Wednesday 18th January 2017

Nigeria’s External Reserves Hit $27.2bn FG plans to sell $1bn Eurobonds in March

Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja and Obinna Chimawithagencyreport Nigeria's foreign exchange (forex) reserves have increased

to $27.223 billion as at January 16, 2017, according to latest figures on the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) website.

The growth in the reserves,

Explains high personnel cost in 2017 budget

derived majorly from the proceeds of crude oil sales represented an increase by $1.380 billion or 5.3 per cent in the last 17 days, compared

with the $25.843 billion that it was as at December 30, 2015.

It was also indicative that the drop in militancy in the Niger Delta and rising oil

exports led to the accretion in the forex reserves.

Oil prices settled up on Monday, as Saudi Arabia's commitments to reducing

production offset a report forecasting U.S. output would again rise this year.

Continued on page 8

CBN Warns Against Patronising Bitcoins, Virtual Currencies…

Page 8

Wednesday 18 January, 2017 Vol 21. No 7944. Price: N250

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50 Killed, 200 Injured As Airforce Jet Bombs Settlements in Error Buhari, Military appeal for calm, express regret Foreign charity group says it’s shocking and unacceptable Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Tobi Soniyi, Paul Obi in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Yesterday was another day of tragedy for Borno State as a Nigerian Airforce fighter jet mistakenly dropped bombs on some settlements, believed to also harbour Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs), in Rann, Kala Balge LGA of the

state, killing over 50 persons.

About 200 others, including some humanitarian aid workers of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) were reported injured.

International aid agency, MSF, confirmed to BBC that at least 50 person were killed and more than 100 injured in Continued on page 9

Nigerian Warship Heads to The Gambia Defence headquarters denies Jammeh declares state of emergency

Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Tobi Soniyi inAbujawithagencyreport

A Nigerian warship has been deployed in The Gambia, more as a show of force rather than preparation for an attack, the BBC reported yesterday.

The deployment is obviously part of the strategy of ECOWAS to force out President Yahya Jammeh who

has refused entreaties from the region’s leaders to step down following his last December 1 presidential election defeat

by Mr. Adama Barrow.

Jammeh remained intransigent yesterday, declaring a 90-day state of emergency, less than 48 hours before his official mandate Continued on page 8

20,000 Killed in Various Crises in Kaduna, Says El-Rufai… Page 9

GATHERING FOR PEACE…

L-R: Senior Advisers to King Salman bn Abdulazeez, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Sa'ad Nasir As-Shathriy and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed; and President General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III (CFR), at an International Conference on Security and Peaceful Co-Existence in Nigeria, in Ilorin… yesterday

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CBN Warns Against Patronising Bitcoins, Virtual Currencies Says they're not legal tender Joseph Ushigiale Apparently weighing in on the current desperation by Nigerians to invest in the growing trend of Ponzi schemes, promising mouth-watering profits, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned Nigerians against the use of virtual currencies, including bitcoin, ripples, litecoin.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the CBN monitored on The Cable stated that virtual currencies are largely used in terrorism financing and money laundering, considering the anonymity of

virtual transactions.

“The attention of bank and other financial institutions is hereby drawn to the above risks and you are required to take the following actions actions pending substantive regulation or decision by the CBN,” the statement read.

“Ensure that you do not use, hold, trade and/or transact in any way in virtual currencies.

Ensure that existing customers that are virtual currency exchangers have effective capital AML/CFT controls that enable them to comply

with customer identification, verification and transfer, monitoring requirements.

“Where banks or other financial institutions are not satisfied with the controls put in place by the virtual currency exchanger/ customers, the relationship should be discontinued immediately.

“Any suspicious transactions by these customers should immediately be reported to the Nigerian Finance Intellignece Unit (NFIU).”

The apex bank said anyone trading in bitcoin is doing so at his or her own risk.

“The CBN reiterates that VCs such as bitcoin, ripples, monero, litecoin, dogecion, onecoin, etc., and similar products are not legal tenders in Nigeria.

“Thus, any bank or institution that transacts in such businesses does so at its own risk.”

Bitcoin was the best performing currency of the year 2016. It has appreciated from four cents in 2010 to over $1,000 in 2017.

The CBN’s warning may have been provoked by an online website, Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox popularly known by its over 2m subscribers as

MMM which recently posted a message on its site intimating its customers that it may be adopting the bitcoin in future transactions.

It a statement posted under the heading: MAVRO-50% IS AVAILABLE WHEN YOU PROVIDE HELP IN BITCOIN, the online website hinted that “From now on, there is an opportunity for all of the participants of MMM Nigeria to acquire Mavro-50% when you provide help in Bitcoin.

“Mavro-50% work under the same rules as Mavro-30%.

For example, all bonuses are rewarding to them according to

the normal procedure. Bitcoin is an international digital currency.

Bitcoin transactions take a few seconds and the transaction fee is charged very low ($0.05).

“Bitcoin does not belong to any government, companies or particular persons, which allows you to be independent from the banks and to manage your money as you want. MMM and Bitcoin strives to beat social inequality and to make the world more fair.

With the help of Bitcoin MMM participants can provide financial help to each other worldwide,” it concluded.

under the United Nations Charter and existing ECOWAS legislations.

He said the political situation in The Gambia had reached a situation that called for urgent action, to forestall a large scale humanitarian challenge, regional instability and anarchy.

He advised that on no account should the world, ECOWAS and the African Union, stand aloof and watch the ethos of democracy destroyed by a sit-tight dictator who did not even assume leadership under acceptable circumstances.

By section 63(1) of the Constitution of The Gambia, the 5-year tenure of office of Jammeh will end on 19th January, 2017.

He said: "The reported resolve of ECOWAS to use force, if necessary, to topple him and then to install the winner of that election - Adama Barrow - is not only a welcome development but is protected both under the United Nations Charter and under existing ECOWAS legislations.

"It is also protected under historical and empirical happenings worldwide. The following are the

various pre-United Nations military interventions in sovereign countries, namely: • The Russian, British and French Anti-Ottoman military intervention in the Greek War of Independence, 1824; • (b) The Russian unilateral AntiOttoman military expedition in Bulgaria, 1877; • The US military occupation of Haiti in 1915.

He said that even after the United Nations was formed in 1945, direct military interventions in independent states without recourse to the UN have continued to be recorded, as follows: • The US military intervention in the Dominican Republic, 1965; • The military intervention of Vietnam in Kampuchea, which led to the overthrow of the government of that country in January, 1979; • The intervention by France in the Central African Empire (CAE), which led to the overthrow of that government in September, 1979; • The military intervention of Tanzania in Uganda, which led to the overthrow of the government

of that country in April, 1979; • The military intervention by the then USSR in Afghanistan, which led to the overthrow of the government of that country, in December, 1979; • The USA military intervention in Grenada, which led to the overthrow of the government, in October, 1983; • The USA military intervention in Panama, which led to the overthrow of the government there, in December, 1989; • The military intervention by Iraq in Kuwait, which led to the overthrow of that government, in August, 1990; • The US-led international military intervention in Libya, which led to the overthrow and killing of Muammar Ghaddafi, in 2011; • The international military coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, 2014-date, etc.

He noted that even though Article 2(4) of the UN Charter provides that: "All Members shall in their international relations refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent

with the Purposes of the United Nations," other extant provisions of the Charter and empirical examples showed that military intervention was not altogether ruled out or deemed illegal.

He said: "For instance, Chapter VIII of the Charter has in very clear terms recognised 'Regional Arrangements'. In particular, Article 52(1) which falls under that Chapter provides that 'Nothing in the present Charter precludes the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action....'"

Hon said that Charter VIII provisions had been tested before during the Liberian and Sierra Leone political quagmires of the 1980s-1990s.

According to him, with the positive signal from the UN representative in West Africa, Mr. Ibn Chambas, military intervention in The Gambia under Article VIII without prior UN Security intervention is not only legal and lawful, but is also imperative, should Jammeh refuse to relinquish power today.

THISDAY in Abuja on Tuesday.

In the 2016 estimates, nondebt recurrent expenditure was put at N2,646,389,236, 196, while capital expenditure was N1,587,598,122,03; but in spite of the federal government’s fiscal responsibility measures and the discovery of thousands of ghost workers, the provision for non-debt recurrent expenditure jumped up to N2,949,139,301,963, a difference of N302, 750,065,767.

At the interactive session with the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) on Monday, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, told the lawmakers that the federal government had made capital releases to the tune of N831billion to date, more than 52%. The 2017 provision for capital expenditure is N2, 078,941,770,803, about 31% of the entire proposed Appropriation Bill.

The source, who spoke with THISDAY in confidence, added that in a bid to drive down cost of governance, the federal government decided during the preparation of the 2016 Budget that a 6.5% across-the-board reduction in the 2015 budget personnel cost estimate per MDAs should be applied to arrive at the 2016 provisional budget estimates.

“While this was adopted with the hope that the full implementation of the IPPIS and other policies of the administration

would help make some savings, the outcome was not as intended,” he explained.

He said this was largely due to inadequate budgeting provision for IPPIS implementation in the 2016 Budget; prompting the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (IPPIS Department) in the course of the year to report that several MDAs had exhausted their respective 2016 Budget personnel cost provisions as early as the third quarter.

He also pointed out that the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) also submitted claims of salary shortfalls for non-IPPIS MDAs, saying, “These partly necessitated the government’s virement request in respect of personnel cost.”

Since then, the source stated, several MDAs had continued to forward claims of unpaid personnel costs including promotion arrears, new recruitment and annual increments.

He added: ‘’So, in preparing the 2017 personnel cost proposal, verifiable salary shortfalls as reported by the Accountant General’s Office were consequently taken into consideration, a situation which resulted in the increase in 2017 Personnel Cost compared to the 2016 estimates.’’

It was also gathered that the further depreciation of the naira against the US dollar pushed up the salary (and Overhead costs)

of Foreign Service Personnel particularly those of the foreign affairs ministry, immigration, and also military budgets.

THISDAY further gathered that just as it was with personnel cost, the overhead cost outlay was similarly reduced across board in the course of preparing the 2016 Budget.

However, within the fiscal year, several MDAs reported unpaid utility bills such as electricity, water, cleaning services, among others, a development which reportedly grounded activities in the affected MDAs. ‘’Learning from that experience, the MDAs were cautioned, while preparing the 2017 Budget, against allocating scarce resources to frivolous expenditures like foreign travels and training, overseas board meetings, colour-printing, and conference souvenirs. The savings from these exclusions were to be applied to areas of need’’, our source explained.

It was also learnt that some essential costs, which were omitted from some MDAs' provisions in 2016 were considered in the 2017 proposal; especially in the Civil Defence Corps and National Youth Service Corps, because of their peculiar mandates.

Other variables responsible for the increase in the 2017 provisions include increase in electricity tariffs, fuel price hike, exchange rate and inflation, all of which have direct effect on increase in

MDAs' overhead costs.

On capital costs estimates, the source explained that government’s determination to achieve inclusive economic growth by stimulating the economy meant an upward trend in spending on key infrastructure such as power, transport, roads, rail, air transport, and housing, as well as in social infrastructure investments.

He added: ‘’Also importantly, the need for security provisions arising from insurgency, militancy and security threats in various parts of the country, as well as effort to achieve food security, largely contributed to the increase in this area.’’

NIGERIAN WARSHIP HEADS TO THE GAMBIA ends, according to the Gambia Television.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, however, yesterday continued to down play its reported involvement in planned military operations in The Gambia, insisting that the matter remained with the political authorities to decide.

“We are not involved in any preparation for military action in The Gambia,” the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Abubakar Rabe, told THISDAY last night.

But BBC said a military source told it that the vessel - the NNS Unity - is currently sailing off the coast of Ghana.

THISDAY had reported on Tuesday that ECOWAS had prepared a force for military intervention if the outgoing Gambian president refused to step down today.

The exact terms of the state of emergency remain unknown, as no details were provided with the announcement.

Jammeh initially accepted the election results but then decided

he wanted them annulled after the electoral commission admitted some errors, although it insisted this did not affect the final outcome.

The Supreme Court is unable to hear Jammeh’s petition against the results of the election until May because of a shortage of judges, and the embattled president said he would not step down until then.

At least three Gambian ministers, including the foreign minister, have resigned in recent days. Thousands of Gambians have also fled to neighbouring Senegal amid fears of violence.

Barrow won 43.3% of the vote compared with Jammeh's 39.6%.

A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, got 17.1%.

Jammeh seized power in the tiny West African country in 1994 and has been accused of human rights abuses, although he has held regular elections.

Legal Basis for Military Intervention In Abuja, a senior lawyer, Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN), said ECOWAS decision to use force to oust Jammeh was protected both

NIGERIA'S EXTERNAL RESERVES HIT $27.2BN Benchmark Brent crude oil LCOc1 was up 41 cents a barrel, or 0.7 percent, at $55.86 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 27 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $52.64 a barrel, on Monday.

With the oil market entering 2017 with prices above $50 per barrel, analysts are optimistic about high prices this year.

Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the country needs to close the gap between the official and black market rates for the naira against the dollar "very soon", as Africa's largest economy grapples with inflation and the risks of devaluation.

"The gap between the official and parallel market isn't helpful," Reuters quoted Osinbajo to have told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"If you look at the economic recovery and growth plan, it is the expectation that this is a conversation we are having with central bank."

The naira's official rate, controlled by the government is currently at N305 to the dollar since it was devalued in June. But that is still 40 percent stronger than rates on the parallel market, about N497 to the dollar, a gap that is discouraging investment from overseas and leaving Nigeria starved of foreign currency.

The official and black market naira foreign exchange rates will be "unified" this year, but there is

no time frame for when it could happen, said Osinbajo.

Financial institutions, among others, have argued that Nigeria must allow its currency to float freely to solve its foreign exchange woes, a measure which has met opposition from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria's lack of dollars has been exacerbated by a crunch in oil production, caused by militant attacks on facilities in the crude oil-rich regions in the South-east Delta region, and low global prices for oil, on which the government depends for 70 percent of its revenues.

"The current output is 1.7-1.8 million barrels per day and it could improve very quickly as soon as we sort out things in the Delta," Osinbajo said.

In an effort to end militant attacks and remain "actively engaged", Osinbajo travelled to the Niger Delta region for talks with militants earlier this week.

Additionally, Nigeria aims to sell Eurobonds worth $1 billion in March, said Osinbajo, rather than February as originally hoped, which could help refill the government's coffers.

Budget Office Explains Increase in Personnel Cost The increase in provision for non-debt recurrent expenditure in the 2017 budget is driven mainly by changes in the personnel and overhead cost outlays, a senior official in the Budget Office told

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PAGE NINE

20,000 Killed in Various Crises in Kaduna, Says El-Rufai Paul Obi, Damilola Oyedele in Abuja and John Shiklam inKaduna Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai on yesterday said no fewer than 20,000 people lost their lives in the various crises that had rocked Kaduna State since 1980.

The governor said this when a delegation led by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) paid him a visit at the Government House, Kaduna.

El-Rufai said it was regrettable that of all the crises in the past 35 years which led to the destruction of lives and property, nobody has been prosecuted for the dastardly acts.

El-Rufai said the solution to killings with impunity in the state is enforcement of the law and prosecution of perpetrators.

The governor noted that apart from the Justice Benedict Okadigbo Tribunal on the Zango-Kataf Religious Crisis no government had prosecuted anybody over their involvements in the various crises in the state.

According to him the, “The administration of former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida established the Benedict Okadigbo Tribunal" that those that were implicated in the 1992 Zango-Kataf crisis be made to face the law..

The governor vowed that all those found to be behind the recent killings in Jema'a, Zangon Kataf and Kaura local government areas of the state would be fished out and prosecuted.

He disclosed that a number of arrests had been made, adding that more people would soon be arrested in connection with the crisis .

The governor also said there was no need of setting up any Commission of Inquiry over the southern Kaduna crisis, stressing that all that is required is the enforcement of the rule of law.

"We need to enforce the rule of law in the state. I read all the reports which recommended the way out but there is no single person ever prosecuted to the later", he said and warned those encouraging the crisis to be mindful that there is

consequences for their actions. " Since 1980, about 10,000 to 20,000 were killed in Kaduna State during crisis and government did not prosecute anybody. We are determined to end the killings in Kaduna. Henceforth, the law will fully apply without fear or favour. We have made some arrests and you will be shock to see the calibre of perpetrators that we are going to arrest and prosecute. No matter highly the person is we will bring him or her to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others who may want to sponsor crisis.

“Some of the things you are hearing are not true. Some people have made up their minds to spread hatred and falsehood, especially in the media. We thank you for your visit to Kaduna.....

"Let me correct this impression, it is not the entire Southern Kaduna that is under attacks, we have problem in three local government areas now under control", the governor said.

Speaking earlier, the NBA President said the visit was to express concern over the killings and explore avenues which the NBA could be of help in resolving the crisis.

"The objective of our visit is on a much more sober issue of some of the recent happenings in some of the local governments in the south of the state.

"We are concerned because of the level of violence and listening to our colleagues, we understand that the scale of violence has really been unprecedented.

"Although we know that the situation in Kaduna, especially in those concerned areas have had a long history".

Mahmoud noted that the crisis did not start "just last year or two; but given the scale of recent events, we thought it will be important for the NBA to come and pay you a visit; to express our concern and to perhaps explore avenues and ways the NBA could be of possible assistance in resolving some of these issues."

Following public outcry over the gruesome killings in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State by suspected herdsmen, the Nigerian Army yesterday absolved itself of any culpability,

Also expressing concerns over the crisis, the leadership of the

Catholic and Anglican Dioceses of Kafanchan, Kaduna state has urged security agents deployed in Southern Kaduna to flush out the suspected herdsmen from their hideouts to stop the pockets of killings going on in some communities.

They also said the dislodgment of the suspected armed herdsmen from their hideouts in the bushes and hills would restore confidence in the people.

Speaking in separate telephone interviews with THISDAY in Kaduna, on the security situation in Southern Kaduna, the Vicar General of the Kafanchan Catholic Arch Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Yakubu, and the Kafanchan Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev. Markus Dogo, said although calm had returned, there were still pockets of killings in some rural communities.

Yakubu, said: “We expected that the security agencies would have flushed out the attackers from their hideouts in the bushes and hills, but that has not been done yet and people are still leaving in fear.”

Also clarifying the claim of CAN that 808 persons had been killed in the attacks by suspected herdsmen, the clergy said the figures included the dead from 2011 to 2016 and challenged those disputing it to produce their own figures.

On his part, Dogo said: “We were thinking that with the security presence, there could have been some kind of manhunt, some kind of invasion of the bushes by the security agencies to flush out the killers from their hide outs, but we have not seen that yet.”

Meanwhile the Kaduna State government has relaxed the curfew imposed on Kaura, Jema'a and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas of the state.

The state security council at its meeting on Tuesday decided that the curfew would now commence from 7pm to 6am daily.

Mr. Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor Nasir El-Rufai said in a statement that the decision was taken following an assessment of security reports in the areas.

with our teams, who are in shock following the event," he said.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said he received the news of the bombing with deep sadness and regrets.

Buhari also condoled with families of the dead, wished the wounded divine succour, leading to full recovery and sympathized with the Borno State government.

The President pledged federal help for the state government in attending to "this regrettable operational mistake," and pleaded for calm, even as he prayed God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.

The Defence Headquarters also expressed shock at the

incidence, describing it as a regrettable mistake that would be avoided in future.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Abubakar Rabe, told THISDAY last night that the incident was receiving the attention and review of the military high commander and apologised to the nation for the costly mistake.

Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, expressed sadness over the incident, calling on the military authorities to ensure that such incident did not occur in future.

Dogara, in a statement yesterday night offered condolences to the families of the victims, and prayed for quick recovery of those injured.

Fulani herdsman with AK47 saying maintenance of internal security was not its primary responsibility.

The Army spoke in Abuja through its Chief of Training and Operations, Maj-Gen. David Ahmadu, explaining that the responsibility for ensuring peace laid squarely at the doorsteps of the Nigerian Police Force.

Reacting to public outrage that the Army and other security agencies failed to stop the killing of indigenes of Southern Kaduna in spite of the overwhelming presence of the military in the state, Ahmadu said the military could not intervene in internal strife except the appropriate authorities directed it to act.

He said: "The fact that there are military formations all over the country does not confer the responsibility for ensuring peace ab initio on it. It is the duty of the Police.”

He said that was why the Army was regimented, explaining that it could only intervene when the Police could no longer function or continue to keep the peace.

According to him, there is a procedure for the Army’s intervention in internal security operations, explaining that the process was duly followed in the Southern Kaduna crisis.

Ahmadu, who was accompanied by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen

Sani Usman, told journalists that the Army would begin ‘Operation Ex Harbin Kunama’ to strengthen existing peace initiatives in the zone.

The operation will be held in Birnin Gwari area of Southern Kaduna and other contiguous zones in Plateau and Bauchi States, he said.

He explained that the objective of the exercise was to initiate civil-military activities, create public awareness on peace, construction of schools, boreholes and provision of educational materials.

Ahmadu said the Army would conduct the Nigerian Army Small Arms Championship (NASAC) in Sambisa forest as part of its strategy for securing the area against the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

Asked if the Sambisa forest was secured enough to embark on such operations, he assured that the Army had already cleared the area for the NASAC exercise.

House Tells President to Order Military to End Southern Kaduna Killings Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the military and the police to be more proactive in identifying the exact areas of the

attacks in Southern Kaduna and end the killings.

The lawmakers at plenary yesterday, also called on the military to carry out a comprehensive security mapping to identify the base of the attackers in order to combat the menace.

The House made the call following the adoption of the resolutions of a motion sponsored by Hon. Gideon Gwani (Kaduna APC) who highlighted the recent attacks at Tachirak, Adu and Tsonje villages of Kaura constituency, which claimed 13 lives.

He lamented that despite the 24 hours curfew imposed in the area and the presence of the military and police, gunmen continue to attack villages and unleash mayhem.

The House mandated its Committees on Army, Air Force, Police Affairs, Interior and Internal Security and Intelligence to analyse the situation and proffer solutions to the security challenges in the area.

The joint committee is expected to report back in four weeks.

Southern Kaduna Clergy Wants Herdsmen Flushed From Hideouts

50 KILLED, 200 INJURED AS AIRFORCE JET BOMBS SETTLEMENTS IN ERROR the accident.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regrets at the incident and has appealed for calm over the ‘’unfortunate accidental bombing,’’ saying the accident happened while the Nigerian Air Force engaged in the final phase of mopping up Boko Haram terrorists in the North-east.

“So far, it is a little bit disturbing; death has occurred.

There are casualties; there were deaths and injuries,’’ New Agency of Nigeria quoted MajGen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole as saying on Tuesday.

He said: “This morning, we received a report about the gathering of Boko Haram terrorists around Kala Balge area

of Maiduguri. I coordinated and directed that the air component of the operation should go and address the problem.

“Unfortunately, the strike was conducted but it turned out that other civilians were somewhere around the area and they were affected.’’

He said some humanitarian staff of Medicines Sans Frontiers and some staff of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) were also affected.

“We are sending helicopters to evacuate those that were critically wounded, including our wounded soldiers.”

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) described the incident as unfortunate and highly regrettable.

In a statement by the Director,

Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the NAF said it would keep updating the public as soon as investigations were concluded.

Famuyiwa said: "The NAF is saddened by today’s accidental air strike by its fighter jet at Rann in Kala Balge area of Borno State in which some innocent lives were lost.

While available information is sketchy, the Theatre Commander OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE is taking appropriate steps to avail us with details of the incident.

"The loss occasioned by this unfortunate incident is deeply regretted. The NAF commiserates with those affected and their families and would update the public as soon as

detailed facts emerge from the investigation."

MSF said that many of the casualties were believed to be displaced people who had fled from areas where Boko Haram had carried out attacks.

The charity's Director of Operations, Jean-Clement Cabrol, said: "This large-scale attack on vulnerable people who have already fled from extreme violence is shocking and unacceptable."

MSF spokesman Etienne l'Hermitte urged the Nigerian authorities to facilitate evacuations of those injured by land and air.

"Our medical and surgical teams in Cameroon and Chad are ready to treat wounded patients. We are in close contact

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017• T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

We Recovered N54m, Other Currencies from Justice Ademola’s House, Witness Tells Court Alex Enumah in Abuja A prosecution witness, Ike Onuoha, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja how he and other operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) found various amount of money, including foreign currencies at the residence of Justice Adeniyi Ademola during their sting operation at the residence of some senior judges last October.

Justice Ademola, his wife, Olubowale and Agi were been arraigned by the federal government on a 16-count charge of criminal conspiracy to offer and receive gratification in various ways contrary to section 8(1)(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed trial yesterday, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Segun

Jegede, the witness, who is the leader of an eight-man team that carried out the operation, told the court that monies were discovered after they forcefully gained entrance into the residence of the judge at No 30b S.O Ogbemudia Crescent, Apo legislative quarters.

According to him after the search which was done in the presence of his lawyer, Joe Agi SAN and his cook, Ken, the operatives recovered the sum of N54million, 121,279 dollars, 4,400 euros, 80 pounds and 1,010 rupees.

Apart from the monies, the witness also stated that the two pump action rifles were also recovered alongside 35 life cartridges.

However, the witness under cross examination admitted that he was not aware whether there is a complaint or not against the judge, adding that his team was briefed based on a petition and information relating to incriminating items in the

house of the said judge.

Under cross-examination by counsel to Justice Ademola, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness admitted that he did not see the petition and that he did not know whether there was a petition or not against the judge.

He further admitted that there was no complaint of stolen or missing money to have warranted the recovery of the said amount from the judge’s residence.

Speaking on how they gained entry into the judges’ residence, Onuoha disclosed that his team forced the main door of the house opened using screw bar due to the refusal of Ademola’s cook and the private security

guard to open the door for them even after he introduced himself and also told them their mission.

Under further crossexamination, Ikpeazu had confronted the witness that there were bullets holes on the security door of the judge, but the witness answered in the negative.

When also asked whether the judge searched his body before he commenced the search on the house, the witness answered no, but however added that the cook searched him.

The witness also admitted that he did not see Mrs Olubowale Ademola who is the second defendant in the matter in the house on the said day and that none of her property

was part of things recovered from the house.

While being cross examined by counsel to Agi who the third defendant, Jeff Njikonye, the witness admitted that he knew from the media that the DSS is pursuing a sensitive case against Sambo Dasuki and Nnamdi Kanu.

When asked whether he knew that Justice Ademola gave an order against the DSS to release Dasuki from its custody after three months in detention without a charge, the witness said it was correct.

According to Njikonye, “I put it to you that the courageous ruling of the first defendant was his offense against the DSS.” The witness however, said

he was not aware of such.

After calling two witnesses, the prosecution prayed for an adjournment till today to bring two more witnesses.

The defence however, opposed the application for adjournment on grounds that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provided for a day to day trial and that they are ready to continue with the trial.

Responding the prose union informed the court that some of his witnesses have complained that they are being threatened by unknown persons and because of that the prosecution could not have access to them.

In a short ruling, the court adjourned till today at the instance of the prosecution.

FG Confirms Negotiation with Boko Haram to Free Chibok Girls The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, yesterday reassured that the negotiations for the release of other Chibok girls in captivity were ongoing.

The minister disclosed this at the Air Force Base in Yola in a briefing to conclude a day and night rounds of search sortie of the missing girls to Sambisa Forest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr. Mohammed; the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Alli; the convener of the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group, Oby Ezekwesili; as well as selected local and foreign journalists participated in the search mission.

Mohammed said the success recorded by the military in the theatre of war was helping the negotiation because of the carrot and stick approach of government to ending insurgency.

He recalled that a meeting was recently held which was a near success and added that the government would not rest on its oars in ensuring a safe return of all the missing girls and others in captivity.

“The negotiations are still on, but unfortunately unlike the search operations, we cannot take you along to the negotiation table.

“I want to assure you that these negotiations are going on but they are very complicated and delicate and shift from time to time,” he said.

The minister commended the military for the victories recorded in various operations at decimating the insurgents particularly in Sambisa forest.

He noted that the capture of Camp Zairo in Sambisa, which is the headquarters and stronghold of the insurgents

was very crucial to defeating the terrorists.

The minister stressed that the proportion of the camp to the size of the forest notwithstanding, ”the capture is a big victory for the military “Camp Zairo might occupy probably one kilometre out of 60,000 kilometres expanse of Sambisa, but it is so crucial to us in this war.

“It is like imagining that there is a war and the Villa is captured.

That is the essence of camp zairo.

“It is not the extent of physical expanse but that we struck at the very heart of insurgency and it does not mean the end of the campaign in Sambisa forest,’’ he said.

Mohammed commended the Air Force for their professionalism and for deployment of modern technology in their operations.

The minister also commended the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, for initiating the search mission.

He added that it served its objective of participating and better understanding of the efforts of the military in fighting insurgency.

Speaking on casualty figure of his men, Mr. Abubakar said they were very lucky in terms of suffering casualties on their air operations.

“First and foremost, the enemy does not have air assets and we take training very seriously.

“We do everything possible to ensure capacity development of our pilots and we make judicious use of the personnel that are on ground,” he said.

He thanked the minister, the BBOG delegation, the journalists and others that participated in the exercise.

80 YEARS AND STILL COUNTING.....

L-R: Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; celebrant, Justice Alfa Belgore (rtd); Ibrahim Adbullahi (SAN); and former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd); cutting the 80th birthday cake of Justice Belgore at the public presentation of a book titled: Legal Rights and Obligations Under the Nigerian Law at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja ....yesterday

Witness Faults Attempt by FG to Link Saraki with Foreign Transfers Alex Enumah in Abuja The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, for alleged asset declaration falsification continued yesterday with the revelation from a prosecution witness, Amazu Nwanchukwu, that AMEX Limited, operators of Saraki’s foreign card was not a bank The witness also rubbished attempt by the prosecutor to link Saraki with series of foreign transfers, saying he knew nothing about the alleged foreign accounts transactions by the defendant when he was the Governor of Kwara State.

The witness, a senior staff of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), told the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja that he was given the documents he read at the tribunal by the prosecution and not that he has knowledge of the alleged transactions.

Under cross-examination by Paul Usoro (SAN), counsel to

Saraki, the witness said: “I was just ask to read the documents not that I knew anything about them.

“I saw the telexes said to have been used for funds transfer to foreign countries when I came into contact with this case. I have nothing to do with the transfer; I was not the one who conducted the transfer.”

The witness further told the tribunal that he did not see the documents at the Ilorin branch of the bank and that he never saw the forms filled by Saraki for the alleged funds transfer.

Pressed further by Usoro, the witness admitted that he was not the one that collated the forms and that he did not source for the documents from the Ilorin branch to authenticate the alleged funds transfer.

“I am only concerned about my unit, and I am talking as a staff of the bank and not as one who work at the branch where the alleged funds transfer was

carried out in Ilorin.”

The witness further told the tribunal that he made his statement to EFCC September 10, 2015, five days after Saraki had been charged before the tribunal by the federal government.

On Saraki’s relationship with American Express Bank and Fortis Bank of London, the witness informed the Justice Umar Danladi-led tribunal that he did not consult with the two banks to know their relationship with Saraki.

He further said he did not know anything about the mortgage serviced by Saraki when he was the governor of Kwara State, adding, “I have never seen the agreement paper or any account opening mandate with Fortis Bank to establish that the defendant maintained foreign accounts with Fortis Bank of London.

I have never seen the fund transfer request forms from

the defendant.

“My unit, the fund transfer unit, does not have direct interface with the customer.

We do not also interface with beneficiaries of transferred funds.”

“I am aware that American Express Services Europe Limited where Saraki allegedly transferred money to was not a bank. The E-payment unit of GTBank carries out such foreign funds transfer and I have never worked at the unit. I cannot give evidence on the operation of the American express bank too because I have not worked there.”

On the alleged fire that gutted the foreign operations unit of the bank in 2011 the witness said he did not say anything on the fire outbreak in his statement to the EFCC because he only answered broad questions put to him by EFCC during interrogation and that the inventory of what the fire consumed was not made available to the tribunal.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017• T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Global Gas Markets Face Volatility amid Low Investment Ejiofor Alike with agency report The efforts of Nigeria and other gas producers to monetise their gas resources face fresh threats as the Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has stated that the global gas markets will become more volatile in coming years if the low price environment continues to deter investment in new supply projects.

While investors are yet to sign the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Brass LNG as a result of investors’ indecision, the Train 7 of Nigeria LNG Limited is also yet to take off.

Also the Olokola LNG being proposed between the border towns of Ondo and Ogun States have literally been abandoned following the withdrawal of other shareholders from the project.

Reuters reported that Asian spot liquefied natural gas prices fell from a two-year high this week as production restarts of Angolan and Australian plants boosted supply back into a subdued market, which had been reeling due to outages and high seasonal demand.

The spot price of LNG LNG-AS for February delivery to North Asia fell to $9.50 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), 25 cents lower than

last week’s level, traders said.

“If it (low investment) continues like this then after five years we will be experiencing a very challenging situation in terms of security of supply,” Seyed Mohammad Hossein Adeli, a former advisor to Iran’s minister of petroleum, told Reuters in an interview at the GECF’s headquarters in Doha.

“It will make the market volatile and shoot up the demand side and then it would have its impact on the prices,” he said.

Global gas prices will remain under pressure “over the medium term as additional production capacity in Australia and the U.S. comes on stream”, Adeli said.

The GECF, an intergovernmental organisation founded in 2001 and headquartered in Doha is made up of 11 of the world’s leading natural gas producers including Iran, Qatar and Russia.

The forum, whose members control over 70 percent of the world’s natural gas reserves, said in a global gas outlook report released on Tuesday that demand for gas would increase by about 50 percent by 2040, a similar growth to that experienced over the past 16 years.

The report forecast domestic demand for gas among GECF countries to increase from 1,000 to 1,300 billion cubic metres (bcm) by 2040 and said Iran would see

the strongest domestic growth, followed by Russia, Egypt, Iraq and Nigeria.

Critics have derided the GECF for not managing the natural gas market as the OPEC exporting group has done with oil, but Adeli said the GECF had no intention of taking collective action to control prices and would instead, continue

to provide members analytical support.

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DEFEND YOUR ACTIONS

Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika (left), and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola during an interactive Boko Haram/Kaduna session with the Senate on the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport for repairs in Abuja.... yesterday Julius Atoi Killings: Buhari Not Sincere with Nigerians, Fayose Says Bomb Blast: Governor Shettima Orders Emergency Medical Response Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti “Look at the Boko Haram Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that President Muhammadu Buhari is not sincere with Nigeria about the strength of Boko Haram terrorists.

He faulted the federal government on claims that the terrorists have been technically emasculated and that government was clamping down heavily on perpetrators of the Southern Kaduna massive killings.

Fayose, who disclosed that he is not just an opposition to the government but also, that he has chosen the path of revealing the truth to Nigerians against all odds, urged the citizens to look at the sequence of events in the country and juxtapose them with his comments and how things are turning out to be.

Fayose, who made the remarks yesterday in Ado-Ekiti during a chat with journalists, cited the recent upsurge in insurgency despite claims by the military and the federal government that the terrorist group had been defeated, said he had told Nigerians that the government was being economical with the truth.

“I do not want to be seen as an opposition figure, but a man who tells Nigerians the truth.

You can place my predictions, comments and warnings side by side with happenings in the country, and you would know that I tell the truth and I do not mince words.

issue. The federal government first said it has technically defeated the group; later, they brought a flag to the president saying Boko Haram has been utterly defeated, but look at what we are witnessing now? In as much as they are making some efforts, they are not telling us the truth.

“I can’t join them to lie. I say the truth and stand by it.

Over 1,000 people have been killed in Southern Kaduna, but what are they telling Nigerians? It is a pity that the military has been drafted into the lying game. They too are no longer saying the truth. If you look at the video clips sent from Southern Kaduna before the military clamped down on sending such videos out, you will know that we have a terrible situation on hand.

“Hunger is unprecedented in the land. The economy is down and people are hiding under the guise of fighting corruption to hunt opposition figures. A government that cannot make any impression in the first two years, I am afraid, may not be able to make any at all,” the governor said.

On his achievements in office, Fayose said he had raised the standard, and that despite the huge debts left by his predecessor and the economic downturn, he had done what Napoleon might not be able to do.

Terrorism will soon become history, says Ayokunle “While Shettima is working to ensure that all victims are evacuated as soon as possible, Following the unfortunate the State Commissioner of Health incident at Rann in Kala-Balge has mobilised medical doctors, Local Government Area of Borno nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists State, Governor Kashim Shettima and other health officials in all has ordered the State Ministry of hospitals owned by Borno State Health to set up an emergency Government . unit with all medical hospitals Also he has also asked that under the State Government ambulances be deployed. located in Maiduguri which include “The medical experts are the State Specialist Hospital, the currently on standby with Professor Umaru Shehu Hospital emergency consumables set for and General Muhammad Shuwa treatment of victims soon as they memorial hospital, all placed on arrive Maiduguri. standby in readiness to carryout “Casualty figures are yet to be emergency treatment. ascertained but from information The governor’s spokesman, Isa available to the Governor, there Gusau, said in a statement emailed are records of deaths with many to journalists, that Governor persons injured. The Governor’s Shettima received the news with heart is with families of all those very deep concern while he has affected and urges citizens to pray channeled his focus on ensuring for the repose of the souls of those that all the victims, particularly dead and the speedy recovery of those with severe injuries are the injured. provided urgent medical treatment.

“Shettima looks forward to He said as at yesterday, the formal communication from International Committee of the the military to ascertain what Red Cross and Red Crescent has happened and would brief the deployed a helicopter which is on press should there be the need to ground at Rann to begin evacuation do so. For now, all focus should of victims, starting with those with be on the evacuation of victims the most critical health conditions. and the provision of emergency He added that The MSF (Doctors medical services to them.” without border) along with officials Meanwhile, the Christian of the state government have been Association of Nigeria (CAN) has first responders. condemned the twin bombings According to him, “Governor that rocked the University of Shettima particularly commends Maiduguri, Borno State, killing the MSF for its rapid response in a university professor and five providing first aide treatment to others last Monday. victims at the scene.

The CAN President, Rev.

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

Samson Ayokunle, who said this in a statement yesterday, commiserated with the families of the victims and expressed optimism the menace would become history.

Ayokunle also condemened Boko Haram terrorists for the attacks, saying: “Only satanic agents amid us could perpetrate such dastardly acts, and wondered when worshipping God has become a crime.”

Three suicide bombers reportedly sneaked into the institution and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at three different locations, including a mosque near gates 4 and 5 of the institution, killing Professor Aliyu Mani, five others including the suicide bombers while over 19 others suffered multiple injuries.

The Christian umbrella organisation also condemned the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, who in a new audio released, claimed responsibility for the unprecedented bomb attack in the institution.

“CAN condemns the wicked and criminal bombing of people worshipping in the mosques at the University of Maiduguri recently.

“What offence did these worshippers commit to warrant this? Only the demon possessed individuals can be behind this type of act,” Ayokunle stated.

While commiserating with the bereaved, CAN president

also prayed for divine comfort, wishing those recuperating in the hospital a quick recovery.

He, however, tasked the security agencies to go after the terrorists who have been dislodged from their strongholds but going about attacking soft targets with a view to ending the menace as soon as possible.

The clergyman also advised members of the public to compliment the efforts of the security operatives by reporting suspected people to them.

Part of the statement further read: “The CAN commiserates with the family of the victims of the terrorist attacks, and prays for the comfort of the Holy Spirit for them. The association as well prays for quick recovery for those who were injured.

“We urge the federal government through the law enforcement agents not to relent in going after these evil men in our midst. They are already dislodged from Sambisa forest and are scattered all around to target public places and unsuspecting people to perform their heinous enterprise.”

“We urge all Nigerians to be watchful and quickly report suspicious moves and individuals to the law enforcement agents.

We would soon overcome completely terrorism in Nigeria in the name of Jesus,” Ayokunle who is also the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, stated.

12

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017 T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017• T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

NCC to Impose N5m Fine on Telcos for Breach of Unsolicited SMS Directives Danbatta: Only 1.8% of Nigerians have activated the do-not-disturb option

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umaru Danbatta, yesterday, said the

commission is at the verge of imposing a N5 million fine on telecommunications companies which breach its regulation on the Do-Not-Disturb (DND) option for subscribers

THISDAY Finance Director Loses Wife The wife of the Director of Finance of THISDAY Newspapers Limited, Mrs. Mabel Iwegbu, is dead. She died on January 3, after a brief illness. She was aged 36. She is survived by husband, daughter, brothers and sisters.

A statement signed by the husband, Mr. Peter Iwegbu, said the burial arrangements would begin with service of songs on January 24 at the Journalist International School playground, Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Estate Phase 1, Arepo, Ogun State by 4p.m.

The statement added that on January 26, there

would be interment at her residence, in Iru-Egbede near Abudu,Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State by 11a.m.

Mrs. Iwegbu

regarding unsolicited text message.

While addressing the journalists last week in Abuja, the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, averred that the quality of service and the deluge of unsolicited text message rendered by Mobile Nework Operators (MNOs), have reached an alarming level, adding that this prompted him to read the riot to the service providers in 2016.

Danbatta, while answering questions at the side line of a meeting with members of the academia on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) study group in Abuja, said NCC would take drastic action against MNOs with a fine of N5 million per breach of the DND code option for subscribers.

NCC, he said, was not happy with the unsolicited text message problem, because the consumers continue to be at the receiving end from unsolicited text message sent by mobile network operators, adding that this will be drastically

addressed by the commission.

He said: “The commission will ensure the implementation of these two items by providing a toll free number so that NCC will receive complaints from the consumers on the quality of service, though the level of resolutions of issues associated with quality of service has been reasonable.

“NCC recently introduced a regulation of the DND directive which compels MNOs not to send unsolicited text messages to subscribers or consumers. We are at the stage of imposing this direction, meaning that any breach of this direction will attract a fine of N5 million.”

According to the EVC, NCC will henceforth ensures that credit deducted from subscribers on unsolicited text message is refunded back besides invoking the N5 million fine on the operator.

However, he admitted that the fine would come as a measure of last resort, stressing that this is to ensure total compliance to safe guard the consumers from being exploited by telecom operators.

He said: “We are now at the stage of imposing this direction as I speak to you.

The DND option that enables the consumers to opt out of the process of receiving unsolicited text message.

The directive empowers the consumers to tell the operator

to stop sending him/her unsolicited text message.

He said NCC has designated 2017 to empower subscribers on their rights, adding: “The directive is very clear to the operators but unfortunately the level of activation by the consumers is abysmally low as only one per cent of 180 million people have activated the DND option.

“That means only 1.8 million Nigerians really understand the direction on how to activate the DND directive.

“We are not happy about it because we feel the consumers continue to be at the receiving end from unsolicited text messages sent by mobile network operators and we intend to address this drastically.”

He said the commission would improve on its education and sensitisation of consumers to appreciate the DND, adding that it targets 50 per cent of consumers at the end of the campaign drive.

The EVC urged the academia and research institutes in the telecom space to come up with solutions to the myriads of problems confronting the quality of service, congestion control and channels controls in the sector.

Danbatta said: “All the models that we came up with in the course of research could be put to use even if it

is on pilot basis in order to find solutions to intractable problems of quality of service.

“So this engagement is quite apt, especially in view of the fact that we intend to make 2017 the year of the consumer.

We intend to make sure that most of the directions issued out that are not understood by the consumers will be addressed.”

He said the commission would listen to the consumer, educate them on issues that are too technical to comprehend: “We intend to come down to the level of the consumers in order to get him to buy into the various regulations that are consumer centric and so in the process of trying to accomplish this objective, I think the university system has important role to play.” the EVC said.

He stressed further: “How do we simplify complex regulatory processes to the level that ordinary people can understand them in a manner that we convey this to the public, how do we simplify the technical issues that are associated with these regulations so that these can be understood by the people we have undertake in our 8 point agenda.

“How do we use brokenEnglish for instance for the consumers in far locations to understand how to activate the DND option, that will empower the consumer to entertain any text message that he/she wants in order to opt out of any messages that he or she is not interested.

“How do we translate the various options in a way and manner that ordinary consumer will be able to understand and therefore activate whatever option of the DND option that we have diligently came up with as only about 1.8 million Nigerians have activated now going by the statistics of NCC for a population of 180 million which is about 1.8 percent.

In her remarks, a lecturer at the Federal University of Minna, Prof. Elizabeth Onwuka, said the the interaction is expected to produce a better synergy between the academia and industry, adding: “The university produces the manpower required by the industry for the benefit of the users and consumers.

“NCC’s partnering the academia is going to yield a lot of benefits because this working together is symbiotic and it is something that we cannot do without because the academia trains the manpower that the industry works with.

“The market changes but the industry needs of the people and so when the industry and the academia work together, the academia keys into these changes and they train the manpower that would adapt to the society.

14

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2016

COMMENT

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

AGENDA FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP (1)

I

Sonnie Ekwowusi urges DonaldTrump to restore some of those family values ‘destroyed’ during the Obama administration

n two days, precisely on Friday, President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated the 45th President of the United States. A first-time comer to American politics, Trump’s inauguration is expected to be attended by the crème de la crème world leaders, American populace, politicians, policymakers, opinion moulders, captains of industries, leaders of multinationals across the world and so forth.

Against popular predictions and popular sentiments, the underrated Donald Trump defeated the overrated Hilary Clinton in the last November American Presidential election. Trump won a total of 304 electoral votes against Clinton’s 227. Although Clinton won the majority votes, Trump trounced her in most of the American counties and communities, an evidence that Trump’s popularity cuts across the broad spectrum of communities.

Trump won the most widespread votes in terms of geographicallywidespread votes. In fact, Trump’s triumph shattered all established American dreams and the boundaries of American politics. White voters, non-white voters, Latino voters, college educated whites, young adult white voters in the age bracket of 18-29, black voters and even American women voters all voted for Trump. Trump’s victory over Clinton marks a stunning upset perhaps comparable to President Harry Truman upset over Governor E. Dewey in 1948. You will recall that prior to the re-election of Truman only a few people thought he could win a re-election. Public opinion and perhaps media hype had projected Dewey as the winner of the election. The Chicago Tribune was so sure of a Dewey victory that it came out with a bold headline “Dewey defeats Truman” early before all the votes were counted. But after the votes were counted, underdog Truman was re-elected. The 1948 Truman prodigy was reenacted in last November in the Presidential election. Trump, the underdog triumphed.

Considering Trump’s tortuous route to power and his survival of all the “coups” so far plotted against him (In his article on December 28, 2016 James Peters narrated how members of the American elite including George Soros were doing everything possible to truncate the Trump presidency and prevent President Trump from fulfiling his electoral promises), many are now inclined to share the common belief that Trump is God’s instrument to do his will in America and in the world. Therefore as Trump occupies the White House, the logical questions are: What will the Trump Presidency turn out to be? Should Trump restore the fundamental principles implicit in the words of Declaration of American Independence 1776 and the bedrock of American democratic tradition which were destroyed or deconstructed during the Barack Obama/ Hilary Clinton administration? Amid increasing terrorism, clashing of arms, suicide bombings and human crises especially the Middle East crisis threatening international peace, what common values should Trump identify with to facilitate the building of a new international order where justice, service, peace, respect for human dignity, intrinsic worth of the human person and mutual understanding reign? Coming nearer home, how will Africa especially Nigeria fare under the Trump Presidency?

Trump’s priority in his first 100 days in office, in my view, should be the restoration of the fundamental principles - those truth-claims, practical wisdom and constitutional insights of the American founding fathers - which are the bulwark of American democracy, and by extension, given America’s influence in the world, the superstructure of world democracies. During his campaign, Trump adopted the campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” which originated with Ronald Reagan campaign in 1980. But if Trump truly wants to make America great

CONSIDERING TRUMP’S TORTUOUS ROUTE TO POWER AND HIS SURVIVAL OF ALL THE ‘COUPS’ SO FAR PLOTTED AGAINST HIM, MANY ARE NOW INCLINED TO SHARE THE COMMON BELIEF THAT TRUMP IS GOD’S INSTRUMENT TO DO HIS WILL IN AMERICA AND IN THE WORLD

again, if he is keen on re-dedicating America to the central truths which inspired the founding of America; if he is inspired to build a new world order where justice, service, peace, respect for human dignity, intrinsic worth of the human person and mutual understanding will reign, then he must work hard to restore those universally acknowledged values that were destroyed or deconstructed during the Obama/Clinton administration.

Barack Obama was a superstar in the fashion of movie superstars that thrill movie watchers. But beneath the Obama superstardom lay huge contradictions and paradoxes that somehow depicted him as a mystery man. “Obama: A mystery man”, is a title of a book waiting to be written. The good things that Obama did with his right hand he destroyed with his left hand. For example, the Affordable Health Care Act popularly known as the Obamacare that gave Americans unimpeded access to cheap health-care services would have been one of the most uplifting policies in America since its foundation. But unfortunately the same Obama who created the Obamacare was misusing it to, among other things, force conscientious objectors to compulsorily pay for abortion against their conscience contrary to the American Constitution.

Now it is not unlikely that the first thing the Trump administration will do after the inauguration is to repeal the Obamacare.

Surely, posterity will find it difficult to spell out what could be called the Obama legacy. Even Obama himself may find it difficult to articulate the Obama legacy. Why? Because even though Obama delivered economic growth; even though he strove to promote cheap and affordable health-care system and Social Security in America, he put America into real identity and civilisational crises. Under Obama, the American civilisation further went down the drain. How? Obama compromised the dignity and intrinsic worth of the American person.

“It’s the economy, stupid”. Prior to the 2016 American elections, Editor of First Things Magazine R.R. Reno wrote that the American voters had lost confidence in that dogma. He was right. When you take away all that is most cherished in the human person you have left him to die away like one miserable animal. By legalising bestiality or sex with horses (beasts) among American soldiers, Obama somehow reduced the human person to the level of an animal.

Under Obama/Clinton, 8th graders in the U.S. were receiving lessons on “oral and anal” sex, while 4th graders were receiving instructions about incest. U.S. students in kindergarten were taught about same-sex or gay marriage. The goal is to make the students come to harmonious terms with homosexual, bisexual, and transgender identity. Obama directed that masturbation machines should be installed along the expressways for use of “desperate” passers-by and motorists. Under Obama, the world witnessed the worst anthropological cataclysm.

Under transgenderism and gender neutrality, Obama blurred the biological difference between a male and female. The “Male toilet” notice and the “Female toilet” notice affixed on the doors in public places were to be removed. Obama directed that any male student who considers himself a female irrespective of his biological sex can easily walk into a female bathroom and shower together with the girls there.

Conversely, any female student who considers herself a male irrespective of her biological sex can now freely walk into a male bathroom and shower together with the boys there. Prior to acting as aforesaid, the student is not obliged to present a specific medical diagnosis or medical evidence that he or she has undergone a transgender surgery. All that is sufficient is for the student to “believe” that he or she is a male or a female irrespective of his or her biological sex.

POWER WITHOUT CONTROL

I

got acquainted with the phrase, “Power is nothing without control” through the television commercials of the tyre --Pirelli. I was so in love with the phrase that I had to buy that brand of tyre at the time.This phrase “power is nothing without control “ is instructive. It is powerful and a reminder that power in whatever form must be used for the good of society. It must be used with restraint. Once power is misused by its holder, the society suffers. Several things give way.

However, the holder of power ultimately falls victim of his misuse of power.

A pilot is very powerful. He can easily terminate lives if he decides to misuse his power. But, as he terminates the lives of others while misusing his power, he destroys himself as well. Nigerians are living witnesses of the ungodly conspiracy between the Police High Command, other security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a section of the online media in their bid to destroy the very essence of good governance and political stability in Rivers State.

Since the conduct of the December 10, 2016 rerun elections, these agencies and a notorious online medium have gone beserk, feasting on mischief and falsehood in relation to Rivers State. They plot evil on a daily basis, forgeting their primary responsibility to the nation. In their blind desperation, they have allowed the security of the country to degenerate. Between December 10, 2016 and now, the country has lost close to 2000 helpless Nigerians because the security architecture is fixated on Rivers

The misuse of power has consequences, writes Simeon Nwakaudu

State. The Inspector General of Police and his newly promoted Public Relations Officer talk only about Rivers State. For pecuniary and selfish reasons, they have lost control of their power. Remember, power is nothing without control.

The IGP arranged in his own estimation 28,000 policemen, 20 gunboats, horses, dogs and about 300 patrol vans and Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Rivers Rerun. Just to use his power to manipulate the people’s mandate. However, when the murderous herdsmen adjudged to be foreigners invaded southern Kaduna, the IG, Ibrahim Idris deployed only 500 policemen as widely reported by pro-All Progressives Congress media.

The failure to positively use his power has led to the decimation of southern Kaduna. Imagine what would have happened if the Inspector General of Police had used his power to deploy just 14000 policemen, 100 patrol vans and Armoured Personnel Carriers to southern Kaduna. Where the policemen were needed, he failed to send them. Instead he chose to unleash mayhem on Rivers people to please his paymasters. A few days ago, the Nigerian Police Special Joint Investigation Panel on Rivers Rerun visited Government House, Port Harcourt. I saw a team out for mischief. The composition of that team exposed the inability of IG, Ibrahim Idris, to control the power placed in his care.

Aside the figure head chairman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro, 80 per cent of the membership of the panel is made up of northerners.

The membership of that panel is as follows: Haliru Usman Allahnanan, Assistant Director Internal Security, DSS; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Habu Sani; Zayana Yusuf, Assistant Director, Counter Terrorism of DSS; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari; Chief Superintendent of Police, Dankaro Yakubu; Chief Superintendent of Police, Yusuf Abdulrazak; Chief Superintendent of Police Aliyu Abubakar; Superintendent of Police, Chuks; ASP Mshelia Jonathan; ASP A. Ibrahim and ASP Benjamin Babatunde. Do you need a soothsayer to tell you that Damian Okoro’s duty in that panel is just to read already prepared statements like Don Awunah has been doing?

Just like Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike told the so-called panel, they were in Rivers State to act the script of the IGP. Shortly after they left the Government House, they detailed a rogue SARS Commander to arrest INEC ad-hoc staff in constituencies where Peoples Democratic Party won. The panel and their master can no longer control their power. As the IG pointed his finger on Rivers State over his political failure during the rerun legislative elections, his failings have been exposed by the National Assembly. His deliberate refusal to put his power in check has become public knowledge, especially as far as appropriated funds are concerned. The National Assembly also voted a separate N6bn in the 2016 budget for the rehabilitation of 102 police stations nationwide.

This misuse of power has been responsible for the untold insecurity across the country. The internal

security architecture of the country has collapsed.

There is also the powerful notorious online publisher on the payroll of APC. He has been indicted for blackmail, extortion and threat to life.

Evidently he has lost control of his power. His misuse of his media power is now haunting him.

The security crisis that has engulfed other parts of the country exposes the failure of the traditional media to use their powers rightly. Today, the southern Kaduna killings are largely under-reported.

Most Nigerians get information from the social media. When Rivers State had security challenges in the recent past, the traditional media lost control of its power.

Even so, in Rivers State, the people are getting the benefits of good governance daily. It appears to be the only state in the country where the governor spreads projects to all communities. Very quality projects. It is one of the states where civil servants and pensioners have their welfare on the priority list. The security situation in the state has improved tremendously.

Governor Wike’s pro-people governance style is the reason why Rivers people have remained committed to his leadership. Therefore, the conspiracies against Rivers State will continue to fail.

The persistent misuse of power by security agencies and their ill-informed media partners will only strengthen the resolve of Rivers people to defend their democratically elected governor. Those who fail to control the power they hold in trust for the nation will eventually fall victim of their misuse of power.

15

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

EDITORIAL MAKING THE POLICE MORE EFFECTIVE Community support and participation are critical to improving police performance

W

hile the surest way to fighting crime in any society remains equipping the police for the discharge of their onerous responsibility, Nigeria seems to have abandoned that route for the short cut of deploying military troops to quell every civil disobedience. From armed robbery to kidnapping to sectarian violence, the authorities now believe only the military can deal with such situations. Unfortunately, it would appear as if the police authorities are comfortable with a situation that has relegated them into irrelevance even as they continue to lose the respect of many Nigerians. That is not good for the Police Force.

Ordinarily, the duties of the police are to maintain law and order in the society, protect lives and property, prevent the commission of crime and where committed, detect those responsible and bring them to justice, using the instrumentality of the law. But, as most Nigerians would agree, they are failing on these counts such that until military troops are drafted to deal with upheavals in any parts of our UNTIL WE SUCCEED IN country today, people BUILDING A MODERN no longer feel secure.

POLICE, ABLE AND What that suggests EQUIPPED TO TACKLE is that there is an THE EMERGING SECURITY urgent need to reform CHALLENGES, WE CANNOT our police for the difficult task at hand. As HAVE SUSTAINABLE the situation is, what PEACE IN THE COUNTRY the polity can boast of presently is a police force that has become easy game for a more sophisticated world of crime. Today, our policemen seem to be more comfortable doing guard duties at the residences of members of the political and business elite rather in fighting crimes. Yet we cannot continue to outsource policing duties to an already overstretched military.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, we state that the best approach to fighting crime remains effective intelli-

Letters to the Editor

gence gathering that not only helps in pre-empting and disrupting criminal activity but is also indispensable for the investigations of crime. But only a well-equipped and professional police can gather the close-to-theground information that is necessary for such exercise and where this crucial intelligence does not flow, as it is the case today in the country, the system is endangered.

But for them to be effective in fighting crime, they must begin to build that trust.

I 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

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOlA BEllO, KAYODE KOMOlAfE, ISRAEl IWEGBU, EMMANUEl EfENI, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OlUfEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS pETER IWEGBU, fIDElIS ElEMA, MBAYIlAN ANDOAKA, ANThONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEh ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS hENRY NWAChOKOR, SAhEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOlA TAIWO, UChENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI GENERAL MANAGER pATRICK EIMIUhI GROUP HEAD fEMI TOlUfAShE ART DIRECTOR OChI OGBUAKU II DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION ChUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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.

WINNING WAYS OF NIGERIAN MILITARY

I

t goes beyond polemic to conclude that today the Nigerian military has stamped its feet indelibly on the sands of time. And for this, the rank and file of this noble institution can begin to walk shoulder high with pride, rooted in the glory he/she has helped to attract to the Armed Forces and his/her country in general.

President Muhammadu Buhari echoed this thought flow last Sunday as he spoke to Nigerian troops on operations in Sambas Forest, Borno State and the Republic of Liberia from the Eagle Square National Arcade venue of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony in Abuja.

Speaking through live video and audio broadcast to the military command in the North-east, the first of its kind since the advent of our democracy, the president poured commendations on the troops, congratulating them on the capture of Sambas forest, hitherto the stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists. He also commended the troops for their continued effort to rid the country of insurgents.

Succinctly, this year’s Armed Forced Remembrance Day came as a lifetime opportunity for Nigeria to set a good narrative for its own armed forces on being professional, tested, brave and competent. Indeed, the international community will not agree less that resources and brawn abound in the Nigerian military having severally tapped from

n the attempts at reforming the police in Nigeria, various committees have been established by successive governments to facilitate such exercise but they have mostly been dominated by people with security background who view such assignments as their exclusive preserve. It is therefore no surprise that most of their reports have often focused on increasing policing capacity in the areas of personnel strength, materials for work and welfare; as though once these are right, the NPF will be super effective and efficient.

While not belittling the significant difference a properly resourced NPF can make in addressing the safety and security challenges currently confronting Nigeria, experience from other jurisdictions has shown that much more is required for the police to win the confidence of the people and be more efficient and effective at performing their core functions. In this direction, a recent report by civil society organisations (CSOs) has put spotlight on community support and participation which are critical to improving police performance.

The factors affecting police performance that were identified by the panel, which the federal government should pay attention to include inadequate articulation of the performance appraisal system, duplication of policing agencies, weak oversight agencies and corruption. More important, the need to improve the bartered image and public perception of the police is very crucial to the success of any reforms and recommendation. But until we succeed in building a modern police, able and equipped to tackle the emerging security challenges, we cannot have sustainable peace in the country.

such to restore peace in many troubled countries.

The world still has fond memories of how Nigeria led the ECOMOG to rescue Liberia and Sierra-Leone from internecine wars they fought for years in the 90s. The Nigerian army had severally earned commendations for excelling in Peace Keeping operations in different parts of the world since it attained independence.

Twice in 2016, the United Nation’s through the Special Assistant to United Nations Secretary General Office for West Africa, Dr. Mohammad Ibn Chambas had commended the Nigerian military on keeping to the world best standards in its campaign against terrorism. Ibn Chambas praised the professionalism of the troops to high heavens, describing their conduct as exemplary. He was of the view that by the end of 2016, the Boko Haram nightmares in Nigeria would have been history. He was simply prophetic.

Truly, in the last quarters of 2016, the Nigerian military suddenly swung into action, and as if reenergised with uncommon spirit, matched bravely into the Sambas forest. And in November, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Leo Irabor announced a comprehensive plan by the armed forces on how to encircle the Sambas forest, hitherto the stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists.

Idowu Samuel, Abuja

JAMMEH AND AFRICA’S SHADOW OF SHAME

A

re African political leaders aware that political instability hinders national growth? Yet their doings predispose their countries to being thrown into civil wars. During Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s second coming as our president, he wanted to elongate his stay in office through underhand means. But his efforts and plans to extend his stay in office beyond two terms were thwarted.

Now, “sit-tightism” is the disease of African countries’ national leaders. In Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, who is senile and gnarled with age, is still clinging to power. In Burundi, Nkuruniziza is consolidating his stay in office at a great cost to his country. He is not bothered and worried that his resolve to continue holding political office has led to the deaths of hundreds of people in Burundi.

Sadly, their long stay in offices has not led to the economic and technological advancement of their countries. Most African leaders believe themselves to be indispensable in their countries’ efforts to reach the zenith of economic and technological advancement.

Right now, the dark clouds of war are gathering ominously in The Gambia, a tiny African state. Its president, Yaya Jammeh lost a presidential election.

At first, he accepted defeat and congratulated his political opponent, Adama Barrow, who won the

election. To our surprise, he made a volte-face and said that the presidential election was marred and marked by electoral malpractice. So he rejected the results of the poll.

Yaya Jammeh, unarguably, is with megalomania.

He has prefixed his name with redundant and unnecessary titles. And sometime in the past, he claimed that he had discovered the cure for the dreaded HIV/AIDS. Such wild and scientifically unverified claims have portrayed him as a whimsical and eccentric person. More so, he declared that Gambia has become a Muslim state without sparing a thought for Gambians, who are christians.

But his latest political maneuvering and plot to entrench himself perpetually in office portends doom to Gambia and Africa in general. Jammeh should be told in no uncertain terms that nobody is bigger than a state. Hugo Grotious said this: “Governments come and go, but a state remains forever”.

ECOWAS leaders should not let the recalcitrance and intransigence of Yahya Jammeh cause a civil war in The Gambia. He should be compelled and coerced to relinquish political power without plunging the tiny African country into a fratricidal civil war. A civil war in Gambia will lead to humanitarian crisis of immense proportions.

Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

16

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017 T H I S D AY

UTILIZATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 13TH JANUARY 2017

SOURCES OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE AS AT 13TH JANUARY 2017 S/N

SOURCE

1

AUTONOMOUS

3,289.73

283.00

9-Jan-17

2

AUTONOMOUS

2,000.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

3

AUTONOMOUS

340.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

4

AUTONOMOUS

2,240.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

9-Jan-17

5

AUTONOMOUS

98.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

380.00

9-Jan-17

6

AUTONOMOUS

975.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

9-Jan-17

7

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

2,051.88

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

9-Jan-17

8

AUTONOMOUS

1,009,800.00

310.00

9-Jan-17

9

AUTONOMOUS

14,248.76

310.00

9-Jan-17

4,092.88

MEDICAL FEES

315.00

9-Jan-17

10

IMTO FUND

2,085.63

374.54

9-Jan-17

88,344.00

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY FOR HOT STEEL

305.50

9-Jan-17

11

IMTO FUND

193,362.86

375.00

9-Jan-17

KAM INDUSTRIES

11,532.50

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY FOR STEEL MELTING

305.50

9-Jan-17

12

IMTO FUND

1,501.55

375.00

9-Jan-17

23

KAM INDUSTRIES

100,123.50

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND SPARES FOR STEEL INDUSTRY

305.50

9-Jan-17

13

IMTO FUND

123,581.91

375.00

9-Jan-17

24

FLOURMILLS

POLYPROPYLENE HOMOPOLYMER IN GRANULAR FORM

310.50

9-Jan-17

14

INTERBANK

200,000.00

305.00

9-Jan-17

15

AUTONOMOUS

49.73

310.00

10-Jan-17

56

OGUNDIPE KEHINDE FEYISETAN

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

9-Jan-17

16

AUTONOMOUS

8,000.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

57

AKINLADE ADENIKE OMOLARA

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

9-Jan-17

17

AUTONOMOUS

2,969.55

310.00

10-Jan-17

58

AGBAPU ZIKORA ANTHONY

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

9-Jan-17

18

AUTONOMOUS

14.21

310.00

10-Jan-17

59

AHLUWALIA DEEPANKAR

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

9-Jan-17

19

AUTONOMOUS

10,000.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

60

OBIEZE BONIFACE

4,000.00

BTA

380.00

9-Jan-17

20

AUTONOMOUS

16.13

310.00

10-Jan-17

21

AUTONOMOUS

64,516.13

310.00

10-Jan-17

78

CBN

IMTO FUNDS

380.00

9-Jan-17

22

AUTONOMOUS

576,400.00

314.50

10-Jan-17

9

SYLVESTER O OYAMIENLEN

4,627.84

LIVING EXPENSES

380.00

10-Jan-17

23

AUTONOMOUS

207.06

310.00

10-Jan-17

10

TOLULOPE OLANREWAJU

4,680.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

10-Jan-17

24

AUTONOMOUS

70.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

11

VICTOR O OKAFOR

3,020.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

10-Jan-17

25

AUTONOMOUS

416.78

310.00

10-Jan-17

26

AUTONOMOUS

210.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

12

FOLARIN, SAMUEL OYEWALE

9,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

10-Jan-17

27

AUTONOMOUS

2,530.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

25

TATA AFRICA

288,200.00

REEVA LAMBDACYHALOTHRINE

315.00

10-Jan-17

28

AUTONOMOUS

72.46

310.00

10-Jan-17

26

TATA AFRICA

288,200.00

RAW MATERIAL REEVA 25 EC LAMBDACYHALOTHRINE

315.00

10-Jan-17

29

AUTONOMOUS

715.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

27

MERCHANT INVESTORS LTD

5,297.50

CARTONS OF POWERKILL RAT KILLER

310.50

10-Jan-17

30

AUTONOMOUS

250.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

61

GIDADO OLAKUNLE OLADAPO

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

10-Jan-17

31

AUTONOMOUS

155.46

310.00

10-Jan-17

32

AUTONOMOUS

115.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

62

BUARI WASIU ADEKUNLE

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

10-Jan-17

33

AUTONOMOUS

175.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

63

ABDULKAREEM-SULU OLAYINKA MOHAMMED

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

10-Jan-17

34

AUTONOMOUS

26.12

310.00

10-Jan-17

79

CBN

IMTO FUNDS

380.00

10-Jan-17

35

AUTONOMOUS

95.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

13

USMAN I ISIAKA

LIVING EXPENSES

380.00

11-Jan-17

36

AUTONOMOUS

2,310.44

310.00

10-Jan-17

28

FINE CHEMICALS NIGERIA LIMITED

66,052.50

RAW MATERIALS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ETHYL ACETAT

310.50

11-Jan-17

37

AUTONOMOUS

150.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

38

AUTONOMOUS

390.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

29

FINE CHEMICALS NIGERIA LIMITED

71,671.68

RAW MATERIALS FOR INDUSTRIAL USE POLYPROPYLEN

310.50

11-Jan-17

39

AUTONOMOUS

2,000.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

30

EMILY I AKAGBOSU

2,958.00

MORTGAGE FEES

325.50

11-Jan-17

40

AUTONOMOUS

730.00

310.00

10-Jan-17

31

UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA

1,250.00

BEING RECURRING CHARGES FOR CIRCUIT RENTAL

325.50

11-Jan-17

41

AUTONOMOUS

1,607.92

310.00

10-Jan-17

32

AFRICAN STEEL MILLS NIG LTD

2,000.00

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERIES

315.00

11-Jan-17

42

AUTONOMOUS

5,297.50

310.00

10-Jan-17

33

MONTANA INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED

0.32

PVC RESINS SUSPENSION GRADE FOR PVC INDUSTRY

315.00

11-Jan-17

43

IMTO FUND

2,107.85

374.60

10-Jan-17

44

IMTO FUND

182,622.22

375.00

10-Jan-17

34

MONTANA INDUSTRIES NIGERIA LIMITED

0.08

HDPE RESIN

315.00

11-Jan-17

45

IMTO FUND

1,443.80

375.00

10-Jan-17

35

OKWUTE DIVINE CONCEPT LTD

100,000.00

MOTORCYCLE SPARE PARTS

305.50

11-Jan-17

46

IMTO FUND

119,375.65

375.00

10-Jan-17

40

RAYBROS ENTERPRISES

100,000.00

SUMEC FIRMAN BRAND OF GASOLINE GENERATOR

305.50

11-Jan-17

47

AUTONOMOUS

137,724.00

310.50

11-Jan-17

46

EMERITE LTD

100,000.00

CONSUMABLES EQUIPMENT AND VARIOUS ACCESSORIES

305.50

11-Jan-17

48

AUTONOMOUS

6,468.00

308.90

11-Jan-17

64

CHUGANI SUNITA BHAGU

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

11-Jan-17

49

AUTONOMOUS

1,225.80

280.50

11-Jan-17

50

AUTONOMOUS

10,410.84

199.50

11-Jan-17

65

OLUSOGA OKWANUZOR

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

11-Jan-17

51

AUTONOMOUS

790.00

308.90

11-Jan-17

66

OKOYE EUPHEMIA ASUQUO

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

11-Jan-17

52

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

67

OKOYE JOSEPH CHINEDU

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

11-Jan-17

53

AUTONOMOUS

30.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

80

CBN

IMTO FUNDS

380.00

11-Jan-17

54

AUTONOMOUS

48.82

310.00

11-Jan-17

14

F.I IDOWU

6,701.76

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

12-Jan-17

55

AUTONOMOUS

1,000.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

56

AUTONOMOUS

95.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

15

PST DAVID OMUNAGBE

5,260.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

12-Jan-17

57

AUTONOMOUS

475.98

310.00

11-Jan-17

16

INI M BEN

3,646.50

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

12-Jan-17

58

AUTONOMOUS

1,450.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

17

GODSTIME PETROLEUM NIG LIMITED

5,236.00

ACCOMODATION FEES

380.00

12-Jan-17

59

AUTONOMOUS

49.22

310.00

11-Jan-17

18

BAWO ORITSEJAFOR

9,887.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

12-Jan-17

60

AUTONOMOUS

35.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

61

AUTONOMOUS

276.63

310.00

11-Jan-17

62

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

S/N

CUSTOMERS

AMOUNT (US$)

1

KOLA M OGUNRINDE

4,200.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

9-Jan-17

2

ADEMO TAIWO OLASINBO

9,950.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

9-Jan-17

3

PALMS AGENCY LIMITED

12,415.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

9-Jan-17

4

OBIKA OLUCHUKWU CLEMENTINA

2,211.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

5

DANIEL C UBEH

7,000.00

SCHOOL FEES

6

SOLOMON A ABE

1,556.25

7

SOLOMON A ABE

8

JOHNSON OFORTUBE

21

KAM INDUSTRIES

22

1,009,800.00

240,398.96

229,162.14 6,535.00

314,070.21

PURPOSE

RATE

DATE

AMOUNT (US$)

RATE DATE

36

UNILEVER

70,683.30

DISODIUM RIBOUNCLETIDE

316.00

12-Jan-17

44

KAM INDUSTRIES

45,766.50

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND SPARES FOR STEEL INDUSTRY

305.50

12-Jan-17

63

AUTONOMOUS

406.54

310.00

11-Jan-17

45

KAM INDUSTRIES

54,233.50

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY FOR STEEL INDUSTRY

305.50

12-Jan-17

64

AUTONOMOUS

2,000.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

47

CYBELE COSMETICS LTD

100,000.00

SPRAYER PUMPS

305.50

12-Jan-17

65

AUTONOMOUS

4,975.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

48

GENERAL PIPE INDUSTRY LIMITED

273,000.00

HOT ROLLED STEEL COILS IN COMMERCIAL QUALITY

314.50

12-Jan-17

66

AUTONOMOUS

190.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

68

OMOIGBEMI BOSIKE CHRISTABEL

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

67

AUTONOMOUS

250.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

68

AUTONOMOUS

4,400.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

69

AWE BABATOPE ADEMOLA

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

69

AUTONOMOUS

370.00

310.00

11-Jan-17

70

IGBERAESE JENNIFER EBANEHITA

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

70

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

305.50

11-Jan-17

71

ODERINU OLABISI HAJARAT

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

71

IMTO FUND

2,438.79

374.57

11-Jan-17

72

ADU OLUROPO JAMES

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

72

IMTO FUND

236,984.27

375.00

11-Jan-17

73

IMTO FUND

2,102.66

375.00

11-Jan-17

73

UBA CHIMMA EZINNE

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

74

IMTO FUND

177,234.56

375.00

11-Jan-17

74

RUKAYYAT BASHIR IBRAHIM

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

75

INTERBANK

200,000.00

305.00

11-Jan-17

75

ALOZIE IHEAZUMBU FYNEBOY

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

76

AUTONOMOUS

100.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

76

IJAODOLA FUNSHO ADEGBENGA

4,000.00

PTA

380.00

12-Jan-17

77

AUTONOMOUS

145.35

310.00

12-Jan-17

81

CBN

IMTO FUNDS

380.00

12-Jan-17

78

AUTONOMOUS

360.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

79

AUTONOMOUS

3,127.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

19

ADEDEJI, EGODI OPURICHE

2,800.00

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

13-Jan-17

80

AUTONOMOUS

5,000.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

20

GODDIEAN INDUSTRIES LTD

6,748.91

SCHOOL FEES

380.00

13-Jan-17

81

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

37

UNILEVER

155,657.52

INEDIBLE TALLOW FROM BOVINE ANIMALS

316.00

13-Jan-17

82

AUTONOMOUS

40.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

38

UNILEVER

133,848.24

INEDIBLE TALLOW FROM BOVINE ANIMALS

316.00

13-Jan-17

83

AUTONOMOUS

14.15

310.00

12-Jan-17

39

UNILEVER

154,432.08

INEDIBLE TALLOW FROM BOVINE ANIMALS

316.00

13-Jan-17

84

AUTONOMOUS

49.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

85

AUTONOMOUS

2,178.16

310.00

12-Jan-17

41

GLOBAL ORGANICS LTD

50,450.00

VETERINARY MEDICINE ALBENDAZOLE BOLUS 2500MG

310.50

13-Jan-17

86

AUTONOMOUS

300.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

42

GLOBAL ORGANICS LTD

38,880.00

HARMLESS VETERINARY MEDICINE OXYTETRACIN HYDR

310.50

13-Jan-17

87

AUTONOMOUS

204.00

310.00

12-Jan-17

43

GLOBAL ORGANICS LTD

10,670.00

HUMAN MEDICINE METRONIDAZOLE IV TROZ PACK 100

310.50

13-Jan-17

88

AUTONOMOUS

71,223.60

316.00

12-Jan-17

49

SPECTRUM PAPER NIG LIMITED

49,200.00

PRINTING BOARD IN SHEETS

310.00

13-Jan-17

89

AUTONOMOUS

9,677.42

310.00

12-Jan-17

50

SPECTRUM PAPER NIG LIMITED

50,800.00

RAW MATERIAL FOR PRINTING INDUSTRY

310.00

13-Jan-17

90

AUTONOMOUS

26.11

310.00

12-Jan-17

91

AUTONOMOUS

273,000.00

314.00

12-Jan-17

51

UNIQUE PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

26,000.00

ESSENTIAL CHEMICAL RAW MATERIAL

310.50

13-Jan-17

92

IMTO FUND

1,914.76

374.60

12-Jan-17

52

UNIQUE PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

7,043.00

VARRIOUS SPARES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

310.50

13-Jan-17

93

IMTO FUND

167,624.92

375.00

12-Jan-17

53

UNIQUE PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

18,449.00

VARIOUS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

310.50

13-Jan-17

94

IMTO FUND

1,504.20

375.00

12-Jan-17

54

UNIQUE PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

10,776.15

VARIUOS SPARES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

310.50

13-Jan-17

95

IMTO FUND

120,542.39

375.00

12-Jan-17

55

UNIQUE PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED

137,731.85

LDPE FILM

310.50

13-Jan-17

96

INTERBANK

200,000.00

305.00

12-Jan-17

97

AUTONOMOUS

120.56

310.00

13-Jan-17

77

OCHEJA SALAMATU STELLA

PTA

380.00

13-Jan-17

98

AUTONOMOUS

161,290.32

310.00

13-Jan-17

82

CBN

IMTO FUNDS

380.00

13-Jan-17

99

AUTONOMOUS

142.18

310.00

13-Jan-17

100

AUTONOMOUS

715.00

310.00

13-Jan-17

101

AUTONOMOUS

1.94

310.00

13-Jan-17

102

AUTONOMOUS

859.17

310.00

13-Jan-17

103

AUTONOMOUS

151.20

310.00

13-Jan-17

104

AUTONOMOUS

500.00

310.00

13-Jan-17

105

AUTONOMOUS

444,000.00

316.00

13-Jan-17

106

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

310.00

13-Jan-17

107

AUTONOMOUS

100,000.00

310.00

13-Jan-17

108

AUTONOMOUS

200,000.00

310.00

13-Jan-17

109

IMTO FUND

1,622.53

374.56

13-Jan-17

110

IMTO FUND

148,255.29

375.00

13-Jan-17

111

IMTO FUND

1,452.85

375.00

13-Jan-17

112

IMTO FUND

115,469.34

375.00

13-Jan-17

113

INTERBANK

50,000.00

305.00

13-Jan-17

218,689.70

4,000.00 200,100.01

17

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017

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Are you aware that the following

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MOTOR VEHICLE (THIRD PARTY)INSURANCE For all vehicle owners corporate and individuals BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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For owners of buildings of more than two floors while in the process of building and completion.

For every building to which members of the public have access for the purpose of obtaining educational or medical services, recreation or transaction of business.

Medical Professional Liability For doctors, nurses and other members of the health care team in hospitals registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Group Life-for all employers of more than four (4) staff in both the public and private sector.

NATIONAL INSURANCE COMMISSION HEAD OFFICE: Plot 1239 Ladoke Akintola Boulevard Garki II, Abuja. P.M.B 457. Abuja. Nigeria Call Centre: 092919241, 092919242, 092919243, 092919244, 092919247, 092919249, 092919256, 092919257, 092919258, 092901511 E-mail: contact@naicom.gov.ng. Website: www.naicom.gov.ng

18

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 18, 2017

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

THE NEWSMAKER

Torrents of Tributes for Kure

The sudden death of former Niger State governor and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, the late Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, brought to the fore his virtues, Shola Oyeyipo and Laleye Dipo write

O

n Sunday, January 8, 2017, when the news filtered in from Germany that former Niger State governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, is dead, it became obvious that the late Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bigwig occupied a strategic place in Nigeria’s body polity and that his commitment to national development was not unnoticed.

According to the late Kure’s Chief Press Secretary, Mahmud Abdullahi, the former governor died in a German hospital at age 60. He headed to Germany to receive treatment for a kidney related ailment and had been in the hospital for about three weeks where he was reported to be responding to treatment before he died suddenly at about 5pm on Sunday.

The deputy governor to the deceased, Dr Shem Zagbayi Nuhu; the Permanent Secretary Government House in his era, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Lapai; a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his former political friend, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji; former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, first son of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Mohammed Babangida; Senator Philip Aduda were among the early callers at the GRA residence of the late governor.

The presence of members of the Kure political empire and their demeanor till he was laid to rest last Wednesday were indications that even out of office the deceased continued to have link with the people.

No doubt, his death came as big shock to his immediate political constituencies, Niger State, where he was governor between 1999 and 2007 and was reputed to have worked for the infrastructural development of the state and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, on which platform he governed the state.

Going by comments and tributes that have continued to pour in after his demise, it is obvious that his death is a big blow to his family and friends within and outside politics .

Not only that, since his passing away, his personality and tenure as governor have become talking points among the people and the opinions have been that the late politician remained committed to the rapid development of Niger State until his death.

Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger described the death of Kure, as a great loss to the state and the country at large. The state government also announced 3-day mourning for the ex-governor to provide every Nigerlites the opportunity to accord the late statesman a befitting burial last Wednesday.

A statement by the Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa on behalf of Governor Bello was indicative of the fatherly roles he played in the state till he died.

The state specifically underscored that despite being in a different political camp; he being a PDP stalwart while the Governor Bello-led administration is of the APC, Kure provided wise counsel and meaningful advice to the government.

“Abdulkadir Abdulahi Kure remained a leaders who out of office, showed concern for the development of the state. His statesmanship saw him jettisoning party affiliation when he personally intervened in the recent labour crisis in the state”, the Niger State Government noted a condolence message, stressing that “the government will miss his wise counsel”.

Kure...celebrated even at death

President Muhammadu Buhari also paid glowing tribute to the late Niger State-born politician. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President described Kure as “vibrant political leader, promoter of peaceful co-existence, development and the unity of the Nigerian state throughout his life”.

For former military president, Ibrahim

According to Saraki, Kure’s death has left a void that cannot be filled.In Atiku’s view, his death robbed Nigeria of one of its finest, decent and peace-loving politicians. Ekweremadu said Kure was a patriotic and true party man and so has many attested to the good content of his character

Badamasi Babangida, Kure’s death was a blend of sorrow and sober reflection. While he mourned an old brigade in politics, he also noted that since all mortal men must die, death is inevitable.

“The sudden death of former Governor of Niger State, Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure, in Germany comes to me as a great shock.”

The former president said in a statement by his media office lamented however that “as a believer, ‘all souls must taste death’ sooner or later. My amiable friend and companion is gone. We that are left behind are on transit and will depart sooner or later.” Babangida urged the family, people of Niger State and Nigeria at large to take heart and pray for him in his journey to the great beyond.

Former chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, in a letter addressed to the wife of the late former governor, Senator Zaynab Kure said Kure’s sudden death had created a big vacuum in the politics of the state and Nigeria.

“His death came at a time his wealth of experience as a former governor of Niger State, an accomplished public servant and astute politician, was most needed to assist in giving direction to his state and the nation.

“Kure’s sojourn as governor for eight years, from 1999 to 2007, showed a man who worked tirelessly for the development of infrastructure in Niger State. “His transition

to the great beyond has indeed left a big vacuum in the politics of his state that may be difficult to fill”, he noted.

Anenih described Kure as a courageous man and consensus builder who never shied away from expressing his views on critical national issues, while working with others in government for the overall peace of the nation, noting that “He therefore merited and earned an appointment as member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, which I chaired at various times”.

Pan-North socio-political movement, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in which he was a foundation member of its Board of Trustees in 2000, also expressed shock and sadness over his death in a statement by the Publicity secretary of the forum, Muhammad Ibrahim.

According to the ACF, “Kure would be remembered for his humility, love and as a defender of his religion (Islam) and the North; the people-oriented projects in education, mass housing estates, rural development and many others executed by his administration in Niger State during his first and second tenure”.

His successor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu in his condolence message declared that “I find it difficult to come to terms with the reality that my brother, my friend has left us so soon.

I have been in touch with his wife since he traveled outside the country for treatment. I never knew his time was near.

“Niger State has lost an illustrious son and Nigeria has indeed lost a great human asset.

My brother Kure died at a time his contribution was needed. He was a peacemaker, a role model and a bridge builder”.

It is almost endless condolences coming from his political associates some of who include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and many others.

According to Saraki, “Kure’s death has left a void that cannot be filled”. In Atiku’s view, “his death robbed Nigeria of one of its finest, decent and peace-loving politicians”.

Ekweremadu said Kure was a “patriotic and true party man” and so has many attested to the good content of his character.

His tenure as governor will be fondly remembered as the period when many villages across the three senatorial districts of the state were connected to the national electricity grid, when many towns and villages were provided with pipe borne water and local government headquarters had some of their roads tarred.

He built a strong political empire using the Niger South senatorial district as a launching pad before expanding to the remaining two other geo-political zones of the state and his administration was to a large extent very peaceful and development oriented.

The former governor, who was an accomplished engineer and administrator per excellence, served and rose to the position of Director of Engineering Services in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja, before joining politics in 1998. He later became governor in 1999.

He became the chairman of the governing board of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and subsequently became a member of the PDP BoT and was a member of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP till he passed away last week.

He is survived by his wife, Senator Zainab Abdulkadir Kure, a former civil servant and, since 2007, a member of the Nigerian Senate and their six children.

19

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 18, 2017

PERSPECTIVE

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Ghana’s Lesson for Africa

Considering that Ghana has had a number of smooth transitions, other African countries, particularly Nigeria, should learn some democratic principles from the West African nation, writes Akin Rotimi

C

hange has come to Ghana.

Following after President Muhammadu Buhari, his fellow septuagenarian Nigerian counterpart, President Akufo-Addo has come to office on the back of campaign messaging centred on change. Judging by the electoral outcome, the NPP’s slogan of “Arise for Change” and “Ghana must work again” resonated more with the majority of the Ghanaian electorate than the NDC’s “Forward ever, backwards never” mantra. The days to come will tell how the decision of the people to vote the NPP would impact on their lives and livelihoods, as the new president contends with the burden of delivering on, what some critics consider to be, utopian campaign promises.

Nonetheless, the people of Ghana should be very proud. Ghana has once again conducted herself as a resilient democracy. Since the return of the country to multi-party democracy in 1992, Ghana has successfully conducted seven elections, and peaceful transitions, including three alternations of power between the two leading political parties. According to President Akufo-Addo, “for the third time, we have had a peaceful transfer of power from a governing party to an opposition one. We have done it without any fuss and it is now part of what we do as a people”. From the peaceful conduct of the December 7, 2016 general election; to the prompt concession of former President Mahama; to the seamless transition programme; through to the orderly inauguration of the new president on January 7, 2017; the black star has once again shone as the lodestar of African liberation.

At Independence in 1957, Ghana’s founding father Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah asserted that “the independence of Ghana would be meaningless unless it was tied to the total liberation of Africa”.

The foremost Pan-Africanist went on to lead Ghana in playing a central role in the decolonisation process and liberation struggles across Africa. Africa has long moved on from the decolonisation era.

Happily, the recent generations of Ghanaians have carried on this enviable bequest – this time becoming a leading light in addressing Africa’s challenge of peaceful democratic transitions by demonstrating that this is possible, over and over again. Today, the country has earned its pride of place in the global world order, and is celebrated as one of the models in the Global South, for economic stability, democratisation, and peaceful transitions. The West African country keeps strengthening her institutions and enacting enabling legislations that would ensure this legacy of peaceful transitions endures.

Only last year, the Ghanaian Parliament passed the 2016 Presidential Transition Bill – an amendment of the Presidential (Transition) Act 2012, which prescribes modalities for the peaceful transition of power between outgoing and incoming administrations. The law made provisions for defined activities, clarity of roles, structured timelines, as well as accountability mechanisms, for moderating the conduct of all the individuals and institutions involved in presidential transitions. Considering the huge toll that post-election violence has had on African countries, this is a big deal. The rest of Africa has a lot to learn from Ghana that is in this age leading the way for a new kind of liberation, as she did in previous epochs.

It can be argued that the Ghanaian experience is a reflection of the country’s political and governance structures being steeped in very strong intellectual founda-

Akufo-Addo...all eyes on him

tions that have positively influenced the conduct of her political elite. That is not to say Ghana’s politicians don’t play dirty leading up to elections, but invariably, they have learnt when to put politics aside and protect their democracy. While intellectuals in many African countries have ceded the political arena to unscrupulous characters, preferring to see politics as a dirty game to be avoided by decent people, Ghana has a long tradition of her intellectuals being active participants in the political process, with most of her past leaders being percipient men, with very strong academic credentials.

Nkrumah, the Prime Minister and later President in Ghana’s First Republic, studied at Lincoln University, USA, obtaining BA (Arts) and BA (Theology in 1942), graduating at the top of his class.

The expectations his fellow citizens, and indeed the entire world, have of him is that he brings to bear in his leadership of Ghana, the grace, brilliance, creativity, and resourcefulness that his predecessors before him have demonstrated

He also received a Master of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Edward Akuffo-Addo, the Ghana’s Second Republic president was educated at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University, where he studied Mathematics, Politics, Economics and Philosophy. Professor K.A. Busia, the Prime Minister in that Second Republic earned a first degree in Medieval Studies and History from the University of London. From Oxford University, he obtained another BA (Hons.) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, MA (Oxon) and DPhil in Social Anthropology.

These founding fathers of Ghana established the two historical ideological streams and tendencies that still define the politics of Ghana today, namely the Nkrumahist and Danquah-Dombo-Busia political traditions. The present day political elites of the NDC and the NPP trace their lineages to these two lasting political traditions, which provided avenues for successive generations of leaders to emerge from the crucibles of robust mentoring with deep convictions and requisite intellectual capacities, as against the scourge of accidental, ill-prepared leadership that has afflicted some other countries. The primacy of intellect in the politics of Ghana is undeniable, and it is instructive of how the quality of individuals that dominate political spaces can shape political and governance outcomes in their countries.

As President Akufo-Addo comes to power on his third attempt, this is the burden on his shoulders. The expectations his fellow citizens and indeed the entire world have of him is that he brings to bear in his leadership of Ghana, the grace, brilliance, creativity, and resourcefulness

that his predecessors before him have demonstrated – as a man of ideas. After all, he is a biological son of the late former president Edward Akufo-Addo, and one of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition’s leading lights. He was the lead opposition figure for more than a decade that kept the tradition alive in Ghana and is widely known as an avid advocate of the rule of law, liberal democracy and individual freedom. He is credited for unifying and mobilising likeminded ideologues and the grassroots to provide vibrant and formidable opposition, and eventually win election.

This is why it is most disheartening that President Akufo-Addo started his tenure on such a listless note – reading out a plagiarised speech that lifted parts of the inauguration speeches of former presidents of the United States of America, President Bill Clinton and President George Bush II, without attribution. The scandal unfortunately took the shine off an otherwise brilliant speech that honoured Ghana’s glorious past and kindled hopes for a brighter future. The presidency has apologised and the world should move on. Like most African countries, Ghana has a young and restless population who look up to their new president to perform, and in the words of J.B. Danquah that he fittingly quoted in his speech, they expect him to lead a government that is “dedicated in order specifically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen”. “Mighty” Nigeria and the rest of Africa celebrate Ghanaians and wish them well.

-Akin Rotimi writes from Abuja, Nigeria

20

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017, • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Lawmaker’s Scholarship Scheme Inspires Academic Excellence At a period when the cost of education has gone out of the reach of many, the Senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly has for the second year running sustained his scholarship scheme for undergraduates in his constituency. As the programme entered its second phase, Emmanuel Ugwu captured the euphoria that gripped the 60 beneficiaries

Senator T.A.Orji (right) in a handshake with one of the recipients of his annual scholarship scheme for undergraduates from Abia Central Senatorial District, Mr. Frank Ifeanyi Mpama (visually impaired), as Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (middle) looks on at the ceremony in Umuahia…recently

A

marachi Duroha, a student of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) knows what delayed payment of schools fees could do to a student’s academic pursuit. “I missed two courses last year because I did not pay my school fees,” she said with regret. Duroha said she was not allowed to write her examinations because she could not settle her fees early enough before the semester examination commenced. She told THISDAY that by the time she had struggled to pay the fees two of her courses had been written and so she missed them. The implication for the Microbiology student, who is now in 400-level, is that she has carried over the missed courses.

This is an experience that the undergraduate from Ikwuano Local Government would neither want to happen to her again nor wish for any undergraduate.

Ikenna Nwankwere, a 200-level Law student of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) equally had a sad experience of delayed payment of school fees. Though in his own situation it did not lead to missing of his courses during semester examinations, Nwankwere said that he was always finding it hard to concentrate on his studies as long as his school fees remained unpaid. Similarly, Esther Okata said that “it’s been very difficult” paying her school fees at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike where

she is studying Human Resources Management.

Now in her 200-level, Okata, who is from a family of five said that her father died when she was three years old hence it has been really a struggle for her to pursue her education at university level.

I feel very happy because by God’s grace, through our amiable senator my academic pursuit will now be a reality. It has been very difficult but with this scholarship I will be able to pay my school fees. The scholarship is worth N100, 000 per annum and cheques were issued to the recipients along with certificates of awards instantly

The difficulties encountered by these bright but indigent students ended on January 6, 2017 when they became beneficiaries of the Senator T.A. Orji Annual Scholarship Scheme. The burden of school fees was taken off the shoulders of their parents/guardians. It was indeed a big relief for Duroha, Nwankwere and Okata when they were among the 60 undergraduates whose names that were added to the list of beneficiaries of the Ochendo scholarship scheme during the launch of the second phase of the scheme at his constituency office in Umuahia. “I feel very happy because by God’s grace, through our amiable senator my academic pursuit will now be a reality,” Nwankwere said, adding, “it has been very difficult but with this scholarship I will be able to pay my school fees. The scholarship is worth N100, 000 per annum and cheques were issued to the recipients along with certificates of awards instantly.”

The scheme was launched last year with 60 pioneer beneficiaries drawn from the six local governments that make up Abia Central senatorial zone. The beneficiaries are equally distributed among the six local governments, each given 10 slots. The local governments that make up Abia Central are Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Osisioma, Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South. The scholarship scheme, according to the initiator, has a target of producing 240 beneficiaries in four years and so far it has reached its half mark of 120

beneficiaries after the first and second phases.

The sponsor of the scholarship scheme, Senator Orji said that the idea came to him during a deep contemplation after his inauguration as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in June 2015. Orji, said that in that moment of sober reflection it occurred to him that instituting a scholarship scheme would make the most positive impact on the lives of his constituents.

According to him, apart from paving the way for somebody “to become something in life”, education also makes people to become good citizens. “If I could offer scholarship to people it would impact on them positively,” he said, adding, “We are not doing this to grandstand, we are not doing this to be praised. We are doing it to empower our people through education.”

Orji, who was the governor of Abia for two consecutive terms of four years each, noted that the state has unquenchable hunger for education and has consistently been placing second in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). He said that the scholarship scheme would last as long as he stays in the Senate hence the beneficiaries should make the best use of the opportunity and excel in their academic endeavours. Before he flagged off the scholarship scheme last year, Orji had gone round his constituency and intimated the stakeholders of his plans to assist in meeting the education needs of his constituents as

21

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017, • T H I S D AY

FEATURES We are not doing this to grandstand, we are not doing this to be praised. We are doing it to empower our people through education well as embark on other programmes he has outlined to bring democracy dividends to them.

From the sidelines, the jubilant crowd shouted “Ochendo Global”.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was moved by the motive behind the Ochendo scholarship scheme so much so that he immediately announced the revival of the state scholarship board, which has been moribund. “Today will herald the Abia State Scholarship Board, he said. Ikpeazu, who was the special guest at the event, was highly impressed with the committee charged with organising the Ochendo scholarship scheme and diligently has been carrying out the assignment of selecting the recipients. He therefore announced that the Abia Scholarship Board should take its template from the Ochendo scholarship committee in order to ensure that the process of selecting recipients of the state scholarships “is free, fair and transparent and also have a place for the weak ones”. The governor said that the state scholarship awards would commence this year with 170 beneficiaries as 10 awardees would be selected from each of the 17 local governments of the state. While lauding the Abia Central senator for initiating a scholarship scheme to empower his constituents, Governor Ikpeazu added that the people of Abia Central and the state in general “are proud of Senator Orji, whose score card is very impressive in less than two years at the National Assembly. The Abia chief executive reminded the beneficiaries of Ochendo scholarship that since the burden of paying school fees and other expenses has been lifted off their shoulders it should not be a license for them to become careless or frivolous in their academic pursuits. “The beneficiaries should strictly apply the scholarship award to their educational needs and not bother their parents anymore,” he stated.

The committee chairman of the Senator T.A. Orji Scholarship Scheme, Engr. Emma Nwabuko, said that it was a great day for the 60 beneficiaries and their families who gathered for the awards ceremony of the second phase of the scheme.

He described the initiator as education friendly who knows that education is very important in the life of every person. Nwabuko, who was the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the last administration of the state, explained that the opportunities were distributed equally to all the six component local governments of Abia Central senatorial zone, adding that applications were done online.

He said that the committee strictly adhered to its mandate of selecting bright undergraduates who have difficulties in funding their tertiary education. Nwabuko urged Senator Orji to continue sustaining the scholarship scheme.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Chijioke Onwutebe shared the sentiments expressed by Nwabuko, saying that scholarship is necessary in view of the fact that there are many students out there who may drop out of school due to high cost of education. Onwutebe, who is also the board chairman of Abia State Community and Social Development Project (Abia-CSDP), said that he became what he is today because he was a beneficiary of scholarship award. He disclosed that he was an indigent student in his undergraduate years at the University of Ibadan, adding that “if not for scholarship I won’t be where I am today.” He advised the recipients of the Ochendo scholarship to make the best use of it in order to attain their goals in life.

A visually impaired student of Social Science (Education) of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Frank Mpama, who spoke on behalf of the second batch of beneficiaries of the Ochendo scholarship scheme, was so passionate about the scheme. “Please senator, do not stop this good work you are doing,” he pleaded with Senator Orji. He said that the scholarship scheme is a proof that the Abia Central senator has the interest of the masses at heart,” adding that “there are other things he (Ochendo) has been doing, assisting indigent ones.” Mpama asked for two slots per local government to be given to the physically challenged, saying that this category of people

Senator T.A.Orji presenting cheque to one of the recipients of his annual scholarship scheme for undergraduates from Abia Central

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu (left) presenting cheque to one of the recipients of the Senator T.A.Orji annual scholarship scheme

R-L: Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, deputy governor, Hon Ude Oko Chukwu,Ikpeazu, Orji, Hon. Sam Onuigbo and chairman of the occasion, Chief Chijioke Onwutebe, flanked by the recipients of the Senator T.A.Orji annual scholarship scheme

needed more opportunities to realise their life ambitions. This request was promptly granted

by Governor Ikpeazu as he elected to sponsor 34 physically challenged persons to benefit from the Ochendo scholarship scheme. He asked the committee to select and add to the list of beneficiaries, two bright physically challenged persons from each of the six local governments in Abia Central zone, the target area.

To keep enjoying the scholarship award,

the beneficiaries are required to maintain good academic records at the end of every academic session. This is a challenge the young men women have all accepted and vowed to overcome. “I’m prepared for the challenge,” Duroha asserted while Nwankwere echoed, “I’m very much prepared” to retain the Ochendo scholarship award. Mpama said that he would put extra efforts in his academics as physically challenged persons face more difficulties when

competing with able persons for scholarship awards and jobs. Esther Okata too would not allow the scholarship award to slip out of her hand after a year. “I’m really going to prepare myself for the task ahead,” she said, adding that she would strive hard to keep improving on her grade point average (GPA). By keeping the beneficiaries on their toes, the Ochendo scholarship scheme is a tonic for the undergraduates to excel in their academic pursuits.

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IMAGES

L-R: Creative Director, MOE+ Art Architecture, Papa Omotayo; Principal Architect, CmDesign Atelier, Tosin Oshinowo; and Principal Architect, SI.SA/ Co-founders, African Alliance for New Design (AAND), Seun Oduwole, at the AAND exhibition in Lagos... recently

Ogun state Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun(left)) and Commissioner for Commerce and industry Ogun State Otunba Bimbo Ashiru during the Breakfast Meeting with the Governor for the private sector organised by the Ministry of Commerce and industry, Ogun State at the Government House, Oke Igbein, Abeokuta...recently

THISDAY •WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017

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

National Chairman, Independent Democrats, Hon Edozie Madu; Chief Umeh; and former Head of State, Gen. Adulsalami Abubakar, during Madu’s visit to Abubakar in Minna...recently

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (left), and his Special Adviser on Budget, Efficiency & Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Melie Onyejepu, during the swearing-in of the EXCO members,in Awka...recently

L-R- Deputy Managing Director Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, Chairman, Sir. Joseph Arumemi-Johnson and President Afri-Exim Bank, Cairo, Egypt, Dr. Okey Oramah during a working visit to Arik Air by Board of Directors of Afri-Exim Bank in, Lagos....recently

L-R; Corporate Communications Coordinator, Dr Ekundayo Omogbehin;, Fertility Counsellor, Mrs Etang Abang; both of The Bridge Clinic and, Chief of Operations of Critical Rescue International, Michael James during the Fertility Walk organised by the Association for the Prevention of Infertility and Promotion of Reproductive Health and Rights (ASPIRE)in Lagos...recently

L-R: Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Services, Osun State Command, Mr Chris Onunwor; newly promoted Chief Superintendent of Prisons, Mr Oluwole Fadairo; and the Controller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr Segun Oluwasemire, during the decoration of Fadairo and 70 other newly promoted prisons officers of the Osun State Command in Osogbo...recently

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (right), with the National President, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Dr (Mrs.) Gloria Larba Shoda, when the later paid the Minister a courtesy visit in Abuja.... recently

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Quick Takes Group Becomes ACCA’s Learning Provider

The Synergy Professionals, an indigenous professional accounting tuition provider in Nigeria officially received the Platinum Approved Learning Provider (ALP) certificate from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

The official presentation was made during the ALP’s Open Day with new and existing ACCA students in attendance.

The platinum approved ALP status is the highest and most prestigious level of the ACCA learning providers’ programme and is conferred on learning providers who adhere to the highest standards to provide students with the best possible chance of success.

To be considered for platinum approval, learning providers must already “be gold approved and, in addition to the performance targets that have been demonstrated to attain gold approval, the learning provider must also meet ACCA’s Platinum performance targets and pass-rate targets over two consecutive sets of results. Platinum ALP have to provide evidence of continual improvement and innovation,” a statement from the professional body stated.

The certificate was presented to the management representatives of Synergy Professionals Mr. Jude Efuribe and Mr. David Adelana by the Regional Customer Services Manager, Africa, of ACCA, Tunji Adeleye.

Summit on Opportunities inW’Africa Holds

ANNUAL GET TOGETHER

L-R: Group Managing Director, AIICO Insurance Plc, Eddy Igbiti; Chairman,Nigerian Insurers Association, Eddy Efekoha; Group Managing Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Tope Smart; Managing Director, SCIB Nigeria, Shola Tinubu and Managing Director, FBN General Insurance, Bode Opadokun at the 2017 New Year Party of SCIB Nigeria & Company in Lagos…recently

Governments Urged to Support Small Businesses Obinna Chima Global research by Sage, a business software solution provider has highlighted that only 33 per cent of small businesses feel represented by politicians in their countries’ decision making.

In the report, Sage Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Kelly, also lamented the absence of small business issues from the agenda in global discussions and called for greater representation, given that in most economies entrepreneurs, or business builders, create two-thirds of all jobs.

The report was published in the run up to the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) where politicians and big business will

ECONOMY gather in Davos to debate the global economic picture. The research measured sentiment of small businesses in 2016, showing that majority (58%) consider the wider global economy to be less stable and (69%) either have or are considering changing their business plan as a result of recent events. Furthermore, it stated that 22 per cent of businesses were planning to export more in 2017, 10 less less and 25 per cent felt there would be no change.

In addition, it showed that 31 per cent of businesses thought turnover will remain constant or remain the same over the next

year, stressing that the role of government in helping navigate uncertain economic and political times will be key.

Almost half (46%) singled out export opportunities and grants as being the most important thing that the government can now do. The second most important was improvements to the tax environment (38%), while good local services ranked third (26%).

In his contribution, the Managing Director and Executive Vice-President, Africa & Middle East at Sage, Anton van Heerden said: “We’re seeing an uptake of entrepreneurial drive throughout the African continent, with many people starting out on their own to

build businesses that serve the community, create jobs, and raise income levels. Sometimes, this demands great financial and personal sacrifice on their part.

Continuing, Kelly, said: “Only too often when the world’s policy makers discuss the global economic picture, small businesses are excluded from the discussion. This is most evident with the annual World Economic Forum in Davos where small businesses aren’t an item on the agenda. Worse still, 60 per cent don’t even know the event is taking place. It’s crazy when you consider that small businesses create two thirds of all the jobs in most economies, Continued on page 24

SEC Commences Risk Based Supervision Framework for Capital Market Operators Goddy Egene The Securities and Exchange Commission has commenced the Risk Based Supervision (RBS) model with the aim of establishing a more robust regulatory framework for the capital market, THISDAY gathered on Monday.

This comes as the commission has also approved a framework for the regulation of systematically Important Financial Institutions (SIFI) in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The commencement of the RBS

CAPITAL MARKET model followed the approval by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

THISDAY had last week reported the imminent commencement of the RBS framework. While the RBS framework will be for all capital market operators (CMOs), the framework for the SITI is targeted at systemic non-bank financial institutions that are under the regulatory purview of the SEC, whose failure could cause contagion effects and

significant disruptions to the wider Nigerian financial system.

It was gathered that in identifying a systematically important operator, SEC would enhance its regulatory supervision through on-site inspections to monitor the compliance level of operators.

On the other hand, SEC had said in recognition of the importance of RBS, and to align its oversight functions with global trends and the guiding principles of the International Organisation of Securities Commission (IOSCO), it has

adopted RBS into its supervisory process. This is to ensure that regulatory oversight is more effective, investor protection is advanced and systemic risk is mitigated.

Before now, the commission had operated the class minimum capital requirement for operators. Under the class minimum capital requirement, the commission set minimum capital requirements for all capital market functions without giving much consideration to Continued on page 24

Cross-border co-operation in West Africa is crucial to develop mechanisms that facilitate trade and power exchange among States. As one of the fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa, Côte d’Ivoire is a popular entry point for African and international companies seeking to invest in the region, as well as harbouring the headquarters of the African Development Bank. These points complement the overarching theme of the Regional Energy Co-operation Summit, taking place from 26-27 January in Abidjan, which is to unleash international capital to drive forward West Africa’s regional integration.

Recent South African and Moroccan examples illustrate the benefits of well managed Independent Power Projects (IPPs), demonstrating effective and transparent leadership aligned with both multilaterals and private sector. Organisers of the meeting EnergyNet, according to a statement, will work with ECOWAS regional institutions, such as WAPP, ERERA and ECREEE, and the national governments of West Africa to uncover cost efficient solutions to increase energy access, industrial capacity and profitability for all.

Ghana to Issue $4.Ibn Bonds in Q1

Ghana plans to issue 17.4 billion cedis’ ($4.1 billion) worth of domestic instruments for government finances and debt restructuring in the first three months of this year, the central bank said on Monday.

The papers will include a fresh five-year cedi bond this month worth 600 million cedis to support the budget, and a three-year 700 million cedi bond to be issued in February, Reuters quoted the bank to have said in a statement.

The two bonds will be issued through book-building transactions, and settlement will be on the last Monday of each month. In all, about 15.5 billion cedis will be used to roll over expected maturities. “... Government may consider accepting a reasonable amount above the target to build buffers which would be used to reduce borrowing at the short end of the yield curve,” it said. The West African nation this month inaugurated former opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo as president.

The major commodities exporter is halfway through a threeyear financial aid programme with the International Monetary Fund to stabilise its economy, which is dogged by high public debt, budget deficits and inflation

In terms of capital flows, if we can encourage confidence in Nigeria, in the policy making of the Nigerian government, then we would be able to attract capital flows. But if we cannot, we would continue this wa Member, Monetary Policy Committee

Dr. Doyin Salami

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD GOVERNMENTS URGED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES and represent over 98 per cent of all businesses.

“Business builders are the heroes of the economy. They toil away long after the rest of us have gone home, making personal sacrifices to grow their businesses, to support their families and build their communities. Policy makers and big business must wake up to the fact that these heroes need to be supported and given a voice, if we are to ensure the future health and prosperity of the world’s economy.”

Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in most economies, particularly in developing countries.

SEC COMMENCES RISK BASED SUPERVISION FRAMEWORK FOR CAPITAL MARKET OPERATORS the assets size and inherent risks. As part of the adoption process, a RBS framework has been developed to serve as a guide for staff of its inspectorate division and would apply to the prudential supervision of all CMOs. This framework is a dynamic working document that will be reviewed on a regular basis and as the need arises to ensure that it remains relevant in achieving the supervisory objectives of the SEC. A market operator told THISDAY on Monday that under the RBS, SEC would consider key principles that are fundamental to the process. Sound supervisory and predictive judgment in identifying and evaluating risk is considered fundamental to the effective application of this framework. Capital market operators (CMOs) would be conducted on a consolidated basis, including subsidiaries and all related entities of the CMOs,” the operator said.

It was also gathered that the intensity, scope and frequency of supervisory scrutiny will depend on the composite risk rating of a CMO. Also, the RBS highlights a risk assessment summary which would indicate the risk profile of a CMO and would serve as the basis for allocating regulatory resources for ongoing monitoring and supervisory efforts.

Group Business Editor

NEWS

FG, AON Move to Improve Domestic Air Travel Chinedu Eze

Airline Operators of Nigerian (AON) has pledged its readiness to partner the federal government to remove impediments to domestic air transportation in Nigeria.

The Association observed that the present environment is still hostile to air travel despite the past engagements with government and expressed the hope that with an aviator as the Minister of State in charge of aviation, government would have to reconsider the charges leveled against domestic carriers and also ensure the availability of aviation fuel and forex for the operators.

AON made the remark at the weekend after electing new executives at its 2016 annual general meeting in Lagos.

The operators said in a statement that it now has new Executive Council in place to pilot the activities of the association for the next two years.

Captain Nogie Meggison, the Chief Executive Officer of Jedidiah Air Limited (JedAir) once again emerged as Chairman for a second term in office having served the association in this capacity on an initial first term. Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, Chairman of Azman Airlines was unanimously elected as Vice Chairman, while Capt.

Chimara Imediegwu, Director of Flight Operations with First Nation Airways was returned as the Financial Controller of the Association.

The new Exco is expected

to forge greater and robust advocacy for and on behalf of the association, and continuously engage the government constructively on critical operational and industry issues as well as drive unity and oneness among member airlines in an effort to promote their individual and collective interests.

While delivering his report of stewardship, Meggison said: “In the last few years, AON has made rapid progress by speaking with one voice. Our strength is in our number and

staying together, as we have grown to be a strong force that we should be in the aviation sector. I would therefore like to appreciate you all for giving me the mandate to lead in the last three years and I thank you all for the support you have given to me during this time.”

He noted that in the past two years, AON was able to make a number of milestone and achievements. These included successfully engaging government and getting the implementation of zero duty

on aircraft and spare parts, securing forex allocation and getting aviation on the priority list, a functional secretariat and board room, better and more cordial engagement with the Minister of State on Aviation on quarterly basis, a functional website as well as more respect and interaction with labour unions among others.

In another development, the Chairman of AON thanked the federal government and the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, for

appointing two of its members to serve as Chief Executive Officers of two very important parastatals. They include Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Mr. Akin Olateru as Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau.

Meggison noted that their appointment was quite encouraging and a display of government’s confidence in the ability and experience of these fine gentlemen to take the agencies to greater heights.

PROMOTING LOCAL RICE CONSUMPTION

L-R: President, Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN), Dr. Michael Egbuta; General Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), Abimbola Okoya; Chairman, BATNF Rice Farmers Group, Bida, Niger State, Abu Far; Coordinator, Niger State AGAN, Illyasu Hussaini; and Tajudeen Akinwande, Communication and Events Manager, BATNF; at the BATNF exhibition stand during the 3rd NEPAD Nigeria Rice Investment Forum in Abuja … recently

Ilesa Prison Prepares 30 Inmates for Varsity Education CBN refurbishes school library Ejiofor Alike No fewer than 30 inmates of the Ilesa Prison in Osun State are rounding off their secondary school studies in readiness for tertiary education later in 2017.

Controller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire, made this revelation at a recent ceremony to receive a refurbished and stocked library for the school funded by the Alms Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Osogbo branch.

The Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Olusola

Adeotan (ASP), quoted the Osun State Prisons boss as saying in a statement at the weekend that the command was being proactive in achieving total reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders in its custody by preparing them for a world of opportunities outside the prison walls.

“The 30 inmates are the pioneer students of our Ilesa Prison Secondary School. We hope that sooner than later, the National Open University will grant us a Special Study Centre in the state command for a seamless transition of

the products of the secondary school to the university,” the Controller said.

He ascribed the success of the education initiative of the prison authorities in Osun State to the support from the Controller General of Prisons, Mr. Ja’afaru Ahmed, and the intervention by public spirited individuals and organisations that have provided support to the inmates to advance their studies.

“I particularly want to recognise the support from the Alms Project Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria,

Osogbo branch for the upgraded library and to Princess Hope Foundation which is responsible for the provision of additional teachers.” he said.

The CBN’s Alms Project Committee provided books, furniture and other educational materials for the school library.

Branch Controller, CBN, Osogbo branch, Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim, in his remarks, lauded the prison authorities for their dedication and commitment in carrying out the prison’s reformation mandate. He described the committee’s gesture as service to humanity.

In his welcoming address, the officer-in-charge, Ilesa Prison, Mr Ope Fatinikun, a Deputy Controller of Prisons, thanked the Committee for its support.

He said, “Education is critical to the success of the mandate of the prison service, and the place of library in providing sound education and creating an enabling environment for learning cannot be overemphasised.”

He expressed appreciation to the Committee and charged other corporate bodies in the public and private sectors to join in the task of reforming and reintegrating offenders.

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 (Maritime)

NPA BossVisits Slain LASTMA Official’s Family Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA , Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, Friday in Lagos paid a condolence visit to the family of a commander of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency LASTMA, Mr. Bakare Olatunji, who was lynched by an irate mob in Apapa recently.

Bala-Usman, who visited the

family with some officials of the NPA gave the widow of the deceased, Mrs Fatimat Bakare undisclosed sum of money for her children’s upkeep.

She also called on the Lagos state government and the Nigerian police to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous act are brought to book.

The visibly moved BalaUsman said: “We felt the need in the authority to come and

extend condolence to the family of the LASTMA official that died in the course of active duty.

He was on active duty in the Apapa port area and as the landlord of the area we decided to come and visit the family. It is important that officers who die in active service are accorded the needed respect by government and organisations. We believe that nobody should be treated the way he was treated; we call

on the Nigerian police to ensure that justice is done. Nobody should be killed in the manner that this young man was killed; this is unacceptable in any society.

“We will stand by the family to ensure that they are doing well. I encourage the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian police at large to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to

justice so this people will be discouraged from taking the laws into their hands. The long arms of the law should get to anyone who does this kind of a thing like this. If not checked other officers will be discouraged from carrying out their duty. So it is important that an example is showed and let everyone know that this kind of behaviour is not welcomed in our country.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

ARFESPON Kicks against Delisting of 15,128 Pensioners from FG Pay Roll Stories by Ebere Nwoji The Association of Retired Senior Public Officers of Nigeria (ARFESPON) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the recent delisting of about 15,128 pensioners including some of its members from federal government’s pay roll late last year.

ARFESPON, made up of retired management level officers from salary grade level 14 to permanent secretaries, comptrollers-generals of Customs, Immigration and Prisons and career ambassadors, lamented that because of the delisting, some of its members have not received their pension benefits since November last year. It said recent explanation by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) that the above number of

pensioners had their names delisted from government’s pay roll as a result of problem associated with their Bank Verification Number (BVN) was unacceptable, arguing that the pensioners concerned had before now been receiving their monthly benefits without any problem since the introduction of the BVN. The association, alleged that government, lacked money to pay their pension benefits since November last year and instead of admitting that, it put forward the issue of BVN. Questioning if PTAD has become bank that works with depositors’ BVN, it said if the BVN is the problem, it would have come from pensioners’ banks not from PTAD. President, Lagos Chapter of ARFESPON, Olufemi Odewabi, addressing journalists on the plight of the association’s

members in the face of the problem at the association’s secretariat in Lagos, called for immediate restoration of the delisted pensioners’ names in the pay roll of government just as he has on behalf of the association called for change of leadership of PTAD for professionalism reason.

According to him, the present leadership of PTAD is destroying the agency due to lack of professionalism and experience.

He said the head of PTAD leadership team has neither been a civil servant nor a professional accountant, therefore does not have indept knowledge of pension matters.

He said because of her lack of experience, the way and manner she handles pension issues is capable of destroying all that government has already put in place to address pension problems in the country.

Osage- Ebose, Anchor Insurance New ED Pledges Quality Service Delivery The new Executive Director Business Development and Marketing of Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Augustine Osaghe-Ebose has said that he would inject his wealth of experience and professional expertise in the operations of the company to harness the existing opportunities in the insurance industry to the benefit of the company.

OsageEbose, whose appointment is subject to approval by theNational Insurance Commission( NAICOM) disclosed this in Lagos at an event organised by his firm to celebrate its retired staff and welcome him as the company’s new Executive Director to the company.

Osegha-Ebose’s extensive qualitative experience in the Insurance Industry started with Alliance & General Insurance Company Limited in 2001, after which he later worked

with a couple of companies before moving over to SA Insurance Plc, where he resigned as General Manager responsible for Public Sector and large corporation Business Development.

He has overseen many portfolios amongst which are Public Sector, Energy & Telecoms, Brokers Marketing and Emerging Markets in his previous employments with proven credible results.

In a related development, the Management of the Company also announced the retirement of two Management Staff of Anchr Insurance namely, Udeme Archibong, Deputy General Manager and Chief Internal Auditor as well as Mrs. Mary Abraham, the Zonal Controller, Uyo after years of meritorious services to the company.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Mayowa

Adeduro, said that it is a thing of joy to have someone in the caliber of Osegha-Ebose joining the Anchor team to contribute to the continuous success and growth of the company.

While presenting special gifts and plaque to the retiring Management staff, he praised and thanked them for their invaluable contributions to the company during their years of employment and wished them successes in their future endeavours.

Osegha-Ebose, who is the first Executive Director, Business Development & Marketing to be appointed by the firm, said his appointment marks the beginning of new things in the firm, adding that he sees new opportunities in the firm.

He also called on his colleagues to support him in his new endeavour to enable him succeed.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Emancipated Leadership Have you ever been in a meeting where you thought about a brilliant idea and somebody shot it down, because you were too junior to give an opinion or suggest a better way of driving a process? I have.

As part of my many experiences I share. I remember being in a meeting with my boss and two other colleagues, then I had not been promoted manager. A suggestion on a particular direction came up and I did not think it would work. I spoke up and told my boss that I thought we should try another angle as the one suggested may not work.

When we left the meeting, my other colleagues, who were senior to me, called me aside and told me they were shocked at my audacity in telling her that I did not think it would work. They said, I should have allowed her go on with her suggestion, tried it out, and if it did not work, then tell her that it did not work before suggesting my option.

I found this advice confusing, inefficient and sub-optimal. For me it was, why waste time doing something that would not take us far, in view of the tight deadlines we work with and also especially because we were in an environment that encouraged us to think and act proactively.

I had to go back and apologise for being forward and expressing a view contrary from hers during the meeting.

My apology was accepted and she was surprised that I came back to apologise.

After this incidence, I became a bit reticent in expressing a contrary view, even if I felt it would not work. Although, I did not always succeed in keeping quiet.

But, not everybody is as bold or driven by their beliefs. Sometimes this ‘boldness’ got me into trouble. How do we get people with ideas air their views in organisations and ensure that it will not engender criticisms and objections that may make them lose confidence and take away the benefit of their ideas from the organisations they

Sovereign Trust Insurance Pays N1.07bn Claims in 2016 Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, has said that it paid N1.07 billion claims in third quarter of 2016.

Its Divisional Head, Technical, Tajudeen Rufai, who disclosed this in a statement, noted that the summary of the claims composition paid in the third quarter of 2016, shows that Motor Insurance had the highest figure of over N400 million, claims settled on Fire and Allied Perils stood at well above N250 million while the total sum of N255 million was paid as claims on General Accident, Energy/Oil & Gas claims came to N93 million Marine/Aviation gulped N49 million with Engineering closing the figures with N21 million While commenting on the intent of the organisation as

regards claims settlement, the Divisional Head, said: “There is no compromise to claims settlement in Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc because the major focus of the company is to ensure that our customersget to enjoy the benefits of taking out any form of insurance policy with us through prompt settlement of their claims when the need arises.

That to us, is the only way to prove that we are well and alive to our responsibilities as an Underwriting Firm in the country. We intend to uphold this obligation and we will continually strive to make good our promise at all times.”

The Managing Director/CEO of the firm, Olaotan Soyinka, also stated that the company has put in place a friendlyclaim-process with the major

aim of putting smiles on the faces of its various customers across the country by ensuring that claims are settled within the shortest period possible on completion of all necessary documentation.

“Our commitment to uphold our Vision and Mission has made the company one of the country’s most relevant and responsive insurance companies in the country. Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc is no doubt a formidable force to reckon with in the Nigerian Insurance landscape with a network of offices spread over (18) locations in the country buoyed by cutting-edge technology in delivering seamless and convenient insurance service to all teeming customers in the country and beyond,” he added.

I have had four bosses in my career, who encouraged me to question the status quo. They taught me that there was always a better way to do something that had been done before. These bosses stretched my capabilities, made me think, feel valuable and gave me a “can do”spirit. These values I try to pass on to my subordinates

serve? Many great ideas and innovative solutions have been borne from very many ‘juniors’ that their leaders gave a chance.

This is a burning issue that leaders need to solve.

I recently read an article titled, “True Leaders Believe Dissent is an Obligation”, published by Harvard Business Review.

The article resonated and stated that, “executives and entrepreneurs who have created enduring economic value, based on sound human values – recognise and embrace the “obligation to dissent. Put simply, you cannot be an effective leader in business, politics or society unless you encourage those around you to speak their minds.”

The article went on to talk about how McKinsey and Company (Mckinsey), has a value that is passed on to every new hire called the “obligation to dissent”. It means the youngest most junior person in any given meeting is the most capable to disagree with the most senior person in the room.

Can you imagine this happening in Nigeria?

This practice is enshrined in McKinsey. Can this be one of McKinsey’s secrets for being the most celebrated consulting firm in the world? Food for thought!

I have had four bosses in my career, who encouraged me to question the status quo.

They taught me that there was always a better way to do something that had been done before. These bosses stretched my capabilities, made me think, feel valuable and gave me a “can do” spirit. These values I try to pass on to my subordinates. I always tell them that I never feel there is an assignment I cannot try to accomplish.

That they also can do anything they decide.

My slogan to them is “if you can think it, you can do it.”

What am I getting at? Leadership is Everything. Leaders need to start ensuring that they build up their employees to be fearless and encourage them to develop innovative ideas. There is so much we all know as leaders and cannot do it all. We need to unleash the potentials and capabilities of our employees. Many times their ideas are much better than ours, because they are at the forefront and in the trenches with our customers and clients.

As leaders, we all need to embrace humility and stop being insecure. Many leaders fail because they lack these simple traits.

Holler!

Today we commence our Holler segment focused on organisations that have elevated their services to the next level.

I am giving a holler to Access Bank. They continue to give “five star service” and treat customers like royalty when you visit their branches. I have had cause to visit the bank a few times in the past few weeks and was happy with the service from the gate to the executive’s office. When it was to transact business in the banking hall the service was quick and efficient. What I found most remarkable is the “five star” treatment you receive as you enter the premises. It is not forced and was uniform across the 3 branches I visited.

Access Bank, keep your “five star” tenet and don’t let it become rote. I like it and I am sure your other customers do too. .

Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market Strategist and Business Coach Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng tweeter handle @osat2012 TeL: 08090158156 (text only)

26

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Optimism Spikes for Stock Market Recovery Goddy Egene writes that there is high optimism that the stock market will rebound in 2017 after three years of decline

NSE Floor

Globally, the year 2016 was a year many nations’ economies were challenged. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global economy fell short of projections as the year ended with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast 3.1 per cent compared to 3.4 per cent originally projected, and 3.2 per cent achieved in 2015. The global capital markets felt the impact of the economic challenges. The markets experienced their slowest start to the year in over a decade in 2016, as the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) reported that value traded in cash equity markets declined by 24 per cent in the first half of 2016.

These negative outcomes were shaped by many factors including Brexit, continued tensions in the Middle East, slump in commodity prices, fall in crude oil prices to mention a few.

The huge variance in projected outcomes and actual results saw many emerging and frontier economies and their respective capital markets in dangerous territories. International capital movement was further stalled in anticipation of global policy direction.

The Nigerian market The Nigerian stock market recorded its third consecutive decline in 2016 with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (NSE ASI) falling 6.17 per cent. The decline resulted from the poor economy performance as the nation’s economy went into recession.

Speaking on the performance of the market last week, the Chief Executive Officer of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema said: “After peaking at 31,071.25 in June 2016, an increase of 8.48 per cent over the 2015 closing value, the NSE ASI began to retreat to negative territory as total foreign inflow dropped 45 per cent between June (N42.46 billion) and July (N23.43 billion) due to: loss of confidence in the implementation of an announced free floating foreign exchange (fx) regime; weak corporate performance; and second consecutive quarter of negative economic growth in the period resulting in the economy entering into a recession.”

In their assessment of the level of foreign portfolio investments, which fell by 51.4 per cent to N473.5 billion in 2016 from N973.7 billion in 2015, analysts at Afrinvest said the currency controls which led to the protracted crunch in the Nigerian fx market throughout 2016 continues to prevail in the current operations of the fx market.

“Thus, the persistent confidence deficit

amongst foreign investors in returning to the Nigerian market due to currency, liquidity and reinvestment risks will remain a drag on capital inflows, performance of corporates and capital market performance,” they said.

The analysts said that the disinterest by foreign investors in keying into opportunities in the Nigerian market is also evident in the performance of the Futures market which was introduced by the CBN in 2016 as a medium by which foreign investors can hedge against currency risks.

“Despite the attractive prices of the contracts on offer, percentage of total subscription stood at 31.9 per cent as at January 12th 2017 whilst none of the contracts on the calendar have been fully subscribed as investors remain wary of an overhanging liquidity risk at time of exit,” they said.

Some milestones However, it was not all gloom as some of the indices closed 2016 in the positive territory. For instance, the NSE Premium Board Index advanced 6.98 per cent, while the NSE Banking Index inched up by 2.17 per cent.

The NSE equally recorded some major feats across diverse business areas.

According to Onyema, the exchange moved the dial on its planned demutualisation by concluding the due diligence process, established member relations desk and credible member register and had several engagements with key stakeholder groups ( exchange members, Securities and Exchange Commission, National Assembly, Corporate Affairs Commission).

On derivatives, he said the exchange has established corporate vehicle for a Central Counterparty clearing house (CCP), engaged legal and financial advisers to support launch of the CCP, and engaged extensively with key stakeholder groups and started derivatives product development.

Onyema added that the NSE also launched 13 new products to monetise its market services suite and implemented the first market data conference in Nigeria and plans to increase uptake of its services.

“On the investor protection side, the exchange launched SMARTs solution for efficient/effective market surveillance, implemented Minimum Operating Standards (MOS) and achieved 94 per cent compliance rate amongst dealing member firms. A total 83 claims valued at N27.8 million approved for payment to investors who lost

money in 2016. The compliance status indicator introduced has also helped investors to track in near real compliance status of listed companies,” he said.

Onyema noted that the period under review, the exchange increased participation its essay competition by 76 per cent and reached 17,000 students in 250 schools across the geo-political zones.

“The exchange hosted the third edition of the NSE corporate challenge to raise awareness about cancer and funds to buy Mobile Cancer centres. Its financial literacy tour reached 15,413 beneficiaries (7,456 students) through 151 programmes. In recognition of the NSE’s sustained passion to enhance the investor experience and transcend the dynamics of the Nigerian market, it was presented some awards in 2016 namely Most Innovative Stock Exchange in Africa in 2016 by The Business Year Magazine; Corporate Achievement award for promoting financial literacy by Financial Literacy Excellence (FILEX); Employer of Choice 2016 by HR People Magazine; Capital Market Team of the Year (Corporate Category),” he said.

Optimism for Recovery After declining for three consecutive years, there are high optimism that the market will recover this year.

According to him, the capital market is a subsector of the Nigerian economy and the World Bank has projected that the economy will recover from its recession in 2017 with a modest growth of 0.6 per cent.

He believes the economy achieve the projected growth driven by certain factors.

He said there should be vigour fiscal policy implementation, with a keen focus on articulation of desired goals.

“There should lower rates of disruptions to oil infrastructure from resolution of the Niger Delta conflict, thereby increasing fx inflows.

Crude oil prices remaining above the FGN’s benchmark of $42.5/barrel positive impact of the war against corruption manifested in ease of doing business improvement and policies aimed at boosting economic productivity (improved budgetary allocation to capital expenditures, exit from joint venture Cash Call arrangements with international oil companies by the federal government, which is expected to save the country $2 billion annually among others),” he said.

The NSE boss noted that notwithstanding the forgoing, the Nigerian capital market will

have to do a better job at promoting its unique value proposition to both global and domestic investors.

“Monetary policy will continue to play a vital role in determining activity in the market. With forecasts for inflation expected to moderate due to the base effect, we believe that all things equal, monetary authorities will have more flexibility with respect to interest rates and FX regime. Hence good coordination between fiscal and monetary policy should result in resolution of aforementioned structural deficiencies and drive economic growth,” he said.

Looking forward, Onyema disclosed that the NSE will take an adaptive approach to strategy execution in 2017.

According to him, in the immediate future, the NSE will focus on achieving its goal of becoming a more agile and demutualised exchange and will fast track efforts towards developing innovative products such as exchange traded derivatives to provide investors with tools to better weather economic realities in 2017.

“We intend to strengthen our thought leadership efforts with policymakers to drive policies that will free up the system and promote the ease of doing business in Nigeria. We believe that incentive schemes for sectors of the economy that can support a pivot to export led economy will be beneficial and systematic removal of impediments to doing business and therefore reduction of leakages will attract private sector investments,” Onyema said.

He added that they expect to see a revival of supplementary listings, return of the new issuance market, and potentially one initial public offering (IPO) since the equity market is a forward indicator of the economy.

Last year, NSE listed only one new issue when it admitted Initiates Plc to its ASeM Board. In January 2017 alone, the exchange has granted listing by introduction approval to Jaiz Bank and Medview Airline. These two listings are expected to happen in first quarter 2017 while Africa’s largest telecommunications network MTN is being awaited to also list this year.

Apart from Onyema, some analysts also optimism and hopeful that 2017 will be much better. They maintained that if the country is able to achieve strong coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, flatten out the different fx rates, more investors will return to the market especially foreign investors who are still watching the developments in the economy.

27

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Jostling for Retail Customers

Nigerian banks have increasingly shifted their focus to retail customers in their bid to enhance earnings and develop sustainable sources of income, following the withdrawal of public sector deposits from the system. Obinna Chima reports Clearly, there has been a structural shift in banks’ business model in Nigeria. This development which is visibly in the aggressive campaigns and reward schemes being churned out in the industry reflects adjustments in their business strategies.

Specifically, across the industry, banks have intensified strategies to remain dominant in the retail segment of the market. A lot of banks have also refreshed their retail and treasury products to make them attractive to customers.

As part of their campaign drive, several banks offer to reward customers willing to deposit more cash with them through promotions where prizes such as cash, cars, generators, refrigerators, and other electronic gadgets are won in electronic draws.

Some of the factors responsible for the decision to continue to woo retail customers include the implementation of the treasury single account (TSA), weak economic activities, the restrictive monetary policy stance in the country as well as the removal of oil subsidy.

Indeed, the current trend was largely influenced by the TSA implementation by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration through which it was estimated that commercial banks lost up to N3.5 trillion of their deposits in the full rollout of the policy.

Banks’ Rising Savings Deposits Indeed, the third quarter 2016 unaudited financial statements of most Nigerian banks revealed an uptick in their savings deposits.

This clearly reflects the benefits the financial institutions are reaping from their aggressive drive towards mobilising retail deposits. With group profits and revenues decreasing because of the economic recession and credit crunch, the retail business has assumed a bigger share of total banking revenues.

For instance, the United Bank for Africa Plc’s third quarter 2016 results showed that its savings deposits improved by 23 per cent to N501.256 billion as at third quarter of last year, compared with the N407.036 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2015.

Also, Zenith Bank Plc’s recorded a 44 per cent growth in its savings deposits to N331.375 billion as at the third quarter of last year, higher than the N229.396 billion it realised as at third quarter 2015. Similarly, Fidelity Bank’s savings deposit improved by 35.4 per cent to N143.385 billion as at third quarter of 2016, higher than the N105.925 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2015.

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc also benefited from the rise in savings deposits seen in the industry as its third quarter 2016 results showed a 30 per cent growth in savings, to N432.342 billion, higher than the N332.781 billion it garnered in the comparable period of 2015. In the same vein, First City Monument Bank’s savings deposits also rose by 14.6 per cent, from N112.728 billion as at the third quarter of 2015, to N129.170 billion as at third quarter of last year. Also, Access Bank’s results showed that its savings deposits improved by 18 per cent from N137.963 billion as at the end of third quarter 2015, to N162.362 as third quarter last year.

The retail business model has proven to be an irreplaceable source of stability for most banks as well as by providing cushion against sharp downturns.

Therefore, banking experts insisted that given the huge population of the unbanked in the country, retail banking would drive the future of banking in Nigeria. They stated that banks have no choice but to remain innovative and also to continue reinforcing their core businesses to as to remain competitive in that segment of the market. According to financial market analysts, the new focus of banks would strengthen the industry performance and enable the financial institutions record sustainable profitability.

Banking in developing countries, especially

in a country like Nigeria where banking is a huge industry, is not useful except to the extent that it is contributing to economic growth, they added. For banking to contribute to economic growth, the retail segment should be actively involved.

Analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited had in a report, pointed out that with the increased focus on the retail segment, “the future of banking is set to take a dramatic turn.”

“We believe banks will begin to specialise in specific areas of business to ensure they compete effectively in the new banking landscape.

While most banks are hinged on product differentiation strategy using innovation to remain afloat; we keep a keen watch on the industry’s competitiveness as events unfold.

“The era of double digits earnings growth in the Nigerian banking industry has gradually begun to thin-out. The numerous liquidity

tightening policies introduced by the CBN has constantly exerted pressure on the banks profitability,” Afrinvest added.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo recently said the next phase of growth in the bank would among other things, be driven by a fierce competition in the retail banking segment.

Furthermore, the Fidelity Bank boss said the bank intends to remain steadfast in encouraging Nigerian entrepreneurs through delivering special products and services.

“The need to respond to our growing customer base and deepen our operation in the growing retail market vis-à-vis our commitment to make financial services easy and accessible necessitated further expansion in our products and services distribution capabilities,” he added.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty

Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), Mr. Segun Agbaje said the bank would continue to drive its presence in the Nigerian market through retail focused products.

A former Chief Executive Officer, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Omar Hafeez, had stressed the need for to focus on their core competence and strength. He urged financial institutions to design retail strategies that focuses on what he termed “widening the net” as opposed to playing in the “same narrow net and trying to beat each other by offering five per cent more or one per cent more would not be proper.”

He however pointed out that every change in regulation means bankers have to be smart in order for their organisations to remain profitable.

Continued on page 30

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30

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

JOSTLING FOR RETAIL CUSTOMERS

We believe banks will begin to specialise in specific areas of business to ensure they compete effectively in the new banking landscape. While most banks are hinged on product differentiation strategy using innovation to remain afloat; we keep a keen watch on the industry’s competitiveness as events unfold

Hafeez added: “If you were basing your model on public sector deposit, you can’t do that anymore, so you just have to alter it. I think that each bank needs to have specific strategy from the asset-liability perspective.

Repeating what everybody else is doing won’t work as it always increase cost as you go wider and wider to attract customers.

“It is interesting to note that the number of unbanked people in our market is quite large. When you have financial inclusion targets, especially around the agency banking model, that gives you an avenue to reach out to people traditionally that were not really being banked.”

According to him, with agency banking, financial institutions can attract a wider fraction of savers.

“I think development of the assets side of the balance sheet from a consumer perspective, which is credit cards, car loans, which have started but at a very early stage, would really bring about a viable retail banking business.

Really, retail banking should be about the asset class. It should be about buying a house, cars, without having cash in your pocket. You should be able to leverage on banks’ products. So that really is the progress that needs to happen in that business to make it viable,” he added.

On his part, the Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie believes that to be successful in retail banking, banks must adopt strategies that are convenient, accessible and cost effective to their customers.

According to him, one of the responsibilities of financial institutions especially in developing economies is to develop the market.

“If we don’t bring more people into the financial system, then we don’t have the customer base with which our business can

grow. So for us, why the retail business is important for our future sustainability is that if they are not financially included, they will not have access to finance and will not be able to grow,” Uzoma added.

Retail Banking Winning Strategies The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in a report titled: Retail Banking: Winning Strategies and Business Models Revisited,” noted that retail-focused banks are less likely than more diversified banks to experience wild swings in performance.

“It is important to note, however, that every market has its own champions—banks that outperformed their peers over the long term or during crisis. Banks that are striving for better performance should look first and foremost at the top performers in their own markets.

These local peers provide the best lessons for tackling challenges that are endemic to the local market. “Their second reference point should be banks that share a similar business model, irrespective of the market. For as much as banking performance depends on the prevailing conditions in a specific market, it also reflects the strengths and weaknesses of different business models. And the characteristics of these business models remain fairly constant across markets,” the BCG report stated.

Furthermore, it noted that in other to achieve strong performance, banks need to strike a balance between growth and risk. Some of the most competitive banks, according to the report, had invested in advanced risk-assessment and portfolio-structuring capabilities, allowing their credit policies to deftly combine prudence with sophistication. At the same time, these banks had been careful not to become overly dependent on mathematical models.

“By regrounding their risk-management

models on the basis of richer information from customer relationships—reflecting new behaviors shaped by the crisis—these top performers are using risk management to drive the business. All banks have been mobilised to upgrade their risk-management skills while getting ready to deal with a rising tide of defaults.

“Early-warning systems, product flexibility (the ability to restructure a product to reflect a customer’s changed circumstances), collection departments, and debt-restructuring skills are being strengthened to meet the requirements of a far more demanding, stressful environment,” it added.

Also, PricewaterhouseCoopers International (PwC) in a report titled: “Retail Banking 2020:Evolution or Revolution?” stated that nearly all bankers surveyed view attracting new customers as one of their top challenges over the next two years, adding that banks are hungry for growth, and finding new customers would be the first response of a good product banker.

However, banks also recognise the need to deepen their customer relationships and focus more on specific customer outcomes. Hence, enhancing customer service is the number one investment priority for banks, globally, PwC added.

It pointed out that innovation has become a major concern for most chief executive officers (CEOs), stating that 97 per cent of CEOs consider innovation as a key priority for top- and bottom-line growth, but only 10 per cent of CEOs viewed their organisations as innovation leaders. Further, 64 per cent of CEOs agreed in the PwC survey that neither innovation nor operational effectiveness are dominant – and are looking to succeed at both.

“Banks today typically do not know their

customer very well. Now, at the product level, many banks have invested significantly in customer analytics – plenty of credit card providers, for example, understanding a customer’s value potential, can track spending patterns and make targeted offers. Yet, many still send customers multiple product offers in the hope that something will stick.

“The winners of 2020 will develop a much deeper, holistic understanding of their customers. They will need to acquire, integrate and analyse multiple sources of internal and external data. They will be able to understand their customers’ needs, and be present with a relevant solution at the time of need. They will simplify their product sets. And they will redesign their core processes from a customer point of view.

“Further, they will (re)answer the most fundamental questions of who are their target customers, what is their value proposition to those customers and what competitive advantages will distinguish them in the marketplace. A bank does not need to be all things to all people to succeed.

“Much is changing in the banking landscape – with regulation, technology, demographics, changing customer expectations, greater competition and issues with banks’ own legacy business and operating models. The challenges are clear, even if the ultimate endgame is not,” it added.

According to the report, banks need to get ahead of these challenges and retool to win in 2020.

It added: “They need to make hard choices about which customers to serve, how to win and where not to play. They need to rebuild their organisations around the customer, simplify and structurally reduce cost. They need to learn to be agile, innovative and adaptable in order to execute effectively – and deal with uncertainty as the future unfolds. They need to do things differently.

“Each bank’s unique response will depend upon the bank’s current position, aspirations for the future, desired customer focus, organisational capabilities, brand promise, regulatory situation and capital constraints. Banks should consider the posture they wish to adopt. Do they want to shape this future, rapidly follow, or manage defensively, putting off change? Staying the same is not an option.”

From the foregoing, in other for banks to be relevant in the retail segment of the market, there is need for them to adopt unique strategies to achieve success. They must consider products that improve the lifestyle of their customers as well as to help them fulfill their aspirations.

Every bank needs to develop a strategy to tackle these challenges. One that transcends the status quo and considers all possibilities. One that can adapt to an uncertain future. And one that takes an end-to-end view – integrates the changes in markets, customers, risk, regulation, operations, technology – and the challenges of implementing real-world large- scale change.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Monye: FG Must Embrace Risk Management Principles President of Risk Managers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Jude Monye, in this interview with Nume Ekeghe, spoke about how the recession could have been averted if the federal government had taken risk management seriously. Excerpts: For a while now, we have come to accept that the Nigerian economy is in a recession. What is your assessment of the economy presently?

Recession is an appropriate terminology to describe the current circumstance faced by the Nigerian populace. This circumstance (recession) is typically characterised by high unemployment, falling income, increased government borrowing and widening inequality between the rich and the poor.

The average man on the street however, is likely to understand recession as his/her inability to afford a loaf of bread due to a hike in price from N250 to N350. That is, a 40 per cent increase with no commensurate rise in salary or earnings. Can this situation be as a result of no planning? Or were we just non-chalant about the outcome of our decisions or did we rather leave everything to time and chance? The list of questions can continue unending except we embrace risk management.

What role do you think risk management can play in the current situation?

Risk management is the process of identifying, analysing/evaluating as well as providing mitigation strategies to curtail risks. To minimise losses and withstand internal and other environmental threats to business and corporate/national existence, individuals, corporations and nations need to imbibe a risk management culture. The recession experienced in Nigeria clearly shows the lack of appreciation of the concept of risk management. Indeed, it would be shameful for any organisation either public or private to claim ignorance of the concept and practice of risk management in this country when there is a recognised professional body known as the Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN). RIMAN has acquired a charter status and currently prepares individuals for professional risk management exams yearly. To constantly educate its members and keep them abreast of global risk management practices, the body holds trainings every quarter and prides itself on the fact that any bearer of the Chartered Risk Manager (CRM) designation in Nigeria can comfortably compete with contemporaries across the globe as the designation confers on the bearer, a certification of knowledge of both local and international risk management practices. In fact, the final stage of the three-stage CRM exam which commences in April 2016, will be taking place in April this year where successful candidates will be awarded the CRM designation if they satisfy other conditions including requisite risk management experience for at least two years.

What would be your advice to the federal government?

As custodians of the public trust in terms of policy direction and regulation, the importance of risk management in the public sector cannot be overemphasised.

If we had not left everything to chance or otherwise taken deliberate steps to employ the technical expertise of risk managers, the recession in Nigeria would have been avoided or at worst minimised. While commending the private/corporate sector in Nigeria with respect to the practice of risk management, it is clear that the public sector has a lot of catching up to do. Risk is inherent in every business or organisation, even in our daily lives. The difference lies in the type of risk each organisation is exposed to due to business or environmental peculiarities.

Therefore it is safe to assume that every decision maker is a risk manager. However, for a decision maker to effectively manage his business dealings, adequate knowledge of risk management is critical for every decision taken. If risk management is important to private businesses, then it is certainly

Monye

important for those managing the affairs of the nation. Therefore, if government had designed its policies around key risk

management mitigation strategies, our economic situation could have be better handled to avert this current recession.

As custodians of the public trust in terms of policy direction and regulation, the importance of risk management in the public sector cannot be overemphasised. If we had not left everything to chance or otherwise taken deliberate steps to employ the technical expertise of risk managers, the recession in Nigeria would have been avoided or at worst minimised

So what is the way forward?

Often, the errors that resulted in today’s economic situation were made not because of the carelessness of those in position to make such decisions, rather, because of the lack of knowledge of risk management. As a nation we have had our ups and downs, but for the common man on the street, our present situation is seen as the biggest low. We cannot afford to find ourselves in the dark side of life again. Therefore, we must stand up and obtain knowledge as “knowledge is power”. We need to be risk informed, more aware of the consequences of our decisions in steering the economy of Nigeria and place the right kinds of people in strategic positions to steer the Nigerian ship. RIMAN through its risk management certification program is a first step in the right direction. The body was founded on March 29, 2000 to promote best practice and advocacy in risk management and other related disciplines in Nigeria.

Through a pool of industry experts and seasoned professionals, the risk management body provides distinct and value-added services. It has currently set a national

standard in Professional designation with the CRM certification through its on-going Certification programme and Mandatory Continuing Professional Education (MCPE).

Currently, all commercial banks, merchant banks, development banks and non-financial institutions in Nigeria, are members of the association with individual membership growing considerably since 2006. RIMAN collaborates with regulatory authorities in policy advancement to ensure best practice in the financial and non-financial industries.

It has as members of its Board of Trustees, two directors of the CBN and other very experienced risk professionals including banks’ chief risk officers and senior partners in consulting firms. It is also worthy of mention that the erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi serves as the Lifetime Patron of RIMAN. This showcases that membership of and partnership with this body brings to fore the ability to tap into highly resourceful and experienced risk management minds that can guide our nation aright by setting the path to good corporate governance in the public and private sectors, providing valuable risk management education and structured guidance in risk management practice across the various levels of government and economic sectors.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

EDUCATION Curbing Sexual Exploitation in Schools Child sexual exploitation has been on the increase in the country. The shameful act is capable of robbing innocent children of their dreams, aspirations and dignity just as experts and parents have suggested that checks be carried out before teachers are hired and that government should ensure that sex and relationship education reflects in schools’ curriculum. Funmi Ogundare and Esther Akintade report Gideon Comprehensive High School, Lagos used to be a respected school until a youth corps member, Mr. David Ikenna (not real name) was drafted to serve there. He was loved by parents and teachers because of his intelligence and passion to teach the students.

Later on, he was hired by some parents to teach their children at home. In the course of teaching them, he started abusing them sexually while their parents were away and even enticed them with money while threatening them not to tell their parents.

One of such student was Princess, 12, who after being sexually abused at school one day, was bleeding profusely when she got home.

By the time her parents returned and noticed her countenance, they forced her to tell them all that had been happening to her while they were away. They rushed her to the hospital and reported the incident to the school authority the following day and the youth corps member was questioned about his shameful act, dismissed and handed over to the police.

Princess’ case is just one of many sexual assault inflicted on girls below the age of 18, as according to the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) report of 2015, six out of 10 children in Nigeria experience emotional, physical or sexual abuse before the age of 18 with half experiencing physical violence.

A survey carried out by the Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA) over 31.4 per cent of girls said their first sexual encounter was through rape or forced sex of some kind.

The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development also reported that 1,200 girls had been raped in 2012 in Rivers, a coastal state in south eastern Nigeria.

Studies conducted in Nigeria disclose that young girls are victims in most reported assault cases in hospitals. A four-year review of sexual assault cases at LASUTH that began in 2008 and ended in December 2012, showed that out of a total 287 reported cases of sexual assault, 83 per cent of the victims were below the age of 19.

A one year survey conducted at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital between 2012 and 2013 revealed that 70 per cent of sexual assault victims were under the age of 18. In the Enugu survey, most of the victims knew their perpetrators and the assault occurred inside uncompleted buildings and the victims or perpetrators’ residence.

The Department for Child Protection and Family Support has a legal mandate under the children and community service to provide for the protection and care of children in circumstances where their parents have not given, or are unlikely or unable to give them protection and care.

Child sexual abuse and physical assault in Nigeria is an offence under several sections of chapter 21 of the country’s Criminal Code and it is a form of abuse that includes sexual activity with a minor. The act is seen now as societal menace which comprises defilement, indecent acts, attempted defilement, child trafficking, child sex tourism, child prostitution and child pornography. The current statistics indicate that child sexual abuse is on the rise and has robbed children of their dreams, aspirations and dignity.

Aside being perpetrated inside uncompleted buildings, the victims or perpetrators’ residence, the act is also prevalent especially in educational institutions where teachers have control over their students.

To address the menace, some teachers, parents have suggested that background checks/records should be carried out on teachers before they are hired so as to find out if they had a history of such acts before, and that government should ensure that sex and relationship education reflect in schools’ curriculum.

The Proprietor of St. Pesak International

They should be protected from abuse

School, Ikorodu, Mr. Philip Akinnagbe, said children of school age, secondary schools and youth organisations are at risk, adding that the schools are left on their own to perform background checks of new hires and generally have no access to the sole tracking system of teachers who were disciplined by state authorities.

He said despite the risk, schools regularly fail to do the most basic background checks of the teachers they hire. “Some schools even hire teachers who have criminal cases.”

A parent, Mr. Omoyele Omosola thinks sexual abuse is a difficult topic but an important one for educators to understand when it comes to the students they teach.

He said it is important for all those who want to protect their children from abuse to know that oftentimes abusers are the very people they know and are close to. “They are so good; they are so sought-after, they are attractive. That is how they get away with many years of abuse.”

He urged parents to trust their instincts and to talk to their children and ask pertinent questions; watch signs of mental illness like eating disorder and depression.

“Schools need to work harder on protecting children from abuse that plays on children’s emotions and uses them as a way to gain entry into a child’s body and mind. Schools must teach children what abuse from a teacher looks like, what it sounds like, what it does to the brain and heart and soul.”

Another parent, Mr. Bayo Ogunmuyiwa, said school owners must ensure they do a proper background check on teachers before employing them, adding that parents should teach their children how to be well behaved and disciplined so that they won’t end up seducing their teachers.

Mr. Kolade Alade linked the cause of sexual abuse to parental background, saying that when the foundation is weak or when the children are from broken homes, it could affect them and by the time they start mingling with other people to get different ideas, it could lead to different things.

“Some parents enroll their children for home lessons without supervising the teacher; moreover it is good to take your children through sexual education.”

A teacher, who preferred anonymity, said

when a child is sexually assaulted it requires commitment from various sectors across homes, schools, communities and beyond to address the problem.

“The most challenging fact with child abuse or exploitation is that in most cases, the children are abused in places that should be safe spaces for them, such as at homes and schools. In most cases, the perpetrators are people who should be protecting the children like parents, guardians and teachers.”

She said the signs of child sexual abuse may be hard to spot, particularly if a child is being threatened, adding, “to make sure that children are protected, one should be aware of the signs that might suggest a child is being sexually exploited.”

Mrs. Chinyere Nwanni recalled how her neighbour had left her six and eight-year-old daughter and son who came back from school in the care of her husband’s brother to attend a women’s programme in her church, only for her to come back and meet her daughter screaming uncontrollably.

“On close examination, the mother discovered that her daughter was bleeding and decided to make further enquiry. Her brother confirmed that their uncle had sent him to an errand to buy Fanta, while defiling the poor girl behind closed doors.”

Nwanni said if only her eight-year-old brother had been better educated, he might have been able to sense danger earlier, while calling on parents to rise to the social vice against children.

Dr. Bukola Olaoluwa highlighted the worrying trend of children who learn about sex and relationship from online pornography, saying that though parents are sometimes responsible for whatever happens to their children, they can do a lot to reduce their vulnerability to sexual abuse and increase the chance of the information they will give if something happens.

“Parent may not be able to protect their children fully from being molested, but they just need to talk to them directly about it and do it every time. Children often show us rather than tell us that something is upsetting them, there may be many reasons for changes in their behavior, but if we notice a combination of worrying signs, it may be time to call for help or advice.”

She listed the negative signs to watch out for in children that are being abused to include acting in an inappropriate way, nightmares, sleeping problem, becoming withdrawn or very clingy, becoming unusually secretive, sudden unexplained personality changes, mood swing and feeling insecure, among others, saying that the presence of these suggest that parents should begin to ask questions.

“No one wants to see his/her child grow up in fear, neglect and anger, more so, no one is born knowing how to care for children but sometimes we make mistake that hurt them.”

The Patrol Unit Officer, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Kikelomo Olawuni, said the government is concerned about the long-term effect on children that are victims of abuse, adding that their self-esteem and performance in school is also paramount.

“Some even drop out of school and for many, their social and personal level is affected which could make them not to fulfill their ambitions.”

She noted that action is needed to make sure that all schools are equipped to respond appropriately and tackle these issues and that government should ensure that sex and relationship education reflects in schools’ curriculum and realities of the 21st century rather than children having to learn it on their smartphones.

A teacher at Anthony Village Senior High School, Miss Moyosola Lasisi, said background checks should be conducted on hired teachers to find out if there had been a history of such acts before.

“The human resources (HR) department of schools should not only hire people who are academically qualified for the teaching job, but will be disciplined enough to know the proper ethics and codes of the job.”

She said school uniforms should also be properly designed and not to reveal some parts of the body especially when the students are in the secondary school and attaining teenage age when their body develops rapidly.

She added that co-curricular and social activities should be properly monitored and organised, adding, “dress code should be suggested to prevent immodest dressing among them.”

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

EDUCATION

Bauchi Acting Gov Tasks Stakeholders on Meaningful Policies Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The acting Governor of Bauchi State, Nuhu Gidado, has challenged the 17th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the 36 States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) to come up with far reaching policies that will improve the standard of education to make life meaningful, especially for the future generation of Nigerians.

Gidado, who stated this in Bauchi when the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka led Chairmen of UBEC and SUBEB from the 36

states and Abuja on a courtesy call, assured the minister of the state’s commitment to fully implementing all policies formulated to transform the sector, which the “administration of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar holds dearly.”

The acting governor, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, regretted the complete dilapidation of schools and the sorry state of education in the state when the administration assumed office in 2015.

He described it as “almost nonexistent” and pointed out that with the prioritisation of

education with 20 per cent of the state’s 2016 budget and the appointment of the deputy governor to oversee the ministry of education by the Abubakar administration, the ugly state of education is gradually being reversed.

Gidado said education is taken by the Abubakar administration as “basically the bedrock of any societal living” adding that the administration had resolved to overhaul the sector, especially the negative attitude of critical stakeholders of the sector.

He explained that the poor state of education made the government to embark on capacity training for teachers who had not undergone any training for decades; as well as intensive management training for over 700 School Based Management Committee members from different schools in parts of the state.

The acting governor told the minister that from 2015 when the present administration took the oath of office, no policy issue on education was ever put down by the governor.

He said because the present administration in the state pays adequate attention to the provision of security of life and property, “with the help of God,” Bauchi has remained more peaceful than all states in the northeast, resulting in the influx of nearly 3 million people fleeing the insurgency to the state.

In his remarks, Anwuka told the acting governor that the UBEC’s meeting with SUBEB of the 36 states in Bauchi was to discuss pertinent issues that affect education at the basic

level, with a view to proffering possible solutions to the problems bedeviling the sector.

While appreciating the hospitality of the state, the minister said promised that the meeting would deliberate on the most critical issues that affect education at the basic level.

The meeting was Gidado’s major public state function since he assumed duty as acting governor on January 9, 2017 following the commencement of leave of Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.

Prison Prepares 30 Inmates forVarsity Education Kuni Tyessi in Abuja A total of 30 inmates of the Ilesa Prison in Osun State are rounding off their secondary school studies in readiness for tertiary education later this year.

This was disclosed in Ilesa by the Controller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire while receiving the Alms Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Osogbo branch, which refurbished and stocked the library of the school.

A statement by the State Public Relations Officer, ASP Olusola Adeotan, quoted Oluwasemire as saying that the command was being proactive in achieving total reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders in its custody by preparing them for a world of opportunities outside the prison walls.

“The 30 inmates are the pioneer students of our Ilesa Prison Secondary School. We hope that sooner than later, the National Open University of Nigeria will grant us a special study centre in the state command for a seamless transition of the

products of the secondary school to the university.”

The CBN’s Alms Project Committee provided books, furniture and other educational materials for the school library.

In his remarks, the Branch Controller, CBN, Osogbo Branch, Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim, commended the prison authorities for their dedication and commitment in carrying out the prison’s reformation mandate.

He described the committee’s gesture as service to humanity.

In his welcome address, the Officer-in-charge, Ilesa Prison, Mr. Ope Fatinikun, a Deputy Controller of Prisons, thanked the committee for its support, saying, “education is critical to the success of the mandate of the prison service, and the place of library in providing sound education and creating an enabling environment for learning cannot be overemphasised.”

He thanked the committee and charged other corporate bodies in the public and private sectors to join in the task of reforming and reintegrating offenders.

Kaduna State University Gets NewVC John Shiklam in Kaduna The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has approved the appointment of Prof.

Muhammad Tanko as the Vice-Chancellor of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

The Spokesman of the governor, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this in a statement, said the appointment follows the recommendations of the governing council of the institution.

Until his appointment, Tanko, who holds a PhD in Accounting and Finance, was the acting vice-chancellor of the university following the expiration of the tenure of the former VC, Prof.

William Barnabas Quirix.

He is a foundation staff of the university and had served as its deputy vice-chancellor, dean of the School of Management Science and head of department.

Born in Kawo, Kaduna North Local Government Area in 1969,

Tanko obtained his first degree from Bayero University, Kano, where he graduated with a B.Sc. Accounting in 1991 and later obtained his M.Sc. in Accounting and Finance in 1997; an MBA in 2000 and a PhD in Accounting and Finance in 2005 from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. His teaching experience, according to the statement, spans from undergraduate and graduate levels with significant quality supervision and valuable inter-disciplinary collaboration, with a strong track-record of research as evidenced by the quality of his papers in peerreviewed journals.

The statement added that apart from his core area of finance, audit and taxation, he has also researched on the deployment of tools to enhance education by distance learning and has demonstrated academic leadership and provided community service.

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R:The Director Enterprise Development Centre, Mr. Peter Bankole; members of the Lagos Business School (LBS) Management Board: Dr. Yinka David-West, Mr. Charles Ivenso and Dr. Chris Ogbechie; the Vice-President, LBS Alumni Association, Mrs. Clare Omatseye and a member, Pan Atlantic University Governing Council, Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), at a press briefing to announce its status as an AACSB-accredited business school... recently

COREN Endorses Covenant Varsity’s Engineering Programmes The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has given the engineering programmes of Covenant University a clean bill of health a few weeks after a team from the council paid a re-accreditation visit to the institution.

COREN in a letter dated December 19, 2016 and addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor AAA. Atayero conveyed the council’s approval of the university’s undergraduate engineering programmes namely Information Communication Engineering and Chemical

Engineering. Both programmes were granted full accreditation, which has a five-year validity period.

The letter, signed by the Registrar of COREN, Kamila Maliki, states that there would be random visits by representatives of the council to the university within the validity period to check the state of facilities, while urging the institution to ensure that standards are not only maintained, but improved.

A COREN team led by Julius Olurinola had between October 30 and November 3, 2016 paid a re-accreditation visitation to

the university, during which it assessed the books and toured facilities including lecture theatres, ICT labs, the Covenant University Centre for Research, Innovation and Discovery (CUCRID), main university library, engineering workshops, among others.

Olurinola had at a meeting with the management of the university stated that, “we (COREN) are aware that you have taken engineering as a priority, Covenant University will reach the pinnacle with devotion to improving engineering programmes.

“We acknowledge the good vision, the desire to be among the top 10 universities in the world, vision 10:2022, which is admirable and encouraging.

COREN will support you to achieve that, we see it as a source of inspiration.”

Responding, Atayero described the re-accreditation visit as an objective exercise, adding that, “we are bench marking with the best universities in the world to make sure we arrive at our desired destination. The most important issue is quality and we are not compromising on that.”

Christopher Varsity Hosts Young Professionals Boot Camp Christopher University has hosted the maiden edition of the Platform Nigeria’s Young Professionals Boot Camp, an initiative of the Covenant Christian Centre, aimed at exposing young and talented professionals to the skills and training they would need to succeed in the business environment.

The event, which held at the university’s amphitheatre recently, was a five-day inresidence programme and had in attendance about 300 participants aged between 20 and 25, selected from about 2,300 applicants.

Christopher University is a private university approved by the federal government on February 25, 2015 and

licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to begin academic operations on March 5, 2015.

The university is located on a land area of over 100 hectares in Mowe, Lagos/ Ibadan expressway.

According to a statement by a principal officer, the mission of the university is to create a specialised institution committed to the pursuit of academic innovation, skill-based training and a tradition of excellence in teaching and research with private sector participation.

It said the institution provides a serene and secured environment with quality infrastructure for learning and social interaction.

On the uniqueness of the university, it added: “There is adequate provision of power, water, housing and offices for staff, hostels for students, free internet service, an e-library, well equipped classrooms and laboratories for learning.

“There are also recreation facilities and other amenities that enable intellectual and social interaction. It is the place where the gown fraternises with the town for leadership and entrepreneurial training.” The officer stated that the management of the institution places high premium on leadership and entrepreneurial training. “We fervently believe that freedom, responsibility, strong will and determination is germane to

leadership and entrepreneurial spirit.”

This she said requires holistic education for the holistic training of students. “This is why for us, the inculcation of leadership and entrepreneurship skills will be done in collaboration with the private and public sectors.”

Meanwhile, the boot camp participants were put through various aspects of international business best practices such as ethics, ideas generation, tools and techniques for evaluating new ideas (such as SWOT analysis), evidence modelling, marketing mix, know your customer (KYC), intellectual property laws, negotiation skills, copyrights and agreements, plagiarism, among others.

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T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

EDUCATION

Miral Pharm Commences Essay Contest for Undergraduates

Uchechukwu Nnaike

As part of efforts to eradicate malaria in the country, an indigenous pharmaceutical company, Miral Pharm Limited, has called for entries for its essay competition for students in tertiary institutions starting with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

The topic for this year’s edition is in line with the theme for the 2016 World Malaria Day which is ‘End Malaria for Good’. The scheme is targeted at promoting health literacy and research.

To enter for the competition, participants are required to register and submit their essays which should not exceed 1,000 words through an online portal. The registration and submission is expected to end on March 1, 2017. The online registration and submission portal can be accessed through the company’s website www.miralpharm.com. Prizes to be won include one-year scholarship and a trip to selected facilities in India for the first prize; the second prize winner will get one-year scholarship with a laptop; while the third prize will be offered one-year scholarship. Consolation prizes will also be won. According to the Managing Director, Mr. Onyeka Onyeibor, the company is hopeful that the essays would uncover actionable research interests and as such,

Miral Pharm is favourably disposed to supporting such research efforts.

Through the ‘End Malaria for Good’ project, he said the company intends to encourage thinking and improve expressions among students, as well as contribute knowledge to the country’s research base. He noted that at the commemoration of the 2016 World Malaria Day, it was made known that about 31 million Nigerians were diagnosed with malaria in the previous year.

“This is far from the expectation of the World Health Organisation in the eradication of malaria. In the process of elimination of malaria, pre-elimination stage is expected to observe less than one case per 1,000 persons. Achieving this great feat in the eradication of malaria involves a conscious effort that requires research and collaborations. \“At Miral Pharm, we value people, excellence, courage and goodness hence, we are committed to encouraging people to be the best they are capable of being. We take pride in investing in the lives of the next generation by empowering them with what they need to take on this stride.”

The Project Coordinator, Ifeyinwa UgoAmadi, added that each essay would be evaluated based on its ingenuity, structure, insightfulness, content and

language style by three independent examiners. She warned that plagiarism will not be permitted therefore students are expected to reference the source of any information used. Nnamdi Azikiwe University will be the pilot institution, while subsequent editions are expected to include other universities in the country.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof.

Joseph Ahaneku, thanked the company for its ingenuity and love in promoting health literacy and research among Nigerian students and for choosing the university for the pilot phase which he said is founded on the philosophy that knowledge should be propagated and disseminated to individuals without hindrance. “Teaching and research is anchored on the needs of the Nigerian and international society generally. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, after whom the university is named, stands out clearly in the history of university education in Nigeria and Africa in general.

“In the discharge of its mission, the university shall live up to the ideals of this renowned statesman by making university education pragmatic and using it to forge unity among the various communities in Nigeria and the international community.

The future begins here.”

PROMOTING RESEARCH

L-R: The Head of Sales, Miral Pharm Ltd, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu; Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Prof. Ikem Uzochukwu; the Managing Director, Miral Pharm, Mr. Onyeka Onyeibor; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, NAU, Prof. Carol ArinzeUmeobi; and the university’s Director for Entrepreneurial Studies, Dr. Egbo, at the call for entries for the Miral Pharm essay in Awka… recently

UNILAG Alumni Laud Ambode’s Achievements The Lagos State chapter of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni has lauded the numerous achievements of the state government under the leadership of Governor Akinwumi Ambode.

In a statement, the Chairman, Dr. Lukumon Adeoti, an academic staff of the university and an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences, pointed out how the various developmental projects of the governor have benefitted residents of the state.

Adeoti said the association and UNILAG are proud to have produced the number one citizen of the state, adding that the visionary leadership the governor has demonstrated in the areas of education, agriculture, wealth and job creation, security and infrastructural development, has once again proved that UNILAG is indeed and in truth a university of first choice and the nation’s pride; a school that has produced and is breeding men and women of character and achievements.

“The governor is a true Akokite and has demonstrated that the knowledge he gained from his alma mater benefits and guides him as he is taking Lagos State to the promised land of development.

It is instructive to note that the massive infrastructural development of Ambode, particularly his Light up Lagos project, reconstruction of new and dilapidated roads has eased traffic and movement of people.

“In the agricultural sector, the governor has not paid lip service but has ensured that the state is one of the rice producing states in Nigeria. Lagos State’s Lake Rice has eased the burden of purchasing rice and other food items at soaring and exorbitant prices.

“In the area of security, the governor has ensured that criminal elements in the state have been grossly degraded. Lagos now has an enabling environment where businesses thrive and where individuals and properties are safe and secured.

The chairman added that Ambode did not leave youths behind, but ensured that they are engaged and gainfully employed through the establishment of a N25 billion Employment Trust Fund, through which youths are trained to acquire skills, and financially assisted to become entrepreneurs and employers of labour in order to curb the chronic unemployment that has ravaged youths.

“The governor has also provided improved health services and free primary education to lay a solid foundation for human development. The state civil service has been restructured to be efficient and to offer quality services to the public.

Adeoti argued that the governor’s competence can also be seen in the recent increase in the internally generated revenue of the state which is N19 billion more than what was previously generated.

He appealed to the governor to participate in the chapter’s programme because “charity begins at home”, adding that the state chapter of UNILAG Alumni shares the governor’s vision in the areas of education and youth development which has prompted the association to establish a scholarship trust fund for indigent students.

He also urged all members of the alumni resident in Lagos to identify with the state chapter and its projects and to attend the week-long activities being organised by the association, which will hold between January 31 and February 5, 2017 at the university’s main campus.

Cold Sore’s Not Cold War But… I was in the company of some friends recently when one began to openly admire the shade of another’s lipstick. The lady being admired, Bola, who was obviously mesmerised by the accolades being lavished on her, dipped her hand in her bag, produced a cute make up purse from which she brandished a coral cased lipstick.

The admirer, Titi, launched forward excitedly, asked wistfully if she could try it on and more or less playfully grabbed the amazing lipstick off our friend’s hand. I gasped at that point in time remembering one of my own mum’s valuable ageless warnings, “be content with what you have!”

Amazement and irritation fleetingly appeared on Bola’s face.

She managed to produce an indulging smile but winced as a blistered sore on her lower lip prevented her from doing so.

“This ‘Ishirun’ (name for cold sore in Yoruba language) hurts badly, she said. Maybe you shouldn’t be sharing lipsticks then, I offered. “Abeg, Kehinde carry go” Titi countered. “You’re going to tell me I’ll be catching Bola’s sore next”. “You might” I replied quietly, Cold sores are contagious! They can be easily passed from person to person by close direct contact like sharing lipsticks and cutlery used by its sufferer.

Cold sores appear as small blisters that develop on the lips or around the mouth. They are caused by a virus known as the Herpes Simplex Virus type 1. The first symptoms experienced are usually a tingling itch or burning sensation around the mouth. Small sores filled with fluid then appear on the edges of the lower lip. Chances are that they’d clear up without treatment within a week or 10 days.

The cold sore virus or the herpes simplex virus can thrive for a long time. After contracting it, it usually remains dormant.

In most cases, herpes simplex virus is introduced into the body in one’s childhood, for instance, when a baby is kissed by someone, for instance, by his/her mum or family member with a cold sore. The virus then passes through the skin, up the child’s nerves to lie there dormant until it is triggered at a much later time. Amazing isn’t it?

In addition to this, cold sores can be caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 which is responsible for genital herpes.

This virus can be contracted during oral sex with a man or woman who has genital herpes. Someone who is experiencing genital herpes has painful blisters on their genitals and the surrounding area.

Whether it’s been residing in the body for long or more recently, the cold sore virus can be activated by certain triggers resulting in their outbreak on the lip. These triggers include: a fever; stress; fatigue and tiredness; menstrual periods; strong sunlight; experiencing another infection such as respiratory tract infection or an injury at the lip or mouth area. It is important to handle cold sores with care so as not to pass it down or be infected by its virus..

Omoru writes from the UK

Bassey Andah Lecture Holds January 21 The Bassey Andah Foundation is set to hold the 18th edition of the memorial lecture on January 21, 2017 at the Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, Cross River State.

In a statement, the organisers said this year’s annual lecture with the theme ‘The Nigerian Environment: A Threatened Heritage’, is designed to address the Nigerian environment that is continuously and uniquely threatened by poor regulations, laws and practices, as well as lost traditional values.

“With unique challenges arising from deforestation, desertification, diverse forms of erosion, industrial and domestic pollution, the Nigerian environment is rapidly being pushed to a tipping point.”

The organisers stated that eminent scholars and personalities have been lined up as keynote speakers for this year’s event. They are: Professor of Ecotoxicology and Environ-

mental Forensics, Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, who is the deputy vice-chancellor (administration) University of Benin and President of the Nigerian Environmental Society; as well as the Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Coordinator, Oilwatch International, Nnimmo Bassey.

The event will be chaired

by Professor Oladele Osibanjo, the Executive Director, Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the African Region.

The statement added that The Bassey Andah Foundation is driven by passion, wisdom and knowledge inspired by Professor Bassey Andah, who in his lifetime was a thorough bred scholar and teacher and astute university administrator.

Andah died on December 22, 1997, but lives on in the lives of those he left behind.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

35

EDUCATION

Key Drivers of Change (II): Education Reform Tunji Olaopa As a retired public servant, I have the good fortune of looking back to a few significant moments in my public life which I consider as cumulative experiences in my reform evolution. From the commencement of my public life till retirement, I came to see public life, especially for a reformer, as series of policy and implementation battles in which one wins some and loses some. One of those reform moments came between 1999 and 2002 when, as head of the policy division in the Federal Ministry of Education, I led a technical strategy team that started a round of Education Sector Analysis (ESA) in 1999. The ESA project was a critical response by Nigeria to the promptings of UNESCO et al, for a sector analysis that will provide an empirical basis for addressing the problems of education in Nigeria.

Given the fundamental significance of education to the processes of economic growth, democracy and development on the globe, the sector analysis project was conceived with the twin mandate of (a) serving as a reform template that would guide the conception and reviews of national policies on education, and (b) also serving as the base document to instigate the production of any strategic plan for pushing the boundary of education forward in Nigeria.

In 2006, the Federal Ministry of Education published the condensed report of the Education Sector Analysis diagnosis.

It was a damning report of the state of education in Nigeria, and no sector was spared-early childhood, primary, secondary, vocational/technical and tertiary education, including non-formal and special education. Several issues crosscut the entire sectors analysed. They include poverty, brain drain, community participation, employability, etc. On employability for instance, the report noted that “available record and literature report that the quality of training that present day graduates receive is inadequate and that the performance of these graduates on the job is equally less than acceptable.”

There is no one that can reasonably doubt the significance of education as one of the key drivers of change anywhere in the world. For Herbert Spenser, “the great aim of education is not knowledge but action.” Education, in other words, speaks to the capacity a nation has to think, learn and act proactively especially on issues that bother on the welfare and empowerment of the citizens. And this is especially so in Nigeria which is a state struggling with the pivotal harnessing of its human capital as a fundamental ingredient in national development.

While the ESA is a critical diagnosis of the weakened capacity of education in Nigeria to rise up to its responsibility as a developing nation, it seems to me, in retrospect, that the report greatly underestimates the state of the education sector in Nigeria. Or, to put it in proper perspective: the inadequacies the ESA outlined all point at a distressing view of the state of education in Nigeria and pinpoints the reason why development action has failed so far to transform the lives of Nigerians.

We hear news almost on a daily basis of how Nigerians in diaspora are chalking up one achievement or the other. One study for example shows that Nigerians constitute one of the most brilliant and most celebrated immigrant groups in the US. So, let us start with the brain drain issue. And it makes sense to make the point by simply looking at the development profile of countries like Nigeria that lose its human capital to other countries, and countries like the United States (or any other state in Europe), which benefit from the brains drained away from Nigeria.

Countries that immediately understand the significance of harnessing the inputs

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

of its critical mass of individuals really have no problem turning these inputs into development dynamics. In such countries, higher education is serious business. It is submerged, transformed and energized in the crucible of competitive research that speaks to national and global issues like climate change, technological advancement, space research, food and nutrition, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and so on. Such countries also find primary and post-primary education the cradle for jumpstarting ideas and innovation that initiate mental capacities for later use.

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education policy is a very good example here.

In Nigeria, curriculum issues are afflicted by half-hearted policy engagements that fail to unravel the depth of reality in Nigeria. Over the last few years, we have sat and watched several curriculum blunders-History was deleted from the course menu; many courses were merged without due considerations; many new courses were created without adequate teaching capacity to handle them. Students, teachers and school administrators go to bed one day and wake up the next to a confusing array of new programmes as well as the disarticulation of the old ones. This calls into serious debate the role and responsibility of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the body charged with the responsibility of implementing educational policies in Nigeria. NERDC needed, for instance, to be brought into the very heart of a deeper issue about curriculum. And this concerns the perception, even by scholars, of a seemingly incommensurable relationship between the sciences and the humanities. Such a perception is antidevelopmental because it is conceived in terms of a disenabling dichotomy that drives an unfortunate wedge between what ought to have been the combined intersectional relationship between the capacities of both endeavours.

The major challenge before NERDC is simple: How can STEM not only be established and firmly rooted in Nigeria’s curriculum reality, but also be transformed into STEAMSS through the incorporation of the humanities and the social sciences? Within the Nigerian educational reality, STEAMSS (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and the social sciences) becomes a composite educational package that can propel Nigeria’s growth curve beyond our collective imagination. And this development could be forced also into the entire employability issue arising from the endless offloading of unemployable graduates into a glutted unemployment market. An average graduate in the Nigerian higher education system is half-baked. Kudos must be given to the General Studies Programme in Nigerian universities for redeeming the situation a bit, and making education as rounded as possible. But then, employability must be taken holistically as emerging from a trajectory of functional and stable educational system. Nigeria’s educational system began with the 6-5-4 framework.

In 1982, it became the 6-3-3-4. In 2009, the system changed again to 9-3-4. And now, there is a proposal for another 1-6-3-3-4.

What do you have when incessant changes to ill-considered policies merge with endemic infrastructural deficit in educational institutions? Simple: Unemployment multiplied by unemployability!

A student can only become functional through a functional educational system that is proactive and foresighted.

The solution to the debilitation of Nigeria’s education sector must first be perceived as multifocal. Hence, there cannot be one-size-fits. The issues are just too complicated to admit one panacea.

And then this diagnosis must be followed by the recognition of the need for an all-round reform blueprint. The blueprint for reforming the education sector must be beautiful in its comprehensiveness and thorough in its specificity. Such a blueprint must be calibrated through

the injection of the critical wisdom of all stakeholders in the education sectorgovernment MDAs, non-state actors, parents associations, teachers’ unions, private sector organisations, civil society, educationists and educational managers, etc. Thus, rather than the usual discrete, and often contradictory efforts that attend deep-seated challenges in the education sector, there is a need for a focused and concerted understanding of what ails Nigeria’s educational philosophy and education system. To succeed, therefore, such a reform must first be grounded on an institutional understanding of the decline in educational standard. Education, it seems to me, is the most critical development institution in Nigeria, and the most critical driver of change. Hence, an institutional reassessment of Nigeria’s education sector must commence with the reform of the institutions of education at various levels- policy institutions like the federal and state ministries of education, NERDC, NUC, UBEC, etc; several educational organisations like STAN (Science Teachers Association of Nigeria); educational policies like the universal basic education; and so on.

We must not underestimate the significant role of the government, at both the state and federal levels, and the critical responsibility the government has to deploy political commitment and action to making any reform succeed. Political will is a singular success factor in any reform management. Once a government signals interest in any reform endeavour, it already has a 50 per cent chance of success. For example, the education sector reform requires the bridging of a huge financial gap that incapacitates many reform initiatives. Carefully managed and monitored funding and reform administration are essential in the revitalisation of the education sector. Like we hinted earlier, higher education plays a powerful role in development calculation for economic growth. The issue of autonomy for Nigerian universities for example has the advantage of depoliticising the governance and governing structures of these institutions in order to make them more responsive to innovation and the research need underlying national development. Universities are development centers, but Nigerian universities have truly lost that status. Integrating Nigerian universities into the global knowledge dynamics means rethinking their enabling mandates. This becomes urgent because there are now high-grade R&D research institutes that are not subsumed by national interest or national development but are ardently attracting critical talents, skills and competences.

The Nigerian education sector is bereft of an intrinsic capacity to generate the joy of learning. Education by its very nature is a passionate quest whose end is an enlarged sensibility with the capacity to be open-minded, reflective and democratic. The challenge of reforming the education sector does not lie only in generating a large mass of human capital possessing only skills and competences. On the contrary, such a critical mass of individuals must be committed citizens who understand the imperatives of democracy and the urgency of development. The Nigerian education system has churned out skills and competences for many years without any significant change in development profile (simply because the skills have either been drained or are unemployable). It is time to rethink how skills and competences can become the basis of producing worthwhile citizens with the intrinsic patriotic desire to serve the nation. And this requires giving the adequate attention to the education sector and its capacity to drive change in Nigeria.

•Olaopa is the Executive Vice-Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP)

36

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY18, 2017, • T H I S D AY

CITYSTRINGS

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

End of the Road for Car Snatching Gang Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Police Command, recently arrested a four-man gang that stole a Toyota Avensis saloon car from the home of its owner at Magodo Estate, Ketu. Femi Ogbonnikan spoke with the car thieves at the RRS headquarters, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja

The suspect, Abass Ope with the stolen items

T

his is not the best of times for a four-man car snatching gang that is currently singing like canaries in the protective custody of the operatives attached to the Special Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti Street, Yaba, Lagos.

Nemesis caught up with the four men recently as they were apprehended by the operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), a security outfit of the Lagos State Government, as they attempted to dispose of a stolen Toyota Avensis saloon car removed from the home of its owner at Magodo Estate, Ketu, Lagos.

An informed police source hinted that one of the suspects, Abass Ope, 24-year-old, who happened to have worked with the man as chauffeur, was allegedly fingered to have invaded the Magodo home of his former boss, removed the vehicle, television sets and a pet dog.

It was gathered that the suspect confessed that the demand of his younger siblings for the yuletide and new festivities forced him

to take to stealing the car and the household items, in order to raise funds.

The suspect, Ope, who hails from Ogun State was arrested at Ojuelegba, Surulere

Abass Ope, 24-year-old, who happened to have worked with the man as chauffeur, was allegedly fingered to have invaded the Magodo home of his former boss, removed the vehicle, television sets and a pet dog

area of Lagos by a decoy team of Rapid Response Squad of the State Police Command, on December 26, 2016 (last Boxing Day).

It was learnt that the suspect was picked up by the police detectives while trying to sell off his ex-boss’s Toyota Avensis 2013 model with the registration number AGL 734 AR (Lagos) for a sum of N2 million.

Arrested along with him were three of his friends: Balogun Oluwaseun (23); Sanni Azeez (23) and Stephen Ewiele (22).

Ope had during Christmas period stormed his boss' Magodo home while he and his family were holidaying in Delta State, with a conspirator to move a 100 inches LCD TV, another 42 inches LCD TV, a dog, a suitcase, two DSTV decoders and a Toyota Avensis, from the home.

THISDAY further learnt that the suspect invaded the home of his ex-boss on December 26, after learning that he (ex-boss) and family members had travelled to Delta State for the Christmas festivity, while also the security guard of the house had gone to church.

The police source said that the suspect was aware of where his former boss usually

kept keys, leading to his rooms which made it easy for him to commit the crime.

It was revealed that his ex-boss, on getting report of the missing vehicle and property called the suspect for more than two occasions to intimate him of the development but he denied knowledge of the incident.

The source further added that the boss had to cut short his holiday in Delta with his family and reported the incident at Magodo Police Station.

The source added that the car owner was shocked when an operative of the RRS called him on phone, to notify him of his recovered vehicle because, he never reported the theft at the RRS headquarters, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

According to Ope, “I removed the car because I had no money to take care of myself and my younger ones. They had no clothes, no shoes and this is Yuletide season. They looked up to me to take care of these expenses. All responsibilities are on my neck.

"It was about three months ago, that I left Mr. Ekinodo (his former boss). I had

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY18, 2017, • T H I S D AY

37

CITYSTRINGS

worked for him for four years, before leaving him on August, 2016. I left because he had a little challenge and things were pretty tough for him. I left so that he could have himself sorted out."

He continued, “he was a very nice boss to work with. He enrolled me into university but I couldn’t continue the education when I left him. While he had this challenge, he owed me eight months salary arrears, and this prompted me to take his property and the vehicle. I thought through that means I could raise money to get back my money (outstanding eight months salary) which he was owing me and settle other needs “When I drove the car to the auto dealer, the man wanted to pay N2 million for the car but I insisted he should pay N4 million, because I know its value more than what he had agreed to offer me.

"Initially, he wanted to offer me N1million instantly, after which he promised that the balance would be ready in about few minutes time, which I believed it wasn't certain, but I decided to ignore the offer, hoping that the dealer would call me back for a re-negotiation.

“Few hours later, I went back to his outlet at Ojuelegba in company of three of my friends, and that was when RRS operatives arrested us,” he stated.

The three other suspects (Balogun Oluwaseun, Sanni Azeez and Stephen Ewiele), in their own separate confessions, said they were called upon by Ope who told them he had been duped by the auto dealer over the sale of the stolen Toyota Avensis saloon car.

Mr. Ekinodo Ifoghale said, “I am in shock.

This is a guy I treated like a son. Apart from my wife, he was the closest person to me.

This is a guy that did my shopping for me.

Even, before I buy anything for myself, I bought for him first.

“How can I owe him eight-month salary arrears when he never worked for me in those periods in question? Did he inform me that I owed him? He was never in my house during the periods he claimed.

I called him more than twice when I got the report of the break in. He told me he knew nothing about it. If he had told me he needed money, I would have given him because we were still very close, despite the fact that he was no longer working for me,” he added.

While confirming the report, Dolapo Badmos, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a Superintendent of Police (SP), advised members of the public to always do a thorough background check on their domestic servants so as not to expose themselves to the antics of potential criminals.

According to her, the suspects had been transferred to the operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos, for further probe into the matter.

I am in shock.This is a guy I treated like a son. Apart from my wife, he was the closest person to me.This is a guy that did my shopping for me.

Even, before I buy anything for myself, I bought for him first... If he had told me he needed money, I would have given him because we were still very close, despite the fact that he was no longer working for me

The suspect, Abass Ope

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni...smoking out criminals from their hideouts

38

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

UBA Explores Investment Opportunities at World Economic Forum The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has said it will be strongly represented at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which began in Davos, Switzerland yesterday.

The bank’s CEO, Kennedy Uzoka, is expected to lead a senior executive team, at one of the most important events on the global economic calendar.

The UBA delegation, according to a statement, would interact with global business and political leaders during the event. The delegation will also include Group Head of Correspondent Banking Sola Yomi-Ajayi and Head of Embassies and Development

Organisations( EMDOs), Dupe K. Olusola, responsible for relationships with multilateral and development organisations.

“UBA has established itself as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions, with presence in 19 African countries, as well as globally in London, New York and Paris. The event will provide a forum for UBA to build engagement with international institutions. “ Despite the strong economic headwinds across Africa currently, the Group has committed to increasing its pan-African footprint. Its strengths in corporate banking, payment technology, trade finance, and its millions-strong

customer base make UBA a natural partner for global businesses focused on the African opportunity,” it added.

UBA CEO, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka said it was critical that UBA joined world business and political leaders to discuss issues central to the progress of our world, and with specific relevance to the continent of Africa.

“UBA is the natural partner for those seeking access to Africa’s business opportunities – we look forward to engaging with the world’s business community – to show that Africa is open to business and that UBA is ready to partner,” he added.

Expert Seeks ‘Deeper’ Reforms for Nigeria’s Economic Transformation Obinna Chima The Chief Executive Officer of the Time Economics, an economics consulting firm, Dr. Ogho Okiti has advised policy makers in the country to push for “deeper form of reform that would transform education, infrastructure and governance’ in other to transform the Nigerian economy.

This, the economists, who spoke at the 2017 Nigeria Economic Outlook Conference that took place in Lagos yesterday, would be the only path to guarantee sustainable economic growth.

Okiti pointed out that the historical lesson learnt from the present situation in Nigeria was that oil prices drove economic growth in the past.

“Another lesson is that wholesale reforms are not sufficient. President Obasanjo started some of those reforms and it continued under late president Yar’Adua and president Jonathan also did some reforms. But these reforms are wholesale reforms, they are helicopter reforms and are not

sufficient enough to drive long term growth and productivity in the long-term and of course, long term increase in prosperity and reduction of poverty. That is why in a matter of two years that oil prices started declining, we started seeing the effect on the Nigerian economy,” he added.

However, in his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agriculture Lending (NIRSAL) Aliyu Abdulhameed, argued that the solution to the problem with the Nigerian economy is agriculture.

“As far as we are concerned, the past is dead and the future now. No need to be looking back and think you are going forward. The agriculture sector employs between 70 and 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population. The rural economy is denominated by agriculture, but not agriculture as it ought to be,” the NIRSAL boss said.

He stressed the need for Nigerians to start seeing agriculture as a business, which according to him is the spirit of

NIRSAL. “We intend to grow our capital base in a short while to about $3 billion. The whole idea behind this is that you can only talk business when you stand on capital that your voice can be heard. Government creates policies, but government cannot do agric-business. Our job is to work is to create agriculture that makes sense to businesses. So, we need to get the economy right by focusing on agriculture,” he added.

He noted that Nigeria has the natural resources perfect to develop the agriculture sector, these he listed to include land, weather, water and human resources. Abdulhameed said comparative advantage needed to be converted to competitive advantage.

“When you enter competitive advantage that means you have to submit yourself to the realm of business. Therefore, agriculture needs to submit itself to the discipline of finance, economics and the discipline of business. The only country that has the capacity to feed Africa is Nigeria and this is the moment,” he added.

Uber to Cause More Technology Disruption in 2017 Emma Okonji

Uber is launching a website outlining how its cars move around cities, in an effort to appease city authorities who have long called for more data sharing. The move has been described as efforts by Uber to cause more technology disruption in the transport space, globally.

It will provide data on dozens of cities from next month. Uber’s transportation data could help cities to improve traffic flow.

The controversial app-based taxi service had previously argued that sharing such information could jeopardise passenger privacy. Cities are increasingly seeking data to understand, manage and maintain their congested roads.

In Nigeria, Uber also plans to trigger more technology disruption in the transport space, especially in Nigeria, where there are lots of business opportunities.

The management team led

by its General Manager for West Africa, Ebi Atawodi, who made the disclosure at a press briefing in Lagos recently, listed the next technology disruption to include initiative to introduce Uber Pool and Uber Eat to its transport business that has totally changed the face of intra-state transportation in cities where it has presence.

Giving details of the disruptive technology, Atawodi said the Uber Pool initiative would allow more that one passenger who travel the same route at the same time to ride together in one Uber Taxi, and share cost, which she said, would eventually reduce the cost that a single passenger would have paid when riding alone in Uber Taxi.

According to her, the initiatives have been implemented in some parts of the world, but Uber is still studying the Nigerian environment in terms of infrastructure and the market readiness to introduce the initiatives in Nigeria. She

however promised that the initiatives would be launched in Nigeria in no distant time.

The fact that providers such as Uber collect high-quality GPS data means they can provide unique insights into the operation of city streets.

Uber is now available in more than 450 cities around the world, and city officials have argued that it needs to share more data about the movements of its cars.

In a blogpost announcing the website - dubbed Movement - the firm explained what data it would be providing.

“Uber trips occur all over cities, so by analysing a lot of trips over time, we can reliably estimate how long it takes to get from one area to another.

“Since Uber is available 24/7, we can compare travel conditions across different times of day, days of the week, or months of the year, and how travel times are impacted by big events, road closures or other things happening in a city,” the company said.

GMD-CEO of UBA Plc, Uzoka in Davos for WEF

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 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

5,004,677.26

---- 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 - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, MONDAY, 16 JAN 2017 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $52.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $52.64 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Rabi Light (Gabon), 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

39

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

17-Jan-17

16-Jan-17

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

01 Dangote Cement Plc

168.00

168.00

0.00%

2,862,805,244,040.00

9.20

18.25

5.04

4.76%

3.83

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

141.20

142.00

-0.56%

1,119,589,045,385.60

4.03

35.00

3.71

2.55%

6.83

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

23.90

23.89

0.04%

703,405,183,453.60

4.90

4.88

1.75

7.41%

1.43

761.00

790.00

-3.67%

603,211,407,772.00

8.81

86.36

3.49

3.81%

19.11

15.83

15.90

-0.44%

497,006,496,632.38

3.91

4.05

1.04

11.37%

0.71

370.00

370.00

0.00%

204,724,815,810.00 -44.58

-8.30

2.64

4.30%

0.52

07 Access Bank Plc

7.01

6.89

1.74%

202,785,081,133.31

2.59

2.71

0.57

7.85%

0.46

08 United Bank for Africa Plc

5.09

5.00

1.80%

184,662,788,978.98

1.75

2.91

0.55

11.79%

0.43

40.00

40.00

0.00%

182,196,072,400.00

-9.39

-4.26

0.85

7.50%

0.90

9.72

10.14

-4.14%

178,357,637,809.80

0.68

14.37

0.30

6.38%

0.28

11 Presco Plc

43.95

42.16

4.25%

174,502,466,127.75

0.03

2.45

2.96%

4.17

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

15.82

15.82

0.00%

158,200,000,000.00

2.04

7.77

1.13

0.63%

1.34

13 Unilever Nigeria Plc

35.00

35.00

0.00%

132,415,368,750.00

0.69

50.57

1.99

0.14%

14.11

14 FBN Holdings Plc

3.65

3.65

0.00%

131,017,818,690.80

0.21

17.59

0.25

4.11%

0.21

15 Guinness Nig Plc

67.00

69.99

-4.27%

100,894,508,596.00

-3.06

-21.91

0.98

4.78%

2.56

16 Total Nigeria Plc

285.45

285.40

0.02%

96,916,508,371.65

38.02

7.51

0.36

4.90%

4.25

17 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

262.00

255.09

2.71%

94,475,958,644.00

19.32

13.56

1.04

2.75%

5.10

70.30

73.58

-4.46%

91,564,421,540.90

3.31

21.26

0.59

4.91%

2.12

6.07

6.10

-0.49%

72,840,000,000.00

1.03

5.91

0.51

8.24%

1.17

101.65

107.00

-5.00%

65,116,010,398.95

-0.05

0.70

2.16%

2.93

17.98

17.98

0.00%

59,230,602,054.40

0.02

797.98

2.22

1.39%

5.40

4.72

4.73

-0.21%

56,803,401,179.68

-3.15

-1.50

0.22

15.89%

0.36

23 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

18.20

18.20

0.00%

47,761,116,803.40

-1.19

-15.25

0.11

10.99%

0.48

24 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

34.83

34.83

0.00%

45,975,600,000.00

-2.95

-11.82

0.39

4.31%

2.42

25 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

44.27

44.27

0.00%

42,229,595,700.00

4.82

9.18

6.42

0.23%

2.62

0.90

0.87

3.45%

34,848,897,682.50

-0.47

-1.93

0.67

0.00%

0.47

16.30

16.70

-2.40%

31,310,089,508.10

3.37

4.83

0.41

6.13%

0.41

28 Diamond Bank Plc

1.25

1.19

5.04%

28,950,486,210.00

-0.29

-4.26

0.14

0.00%

0.13

29 Fidelity Bank Plc

0.94

0.90

4.44%

27,224,830,550.48

0.39

2.43

0.18

17.02%

0.15

30 FCMB Group Plc

1.32

1.26

4.76%

26,139,578,230.92

0.61

2.16

0.16

7.58%

0.15

31 Sterling Bank Plc

0.80

0.80

0.00%

23,032,334,500.80

0.29

2.78

0.21

11.25%

0.28

32 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.82

3.82

0.00%

22,468,721,224.90

0.76

5.01

0.61

3.66%

0.78

32.00

32.00

0.00%

22,400,000,000.00

2.28

14.01

3.36

3.59%

13.09

34 Wema Bank Plc

0.53

0.51

3.92%

20,444,467,022.93

0.06

8.90

0.40

0.00%

0.43

35 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

7.51

7.55

-0.53%

19,897,282,218.78

0.85

8.84

1.06

7.32%

2.69

15.75

15.75

0.00%

18,835,054,686.00

-2.98

-5.28

0.67

1.90%

2.14

37 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

9.13

9.18

-0.54%

17,147,984,625.20

0.50

18.29

0.61

14.24%

1.68

38 Mansard Insurance Plc

1.60

1.60

0.00%

16,800,000,000.00

0.28

5.74

0.84

3.13%

0.80

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

14.25

13.79

3.34%

14,250,000,000.00

5.69

2.51

0.99

0.70%

0.38

40 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.10

1.06

3.77%

11,410,018,743.20

0.42

2.62

0.52

10.91%

0.61

41 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.20

1.20

0.00%

9,516,237,189.60

-0.40

-2.97

0.20

13.33%

0.29

42 Unity Bank Plc

0.62

0.59

5.08%

7,247,389,524.04

-0.10

-6.05

0.11

0.00%

0.09

43 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.53

0.52

1.92%

7,092,851,273.56

0.18

2.94

0.91

5.66%

0.43

44 Skye Bank Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,940,150,705.00

-2.93

-0.17

0.04

60.00%

0.07

45 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

0.03

17.71

3.72

0.00%

1.94

46 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

4.35

4.15

4.82%

5,466,548,282.10

0.22

19.87

0.49

2.30%

0.51

47 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

2.80

2.80

0.00%

4,547,812,500.00

0.15

18.53

0.56

7.14%

0.76

48 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

2.62

2.62

0.00%

4,503,124,986.90

0.30

8.76

1.07

26.72%

0.13

49 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.60

0.60

0.00%

4,158,122,688.00

0.22

2.69

0.14

8.33%

0.41

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

1.15

1.16

-0.86%

1,725,000,000.00

0.24

4.89

0.26

4.35%

0.27

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc 05 Zenith Bank Plc 06 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

09 Lafarge Africa Plc 10 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

18 Forte Oil Plc. 19 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc 20 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc 21 International Breweries Plc 22 Oando Plc

26 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 27 U A C N Plc

33 Cap Plc

36 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

TOTAL

8,500,708,998,828.21

TOTAL MARKET CAP

9,041,706,574,959.52

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

94.02%

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion) Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open 16-Jan-17

Close 17-Jan-17

Change %

26,359.95 9.07

26,278.20 9.04

-0.31% -0.31%

109.30 8.51

109.18 8.50

-0.12% -0.12%

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers Stock

Open 9-Dec-16

Unity Bank Plc Diamond Bank Plc Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc FCMB Group Plc Fidelity Bank Plc

0.59 1.19 4.15 1.26 0.90

Close Change 13-Dec-16 % 0.62 1.25 4.35 1.32 0.94

5.08% 5.04% 4.82% 4.76% 4.44%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 9-Dec-16 13-Dec-16 %

7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc Forte Oil Plc. Guinness Nig Plc Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Nestle Nigeria Plc

107.00 73.58 69.99 10.14

101.65 70.30 67.00 9.72

-5.00% -4.46% -4.27% -4.14%

790.00

761.00 -3.67%

Sell pressure reverses previous day gain as Index dips by 0.31% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Tuesday, January 17th, 2017, ended in the bearish as market closed red due to the prevalent economic uncertainty leading to waning of investors’ risk appetite.

This was further highlighted by negative performance from the NSE Subsectors: Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas (Save Banking and Insurance). Trading activities increased in volume as 371.87m shares worth of N1.71 billion in 3,522 deals exchanged hands today. This is an increase from the 168.78m shares worth of N1.13 billion in 2,962 deals which exchanged hands on Monday. Topping in volume terms are: Fidelity Bank Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc and Diamond Bank Plc, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms.

Brent crude oil price has moved above US$55 per barrel of yesterday to settle at US$56.80 per barrel.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with 0.31`% (-81.75) decrease to close at 26,278.20 from 26,359.95 the previous trading day. Market Capitalization depreciated in tandem to N9.04 trillion from N9.07 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index followed suit with an increase of 0.12% to close at 109.18 from 109.30 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.53 trillion from N8.51 trillion of the previous trading day.

Market breath closed positive as 18 stocks gained on the bourse today while 21 stocks declined, leaving 60 stocks unchanged. Leading the pack was Unity Bank Plc with a gain of 5.08% to close at N0.62 per share. It was closely followed by Diamond Bank Plc with a gain of 5.04% to close at N1.25 per share. Others on the gainers’ list include: Vita Foam Plc, CCNN Plc and FCMB Group Plc amongst others. On the decliners’ list, 7-Up Bottling Comp.

Plc led with a loss of 5.00% to close at N101.65 per share.

It was closely followed by N.E.M Insurance Co (Nig.) Plc with a loss of 4.71% to close at N0.81 per share. Others on the decliners’ list are: NPF Microfinance Bank Plc, A.G. Leventis Nigeria Plc and Guinness Nig. Plc. Unity Bank Plc emerged as the day’s toast of investors as it topped the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list with a gain of 5.08% to close at N0.62 per share. It was followed

by Diamond Bank Plc with a gain of 5.04% to close at N1.25 per share. Others on the gainers list include: CCNN Plc, FCMB Group Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc; while on the decliners’ list, 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc led with a loss of 5.00% to close at N101.65 per share. It was followed by Forte Oil Plc with a loss of 4.46% to close at N70.30 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Guinness Nig. Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Nestle Nigeria 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

40

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Bears Return on Losses by Highly Capitalised Stocks Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie The stock market ended negatively yesterday as the bears returned following losses by high capitalised stocks. The market had resumed positively on Monday on continued demand for banking stocks, appreciating by 0.18 per cent.

Although banking stocks remained in high demand yesterday, depreciation suffered

by some highly stocks led to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index declining by 0.36 per cent to close at 26,278.20.

Nestle Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Forte Oil, Guinness Nigeria Plc, UAC of Nigeria, which are among the highly capitalised stocks made the price losers’ chart yesterday. However, Seven-Up Bottling Company led, declin-

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

ing by 5.0 per cent to close at 101.65. N.E.M Insurance Plc trailed with 4.7 per cent, while NPF Microfinance Bank Plc and A.G Leventis Nigeria Plc went down by 4.5 per cent.

Forte Oil Plc lost 4.4 per cent, just as ETI and Cutix Plc went down by 4.1 and 4.0 per cent in that order.

Nestle, UACN, Dangote Flour Mills Plc, African Prudential Registrars Plc, Livestock Feeds

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

STO C K

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

Plc, Fidson Healthcare and Nigerian Breweries Plc shed 3.6 per cent, 2.4 per cent, 1.7 per cent, 1.5 per cent, 1.2 per cent and 0.8 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

On the positive side, Unity Bank Plc led the price losers with 5.1 per cent to close at N0.62, trailed by Diamond Bank Plc with 5.0 per cent.

Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria

6 6 12

30.00 34.00

12,629 11,640 24,269

374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

19 19 31

1.25

1,078,511 1,078,511 1,102,780

1,358,964.30 1,358,964.30 2,154,839.65

5 68 13 86 86

0.77 1.13 20.47

33,500 6,740,423 65,995 6,839,918 6,839,918

25,070.00 7,635,453.96 1,344,425.15 9,004,949.11 9,004,949.11

13 13

41.50

31,970 31,970

1,409,214.78 1,409,214.78

5 5 18

5.20

28,901 28,901 60,871

154,716.48 154,716.48 1,563,931.26

6 24 7 98 135

2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

9 9

168.50

166,476 166,476

28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95

54 38 6 12 1 29 140

5.61 19.00 1.37 6.86 6.65 1.27

2,120,306 314,421 40,000 119,863 433 3,285,739,119 3,288,334,142

11,610,520.13 5,953,792.96 55,716.00 842,442.48 2,736.56 4,074,348,894.07 4,092,814,102.20

11 54 65

17.86 700.00

18,825 98,360 117,185

329,518.50 68,567,962.00 68,897,480.50

11 11

4.46

99,050 99,050

420,455.00 420,455.00

13 21 34 394

21.90 28.00

36,887 133,117 170,004 3,289,575,498

820,034.75 3,737,067.92 4,557,102.67 4,244,727,629.11

82 51 21 25 200 41 16 147 11 15 67 676

4.10 1.49 15.60 1.21 16.70 1.07 1.76 2.95 5.30 0.63 0.98

3,962,506 2,163,396 278,470 790,900 4,847,312 1,969,858 1,204,932 8,586,418 39,752 501,617 5,920,564 30,265,725

16,210,255.82 3,314,106.88 4,136,459.40 958,864.34 80,963,793.44 2,115,552.11 2,087,767.85 25,302,954.71 205,645.40 316,018.71 5,813,502.17 141,424,920.83

14 8 2 3 7 10 1 1 46

0.80 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.06 0.76 0.50 0.50

200,107 276,500 5,004,000 1,000,000 351,540 327,285 37,708,135 10 44,867,577

160,838.67 251,350.00 2,502,000.00 500,000.00 720,728.80 245,325.31 18,854,067.50 5.00 23,234,315.28

1 1

1.08

4,760 4,760

4,950.40 4,950.40

31 7 105 7 20 170 893

2.46 4.00 0.85 14.15 1.31

1,149,464 27,041 31,257,120 38,035 708,255 33,179,915 108,317,977

2,830,722.84 104,002.06 26,613,309.20 537,985.34 931,556.31 31,017,575.75 195,681,762.26

27

2.69

614,065

1,572,223.05

Plc, FCMB Holdings Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc appreciated by 4.8 per cent, 4.8 per cent, 4.7 per cent and 4.4 per cent in that order.

In terms of sectoral performance three sector advanced while two declined.

The NSE Consumer Goods Index emerged the worst performer, declining by 1.5 per cent on losses recorded by Nestle (-3.6 per cent), Nigerian

Breweries (-0.6 per cent) and Guinness (-4.2 per cent). The NSE Oil & Gas Index shed 0.3 per cent as investors further sold–off in Forte Oil (-4.4 per cent) and Oando (-0.2 per cent).

However, the NSE Insurance Index gained 0.38 per cent on account of price appreciation in Continental Reinsurance (+3.8 per cent) and WAPIC Insurance Plc (+1.9 per cent).

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32 4 6 69 69

25.33 0.94 0.69

551,998 16,020 597,000 1,779,083 1,779,083

13,903,164.18 15,299.40 412,110.00 15,902,796.63 15,902,796.63

1 1 1

1.69

500 500 500

805.00 805.00 805.00

16 9 4 6 10 31 76

24.00 9.30 35.78 8.62 3.36 80.50

110,727 40,229 26,700 142,300 299,900 14,373,223 14,993,079

2,707,053.97 362,501.29 992,680.00 1,227,076.00 966,480.00 1,157,057,077.16 1,163,312,868.42

6 6

1.51

134,500 134,500

204,240.00 204,240.00

5 5 87

50.00

24,529 24,529 15,152,108

1,165,135.50 1,165,135.50 1,164,682,243.92

2 2

0.50

24,262 24,262

12,131.00 12,131.00

90 90

3.47

3,827,573 3,827,573

13,288,632.05 13,288,632.05

21 7 8 21 7 64

18.34 1.84 342.00 150.00 145.00

81,125 100,300 20,300 16,295 13,699 231,719

1,505,034.50 182,832.00 6,595,470.00 2,396,080.60 1,959,692.96 12,639,110.06

33 33 189

318.00

389,934 389,934 4,473,488

124,037,602.56 124,037,602.56 149,977,475.67

1 1

0.50

941 941

470.50 470.50

5 5

3.80

32,870 32,870

127,756.40 127,756.40

13 13

0.89

624,500 624,500

538,430.00 538,430.00

1 22 23

2.29 4.00

4,588 251,094 255,682

10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64

1 1 43 1,811

1.68

10,000 10,000 923,993 3,428,226,216

16,000.00 16,000.00 1,694,242.54 5,785,390,675.15

2 2 2 2

1.21

270,464 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

306 306

11.45

13,929,679 13,929,679

159,605,439.23 159,605,439.23

278 278 584

3.74

10,438,552 10,438,552 24,368,231

39,515,087.18 39,515,087.18 199,120,526.41

35 35 35 619 2,432

139.83

38,770 38,770 38,770 24,407,001 3,452,903,681

5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 204,425,192.41 5,990,143,129.00

2 2 2 2 2 10 10 10

2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 18.07

3,000 20 20 20 15 3,075 3,075 3,075

6,986,000.00 46.70 120.20 221.80 270.65 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

41

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Investors Urged to Patronise only Registered Investment Schemes Goddy Egene Investors staking their funds in investment schemes not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and any other regulators in Nigeria stand chances of not being protected against any loss that may arise from risks associated with such investments.

As a result, SEC has advised investors to patronise registered funds.

According to SEC, it has been drawn to radio advertisements and other modes

of solicitations of the public to invest in cryptocurrencies such as Swisscoin, OneCoin, Bitcoin and such other virtual or digital currencies.

The regulator advised the exercise extreme caution regarding this form of investment.

“The public is hereby advised to exercise extreme caution with regard to digital (crypto currencies) as a vehicle of investments. This warning is in consonance with similar warnings issued by capital

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

market regulators and central banks across the world over the past few years,” the commission said.

It noted that none of the persons, companies or entities promoting these vehicle of investments.

“The commission, wishes to alert the public that none of the persons, companies or entities promoting cryptocurrencies has been recognized or authorized by it or by other regulatory agencies in Nigeria to receive deposits from the public or to

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 16-Jan-2017, unless otherwise stated.

provide any investment or other financial services in or from Nigeria. The public should also be aware that any investment opportunities promoted by these persons, companies or entities are likely to be of a risky nature with a high risk of loss of money, whilst others may be outright fraudulent pyramid schemes,” SEC said.

It explained that given that these instruments and the persons, companies or entities that promote them have neither been authorized,

nor any guidelines/regulations developed for them by any of the regulatory authorities in Nigeria, there is no protection available to users or investors in these virtual currencies from financial losses if the virtual currencies fail or the companies promoting them go out of business.

“The public and consumers of financial services are further advised that before making any investment or entering into any financial services transaction they should ascertain that the entity with whom the

investment or transaction is being made is authorised by the commission or other financial services regulatory authority as applicable to provide such services,” the regulator said.

It is believed that the operators of the a ponzi scheme MMM Federal Republic of Nigeria, are behind the virtual currencies funds.

SEC had last year warned investors against MMM that was asking investors to invest, promising them a monthly return of 30 per cent.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Afrinvest Equity Fund 130.07 Nigeria International Debt Fund 216.85 ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.69 AIICO CAPITAL LTD Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price AIICO Money Market Fund ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name ARM Aggressive Growth Fund ARM Discovery Fund ARM Ethical Fund ARM Money Market Fund AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund AXA Mansard Money Market Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Nigeria Global Investment Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name FBN Fixed Income Fund FBN Heritage Fund FBN Money Market Fund FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund

100.00

aaml@afrinvest.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 131.21 2.66% 218.39 0.94% info@acapng.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.70 -1.68% ammf@aiicocapital.com Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

100.00

17.06%

enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Bid Price 12.60 292.41 22.54

Offer Price 12.98 301.22 23.22

Yield / T-Rtn 2.06% 1.82% 0.89%

1.00

1.00

16.88%

investmentcare@axamansard.com Bid Price 106.80

Offer Price 107.55

Yield / T-Rtn 1.63%

1.00 1.00 16.35% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 2.15 9.42 84.64

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 2.21 -0.91% 9.66 0.63% 86.81 0.05% invest@fbnquest.com

Bid Price 1,091.89 111.24 100.00 $104.11 $103.55

Offer Price 1,093.10 112.01 100.00 $104.31 $103.75

Yield / T-Rtn 0.14% -0.30% 14.99% -0.17% -0.03%

115.35

1.03%

113.81

FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Legacy Equity Fund 0.95 Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.59 FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Coral Growth Fund 2,186.85 Coral Income Fund 2,121.45 INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 Vantage Balanced Fund 1.69 Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00

fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 0.96 1.60% 2.59 0.61% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 2,211.27 -1.04% 2,121.45 0.82% enquiries@investment-one.com Offer Price 1.00 1.71 1.00

Yield / T-Rtn 16.72% 0.50% 15.80%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.00 1.02 0.23% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,014.02 1,014.02 0.24% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.77 9.85 1.09% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.58% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.05 1.07 6.92% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.38 10.55 0.39% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.00% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 109.36 110.27 1.06% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.25 1.25 0.47% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 1,831.35 1,841.49 0.01% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 154.00 154.00 0.03% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.77 0.78 0.65% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 188.48 188.48 0.85% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 130.33 132.07 0.41% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.37% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,555.93 7,655.63 -0.28% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.12 1.14 9.86% United Capital Bond Fund 1.22 1.22 16.53% United Capital Equity Fund 0.67 0.68 1.12% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.00% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 9.82 9.99 2.02% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.14 11.25 2.14% Zenith Income Fund 16.81 16.81 1.75%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 124.10

1.01% 0.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.43 74.89

8.53 76.28

-3.96% -1.18%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.77 6.80 11.83 15.38 123.49

2.81 6.88 11.93 15.58 125.49

0.71% -3.25% -1.39% -3.55% -4.88%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

42

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017 T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017

43

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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017 T H I S D AY

45

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017

lorious GExit With gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing on of our dearest father to glory into the bosom of the Lord

Chief Onyebigwa Christian Nwokenye (O.C. PACOS) December 21st 1936 – December 28th 2016 (Aged 80) (The Iyase of Owa Kingdom) (The Okparan of Ogbe-Ohun Quarters, Owa-Oyibu) Chairman, O.C. Pacos Nig. Ltd. Chairman, Boji-Boji Micro Finance Bank.

Funeral Arrangements Thursday January 19 2017 4pm – 6pm: Service of Songs at his country home in Ogbe-Ohun Quarters, Owa-Oyibu, Ika North-East LGA, Delta State. th

·

Friday January 20 2017 8am: Body leaves Nkeonye Hospital, Agbor to his hometown Owa-Oyibu.

11am: Funeral Service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Idumuesah Road near Owa Royal Palace, Owa-Oyibu, Delta State.

Interment follows immediately at his country home in Ogbe-Ohun Quarters, Owa-Oyibu.

Friends and Well-wishers to proceed to Obaigbena Primary School near Owa Royal Palace, Owa-Oyibu, Delta State after church service for reception and entertainment. th

· ·

· ·

Saturday January 21 2017 Private visit by friends, associations, in-laws and well-wishers to Nwokenye family at his country home in Ogbe Ohun Quarters, Owa-Oyibu. st

·

Sunday January 22 2017 nd January 22 2017: Outing Church Service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Idumuesah Road near Owa Royal Palace, Owa-Oyibu, Delta State. nd

·

Survived by: · Ezinne Alice Ijeamaka Nwokenye – Wife · Princess Ebele Nwokenye – Wife · · · ·

Mrs. Joy Ngozi Ihama – Daughter Mrs. Anthonia Uche Akukwe – Daughter Mr. Anslem Dumbiri Nwokenye – Son Mr. Kester Ehioma Nwokenye – Son

· · · · · ·

Mr. Ogochukwu Emmanuel Nwokenye – Son Mrs. Gloria Ikeh – Daughter Mrs. Nkem Tele-Mfiangh – Daughter Mrs. Putty Nneka Okpulor – Daughter Mrs. Ewere Vera Imarhia – Daughter ANSLEM NWOKENYE Mr. Chucks Nwokenye – Son (For Children)

· And 22 Grandchildren

Signed:

46

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18, 2017 • T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Migrant Crisis: About 100 Feared Drowned after Boat Sinks off Libya

About 100 migrant passengers are feared drowned in the Mediterranean Sea after their boat sank off the coast of Libya.

Eight bodies were recovered from the water on Saturday, and four people were rescued, the Italian coastguard said.

But difficult conditions hampered an overnight search for survivors, and at least 90

people are still missing.

The boat sank between Libya and Italy, about 30 miles (50km) from the Libyan coast.

The search, involving several ships and air support, continued on Sunday.

It is unclear what the nationalities of the migrants involved are.

On Friday, the Italian

Brazil Prisoners Beheaded in Riot at Natal Prison At least s10 prisoners have been killed in fighting between rival gangs at the largest prison in the north-eastern Brazilian city of Natal, police say.

It took 14 hours for police to control of Alcacuz jail.

“The operation is still ongoing but the situation is now calm”, a spokesperson told BBC Brasil.

This is the third major riot in Brazil this year. Nearly 100 inmates died in riots earlier this month in prisons in the states of Amazonas and Roraima.

The violence inside Alcacuz jail, in Rio Grande Do Norte state, began on Saturday afternoon, when members of one of the powerful criminal organisations present in most Brazilian jails attacked rivals in a separate wing.

“We could see the heads ripped off’’ three of the dead

prisoners, said Zemilton Silva, coordinator of the prison system.

Security forces managed to enter the outer area of the prison but decided to wait for daylight hours before going in on Sunday morning.

No prisoners were reported to have escaped. Police say the number of dead could go up.

Riots are not uncommon in Brazil’s overcrowded jails, which are largely controlled by powerful criminal gangs.

But the scale of the violence this year has put pressure on President Michel Temer to address the problem.

After the Amazonas prison riot, the government announced plans to build five more high security jails and to create new intelligence units to try to curb the power of the gangs behind bars.

coastguard rescued about 550 migrants making the journey across the Mediterranean.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which was involved in the rescue, said that in one case it found 123 people crammed on to a single inflatable dinghy.

Ed Taylor, who is on board the MSF rescue ship Aquarius, told the BBC the situation in the Mediterranean was “horrific”, and desperate people were still making the trip despite the cold and wet conditions.

“It’s incredibly difficult to operate at the moment,”he said.

Meanwhile, Flavio Di Giacomo, from the International

Organisation for Migration (IOM), said survivors of other recent crossings claimed they had been forced out to sea, despite the poor weather.

“Those migrants that arrived lately... they told us they didn’t want to leave when they arrived at the beaches to see that the situation of the weather was so bad.

“But smugglers have forced them to leave and to get on these rubber dinghies, which are really unseaworthy vessels.

“After a few hours of navigation they start to take on water.”

The number of migrants travelling to Europe by land

has dropped since the height of the migrant crisis in late 2015, but sea crossings remain both popular and dangerous.

More than 1,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea in the first two weeks of 2017, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates. Before Saturday’s incident, it estimated 11 people had died or were missing.

In 2016, the UNHCR said 5,000 people died trying to reach Europe by Mediterranean routes - the highest number yet. Many of those making the journey are children.

The UN children’s charity, Unicef, said this week that

25,800 unaccompanied migrant children arrived in Italy by sea in 2016, double the number of the previous year.

It said most of those children arrived in Italy after making the sea crossing from Libya - and the majority had come from Eritrea, Egypt, the Gambia and Nigeria.

On Sunday, which is the world day of migrants and refugees in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis called for “every possible measure” to protect young migrants, saying they face many dangers and should be offered protection “as well as integration”.

John Kerry FindsVietnam War Site Where He Killed a Man FREEDOM AT LAST 46 Colombian police held by FARC rebels huddle in a boat as they are escorted by guerrillas from behind, near the end of

The outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry has visited the place in the Mekong Delta where he was ambushed during the Vietnam war.

The former Navy lieutenant met a 70-year-old former member of the Viet Cong, who remembers the 1969 attack.

The pair warmly shook hands.

Mr Kerry, who is in Vietnam as part of his last trip before leaving office, won a medal for bravery for his actions but became an anti-war campaigner after returning home.

Mr Kerry told his former enemy, Vo Ban Tam, he was glad they were both alive.

Mr Tam, now a shrimp farmer, said he knew a man whom Mr Kerry shot and killed and remembered the plan of attack when they first spotted the US patrol boat.

The Viet Cong unit had a rocket launcher and was shooting at the US fighters to try to steer them into its range.

However, Mr Kerry took a bold move by leaping ashore to pursue his assailants, and shot dead the rocket launcher’s operator.

Mr Kerry, then aged 26, was credited with saving his crew and was awarded the US military’s Silver Star for bravery.

Mr Tam named the dead fighter as Ba Thanh and said he was 24 years old.

“He was a good soldier,” he told Mr Kerry, speaking through an interpreter.

Kerry never knew the name or age of the man he shot.

When he unsuccessfully ran for president in 2004, Mr Kerry faced critics who claimed he shot a teenager.

One aide to Mr Kerry told the Washington Post that the former military man had been searching Google Maps for the site of the ambush. On Thursday, he was said to have woken, jetlagged, in the middle of the night in his Hanoi hotel and called one of his old crew members to rack his brains.

Mr Kerry said returning to the scene was weird and a little surreal.

The secretary of state is visiting Vietnam as the first stop on his last foreign trip before stepping aside when the Trump administration takes power next week.

It is his fourth visit to the country as Washington’s top diplomat.

Working under President Barack Obama, the veteran is known for taking a specific interest in improving relations between the US and Vietnam.

a two-day river journey on their way to being freed in a unilateral release….recently

Gambia President-elect Barrow To Stay in Senegal until Inauguration The Gambia’s president-elect Adama Barrow is to remain in Senegal until his planned inauguration on Thursday, state media in Senegal say.

The move was requested by West African leaders after a Mali summit, APS said.

President Yahya Jammeh, who initially admitted election defeat, says he will not step down until May, when the supreme court can hear his challenge.

Regional bloc Ecowas wants the UN to approve military action if Mr Barrow’s inauguration on Thursday is blocked.

Media captionAdama Barrow spoke to the BBC last week On Saturday leaders repeated their calls for Mr Jammeh to go voluntarily at an Africa-France summit in Bamako.

Mali’s president Ibrahim Keita called for “proverbial African wisdom” to prevail to avert a bloodbath and there are growing fears that the uncertainty could cause a refugee exodus.

Thousands of Gambians,

mostly women and children, have already crossed the border into neighbouring Senegal and further afield to Guinea-Bissau, where they do not require a visa, officials say.

Mr Barrow, who beat Mr Jammeh in last month’s election, was at the Bamako summit and was referred to as the president.

Last week Nigeria’s president flew to the Gambian capital Banjul to try to broker a deal but Mr Jammeh would not relinquish power.

Mr Jammeh’s attempt to overturn the election result has been delayed because of a shortage of judges but his legal team has asked for an injunction to block Mr Barrow’s inauguration.

The African Union has said it will no longer recognise Mr Jammeh’s rule after his term ends.

The 51-year-old leader seized power in the country in 1994 and has been accused of human rights abuses, although he has held regular elections.

Bahrain Executes Three Shia Men over 2014 Police Killing Bahrain has executed three Shia men who were convicted of killing three police officers in a bomb attack in March 2014, the authorities say.

They were killed by a firing squad on Sunday, state news agency BNA reports.

Human rights officials say there are serious concerns that evidence may have been obtained under torture.

But the Bahraini government, which rarely carries out executions, has said the decision was taken“in accordance with international law”.

The executions of the three men, who Bahraini officials say were part of the listed terrorist group Saraya al-Ashtar, are the first since a 2011 uprising, led by the Shia majority, calling for greater political rights.

The Sunni-ruled kingdom has escalated a crackdown on its Shia critics over the past year, including revoking the citizenship of the country’s most prominent Shia Muslim cleric.

What lies behind Bahrain’s crackdown?

The UN’s special rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, Agnes Callamard, condemned the execu-

tions in a tweet saying:“Torture, unfair trial + flimsy evidence: these are extrajudicial killings.”

Maya Foa, head of the UKbased human rights group Reprieve, said: “It is nothing short of an outrage - and a disgraceful breach of international law - that Bahrain has gone ahead with these executions.”

The death sentences handed to the three men, she added, “were based on ‘confessions’ extracted through torture, and the trial an utter sham”.

But a statement from the government said evidence “included in part fingerprints on the IEDs, phone records which confirmed the locations of the three men (e.g., at the time of the attacks) and wide-ranging witness statements”.

The statement added that the decision to execute the men met “all nine of the United Nations Safeguards”- including “clear and convincing evidence” which left “no room for an alternative explanation of the facts”.

47

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017• T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Fani-Kayode’s Lawyers Refuse to Cross-examine Witness Query court’s jurisdiction

Laleye Dipo in Minna The ongoing trial of the former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, facing charges bordering on money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos resumed yesterday with the defence counsel declining to cross-examine a prosecution witness.

The former minister, also a former Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign committee, was arraigned alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, on a 17-count charge of laundering about N4.6billion.

They were charge along with Yusuf Danjuma, a former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and exChairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd which is said to belong to Danjuma.

They had all pleaded not guilty.

The 17-count charge borders on conspiracy, unlawful retention of crime proceeds and money laundering.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, concluded his examination-in-chief for the first prosecution witness (Pw1).

The witness, Mr. Idowu Olusegun, is a media consultant carrying on business under the name and style of Paste Posters Company Ltd. He began his testimony on October 21, 2016, and had informed the court how sums

of monies were paid to him in cash for the printing of posters and flyers by the office of the Director of the PDP Campaign Organisation.

Invited into the witness box yesterday, the witness informed the court that receipts were issued for monies paid to him for printing jobs.

The prosecutor then requested for exhibit P4 and P5 (cash receipts) from the court and gave same to the witness, and requested to know how much was paid to him by the office of the Director, PDP Campaign Organisation.

The witness told the court that he received payments in the sum N6 million and N24 million adding that all payments were made in cash to him.

After his testimony, Oyedepo told the court that he was done with his questions for PW1.

The court then asked if there were cross-examinations for the witness.

At this point, counsel to the second accused, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), told the court that in light of pending applications before the court which mainly are jurisdictional in nature, the provisions of sections 295 of the Constitution ought to be considered.

According to him, the stage was ripe to request for hearing of his pending application dated November 11, 2016, seeking severance of the criminal charge of the accused.

Owonikoko said his brought an application pursuant to the provisions of sections 45 (1), and 49 (1) of the Federal High Court Act, as well as the provisions of sections 209 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. He said he was concerned

Osinbajo Leads Nigeria’s Delegation to World Economic Forum in Davos Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

are members of the Nigerian delegation would also feature.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo The yearly forum which (SAN) is leading Nigeria’s draws together governmental delegation to this year’s World and business leaders around Economic Forum holding this the world to discuss economic week in Davos, Switzerland. issues and review developments, A statement by the Senior is normally composed of such Special Assistant to the panel discussions, country/ Vice President on Media continent-specific themes and and Publicity, Mr. Laolu other subjects.

Akande, said Osinbajo departed Akande said apart from he Abuja early yesterday and was session on Business in Nigeria, expected back on Friday. the vice president would He said the Nigerian feature in a number of other delegation included ministers discussions alongside world and special advisers. leaders including presidents Those on the trip are the and prime ministers.

Minister of Industry, Trade and He said: “Osinbajo will Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, be discussing on the theme Minister for Agriculture and Building Africa with Rwandan Rural Development, Chief Audu President Paul Kagame and the Ogbeh and Minister for Water Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Resources, Suleiman Adamu. Hailemariam Dessalegn, among The Special Adviser on others. The Vice President Economic Matters to the would also feature on a panel President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu discussion on Terrorism. is also on the delegation.

“While in Davos, the vice Akande said Osinbajo would president will hold meetings lead a discussion on Business with some of the global in Nigeria, where ministers companies and other leaders from the Federal Cabinet who attending the forum.”

with the joint trial of the first and second accused as well as the choice of Lagos as venue in a matter which he said had nothing to do with Lagos.

He argued that since the court had acknowledged the existence of pending applications, it would amount to an “anticipatory” refusal by the court, of the application of the second defendant.

Owonikoko also said this was particularly so, because he had made a clear case that fair hearing cannot be achieved in a joint trial between the first and second accused.

He noted that it was so tedious for his client to come from Abuja to Lagos on every adjourned date and spend not

less than three days in Lagos, especially with all accounts frozen.

Citing the authority of Bamaiyi vs State, he stressed the need to hear his application to severe the trial of the defendants, adding that where same is refused, then it will become a proper subject for reference to the appellate court.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case for hearing and determination of pending applications.

On his part, counsel to the first accused, Mr. Norrisson Quakers (SAN), aligned himself with the submissionsofOwonikokoandurged the court to first hear applications touching on jurisdiction before proceeding.

According to Quakers, “My

own application is even weightier as it challenges the jurisdiction of the court, and the law is trite that once such issues are raised, it must be determined one way or the other.”

He argued that owing to the nature of his application, he cannot commence cross-examination of the witness until the legal issues raised are determined.

Quakers said to cross-examine the witness would mean submitting to jurisdiction which from all indication, is in issue.

He urged that a date be issued for hearing of all pending applications.

Counsel to the third accused, Mr. S.I Ameh (SAN), also aligned himself with the submissions of his brothers silk.

In response, the prosecutor objected to the prayers of defence counsel, stressing that he was taken aback.

He argued that all applications can be taken together and the court afterwards defers its ruling.

Oyedepo also argued that the accused had submitted to the jurisdiction of the court having pleaded to the charges.

He said it was a clear case of volenti non fit injuria (voluntary assumption of risk), and urged the court to make progress.

After listening to the counsel, Justice Muslim Hassan adjourned the case to January 18 for ruling.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.

Senate C’ttee Warns FG against Sustained Abandonment of Projects of Previous Governments Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday told the federal government to avoid its habit of wasteful spending by desisting from the attitude of abandoning developmental projects and policies of the previous administrations.

Instead, the committee advised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliberately ensure the continuation and sustenance of policies, programmes and projects of previous governments.

The committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye, who made this remark at a one-day investigative hearing on the abandonment of N8 billion Code of Conduct Bureau Office headquarters in the National Assembly, said the alarming pace by which projects by the previous governments are abandoned is of great concern to well meaning Nigerians.

“As soon as these programmes and projects are abandoned, new ones are initiated only to be abandoned again by yet another successive government.

The process continues while the nation’s resources continue to be wasted.

“It is instructive to state that this is not so with the developed countries. Projects and programmes, as well as policies are sustained. They place nation’s interest above other considerations. This sutenable policy has yielded positive results as these countries have moved from developing to developed world.”

The politician reminded the present administration of its commitment as an advocate of change, and urged the executive arm “to right all administrative wrongs championed by past administrations.”

He lamented the rate at which projects across the country were abandoned by successive governments since 1999, saying, “the Senate was utterly dismayed when it received a motion in respect of the abandonment of N8 billion Code of Conduct Bureau office headquarters projects”.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr. Sam Saba, who came under fire over the bureau’s decision to abandon a building project already budgeted for, was instructed by members of the committee to ensure its completion by ensuring its inclusion in the 2017 budget.

A member of the committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena, objected to the procurement of a new office building for CCB, insisting that the abandonment of the initial building project was an indication that it was conceived to fail.

“From the way things were done from the beginning, I think

the project was conceived to fail.

In 2010, N3 billion was projected for the project. And then the amount was reviewed in 2012 to N8 billion; that is after spending over N1 billion. You decided to dump the contract and procure the same office building for N4.4 billion. Is this not waste”, the lawmaker queried.

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Fresh Tension in Bayelsa over Rumoured Reinstatement of Sylva Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Government yesterday moved to douse the tension that followed the rumoured decision of the Supreme Court to reverse its judgment on the governorship election of 2015.

In a unanimous decision, the seven Supreme Court justices had upheld the election of Governor Seriake Dickson and dismissed Mr. Timipre Sylva’s case.

But for about a week now, several of Sylva’s loyalists in

the state have continued to drum up the rumour that the justices would sit afresh over the case, causing renewed apprehension in the state.

But the state government dismissed the insinuations yesterday, blaming ex-governor for creating undue tension in the state.

“Our attention has been drawn to rumours making the rounds that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election, Sylva is due to be sworn in this Thursday based on a phantom Supreme Court

Buhari Salutes Anyaoku at 84 Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated a seasoned diplomat, elder statesman and administrator, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, as he turns 84 years today .

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president joined the diplomatic community, the Anglican Church, where Anyaoku served many years as a chorister, and his family and friends in celebrating the quintessential diplomat, whose distinguished international career attracted many national and international laurels, especially after serving as the third Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

Buhari said be believed that Anyaoku’s footprints as a teacher, who was renowned for being very articulate and meticulous,

and diplomat, during whose stewardship as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth apartheid was peacefully replaced by non-racial democracy in South Africa, would remain indelible for posterity to cherish and emulate.

The statement read: “As he turns 84 years, the president appreciates the enduring relationship he has enjoyed with Anyaoku over the years, and the many wise counsels he has received, affirming that his title as the Ichie Adazie of Obosi in Anambra State is most apt as from early age he has shown a proclivity for ‘keeping, and doing things well’ for his community, country and humanity.”

Buhari prayed that God would grant the elder statesman more years of grace, good health and wisdom to serve his country, and humanity.

decision.

“Ordinarily we would have ignored this latest falsehood and chicanery by the APC but because it is intended to throw the state into confusion and undermine the current peace, we are unequivocally clearing the air.

“First we want to dismiss the strange story as it is a complete fiction that exists only in the dubious imagination of the originators. It has become very clear that the APC and it’s agents feed fat on deceit”, a statement signed

by Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, the Commissioner for Information, noted.

The government added that “The landmark judgment of the Supreme Court on November 8, 2016 was very clear in affirming the election of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.

“All seven justices that sat on the case were unanimous in their judgment and we have copies of it especially the lead judgment.

“Secondly, our findings have revealed that the promoters of the deleterious rumour are trying to woo gullible Bayelsans to gather somewhere and give what should look like a historic welcome to Sylva who is planning to visit the

state openly for the first time after he was roundly defeated.

“Their intent is also to attract cheap publicity through the planned stage-managed reception and at the end tell Sylva that he is still on ground when in actual fact he is not.”

It noted that having “exposed” the reason for the rumour, it was calling on security agents in the state to go after those behind it and ensure they are dealt with accordingly.

“This way, the peace of the state will be maintained and never again will anyone or group attempt to carryout such mischief.

“We also call on Bayelsans not to allow themselves be used by cohorts of Sylva for what is completely nugatory. Any call to gather anywhere including the Port Harcourt International Airport should be completely ignored.

“Lastly, we want to emphasise that as a government that has sworn to protect the lives, property and integrity of her people, no amount of political brinksmanship and unbridled offensive attack will distract us from our mandate, which is the thrust we have with our people,” the government vowed.

LEARNED WOMEN

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (middle); flanked by Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Ngozi Ogbolu (left); and Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Adaku Mbamal, during courtesy visit to the governor’s wife by FIDA’s, at the Lagos House, Ikeja....yesterday

N500m: House to Investigate Benin Traditional Council Suspends Isekhurhe Indefinitely, Scraps Title Non-reconstruction of Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City adding that even when the found it difficult to walk from chiefs were at times openly Chibok School Council of Chiefs sent for him, his Ogbe in Ihogbe quarters to bad-mouthed and vilified by Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Public Accounts and Basic Education to investigate the status of the N500 million earmarked for the reconstruction of the Government Secondary School, Chibok.

218 schooalgirls were abducted from Chibok, Borno State in 2014 by Boko Haram, drawing widespread condemnation and outrage.

The school, which was destroyed by the sect, was listed for reconstruction under the N1.6 billion Safe School Initiative of the federal government in 2015, with the reconstruction work flagged off by the then Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe (Imo PDP) in a motion at plenary yesterday, said there had been no

official clarification on the project from the Ministry of Finance or the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the funds approved for the reconstruction, may have been diverted.

Hon. Asabe Vilita, who represents Chibok, said the money was appropriated for in the 2016 budget.

“But the school is yet to be built,” she said.

Hon. Shehu Shagari (Sokoto APC) harped on the significance of rebuilding the school, as a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience against terrorism.

“Malala was attacked because the Taliban did not want girls to go to school. She has now become a symbol for girl child education. This school serves the same purpose,” he said.

The Benin Traditional Council yesterday suspended indefinitely, Chief Nosakhare Isekhurhe, the Isekhurhe of Benin.

Isekhurhe’s suspension was announced by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, who said the suspension was approved by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. The Iyase, while disclosing the suspension at a media briefing held at the palace ground in Benin City, noted that Isekhurhe was suspended because of his refusal to perform his traditional duty during funeral rites of the passage of the former Oba. According the statement signed by first class chief of Benin, headed by the Iyase, “During Emwinekhua (funeral rites of passage of the past Oba, Isekhurhe neglected and deliberately refused to perform his traditional duties before, during and after the event, and has since remained infinitely unrepentant.”

He even said he (Iyase) sent for him to enable them discuss but, Chief Isekhurhe’s demurred,

he refused to answer it.

Against this backdrop, Igbe said the profanities and denigrations that came from Isekhurhe and his followers during the mourning period are better just forgotten, noting that during the said period, the suspended chief told all those who cared to listen to him that neither the royal funeral rites nor the consequent coronation could hold without him.

He recalled that the title of Isekhurhe of Benin is a member of the Ihogbe Palace Society of Benin, the leader of which is the Ihama of Benin.

Accordingly, he said the Ihama was one of the traditional spiritual personages who travelled with Prince Oranmiyan from Ile-Ife to Benin-city at about the middle of the 12th century.

“Isekhurhe was, as the family grew in Benin, one of his male children. The present responsibilities of Isekhurhe were part of the traditional duties of Ihama. When, as a result of old age, the Ihama

the palace to perform some of his allocated rites, he pleaded with the reigning Oba Ewedo then to empower one of his sons to take over the performance of the rites on his behalf. Oba Uku Akpolokpolo approved and later, about 1280 AD, created the title ‘Isekhurhe’, the position in which the descendants of the Isekhurhe functioned for their father until the suspended Isekhurhe decided, for reasons best known to him, to deseert” the Iyase stated.

Continuing, Igbe alleged the present Isekhurhe had designated his house as a palace where he held court in which he sometimes reviewed cases already dealt with in the Oba Palace where gratifications were offered or forcibly collected.

He added, not only that, he alleged that the Isekhurhe used his position to influence new chiefs celebrating their investiture to perform certain rites at his residence, during which monies, kola nuts and drinks were collected; senior

him, and during those times, he declared that the chiefs were not senior to him and that he would not pay respect to them again as palace culture demands.

“He turned himself into a beall and end-all, and a seeming authority in Benin culture and tradition, especially palace procedures. He even pronounced himself the head of the royal family,” the Iyase who was flanked by other traditional chiefs stated, pointing out that “we recommend in the circumstance therefore, that he be suspended, and with the authority of Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin.

“He is, with effect from today, January 17, 2017, suspended indefinitely from performing the duties of the Isekhurhe title which he now bears. Those duties were originally performed by the Ihama of Benin. They will now revert to the Ihama N’Ihogbe,” Igbe stated.

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Why Abuja Airport Closure May Exceed Scheduled Six Weeks Airport closure to gulp N6.9bn

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Construction giant, Julius Berger, yesterday expressed its preparedness to ensure the completion of the repair of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport runway, Abuja, scheduled to take off on March 8, 2017, within the stipulated six weeks.

However, the firm was quick to add that the timely delivery would only be dependent on the adequate co-operation and preparedness of Nigerian stakeholders in the repair task to live up to their respective responsibilities.

Giving this condition when he appeared before the Senate yesterday, Managing Director of Julius Berger, Wolfgang Goetsch, echoed the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his counterpart in Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, that there was no alternative to total closure of the runway for six weeks in view of its bad state.

He agreed that it was possible to repair a runway without totally closing it but noted that doing that would depend on the state of the runway, explaining that the state of the airport had deteriorated beyond the consideration of segmental repair.

“If there is fragmentation of a piece and pieces at the end of the runway, it will not be a monolithic structure. If a runway is to be monolithic, it needs interlocked layers and this I think is an important point. It will have a lifespan of up to 10 years. This is why we see it this way with lots of consultants. There is absolutely and unfortunately no option than to close the runway for six weeks because actually, the repair work is far beyond that.

It is almost a new construction of the whole surface of the runway.

“We are very much aware of what the closure of the airport mean for Nigeria, for the public sector, for the private sector and for all individuals. It is in all our interest to make the thing happen and to solve it as quick as possible. This is from our end. We guarantee

that within this six weeks, the repair work will be done subject to the fulfillment of the obligations of all stakeholders.

“I just give one very simple example. We have two choppers; two big cargo airplanes fly in materials from overseas and the offloading and the custom clearance of these cargo airplanes. Of course, it is essential because time is of essence. Under the leadership of the Minister of State for Aviation, all stakeholders are on board. As I speak today, everything is going very smoothly according to plan and we have no doubt if the obligations of other stakeholders are fulfilled. Julius Berger also guarantees after the repair work, a lifespan of this runway up to 10 years minimum subject to regular maintenance,” he said.

But the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) disagreed, pointing out that the repair could be done without necessarily shutting down the entire runway. NSE President, Otis Anyaeji, said the attempt to shut down the entire runway amounted to shutting down the entire country, noting that it is the only airport in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He further argued that the repair could either be done in segments or by upgrading the taxi way to enable smaller aircraft take off and land.

“The Nigerian Society of Engineers having critically evaluated the state of the runway hereby observes as follows: That the total shut down of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, being the only airport that connects the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is like shutting down Nigeria.

Absence of a second runway at the international airport, meant lack of excess runway capacity to temporarily closed down the main runway for repairs.

“Our recommendations are as follows: That the runway could be reconstructed without closing the airport using segmented approach and known safety risk management procedures in

Senate: We prefer partial closure but FG can go ahead

line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines. Aircraft of B737 and below can therefore use part of the runway while work is going on at the other part.

“The taxi way should be upgraded to serve as a runway for aircraft of B737 and below. The appropriate study to confirm this can be carried out for visibility to be assured. This has been tried elsewhere in the world. For example, Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom.

Bigger international flights can be connected to Lagos, Kaduna and Kano and other international airport and then an air shuttle can be connected to Abuja. In the long term, the NSE is recommending that action be immediately commenced on the construction of a second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,”Anyaeji said.

But Goetsch insisted that the state of the airport had gone beyond the consideration

of both segmental repair as well as the upgrade of the taxi way.

Nevertheless, Sirika who had appeared before the Senate last Thursday, told senators that the repair of the runway would cost N6.9 billion including the cost of logistics. He had told the Senate last Thursday that repairing the runway would gulp N5.8 billion while the cost of logistics was not ready.

But the Senate mandated him to get the cost of the logistics and return with the total cost yesterday.

Against this background, Sirika disclosed that the logistics would cost N1.134 billion.

Giving a breakdown of the cost of logistics which he had said would involve the deployment of security operatives, helicopters, trains and vehicles to protect and convey travellers between Kaduna and Abuja, the minister said N103.2 million had been allocated to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC); Federal Road Safety

Commission (FRSC) (N247 million), Nigeria Police (N358.5 million), Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (N325 million), Ministry of Transport (N84 million) and Nigeria Immigration Service (N29 million).

Also making submission at the plenary, Fashola said the reconstruction of Kaduna -Abuja road in preparation for the closure would cost N1.085 billion. This figure is however, said to have been captured in 2016 budget.

Fashola said the contractor had already notified the ministry that it had moved to the site since January 7, with a promise that the job would be delivered within 50 days, which he put at February 28.

Fashola explained that the choice of Kaduna airport as the alternative airport during the closure of the airport as against Minna Airport was predicated on a more motorable state of Kaduna -Abuja road as against the state of Abuja - Minna highway.

The Nigeria Police in its

submission promised to ensure adequate security between Abuja and Kaduna, disclosing that it would provide 500 personnel in its operation team, 500 patrol vehicles and three helicopters to escort very important personalities (VIPs).

Eventually, the Senate, in its resolution, said even though it preferred segmented repair of the runway, the Minister of Aviation was free to take decision in accordance with technical advice provided by stakeholders.

While announcing the resolution, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, said: “The Senate prefers segmented repairs on the runway of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport to avoid total closure of the Airport. However the minister of transportation could take decision based on technical advise provides by various stakeholders. Is that a true reflection of what transpired in the committee of the whole.

MOVING ON

L-R: Managing Director, Polystyrene Industries Limited, Mr. Hamza Atta; Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr. Atedo Peterside; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II; former Human Resources/Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Ms. Amina Oyagbola;and Managing Partner, Oyagbola Chambers, Mr. Bayo Oyagbola, during the send forth party for Ms. Oyagbola, at the Wheatbaker hotel, Lagos...Monday KOLA OLASUPO

APC Lawmakers Stage Walk-out as Rivers Assembly Elects Minority Leader Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt A mild drama played out in the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday as members elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged a walk-out when the assembly elected member representing Akuku-Toru constituency II, Hon. Benibo Frederick Anabraba (APC), as Minority Leader.

The member representing PHALGA I, and only female lawmaker, Hon Victoria Nyeche (APC), had nominated the lawmaker representing Eleme constituency, Hon Josiah Olu, for the position.

However, member representing Emohua constituency, Hon. Sam Ogeh (PDP), rose to nominate Anabraba, seconded by Hon. Edison Ehie (PDP), from Ahoada East II Efforts by Nyeche to stop the move using Order 10 Rule 1 of the House Rules did not scale through as the Majority Leader of the assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule (PDP), also sighting the same order and as well, Order 5 Rule 1 and Order 6 Rule 1, which say at all times the Speaker shall interpret the Standing Order of the House, argued that the Order 10 Rule 1 did not specify who would nominate, rather, it only states

that Minority and Deputy Minority Leaders must come from the opposition party.

Efforts by Olu to raise further order did not scale through as the Speaker, Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, said Order 10 Rule 1 is not ambiguous.

When a vote was put through, Anabraba polled 15 votes, against Olu, who polled eight votes.

Further calls by the Speaker for the nomination of Deputy Minority Leader did not get any response as the APC members present at the sitting all walked out.

In his comments, the Speaker, Ibani, who congratulated Anabraba on his emergence,

reiterated that he would continue to be fair to all and uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as earlier promised.

The Speaker stated that the order was couched in 1999 under the Speakership of the former governor, Chibuike Amaechi, and has not been amended since then.

Speaking with journalists shortly after adjournment, Anabraba said in exercising his functions as embedded in Sections 4, and 128 of the 1999 Constitution, he would do so in the interest of the state.

“Being a minority is not a heritage for punishment but tool

to operate with other lawmakers to make good laws for the state,” he said.

He thanked his fellow contestant, Olu, as well, as those who voted for him for the confidence they had on him.

But in her reaction, Nyeche said the PDP lawmakers were laying the foundation for another crisis in the assembly.

“It is our right as minority lawmakers to choose our leader.

The APC caucus met and chose Hon. Josiah Olu as our leader.

What happened on the floor of the assembly today is a catalyst for crisis,” she said.

Olu also said the PDP lawmakers were usurping the

privileges of the minority APC. “This is unacceptable and we will ensure that it does not stand,” he said.

Commenting on the incident, the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, said: “What happened (yesterday) today in the state House of Assembly was an aberration which cannot stand. It is the prerogative of the minority party (APC) to present its officers in line with parliamentary convention.

“Whether the majority PDP members in the assembly like it or not, it shall be addressed accordingly I can assure you.”

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Budget Office Offers Explanation for 2017 MTEF Controversy Says personnel, overhead costs reason for proposed high recurrent expenditure Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja

He said this was development which reportedly were to be applied to areas of provisions include increase in infrastructure such as power, largely due to inadequate grounded activities in the need,’’ our source explained. electricity tariffs, fuel price hike, transport, roads, rail, air The increase in provision for budgeting provision for IPPIS affected MDAs. It was also learnt that exchange rate and inflation, all transport, and housing, as non-debt recurrent expenditure implementation in the 2016 ‘’Learning from that some essential costs which of which have direct effect on well as in social infrastructure in the 2017 budget is driven budget; prompting the Office of experience, the MDAs were were omitted from some increase in MDA’s overhead investments. mainly by changes in the the Accountant General of the cautioned, while preparing the MDAs provisions in 2016 cost.

He added, ‘’Also importantly, personnel and overhead cost Federation (IPPIS Department) 2017 Budget, against allocating were considered in the 2017 On capital costs estimates, the need for security provisions outlays, a senior official in the in the course of the year to scarce resources to frivolous proposal; especially in the Civil the source explained that arising from insurgency, Budget Office told THISDAY report that several MDAs had expenditures like foreign travels Defence Corps and National Government’s determination militancy and security threats in Abuja yesterday. exhausted their respective and training, overseas board Youth Service Corps, because to achieve inclusive economic in various parts of the country, In the 2016 estimates, non- 2016 budget personnel cost meetings, colour-printing, and of their peculiar mandates. growth by stimulating the as well as effort to achieve food debt recurrent expenditure was provisions as early as the conference sourvenirs. The Other variables responsible economy meant an upward security, largely contributed put at N2,646,389,236, 196, third quarter. savings from these exclusions for the increase in the 2017 trend in spending on key to the increase in this area.’’ while capital expenditure was He also pointed out that N1,587,598,122,03; but in spite the Presidential Initiative on of the federal government’s Continuous Audit (PICA) touted fiscal responsibility submitted claims of salary measures and the discovery shortfalls for non-IPPIS of thousand of ghost workers, MDAs, saying, “These partly the provision for non-debt necessitated the government’s recurrent expenditure jumped virement request in respect of up to N2,949,139,301,963, a personnel cost.” difference of N302, 750,065,767.

Since then, the source At the interactive stated that several MDAs had session with the House continued to forward claims of Representatives Joint of unpaid personnel costs Committee on Medium Term including promotion arrears, Expenditure Framework new recruitment and annual (MTEF) on Monday, the increments.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi He added: ‘’So, in preparing Adeosun, told the lawmakers the 2017 personnel cost that the federal government proposal, verifiable salary had made capital releases shortfalls as reported by the to the tune on N831billion Accountant General’s Office to date, more than 52 per were consequently taken into cent. The 2017 provision for consideration, a situation which capital expenditure is N2, resulted in the increase in 2017 078,941,770,803, about 31 per personnel cost compared to cent of the entire proposed the 2016 estimates.’’

Appropriation Bill.

It was also gathered that The source, who spoke with the further depreciation of the THISDAY in confidence, added naira against the US Dollar that in a bid to drive down pushed up the salary (and cost of governance, the federal overhead costs) of foreign government decided during service personnel particularly the preparation of the 2016 those of the Foreign Affairs Budget that a 6.5 per cent Ministry, Immigration, and L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); Acting Commissioner and Special Adviser, Tourism, Arts across-the-board reduction in also military budgets. the 2015 budget personnel cost THISDAY further gathered and Culture, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola (third right) and a cross-section of artistes and comedians during the governor’s estimate per MDAs should be that just as it was with meeting with 2016 One Lagos Fiesta artistes at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday applied to arrive at the 2016 personnel cost, the overhead provisional budget estimates. cost outlay was similarly “While this was adopted reduced across board in the with the hope that the full course of preparing the 2016 implementation of the IPPIS Budget. and other policies of the However, within the fiscal administration would help year, several MDAs reported make some savings, the unpaid utility bills such as outcome was not as intended,” electricity, water, cleaning he explained services, among others, a James Emejo in Abuja Programme (NEDEP) had policy on diversification of our handling of the been completed. and industrialisation. education of our children The Director General of the He added that 10,100 He lamented a situation which to our minds at ITF Industrial Training Fund (ITF), youths had been graduated where empirical evidence is the key and licence to Mr. Joseph Ari, yesterday with employable skills under from skills gap survey the world. Because with disclosed that a total sum the scheme. showed that despite soaring education, you prepare the Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki for scientific examination in our of N965.22 million was paid He said under the quick unemployment among life long experience and forensic headquarters in to 79,852 students from 136 wins strategy (January-March youths in particular, existing survival of individuals.”

Ebonyi State Police Command Abuja. It was not as if bomb tertiary institutions across the 2017), the batch B of the fifth vacancies are filled by He said: “So, we cannot yesterday confirmed that the was planted in the area so to say, country under the Student phase of NISDP, involving expatriates because Nigerians handle this very sensitive object found by a scavenger it was one of those landmines Industrial Work Experience 9,500 youths from 18 states lacked requisite skills to take scheme with levity and in Okposi in Ohaozara Local that was planted during the Scheme (SIWES) between of the federation would up the appointments-adding management in its wisdom Government Area of the state civil war.

October and December 2016. commence in February while that the fund would seek to felt that they’ll be need was a remnant of the bombs He also said 277 companies the sixth phase of 18,000 reverse the trend.

“Our headquarters have for us to have a regulators used during the Nigeria civil directed that it should be were paid in a total of youths including the Federal He said the functions meeting. These are the war. destroyed and it has been N2.20 billion as training Capital Territory (FCT) would of the fund would be challenges associated with The bomb was discovered destroyed by our bomb section. re-imbursement claims with also begin with 250 youths aligned with the federal this scheme- what are the in Onu Ezeukwu Uzo, Okposi “We have conducted a the period. from each state. government policy thrust on ways forward?” in Ohaozara.

Speaking at a media search to know if similar Ari said the fund was ready economic diversification and He added that ITF had Police Public Relations Officer, object can be found in the briefing in Abuja, Ari, who to provide dynamic and industrialisation. often suffered image Jude Madu, confirmed that the area and every other parts was appointed the ITF boss proactive services aimed at Nevertheless, the ITF boss denting from those who do object was a landmine used of the state and we have not in September last year said achieving its mandate in line had said the all important not appear to understand during the Nigeria civil war. seen any other one. Some as part of the ITF Reviewed of the present administration’s SIWES project, which is the nature of its funding He noted that the object has of these things couldn’t Vision: Strategies for Mandate agenda. expected to complement the and associated problems. undergone scientific examination detonate in their time. This Actualisation, which he As a result, he said the theoretical aspect of classroom “Many people don’t at Forensic headquarters and it particular landmine fell into launched on assumption of fund had also reviewed it’s learning with real work understand; they say ITF was discovered that there was the river and continued office, the Batch A of the vision and came up with situation in companies-was has billions of its naira no such other place that it was to move around until it fifth phase of the National policy and implementation grossly underfunded. it’s not been paid, not planted in the state. got to the river bank and Industrial Skills Development strategies to enable it assume He said: “It doesn’t speak knowing that the amount The PPRO said: “The object somebody saw it and alerted Programme (NISDP), an a leading role in human well of our country, it doesn’t it gets for SIWES is not suspected to be bomb which the police. So, it was not a offshoot of the Nigerian capital development to speak well of the system even adequate to handle,” was found in Okposi was taken planted bomb.”

Enterprise Development strengthen government and it doesn’t speak well he lamented.

ONE LAGOS FIESTA GROUP

ITF Disburses N965m to 79,825 Students Under SIWES Reimburses N2.20bn to companies Says Nigerians conceding jobs to foreigners over skills gap

Civil War Bomb Discovered in Ebonyi

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017• T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Murder of 77-year-old Itsekiri Community Leader Sparks Tension in Warri Sylvester Idowu in Warri There was palpable tension in most of the Itsekiri communities in Delta State yesterday as a prominent community leader, Chief Sandys Omadeli-Uvoh, was allegedly murdered by suspected assassins.

Omadeli-Uvoh, who was 77 years old was said to have been killed at about 5a.m by 10 persons that visited under the guise of being from Ugborodo, an oil rich Itsekiri community in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state.

North-east: PCNI Seeks Return of 1,000,000 Children Back to Schools Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Presidential Committee on North-east Initiative (PCNI) has rolled out plans that will facilitate the reopening of schools to pave the way for the return of about 1,000,000 children to schools in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency that led to humanitarian crises in the region.

The Vice-Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, disclosed yesterday at the end of the committee’s first plenary session for 2017 that it would intervene and ensure the reopening of schools to allow children whose education has been disrupted for between three to six years in the three affected states of Bornu, Adamawa and Yobe.

The children constituted the bulk of the estimated 2.4 million refugees distributed in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps in the region.

The restiveness in the region has led to the loss of 20,000 lives with a further 2,000 people said to be missing.

Tumsah said the committee that met yesterday comprised of the five sub- committees to

implement its rehabilitation framework plan for the year.

The sub-committees are; humanitarian, security and stability, education, economic development and finance.

Aside from the recovery of schools, Tumsah said that the committee set up

by President Muhammadu Buhari and headed by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), also discussed plans to lay solid foundations leading to the implementation of other high impact projects in the region, including rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement He said most of the affected people are subsistent farmers who lived in the host communities and IDP camps.

“The PCNI works with government and international donor agencies to make sure we restore the children that don’t have access to education and who are facing acute malnutrition. Even before the insurgency the North east is adjudged to be one of the poorest on earth because we have the challenges of poverty and degraded environment. This insurgency has only compounded our problem such that they have become so devastating that extra attention is required to resolve it,” he said.

Buhari, Ayade Meet behind Closed-doors Tobi Soniyi in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, yesterday met behind closed door at the State House in Abuja.

Ayade, who arrived the Presidential Villa at about 1p.m, was later taken to the president’s residence when they both met.

The meeting lasted about 40 minutes.

Sources said the governor discussed the proposed deep seaport project in his state.

The proposed Bakassi deep seaport and the 260kilometre superhighway are estimated to cost about N700 billion.

The deep seaport will boost the export of produce such as rice and banana as well as solid minerals.

The governor was also quoted to have said the deep seaport would not compete with

existing Calabar ports, but would complement it because the Bakassi port would be a 16 metres draft and will accommodate mother vessels especially from the Far East.

Ayade had last year said the deep seaport had received presidential nod.

“Even in the face of several challenges and the fear that this project was impossible, the president has kept giving me proper encouragement and I am happy to acknowledged that,” he had said during the official visit of the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

The federal government recently gave the state government the approval to recruit a transaction advisor for the project.

An advisory and implementation committee for the project had also been set up.

Family sources told THISDAY that the Septuagenarian might have been killed over his consistent opposition to the mismanagement of royalties from Chevron Nigeria Limited by some people in Ugborodo community.

It was gathered that the suspected assassins walked into his residence, locked up family members including his wife before entering Omadeli-Uvoh’s

bedroom to snuff life out of him.

“They killed him, probably by suffocation, and attempted to make it look like a robbery operation. There is no doubt that his murderers had one thing in mind to silence him,” a source close to the late Uvoh said.

Hundreds of Itsekiri people have been trooping to his No.1, Akugbe Street home in Enerhen, near Warri to mourn him.

The oil-rich Itsekiri community, perhaps one of the richest in the country, had been embroiled in leadership tussle over the control of the community’s affairs and by extension multi-billion naira patronage and royalties.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident, but said efforts had commenced to track down the perpetrators.

“We have received report of the death of Pa Sandys Omadeli Uvwhoh.

He was allegedly murdered at about 5a.m. yesterday by masked suspected hired assassins who attacked his 1 Akugbe Street home in Enerhen, near Warri.

“The DPO, Enerhen Division is already leading a team on the matter before the command gives a detailed report,” he said.

REWARD FOR HARD WORK

L-R: Comptroller of Immigration, Osun State Command, Mr. Chris Onunwor; newly promoted Chief Superintendent of Prisons, Mr. Oluwole Fadairo; and Controller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire, during the decoration of Fadairo and 70 other newly promoted prisons officers of the Osun State Command in Osogbo...recently.

Osinbajo’s Peace Visit to Niger Delta Positive Move, Says Group Sunday Okobi Concerned Professionals’ Congress (CPC) yesterday stated that the visit of a high-level delegation of the federal government led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the Niger Delta region is a bold and courageous move capable of promoting a positive engagement with the people.

While endorsing the move by the federal government, the advocacy group noted that the visit would build the muchneeded confidence in the zone towards achieving a lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the troubled oil-rich region and Nigeria in general.

CPC, in a statement jointly issued yesterday by its Coordinator, Musa Tukur Tilde and the Chief Media Strategist, Emeka Nwapa, and made available to THISDAY, said the peace mission was

fit, proper and timely, pointing out that it could not have come at a better time than now when certain “mischievous misgivings were still being raised in some quarters about federal government’s plan for the region notwithstanding that President Muhammadu Buhari had taken some practical and decisive steps to address the Niger Delta question.”

The CPC, a group promoting peace, good governance and democracy in the country, recalled that the president took three major steps to demonstrate his sincere commitment to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the region.

Citing three instances, the statement disclosed that “President Buhari fulfilled his promise to start the cleaning-up of Ogoni land after many years of oil spillage when he sent Vice President

Osinbajo to inaugurate official commencement of the exercise on June 2, 2016.

“He personally invited Niger Delta leaders under the auspices of the Chief Edwin Clark-led PanNiger Delta Forum to an ice-breaking meeting in the State House, Abuja which he personally hosted and presided over on November 1, 2016, and, towards the end of last year, he inaugurated the comprehensive Presidential Development Plan for the nation’s oil and gas sector which holds immense direct benefits for the people of the Niger Delta region.

“It is evident that President Buhari has good plans for the Niger Delta and he has shown it in words and action except that profiteers from chaos are those creating problems, and we should not allow them. The militancy in the region

is a product of mischief.

“However, the offer of dialogue by the federal government in spite of the wanton vandalism of national oil and gas facilities by militants is the strength in leadership and statesmanship. This is the spirit behind the visit by the vice president. We fully endorse it,’’ Tukur Tilde said in the statement.

While urging all Nigerians to close ranks for the unity, peace and stability of the nation, CPC expressed confidence in the vision of the President Buhari and the ability of the vice president to utilise the opportunity of the visit to positively engage the elders, leaders, youth groups and representatives of oil-producing communities of the region to achieve sustainable political stability, socioeconomic prosperity and environmental sanity in the troubled region.

52

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017• T H I S D AY

Police Track Kidnappers of Turkish School Students to Creeks, Seek Military Intervention Make several arrests as kidnappers reduce ransom to N700million

Chiemelie Ezeobi Efforts to rescue the kidnapped female students of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) in Ogun State, yesterday evening recorded some successes as the police have located the whereabouts of the girls and the members of staff.

According to confirmed police sources who spoke to THISDAY, they have been able to track down the kidnappers to one of the mangroves located in a creek (name withheld).

However, the police said they need military intervention to access the creeks as it’s not their usual terrain of operation.

They said they are expecting

the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Army (NA) to lend their expertise in the operation and secure the release of the abductees.

While the Air Force is expected to use aerial surveillance and night shield to take reconnaissance of the area, the expertise of the army however would be needed in accessing the creeks during the ground operations.

But in a swift reaction, NAF Director of Public Relations (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said the police seeking the assistance of the AirForce is not a problem.

He said, “This is not a problem. The police should go to the appropriate authorities

Wike Acquires 10 Gunboats for Navy Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, yesterday announced that the 10 new state-of-the-art security gunboats acquired by the Rivers State Government would be delivered to the Nigerian Navy for the enhanced patrol of the state’s waterways.

Speaking after inaugurating the 120 Housing Units named Rivers Quarters at the NNS Pathfinder which was funded partly by the Rivers State Government, Wike urged the navy to use the newly acquired security gunboats strictly for Rivers waterways.

He said that the state government wouldcontinue to support the Nigerian Navy with the needed logistics to protect the nation’s assets.

“We have acquired 10 gunboats which would be delivered to the Nigerian Navy in a short while for the protection of national assets in Rivers State,” the governor said.

He announced that the second road leading to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder would be reconstructed, pointing out

that the first road to the base is nearing completion.

He commended the leadership of the NNS Pathfinder for ensuring that quality was not compromised in the construction of the 120 housing units.

In his remarks, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok Ibas, noted that the new accommodation would further boost the morale of the personnel at the NNS Pathfinder.

He noted that the navy is committed committed to welfare of its personnel.

The naval chief lauded the state governor for his commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian Navy personnel.

He also thanked him for approving the reconstruction of the second road leading to the NNS Pathfinder.

Earlier, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Navy Commodore K.O. Egbuchulam. informed that the Rivers Quarters in the Naval Base was funded by the state government with substantial contributions from the Naval Headquarters.

and put their request forward to the Air Force. It’s not an issue. They know the procedure.”

Meanwhile, the police have not just located the hideout but have successfully identified some of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

Already, the police have arrested a member of the gang, who acts as their go-between (errand boy) and have also arrested some family members of the kidnap gang.

Some of the arrested persons were mopped up from the Ijaw nation in Niger Delta, as well as others who were picked up from Ondo State.

This move by the police in mopping up their family members was to send a strong message to the kidnappers that their identities have been uncovered and that they should release the abductees unharmed.

THISDAY also gathered that the families have been cooperating as they have been in talks with the gang members, convincing them on the need to down their weapons and accept a plea bargain.

A top police officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “We know the exact location in the creek where the children and members of staff are kept but we cannot storm the place because the life of the children are in danger.

“We will not make mistake of attempting the creek because there is no how the kidnappers will not see us coming and they may end up killing their victims.

“We need the assistance of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian Army, who we think have the wherewithal to penetrate the creek through the air.”

Another police source

maintained that the identities of the perpetrators of the dastardly act are well known to the police.

He said, “We have met with families and relatives of some of the kidnappers who are currently speaking with them.

“We have gone to Ondo, Delta and Edo States to consult with their families. I think the families are cooperating and are assisting us in talking to them.

“But if this option fails, we will not have any other reason not to use our plan B, which we can’t disclose but will yield positive results.

“The identities are well known and they know we know them.

But we are using wisdom for the sake of the innocent children.

“We are not happy that they are playing with the lives of innocent children. They are taking the joke too far and the whole world is watching.

“The most annoying thing is that

one of the students is a sickle cell anemia patient and she is seriously sick at the moment.”

Meanwhile, the kidnappers have reduced their earlier demand of N1.2 billion ransom for the release of the abducted persons, to N700 million.

Against their earlier ransom demand of N300million ransom for each of the two Turkish nationals and then N100million each on the six other abductees, the demands have been reduced to N50 million each for the six abductees and N200 million for the Turkish Mathematics teacher, Miss Deria.

While security agencies are battling to secure the release of the girls, Nigerians and indeed their parents hold their bathed breathe in prayer for their sa fety.#BringBackOurNTICOgu nFemales, has been set up to help propagate the clamour for the release of the girls and the school members of staff.

MAKING THE NAVY FEEL RIVERS

R-L: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok Ibas, Commander of NNS PATHFINDER, Commodore K.O Egbuchulam, at the inauguration of the 120 housing units named Rivers Quarters at the NNS Pathfinder by the governor in Port Harcourt....yesterday

Village Head, Brother Kidnapped in Jigawa

Robbery: Court Sentences Man to Death By Hanging

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Dutse

For his involvement in armed robbery, an Akure High Court has sentenced a man, Femi Aseye, to death by hanging.

The convict was found guilty of robbing one Adegoke Adeniran and Rasheed Abiola of their possessions which included blackberry phone, Techno phone, and a wrist watch at Akungba Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state in August 2012.

During the trial, the accused person was also alleged to have assaulted a witness, Abiola, who is also one of the complainants.

Abiola, who was also arrested by the security agents, some

Suspected kidnappers numbering about 30 have abducted a village head and his brother in Basirka village of Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The kidnappers arrived the village in the wee hours of yesterday and kidnapped the village head, Malam Garba Mamuda and his brother, Dauda Mamuda.

The kidnapped brother of the village head, Mamuda, is also the ward head of the village.

The spokesman of the police in the state, Abdul Jinjiri, confirmed the incident to

journalists yesterday.

The police spokesman further stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Rasheed Akintunde, had directed immediate action over the incident.

He said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Gwaram Local Government, Muhammad Badawa, had been instructed to quickly investigate the matter and arrest the kidnappers.

A resident of the village told journalists under condition anonymity that the villagers suspected that the kidnappers were cattle rustlers who were terrorising the village.

James Sowole in Akure

days later for involving in a riot, was remanded in the same cell where the Aseye was remanded in Olokuta Prison, Akure.

As the trial was ongoing, Abiola informed the court how he was ignored by the prison officials when he objected to being put in the same cell with Femi Aseye (defendant) whom he had testified against some days earlier.

He also told the court how Asaye and his cohorts in the cell were severely torturing him and he reported the matter to the prison officials but the official took no action on the matter.

To this end, some senior officials of the Olokuta Prison were summoned by the court

but they denied the allegation, saying Abiola did not raise any objection concerning the cell in which he was remanded.

However, the prosecutor, Mr. John Olowokere, proved to the court that some prison officials involved in some unethical practices in a bid to pervert justice.

He told the court specifically that the Olokuta prison officials, Dr. Adetula who is the prison’s psychologist and Mrs. Florence Alukuluka, the defence counsel, Mr. Dele Kuboye and the accused person, Asaye made false affidavit that the complainant (Abiola and Adeniran) in favour of the accused person.

Following the

prosecution’s ability to prove the case of armed robbery against the accused person beyond reasonable doubts, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu sentenced Aseye to death by hanging.

The judge also recommended the defence counsel, Kuboye and two prison officials, Adetula and Alukuluka for sanction by appropriate authorities for their involvement in the procurement of an affidavit purported to have emanated from the complaint, Rasheed Abiola that the latter had withdrawn from the matter.

The said false affidavit was said to have been masterminded and signed

by Adetula’s office.

53

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

NPFL…NPFL…NPFL…

Intriguing Fixtures Dominate First Midweek of New Season Match-day Two of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is laced with plenty of intriguing fixtures today and the contest between Akwa United and Rivers United is certainly one of them.

Uyo’s storied ‘Nest of Champions’, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is the venue for the game which holds this evening.

The two sides met twice last season in the NPFL with the Pride of Rivers winning both fixtures in Port Harcourt and Uyo, respectively.

Akwa United and Rivers United began the 2016/17 season in contrasting fashion with the Uyo club surprisingly losing 1-3 to newly-promoted ABS FC in Ilorin on Sunday.

Things were more straightforward for Port Harcourt-based Rivers United as they claimed a 2-1 victory over El Kanemi Warriors at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.

The stakes will be extremely high on Friday as the ‘Promise Keepers’ will be eager to get off to a flyer in their first home game of the season, particularly after suffering a reverse in Ilorin on Sunday.

Akwa’s Head Coach, Abdul Maikaba, has two former Rivers United stars, Aremu Afeez and Ofem Inah in his ranks as he look to topple the ‘Pride of Rivers’ on Wednesday with the duo almost certain to provide ‘inside information’ about the workings of the Port Harcourt club.

Other personnel that will likely feature for Akwa United this evening include; Cyril Olisema, Moses Ebiye, Christian Pyagbara and feared marksman, Hassan Babangida.

Godspower Igudia scored Akwa’s solitary goal in Ilorin against ABS on Sunday and the Rivers United rear guard will do well to pay the skilful marksman close attention.

Maikaba is full of respect for United but insists his side will amass maximum points on Wednesday.

“We can beat Rivers United by maybe two or three goals to pay them back in their own coin, what they did to us in Uyo last season (when Rivers United won 2-1 on enemy territory on the final day of the 2016 season).

“No doubt, it will be a very good match mainly because of the pre-season enjoyed by Rivers United.

“No club in the NPFL went through that process (of such a well-detailed pre-season exercise prosecuted by Rivers United).

“We will try to get three points against Rivers United on Wednesday,” Maikaba told the club’s official website, www. riversunitedfc.com.ng.

There are no injury worries or suspensions in the United camp and Technical Manager, Stanley Eguma has set his sights on a positive performance from his wards.

“I have congratulated the boys for the win (against El Kanemi Warriors on Sunday) even though it was anything but a perfect performance.

“It’s hard to play a perfect game at this stage of the season because there is still a lot of work to do integrating the old players with the new to create a compact unit and a perfect blend.

“Now, we must try to get a good result against Akwa United; an excellent team that will have the full backing of their fans on Wednesday.

“It will be a very difficult game and if my players don’t perform to the best of our abilities, I am very sure we will lose,” he said.

Rivers United captain, Festus Austin is also expectant of maximum points from the ‘Uyo expedition’.

“We want maximum points in Uyo,” he said simply.

A compelling contest awaits and fireworks are guaranteed at the Nest of Champions.

In Gombe, Remo Stars Football Club return to action against Gombe United Football at the Pantami Stadium.

It’s the first game on the road for the Sky Blue Stars as both teams had earlier met at the Nigeria National League, NNL Super 4 in December 2016.

The Sky Blue Stars defeated Gombe United 3-1 on penalties after both teams played out a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.

Going into this encounter Captain, Victor Mbaoma has indicated that him and his teammates are not under any pressure in getting a result but instead they want a result for themselves and make a statement.

Mbaoma disclosed that the team isn’t under pressure to win today but they will play to win.

“We have to respect our opponent by playing and defending well. We are not under any pressure at all but we will try our best possible to win.”

“We won against them in the NNL Super 4 and we can replicate such performance when we play them again on Wednesday.”

“We lost our first game at home but that won’t affect us from playing our game to win and we will be successful at the end of the game in Gombe by God’s grace”.

The Sky Blue Stars lost 1-2 at home in the first game in the NPFL against Plateau United in Sagamu on Sunday

FIXTURES (4pm)

Lobi v Kano Pillars IfeanyiUbah v MFM FC Akwa Utd v Rivers Utd Tornadoes v ABS FC El Kanemi v Wikki Nasarawa v Rangers Abia W’ v Katsina Utd Gombe v Remo Stars Plateau Utd v Enyimba Sunshine v Shooting

The clash between Akwa United (in blue jerseys) and Rivers United at the Nest of Champions in Uyo promises to be full of fireworks this evening

Yaya Toure Rejects £430,000-a-week Offer from China Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has turned down a £430,000-a-week offer from China.

Toure, 33, was the subject of interest from the Chinese Super League last summer.

He decided against moving then and gave the same response when he was contacted again to say the offer remained open during the current transfer window, which closes on January 31.

The Ivorian’s contract at the Etihad expires in the summer.

Toure’s future appeared in doubt when he was left out of the City squad by Pep Guardiola at the start of the season.

However, he has been a regular for the club since he was recalled in November and started his seventh consecutive game in the 4-0 defeat at Everton in the Premier League on 15 January.

Toure has been free to sign pre-contract agreements with clubs overseas since January 1 but it is understood he still enjoys the English game.

Guardiola has not given Toure any guarantees about his future beyond the summer.

The Ivorian, who joined City in 2010, has become more important since Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Watford on December 14 that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Midfielders Oscar and John Mikel Obi left Chelsea to move to China earlier this month, while former Manchester United and Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez reportedly became the world’s highest-paid player when he joined Shanghai Shenhua.

Yaya Toure

Invest in Sports Ekiti FA Boss Begs Firms Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Corporate bodies and individuals have been called upon to be involved in the development of sports particularly football at the grassroots level.

The Chairman, Ekiti State Football Association, Mr Ayodeji Alabi, who made the call said desired results will be difficult to achieve if the running of football and other sports generally are seen as sole responsibility of the government.

He said full involvement of both private organisations and individuals through huge investment in grassroots football development will help in the

identification of raw talents that could be nurtured to stardom.

The Ekiti FA boss spoke in Ado Ekiti at the weekend during a get-together organised by the management of Phoenix Athletic Sports Limited for members of the Ayodeji Ogunsakin-led state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

He said the association was ready to support organizations as well as individuals with genuine interest to developing the youths of the state through the instrumentality of the game of football.

“It takes discipline and determination to make things work. It will interest you to

see how best we can develop the game of football from the grassroots. Every genuine agenda geared towards youths and football development at the grassroots will get our support as the body that is saddled with the administration of the game in the state.

He however stressed the need for the stakeholders to ensure that the game be run the way it should.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Athletic Sports, Mr Bayo Olanlege commended the sports journalists for their contributions towards the development of sports in the state.

Mr Olanlege, who bankrolled a national league side, Phoenix Football Club stated that the mandate of the organisation was to hunt for young sports talents and groom them for national and international meets.

While noting that the support of the state FA was pivotal to generating ideas for football development in the state, he disclosed that plans was in the pipeline by his organisation to float a basket ball team.

Ayodeji expressed SWAN’s readiness to support the organisation in its efforts at revolutionalising and developing sports in the state and the country at large.

54

WEDNESDAY, january 18, 2017 • T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS AFCON 2017… AFCON 2017… AFCON 2017…

Ayew’s Penalty against Uganda Earns Black Stars Maximum Points A first-half penalty by Andre Ayew ensured Ghana bagged the full three points as they beat Uganda 1-0 in their 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group D match at Stade de Port-Gentil in Gabon on Tuesday evening.

Following the victory, the 2015 Afcon losing finalists sit at No 1 in the group with three points and one goal goal so far.

The Group D encounter got off to a bright start as the Cranes surged forward and Tony Mawejje took a shot which was gathered by goalkeeper Razak Brimah in the opening five minutes.

However, it was the Black Stars who tried to find the back of the net when Asamoah Gyan tried a header in the 19th minute, but the experienced striker could not hit the target with only keeper Denis Onyango to beat.

Ghana piled pressure on the Cranes’ defence and Christian Atsu’s left-footed attempt sailed over the crossbar in the 22nd minute, failing to trouble the Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper.

Six minutes later, Ayew received

a ball unmarked in the box, yet his shot lacked poison and Onyango collected with ease.

Thirty minutes into the match, Avram Grant’s men received a penalty when Isaac Isinde lost the ball and pulled down Gyan in the penalty area.

Ayew raised his hand to hand the Black Stars the deserved lead as he converted from the spot, ensuring Ghana went to the tunnel leading 1-0.

In an aim to respond, Milutin Sredojevic’s men dominated the proceedings upon their return from the tunnel, with skipper Geofrey Massa unleashing a rocket shot from a set piece in the 68th minute which narrowly went over the crossbar.

Uganda switched off mentally in the 85th minute and nearly paid the price when Atsu too unleashed a powerful shot from close range, but Onyango produced a fine save.

In the wake of the defeat, the Cranes sit at No 4 with zero points in the group from their opening loss.

Black Stars celebrating the victory over Uganda… yesterday

Klopp Baffled by Lions’ Cameroon, G’Bissau Eye Victory in Libreville Claim over Matip Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp said yesterday that he could not understand why ‘retired’ Cameroon defender Joel Matip was currently unavailable to the Reds because of the African Nations Cup. Klopp had to pull Matip out of Sunday’s Premier League draw with Manchester United because of a confusion over the player’s international status.

Both Matip and Liverpool believe the 25-year-old -- who has not played for Cameroon since September 2015 -- has retired from international football.

Yet he was still named in Cameroon’s squad for the ongoing African Nations Cup in Gabon.

The Cameroonian Football Federation had a right to select him under FIFA rules and, with the player not having reported for international duty, the global governing body has the power to suspend Matip from club football for the duration of the tournament.

Liverpool had hoped the CFF would respect Matip’s decision to retire and Klopp feels the Merseysiders are now having to suffer an unfair punishment.

FIFA, however, have yet to soften their stance.

“There are not a lot of times in my life when I have been in a situation like this, not even a similar situation,” said Klopp at a news conference ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup third round replay tie away to Plymouth Argyle this evening.

“I don’t want to blame anybody but I think our supporters deserve to know about the process we are in.

“In this moment, we are sure we did nothing wrong.

We are sure Joel Matip did nothing wrong. He didn’t play

for Cameroon since 2015. Since he has been here he has not been a Cameroon national player.

“In this moment he is not in the squad of Cameroon, so he cannot play for them, but in this moment we have not a 100 percent guarantee he could play for us. That is the situation.”

Matip, signed from Schalke in pre-season, recently recovered from an ankle injury.

Klopp would like him to play at Home Park against fourth-tier Plymouth but does not expect FIFA to lift his ban in time.

“I would consider lining him up Wednesday game but I don’t know if I can. From the sports side it would make sense - perfect game for him, but I am not sure if I can,” explained the German manager “FIFA told us that this Friday they will decide if they open a case on it or not.

“I accept rules in life but I think they should always be based on human senses. For me, not a lawyer or a legal person, it is pretty difficult.

“If he had not been injured -- but he was - then he couldn’t have played from January 2.

If FIFA opens a case -- and I don’t know but I don’t think they will because we are sure everything is all right -- then it would be 7-10 days until we get a decision.

“We conceded an offside goal at Man Utd. That doesn’t feel good but I am kind of used to it. In this case it is really hard.”

Plymouth held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield last week and Klopp is expected more fierce resistance on Wednesday.

“They are allowed to defend with all they have,” said Klopp.

“It is up to us.”

Guinea-Bissau will be out to build on their morale boosting result against hosts Gabon in the opening game of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Cameroon at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville this evening.

Kick-off is at 8pm.

The African minnows - in their first ever tournament - held Gabon to a 1-1 stalemate this past weekend with Juary Soares’ 91st

minute equaliser canceling our Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Group A opener.

Having qualified for the tournament against all odds, Djurtus will now have new found belief that they can reach the knockout stages of Africa’s premier cup competition.

Similarly, Cameroon played to a 1-1 draw in their first game of the tournament. The Indomitable

Lions opened the scoring through Benjamin Moukandjo, but Issoufou Dayo’s close range finish denied the four time champions all three points.

Cameroon will be boosted by the return of star forward Vincent Aboubakar with Hugo Broos having lamented his side’s inability to add to their scoreline in the clash against the Stallions.

“I think I saw a Cameroon

team that played well and had qualities,” said Broos in ther aftermath. “Cameroon is ready.

We will need this level to qualify for the quarterfinals.

“We dominated the opponent, we created opportunities. The only thing we need is someone who puts the chances in. And again if you do not know how to score with such chances, it’s hard to win matches,” he concluded.

AU ST R A L I A N O P E N

Djokovic, Nadal, Hit Round Two Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the second round of the Australian Open by beating Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in straight sets.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion secured a 6-1 7-6 (74) 6-2 victory in an entertaining match in Melbourne.

World number nine Rafael Nadal earlier reached the second round with a commanding display.

The injury-hit Spaniard, who lost in the first round last year, beat Germany’s Florian Mayer 6-3 6-4 6-4.

World number two Djokovic will next face Denis Istomin or Ivan Dodig while Nadal, attempting to win his first Grand Slam title since 2014, will play Marcos Baghdatis.

Djokovic, 29, was hardly stretched as he took the first set inside 31 minutes as Verdasco,

who received warm support from the crowd, badly mistimed several shots.

But Verdasco broke straight away in the second set, putting Djokovic under pressure. He eventually forced a tie-break despite a slew of unforced errors.

However, his inconsistency meant he could not capitalise on Djokovic’s errors and the Serb went on to secure his place in the second round.

“It feels like home,” said Djokovic. “It feels like coming to the place where I have an amazing number of incredible memories.

“When I saw the draw I thought to myself, this is going to be the only match I could focus on.”

Nadal, 30, had played just four matches since September’s US Open after struggling last year with a wrist injury.

He dominated Mayer from the

start, taking just over two hours to secure a straight-set victory in 39 degree heat.

“I was healthy enough to practise the way I wanted to, so that’s important for me,” Nadal added.

“I’ve had a longer period of time here in Australia, it was great experience and I was able to play in Brisbane.”

Third seed Milos Raonic went through with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory over Germany’s Dustin Brown.

The 26-year-old Canadian, a semi-finalist last year, hit 18 aces and 46 winners, and will next face either Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller or American Taylor Fritz.

Brisbane International champion Grigor Dimitrov beat Australia’s Christopher O’Connell 7-6(2) 6-3 6-3, while France’s Richard Gasquet also advanced after a 6-4 6-4 6-2 over Australian Blake Mott.

Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic and Argentine Horacio Zeballos played out a mammoth match on court 19 lasting five hours and 14 minutes.

Karlovic, the 20th seed, eventually took the fifth set 22-20 after a total of 84 games. He won 118 of the 226 points played.

The match, which Karlovic won 6-7 (6-8) 3-6 7-5 6-2 22-20, is the longest at the Australian Open in terms of games since tie-breaks were introduced for the first four sets in the 1970s.

It is the joint-second longest in terms of time, alongside Nadal’s semi-final win over Verdasco in 2009 and behind only Djokovic’s defeat of Nadal in the 2012 final.

However, it falls almost six hours short of the longest match in history - John Isner taking 11 hours and five minutes to beat Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 in a match decided 70-68 in the final set.

…Dominant Serena Eases Past Bencic Serena Williams launched her bid for a 23rd Grand Slam title with a 6-4 6-3 win over Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open yesterday, swatting aside doubts over her fitness and motivation on a sweltering day at Melbourne Park.

It took 79 minutes for the 35-year-old American to bat them all away, however, an emphatic 6-4 6-3 win at Rod Laver Arena providing a nearperfect launch of her bid to clinch a record 23rd grand slam title in the professional era.

Fiance Alexis Ohanian, a social media entrepreneur, was a spectator in the crowd but the wedding plans remain on hold for at least another match, and much longer if the American great has her way at Melbourne Park.

“I just kept saying that February I’ll start looking at the bigger picture of my life,” Williams, seeded second, told reporters. “But right now I’m just so focused that this is kind of all I can think about.”

55

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017

WEDNESDAYSPORTS WINTER TRANSFER

New Chinese FA Rule Thwarts Costa, Benzema, Cavani Move to China Chinese Super League clubs’ player recruitment plans for the coming season were thrown into disarray on Monday morning as the Chinese Football Association confirmed last week’s reports it would limit the number of foreign players permitted to play in the 2017 season.

In a statement published on the federation’s website, the CFA announced clubs would be permitted to field a maximum of three foreign players per game, with that quota including players from within the area governed by the Asian Football Confederation.

Previously, teams were allowed to field an Asian player in addition to three non-Asian foreigners, but that spot in the starting line-up will now be taken by a Chinese player under the age of 23. Clubs must also include a second Chinese player under 23 in their matchday squads.

“In order to realise ‘The General Plan of Chinese Football Reform and Development’ and to benefit the overall development of Chinese football and Chinese local players, to enhance the quality of the national team and to keep the professional league on a healthy, stable and consistent track, the CFA has adjusted the regulations of the 2017 Chinese

Super League and the China League,” the statement said.

Tianjin Quanjian owner Shu Yuhui confirmed the cashed-up Chinese Super League outfit had plans to sign Diego Costa, Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao until China’s Football Association (CFA) made changes to the limit of foreigners.

Having already lured Belgium international Axel Witsel to the CSL, Tianjin - coached by former Real Madrid and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro - had been linked with further moves for Chelsea’s Costa & Co. And Shu revealed Tianjin had been in talks with the Spain international, Real Madrid striker Benzema, Paris SaintGermain’s Cavani and Monaco hitman Falcao before the CFA announced new rules regarding foreign players, with teams in the CSL forced to name only three of their imports in starting XIs from this season.

“Our club had a massive investment plan for the new season but it was tightened up by the new rules,” Shu told Tianjin Sports Channel.

“We need an out-and-out striker so we made a bid for Benzema. We also made an attempt for Falcao.

“As a matter of fact, the club had even prepared the contracts

Madrid Targets Swedish Teenager Isak Real Madrid are closing in on the signing of Swedish teenage forward Alexander Isak from AIK, Spanish media reported yesterday.

Madrid daily Marca said the 17-year-old was set to join the European champions for about €10 million.

That would make him the most expensive player to leave a Swedish club, beating the €8.7 million Ajax Amsterdam paid Malmo for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2001.

Isak is widely regarded as the most promising Swedish player since Ibrahimovic.

Technically excellent, the slight teenager’s greatest strength is his maturity and ability to make the right decisions under pressure.

Isak’s calm style is in stark contrast to the flamboyant Ibrahimovic, Sweden’s all-time leading goalscorer, but he did rile supporters of AIK’s Stockholm rivals Djurgarden last year by celebrating a derby goal in front of their fans.

Isak scored 10 league goals in 19 league starts to help AIK finish second in Sweden’s top flight last season and qualify for the Europa League.

AIK have made Isak unavailable to the media at the moment, but he was spotted at their Karlberg club house on Tuesday following his return from a tour with the Sweden squad.

Isak said he was not stressed by the Real speculation and had enjoyed his time with Sweden during which he celebrated his first start with his first international goal in a 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia in Abu Dhabi to become his country’s youngest scorer.

Real signed Norway international Martin Odegaard two years ago at the age of 16 but he has only made two competitive appearances for the first team and last week joined Dutch side Heerenveen on loan.

Man Utd Triggers Valencia’s One-year Contract Extension Manchester United have triggered a one-year extension to Antonio Valencia’s contract, signing him up until 2018.

The move comes a week after United activated a similar extension to Marouane Fellaini’s contract.

Ecuador international Valencia, 31, was bought as a winger from Wigan in 2009 for an undisclosed fee.

He was converted into a full-back by former United boss Louis van Gaal, having been used occasionally in the role by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Valencia has made 23 starts for United this season, a total exceeded only by Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among the outfield players in Jose Mourinho’s squad.

for Falcao and [Benfica striker] Raul Jimenez. We had already reached agreement with them on wages and bonus. The pair were expected to sign the contracts, but the new rules forced us to

give up on them.”

Delving deeper into Tianjin’s transfer plans, Shu revealed meetings with Jorge Mendes, whose clients include Cristiano Ronaldo among others.

Benzema

“I made an appointment with Mendes and he came to my hometown to visit me. At that time, we were interested in signing Costa,” he added.

“PSG told us Cavani would

only be allowed to leave in June, even though the player himself was willing to join us. The same can be said for Costa because Chelsea would only let him leave in June.”

Costa

Rakitic Commits Self to Barca Ivan Rakitic’s working relationship with Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has fallen under the microscope of late, but the Croatian insists he remains fully committed to the Camp Nou cause.

In fact, the 28-year-old midfielder says he is so supportive of the man who brought him to Catalunya that he would throw himself off a bridge if asked to do so.

For now, Rakitic’s sole aim is trying to convince his manager that he is deserving of a regular spot in his starting XI. He has been favoured since the winter break, but endured a tough period during December when he was dropped for three games on the back of being hauled

off in a Clasico draw with Real Madrid.

Rakitic has also been caught up in speculation regarding his long-term future, with discussions regarding an extension to a contract due to run until 2019 said to have stalled.

Luis Enrique has not always taken kindly to quizzing on the issue, telling reporters prior to Christmas: “I’ve got no interest in justifying myself to a player of mine. I’m not going to do that.

Rakitic has been and will be a good player for Barca.”

While the pair may not have always seen eye-to-eye this season, Rakitic maintains that he will continue to give his

all to a manager who placed considerable faith in his ability when snapping him up from Sevilla in 2014.

He told France Football: “Luis Enrique has helped me enormously, giving me confidence straight away, as did my teammates, which enabled me to work calmly.

“It was Luis Enrique who asked the club to sign me.

“If I had to throw myself off a bridge for him, I would do it without hesitation. With just a look or a smile, he gives you the confidence necessary to succeed.”

Rakitic needed a calming influence after arriving at Camp Nou, as he found himself thrust

into a star-studded squad.

He was also billed as the longterm successor to Barcelona icon Xavi, but the Croatia international says the World Cup winner helped to make that transition seamless, rather than daunting.

Rakitic added: “Xavi gave me a lot. I have just two words to say to him, it would be ‘Thank you’. The only thing I regret is to have played just a single season with him.

“I learned so much from on and off the pitch, during our away trips, in the dressing room. I took advantage of every moment by his side during that season. What Xavi gave this club, his teammates and the fans is unique.

Maradona Set for Napoli Role Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has said that a global ambassador’s role will be offered to Diego Maradona -- if the former club legend settles his score with the Italian tax man.

Maradona was served with a tax bill of around £39 million four years ago when he returned to Italy, where he led Napoli to their two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990.

He is reportedly still in the red, having claimed in an interview with Corriere della Sera last October: “I don’t owe them anything. The penalty, even though it was unfair, was paid

by Napoli in 2003.”

De Laurentiis says once the dispute is settled, the 56-year-old Maradona, in Napoli to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of their maiden Serie A title, could be handed an official role at the club.

“For me, Maradona is a legend... as soon as he resolves his issues over outstanding taxes, he will become our global ambassador,” said De Laurentiis, a film producer, on Monday evening.

Despite the controversy that has followed Maradona on and off the pitch throughout his career, the player who became notorious for his ‘Hand of God’

goal against England at the 1986 World Cup remains a legend in Naples.

Thirty-metre high murals of Maradona are painted on many of the city’s buildings while effigies, paintings and graffitti paying tribute to ‘Il Pibe d’Oro’ (the Golden Child), who joined the club from Barcelona in 1984, are omnipresent.

Maradona on Monday evening told hundreds of fans from a balcony: “I am really happy to be here with you.”

Holding up his Napoli shirt to fans, Maradona claimed he rejected an offer by then Barcelona vice-president Joan Gaspart to

double his salary to remain with the Catalan giants.

“This shirt allowed me to dream,” added Maradona.

“When I signed for Napoli, Gaspart wanted me to stay, he offered to double my salary.

“I told him no, that I wanted to follow my heart. Napoli is beautiful and unique, but they need to win another two league titles to become an even bigger club.

“We have faith in president De Laurentiis.”

Napoli sit third in Serie A at four points behind leaders and champions Juventus and one point behind Roma.

Wednesday January 18, 2017

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& RE A S O

Price: N250

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MISSILE

Ndume to Senators “If today, just like that, without telling somebody and he goes out and he’s removed...If it is Ndume today and it’s ok. It may be, God forbid, Ekweremadu tomorrow” – Former Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume reflecting on the irony of his sack without being given a fair hearing by his colleagues.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

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Osinbajo in the Niger Delta

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo reportedly told his hosts in a visit to Delta State two days ago that his presence was an indication that the “Niger Delta is being carried along.” According to Osinbajo, “no Nigerian can be proud with the state of development in the Niger Delta; we are all beneficiaries from resources from the region. However, we cannot have instability and be able to carry out speedy development of the region.”

Now, that is the least that is expected from any government with a modicum of sense of justice. In any case, as they say, you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. There is no way of tackling the problem of a region defined by gross injustice, underdevelopment and distorted federalism without engaging the people in honest conversation.

So if the visit was meant to reset the button of the federal government’s policy on the region, it might be worthwhile to bring into focus again the central questions that many stakeholders have eloquently posed over the years in the region. It is time for a rethink on how to answer the Niger Delta Question.

President Muhammadu Buhari himself was probably giving a foretaste of this rethink of approach to the issues in the Niger Delta in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 when he said inter alia: “The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the government intends to invest heavily in the projects and programmes currently in place.

“I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the state and federal government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people.”

Again, from the President’s statement it is clear that the Buhari administration should go beyond episodic visits and declarations to articulate its plan of

Osinbajo

action to confront the issues on ground in the Niger Delta. To start with, Abuja should stop the reductionist approach of viewing the Niger Delta as merely a place where insecurity and sabotage impede the free flow of oil and by implication the derivation of petro dollars to fund the Federation Account. Insecurity, violence, kidnapping, vandalisation of oil facilities are all consequences of years of underdevelopment and injustice in the region. The Nigerian state is culpable of the abysmal neglect of the region. If Abuja is truly in the process of a rethink, then this backward policy mindset should change forthwith.

The mindset is backward people it does not seem to put the people at the centre of defining the problem and fashioning the solution. The primary issue in the Niger Delta is the poverty of the people and the hopelessness of the

Abuja should stop the reductionist approach of viewing the Niger Delta as merely a place where insecurity and sabotage impede the free flow of oil and by implication the derivation of petro dollars to fund the Federation Account

youths. Even if there were no drop of oil in the Niger Delta, the government would still be expected, as a matter of duty, to confront these underlying problems before it can expect sustainable peace as in any other region of Nigeria.

Morally, it is wrong when the official rhetoric suggests that government only responds to the convulsion in the region because of oil. The approach should go beyond pacification; it should extend now to a vigorous war against poverty and underdevelopment in the region. For clarity, the responsibility here should be a shared one among the local, state and federal governments as constitutionally defined. The three tiers of government superintend over the resources belonging to the people. As expected of the whole of the Nigerian elite, the Niger Delta elite should be actively developmental elite.

Fortunately, any government that is honest and serious about solving the problem does not need to dig too much to have ideas. Those who have the duty of drawing up the government’s action plan for the Niger Delta have rich resources of materials gathering dusts on the shelf. From the report of the Willinks Commission in the last days of colonial rule to recent reports and even current academic studies, the government would have a surfeit of ideas on which to draw an action plan.

As Osinbajo reportedly said, this is the time to act.

Take just two examples of the numerous reports on the Niger Delta. The first is the master plan for the development of the region put together by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) while Timi Alaibe was the Managing Director. The thematic areas include the human capital development (especially the youth), destruction of the environment, infrastructure, and security. The plan was produced during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. In a sense, President Umaru Yar’Adua Amnesty Programme was to give effect to an aspect of this plan. The most remarkable thing about the plan is its philosophical underpinning that the problem of the region is primarily

that of underdevelopment and injustice.

The second report is that of the Ledum Mitee Committee which was prepared nine years ago. Among the landmark recommendations of the committee were the increase of the derivation fund to 25% and the completion of the East-West Road, which traverses all the states in the region.

Embarrassingly, the East-West road is yet to be completed. The committee also recommended the establishment of a number of developments funds and commissions as well as the reviews of laws to enhance fiscal federalism to the benefit of the region.

In defining its response to problem of the Niger Delta, the Buhari administration should learn from the errors of its predecessors. Previous admirations equated the interests of a faction of the Niger Delta elite with the interests of the majority of the poor in the region. Members of this elite include leaders of militant groups, contractors, oil and gas businessmen, political office holders, political jobbers, and traditional rulers, ethnic and regional champions. By deploying the limited resources to “empower” these few members of the elite (along with other rent seekers outside the region); previous administrations pretended that they were solving the problems.

Having taken that path for years, the evidence on ground is that that the approach has not solved the problem of underdevelopment.

That approach has failed woefully to reverse the trend of underdevelopment.

By way of extrapolation, it is the same approach that previous governments applied to other parts of Nigeria where oil is not extracted. Governance has been reduced to awards of mega contracts for white elephant projects from which the elite could make easy money without any meaningful benefits to the people. In rethinking the approach to the issues, the Buhari admiration should not revel in any drama. It should come up soberly with a coherent plan of action to be honestly implemented for the interests of the poor people of the Niger Delta.

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