissioner of Police Mr, Fatai The acting Manager of the premises to set the station While confirming the their hands should be ready Owoseni, who stopped his convoy and assisted in activating station, Mr. Chris Nwigwe, ablaze. incident, Okaula said three to face the repercussion,” emergency response and recovery of the injured victims assisted told journalists on phone that “There was a gun duel suspects had been arrested Okaula stressed, adding the recovery operation with other responders. These includes the the incident occurred at about between the armed men and in connection with the case. that the suspects would be Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), Lagos State 1:40a.m. policemen who are manning According to him, prosecuted in court after Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) and the LASEMA Response “Yes, there was an attack the office. investigation had begun to investigation was concluded. Team with the Nigerian Police from Ilupeju Division. No life on our office early hours of “They managed to burn unravel the reason for the THISDAY checks revealed was lost but the injured victims (three females and two males) today at about 1:40a.m. down the Star Times office attack. that as at the time of filing were rescued and handed over to LASAMBUS and were “Some armed men tried to while the fire was later put He lauded his men manning report, three police patrol treated and taken to Gbagada General Hospital for further attack the staff on duty but off with the help of people the office for their bravery, vans had been stationed medical attention The agency’s Emergency Response Team only succeeded in burning around. saying that their quick in front of the NTA office Towing Truck were used for the recovery operation of down the Star Times building,” “This type of incident has intervention prevented the to beef up security at the the accidented vehicles off the road to allow free flow he said. never happened,” the source loss of lives and destruction post. of traffic.

AMNESTY

Gunmen Attack NTA Onitsha, Set Building Ablaze

46

thurSDAY, September 15, 2016 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

R I O 2 0 1 6 PA R A LY M P I C S

Koleosho, Chinedu Cause Upset in Table Tennis Team Event After their inability to make the medal podium in the singles event, the Nigeria’s men team on Wednesday at the ongoing Rio 2016 Paralympic Games caused an upset in the class 4-5 against highly-rated Poland.

The Nigeria’s duo of Ahmed Koleosho and Nick Emmanuel Chinedu, who were debutants at the games turned the table against the European giant with a 2-1 win to berth in the quarterfinal of the3 competition.

In the first doubles tie, Koleosho and Emmanuel partnered to record an emphatic 3-0 bashing of the Polish pair of Rafal Lis and Krzyszt Zylka.

However, the 1-0 lead of Nigeria

was thwarted when Rafal Lis struggled to beat Koleosho 3-2 in the first singles match to restore parity.

Aware of what the third match meant to the team, Emmanuel returned to the table with a lot of confidence and determination. And to the chagrin of the Polish team, Emmanuel overcame Zylka 3-1 to advance Nigeria to the quarterfinal of the event where they are expected to battle for the semifinal slot against another European powerhouse, Turkey early on Thursday.

An elated President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi lauded the players for the epic victory, which he described as commendable despite

being debutants at the competition.

“I think this is a good result for the players having given more than three months for training and also featuring in their first Paralympic Games, the win against Poland is indeed a good result for them. I think they just need to be encouraged with this kind of result.

I am happy for them that in their first outing they were able to beat to European side like Poland, I wish them well against Turkey,” Oshodi said.

Also in the women’s singles class three, Faith Obiora, a twotime Paralympian achieved her best result at the games with her quarterfinal berth in the championship.

NPFL…NPFL…NPFL…

Champions Enyimba Suffer Setback in Five-goal Thriller Champions Enyimba twice came from behind but failed to amass any points as they lost 2-3 to Ikorodu United in an exciting rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game decided yesterday.

The hosts enjoyed the first goalscoring opening at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta in the 19th minute when Chinedu Onyelonu headed a corner just wide with the Enyimba goalkeeper, Theophilus Joel Afelokhai, in no man’s land.

Enyimba, however, hit back and almost took the lead two minutes later through last season’s NPFL top scorer, Mfon Udoh, whose effort hit the side netting.

The game continued to ebb and flow with a goal needed at that point to see it burst into life.

The breakthrough arrived just before the half hour through Fatai Abdullahi following impressive work by the impressive Onyelonu.

One of football’s most

hackneyed maxims, ‘you are most vulnerable just after you have scored’ was ruthlessly exploited

by Enyimba who were back on level terms just seconds after the hosts took the lead.

Musa Najare was fouled in the Ikorodu United box and referee Ferdinand Udoh promptly pointed to the spot before Udoh dispatched unerringly from 11 metres.

Enyimba could smell blood and mercilessly honed in for the kill with Osadiaye Joseph almost getting the visitors’ second in the 39th minute only to be denied by last-ditch defending by the Oga Boys.

A frantic first half came to an end with the scores still tied at 1-1 but more of the drama was to unfold in the second half.

Seven minutes after the restart, Ikorodu United retook the lead through Balogun Abdullahi’s stunning strike which left the stranded Afelokhai shell-shocked.

Enyimba would however not go away and were back on level terms eight minutes later.

3rd Lagos Inter-club Para Soccer Championship Kicks off The third edition of the Lagos Inter-clubs Para Soccer Championship kicked off at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, yesterday and it expected to end on Saturday.

The tournament which is being facilitated by the Lagos State Sports Commission and corporate organisations is organised by the Lagos State Para Soccer Association as part of an all-inclusive policy thrust of the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in sports.

It also creates an avenue for the physically challenged soccer players in Lagos to get the much needed competitive practice, and showcase their soccer skills to the general public.

According to the Chairperson

of the association, Miss Nkechi Obi, the tournament will feature 12 clubs which are, Total Consult Club, Premium Sports Blazers, Ojokoro Club, NAS Club, Lead United Club, Jufema Club, A.Y Club, Double Star Club, I Mekusah Club, Islanders Club, Osun Club and SOAS Club.

The championship is aimed at selecting formidable players to represent the state in future championships, while the Lagos State Para Soccer Association will use the championship to appraise its developmental strides and impact on the sports commission’s policy as well as its preparation for the 19th National Sports Festival (NSF) holding in Cross River State in November.

Najare was the man on the money this time round as he applied the finish in expert fashion to set up a grand stand finish.

Josephine Orji sets world record, wins Nigeria’s eighth Rio Paralympics Gold

Shooting Stars Continue their Strike Action Heartland involved in auto accident

Shooting Stars insisted yesterday that they will continue their pay strike today until their various demands are met by the management.

‘The Oluyole Warriors’ are owed five months’ pay and 10 match bonuses and they insist they to be paid a lump sum before they will return to training ahead of their next match against relegationthreatened Warri Wolves.

“The players will continue with their pay strike today,” a source disclosed.

“They have now demanded that they be paid at least N1

million each before they will consider calling off this strike.

“They also wish to see the contracts they have with Shooting Stars.”

The work-to-rule started Tuesday evening when the players stayed away from training, leaving the coaches to later also leave the training ground.

Shooting Stars are 14th on the table with 44 points from 33 matches.

Meanwhile, NPFL side, Heartland FC of Owerri was involved in an auto accident in Maiduguri yesterday.

The Owerri-based side was in Maiduguri to honour the NPFL Match-day 35 clash against El Kanemi Warriors today at the Maiduguri Township Stadium.

The team arrived safely in Maiduguri yesterday but the hosts team bus conveying the Naze Millionaires to their hotels ran into the Nigerian Army Hilux Jeep on the Kano/Jos Road near the Ramat Polytechnic.

No death was recorded in the auto accident but nine Heartland players sustained varying degree of injuries.

The injured were taken to hospital for treatment while El Kanemi Warriors’ officials arranged another vehicle to take others to the hotel.

El Kanemi Warriors Secretary, Tahir Bala confirmed the auto accident and equally confirmed that nine players were injured in the sad event.

“Yes, the bus conveying Heartland team from the airport to their hotel just had an accident with an army car but no death was recorded rather about nine players sustained bruises.

Russian Hackers Leak Files on Biles, Williams Sisters The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has condemned Russian hackers for leaking confidential medical files of star US Olympic athletes.

Athletes affected include tennis players Venus and Serena Williams and teenage gymnast Simone Biles.

A group calling itself “Fancy Bears” claimed responsibility for the hack of a Wada database.

After the leak, Ms Biles said she had long been taking medicine for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The hacker group had accused her of taking an “illicit psychostimulant”, but she said she had “always followed the rules”.

The Rio Olympics quadruple gold medallist had obtained the necessary permission to take prescription medicine on the WADA banned drugs list, USA Gymnastics said in a statement.

Wada said in a statement

that the cyber attacks were an attempt to undermine the global anti-doping system.

Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

it was “out of the question” that the Kremlin or secret services were involved in the hacking, Russian news agencies reported.

The hackers accessed records

detailing “Therapeutic Use Exemptions” (TUEs), which allow the use of banned substances due to athletes’ verified medical needs.

Iheanacho Scores First Champion League Goal Man City hammers M’gladbach 4-0 Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first UEFA Champions League goal as Manchester City walloped Borussia Monchengladbach 4-0 a rescheduled game last night.

Iheanacho was a late sub for hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero, who appeared to come off with a left thigh injury.

The Nigeria star was set up a minute into added time by another sub Leroy Sane. He freed himself from his marker before he fired home with his favoured left foot from the top of the six-yard box.

Barcelona lead the group after their 7-0 spanking of Scottish champions Celtic.

It has been a most productive last 10 days for Iheanacho after he got off to a great start with the match winner for Nigeria in an AFCON qualifier against Tanzania.

He will then grab the match winner for City against United in the Manchester Derby and ensured his club’s perfect start to the new Premier season.

In another UEFA Champions

League clash, Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa came off the bench in the 70th minute for Jamie Vardy as Leicester City thumped hosts Club Brugge 3-0.

RESULTS

Man City 4-0 M’gladbach Leverkusen 2-2 CSKA Tottenham 1-2 Monaco Legia 0-6 Dortmund C’Brugge 0-3 Leicester FC Porto 1-1 Copenhagen Juventus 0-0 Sevilla Lyon 3-0 D’Zagreb

T H I S D AY THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

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MISSILE Okonjo-Iweala to Fed Govt “If you don’t pay attention to the fundamentals of having a stable and good exchange rate policy, inflation under control, manageable fiscal deficit and debts, there will continue to be trouble in the economy” – Former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, saying focusing on the basic issues of macroeconomic stability was crucial to fixing the country’s economic challenges

CHIDIAMUTA GUEST COLUMNIST

Dispersing the Blame

A

lmost two years into its four-year tenure, the Buhari administration has come up with a campaign theme to publicly canvass its defining ‘Change’ agenda. If all goes the Nigerian way, the “Change Begins With Me” campaign may be coming to a stadium or public square near you any time now, complete with familiar fanfare and authorized clowning. As yet, no one knows the budget for this venture. For an administration that has spent most of its tenure to date blaming the ills of the nation on its predecessors and the generality of Nigerians, the thrust of the message is perhaps predictable.

Simply put, the message is that the change that the administration promised us can only come when we all (all 180 million of us!) change from within on our individual volitions. By the curious logic of this cheap and tainted blackmail, change can only come when and if all Nigerians change their ways. We no longer have to demand that the government delivers the change it promised us!

No one has told us the object of the change and its desired objectives. No one has cared to map out the direction of this change or its policy content. No one has pointed us in the direction of the desired change agents. All we are meant to see apparently is the President, his fabled austere ways, his simple life style, his aversion to corruption and his insistence on saving for the rainy day.

For a leadership that has frequently gone abroad to insult, castigate and condemn its nationals as ‘corrupt’ and unscrupulous, the thrust of the message was foretold. By the underlying logic of this message, the government is dispersing the blame for its incapacity to deliver on its campaign promises to us and thereby shirking its fundamental responsibility to the governed.

In fact, this campaign moves the responsibility of government on delivering the change it promised to the realm of religion, the zone of individual penitence and absolution. Each man or woman is responsible for their own change and salvation subject to the extent of their culpability in the national sin. Yet this movement to the realm of absolute relativism is a moral stance, which cannot even hold water in the most liberal social and political environments.

I wish someone would tell the operatives of this administration that the freedom of choice, which is at the bottom of liberal democracy, imposes a moral burden which is never left to individual volition. Collective social correction is the product of conscious government policy bolstered by the force of law. The burden of correcting even the most errant society is that of government; it is never dispersed and pushed back to the people.

However, the ultimate political motive of “Change Begins with Me” cannot be lost on a perceptive populace. It shifts the burden for possible failure on delivering the ‘change’ agenda to the very people who have been waiting anxiously for some good news. It relieves the government of the burden of responsibility for promises that it willingly made to the people while campaigning for their mandate.

Campaign promises may not be legally enforceable. But the people wait at the next

Lai Mohammed election to cash the cheque of failed promises.

When politicians renege on their campaign promises, the same people will queue up at the next election to inflict a fearsome retribution that tallies with the force of history. Therefore, a campaign promise by a political party once made and the party wins apex political power, becomes a legitimate adjunct to the social contract between the sovereign and the people.

Unfortunately, in order to experience a changed social and economic milieu, we are now expected to wait until each and every one of us has embraced change and started behaving like morons of some nebulous moral universe. This is the height of governmental laziness almost bordering on a fraudulent dissipation of the popular mandate.

And it has no foundation in any known social theory or political philosophy.

For the avoidance of doubt, the institution of social, economic and political change is the province of governmental action. The object of democracy is that at the ballot, we all cede and surrender our rights to do right, to inflict wrong or seek justice to a sovereign in the belief that they will do right by us all.

Therefore, when Nigerians defied the rains and trooped out at the last presidential election to elect Muhammadu Buhari as president, they did so in the hope that he will live true to the promises he was making on the campaign trail.

The summary of those promises was that he would inaugurate a season of ‘change’ for the better. Nigerians had reached a consensus that a massive change for the better was what the nation needed.

We expected our lives to get better, not worse.

We expected that someone would restore power to light our way through the dark tunnels of daily life. We expected that we would now travel the land freed at last from fear of homegrown monsters. We had a right to expect that our sons and daughters would at last get a chance to take a shot at the opportunities that our multiple challenges present. We wanted the unemployment queues to shorten so that men and women who went out in search of honest jobs will not die in stampedes of anxiety at the stadium. Those in business had a right to expect that the exchange rate, interest rates and inflation rates would become friendlier so the suffering index would lift the veil of desperation from

the faces of many. We expected these and more from a President Buhari because Mr. Goodluck Jonathan’s best was no longer good enough.

Instead, we have seen our fortunes dip dangerously in the last one and half years. The naira in our pockets has shrunk dangerously.

Those who left home in the morning as proud employees have returned home with sack letters that amount to death sentences. People walk the streets aimlessly knowing that their quest for opportunity leads nowhere in particular.

Avoidable deaths and suicides have become an epidemic. An avalanche of strange social crimes hitherto unknown in these parts--serial rape for sport, gruesome domestic violence, pedophilia and open-air lynching of people for sport - are becoming part of a new normal.

Admittedly, some message needed to be placed upfront to popularize the defining mantra of the administration. But in adopting this strange subversive message, the Buhari administration is behaving true to the history of similar campaigns in the past. We have had all manner of campaigns, branding and re-branding for all manner of programmes ranging from War Against Indiscipline, MAMSER to tourism and investment promotion and others. A succession of ministers waxed lyrical on things they hardly understood.

On the whole, “The Change Begins With Me” is anchored on almost nothing, only silly promises. It is at best the product of knee jerk private moralism at the apex of power, which looks more like idolatry as the days go by. It is hard to see how moralistic sermons about good conduct and change of personal behavior can make sense

to youth without jobs, market women with no wares to sell, industrialists with closed factories, the artisan forced by living costs to relocate to his village or students whose breadwinners have lost their livelihood to the ravaging recession.

Ordinarily, the change agents of a regime that anchors its role in rebuilding Nigeria should be both those actively driving the process in government and people whose life circumstances showcase the value and benefit of change. Show us the young graduate entrepreneurs newly empowered to start up something new. Show us hundreds of startups newly capitalized or the thriving farms and contented market women. Show us the middle class with gleaming new cars and new homes.

Show us the power of new demand in the hands of the people as they throng to malls and shopping centers. Show us your retail figures, home ownership upswing, rate of registration of new vehicles and the month-by-month reduction of unemployment. These are the numbers by which serious governments all over the world demonstrate their commitment to good governance.

Ask Ethiopia, Rwanda and Botswana even Kenya which is growing in the midst of a fierce antiterrorist war with no oil to sell.

As a fitting retort to the subversive message of this campaign, we should, in popular parlance, return the insult to the senders: “Give us the Change You Promised Us”.

• Dr. Chidi Amuta is Chairman, Wilson & Weizmann Associates Ltd., Lagos •NOTE: The Verdict, by Olusegun Adeniyi, will be back next week.

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