Thursday 9th March 2017

Despite Senate Advisory, Customs Insists on Payment of Duty by All Car Owners Grants 60% rebate on vehicles imported before 2016 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Despite the Senate resolution directing the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to stay action on its month-long grace to

owners of all vehicles in the country whose customs duty had not been paid to do so, the NCS is insisting on forging ahead with its ultimatum.

The Comptroller-General

of the Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) last week approved a grace period of one month for owners of all vehicles in the country whose customs duty

had not been paid to do so.

The grace period is between Monday, March 13 and Wednesday, April 12, 2017, the NCS said.

However, the Senate on

Monday asked the NCS to suspend the ultimatum. But rather than heed the resolution of the upper legislative chamber, the NCS yesterday approved an adjustment of

payment points while granting a 60 per cent rebate across board on vehicles imported from 2015 downwards.

Continued on page 8

PDP Senators to Meet Govs, Seek Out-of-Court Settlement on Party's Crisis… Page 10 Thursday 9 March, 2017 Vol 22. No 7996. Price: N250

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Etisalat in N377bn Debt Crisis, Pleads with 13 Bank… Page 11

FG Optimistic Nigeria Will Exit Recession This Year Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government yesterday expressed optimism that the Nigerian economy was on the path of recovery, assuring the public that the country would crawl out of the recession before the end

of the year.

Making this disclosure while briefing journalists at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Continued on page 8

Leaders Mourn Passing of Ex-Governor of Old Western Region, General Adebayo Our Correspondents President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday joined a long list of notable Nigerians to condole with the family of one-time Military Governor of the defunct Western Region and President of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Major-General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo who died yesterday on the eve of his 89th birthday.

Continued on page 9

Adebayo

Ambode Accuses Fashola's Ministry of Frustrating Efforts to Rehabilitate Oshodi-Airport Road… Page 10

CELEBRATING OSINBAJO @ 60…

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (center), flanked by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Khadija Bukar Ibrahim; Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo–Ita; and Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment, Aisha Abubakar, when they joined Osinbajo to cut a cake in celebration of his 60th birthday shortly after Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja…yesterday godwin omoigui

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Aisha Buhari: Osinbajo Capable of Leading Nigeria Tinubu lauds him at 60 My life is a work of grace, says acting president Omololu Ogunmade with agency report The First Lady, Aisha Buhari yesterday congratulated acting President Yemi Osinbajo on his 60th birthday, adding that Osinbajo has developed the ability to lead Nigeria in line with the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The president’s wife felicitated with Osinbajo via her Twitter handle @aishambuhari yesterday.

She wrote: “On the occasion of the birthday of Your Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Ag. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “I wish to extend my congratulations to you and to state that the years you have spent building your reputation in multiple

capacities, have today resulted in your ability to carry out your duties in line with the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that a better Nigeria is realised. “Congratulations and Happy Birthday @ProfOsinbajo.�

The president’s wife who has displayed a knack for being independent minded, raised eyebrows last year in an interview with BBC, when she admonished her husband for being held hostage by a cabal.

Her remarks forced her husband to remind her that she had no business meddling in politics and that she was better suited to his kitchen and the “other room�.

Buhari’s controversial response to his wife’s interview caused another uproar and a series of jokes on the

social media.

Also felicitating with Osinbajo yesterday, the National Leader of the APC, Chief Bola Tinubu congratulated the acting president, saying his birthday came at a momentous time this year.

Tinubu, who was instrumental to Osinbajo’s emergence as Buhari’s running mate in the 2015 elections, described the acting president as “a consummate team player who does not seek individual accolades but one, who without personal notoriety or fanfare, does his best to advance the policies and interests of the government in which you serve�.

Osinbajo has been acting as president since President Muhammadu Buhari proceeded on medical leave almost 50 days ago.

In the statement signed by Tinubu, the former Lagos State

governor said: “I congratulate acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on his 60th birthday March 8. “We know that you will have little time to celebrate as your birthday comes at a momentous time this year. As the humble and selfless person you are, you shall be busy promoting the policy agenda of your principal and our president, Muhammadu Buhari. “You have been a faithful and dedicated lieutenant to our president. We wish you nothing but the best and congratulate your loyal service to him and to our beloved country. “From my experience working with you when you were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, I can say that you are a consummate team player

who does not seek individual accolades but one who without personal notoriety or fanfare, does his best to advance the policies and interests of the government in which you serve. “As you do your best to serve President Buhari and the nation, I cannot help but wish you the best on the occasion of your 60th birthday. “As always, you have conducted yourself with the decorum and circumspection your office and this moment require. You have been faithful to the letter in following the guidance and instruction of your principal, President Buhari.

I know that you shall continue to do so.�

Responding to the congratulatory messages, which started pouring in on Tuesday, Osinbajo said his life has been the work of God’s grace.

He made the remarks when he spoke to State House correspondents after members of the federal cabinet celebrated his birthday by cutting a cake at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Osinbajo said: “Frankly speaking, there is no difference between today and yesterday. It is really a work of grace. “It is worth thanking God that one is 60 and one is in good health and that one is able to serve one’s country. “I am happy and fulfilled. I am thankful to God.�

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh who coordinated the small ceremony after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, described Osinbajo as an unusual man, wishing him many more fruitful years.

and begin to take all the steps we need to get the economy out of recession,� he added.

Udoma, who said he briefed FEC on the ERGP that was released by his ministry on Tuesday, emphasised that the federal government was looking forward to the early passage of the budget, saying doing so would fast-track the implementation of the recovery agenda.

He said a number of the recovery initiatives had already been incorporated into the budget.

He also said signs of economic recovery had been showing and encouraged the government to concentrate on solid minerals investment and simultaneously ensuring that Nigeria’s infrastructure is revamped.

He also enumerated the five planks of the ERGP to include: human capital development, macroeconomic stability,

agricultural revolution and food security, improved transportation, energy sufficiency and industrial growth. “So we are encouraged but we are even more energised to put in more efforts in agriculture which is doing very well to do even better. To put in more efforts in the solid minerals sector, to make sure that our infrastructure is revamped because that is what will stimulate our economy if we continue in this way. “You saw yesterday that the acting president went to break grounds for the railway project from Lagos to Ibadan all the way to Kano. As you know, the economic recovery and growth plan focuses on three objectives. “One is restoring growth and that is what we are determined to do. Two is involving our people; our people are our greatest resource, and three is building

a competitive economy because ultimately, the economy cannot do well unless it is competitive. “So we are determined with this plan to make this economy great again. We are determined to move from the negative growth that we experienced in 2016 to a growth rate of 7 per cent by 2020,� Udoma submitted.

Also briefing newsmen, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, said the council approved the construction of the Greater Abuja water supply project at the cost of $470 million to provide “potable water to the greater part of the city and it intends to leverage on the facility that we have in the city�.

According to Bello, the project will be funded by the China Exim Bank, and listed the phases of water supply to various parts of the FCT.

FG OPTIMISTIC NIGERIA WILL EXIT RECESSION THIS YEAR Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, said available indices had shown that the economy was recovering faster than it was envisaged.

According to him, whereas the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had forecast a contraction in Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate by 1.8 per cent in 2016, the economy contracted by 1.5 per cent last year.

He said this was highly encouraging, but admitted that the recession was not over, adding that with more efforts put into the economic recovery agenda, Nigeria would definitely exit the recession before the end of the year.

He added that the report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which indicated that the economy recorded a contraction of 1.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016, was another attestation that the economy was on a recovery path. “With regards to the NBS

report, as you are aware, in the fourth quarter of 2016, the economy contracted by 1.3 per cent which was a lower degree of contraction than the previous quarter and indicative that we are already turning around and beginning to recover, even though we are still in a recession. So the overall result was better than many people projected. “The IMF report had forecast a GDP growth rate of -1.8 per cent for 2016 but it turned out to be -1.5 per cent. So, that’s better than expected but we are not out of the woods. “It is encouraging, but we have to do more to make sure that we get the economy out of the recession this year. “With regards to the things we plan to do in the next three to four years, they are spelt out in details in the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

“It involves a number of things but the key is to make this economy competitive so that we diversify. We want to do two broad things: one is to restore oil production and harvest what we can get from that sector, but also diversify by making the economy competitive so we would grow our agriculture and manufacturing. “We will have value added in Nigeria and move from a consuming to producing nation.

That is the thrust of the plan. We believe we have the will and determination to achieve it,�

Udoma stated.

The minister said the government was determined to get the economy out of recession before the end of the year, pointing out that the 2017 budget was structured to do just that. “That is why we are anxious to get the budget passed, so that we can begin implementation

DESPITE SENATE ADVISORY, CUSTOMS INSISTS ON PAYMENT OF DUTY BY ALL CAR OWNERS Customs’ acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja, said the one month grace period to vehicle owners remained in place, adding that the rebate and adjustment of payment points were aimed at easing the process and encouraging all motor dealers in possession of uncustomised vehicles to come forward and pay their duties.

According to him, “While payment remains Monday 13th March to Wednesday 12th April, the points of payments with the exception of Lagos and Port Harcourt will now be at the nearest customs area command.�

Attah stated that “private vehicle owners who know that duty has not been paid on their vehicles could take advantage of this grace period to do so�. “Therefore, owners of such vehicles or their representatives are expected to go to the nearest pay point for assessment and payment.

It should be noted that the 60 per

cent rebate applies only within the grace period,� he added.

But he clarified that 2016 and 2017 vehicles were excluded from the rebate because of their status as new cars, which he said were not smuggled.

Attah added that the policy has the endorsement of members of auto dealers, a position buttressed by the presence of the National President of Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Mr. Ajibola Adedoyin, at the briefing.

Adedoyin at the briefing confirmed the association’s close collaboration with the Customs Service.

The decision to grant a grace period for duty payment on vehicles, Attah said, was borne out of consultations between the NCS and AMDON, adding that the latter had pleaded for a grace period to be granted to enable them pay outstanding duties on all uncustomised vehicles in the country before the ban on vehicle importation through the

land borders commenced. “We believe that when all vehicles are properly registered and owners’ identities tied to them, national security will be enhanced.

The new statement that will come into play is in collaboration with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and our planned operation of bonded vehicle terminals. “There will come a time in the very near future when owners of smuggled vehicles will not be able to register these vehicles in Nigeria. “These people pleaded that before this comes into effect, there is a need to create a window, a kind of period within which such vehicles within the country can be regularised. “As regards the 60 per cent rebate, the idea, as I said, is to create a soft landing for people who are in possession of these vehicles. The 60 per cent rebate on the value of such vehicles across board from 2015 downwards simply means 60 per cent of the

total value, which means the calculation will always be based on 40 per cent. “Any private vehicle owner who wishes to take advantage of this period and pay duty will save himself a lot before the coming in to the system that will totally block him,� the NCS spokesman said.

He warned that any officer that compromises the policy by conniving with car owners would be dealt with. “We have had cases when we dealt with connivance of our members that undermine the policy of the authority. If not, we would not have dismissed up to 49 officers late last year. “As I speak to you, we still have officers in our detention cell.

We won’t treat people who are compromised with kid’s gloves. “The issue here is, those in possession of smuggled vehicles have the opportunity to regularise and pay duty before the take off of the system that will totally block them out,� he said.

Responding to a question on why the NCS did not heed the Senate resolution, he said the Senate took the stand without a proper briefing on the details of the policy. “Concerning the senators, I read in the media that they expect some kind of briefing from the comptroller-general. I am confident that the kind of information that will be made available to them will help shape their opinions on the way forward in this process,� he said.

In his remarks, Adedoyin said his association has been collaborating with Customs in the past few months. “For the past few months, we have been trying to partner with the Customs Service to see how we can ensure that duties are paid for cars, and at the same time to ensure that the duty charged on something should be done on it, so that it can bring down the cost of vehicles. “Vehicles are not luxury items

LEADERS MOURN PASSING OF EX-GOVERNOR OF OLD WESTERN REGION, GENERAL ADEBAYO The retired military officer and one of few left of his generation, who ruled Nigeria between the late 1960s and early 70s, died at his Lagos residence.

His son and first civilian governor of Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Adebayo confirmed that Buhari called him to condole

with him and the rest of the family on the death of the late General Adebayo.

The former Ekiti governor said: “I just received a call from the president. He consoled us on the death of our father.�

In an earlier statement, the younger Adebayo said the

octogenarian Yoruba leader and statesman died yesterday morning at his Ladipo Bateye, GRA Ikeja home.

An anonymous family source also informed THISDAY that the late patriarch woke up hail and hearty yesterday morning, but died when he was getting ready

for the day. “He woke up, requested for and had a cup of tea. He went to the bathroom, had a bath and shaved. It was in the process of cleaning him up that he slumped and was rushed to Lister Hospital, Ikeja where he was pronounced dead,� the source said.

His first daughter, Mrs. Nike Makinde, described her late father as a nationalist who showered love on everyone that came his way. She said she would miss her father dearly. “He was a statesman and Continued on page 9

but a necessity. Our association deems it important to collaborate with the Customs Service to see how we can have a win-win situation. “In our several meetings with the Customs Service, we have been able to agree to work together to make this a successes. We are building a platform to make it easy and check every car at our car stands. “That platform will be ready.

It’s already in the country and our consultants are working on it,� he said.

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PAGE NINE

British Monarch Confers National Honour on Nigerian Nurse, Elizabeth Anionwu Queen Elizabeth II of Britain has conferred one of the highest national honours, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Emprire, on a British-born Nigerian nurse, health expert, lecturer and medical professor, Ms. Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu.

The conferment on Dame Aniownu of Irish and Nigerian descent was in recognition of her services to the nursing profession in the United Kingdom.

Anionwu contributed to opening the first sickle cell and thalassemia counselling centre in the UK. She also helped create the Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice at the University of West London. She retired in 2007.

Anionwu was born Elizabeth Mary Furlong in Birmingham, United Kingdom, and is the child of then unmarried 20-year-old Irish woman, Mary Furlong.

Furlong was brilliant and excelled academically, obtaining a scholarship to Cambridge University to study classics.

Furlong was in her second year when she became pregnant by Nigerian law student Lawrence Odiatu Victor Anionwu. Furlong decided to leave Cambridge and look for a job in order to provide for her daughter Elizabeth and herself.

Anionwu’s upbringing was heavily affected by moving between institutions and family. She spent just over two years living with her mother, a

relationship that ended when her stepfather, who didn’t accept her and drank heavily, attacked her.

For much of her childhood, she was cared for by nuns, including several years in the Nazareth House convent in Birmingham.

Often being harshly punished and humiliated for wetting the bed, she remembers being made to stand with a urine-soaked sheet over her head as punishment for wetting the bed.

In a book, she recalls that later in life when working as a health visitor, “I made sure to keep up-to-date with more humane treatments for bed wetting.”

She also remembers sobbing her heart out on the bus when she had to leave the convent to go and live with her mother.

Every period of relative stability in childhood ended in sudden collapse.

After an unsettled childhood and estrangement from her father, Anionwu visited Nigeria. Her trip influenced her to take on her father’s name. Anionwu has credited her father, a barrister and diplomat, as a career inspiration.

Anionwu has one daughter, Azuka Oforka, who is an actress in the BBC TV series Casualty.

Anionwu has a PhD, a DBE and FRCN (Fellow Royal College of Nursing). She began her nursing career at a very young age after being inspired by a nun who cared for her eczema.

At the age of 16, she started to

work as a school nurse assistant in Wolverhampton.

Later on, she continued with her education to become a nurse, health visitor and tutor. She is ultimately thankful that her father pushed her to pursue and progress more in her career.

She also travelled to the US to study counselling for sickle cell and Thalassemia centres, as those courses were not available in the UK. In 1979, she worked with Dr. Brozovic to create the first UK Sickle Cell and Thalassemia counselling centre in Brent.

The opening of this counselling centre pioneered the opening of over 30 centers in the UK, using the Brent location as a basis.

Anionwu is a member and patron of multiple committees: Sickle Cell Society, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK, Vice President of Unite/ Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, Editorial Advisory Board of Nursing Standard, NHS Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Screening Program Steering Group, Honorary Advisor to the Chief Nursing Officer’s Black & Minority Ethnic Advisory Group, and Life patron of The Mary Seacole Trust.

Even though she retired in 2007, Anionwu has remained active in the nursing community and overlooks many projects. r $VMMFE GSPN 804 NBHB[JOF

Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu (right) being made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II

LEADERS MOURN PASSING OF EX-GOVERNOR OF OLD WESTERN REGION, GENERAL ADEBAYO a military officer. His first constituency was Nigeria and the military. He was not just an Ekiti person. He wasn’t a politician,” she said.

Former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba who was one of the early callers at the Adebayo residence, recalled his involvement with the late General Adebayo.

He said: “It was here in this house that we formed the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

Forty-nine of us signed the memorandum of understanding.

“MKO (the late Chief MKO Abiola who was the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election) himself was not part of NADECO. It was in this house that MKO himself joined NADECO. “This house is a democratic shrine where major events that led to the democracy that we are enjoying today took place. It was in this house that the machinery for Abiola’s 1993 election started.

“I thank God for him to have seen democracy before he died.

Thank God his son became the first governor of Ekiti State,” he said.

Also responding to the late elder statesman’s daughter’s position that her father was not a politician, Osoba said: “He was not a politician but he was highly political.”

Also speaking when he visited the family home, former Lagos State governor and Minister for Power, Works and House, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), described the late Adebayo as a “national hero”.

According to Fashola, “He played a role in building peace and consensus among Nigerians.

His life was one of continuous service. He gave his time and commitment to the well-being of the people. He was a general's general.”

Similarly, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said the late retired military officer was worthy elder of the Yoruba nation.

“He lived a good and worthy life of impact, which makes his memory unforgettable.

“He has exited when Yoruba leaders are pulling together to advance our civilisation.

“Those of us left behind will continue the task of realising the dreams we shared when he chaired a great assembly of the Yoruba last year.

“May his great soul rest in peace and may God be with the family he has left behind,” Afenifere stated.

In his condolence message, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman and leader of the party in the South-west, who is also a retired navy admiral, Chief Olabode George, in a statement, said: “General Adeyinka Adebayo was a nation builder, a nationalist, a pan-Nigerian and unifier whose vision and total focus was the unity and the development of the Nigerian state.

“Baba rose far above sectional and parochial interests. He was a warm hearted and loving soul whose defining vision was predicated on the greater glory of our nation.

“In all things, Baba was a mediator and moderator whose reconciliatory fixity was much pronounced at the height of

the Nigerian civil war when he was the military governor of the Western region.

“Baba was genuine, honest, sincere, true to himself and his God. He was a man who haboured no grudges and nursed no disputes nor malice.”

In addition, former Nigerian vice-president and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar mourned the demise of the late Adebayo.

A condolence message signed by the media office of the former vice-president, described the late Adebayo as a remarkable statesman who belonged to the last vestiges of Nigeria’s pioneering heroes.

“Chief Adeyinka Adebayo was a proficient administrator as well as an outstanding soldier who fought to keep our country together.

“Much later in his lifetime, he championed the cause of the Yoruba nation in an inclusive Nigerian project so enviably that historians will eminently have a record of him as a pan-Nigeria advocate,” said Atiku.

He condoled with the Adebayo family and the government and people of Ekiti State over the loss of an “illustrious leader” and prayed for the repose of his soul.

Senate President Bukola Saraki also expressed grief over the death of the former governor of the defunct Western Region.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late general as a courageous and fine officer who spent the most active part of his life in the service and defense of his fatherland.

He commiserated with the

immediate family of the deceased, the government and people of the South-west region and Nigerians in general over the incident.

While describing death as an inevitable end for all mortals, he noted that the late General Adebayo lived a highly productive, fulfilled and eventful life worthy of emulation.

In his condolence message, Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode expressed sadness over the demise of Adebayo.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, Ambode said Adebayo’s demise was a great loss to the nation, especially the South-west region.

“General Adebayo was a great patriot and one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists who never shied away from expressing his love for his country and his people. He was a brilliant administrator who was known for his dedication and zeal to serve his fatherland.

“Those who know papa would attest to the fact that he was a man of many parts.

For the Yoruba nation, this is a great loss. His passion to see the integration of the South-west region was second to none.

“No doubt, we would miss his wise counsel especially at this time when our nation is on a path to rebirth,” the Lagos governor said.

Also, former Lagos governor, Chief Bola Tinubu described the late Adebayo as a symbol of unity.

He said the late general was also unapologetic about being a Yoruba man.

In a statement by his media office, Tinubu said: “General Adeyinka Adebayo was a

committed father, true patriot, elder statesman and untiring leader with great acumen.

“Though he was proud to be a Yoruba man, General Adebayo was a symbol of unity in the country. He canvassed against the use of force in resolving the Biafran crisis.

“This position might have informed his appointment after the civil war by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, as the Chairman of the Committee on the Reconciliation and Integration of the Ibos back into the Nigerian fold.

“In the military, he distinguished himself. As Governor of the old Western State from August 1966 to April 1971, succeeding late General Adekunle Fajuyi, General Adebayo contributed immensely to the development of the region.

“He particularly promoted agricultural extension services in the region with the establishment of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

“General Adebayo saw himself first and foremost as a Yoruba man before being a Nigerian. His death has further diminished the rank of reputable Yoruba leaders and national icons.

“I wish the General eternal rest. I pray that the children he left behind would continue to push forward the legacies he left behind.”

In his home state, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye and his kinsmen described Adebayo’s demise as a colossal loss to the community.

They expressed regret at his country home in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, where a condolence register

was opened yesterday.

When journalists visited the Adebayo Estate in the town, several sympathisers were seen trooping in to condole with the family.

Mr. Alaba Adeyemi-Adebayo, who is the late Adebayo’s nephew, said the deceased’s first son and former governor of the state, Niyi Adebayo, had confirmed the death of his father to the family and instructed him to break the news to the public.

In his condolence message in Ado-Ekiti, the governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, said Ekiti people would never forget the late general for his love for them and for epitomising the great virtues of Ekiti people.

“General Adeyinka Adebayo was truly an Ekiti man. He was not a bigot and never allowed political considerations to becloud his sense of fairness, honesty and boldness in the face of daunting obstacles.

“He would always call a spade a spade and would not mind whose ox is gored. Despite the political differences between me and his son, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, he was forthright in commending our efforts at developing the state, even though we are among the least financially buoyant.

“He would not allow sentiments to sway his sense of judgment and was a true father to all.

“He will be sorely missed by Ekiti people and Nigerians in general, but we are consoled that he was fulfilled in life and lived up to a ripe old age. The good people of Ekiti State sympathise with his immediate family,” he said.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Davidson Iriekpen Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

PDP Senators to Meet Govs, Seek Out-of-Court Settlement on Party’s Crisis Makarfi rejects Dickson’s c’ttee peace moves Sheriff adopts report, plans congresses in five states Omololu Ogunmade Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Senators on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday resolved to meet 11 governors in the party to consider the option of settling out of court the lingering

leadership crisis plaguing the party.

This came as the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party has rejected the template for the proposed national unity convention of the party submitted last Tuesday by the Chairman of

Domestic Debt Stock Rises to N11.05tn DMO releases savings bond subscription form James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The country’s total domestic debt profile rose to N11.05 trillion as at December 30, 2016, compared to N10.84 trillion in September, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to the information posted on its website, federal government bonds accounted for N7.56 trillion, representing 68.41 per cent of total debt instrument.

Nigerian Treasury Bills accounted for N3.27 trillion, representing 29.64 per cent of total domestic debts while Treasury Bonds totalled N215.98 billion in the period under review. Nigeria borrows from both

domestic and foreign markets from time to time to meet its budgetary expenditure.

The total public debt stock including the external component as at June 30, 2016, stood at N16.29 trillion.

Meanwhile, the debt management has also released the subscription form for the federal government Savings Bond which is expected to enhance the participation of individuals in government debt instruments as opposed to institutional investors.

The facility has a minimum and maximum subscription offers of N5,000 and N50,000 respectively.

Ethiopian Airways Lands, Takes off from Kaduna Airport The Ethiopian airlines yesterday opened route for daily international flight operations at the Kaduna International Airport, hours before the plan shutdown of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja scheduled for 12 midnight yesterday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Ethiopian airlines aircraft, Dream Liner Boeing 787 successfully landed at the Kaduna international airport at 11:35a.m. with 52 passengers on board.

The landing of the Ethiopian Airline is coming few hours before the yesterday 12:00 midnight deadline for final switch of international flight operations from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to Kaduna.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja airport is scheduled to shut down operations for six weeks beginning at 12:00 midnight for maintenancework on its runway and other air operation facilities.

On landing, passengers on the first flight, including Nigerians and foreigners ,were received

by the Minister of State for Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika; Kaduna State Government and Federal Airport Authorities of Nigeria (FAAN) officials.

Also on the welcoming party were heads of various security agencies in the state.

Some of the passengers said shortly after their arrival that they were satisfied with the facilities put in place at the Kaduna airport.

Levinus Yakubu, a middle age man who arrived from Dubai, said he was happy to have landed in Kaduna outside the Abuja and Lagos international airports.

He said to him, it was a good development, as there were multiple choices for landing and taking off on international routes.

Meanwhile, agencies including customs, immigration and the police had been stationed to ensure law and order and smooth checks for arriving and departing passengers.

Restaurant and eatery operators, including Richbite and Mr. Biggs had taken stands to provide foods and drinks for air travellers.

the PDP Standing Committee on Reconciliation, Governor Seriake Dickson.

The senators’ resolution was the aftermath of a meeting of PDP caucus in the Senate to consider the invitation sent to it by Sheriff, for a meeting with them.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, said PDP senators felt the need to first visit the governors before honouring Sheriff’s invitation. According to him, meeting the governors first was aimed at assuaging the minds of the people of wrong feelings that a meeting with Sheriff may generate.

He added that meeting the governors first would provide the platform for the senators to inform the governors about Sheriff’s invitation and as well give the needed opportunity for both the senators and the governors to mull out-of-court settlement option for peaceful resolution of the crisis. “We held this meeting because there was a letter from Sheriff to the caucus, and so we had to meet first to know whether this is the right time; whether the meeting is right or not and what we agreed is that let the leadership of the party know first. Thereafter, we will meet with the Sheriff group, then the (Ahmed) Makarfi group and after that, the Board of Trustees (BoT). We are taking these steps to avoid being seen as taking side. “We also said if it is possible that while the judicial processes are on, that as a caucus, we should also pursue the alternative platform of having out-of-court settlement and this can only start with us meeting with our

governors and thereafter meet with leadership of the party, the two groups and all the other strata of the party, that is the BoT, former governors, the National Assembly members and of course, the National Caretaker Committee, and the recently pronounced party chairman by the Court of Appeal so that we can spearhead a major political turn-around that will involve the whole stakeholders and bring holistic peace to the party. “If we succeed in doing so, this could even be a major way out instead of continuous processes in court. We will pursue that option without prejudice to the ongoing court processes until we can arrive at a solution where we could at the end of the day use what we have with the totality of all agreeing as consent judgment,�

Akpabio said.

The senator, however, said defections from the caucus notwithstanding, the party still remained strong, promising that there would be no defection from the party any longer. “I don’t see any defection happening in PDP on the floor of the Senate again. I only see interest playing out. PDP in the Senate is still very strong and very robust. We started with 49 senators and we are still well over 44 and we are still going to get more,� he boasted.

Meanwhile, National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said it will go ahead and hold congresses in five states where the exercise did not take place prior to the intra party crisis.

The fives states are Oyo, Kwara, Sokoto, Lagos and Anambra.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of PDP NCC, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, yesterday said it was wrong for Dickson to have placed the committee’s recommendation on the public domain when the organs of the party have not yet considered it.

He stated that as far as the caretaker committee is concerned, a lot work remained to be done to refine the peace plan to make it acceptable to most stakeholders.

The PDP factional leader said implementing the template the way it is at the moment, would go against the judgment of the Court of Appeal that ordered the feuding parties in the leadership crisis to revert to the status quo ante before the botched May

21, 2016, national convention.

THISDAY gathered that the Bayelsa State governor had presented his committee’s report on the proposed unity convention to both Makarfi and the National Chairman of the party, Sheriff, last Tuesday.

However, while Sheriff accepted to present the report to his NWC, Makarfi said Dickson was supposed to have come back to members of his committee to rectify areas that were potentially in conflict with the court judgment but he failed to do so.

The former Kaduna State governor said: “I’m shocked

Cont’d on Pg 48

MOURNING A GREAT MAN

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo and son of the late General Adeyinka Adebayo, and widow, Mrs. Modupe Adeyinka, at Ikeja GRA residence in Lagos...yesterday

Ambode Accuses Fashola’s Ministry of Frustrating Efforts to Rehabilitate Oshodi-Airport Road Says Buhari’s directive on Presidential Lodge yet to be honoured Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday accused the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing under the supervision of his immediate predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, of frustrating the plans of the state government to reconstruct the road linking Murtala Muhammed International Airport to Oshodi.

Ambode also accused the ministry of refusing to approve the handover of the Presidential Lodge, Marina to the state contrary to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor made the allegations at the State House, Alausa after inspecting some strategic projects in different parts of the state alongside Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello among other members of

the State Executive Council.

Disturbed by the development, the governor disclosed that the Presidential Lodge was central to the state’s fiftieth celebration, noting that the state government would soon roll programme for the anniversary.

He, therefore, lamented that the Presidential lodge, which would play a crucial role in the state’s fiftieth celebration, had not been handed over to the state government against the president’s directive.

He said the state government “has been being tossed about by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Department of State Services (DSS) even after Buhari has approved that the Presidential Lodge should be handed over to the state government. “Buhari has actually approved handing over of the Presidential

Lodge, Marina. As we speak, nothing has been done on Mr. President’s directive. We are being frustrated. The approval of Buhari should be honoured. We believe we should take possession so that we can take over.�

Likewise, Ambode lamented that the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing “is frustrating the state government’s plan to reconstruct the road that links Murtala Muhammed International to Oshodi.�

Citing the degeneration of the road, the governor described the degradation of Oshodi-Airport road as a national embarrassment, saying the state government had the cash “to do a total reconstruction of the road. “In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration has set out to achieve, we believe strongly that the image that is exhumed by

the decadence of that road must be repaired. “We took it upon ourselves to redevelop the road. We also took it upon ourselves to appropriate the 2017 budget that the House of Assembly should approve the total reconstruction of the Airport Road from Oshodi to the International Airport,� the governor explained.

He disclosed that the state government had already a design of 10 lanes “to come from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop you towards the Local Airport. The contractor is already set to go. Everything as I said has been completed. “We already have the cash, but alas we are having challenges with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This is a federal

Cont’d on Pg 12

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Etisalat in N377bn Debt Crisis, Pleads with 13 Banks The Nigerian affiliate of Abu Dhabi-listed telecoms company, Etisalat, is in talks with 13 Nigerian banks to renegotiate

the terms of a $1.2 billion loan it took out four years ago after missing a payment.

At current official rate, the

Lagos NUJ Holds Tribute Nite for Adinoyi-Ojo, Others on Friday The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is to hold a Tribute Nite for three of its members that died in the last two weeks.

The late members, according to Assistant Secretary of Lagos NUJ, Mr. Alfred Odifa, in a statement, are Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, formerly of The Guardian chapel and ex-Managing Director of Daily Times (DTN) who died in a motor accident along Akure-Owo road on March 5, 2017; Kayode Atofolaki, former Assistant Secretary of Lagos NUJ who died in his home town, Idofin, Kwara State after a brief illness on February

25, 2017 and Segun Agbolade, Secretary, Federated Maritime Media chapel of Lagos NUJ who was knocked down by a petroleum tanker at Trinity Bus Stop along Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos on March 1, 2017.

The tribute nite with the dress code of white or black is billed for Friday, March 10, 2017, at Lagos NUJ Secretariat, Ladi Lawal Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja by 4p.m.

The nite would also afford NUJ members opportunity to pay tribute to their fallen colleagues while clerics wouldl be on hand to offer prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

loan, without interest stands at N377 billion.

The Vice President for Regulatory Affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, said the company missed payments due to the economic downturn in Nigeria, a currency devaluation and dollar shortages on the country’s interbank market.

“We are in discussions with our bankers and have been for quite a while. They have not taken over the business and we are hoping that we can resolve the issue and find a way to renegotiate terms,” Dikko told Reuters.

Emirates Telecommunications Group (Etisalat) owns a 40 percent stake in its Nigerian affiliate, which accounted for around 3.7 per cent of the group’s revenue in 2013.

Etisalat Nigeria signed a $1.2

billion medium-term facility with 13 Nigerian banks in 2013, which it used to refinance an existing $650 million loan and fund a modernisation of its network.

Dikko said the business performed well last year and it was still in profit at the level of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, while loan repayments had been up to date “until recently.”

He said the company was now looking at “all the options,” which could include converting the loan into naira, but did not want to anticipate the outcome of talks with the lenders.

A banking source said Etisalat Nigeria had given notice to Nigerian lenders that it would miss a payment in February which triggered a debt discussion, adding that they were yet to agree on terms.

“We want to see more skin

in the game from the foreign parent. They also have a shareholder loan we want them to convert into equity which would put less pressure on cash flow and its receivables,” the banker said.

The source said lenders wanted Etisalat to increase its stake in its Nigerian affiliate in order to reduce the risk of the company pulling out of the country due to the debt issue.

Banks involved in the loan deal include: Zenith Bank , GT Bank, First Bank, UBA , Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Union Bank.

Several other firms took out dollar loans in 2013 to expand at a time Nigeria was seen as an attractive investment prospect.

Its economy was growing at 7 percent with a stable currency and oil prices were rising.

But now the country has been running short of dollars as oil revenues have fallen along with the price of crude, pushing the economy into its first recession in a quarter of a century. That has weakened the naira which trades at a lower level on the black market than the official interbank rate versus the dollar.

The dollar shortages have made it difficult for local companies to get access to foreign currency and as a result some have struggled to repay dollar-denominated debts with several lenders having restructured loans to oil firms.

Last month Nigeria’s biggest airline Arik Air was placed in receivership by the country’s “bad bank” Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for unpaid debts of around N147 billion.

AMBODE ACCUSES FASHOLA’S MINISTRY OF FRUSTRATING HIS EFFORTS .... and not a state road. The Federal Ministry of Works believes that they should do the road, but they have not been able to do it all these years.

Prior to when he became the governor of the state, he said the Federal Ministry of Works had been owing the state N51billion as reimbursement for reconstruction that was carried out on federal roads in the state.

Obviously, according to the governor, whatever we are asking for can never be up to N51billion

they owe us. It is only logical that they should even give us part of what they owe us so that we can complete this construction of the Airport Road within a time of six months.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Works “to reimburse us with whatever they owe us.

Even if they are not willing to pay us now, we have the money to do it. It is a national disgrace and we would not be part of it.

We would like to do it as part of the celebration of Lagos at 50.”

Osinbajo to Visit Sokoto Today Mohammed Aminu ÓØ ÙÕÙÞÙ

by the Sokoto State Government.

“During the events, the acting The Acting President, Prof. Yemi president will hold interactive Osinbajo (SAN), will visit Sokoto sessions with government State today. agencies, financial institutions, This was contained in a operators and stakeholders in statement signed by the Special the MSMEs’ sub-sector,” the Adviser to Governor Aminu statement read.

Tambuwal on Media and It stated that Osinbanjo would Public Affairs, Malam Imam also inspect sample of works Imam, a copy of which was by MSMEs from across the made available to journalists federation. in Sokoto yesterday.

It added that as part of his According to the statement, activities in Sokoto, the Acting the Acting President will take President would also pay a part in a two-day nationwide courtesy visit to the Sultan clinic organised for micro, of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad small and medium enterprises Sa’ad Abubakar III, at his palace (MSMEs) which is being hosted in Sokoto.

IT’S OUR DAY

L-R. Officer, Customer Experience Resolution, Airtel Nigeria, Adaeze Obinna; Commercial Controller, Airtel Nigeria, Adenike Ayeye; Chairman, First Bank Nigeria Plc., Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; General Manager, Customer Experience, Airtel Nigeria, Tolulope Tope-Awofeko and Financial Controller, Airtel Nigeria, Toyin Aralepo, during the celebration of the 2017 International Women’s Day at the Airtel Nigeria Headquarters in Lagos....yesterday

Oranto Petroleum Invests $500m in South Sudan Oil Block Nigeria’s Oranto Petroleum Limited has said it has signed oil sharing agreement with South Sudan covering the country’s Block B3, earmarking up to $500 million to explore the oil in the region.

In the first three years, Oranto said it would do airborne geophysical surveys in the 25,150-sq km block and assess existing data held by the government and former operators, among other activities.

“Oranto Petroleum will invest $500 million to develop South Sudan’s Block B3, launching a comprehensive exploration campaign starting immediately,” the oil company said in a statement, according to Oriental News.

Since its independence, South Sudan has relied on oil for all income a situation that has significantly compounded the ongoing political and economic instability, due to the fall in crude oil prices.

South Sudan got the lion’s share of the oil when it split from Sudan in July 2011, but

its only export route is through Sudan, giving Khartoum leverage and leading to ongoing pricing disputes.

According to South Sudanese officials, production in the past reached as high as 350,000 bpd, but fell after a dispute with Sudan over fees for pumping South Sudan’s crude through Sudan’s export pipeline, which led South Sudan to halt oil production in 2012.

Oil production in South Sudan has, however, been affected by the conflict that erupted in 2013 after a political disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his then deputy, Riek Machar, Even after restarting production, it never recovered to those levels, but it dropped to 245,000 barrels per day after the outbreak of the civil conflict hindered production in the oil-rich areas of the north.

“We believe the petroleum resources of Block B3 are vast.

To reach our target of more than double current oil production, we need committed new entrants like Oranto,” South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth told reporters in the capital, Juba.

“The government is working hard to reinvigorate the petroleum industry in South Sudan by creating an enabling environment for International oil and gas companies to invest and operate. It is up to the oil companies to come in, explore and produce,” he added.

The block is highly prospective, with productive parts of the Muglad Basin to the northwest and estimated reserves in place of more than 3 billion barrels of oil. The block is categorized as low risk, high reward.

Under the EPSA, Oranto will be the technical operator and 90 per cent shareholder of the block, with Nilepet holding a 10 per cent stake.

“It’s an honor to formalize our entry into South Sudan with this EPSA,” said Chief Arthur

Eze, founder and chairman of Oranto Petroleum.

“Our company is at the vanguard of African firms exploring and developing African assets. This is the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Nilepet, the people of South Sudan and our partners to bring to light the immense potential of Block B3. Oranto is committed to an aggressive exploration work programme that will benefit all stakeholders,” he added.

The 120,000-square kilometre Block B was reportedly split by the government into the B1, B2 and B3 blocks in 2012.

In Block B3, Oranto would work alongside the B1 and B2 partners, which include Total.

South Sudan is an established, world-class petroleum producing region, whose territory includes a large part of the Cretaceous rift basin system that has proved petroliferous in Chad, Niger and Sudan.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

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COMMENT

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

FATHER OF THE MULTITUDE (1)

Taiwo Obe pays tribute to Adinoyi Onukaba Ojo, respected journalist and administrator, who died aged 57

T

he book, Atiku-The Story of Atiku Abubakar, has the author’s name as Ojo Adinoyi. Unless, of course, you were familiar with the author or, and, knew that he was a special aide to the former Nigerian vice-president, you would have thought that it is not the same person as Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo. But then, when he joined The Guardian as a reporter in June 1983 immediately after his National Youth Service Corps primary assignment at Radio Nigeria, Ikoyi, his name was simply Shaibu Ojo. Till date, one of our colleagues at The Guardian still calls him, perhaps jokingly, Shaibu. He had written an article celebrating Nigeria’s rich culture including taking pride in our traditional lines, signing it with “Shaibu Adinoyi-Ojo.” A reader responded wondering why he was bearing an Arabic name, Shuaib (that’s the correct spelling and it means “stream”), advising him to live by example. Trust Shaibu, a principled person, he quickly dropped that name. His father’s name was Shaibu Onukaba. His own middle name was Adinoyi. So, he became Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo. He likes now to be identified as Adinoyi Onukaba Ojo. As that is mouthful, we shall agree here to call him simply Onukaba, which is what I call him. He calls me Taye, which most people who knew me from childhood still call me. Taye, of course, is the abridgement of To aye wo – (I came to) “taste” the world for my twin, Kehinde, who the Yoruba lore says, sent me - which, for convenience, has also been clipped to Taiwo. By the way, Onukaba means hard work and Adinoyi is “father of the multitude.” Seest thou a man who is diligent in his work, that’s Onukaba. Anyone who is familiar with this wonderful guy – and this is not patronising him - knows that he gives his all to any project he commits to, and, yes, he’s truly someone who bears the burden of many, particularly his kin, some of whom won’t think twice before abusing the privilege.

Onukaba and I bonded almost immediately when we met. He had studied theatre arts at the University of Ibadan and had been taught playwriting by Prof. Femi Osofisan, who was the one who influenced his admission to The Guardian. He was a quintessential reporter. He shunned unethical practices like a plague. A little digression, please: the other day a visitor in my office overheard a telephone conversation where I was vouching for Onukaba’s incorruptibility. The visitor wondered if he was a Nigerian. Yes, he is and a proud one at that.

Add to that, we lived in the same neighbourhood of Ipaja in the local government area now known as Alimoso, and the largest LGA in Nigeria’s commercial capital with 1.28 million inhabitants.

Onukaba had a Datsun 120Y Coupe jalopy, so he had no choice but to give me a ride home, most evenings. Yes, that ubiquitous green jalopy.

We rocked town together with it; bachelors who were also journalists of the Guardian; what else do you want to know?

He left The Guardian for further studies in journalism (master’s) and performance studies (doctorate) in the USA. I inherited his Volkswagen Jetta car, yet another jalopy, but it got us from place to place. I had actu-

A VISITOR IN MY OFFICE OVERHEARD A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WHERE I WAS VOUCHING FOR ONUKABA’S INCORRUPTIBILITY. THE VISITOR WONDERED IF HE WAS A NIGERIAN. YES, HE IS AND A PROUD ONE AT THAT

ally bought off him a Peugeot 504 saloon car (LA 8053 KE) the car he replaced the Jetta with. On the night that he travelled to the US, after he had unpacked his light luggage, he simply handed over the key of the Jetta to me; no ceremonies. He had felt guilty that he unknowingly sold me a lemon (the 504; which, by the way, I also sold on July 30, 1992 for a “staggering” N32,500:00), although I never made an issue of it. While in the US, we called each other and exchanged letters regularly. There was once I wrote him – in my beautiful handwriting– a 21-pager of sense and nonsense – no, let me quote him: ‘Your letter was as interesting as it was bloated with irrelevances. I laughed, laughed and laughed my heart out.’” I was his caretaker. If some monies needed to be distributed to his relations, I was the one who carried out the assignment. When he needed Mrs Remi Obasanjo, the first wife of President Olusegun Obasanjo, to go through the manuscript of his biography of the President, In the Eyes of Time (African Legacy Pr Inc,1997), I was the one who went and met the lady at her home in the Government Reserved Area of Ikeja, capital of Lagos State. I combed through Obasanjo’s library (the General, as Onukaba called Obasanjo has always loved libraries) at his home in Abeokuta, for pictures and more pictures for his book. In fact, my first meeting with the former president at his Ota farm, was because of In the Eyes of Time. It was a funny meeting. Not minding my presence, Obasanjo then doing more with his African Leadership Forum, dressed in an adire buba and sokoto, grabbed a cob of roast corn from one of his staff he met by the entrance of his office, cut it into two, and said in Yoruba, ki nse iwo nikan lo ma je – you won’t be the only one to eat it. For all he cared, I was not in that room. He munched on, without even asking me, even if as a symbolic gesture as tradition demands, to come join me o. I had persuaded him to allow Diamond Publications Limited to publish the book but, somehow, that couldn’t be. While I was in the US, we, of course, found time to hang out together – Onukaba and I, that is.

In one of his letters to me (December 10, 1989), he concluded thus: ‘I love you more than a brother. It’s a confession.’

He never tired of being genuinely concerned about my welfare and that of my kith and kin. I repeat that, and even put it in bold: genuinely. In that same letter, he had written: ‘Nigeria will be 30 next Oct. The govt is likely to spend huge sums on advertisement. Propose a supplement on Nigeria to Newsweek Magazine. Contact Gen. Nwachukwu to help you push it. You could also begin working on Tony Momoh and everyone who will be useful.

‘This is a chance to make millions. I am ready to render any assistance. There is no reason why (name withheld) should continue to eat the money alone. It will be a big breakthrough. Be serious. And keep to the two of us. I can contact Gen. (Obasanjo) to help me talk to some people in govt. You just draw up the plan. Let me hear from you about this in your next letter.’

Obe is the Founder/Director of The Journalism Clinic

THE DEGRADATION OF NATIONAL PARKS It’s time to put the national parks in order, writes Paddy Ezeala

T

he Nigeria National Park Service has failed woefully as the custodian of our national heritage. Even the managers of this failed institution must agree that they have betrayed the trust and confidence reposed in them by the various governments and people of Nigeria. It was in view of this that a national daily recently dedicated a two-part editorial to this moribund institution. Something has to be done.

Many people reading this piece would be wondering which National Parks are being referred to. And there lies the problem. How could a federal government agency have existed as a legal entity with statutory functions for almost 26 years and yet not up to five per cent of Nigerians know anything about them? Even the National Park Service Headquarters in Abuja is hideous. This is an institution that is a product of the wave of environmentalism that swept across the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nigerians had been jolted from environmental improvidence in 1988 with the discovery of tonnes of well-packed toxic waste in the port town of Koko in the present Delta State. The real and imagined consequences were not such that could have been overlooked. While non-governmental organisations began to add their voices to the need for a deepened environmental consciousness, communities in the Niger Delta became incrementally aware of the depth of environmental degradation occasioned by oil exploration and exploitation.

The then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) responded with a series of environmental legislations including the Federal Environmental Protection Decree (now Act) No. 58 of 1988 setting up the then Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), The National Parks Decree (Act) No. 36 of 1991 setting up the National Park Service and six national parks in the country, namely; Chad Basin National Park, Kainji Lake National Park, Gashaka Gumti National Park, Old Oyo National Park,

Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park which was actually a later addition. There was also the Environmental Impact Assessment Decree (Act) No. 86 of 1992. All these legal instruments have undergone a series of reviews in the recent past including the one that led to the addition of two more national parks, namely; Okomu National Park in Edo State and the Kamuku National Park in Kaduna State and converted the National Park Service into a paramilitary organisation.

The point being made here is that national parks in Nigeria were set up as a response to the rising need to shield from destruction considerable portions of our floral and faunal resources including biophysical structures and all that should be considered as national heritage. The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and Nigerian Environmental Study/ Action Team (NEST) are among the NGOs that worked towards the establishment of the national parks. Also, many individuals, namely; Chief S.L. Edu, Chief Philip Asiodu, Brigadier-General Abba Kyari (rtd), Mr Pius Anadu, Mr. A.P. Leventis, Chief I.I. Murphy, Professor David Okali, Mrs Adetoun Fagbayi-Mohammed and many others contributed in no small measure, directly or indirectly to the realisation of the dream.

It is important to shed more light on the background and the raison d’etre of national parks in Nigeria. Between 1981 and 2000, Nigeria lost 3.7 hectares of forests and only four per cent of the country’s untouched forest cover was left. More frightening was the fact that the loss continued at the rate of 3.5% annually. This implies colossal loss of biodiversity. As at that time 484 plant species were threatened with extinction in Nigeria. Nevertheless, Nigeria’s remaining forests habour about 4000 different species of plants including those that have been found to be effective in the development of alternative medicine. There are also animals, including birds that can only be found in Nigeria and nowhere else. These include the Ibadan Malimbe,

the Anambra Waxbill, the Jos Indigo Bird and the white throated Monkey (Cercopithecus erythrogaster pococki), the Niger Delta Pigmy Hippo and the Niger Delta Red Colobus Monkey.

Forests are home to wildlife and perform a broad range of critical environmental and climatic functions including the maintenance of constant supply of water. Forests habour species and at the same time have very deep economic, aesthetic, industrial and religious significance for humans. But the greatest threats to forests have been bush burning and illegal logging; a situation made hopeless by absence of measures aimed at regeneration and a valuation system. The need for environmentally and socially equitable approaches to forest management becomes imperative.

It is from this backdrop, therefore, that arose the urgent need to set aside swathes of areas of scientific, historical and ecological significance for protection.

However, the story of national parks in Nigeria has been pathetic. The management of our parks has been a self-evident demonstration of crass incompetence and lack of vision and proper understanding of its institutional mandate. With regard to protection, no national park is in any sphere better than it was at inception 26 years ago. They are characterised by degradation of infrastructure, loss of biodiversity, shrinking land mass and demoralisation of staff. As it stands, Nigerian National Parks will contribute to tourism development in Nigeria only when degradation itself becomes a tourist attraction.

While national parks in most African countries contribute to economic development, ours have consistently become drainpipes that wallow in obscurity and deception. What can be more deceptive than using footages of chimpanzees and drill monkeys from the Drill Ranch (Pandrillus), a private rehabilitation centre in Afi Mountain in Cross River State, to produce documentaries of Nigerian National Parks? The management of the National Park Service has been capitalising on the

shallow environmental consciousness of Nigerians for selfish ends.

The national security implication of the mismanagement of our National Parks is quite grave. Four of our national parks, namely; Chad Basin National Park, Gashaka Gumpti National Park, Kainji Lake National Park and Cross River National Park sit on international boundaries. Some are even contiguous with national parks and forest reserves of other countries. In other words, national parks are constituting a serious threat to national security.

Bandits and insurgents hide in national parks as a result of porous security apparatus while the insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country has provided a strong excuse to mask or explain away sheer incompetence. A serious appreciation of the importance and enormity of the task of park protection over the years should have given rise to linkages and collaboration with other security agencies in the country.

The thing about national parks and what they protect is that these are things that cannot be replaced once they are gone. Economies can rise and fall, employment rates rise and fall, human conflicts come and go. But if we destroy the last examples of the natural world that once was Nigeria it can never be replaced.

How do we make Nigerians proud of their natural heritage? How do we link it to their personal and collective visions of God and spirituality?

Sometimes I say to people, “you all claim to believe in God. God put these things here, and he put them here and made this place before he put you here. Who are you to destroy God’s creation?” and also to remind them that these natural treasures were handed down to them by their ancestors, and it is their responsibility to hand them down as they received them. We cannot achieve this by letting Chad Basin National Park cry out for redefinition.

Ezeala, a communication and development specialist, wrote from Abuja

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EDITORIAL BEYOND EASING ENTRY VISA FOR FOREIGNERS There is still more to do to shore up investor confidence

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igeria has consistently ranked poorly in relation to other economies on the ease of doing business. Between 2008 and 2016, it averaged 145, climbing to an all-time high of 170 in 2014. In the latest World Bank ranking, there was still no cause for cheer: Nigeria placed 169 out of 189. The country improved by just one point from its position last year.

This was a far cry from what President Muhammadu Buhari had envisaged for the country. ‘‘We are committed to moving up the ranking of the World Bank’s ease of doing business index 20 places in first year and be in the top 100 within the next three years,’’ President Buhari said last August. Perhaps to shore up that optimism, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) last week reviewed the visa processes for foreigners and indeed for our nationals. This was aimed, according to Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, “at removing some bureaucratic bottleneck for persons who wish to visit Nigeria for business and to promote tourism.”

WHY WILL ANYONE The measures INVEST IN A COUNTRY fit into the national WHEN SUCH action plan for ease INVESTMENTS ARE of doing business in PERPETUALLY AT RISK Nigeria which was BECAUSE OF INSECURITY? approved recently by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

Indeed, part of the terms of reference of that committee include facilitating easy registration of businesses, fast-tracking processes of clearing goods at the port, obtaining Nigerian visa, paying taxes and obtaining land titles, among others, issues that are mostly key to the annual ranking of the ease of doing business by the World Bank.

However, as we have long argued on this page, the World Bank report is often restrictive as it focuses primarily on measuring the regulation and red tape relevant to the life cycle of a domestic small to

Letters to the Editor

medium-size firms. It does not measure some aspects that are also critical to investment decisions like the level of security, macroeconomic stability, corruption, labour skills of the population, underlying quality of institutions and infrastructure, the strength of the financial system and predictability of policies.

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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, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR OLUFEMI ABOROWA DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, FIDELIS ELEMA, 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 DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

hy will anyone invest in a country that offers few benefits and many risks? Why will anyone, for instance, invest in a country when such investments are perpetually at risk because of insecurity? Why will an investor rush to an environment where he will have problem recouping his income because of flip –flop policy on foreign exchange? Or to a place where he cannot count on the courts for protection? Why will someone take his money to an environment, no matter the ease of visa, with little or no infrastructure, worsened by improper maintenance? Only last week, the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was shocked by the degree of decay of facilities when he visited the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the international gateway to Nigeria. Even toilets were in bad shape!

Sadly too, last week, Dr Randy Mckinney and Lana Mckinney, two Americans on motorbike expedition to Nigeria were seriously embarrassed by the conduct of our immigration officials at the Seme border. “Crossing the Nigerian border from Republic of Benin was one of the most horrendous nightmares we have ever experienced,” said Mckinney. “We spent N125,000 to cross into the country despite having all our complete documents. If they look at your passport, you must give them money to get it back.”

There are other reasons to worry. Promotion of tourism is an essential counterpart of the new policy.

For all the noise about economic diversification, the National Parks –crucial sources of foreign exchange are in decrepit state and left unattended to. They have become haven for criminals and poachers of wildlife.

We welcome the new visa policy. But there is still much to do to shore up investor confidence in our country.

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.

LAGOS AND DESECRATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

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t was early in the morning, just a little before dawn. I needed to hurriedly ferry a brother to catch an early bus so he could meet up with an urgent appointment.

My mind was appropriately fixed on getting him to the park on time so I could get on with my schedule for the day. So, I could have missed it. But I saw it!

What did I see? The sight was quite nauseating. It was a mountain of rubbish dumped almost in the middle of the road. I am talking about a major road that is well lit and properly maintained.

With the dexterity of an acclaimed formula 1 racer, I instantaneously swerved to avoid crashing into the heap of rubbish. Then, I began to think. Who, in the right frame of mind, could have done this? My mind was pondering back and forth. It couldn’t have been an act of ignorance.

I thought. My conviction was hinged on the enlightened status of the neigbourhood. But then, being enlightened might not necessarily denotes sensibility.

It is sad that in this age, people could still indulge in such a despicable act. Sadly, a lot of people are yet to come to terms with the truth that the quality of our lives as human beings is substantially a reflection of the quality of the environment which we inhabit. Many still seem not to comprehend that the environment which we inhabit, like kola in Igbo culture, is life in itself. It is whatever we give to the environment that it gives back to us.

Most cities of the world experience environmental abuse

because of ignorance, carelessness and ineptitude of the people. It is from this perspective that one really takes exception to various habits and activities of Lagos residents that could have grievous implications on the environment. How, for instance, does one explain such despicable attitudes as defecating or urinating in public places, indiscriminate refuse dumping, drainage blockage, construction on waterways, drainage alignments, throwing of refuse into canals, turning garden and parks into arena for environmentally unfriendly activities, among others ?

No matter the strength of the justification, there is no rational explanation for anyone to indulge in such unhealthy and uncivilised habits. As a people, we need to really come to terms with the significance of an improved environmental habit. When we deliberately choose to act in a manner that could endanger the environment, we are the ones that would certainly bear the consequences of such actions.

Hence, we need to realise that the need to ensure a clean environment should be everybody’s responsibility. Research has shown that people who reside in filthy places are more prone to contracting terrible diseases and as such vulnerable to avoidable deaths.

It is, therefore, important for residents of densely populated areas such as Okokomaiko, Ajangbadi, Ajegunle, Ijora Badia, Ojo, Mushin, some parts of Badagry and others to fully imbibe the culture of strict personal and environmental hygiene. In most of these places, it is common to see human

feaces along the road or even see people engaged in open defecation. It is rather frightening that not a few of the houses in these locations are without toilets. So, residents make do with anything when the call of nature comes. This is an unhealthy practice which, if not properly checkmated, could open the door for chaos in the land. Nothing should be spared by concerned individuals and relevant authorities to reverse this dangerous trend.

With current threat to global health, we need to become conscious of the danger of poor sanitary habits. If we are to achieve an improvement in health and sanitation, reduction in occurrence of infectious epidemics, reduction in man-hour lost to sickness and disease, reduction in absenteeism amongst school children as a result of avoidable illness, improvement in aesthetics and beauty of the environment, we need to start treating the environment better. Funds spent on treatment of preventable diseases could be conserved for other projects.

With global upsurge in the occurrence of natural disasters, partly caused by abuse of the environment, Lagos residents need to note that protecting the environment is, without doubt, the best way to protect themselves against diseases and other harmful environmental hazards. That we have not experienced monumental environmental tragedy should not be interpreted as being immune from such.

Tayo Ogunbiyi, Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Emeh: Rivers APC is Disorganised Lawyer cum accountant-turned politician and elder statesman, Chief Glory Emeh, who served in various capacities under former Governor Peter Odili’s administration in Rivers State recently, returned to the Peoples Democratic Party from the All Progressives Congress.

He spoke with select journalists on his political trajectory and other salient issues as they relate to his state. Shola Oyeyipo brings the excerpts:

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hy did you rejoin Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from All Progressives Congress (APC)?

I have resisted commenting on my reason for leaving the APC as it will amount to exposing certain things. But it has become necessary now because of certain activities of some persons in the social media, which can only be termed as internet rascality, because they have turned the move into something else.

It has been quite obvious from the first day that I joined the APC that the party was not organised and it is still not organised as we speak.

My second reason was that the party has no leadership and therefore has no direction. In my place, nobody crosses a river without knowing the depth. The consequence is that you will definitely get drowned. The third reason was that the real politicians in Rivers State in terms of experience and exposure are all in the PDP. I can attribute the fourth reason to the fact that it has no space for persons with political experience and intelligence. So, you can now imagine my dilemma on why I had to move.

All these added to the pressure from political leaders and associates that I should retrace my steps and go back to where I actually belong made the decision imperative for me.

It appears that APC in Rivers State has no future, no leadership and has no control. The party is heavily fragmented in the state.

In fact, I read an article in one of the national dailies and whoever was the writer of that article, certainly captured the degree of fragmentation in the party.

The writer of that article has a firm grasp and an in-depth knowledge of what is happening in APC. If he is an insider in the party, then that person must be credited with the wisdom of soothsayers. He made what can be described as a pointed point.

As an experienced politician, what is your assessment of the Governor Nyesom Wike administration in terms of infrastructural

APC in Rivers State has no future, no leadership and has no control. The party is heavily fragmented in the state. In fact, I read an article in one of the national dailies and whoever was the writer of that article certainly captured the degree of fragmentation in the party

since Governor Wike came into office.

Therefore, it will be wrong for anybody to ascribe isolated cult- related violence to general insecurity in the state. The governor has continuously drummed this to the ears of those who are prepared to hear.

The conclusion of the Saturday election and the victory of the PDP can only have two explanations. First, the state is actually peaceful as the Governor has always claimed.

Secondly, in any free and fair election, the PDP will always win. The fact being that if you work hard, you will reap bountifully.

Since PDP has undertaken very rigorous campaigns in all the local government areas and in Etche in particular, the victory is a fait accompli.

Permit me therefore to use this opportunity to congratulate governor Wike, the PDP candidates in the election and the people of Rivers state for their commitment and faith in the PDP.

Emeh ...impressed by Wike’s performance

development, since its inception?

It may sound strange if I describe what Wike has done. Some people might query my qualification, having just rejoined the party recently.

However, I live and do business in Rivers State. I don’t need to be too long in the party before I know the enormous contributions of Governor Wike in repositioning infrastructure and social amenities that impact positively on the lives of the Rivers people.

I can say without fear of contradiction that having accompanied Wike to inspect some of the projects he has undertaken, anybody who will assess the governor without bias will confirm that there is a tremendous re-engineering of facilities in the state. We went through roads, both completed and under construction. We inspected schools and hospitals. More fascinating is the Pleasure Park along Aba road. I don’t know whether you have had the opportunity to visit the old Obi Wali cultural center and see for yourself what the governor is doing there for the Christian community called ecumenical center for all Christian denominations.

My brother, that alone, no doubt puts Governor Wike over and above his peers. If you recall the acting President was here few weeks ago and also went round with the governor to inspect some projects. He was overwhelmed by the way the governor has converted the state to massive construction sites.

Mr. Vice President was so impressed that he nicknamed Governor Wike “Mr. Project”.

So you can see that the performance of Wike in terms of infrastructural development is no longer a story of one seeing a small snake and describing it as a python.

I think that Governor Wike’s administration can be scored 95 per cent in terms of infrastructural provisions for the benefit of our people. I am happy and our people are happy with his performance.

How do you view his administrative performance and relationship with the public?

There is no doubting the fact that Wike’s

performance has placed him in a position where you will not have difficulties in confirming his level of governance. One can say without fear of contradiction that Governor Wike has within his one and a half years in office, has shown that the ability to perform should at any point be the precondition for voting anybody to serve the public. Wike’s capacity and capability can be described as inelastic. He has continued a new spirit of times and has promoted fresh commitment to the values of efficient performance.

He has installed a very dynamic mechanism in governance for close monitoring and control.

He is directly involved in most things, unlike other governors. Above all, he proffers solutions to the problems of governance within the framework of a more ideological perspective, with unparalleled conscious and supremely patriotic commitment to enhance available scarce resources, minimize waste and achieve maximum benefits in the interest of our state.

Considering the above about what he has been able to do within his short period in the Brick House, your guess is as good as mine as to the combined opinion of Daily Independent, The Sun and Authority newspapers who independently gave the Governor awards one after the other proclaiming his dynamism as an administrator Above all, the testimony of the Acting President who nicknamed him ‘’Mr Projects’’ puts a definite seal on his performance rating.

Recently, the rescheduled Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency legislative elections, which PDP won, took place. What do you think was responsible for the claim of insecurity by the INEC for so long?

INEC all along has always claimed insecurity as the reason why they have failed to conduct the elections in Rivers state. As you know it is only the security agencies that can say what level of security and peace can guarantee a peaceful election.

Those of us who live and do business in Rivers state do not believe that there is insecurity in the state as the night life has improved tremendously

As the state’s Transport Commissioner you witnessed former Governor Peter Odili’s award as the GOLDEN GOVERNOR by the national executive of the NUJ. Now you are also witnessing an outpour of awards for Governor Wike. What strikes you in all of these?

A good child will always be assessed by his level of understudying the father. Governor Peter Odili was adjudged the golden governor because of the landmark projects he put on ground during his tenure.

Our people always pray that their children should surpass them in terms of achievements . There is no doubt therefore that Wike will fit into this wisdom of our people.

The awards and recognition extended to him by three prominent national newspapers in Nigeria is a testimony that, if a child washes his hands clean, he can eat with the kings.

We had earlier described what Governor Wike has done in terms infrastructural development.

It will therefore be superfluous to repeat ourselves here, other than to say that everything speak for themselves. This is what the lawyers call Res ipsa loquitur.

What do you think is responsible for the seeming endless crisis in the PDP at the national level?

The so called crisis in our party, PDP should not ordinarily have happened if people obey the laws, rules and the constitution of the party.

You recall that there was a valid convention in Port Harcourt which threw up the former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Ahmad Markafi as the chairman of the party.

In that convention, all the organs of the party that are entrusted with the power to either appoint or elect officers that should run the party were in attendance. The outcome of the convention was unanimously and totally endorsed and accepted by those who were qualified to be at the convention. It was therefore strange that a group of persons who did get what they wanted turned around to give the impression that they are the right persons to run the party.

But since the subject matter is before the court and as a lawyer, I understand that it will amount to being sub-judice to discuss this on the pages on newspapers.

But at the end of the day, I am convinced that reason will prevail and everybody would tow the line of peace as advocated by our leader and the former president the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

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PERSPECTIVE

Exorcising Gerontocracy in Yoruba Politics Kayode Ajulo, in this follow up, reiterates his argument that Nigeria, especially those of Yoruba extraction, must allow the youths to take up leadership positions if the people are desirous of real change

Newly graduated Nigerian youths...waiting to exhale

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hat I raise a flag to the effect that priority and pride of place be given to the youths in our political participation and transactions in a piece earlier portrayed and published in the dailies is not unfounded.

It’s warranted and worth the call. This theme, besides its especial imports to the Yoruba -speaking popular of the

Nigerian youths should be prioritise and given a chance to prove a difference.

The involvement of the youth in Nigerian politics will lead to civic engagement which shall broaden the horizon and fine-tune political engagement because it would enhance service to the people at greater dosage

Southwest, it’s, no doubt, of global significance too as young people between the ages of 15 and 25 constitute a fifth of the world’s population, according to UN Youth. Such is the huge necessity that it becomes for younger generation to stand up to the prevailing anomalies and advocate a political arrangement that is more engaged and that leads toward a higher quality of democratic governance.

Let me do a portrait of what obtains else where around the world for the youths on the political front, perhaps doing same will help put some balance on the table, after which the piece, which is a concluding part of the theme, will be rested.

The domination of Nigeria’s political space by the oldies has necessitated the statistics given to reflect what obtains on other scenes. In the United States, for instance, a person must be at least 35 to be President or Vice President, 30 to be a Senator, or 25 to be a Representative, as specified in the U.S. Constitution. For the United Kingdom, at age 18 and 16 (in Scotland) to stand in elections to all parliaments, assemblies, and councils at the European. This age requirement also applies in elections to any individual elective public office; the main example is that of an elected mayor, whether of London or a local authority. There are no higher age requirements for particular positions in public office. Candidates are required to be aged 18 on both the day of nomination and the day of the poll.

This was reduced from 21 by the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

In Indonesia, for instance, at 35 to be, one is qualified to run for the office of the President or Vice President as specified in the Constitution, 30 to be Governor or Lieutenant Governor, as specified in the

2004 Regional Government Act, 25 to be Regent, Vice Regent, Mayor, or Deputy Mayor, as specified in the 2004 Regional Government Act, 21 to be Senator or Representative in both national and local parliament, as specified in the 2008 Election Act. In Mexico a person must be at least 35 to be President, 25 to be a Senator, or 21 to be a Congressional Deputy, as specified in the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.

Emplacing above the age variations as required by the laws in the various countries for political offices is a deliberate effort, to at least attempt a juxtaposition with Nigeria’s , where a person must be at least 40 years of age to be elected President or Vice President, 35 to be a Senator or State Governor, and 30 to be a Representative in parliament. The question then arises as to the number of the national Assembly members, especially in the Southwest, Nigeria is not twice the required ages? If we check painstakingly and sincerely too, one would see how and why a preponderance of the youths of the Yoruba identity are either retarded of growth or are stagnated in the outright.

Nigerian youths should be prioritise and given a chance to prove a difference.

The involvement of the youth in Nigerian politics will lead to civic engagement which shall broaden the horizon and fine-tune political engagement because it would enhance service to the people at greater dosage. Young people who participate politically in their community from early on are more likely to become engaged citizens and voters. So in order to have better “young” citizenship, politics is one of the best tools. Even in countries of dictatorship, the younger generation’s fresh ideas and new leadership can help to overcome authoritarian practices.

We said and regret that the way gerontocracy has eaten deep in the fabrics of our national life was not so with the people and culture of the Yoruba at the various chapters and sagas in history; the writer also referenced it wasn’t so when Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu land was enthroned at age 26 in 1960.

This exemplar monarch, who the writer acknowledged has reigned for more than half a century has achieved so much for his domain and the Yoruba land as a constituency, now coming close to a blight given the recent public pejoratives that was disdainfully traded between him and the former President Obasanjo, confirming the fear of redundancy that punctuates old ages in leadership.

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, who is young and youthful continues to apply physical and mental muscles to initiate and coordinate lofty activities to advance the interest of his clan, the country and the black race around the world. That is the statement we are making and Ogunwusi’s as others, are enduring testimonies.

This is a clarion call to the remainders of the great apostles, a gospel call on all concerned and patriotic voices to rise to the occasion towards giving the youths a chance to change course of history to the benefits of all. As we expect that this call finds repentant ears and souls, we hope the the proverbial seed of the sought difference will find a good group on the Yoruba soil, to grow, germinate and bring forth good fruit as examples to the rest of the nation.

Dr. Ajulo, founder, Egalitarian Mission for Africa and former National Secretary, Labour Party, wrote in from Abuja

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THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Beating the Odds Solomon Elusoji tells the story of how an unemployed graduate built one of Nigeria’s finest education institutes

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n the beginning it was just a dream, a burning passion to educate young people. But today, that dream has morphed into a grand spectacle, a testament to the idea that nothing is impossible if one is willing to put in the work and persevere. This is the story of Chief James Lawal, the Founder of Greater Tomorrow International Nursery and Primary School and Greater Tomorrow International College, both in Ondo State.

From his earliest years, he had a passion for teaching young people, especially those within the age bracket of six to 11. So he decided to put in for an Education degree in Political Science at the then Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University), before proceeding to the University of Ibadan to study Teacher Education (specialising in Early Childhood Education) for his Masters Degree.

But before his Masters Degree, which he completed in 1996, Uncle Lawal, as he is popularly referred to by his students, had decided to start Greater Tomorrow Nursery and Primary School in 1992. The circumstances were not ideal. He had just left a teaching position at the Ondo Basic Science School, where he had taught for two years, and was perplexed at how to move forward in the world.

“I left because I was not impressed with what was going on in the public sector,” Lawal says in an interview at his residence in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State. “I was not pleased with the administration of the school.

I felt I would not be able to maximise my potential there. Even before going to the University, I had been telling people that I love to teach. But during our own time, it was like a taboo telling people that you want to teach. My parents frowned at it, most especially my mum, who happened to be a retired Head Mistress. She used to complain that there was nothing to show for all the years she had put into the service.

But I still continued to tell everyone who cared that I want to be a teacher.”

While he was in the public sector, he had been organising extra lessons for some kids in the neighborhood where he lived; and, upon leaving, this became the template on which he built the future.

“A lot of people made jest of me then,” he reminisces, “they scorned me, a young graduate who had just left university, for assembling children. But I didn’t listen to them. My style of life was that I can’t continue to depend on my parents. I looked at my certificate and thought if the government found it difficult to provide employment, I should be able to provide jobs for the society. So I moved into the streets and called for parents to bring their children to me.

“One good thing was that I had parents that really believed in me. One parent asked me how much I was being paid by the government. I was earning 292 naira. He decided to pay me 300 naira to teach his son. Then a lot of people started dropping kids and dropping their money.”

An educationist to the core, Lawal drew a roadmap for Greater Tomorrow. “We had a good vision of where we were going,” he explains. “I asked myself ‘what is an ideal school?’ So I conceptualised an idea of what a good school should be – a school that can compete favourably with any school within and outside Nigeria. We assembled the team. Not quite about three years after, we came first in Ondo State in a STAN (Science Students Association of Nigeria) competition organised by ExxonMobil. We travelled down to Sokoto to represent the state and we came first in Nigeria. Ever since then, we’ve represented the state and Nigeria in numerous competitions.”

Today, the Greater Tomorrow Schools

Lawal

produce some of the best students in WAEC (West African Examination Council) examinations and science competitions. “We don’t celebrate old awards,” Lawal says.

“We have won all available awards in the

Even before going to the University, I had been telling people that I love to teach. But during our own time, it was like a taboo telling people that you want to teach. My parents frowned at it, most especially my mum, who happened to be a retired Head Mistress. She used to complain that there was nothing to show for all the years she had put into the service. But I still continued to tell everyone who cared that I want to be a teacher

country. We are one of the best nine in the just concluded WAEC. And we play basketball – which is the college’s main sport – at the national level. The reason why we do not participate in other games is because they cheat.”

A visit to the premises of Greater Tomorrow International College in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, will undoubtedly reveal an institution with world-class facilities in a serene environment where students can hope to maximise their potentials. But for somebody who was not born with a silver spoon hanging from his mouth, it took years of painstaking financial diligence for Lawal to put up the structures.

“We started from scratch,” he says, “and whatever we got was what we ploughed back into the business. Putting up physical facilities like buildings, laboratories, assembling teachers and paying them quality salaries. For the past two decades, we have been on one building project or the other.

There is no time that building projects have stopped, and accessing the funds is a big problem. The bank rates are high.”

But he persevered and the fruits are now there for all to see. “There were lots of discouragement at the beginning,” he says, “people don’t want you to achieve your dreams. Even friends criticised what I was doing then. Nobody believed in what I was doing. But I kept my money in banks and believed in my vision. One of my philosophy of life is that smallness is a metaphor for greatness. A business should start small and it will later grow to become bigger. Whatever starts from the top is a grave.”

For those who want to start a school as successful as Greater Tomorrow, Lawal points out that having a strong vision from the start is important. “You can’t just say you will start a school because you see

somebody starting a school and he’s doing well,” he says. “I don’t think it works that way. If you want to start a school, you must have a vision of what you want to do. If you don’t have a vision, you cannot succeed. You should be able to set goals and work towards achieving them. Then you have to do some write-ups. Then you raise some hypothetical questions about raising capital. You have to recognise the fact that you are human capital. I believe that I am human capital. So I turn my skills into capital, into funding. From there you start managing. You save and turn your savings into investments.”

On the state of education in the country, Lawal advised the government to involve parents in the funding of public schools.

“There is no free education in a capitalist economy,” he notes. “There is no point in deceiving ourselves. Even while the country was in boom, the political class were not ready to fund public education.

The UNESCO recommendation is 26 per cent of the total budget, but which government has ever complied with it or even come near? So parents should be made to contribute a part of the funding needs of the sector, so that the facilities can be upgraded. All these political elites have taken their children out of the system.”

On March 7, Lawal turned 50 and he is most grateful to God for having a good health and a fantastic family who have supported him through the years. But he is not stopping yet. Ten years from now, he wants more of his students competing favourably at the highest level in the country.

“We also want to improve on the facilities on ground,” he says. “I think we are just about 30 per cent done, in terms of physical facilities; so I want to upgrade to a 100 per cent. We’ve been having international students but we want to have more.”

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PERSPECTIVE

The Day Our Soldiers Went Mad Again Jude Ndukwe condemns the brutalisation of Citizen Chijioke Uraku, a physically challenged person, by soldiers in Onitsha for wearing military camouflage and cited other examples when soldiers have brutalised and killed innocent citizens

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n Tuesday, February 7, 2017, at the popular city of Onitsha, two soldiers, Corporal Bature Samuel and Corporal Abdulazeez Usman, went berserk and grievously brutalised a physically challenged man, Mr. Chijioke Uraku, for wearing a military camouflague.

Although the military authorities have pleaded with Nigerians and the international community to treat the incident as an isolated one, facts on ground show that contrary to being an isolated case, Nigerian soldiers have always found it a pastime to descend heavily on innocent Nigerians whom they see as mere subjects to be abused and brutalised sometimes without any provocation being ‘bloody civilians’.

From Onitsha to Zaria, Lagos to Edo, Adamawa to Nasarawa, Abuja to Aba, Ogun to Port Harcourt etc, Nigerians suffer gross abuse from the men in green whose colour of uniform is supposed to depict life but have recently, mostly and unfortunately, become symbol of brutality, terror and death.

The venom with which Cpls Samuel and Usman descended upon the helpless and hapless citizen Chijioke, not minding that he is physically challenged, proves that acts of brutality has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian military.

Battering him, the two soldiers flagrantly threw Chijioke off his wheelchair and threw same away from the theatre of incident with unimaginable wildness while they flogged him the way even the devil should not be flogged.

The video of the incident which went viral showed Chijioke pleading with the soldiers for mercy but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Passers-by watched on in helpless indignation as the soldiers dragged him on the ragged ground from one point to the other in the process. One could hear them lamenting the misfortune of Citizen Chijioke but could only resign themselves to watching the terrifying debacle.

The residents of Onitsha themselves have had their own fair share of military brutality.

Most of the alleged unlawful killings of IPOB members by soldiers happened in Onitsha.

Their psyche must have been so affected that their will to help a helpless citizen being badly dehumanised by rampaging soldiers seems to have ebbed away.

The military high-handedness and use of excessive force which have resulted in avoidable deaths of armless civilians in that region are said to be well documented.

It is the same with citizens in other places.

In Abuja, on January 17, 2017, a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Alex Ochienu, was also beaten into a state of coma by some soldiers attached to the Development Control of the city who rushed into the building site where Ochienu was supervising projects and ordered everyone on site to frog-jump.

The hapless Ochienu had explained to the soldiers that he would not be able to carry out such a strenuous punishment since he was fasting.

His explanation, as it always is with our soldiers, infuriated them the more and they descended on him for daring to explain himself and he was reportedly hit with rifle butts, kicked in the stomach and whipped severally until he passed out.

Although Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had rescued a downtrodden truck pusher who was a victim of brutal assault from two NAF cadets who had already forced their object of brutality into the booth of their car in December of 2015, six months later, and as if to prove that their tyranny knows no class or status, the governor himself was soon to be a victim of military brutality himself as his mother’s police guards were assaulted by soldiers allegedly from Operation MESA

Citizen Chijioke Uraku...brutalised by two soldiers in Onitsha

simply because one of the police guards had asked a man in mufti who later turned out to be a military officer not to park near the gate of the governor’s mother’s house. This infuriated the man and he left only to return with a truckload of military personnel who brutalised the governor’s mother’s police guards.

Before then, in February 2016, a lawyer,

The video of the incident which went viral showed Chijioke pleading with the soldiers for mercy but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Passers-by watched on in helpless indignation as the soldiers dragged him on the ragged ground from one point to the other in the process

Adeyemi Akintoye, was hospitalised after being brutalised by two soldiers from the Ordinance Barracks for “walking slowly�.

The incident which occurred near Tejuosho Market in Yaba area of Lagos also saw the lawyer allegedly dispossessed of his N350,000 which he just collected from one of his clients.

Trouble was said to have started when the soldiers who were walking behind Akintoye ordered him to walk faster but Akintoye retorted that he was not obstructing their movement and that the road was wide enough for everyone to walk at their different paces.

At this point, our soldiers who have since arrogated the status of God who must not be questioned to themselves descended heavily on him until he was hospitalised.

So when the military high command tries to sell us the “isolated case� story from the Onitsha incident, they are only further exposing their well know hypocrisy garnished with falsehood and official tyranny.

There are so many cases of abuse and torture perpetrated by our military personnel but only very few of them get to the public domain. Many citizens suffer unduly and unjustly in the hands of these soldiers.

From Joy Agboghide who was allegedly dehumanised in March 2016 by some soldiers in Benin City, Edo State for “obstructing traffic�, to Nollywood actress and movie producer, Jewel Infinity, who was beaten severely with a rod by a soldier in Port Harcourt on January 31st, 2017, for “gos-

siping�, to the man who was battered by a group of military cadets led by a female soldier simply because he complimented the female soldier and referred to her as beautiful, to Umar Abdulaziz who was allegedly tortured to death by a group of three soldiers in Ganaye Local Government Area of Adamawa State in December 2016 for allegedly stealing a mobile phone belonging to a girlfriend of one of the soldiers, the story of citizens’ brutalisation by our soldiers for sundry “offences� seem endless.

While one must admit that there are lots of very fine officers and men who are very highly intelligent and humane among our military forces, the majority of the bad ones including very senior officers who order, supervise and condone the continued killings and brutalisation of fellow citizens under one guise or the other are the ones further dragging the very bad image of the military in the mud, and the earlier the military looks inward and does some critical and honest soul searching exercise, the better for them.

It is not too late to begin a radical reorientation of the mindset and psyche of the ‘boys’ which seem to have been battered by the unholy incursion of the armed forces into our politics in the past.

Unless this is done, our soldiers might continue to go mad! Time for the military to save itself from itself!

Email jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: Stjudendukwe

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IMAGES

L-R: President, Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Maj-General (rtd) Lawrence Onoja; Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, and Acting Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Mr. Jonathan Juma; during the presentation of an AANI, Award, to the Corps Marshal at the 37th Annual General Meeting, of AANI, held at Kuru Jos, Plateau State....recently

L-R: President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry [LCCI] Chief . (Mrs). Nike Akande; National President, National Women’s Societies, Dr. (Mrs) Gloria Shoda; Vice President, LCCI, Yeye Adenike Shobajo; and, Editor, National Newsletter, Lady Chikwue Ochigha, during a courtesy visit by the president of the NWS to LCCI oďŹƒce in Lagos...recently MUBO PETERS

Former President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Mallam Umar Yahaya (right) presenting an award of Best Telecommunication Exhibitor to a Glo representative, Olufemi Akinkuowo, during the Kaduna International Trade Fair in Kaduna...recently

L-R: Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Tonye Graham Douglas; Chief Edwin Clark and President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwde, Dr. Nnia Nwodo, during a reception in honour of President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, South South, and South East leaders by Chief Edwin Clark in Lagos. ..recently . KOLAWOLE ALLI

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

.L-R: Head, Strategy and Corporate Transformation Group, Bank of Industry, Mr. Yinka Adegboye; Business Development Manager, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Adedoyin Ekundayo; State OďŹƒcer, Ogun State BOI oďŹƒce, Mr. Babatunde Ajala and Assistant Manager, Trade Promotion, LCCI, Mr. Shola Oluwadare, at the BOI and LCCI SME forum in Lagos.....recently

L- R: President, Adewole Progressive Association, Mallam Yusuf Abdulfatai; Community Leader, Alhaji Isiaka Olohundare; Manager Etisalat Experience Centre Ilorin, Adedamola Ogunnubi; Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment, Kwara State, Comrade Towoju Gabriel; and Head, Public Policy and Government Aairs,Etisalat Nigeria, Mohammed Suleh- Yusuf, at the ag o of the Community Sanitation Support Programme (CSSP) in Ilorin, Kwara State...recently

L-R; Head Management Committee, God Children Greate Talent (GCGT), Abiola Ojo Osagie; a member GCGT Committee, Adenike Ajakaiye, Pastor, RCCG, City of David Parish, Weyinmi Jemide; CEO, HOW Foundation, Antonia Ally; and member GCGT Board Of Trustee, Pastor Kola Oyeneyin, during the God’s Children Great Talent Press Conference in Lagos‌.recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R: Director, Dentistry Division, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Dr (Mrs) Bola Alonge(representing the Health Minister); Nigerian Oral Care Category Lead, Unilver Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Ibironke Ugbaia; and President, Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr. Bode Ijarogba, during a press brieďŹ ng on the celebration of World Oral Health Day 2017 by Pepsodent in collaboration with the Nigerian Dental Association in Lagos...recently Yomi Akinyele

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

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Group Business Editor ChikaAmanze-Nwachuku Email: chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157, 08057161321

F E B R U A R Y

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2 0 1 7 EXCHANGE RATE ͹͎ͳ˛Ͱͳ

Quick Takes Airtel Touching Lives Holds on Saturday

TALKING MUSIC BUSINESS

L-R: CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; Founder, LEAP Africa and AACE Foods, Ndidi Nwuneli and CEO/Founder, Mavin Records, Don Jazzy, who was Guest at the Fidelity SME Forum ‌ recently

BBC Finally Launches Pilot News Chatbot from Nigerian Developers Stories by Emma Okonji British public service broadcaster, BBC has finally announced the launch of the news chatbot developed by Nigerian developers during its Digital Innovation Programme in Lagos, Nigeria.

Last year, the BBC hosted a workshop in Lagos to generate ideas for digital tools and products that better distribute BBC News to African audiences and increase the reach in ways that are relevant to these markets.

Four teams were thereafter shortlisted by a judging panel, and after further submitting

ICT a detailed plan and undergoing a Q&A session with BBC experts, two teams – Codulab and Timerail – were selected for the next stage.

Both teams built their ideas into pilots throughout last year.

Further details on the pilots were to be announced later last year but that didn’t happen.

The good news now is BBC has finally launched Codulab’s pilot: a news chatbot called BBC Newschatta.

The chatbot is a mobile phone based service which generates news stories based on the users’

input, using keywords and topics to send relevant news stories to them via the WeChat Messenger app. “Newschatta is a chatbot that provides news content in a more personalised manner to young people across Africa. The aim is to deliver the latest news contents to users in a timely and interesting way that fits into the users’ current daily digital routines,� said Stanley Ojadovwa, Product Developer at Codulab, a Lagos-based technology company.

Newschatta is targeted at young people in Africa aged between 16 and 34, living in ur-

ban areas. This demographic’s mobile phone usage for things such as calls, emailing, banking, playing games and reading news, is pretty high.

The news chatbot can now be accessed worldwide via WeChat Messenger. Its launch continues the BBC’s investment in digital innovation across Africa, and joins other successful African-designed digital pilots, BBC Drop and BBC Minute CatchUp. The other Lagos pilot, Timerail, is still a work in progress. Its user experience Continued on page 24

Stakeholders Call for Review of Interconnect Rates As the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) plans another review of the telecoms industry interconnect rate, industry stakeholders have called on NCC to expedite action in the planned review of interconnect rate, both at local and international call termination rates.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pinet Informatics, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, who made the call, said this becomes imperative given

ECONOMY that interconnect rate review is done periodically.

Justifying the call for a review the country’s interconnect rate, Ajayi told THISDAY that the current exchange rate of the dollar, the value of the naira and the recent inflation rate, were all different from what they used to be five years ago.

He said that these rates have increased over a hundred fold, from what was obtainable five

years ago, thus, justifying the need to review the interconnect rates that currently exist in the telecoms sector. He argued that the high rates are affecting revenue generation of telecoms companies, who still operate at the old interconnect rates.

He warned that the situation, if not properly handled by NCC, could lead to serious revenue losses for telecoms operations and network expansion will become difficult, leading to network congestion, since

subscribers’ growth across networks, is on the increase.

Ajayi however cautioned that the NCC must draw a balance while introducing a new interconnect rate, insisting it must be done in such a way that subscribers will not be subjected to pay so much for telecoms services, especially for services that have to do with call termination rates, be it local or international.

Continued on page 24

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Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂĄ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœËœËŹ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂšËœ ÒÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ę¨Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă’Ă“Ă? ÒÙ×Ă?Ëœ åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹ Ă?Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂœËœ Ă–Ă?Ę° ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÞåÙ ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ÒÙÖβ Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ ÞåÙ ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÚËã ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ÒÙÙÖ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă?Ë› ËŤ Þ˪Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂžĂ?ĂœĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ËœËŹ ĂŽĂ?Ă•Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă–Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă•Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă–Ă?Ëœ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă?ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĘŠĂ?Ă&#x;Ă–Ăž ÞÙ Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂŒĂŁË› ËŤ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă‘Ă™ ÞÙ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂ™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă— Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ù×Ă?ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă• ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?ÞÙÚÚĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂšĂ&#x;Ăž Ă?Ù×Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙÑĂ?ÞÒĂ?ĂœËœËŹ Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ

Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă“ĂŽĂŽĂ–Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ÚÖĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÓÞã ĂŽĂ?×ÙÖÓĂ?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă–Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă?ÒÙÚ ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă?Ă’Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžËœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă?ÚËĂ?Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ÓÖÓÞã ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–ĂŁËŞĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ë›

PMAN Card for Entertainment Industry Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă—Ă&#x;ÖÞÓĂ?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă˜Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?ÓÞã Ă™Ă? Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍ˛Ëœ Ă?ĂœĂ Ă? Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă? ÚÙÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?Ă–Ă™ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ‹ĂŁ Ă™Ă? Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ăž ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ? åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ‹Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă• ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÚËã×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŽË› Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ?ËŞĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?ĂœĂžĂŁ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?Ă— Ă˜Ă? Ëœ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă¤Ă?ĂŽ ĂŽĂ&#x;ÚÖÓĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ě™ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂŁĚš Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ë› Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ‹Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă•ËŞĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă“Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ÓÙ×Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ě™ ̚˛ Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“ĂšËœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ÚËã×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŽ ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă?ĂœĂ Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă“Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžËœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă˜Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă&#x;ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă? ÙÚĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË›

NCCF-ICT Unveils Local Content Group Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ÖÞËÞÓà Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă— Ě™ Ě‹ Ěš Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹Ă– ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă‹ĂœĂŽ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÙʊĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÕĂ?ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ă•Ă“Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹Ă–Ă? Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËž Ă?Ë› Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ™ ÞÙÕÓ Ă‹Ă? Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËž ĂœË› ĂŽĂ?ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă—Ă“ Ă•Ă“Ă˜ĂŒĂ™ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁËž ĂœË› ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă‹Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ ĂĄĂ™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă‹ Ă‹Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂœËž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ë› ĂŒĂ“ĂŒĂ‹Ăž Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă– ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœË› Ă’Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă‹ĂĄĂŁĂ?ĂœËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂœËœ Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂžË› Ă’Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒËÞ

ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ËÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?ʨÞ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ě™ Ěš Ă?ĂžËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ?Ă— ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— ÞÙ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ÓÚËÞĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÑÙÙÎĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÓÖ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË›

Ăž ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ? ÞÙ ÞÙ ÞËÚ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÍœÍŻÍˇÍŽ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ÖÞËÞÓà Ă? Ă™ĂœĂ&#x;Ă— Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ‹Ă– ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă‹ĂœĂŽË›

NCC Links Telecoms Success to Regulatory Excellence The successes recorded in the telecoms industry since the first commercial rollout of GSM services in Nigeria in 2001, would not have been achieved, if not for the regulatory excellence deployed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, made the remark at

TELECOMS the just concluded Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain.

Danbatta told the global telecom community that Nigeria’s success can be credited to her telecom regulatory excellence.

Danbatta spoke as a panelist on the thematic summit titled ‘Creating Incentives for Invest-

ment’, during the ministerial programme of the Mobile World Congress.

He said within this space, broadband penetration grew from less than 10 per cent to 21 per cent, while broadband Internet penetration moved from 20 per cent to 40 per cent is an indication that the target 30 per cent growth in broadband by

2018 is no longer a tall order.

The NCC boss informed his audience, including Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu that the inclusion of operational efficiency and regulatory excellence as an important item of the 8-Point Agenda of his administration is a strategic design, which takes into account, best international

If you have a federal structure that encourages dependency while discouraging hard work, innovation, productivity and competition, your development as a nation will be less than optimal A former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

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BBC FINALLY LAUNCHES PILOT NEWS CHATBOT FROM NIGERIAN DEVELOPERS was designed by Nigerian company, Isoventurian. A working prototype is expected later this year.

STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR REVIEW OF INTERCONNECT RATES Chairman, National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, also called for the review of the rate, but cautioned NCC to peg the rate in such a way that it would not compel subscribers to pay so much for telecoms services.

NCC is however considering a review, based on certain criteria.

The Commission recently held stakeholders’ forum on cost based study for the determination of mobile voice termination rate for the sector.

The essence of the stakeholders’ forum was to carry along key shareholders and investors in the cost based study that will herald new determination regime for interconnection rates in the country. NCC said it would harness the window provided by the study, to properly scrutinise the advent of grey market activities in the telecommunications industry. NCC listed grey market activities to include; call refilling, call masking, sim-box and internet-based calls like WhatsApp, Skype, Imo Video calls, among others that do not yield revenues to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

NCC LINKS TELECOMS SUCCESS TO REGULATORY EXCELLENCE standards in all areas of telecom regulation in Nigeria.

He said in the instance of spectrum management efficiency, remarkable progress was recorded in the well known transparent spectrum auctions, one of which was 2.6GHz spectrum won by MTN on which it has deployed broadband LTE services. “Another provider, Glo has also deployed similar services, resulting in percentage growth witnessed in broadband, and broadband internet penetration within a short period,�

Danbatta said.

Group Business Editor

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Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Capital Market Editor

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Taraba State Governor Counsels Labour Leaders on Retirement Plan Ebere Nwoji Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has urged labour leaders in the state to help their members plan effectively for life after retirement.

Ishaku made the call recently in Jalingo when labour leaders led by Comrade Peter Gambo, paid him a goodwill visit at the Government House, Taraba.

The governor, who was Minister of State in the federal cabinet at the time of the unbundling of the National Electricity Power Authority, NEPA, a few years ago said his concern for the welfare of workers after retirement was a fall-out of his experience during that exercise. He said many of the defunct NEPA workers who lost their jobs in the exercise had no visible plans for life after retirement. “I discovered to my utmost surprise that many of these people had no basic idea of business, not even about buying and selling of food items that ordinary men and women do to survive.�

He said the agitation by labour for workers’ welfare should not stop in the demands for increase in salaries, promotion and other welfare packages but should include sustainable business ideas that can help them face the future squarely after retirement. “In your capacity as labour leaders, you owe your members a duty to help them plan properly in order to make retirement painless for them,�, he said.

He noted that the uncertainty of life after retirement that is the lot of most civil servants was the reason many workers do not want to retire but would rather falsify their birthday records to gain more years of service.

Ishaku drew a loud applause when he announced to the labour leaders of his administration’s grand plan for workers in the state to own houses. He said henceforth, new entrants into the state civil service would register for houses from the

onset and deductions would be made from their monthly salaries towards a permanent home to be built and given to them in five years, such new workers would be in a position to move into their own houses.

The governor also told the labour leaders that payment of salaries, which had been the priority in the state would remain so. “In this state, payment of salaries is our number one priority. I don’t authorise payment to any contractor until I’m sure salaries have been paid.�

He said he had to do things that way because he was aware that for every civil servant that collects his salary, there are about five dependants waiting

for his assistance.

Governor Ishaku also used the occasion to talk about what government has achieved in in other critical areas. He said the water projects being handled in Jalingo, would make the town self-sufficient by the end of the year. He also said many hospitals in the state have now been reactivated and now functional. “At the time we came on board, the Specialist Hospital in Jalingo was the only functioning medical centre in the state. there was no other place to take critical medical cases to, and people came there with medical cases from even Gembu.

But today that situation has changed dramatically. The

general hospitals in Wukari, Bali and Gembu are being equipped to further improve the situation.� He said medical equipment and drugs were being purchased for these hospitals. Speaking on behalf of the Niger Labour Congress ( NLC) members, Gambo said the visit to the Governor was in appreciation of the laudable job he was doing in the state.

He said: “We have come to show appreciation for the good job you’re doing. You have paid salaries promptly. This is a wonderful effort and we must forget to acknowledge it. we can see the roads you’re doing in Jalingo and in the the zones. We can also see the street lights, the drainages

and we appreciate them. We appreciate peace that has been achieved through you effort,�, he said.

Bako said he was aware of the antics of mischief makers whose eyes were closed to the achievements of the governor and urged the governor to ignore such arm chair critics. “You should not be distracted but rather remain focused�, he said.

He said the state NLC under his leadership does not believe in criticising the government for the sake of doing so. “We can appreciate good things.

And you are doing a lot of good things. We support you and we will continue to encourage you.

YOU ARE CERTIFIED

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Olabingo Adeyemi; founder of i-Naira.com, Mr. Hillary Nwaukor; Lagos State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Rotimi Ogunleye; and Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Fariudeen Akodu, during the presentation of auction practicing license to Nwaukor in Lagos...recently

KEDCO Uncovers Illegal Lagos Issues i-Naira.com with Practice Licence Electricity Consumers fortunes. activities.

Emma Okonji

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc (KEDCO) has discovered several illicit electricity users alleged to be stealing energy from its networks, through meter bypass and illegal connections. This discovery, according to the power company, followed the commencement of night operations in collaboration with the Anti-vandalism Joint Taskforce led by the Regional Manager of Kano Central Regional office, Abubakar Jimeta.

Jimeta, who said that the night operation was necessary to unearth irregularities perpetrated by the power consumers, said it had yielded positive results as some culprits were caught in the act.

The Regional Manager also informed that after disconnecting defaulters, the company’s various cash offices was thronged by customers who came to pay for their electricity bills. In a statement issued

in Kano by KEDCO’s spokesperson, Mohammed Kandi, it said preliminary investigation showed that majority of customers at Rijiyar Zaki, Janbulo, Tudun Yola and BUK road stopped vending even with the huge power supply, and which prompted close monitoring in those areas. According to the RM, “the customers who perpetrate these despicable acts of energy theft, meter bypass and illegal connection do that mostly at nights knowing that the operational staff would have closed for the day.� “So we decided to follow their lead by introducing night operations from 10: 30pm to 3: 30am, and the discoveries had been shocking—they bypassed our meters by connecting from the service wires directly into their homes,� he said.

He said: “While some customers found to be culpable refused to open their doors to the visiting team, others opened up initially but went back and lock their doors.�

In order to eliminate quacks from every online business in the state, the Lagos State government has issued the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of i-Naira Integrated Resources Limited, Mr. Hillary Nwaukor, as well as other auction professionals, the Lagos State ‘Auctioneer Practice Licence’, marking a new dawn in the auctioneer practice in the state.

Nwaukor was credited for pioneering first online auctioning platform in Nigeria dubbed i-Naira.com, which caters for individual, corporate and government auctioning activities.

Speaking at the event held recently at the state secretariat, the Lagos State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Rotimi Ogunleye, said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration saw the need for strict implementation of the law regulating auctioneers

He added that that Chapter 12, sub-section 2(1) states clearly that “a person shall not carry on the business of auctioning without a licence granted under this law authorising him to carry on such business.� He said working in accordance with provisions of the law will ensure quackery is contained to the barest minimum, while restoring investors’ confidence in the state’s economy. “It is paramount today to identify with a licensed practitioner either for the execution of court judgments or corporate bodies auctioning programmes or prominent artistes, because this is a huge sector that requires only people of integrity be allowed to play in there,� he said.

Ogunleye noted that it is no longer business as usual or a ‘free-flow’ market, where unqualified persons prey on unsuspecting corporate bodies to swindle them of their

“This is a globally recognised profession and currently developing in our clime. We expect it to develop, supporting cross-border auctioning activities. So, we encourage those who are receiving the operational licenses to play by the rules guiding their practice,� he said.

He pledged the state government’s support for the Certified Institute of Auctioneers of Nigeria (CIAN) to uphold expertise in Nigeria for all matters relating to online auctions and auctioneering.

Speaking after receiving the operating licence, Nwaukor commended the Lagos State government for the bold step taken to further rid the sector of illegal practices.

Launched in August 2016, i-Naira.com is a wholly owned Nigerian company with speciality in consumer sales promotion. It was established to deliver value bargains to under-served consumers across the country.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Xenophobia and Calls for Reprisals The recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa, barbaric, but the call for reprisals on South African investments in Nigeria is wrong, writes Emma Okonji

President Muhammadu Buhari

Last month, some Nigerians who live and do businesses in South Africa were attacked

by South African youths, who alleged that foreigners, especially Nigerians were taking away the jobs that were meant for South Africans.

Although world bodies have decried the act, the call for reprisal attacks on South African investments in Nigeria, including MTN investments in the telecommunications sector, is condemnable.

This is so because the consequences of such attacks could cause harm that could further plunge Nigeria into untold hardship, even with the current state of recession in the country.

The pains Sudden death of relative brutally murdered in South Africa by South African youths is the most painful aspect of the problem, because there was neither news of their failing health nor were they sick until they met their untimely death in a hard way.

The photos of some of the brutal killings had gone viral and relations had to see how their loved ones were gruesomely murdered, causing great pains to the living. Apart from the heartless killings, shops that belong to Nigerians were looted in broad day light.

Disturbed by the action of South African youths, some Nigerians at home have tried to instigate others to carryout reprisal attacks on South African investments including Shoprite, PEP, MTN facilities among others.

While some Nigerians have justified the call for reprisal attacks, others have sued for peace, insisting that two wrongs cannot make a right. Although the call for reprisal attacks may be justified because those killed did absolutely nothing wrong to warrant such treatment, yet their lives were wasted and

South African president Jacob Zuma

their property burnt, but those calling for calm may be looking at the best approach to the ugly situation to avoid further catastrophe in Nigeria.

Disturbed by the action of South African youths, some Nigerians at home have tried to instigate others to carryout reprisal attacks on South African investments including Shoprite, PEP, MTN facilities among others. While some Nigerians have justified the call for reprisal attacks, others have sued for peace, insisting that two wrongs cannot make a right

FG’s position Worried about the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, some lawmakers have urged the federal government to reconsider its diplomatic ties with South Africa.

But the federal government said it would rather meet with the South African parliament to discuss ways Nigerians could be protected in South Africa, rather than allowing reprisal attacks.

The lawmakers resolved to send delegation to South African parliament to table the position of the federal government on the matter.

But their visit to South Africa to discuss the position of the federal government, has been widely criticised by Nigerians who felt it was a mere waste of resources, since the executive arm of government was in a better position to handle such diplomatic conflicts.

Consequences of reprisal attacks Although Nigerians are bitter over the xenophobic attacks, those who know the consequences of reprisal attacks have continued to call for calm.

They have argued that many Nigerians are in the employment of these South African companies in Nigeria, and any attempt to ground their operations would cause ripple effects on Nigerians employees. If the investments are grounded, those working there will be out of jobs and it would deepen the current economic recession.

Another thing is the mobile network connectivity. MTN is the biggest network in Nigeria with over 62 million subscribers and should the telecoms facilities be vandalised in the country, it would definitely cut off over 62 million subscribers that are connected to its network.

Today MTN is faced with serious network

challenge, to the extent that most of its subscribers can no longer make successful calls and can also not successfully browse the internet.

There are feelings that the aborted attempt to destroy MTN’s facilities in Abuja recently by aggrieved Nigerians over the xenophobic attacks may be the reason. Some are of the view that the aggrieved Nigerians may have vandalised MTN telecoms facilities in other parts of the country, aside Abuja, which could be the reason for the current difficulties that MTN subscribers are facing.

Another area that Nigerians felt may affect the our economy, should reprisal attacks be encouraged in Nigeria, is in the area of e-commerce, which is an emerging market that has shown signs of rapid growth, since most Nigerian businesses are beginning to get online visibility.

Some Nigerians argued that should reprisal attacks be encouraged in Nigeria, it will affect e-commerce in Nigeria. According to them, MTN has the largest network in Nigeria with so many Nigerians connected to its network to drive their e-commerce bud unless.

Should MTN facilities suffer reprisal attacks, definitely it will cut off so many Nigerians on the MTN platform and their online business will go down immediately.

Many Nigerians are indirectly employed

by MTN, especially those doing businesses that are connected to the MTN network, like recharge cards sellers, equipment vendors and many more. All these could add to the nations challenges, if reprisal attacks are encouraged, some Nigerians said, while still calling for calm and understanding.

Nigerians calling for calm, have noted that there is need for renewed dialogue between the Nigerian government and the South African government in order to find a lasting solution to the challenges posed by xenophobic attacks.

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Ě“

Re-defining Businesses with Interactive Board Devices

Emma Okonji examines the impact of interactive board devices in enhancing learning and on businesses in today’s technological evolution Before now, teaching and learning in schools as well as business communities, were without interactive board devices. But the introduction of the learning device in the 21st century has not only enhanced teaching and learning in schools, but it has also redefined business growth and development for those that have adopted the technology.

All over the world, consumers are constantly on the lookout for information on products and services that will enhance their lifestyles.

Beside print media, boards and videos have proven to be key methods of sending messages and advertisements from brands to their target audiences, owing to the fact that consumers now want a more interactive platform to experience their favourite products.

It is against this backdrop that LG Electronics and Fouani Nigeria Limited, recently introduced a wide range of LG OLED TVs ( 55�, 65� and 77� ) and the 84 - inch LG Interactive board for consumer experience.

The introduction of this precise multi-touch experience interactive board by LG Electronics/ Fouani Nigeria Limited would, no doubt, redefine how businesses are transacted and also add value to visual optimisation of content display in both lecture rooms and corporate board rooms. With these innovations from the electronics giants LG, life can only get better.

Display of LG’s interactive board at a recent forum

Introducing LG interactive board The Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and industry in collaboration with Fouani Nigeria Limited and LG Electronics recently hosted the business community to a Business Networking Cocktail in Ikoyi, Lagos, with the theme: “Let’s’ Talk the Nigerian Business Environment�, to critically X-ray the business environment in Nigeria. The event attracted dignitaries including the Consul General of French Consulate Mr. Laurent Polonceaux and other key players from both French and Nigerian business community.

In his keynote address, Poloneaux said: “The hope and expectation reported by the World Bank that the Nigerian economy will get out of recession in the year 2017 is quite encouraging. And said the French government would keep investing in Nigeria economy.�

His remark generated a lot of positive response and optimism among participants who did not hide their feelings that the country’s economy would definitely bounce back soon.

The Managing Director of Fouani Group, Mr. Mohamed Fouani, while speaking at the event also lent his voice to the optimism as expressed by other speakers about the vast potential and business opportunities that abounds in Nigeria. He urged foreign investors to take advantage of this opportunity.

During the event LG Electronics and Fouani Nigeria Limited used the opportunity to introduce to the business community its latest innovative products, the LG OLED TVs ( 55�, 65� and 77� ) and the 84 - inch LG Interactive board for them to experience the unique features of these products, particularly the Interactive board.

The interactive board comes in 84� large screen with an ultra HD picture quality that attracts attention in any given environment, such as lecture room or board rooms. Its superior interactivity provided by its IR spread technology is a very effective tool for facilitating audiences’ participation.

The 84TR3B model Interactive board with its

ESET Set to Alleviate Cyber Security Concerns Affecting SMEs Worried about the inability of small and medium enterprises to deploy and retain cyber security solutions’ subscriptions largely due to the current financial and economic downturn, ESET has launched a campaign that will bring succour to decision makers of affected businesses and users.

Country Manager, ESET Nigeria and Ghana, Mr. Olufemi Ake disclosed that recent market intelligence findings show that the majority of businesses in Nigeria are less secure from cyber security threats and that an average of 12 per cent of already information technology (IT) secured organisations in Nigeria hardly renewed their security solutions between January 2015 and December 2016. About 80 per cent of the unreturned blamed the situation on the economy as funds are generally being diverted to keep the company afloat with payment of salaries

and day-to-day running cost.

This is also attributed to the surge in the price of IT security solutions primarily as a result of the exchange rates instability and hike between 2014 and to date. “ESET, being an IT security company dedicated to developing high-performing security solutions for home users and corporate customers, detecting and disabling all known and emerging forms of threats globally, is highly concerned about this trend,� the company said in a statement. “Our improved cloudpowered scanning and file reputation in the Endpoint Security Suite is such an immense value for money to businesses as this feature speeds up system scans and keeps false positives to an absolute minimum, while preserving confidentiality of organisations’ data and assets. It is desirable in today’s business environment

to have solutions that guarantee anti-ransomware which also prevents organisations from losing money to ransom attackers, 24/7 support service remotely and on-site, real-time reporting with pro-active protection, low system demand, which in summary boosts return on investments,�

Ake said.

Meanwhile, a recent report released by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) indicates that out of the 2,175 Nigerian websites hacked in 2015, about 585 were government owned, whereas out of about 97 million internet users, during the period) in Nigeria, 14 per cent suffer cyber-attacks. In December 2015, Nigeria was the 17th most cyber-attacked nation in the world based on threat intelligence report. This also reiterates the need for companies to be proactive with cyber security at every point in time.

4K up-scaling and super resolution technology enhances the quality of the FHD content.

The benefits The benefits of the interactive board are quite enormous with effective cost management, reducing power consumption by remotely controlling it. Also there is little or no interruption during a presentation of real time event with the aid of a monitor and control display through network or serial connection remotely with SuperSign C for both display and media player. There is no doubt with the introduction of the interactive board teaching and learning would become more lively and enjoyable by all, thereby making the process of assimilation faster and easier Also on display at the event was the LG OLED TV EG9700 with its breathtaking features, which left many of the guests present speechless. The EG9700 is designed with deep pitch black and best looking colors in terms of brilliance, depth saturation and contrast.

OLED technology can no longer be referred to as belonging to the future it has come to stay with us much earlier than expected. Every pixel is organically lit with an electrode so there no issue backlight interference. Beyond the quality that LG Electronics products are known for it has perfected the art of combining style and technology in its designs which has left consumers longing for more.

Interactive board as learning tool Apart from enhancing business relations and growth, interactive boards are commonly used in schools to enhance teaching and learning.

Although it comes with different specifications, some come loaded with school curriculum and students can take note and are able to retrieve notes on lessons that were thought several months back. Designers of electronic board for schools said the device has helped in enhancing teaching and learning in schools and that more schools continue to adopt the device.

IPI Solutions Wins Int’l Quality Summit Award IPI Solutions Nigeria Limited has been selected to receive the International Quality Summit (IQS) Award in the Gold category at the International Quality Convention organised

by Business Initiative Directions (BID). The formal presentation of the award will take place in USA in May this year.

Upon receiving the IQS Award in New York, USA, IPI Solutions Nigeria Limited will join a select group of previous BID award recipients, strengthening its own prestige and leadership position.

In a congratulatory letter, the President and CEO of BID, Mr. Jose F. Prieto, commended the CEO of IPI Solution, Mr. Adamu Garba II of the prestigious IQS Gold category Award.

Business Initiative Directions is the leading private organisation worldwide focused on spreading quality culture through the Quality Mix Plan and the International BID Award

for Quality. In the past 31 years BID has presented its Award for Quality and its TQM model QC100 implemented in over 100 countries.

The QC100 Total Quality Management (TQM) model is a tool developed by BID for the management of the communication structure between companies and their clients, organisations and their end-users, as well as suppliers and workers, which enables managers to effectively implement their lines of business in 10 areas, from customer satisfaction and human resources to business results. The QC100 implementation boosts the improvement of systems and processes, and helps companies and organisations concentrate their efforts in the most profitable areas.

The QC100 includes the best elements, theories and systems, created by quality academics in order to develop a model which

unites, integrates and changes Total Quality Management into a practical exercise, defined by specific mechanisms and based on measurable results.

This model uses continuous improvement as the way to achieve excellence.

The decision for BID to present this award to IPI Solutions Nig Ltd at the International Quality Summit is based on a rigorous evaluation and analysis carried out through quality management leaders, leading entrepreneurs and experts in quality, directed by Business Initiative Directions, to recognise the contribution of IPI Solutions in terms of leadership, quality, initiative and excellence.

The Selection Committee used established salient criteria contained in the QC 100 Total Quality Management Model, combining with BID’s Quality Mix technology to adjudge winners of the prestigious award.

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Michael Olasubomi Balogun: The Octogenarian in the Space At 83, the Grand Master of the Nigerian Banking Sector is serving God, appreciative of His grace, while touching lives‌..

He was born like any other child. But very early in life, his confidence that greatness was achievable was in his heart like a rock. Fate in his new faith, having been born by Muslim parents, began to create the pathway to this destiny. The Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians remained focused, kept his ambition to himself, held onto his God and His grace, absolutely refused to succumb to the vagaries of life and bypassed every hurdle that came his way. Today, after many years in the sector, Otunba Balogun’s legacies are indeed difficult to equal. His achievements are numerous, but one which often comes to mind includes surprising detractors with his “can-do and no guts no glory� instincts as he made history by founding the first ever Nigerian private bank to be established in Nigeria without foreign direct investments or funding from the government of Nigeria.

This has remained an enduring legacy. “Consummate banker and entrepreneur, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, the man who many have come to identify as a constructive philanthropist, cannot but thank the Almighty God for many reasons. For these, he is very happy and indeed, is an accomplished man.

Beyond the well-wishes and the traditional grand receptions that usually accompany his addition of another year, there is more to his sojourn on earth that engenders fulfilment and global admiration. In his kind disposition to life, he has been able to impact the different spectrums of society, leaving many positive footprints on the proverbial sands of time.

It is difficult to achieve a historical disclosure of the evolution of merchant and consumer banking in Nigeria for instance, philanthropy and support for children, women, the less privileged and religious causes without his name being mentioned in glittering terms.

The Olori Ebi Fasingbuwa (Head of Princes and the Ruling House) to the Awujale in Ijebuland’s legacies across these spectrums demonstrate the fact he is a man of foresight, unusual commitment, a lover of good deeds, his people and their culture. History has no choice but to give the Baba Oba of Ijebu–Ife his place.

Vide FCMB, the platform that has by far given him the greater portion of public reckoning, he enjoys today, he raised new paradigms in business management, provided invaluable financial backing for many other enterprises, brokered high yielding deals and raised the stakes of banking business.

The same way and through his philanthropic gestures, he has helped many to rediscover lost destinies and find hope for daily living, with his religious philosophies in tow. In fact, in the things of the faith, he has remained no less a pillar of support, making huge donations towards their projects and for the deepening of other worthy religious causes.

As he is celebrated across the land today, sons and daughters of the soil who have drank from the well of his kindness, salute the Asalu-Oba of IjebuImushin, a man of destiny born at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State on the 9th of March 1934.

First City Monument Bank, (FCMB), a front-liner in banking business in Nigeria is a compelling example of deep vision, and personal challenge. Its resilience and continued dominance of the sector, when many contemporaries are either extinct or disturbingly lagging, is an indication of the strength of planning Otunba and his selected management team and workforce put together, right from the foundations.

He had his fair share of working for others with its attendant plethora of injustices suffered at a time, despite his God-given skills, excellent spirit, sound knowledge and quality experience.

The tactician was not deterred. It came to a point and at a time when the burning desire to establish hisown firm with cutting edge service delivery got to its peak. He took the bull by the horns and resigned in December 1977 to set up City Securities Limited, the first institution in Nigeria to combine Issuing House and Stockbroking businesses under one roof.

Olasubomi Balogun

In staffing and business philosophy, it was evident that the new security firm had come to transform the business sector, and this it did in no time. In less than two years of the establishment of City Securities Limited, it became almost synonymous with the Nigerian Capital Market. The main inspiration himself was on song, making distinguished appearances at events of central importance, and providing needed light where necessary. In recognition of his success and the success of enterprises running under his name, he became an immediate reference point to his numerous admirers and other protĂŠgĂŠs.

A proof of what he did and stood for came to manifestation in 1979 when the first wholly Nigerian owned bank, appeared on the business horizon. As it were, Balogun single-handedly birthed this bank –First City Merchant Bank Limited. He was the main inspiration, promoter and life-wire.

A new bride had arrived, but much more a bride with many positive attributes, including

First City Monument Bank, (FCMB), a front-liner in banking business in Nigeria is a compelling example of deep vision, and personal challenge.

Its resilience and continued dominance of the sector, when many contemporaries are either extinct or disturbingly lagging, is an indication of the strength of planning Otunba and his selected management team and workforce put together, right from the foundations

umbrella organisation known as “Otunba Tunwase a solid foundation that was to stand the test Foundation� to cater for all his philanthropic endeavours and services to the community. Under of time.

No wonder, it attracted many suitors. FCMB this Foundation, and on his 60th birthday, he was that bride, which drew its poise and entire commenced the construction of a special gift packing from Balogun as Chairman and Chief to the nation – the “Otunba Tunwase National Paediatric Centre (OTNPC).�

Executive.

Otunba Balogun is a rare mortal. In fact, When in August2000 he presented his Memoirs, there aren’t many in his bracket. His milk of “The Cross, The Triumph and The Crown�, he human kindness is always overflowing, and threw a big challenge to other wealthy persons has in the process, touched many in the society. in society by that singular but gigantic gesture.

Through his philanthropic gestures, he has been Many of them had donated to the course of able to soothe many bruises and heal many the launch believing to personally and directly hurts. So has he been able to leave the society impact on his life, but he chose otherwise, by specifically directing that all proceeds from the better than it previously was.

Apart from his well-known commitment to sale of the book be channelled to the completion the welfare of the less privileged and physi- of the children’s project. On June 7, 2013, Otunba cally handicapped, in 1987, he was the first Balogun wholly donated the Paediatric Centre, in Nigeria, through First City Merchant Bank to the University of Ibadan at a signing of Deed Limited, to endow a Professorial Chair in a of Total Gift ceremony.

What indeed could make a man donate a University when at the University of Ibadan he set up a Chair for Capital Market Studies personal estate worth N7bn in the open market, in the Department of Economics and Finance. a hospital facility to the University of Ibadan He has a Research Fellowship endowed for specialists’ training for medical students, in his name in the Legal Department of the treatment of children and women? First, he says University of Lagos. Outside the University it was donated as part of his contribution to of Lagos, he has equally donated to several the improvement of Nigeria’s health sector, and altruistic causes at the Olabisi Onabanjo University then added that the determination to construct (formerly Ogun State University), Yaba College the centre was informed by his experience after of Technology and African Leadership Forum. touring the children’s emergency wards/wing The Children’s Emergency Unit in the Uni- of the University’s College of Medicine. In the versity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan does not bear course of the tour, he saw children in various his name for nothing. He it was who breathed health conditions and was emotionally moved to a life of relief to the institution, by undertaking establish the institution to help them and others who may find themselves in such a condition. its perpetual maintenance and upkeep.

The same is true of his involvement at the As he has previously testified, success in Ijebu Ode General Hospital where he donated a banking appears to be the precursor to his newly built and fully equipped air-conditioned philanthropy: “I did not start philanthropy 40-bed Children’s Centre which he asked to until after I became a banker. I was just about be named after his mother, “IYE SUBOMI’S 36 when I set up some scholarship funds to train students in some schools in Ijebu. I gather CHILD CARE CENTRE�.

A few years ago, he donated a Police Post that at the last count there are not less than at Imoru in Ijebu-Ode District and he also 300 university graduates that have benefitted built a Civic Centre named “OtunbaTunwase from my scholarships. One of the scholarships Civic Centre� for Ijebu-Ode Club. He has also is in honour of my father, another in honour provided street lighting for the street named of my mother�. after his ancestor, Oba Adesimbo, Tunwase I, How about his constant reference to God? He asserts that he had always been close to known as “Tunwase Drive�.

To date, he has awarded over 300 scholarships God. Along the line, something happened that to many Nigerians at secondary and tertiary turned out decisive. “My two parents were levels. About ten years ago, he endowed, very religious but they were Muslims. When perpetually, an annual award of scholarships I was at Igbobi College, I was drawn to attend to the best students in Muslim College, Ijebu-Ode church services. Incidentally, my late mother in honour of his late father; and also set up was educated. I confided in her that I was another scholarship endowment in honour of going to convert to Christianity. The late Bishop his mother known as “IyeSubomi Scholarship�. Segun, who was a priest at Porogun Church Otunba Balogun has set up endowments for in Ijebu Ode, converted me at the age of 13. the Nigerian School for the Blind at Oshodi, Having accepted Jesus, I just found myself and he has also instituted, through FCMB, an loving Him. I love reading the scriptures; Annual National Marathon Championship for the more I read the more I get to know God and the more I love Him. I became so much Disabled Athletes.

About twelve years ago, he established an involved in talking about Christ.�

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Raising Consumer Confidence Technology Innovation

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Manufacturers of technology devices are continuously innovating in order to attract more customers to their brands, writes Emma Okonji Over the years, technology devices manufacturers have continued to innovate and to come up with new devices, powered by modern technologies.

This situation has led to competition among manufacturers in the technology market.

However, some analysts have said such competition is good for the customers and for the technology market, explaining that the customers now stand the chance of selecting product brands that are designed with the best technological innovation.

In order to continue with the competition and to raise the confidence of its customers, Samsung Electronics, penultimate week, held its 8th annual Samsung Africa Forum in Cape Town, South Africa. The company showcased its latest home appliances devices, driven by latest technologies that were designed with Africa in mind. Speaking about the Samsung Africa Forum, the Director, Corporate Marketing and Communications at Samsung South Africa, Michelle Potgieter said: “The forum was designed to achieve our goal of enriching our customer’s lives, while contributing to socio-economic prosperity across Africa and supporting a sustainable environment for us all.� “Samsung’s motto has always been pride and passion. As such, the company is proud of its innovative, world-class products that feature innovative designs and technology created to benefit consumers. Samsung is passionate about a shared vision to improve the lives of African customers and eager to drive positive growth for its partners across the continent,�

Potgieter said.

Samsung Regional Product Manager, Digital Appliances, Mr. Sunil Gupta, who spoke to THISDAY about the innovative products from Samsung that were showcased at the forum, said: “With the expected continuous growth of the African market in 2017, Samsung Electronics aims to lead the continent’s development in the consumer electronics space. The Samsung Africa Forum 2017 is the ideal platform to demonstrate Samsung’s smart technology products and innovative designs for the year ahead.�

Journalists from across Africa, who were part of the forum, were introduced to Samsung Electronics’ latest technology devices, some of which were recently released to the market, while others would be released before the end of the year. The products on display at the show, included: Samsung’s wind-free air conditioner that offers better cooling at lower cost; the Samsung AddWash machine that comes with energy efficiency and cost effectiveness; the Samsung new QLED TV, and refrigerator, among other digital appliances.

Air free air conditioner The new AR9500M air conditioner has Samsung’s exclusive wind-free cooling technology integrated into its design, which enables customers to obtain both a cooler indoor climate and optimal energy efficiency, without having to experience uncomfortable direct airflow.

Analysing the innovation behind it, the Director, Digital Appliances at Samsung South Africa, Michael McKechnie, said: “The cool and efficient air conditioning capabilities of the AR9500M are ideal for tackling the African heat, while at the same time optimising your electricity bills.

Moreover, the appliance eliminates the usual discomfort associated with air-conditioners, that of having cold wind blowing directly out of the machine.� According to him, it is designed to provide customers with ideal room conditions, by maintaining a comfortable temperature while using wind-free cooling to gently disperse cold air through 21,000 micro air holes.

The two-step cooling system means that temperatures are initially lowered rapidly in ‘fast cooling mode’, before the system automatically switches to ‘wind-free cooling mode’, which creates ‘still air’ once the desired temperature is reached. This approach can also reduce energy

Some innovative home appliances

consumption by up to 72 per cent.

The air-conditioner is Wi-Fi-enabled, meaning that it can be controlled from anywhere, through Samsung’s Smart Home app using a Samsung mobile device. Users can remotely regulate temperature, adjust settings, receive real time updates about performance and daily energy usage, as well as troubleshoot solutions when a repair is necessary.

New Samsung Soundbar In keeping with its focus on providing high quality, user-driven home audio-visual technology embodied in products that are both sleek and simplistic in design, Samsung has also launched the new MS750 Soundbar.

Business Unit Head at Samsung South Africa, Lance Berger, while introducing the product, said: “Samsung has more than 10 consecutive years of market leadership in home audio and video technology market and we always strive to deliver more. The latest MS750 Soundbar emits crisp and immersive sound, wherever you are in your home.� “The MS750 Soundbar is able to deliver rich audio that brings each note to life with incredible clarity, providing a powerful home cinema experience. The all-involving experience created by the MS750 Soundbar is a result of its superior up-firing capabilities and overhead sound system that uses vertical tweeters with upmixing technology. When paired with the Samsung smart remote control, the room’s home audio is powered by the same device as the TV, further simplifying the home entertainment experience.� “The MS750 Soundbar perfectly complements audio-visual entertainment system at home. Not only is the set-up simplified, with less cables and connections, but it also offers exceptional sound quality of the highest standard.�

It is designed for listeners that want a single, simple solution that not only fits their lifestyle, but simultaneously delivers an unparalleled home audio experience.

Samsung AddWash Samsung Electronics also showcased the Samsung’s AddWash front-loader washing machines that have been designed to have less of an impact on both the environment and the consumer’s pocket, based on the innovative Eco Bubble technology.

The Samsung’s Eco Bubble technology quickly activates detergent and penetrates laundry fibres to remove stains more effectively, while the 9kg and 12kg AddWash washing machines allow you to instantly add additional laundry items into the washing machine during the wash cycle, without disturbing the flow of wash.

The Director, Digital Appliance Group at Samsung South Africa, Michael McKechnie, said: “The Samsung AddWash front load washer is designed around modern needs for speed, efficiency and convenience. You can wash a load in as little as half an hour and you can control your machine using the smart vontrol app on a mobile phone.�

Boasting a host of smart new features, the AddWash washers deliver touch-of-button intensive stain removal, even in cool water, through specialised bubble soak technology, while the Samsung’s steam wash uses the power of steam released from the bottom of the laundry tub to eliminate stains without pre-treatment.

The cleverly-designed additional AddWash door enables the user to add laundry items or even top up fabric softener at any stage during the wash cycle. Again the larger load capacity and a super speed wash cycle option enables the customer to get through the normal washing up to 50 per cent faster. “With Eco Wash, Speed Wash, or Silent Wash options and low energy consumption, the Samsung’s AddWash washing machine is quiet, effective and eco-friendly.

It comes with smart check automatic error monitoring system that helps the diagnose and correct problems, avoiding the need for service call-outs. The stylish and advanced new AddWash is one of the ways in which Samsung is making life simpler and smarter,�

McKechnie said.

The new QLED TV Samsung Electronics recently launched its new QLED Q9, Q8, and Q7 TV series with the conviction that this latest range of television sets will create an entirely new era in home entertainment. It was part of the innovative product showcased at the forum.

With the advent of QLED TV, Samsung said it would provide the most true-to-life on screen images after successfully solving past inconsistencies in the viewing experience and pain points noted by consumers. “While we are redefining the fundamental value of TV with this range, we have also placed a strong focus on ensuring that there will be models available to suit the pockets of our emerging market customers,� according to Business Unit Head, TV/AV at Samsung South Africa, Lance Shaun Berger.

With picture quality remaining a top priority for consumers around the world, especially as the average TV size continues to increase, Samsung’s 2017 QLED TVs represent yet another leap forward. The new line-up offers

dramatically improved colour performance.

Displaying DCI-P3 colour space accurately, QLED TVs are capable of reproducing 100 per cent colour volume, which is another world first for Samsung. This means that the devices can express all colours at any brightness level, with even the subtlest of differences visible at the QLED’s peak luminance – between 1,500 and 2,000 nits.

Colour volume represents colour that can be expressed at varying levels of brightness. For example, a leaf can be perceived as to have many different shades, ranging from yellowish-green to turquoise, depending on the brightness of the light. Samsung’s QLED TV displays are able to capture these subtle differences in colour pertaining to brightness.

The new Quantum dots allow Samsung QLED TV to express deep blacks and rich detail regardless of how light or dark the on screen scene is, or whether the content is played in a brightly lit or darkened room. With its metal alloy Quantum Dot technology, the room no longer needs to be darkened to boost colour performance; which remains regardless of how wide the viewing angle may be.

The New TMF Refrigerator Samsung also introduced its latest innovative technology in its new TMF refrigerator at the Africa forum. The new Samsung RT7000 and RT6000 are firsts in the TMF category, in that the fridge and freezer sections keep food fresh independently of each-other, using separate airflows. This improves the efficiency of both the fridge and freezer by keeping fruit and vegetables fresher for longer and prevents odours from the fridge from penetrating the freezer.

Giving details of the innovative refrigerator, McKechnie, said by separating cooling and freezing, the Samsung RT7000 maintains an optimum humidity level of approximately 70 per cent in the fridge compartment, extending the life of fruit and vegetables – no matter where in the fridge these are stored. At the same time, it uses smart power technology for up to a 42 per cent power saving and offers smart new features such as power freeze and power cool modes to make ice and chilled drinks faster than ever before.

The Space Max-optimised 620L TMF refrigerator helps lock moisture into fresh fruit and vegetables, thus maintaining freshness and taste.

Twin cooling plus, it not only prevents fridge odours from affecting frozen foods, it also keeps the freezer compartment completely frost-free, prolonging the shelf life and the flavour of its contents and eliminating the need to defrost the freezer.

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Regulatory Agencies: Surviving Challenging Environment

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Raheem Akingbolu writes on the challenges regulatory agencies in Nigeria contend with and their negative impact on businesses Like many government institutions in Nigeria, regulatory agencies have also failed on many occasions in carrying out their constitutional mandates because of weak structures. From aviation to telecommunications, banking to food and drinks, operators and consumers are suffering from the inefficiency of the agencies.

But rather than blaming the regulatory bodies, and their heads, a Lagos Lawyer, Miss.

Osas Osaghae told THISDAY in an interview during the week that there is urgent need for government to review the act that established some of the agencies in line with global best practice. “I share the sentiment of Nigerians who have consistently described some of our regulatory agencies as toothless bulldog but I disagree with those who hold the opinion that the management teams of the agencies are incompetent. The truth of the matter is that there is urgent need for total overhauling of the entire system, including the act that established the agencies. We should also know that poor funding of regulatory agencies will always affect quality control, hence the need to address issues related to funding and welfare of officers at the respective agencies�, she said.

According to Osaghae, just like the few deficiencies in the nation’s constitution, there are some provisions in either Consumer Protection Council’s Act or the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) act that are no more relevant to the current global practices. She made reference to how she often got marveled by the effectiveness and sophistication of regulatory bodies in protecting the right of consumers, while she was a law student in the United Kingdom.

She further stated:“Inherent weaknesses in the enabling law hinder an efficient implementation of the provisions of the regulatory acts to properly protect the Nigerian consumers.

These weaknesses include but are not limited to non definition of consumers’ rights and inadequate provisions for their enforcement; lack of a specific institutional framework for the defense of consumers’ rights; undefined relationship with sector regulators leading to some confusion as to the role of the agency.�

The legal practitioner stated that much as it is necessary for some of the agencies to generate revenue, it is also necessary for government to give priority to disbursement of the statutory allocations meant for them. While supporting the view that agencies have the constitutional right to slam fines on operators that do not play by the rules, she urged government to make the business environment conducive for both regulators and operators.

Non-effective regulatory framework Speaking last year on ‘Inadequate Laws, Bane of Consumer Rights Enforcement’ during the Mentorship and Business Development Programme of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) Section on Business Law (SBL) Committee, the Director General of the Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki,insisted that law is only the solution to consumer rights violation in Nigeria. The DG, whose agency was a co-host of the programme, decried the endemic impunity of business operators in Nigeria. Atoki, herself a legal practitioner, admitted that lean resources, self interest by trade associations and low level of awareness still remained some of the challenges facing regulatory bodies in Nigeria.

In recent time, many experts have attributed the challenges facing Nigerians non-effective regulatory framework. Brands have also suffered from impunity from regulatory agencies that sometime arrogate powers to themselves by promulgating laws that may not really work for the business operators. Of all the sectors, the telecom operators appear to have been the most hit by the unfriendly laws and sanctions.

To this end, the operators have always found themselves between the devil and the deep blue sea. At one hand, they contend with poor

infrastructural challenges and on the other hand, they get distracted by NCC’s frequent sanctions and laws that are not friendly to their operations. It is believed that inadequate funds from Federal Government and infrastructural problem accounted for failure of regulatory agencies to adequatelyimplement their statutory mandate on standardisation.

Telecom sector as example Since the year 2001 when the telecommunication sector was deregulated, the contributions of the sector to the economy have been phenomenal.

But despite the contribution, the sector has consistently been bashed by government and regulatory agencies.

At a recent rebasing exercise of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the sector bagged the ‘Star Performer’ status because of its immense contributions to the country’s development.

Also at another forum in Lagos, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, disclosed that while the sector’s investment since telecoms revolution is in excess of $32 billion, it has equally contributed over N500 billion to government revenue from earnings majorly from spectrum administration. He added that the sector has created directly and indirectly over two million jobs.

The players in the sector, especially the telecommunications operators have claimed to pay taxes in excess of several billions of naira. For instance, from inception till June 2015, MTN Nigeria claimed to have contributed N1.370 trillion in taxes and levies.

Indeed, from a paltry 400,000 lines in 1999 to over 150 million telephones lines as at January 2016, Nigeria has crossed the 100 per cent teledensity mark and through the narrow band caters for about 100 million Internet subscribers.

This landmark growth really did not come without its many challenges. While the operators have not been able to find a lasting solution to the perennial issue of poor quality of service that has resulted in increased drop calls, credit depletions, unsolicited SMS, among others, the operators, especially the quartet of MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat have not feigned ignorance to these challenges. They have come out individually and collectively to lament several challenges to their operations in the country.

While government and its agencies appeared to have seen these operators as ‘cash cows’ through multiple taxations, the operators have

decried the spate of theft and vandalisation of their facilities at several parts of the country.

Vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure and inadequate spectrum has been described as the greatest challenge facing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.

At a point, MTN Nigeria was reported to have to have experienced series of fiber optic cable cuts, which it attributed to construction and possibly vandalism in the Eastern part of the country. This, it claimed, has subsequently resulted in a loss of service to that region.

Beyond vandalism, sanctions by the regulatory body –NCC, appear to be a major challenge facing the sector. It got to the peak last year when MTN was fined $5.2 billion, which was later reduced to $1.7 billion. Like a drama, the news generated by the fine almost damaged the company’s reputation and brand equity.

Millions of Nigerians who are either employees or investors in the company became agitated because of fear of the unknown.

Another instance was in the early days of 2014, when the regulatory body issued sanctions against three of the leading mobile telecommunications operators namely: MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom for poor quality of services (QoS) and for not meeting up with the key performance indicators (KPIs).

The Commission sanctioned the three major mobile network operators for various breaches.

The sanctions were contained in separate letters dated February 19, 2014, addressed to each of the affected MNOs. NCC had asked Globacom, MTN and Airtel to pay N277.5 million, N185million and N185 million respectively for the month of January of that year.

Before the fines, in December 2013, the same commission had issued a ’Notice of Intention to Sanction’ to all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to improve Quality of Service and meet set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by December 31, 2013 or face regulatory intervention. In May 2012, NCC fined all the four Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators including MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat nearly N1.17 billion for failing to meet up with the minimum standard of quality of service (QoS) for the months of March and April 2012.

Airtel, MTN, Glo, and Etisalat were fined N270 million, N360 million, N180 million and N360 million respectively. The sanctions were communicated to the mobile operators in letters dated May 10, 2012 and stated that the four GSM operators failed to keep up with the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as specified in Schedule 1 Table 2 of the Quality of

Service Regulations 2012. Few years ago, the big hammer of NCC also came down on the four companies for contravening the provisions on pre-registration of subscriber identification module (SIM) cards in Nigeria. The four operators were fined a total of N53.8 million with each of such pre-registered SIMs attracting a penalty of N200,000. They were asked to pay the fines within seven days. The mobile operators were fined accordingly: Airtel N8.6 million, Etisalat N5 million, Globacom N11 million, while MTN was to pay N29.2 million.

All these have continued to worry stakeholders because despite the effort being made by agencies to get the best from the operators, government appears to have done but little about infrastructural challenges facing the operators and weak framework under which the regulators are operating. Reacting to the way the operators are being fined by the NCC, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr Gbenga Adebayo, was once reported to have condemned the attitude and urged government to address contentious issues in the industry. “My worry is that the NCC is failing to regulate the industry. It does appear that NCC is non-populist. The latest fine shows that the NCC is high-handed. No regulator will unilaterally impose fines on the operators without trying to find out why things are the way they are.

He said: “NCC has failed to conduct a peer review of the telecom industry; it has not made a joint effort to address the problems causing poor QoS. NCC just stands on one leg and penalise the operators without trying to contribute to solving the QoS problem.�

Adebayo who was miffed by the latest round of fines asked, “Is it NCC that is suffering from poor QoS or the subscribers? It does appear that the NCC is more interested in imposing fines and enriching the coffers of government. “My fear is that one day the people of Nigeria will rise up and ask NCC if it really is there for their interest or for government�, the ALTON boss said.

Aside regulatory problem, one factor that may also helps the telecom sector is in the area of beefing up securities in some volatile parts of the country. Often time, operators lament the heightened insecurity in some parts of the country which has limited their ability to carry out routine maintenance and emergency repairs. They have also deplored the continuous vandalisation of telecom infrastructures as well as destruction of fibre cables by road construction companies causing the quality of service to drop.

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Agencies and Brands That Shaped 2016 For many, 2016 was a year like never before for all the wrong reasons; at least business wise.

And the advertising industry was not left out. But even at that, some advertising agencies still pulled off some laudable feats during the year. Raheem Akingbolu writes It has often been said that when there is any downturn in receivables by companies, even multinationals, the first casualty is the advertising and media budget. But in Nigeria, that seemed to have been taken to another level as advertising spend in the last two quarters of 2016 was abysmally low. No thanks to the economic recession that held the country at her financial jugular. Even companies that normally increase their media visibilities and other below the line activities towards the end of each year drastically cut down on this. “It was a deliberate move on the part of many companies,� a top advertising and marketing executive told THISDAY during the week. “If you don’t know, giving out Christmas hampers is a form of perception management activity; and each year, companies spend hundreds of millions of naira on this. But how many companies did this last year? How many of them contracted their PR and advertising agencies to help them package this? Let me tell you this: when the economy was okay, hamper contracts were a great source of revenue for the advertising industry every year.�

However, as discouraging as the advertising horizon was last year, some agencies still pulled the punches and one could not but notice them among the park. They were the agencies that reminded the industry that advertising still remains an integral part of the marketing mix.

The story, for these outfits, is not likely to be different in 2017. Below are a few of those to watch out for this year: Troyka Group: In what looked like a well calculated attempt to cushion the effect of the recession period, Biodun Sobanjo’s Troyka Group, in 2016, concluded its equity partnership deal with Publicis Groupe. As a leading wholly integrated marketing communications service provider in West Africa, the partnership would give the group and its six subsidiary agencies; Insight Communications, The Thinkshop, All Seasons Media, Media Perspectives, The Quadrant Company and Hotsauce a good opportunity to navigate the business environment in 2017.

With this partnership, agencies under Troyka, especially Bolaji Okusaga’s led TQC, are likely to have a busy year. Definitely.

Casers Group: For three decades, the Casers group and its subsidiaries, DDB Lagos, Capital Media and Magenta have been making waves in the Nigerian marketing communications space.

However, what appears to be the group’s high point of operation in the market was DDB’s clinching of the MTN creative account few years ago. MTN, being one of the highest advertising spenders in the country, immediately shored up the profile of the group. Last week, the telecommunication agency announced that it has appointed Omnicom Group, an affiliate of Casers, as its integrated global agency. With the announcement, more businesses may be pushed to the local affiliate, Casers, in 2017.

TBWA Concept: For the Kelechi Nwosu’s TBWA, 2017 may be a defining year, giving the opportunities that may come its way as a result of the announcement by MTN that Omnicom Group, an affiliate of TBWA, has been appointed the integrated global agency of the telecom brand. Currently, the agency handles creative brief of Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Another busy year is definitely on the horizon.

Noah’s Ark: In 2016, Lanre Adisa and his creative agency made the country proud by winning international creative awards. The agency also won new businesses including the Airtel creative brief. Towards the end of the year, the agency also made a strategic move in line with the business reality of the moment by signing a business affiliate with Dentsu Aegis Network. With the deal, the agency will sure attract new briefs in 2017.The agency’s sister company, Indigo, also stands a good chance of winning more business in 2017, giving its

performance last year.

TPT International: A leading public relations for nearly two decades, TPT stands a good chance of topping the chart in 2017. With the largest chunk of the Nigerian Breweries PR account and Promasidors still in its kitty, the agency has what it takes to compete favourably in 2017. Aside having adequate human resources support, the fact that its chairman, Tokunbo Modupe, has resumed fully might turn things round positive for the agency. The experienced practitioner was engrossed in the politics of his native Ondo State in the last few years and shuttled between the state and Lagos States for the period. He will surely have a busy 2017, at least professionally.

Bluebird Communications Limited: The name of the game for Kunle Ogunmefun-owned Bluebird Communications is humility. It was the first associate member of the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria, AAPN, which later changed to Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN. It was a time no agency wanted to be an associate member (for a year) before becoming a full member. But Bluebird took the humble part and today, one of the big players in the industry with other subsidiaries and accounts like Toyota, Centurion Systems, Lighting Africa and so on. 2016 was a busy year for the agency and if the quality of the accounts it still holds are anything to go by, a busy 2017 is on the cards.

SO&U: If considered from the point of view of business billings and operations, then one can conveniently say Udeme Ufot’s agency stand a better chance to rule the world of marketing in 2017. Over the years, SO&U business has not only witnessed tremendous growth, it is one of the few agencies that have hit the billions of naira billings mark. Its strength lies in the ability to guarantee clients total value in concept development, design, media planning and public relations. Owned by the erstwhile Chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria

(APCON), Mr. Udeme Ufot, SO&U currently handles many local and multinational brands.

THISDAY/ARISE TV: A major stakeholder in the value chain of the marketing communications industry, media thus has a role to play in shaping businesses in 2017. With the contribution of the two media outfits - THISDAY and ARISE TV, to business and political developments in 2016, they may as well lead in 2017 when it comes to agenda setting and platforms for brands to excel. The management of the two organisations must have seen this coming as a lot are currently being done to restructure the media conglomerate.

XLR8: Believed to be one of the most professionally run PR agencies in the country, XLR8, owned by a former MTN big shot, Calistux Okoruwa, had no dull moment in 2016, despite the harsh economy. As at the time of writing this, the agency still handles some mouth watering accounts like Guinness, British America Tobacco, Stanbic IBTC and Multichoice. From any angle one chooses to look at it, 2017 will also be a busy year for the agency.

IDEAS House: If what defines a marketing communication agency is the ability to look beyond others and proffer far-reaching solutions to marketing challenges, then one can comfortably concludes that IDEAS House will rule the experiential business environment in 2017.

With the recession eating deep into marketing budgets of companies, savvy brand managers are now looking beyond advertising to influence consumers and this has suddenly placed experiential marketing solutions at advantage.

For Kehinde Salami’s IDEAS House, this year may be the time to reap the gain of its creative ingenuity. The story of how the agency used what it tagged ‘Scorched Health’, to change the fortune of NBC at a time 5Alive Juice was difficult to find in retail shops, is still fresh in the memory. Another innovation that recently stood the agency out was the Guinness Ref

which was used to create a special bond between the Guinness Brand and Nigeria consumers to commemorate the partnership between the brand and the Super Eagles.

Starcom Media: In the age when media buying agencies are the ones churning out the biggest volume of advertising spend in the industry, Starcom, with hands in many juicy accounts, including Nigerian Breweries, may dictate the tone of businesses in 2017.

CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller: Owned by the current president of the Africa Public Relations Association, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller is one of the agencies to watch in 2017. Its performance on Airtel account in 2016 may boost the agency’s chance of winning more businesses in 2017. Again, its international status and global influence of Badejo-Okusanya may be an advantage.

PFCAfrica: PaulineFredericks and Co caused a stir in the market towards the end of 2016, when it added the Nigerite PR account to its business. The agency, which also works forMansard Insurance Plc, is well positioned to win more businesses in 2017.

Oracle Experience Limited: Oracle and a few experiential agencies have in the last few years proved to brand owners that it is easier to sell products that are innovative and socially conscious than pushing for more market share through advertising. The agency, which has consistently worked for Nigerian Breweries, is believed to have contributed immensely to the success of most brands from the stable in recent time. Among other achievement, Oracle was the agency that created a tunnel that spanned several meters with 3,500 bottles to re-launch Gulder in Lagos. Owned by Felix Eiremiokae, the agency has also replicated such creative breakthrough on brands like Heineken and Continued on page 31

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AGENCIES AND BRANDS THAT SHAPED 2016

Star. With the current trend in the marketing place and the sudden preference for experiential solutions by business owners, Oracle is well positioned to win more businesses in 2017.

Media Edge/Marketing Edge: The two sister companies involve in Public Relations, publication of a leading marketing journal and awards.

Aside its blossomed PR business in 2016, by working to reposition Oando, Nigerite and Grand Oak, Marketing Edge award became one of the most celebrated in the market, when it struck a partnership deal with Loeries Award Company of South Africa. The management took it up a notchlast week when the CEO of the continental creative ranking company, Andrew Human announced in Lagos that the Durban, South Africa based company has renewed its relationship with Marketing Edge.

With the determination to deepen PR practice and diversify operations, 2017 will be a year for new accomplishment for the sister companies.

PRNigeria: One of the few agencies that are based in Abuja, PRNigeria owned by multi talented communication expert, Yushau Shuaib, made an indelible mark in the industry in 2016 when it won the International Public Relations Association (IPRA)’s Golden World Award (GWA) in Crisis Management. A silent achiever, PRNigeria is believed to have helped many government agencies and top political office holders to reshape their dented images.

In 2017, with the increasing demand for the Below the Line (BTL) marketing solutions, many politicians and agencies may seek the service of the company.

X3M Ideas: As a creative firm, X3M hit the ground running immediately it opened shop for business few years ago. Today, with part of Etisalat account, Diamond Bank and others, the agency is waxing stronger each passing day. In 2016, the agency proved its mettle in far away Marrakesh, Morocco, as a leading digital advertising creative agency at the African Cristal Award, where it attracted a

global recognition. Also, at the 2016 edition of the Lagos Advertising & Ideas Festival (LAIF), X3M Ideas won five medals. With this achieved in a year many players considered difficult, 2017 will likely be more rewarding.

Caritas Communications: A leading energy, oil and gas specialist reputation consultancy firm, Caritas consolidated its firm grip of a special segment of the market in 2016 when it emerged the best Reputation Management Consulting firm at the 2016 African Corporate Excellence Awards. The agency recognition was announced by the United Kingdom based Corporate Vision (CV) Magazine. It beat other reputation management firms to clinch the award in the consultancy category. With its hands in many multinational accounts and hospitality businesses, Caritas is an agency to watch in 2017.

Black House Media Limited: 10 year-old BHM Limited is obviously one of the most celebrated agencies in 2016. In an industry where data and measurement are always a challenge, the agency in 2016 launched the first PR Report, which served as a major step towards solving a perennial industry problem. With Nigerian Breweries, Interswitch and Kroll businesses, Black House Media will have a busy 2017.

Marketing and Media/Allianz Media: One of the biggest out-of-home advertising agencies in the country, these two agencies, owned by one the industry’s most experienced practitioners, TOE Ekechi, have been breaking new frontiers in the outdoor segment of the advertising industry for decades. According to their chairman, Ekechi, 2016 was tough but they still pulled so many punches and even opened new prime sights. Surely, if there are outdoor agencies that will be busy in the industry in 2017, Marketing and Media as well as Allianz Media will be part of them.

Prima Garnet: The silent re-engineering taking place at one of the nation’s oldest third

generation indigenous advertising agencies is an indication that the Lolu Akinwunmi-led advertising giant will have a busy 2017. To kick start the year, the experienced agency has started work on a multi-national advocacy account that will likely keep it busy for the rest of the year. This is aside other businesses the agency won towards the end of last year without making much noise about it.

HQSC:A leading advertising agency, HQSC worked very well to reposition Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Ltd andSona Agro Allied Foods in 2016. Today, products from the two companies have become household names in the Nigerian market. The agency’s recent foray into publication of marketing communication magazine called Brandpower has boosted its profile in the last three years.

Considering its rising profile, HQSC will play a major role in opening the market in 2017.

Leo Burnett: Two year old Leo Burnet surprised stakeholders at the 2016 LAIF Awards by becoming fourth on the medal table winning three Gold, five Silver and five Bronze medals.The Sam Osunsoko-led agency suddenly became star of the night beating some well established agencies and winning 13 medals behind DDB Lagos (22), Noah’s Ark (18) and Insight Publicis (20). For the agency to have gone this far in less than two years of operation in the highly competitive advertising business in the country, speaks volumes of what to expect in 2017.

Sesema PR: Public Relations and Marketing Communications agency, Sesema PR, has, in the last few years involved in various stages of development to redefine its operation. In 2016, the agency used many opportunities to tell the world that it prioritised its relationships with clients and promised to maintain the record. Through what it tagged ‘open house’Mrs. Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu-led agency reiterated the high esteem accorded every business partner and what prospective

clients stand to gain by engaging Sesema PR. The agency currently boasts of both local and multinational clientele with the likes of Visa, Etihad Airways, Vinci Hair Clinic, and Ovie Brume Foundation as major clients.

Chain Reactions: Chain Reactions began to play among the big leagues when it clinched the Etisalat’s PR account which was keenly contest two years ago. Though it had, before then, worked for some brands and governments of Lagos and Ekiti, the telecommunication business simply shored up its profile. Its current affiliation to Edelman’s network may be a masterstroke because of the global influence of the network and how it will help the agency enhance more skills and competency.

HS Media Group: Strategically positioned to explore the opportunities in the sports and entertainment industry, HotSports Media Group, consolidated its businesses in 2016 with the inauguration of a new corporate head office in Oregun Lagos. According to a source close to the company, the decision of the management to establish one stop shop for entertainment and sport content was in preparation for the much awaited digital migration.

Redmedia Africa: For its outstanding achievement in the area of youth marketing and digital revolution, Redmedia Africa has suddenly become the new bride in the marketing communications industry.

The agency’s contribution to the victory of the All Progressive Congress in the 2015 election was not only a watershed but an opportunity to win more businesses in 2016, including the presidential campaign of the current Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo, Nigerian Breweries and Union Bank PR accounts. While positioning for more business in 2017, observers are keen about seeing how the company will be able to use its experience in the area of youth marketing to make a brand like Union Bank resonates with today’s market.

‘Broadband Connectivity Crucial to Knowledge Economy’ Stories by Emma Okonji Information and communication technology (ICT) experts are unanimous in their view that Nigeria has to become a thinking Nation to survive the coming disruptive revolution which is upon the world.

To survive it, the forum has called for increased broadband connectivity that will make broadband internet ubiquitous for all Nigerians to access the internet.

The experts, who gathered at the maiden edition of ‘Think Breakfast Series’ (TBS) organised by Nigeria Communications Week and CFAtech.ng in Lagos, recently, said that one of the biggest steps President Muhammadu Buhari led administration must take is to identify and address impediments to broadband penetration.

Managing Director, Rack Centre, Mr. Ayotunde Coker, who delivered a paper on ‘The Challenges and Importance of Building a Knowledge-led Economy through ICT,’ said Nigeria has over 180 million estimated population with the middle class around 18 years old and gross domestic product (GDP) worth $481 billion, and that it is therefore appropriate for the government and the private sector to build critical infrastructure required to stir up the knowledge-led economy.

Coker, who spoke on the need for improvement on broadband penetration in the country, noted that the key driver of knowledge-

based economy lies on the transformational power of computing. “The ‘Impacts of Broadband Penetration on economic Growth’ are obvious. Both the ITU and GSMA have stated continuously that a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration yields 1.4 per cent increase in GDP. Yes, broadband penetration brings about improvement of productivity in enterprises; acceleration of innovation by new consumer applications and services; more efficient functional deployment of enterprises, access to consumers and social impact from consumer access to products, services and content,� Coker said.

According to him, “Knowledge economy eco system requires varying technologies to thrive particularly fibre then of course LTE, 5G is coming into the mix now. Of course the impact and benefits of cloud services can’t be over emphasised. More so cloud services will create significant positive impact on SMEs particularly for cost savings, optimisation and efficiency.�

The Managing Director of Precise Financial Systems (PFS), Mr. Yele Okeremi, said the 10 pillars the World Economic Forum (WEF) uses to gauge nations show that Nigeria is lagging in most of the areas like skill, knowledge and competence pillar.

Okeremi said technology as a tool and technology professionals can assist in the enhancing the ease of doing business particularly by ensuring that

e-government platforms are deployed.

He said: “Leadership is the key to this transformation and leverage the new mindset of

the youth by focusing more on skills rather than paper qualifications. Leadership engagement- continuous awareness, education and enlightenment

of our leaders across board to understand the importance of technology and the knowledge economy is primary in achieving the knowledge-led economy,

because it is what the legislator knows that he will present at the floor of the Chamber, which often times becomes laws of the land.�

SHOWCASING BCX

L-R: General Manager, Services, BCX, Emmanuel Akhidenor; Managing Director, BCX, Ayo Adegboye; Director, e.Government, Ministry of Communication, Tope Fashedemi; Chief Financial OďŹƒcer, BCX, Olusike Bamisebi; and Managing Executive, Print Division BCX, Jakes Mogale, at the oďŹƒcial launch of BCX brand in Lagos...recently

BCX Restates Commitment to Customer Satisfaction BCX, a multinational company providing business support services to a wide range of customers within and outside Nigeria, and which recently got a new brand identity after it was acquired by Telkom South Africa, has restated its commitment to raise the level of customer satisfaction among its expanded client base.

The Managing Director of the rebrand BCX, Mr.

Ayo Adegboye, during the official announcement of the emergence of BCX after the acquisition commented: “Today is about fresh starts. Today is about launching a new brand under which we can all unite.

It has been a demanding time for us all.

Bringing together two different businesses, into a single entity, is like bringing together two huge families. And if your

family gatherings are anything like mine, the bringing together is usually fun and exciting, but also not without tension and some drama.�

Speaking on the challenges that erupted while merger and acquisition talks were going on that culminated to the emergence of BCX, Adegboye said: “Much time, thought, debate and effort went into developing our new and collective brand.

We were clear. We wanted a fresh, professional and identifiable new brand, but also one that would not take us too far from our roots.

As we embark on our various journeys of independence, where the Telkom brand will become one that is entirely owned by the consumer division, I am confident we have met and surpassed all our requirements.�

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Harnessing the Demographic Dividend in Africa In line with the African Union’s focus on harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth in 2017, Abimbola Akosile examines an initiative of both the United Nations Population Fund West and Central Africa Regional Office (UNFPA-WCARO) and the Research Centre in Economics and Applied Finance of Thiès (CREFAT) for local capacity development in Africa At the 28th African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recently, the theme ‘Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth’ was launched to guide activities and discussions for 2017.

Experts believe that the policy-makers and leaders of the African continent have chosen the right moment to act and harmonise their means to harness the Demographic Dividend (DD) by transforming it into a continental initiative.

Positive Partnership Since its setting up in 2012 within the University of Thiès, the Research Centre in Economics and Applied Finance of Thiès (CREFAT) whose main objective is to contribute strongly in the development of research in two major fields such as the generational economy modeling, mathematical and statistical modeling of population dynamics, as well as the modeling of economic and social phenomena, has been strongly contributing in planning for the Demographic Dividend.

Within the framework of a mutually beneficial partnership with UNFPA through its Regional Office for West and Central Africa under the leadership of the Regional Director, Mr. Mabingue Ngom, CREFAT has provided technical support based on the NTA (National Transfer Accounts) model in a multi-sectoral and integrated approach, which helped to develop country system profiles and build country ownership.

Convinced of the importance of NTA results in analysing the effects of population dynamics on the success of initiatives to harness the Demographic Dividend, CREFAT and UNFPA have been working in close collaboration with governments in particular the finance, planning and health ministries, as well as with donors, private sector and civil society actors.

So far, the UNFPA and CREFAT partnership has helped to train over 146 experts from 16 countries through the learning by doing approach and to elaborate the demographic dividend profile for 16 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo-Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, and Togo.

WCARO Experience On the Demographic Dividend, the WCARO experience is unique in Africa and the world.

Indeed, no region, so far has achieved similar results in such a short time.

The training of 16 countries in less than two years and the achievements on the Demographic Dividend issue in Africa helped to strengthen UNFPA’s leadership throughout the African continent. Basing on that experience, WCARO should be able to support the countries of the WCA region with the setting up of a professional master’s programme on population and development issues in relation with the Generational Economy. This is part of an information campaign aimed at strengthening the analysing and managing skills which are necessary to conduct development projects and programmes related to population in these countries.

Right Approach The excellent performances achieved through the CREFAT-UNFPA partnership are based on the following approach which consists of: to have a clear, precise and concise vision of a country’s Demographic Dividend profile and its normative measure; building country ownership by training country teams on the Demographic Dividend profile; and to elaborate each country’s national profiles within the WCARO region and outside. Other aspects of the approach include implementation of observatories in each country; to ensure sustainability by strengthening country abilities in the operationalisation of national observatories; implementation of the Demographic Dividend Observatories at sub-regional and regional levels.

Former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete (in brown blazer) and the Regional Director of the United Nations Population Fund West and Central Africa Region, Mr. Mabingue Ngom (in brown kaftan), flanked by participants at the High Level Symposium on demographic dividend and Africa’s development, jointly organised by the UNFPA/WCAR and the Centre for Research in Applied Economics and Finance of the University of Thies (CREFAT), Senegal, held in Dakar, Senegal in 2016 The partnership also seeks to conduct a national, regional and international advocacy with the elaboration of policy briefs focused on the pillars of Demographic Dividend and beyond on related issues; to strengthen local research institutions in the region such as CREFAT; and to strengthen South-south Cooperation. According to the two development organisations, “It is important to underline that the elaboration of these country profiles has helped to identify the obstacles to Demographic Dividend achievement, to formulate recommendations to the policy-makers and to encourage them to carry out appropriate policies in favour of the target populations (young people, women etc.).�

SWEDD Programme The Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend (SWEDD) programme, which has been described as a real lever for DD capture, covers the following six countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad.

This empowerment programme for Women in the Sahel is the World Bank and UNFPA initiative in collaboration with CREFAT as its strategic implementing partner. The SWEDD programme, through interventions in health, nutrition and human capital, provides support to

countries in the Sahel to boost the demographic transition.

As part of optimal monitoring of the Demographic Dividend indicators in SWEDD countries, UNFPA and CREFAT initiated the establishment of DD observatories to support them in the development or revision of National population policies. DD observatories, according to both organisations, will permit better data collection, harmonisation in analysis and monitoring and dissemination to all policy makers and / or stakeholders.

Win-win Scenario Determined to support WCARO in its policies and innovations in the development field, CREFAT, faithful to its mission of providing technical support, has unfolded several commitments.

Among others, the organisation has pledged to provide policy briefs and complementary studies for all WCARO countries, such as SWEDD countries on governance, inclusive growth, and economic poles, and to train experts from all countries on the national DD observatories operation.

It also commits to produce regional reports (UEMOA, CEMAC, ECOWAS, WCARO, etc); align countries on budget-time indicators to provide normative indicators on the empowerment of women in the region; and to set up

definitely the Regional Centre for Research in Generational Economy under the NTA network mandate.

Golden Opportunity Development experts and analysts believe the window is open for demographic transition in most countries of West and Central Africa. To them, this is a single opportunity for African countries to experience speed economic growth.

Consequently, experts in Population and Development, led by UNFPA and its strategic partners, like CREFAT, welcome the fact that the problem of Demographic Dividend is taken into account by the states and governments that are conducting a very high level plea.

Following the example of the international community, which in September 2015 committed itself to adopting the 2030 Agenda for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African leaders have agreed to carry out numerous actions in favour of Youth which constitutes a real catalyst for development, and this, around a vision and a common strategy embodied in the agenda 2063 ‘Africa we want’.

This determination to implement policies aimed at tapping human potential and changing the image of Africa was the real guideline for the two African Union summits that will take place in 2017.

RANDOM THOTS Bandwagon Eect The current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has secured a vital victory in its ďŹ ght against oďŹƒcial corĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? Ă‹ former governor of a northern state to ʨà Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ of ďŹ ne for corruption. ÙåĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ‘Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ďŹ rst high-proďŹ le ruling for the present ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜victed ex-governor got the least sentence for the charges ďŹ led against him ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă?Ă? Ù××ÓĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ě™ ĚšËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ment of 25 vehicles for his commissionĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ͒͗͘ Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž

Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă?â̋ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ Ě‹ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹Ă– ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă’ Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž Ă”Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ‘Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ÚÚĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ě‹ Ă“Ă? ËÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? sentence at any prison of his choice in Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‹ ÞÙ Ă“ĂœĂ“Ă•Ă“ĂœĂ“Ëœ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ—Ă‹ĂœĂ• ĂœĂ&#x;Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ę¨ĂœĂ?Ăž ÞÓ×Ă?Ëœ Ă‹ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÔËÓÖĂ?ĂŽË› Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ ÚËĂ?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?ÓʨĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ÙåĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă”Ă™Ă“Ă˜ other less-privileged inmates behind ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă™Ăœ Ă Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ě‹Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ‹ĂœË› Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă‹Ă˜ ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂĄĂŁĂ?ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?â̋ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™Ăœ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă˜ËŞĂž

ĂĄĂœĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹ĂžËœ ÞÒĂ? Ëœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?̋ÙÚĂ?Ă˜ those corruption ďŹ les against accused Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?Ăœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ–ĂŁ åÓÞÒ Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă“Ă?ÖËÞÓà Ă? titles.

This present administration and the Ă—Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ? Ă‘Ă–Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž of some ex-governors lining up to be ferried from the courtrooms to various selected prisons upon convictions for Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ ÚÙĂ?ÓÞÓà Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĚ‹ĂĄĂ‹Ă‘Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?Þ˛˛˛˛˛ÑÙÙÎ omen...

-Abimbola Akosile

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Ëš

Power belongs to the masses!

Leaders or Masses, Who Are More Culpable?

Some analysts believe the past and present leaders are largely to blame for the poor rate of Nigeria’s development. However, others feel the masses or followers are more responsible for the current mess and that some leaders act with impunity to mismanage the country’s resources simply because the followers display apathy and instead turn on each other. In your own view, who is more culpable for Nigeria’s development challenges, leaders or followers (the masses), and what is the best remedy?

Abimbola Akosile * I blame the masses for refusing to shun our fraudulent and avaricious leaders’ penchant for embezzling public scarce funds with such impunity. The masses are too poor and armtwisted to resist this cruel maneuvering and glaring illegality in the phase of terrible economic recession. Public sensitisation, bringing looters to book is the best way out. We must work on our mindset positively too and avoid unhealthy collaborations to curb leaders’ arbitrary excesses.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * Leaders of course, by their dictatorial fascism.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna * There is no leader that was not an ordinary citizen before. So every bad leader we have had was a bad citizen to begin with. How do we explain a scenario where convicted felons who the courts say have stolen are celebrated as heroes in Nigeria? Unfortunately, the very people that should be demanding that the loot be returned are the ones saying that they are happy with their kinsman and no one should harass him. Nigerian masses have no moral high ground to accuse any past or present leader of being the problem, because every leader is simply a product of the society that produces them. However, leaders as well as the masses can change and act differently if they choose to. Change will be more effective however if it starts from the leadership. Acting President Osinbajo has proven he is one of the few who are ready to rise above region, religion as well as party sentiments to change the old order of doing things.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Our nonchalant and indifferent attitude fuels the arrogance of our leaders. It is important that every Nigerian gets involved in governance directly or indirectly at all levels.

- Miss Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos * Sociologists should initiate a special study to be carried out on Nigeria so we know exactly what ails us. The issue of whether the leaders or the masses are to blame for our current woes

THE FEEDBACK Masses are to blame:

8

Leaders are to blame:

1

Others:

3

Radical tip:

Total reform!

Total no of respondents:

12

Male:

10

Female:

2

Highest location:

Lagos (5)

is a chicken and egg scenario. To the extent that our leaders do not drop from outer space, we produce them. If the leaders actually emerge from our midst, then society as a whole should be reformed and the narrative will be transformed completely.

- Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R. Resources, Apo, Abuja * The masses are more culpable because they are the ones who elected or allowed the leader-looters to get into office in the first place, even if the votes are sometimes rigged during elections.

If only the masses realise the power they possess to demand and effect positive change, no selfish leader will stay a day longer in office.

Unfortunately, corruption permeates every part of the society and every sector and poverty blinds the masses to the greed of the leaders.

Until the masses act, the leaders will continue in impunity.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * Masses, because they are ignorant of their constitutional, political and fundamental human rights.

- Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State * The blame for what Nigeria has become falls on you and me. Not Buhari, not Jonathan, not Obasanjo and definitely not Abacha. Our wickedness stinks to the heavens as we go about our daily lives, pulling down everyone and everything

to become rich. We import substandard products, fake drugs and expired baby food unfit for human consumption and we have the nerve to complain about leadership? We even steal from widows, orphans, and refugees. We take their food and sell it for profit. We build substandard roads, schools, houses, hospitals, all for profit at the expense of human life. We pervert justice and pretend we don’t know right from wrong just to serve our selfish interests. We simply cannot learn to love others. Anyone who can’t love has no business in politics, Government and in Nigeria. Until we understand this, we will continue on this path of destruction. Change starts with Me. - Prof. Isa Hussaini, Faculty of Pharmacy University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State

* The unfathomable docility of the followership and the apathy of the masses have allowed the political elites and our leaders to have a field day in their unpatriotic engagements. Not taking to leaders to task, and the low demand for accountability on the part of the masses are the reasons for the current mess we are in.

We need to build a patriotic and committed followership through education and enlightenment to empower them with the right mindset and information for calling to account those who hold their mandate in trust, and to ensure good public governance.

- Ambassador Rufus B. Aiyenigba, AFP DirectorGeneral, Pro-Nigeria Group (P-NG), Abuja

* The masses are culpable. Yes, the masses are docile and also ignorant of their own power if they function as a unit.

- Mr. Osuntuyi Ken, Lagos State

Next Week: To Curb Corruption, Should Security Vote be Scrapped? ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹ĂŽĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă? ÞåÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă™Ăœ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ à ÙÞĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÙÚ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? ÒÙÖÎĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă™ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ? ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă–ĂŁ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ Ă‹ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă‹ ÞÙÚ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂĄĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ à ÙÞĂ? ĂœĂ?ÚÖËĂ?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ à ÙÞĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂœĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™ĂœË› Ă˜ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă Ă“Ă?ĂĄËœ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂŒ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ à ÙÞĂ? ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂšĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžËœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ëœ ÞÓÞÖĂ?Ëœ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙÎËã Ě™ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ ͡ Ęś Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ ͯ͹̚ ÞÙ abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@ gmail.comËœ abimbola.akosile@ thisdaylive.comË› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž ĂžĂ?âÞ Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ 08023117639 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËš Ă™Ăœ 08188361766 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËšĂ™Ăœ 08114495306Ë› ÙÖÖËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ ÍŻÍ´

* The masses or followers are more culpable.

Indeed, our leaders today cannot be held accountable for their misdeeds because of greed of the masses or followers. You can imagine how these leaders are being worshipped by these greedy people who turn around to call them thieves. The majority of the leaders are heartless. I wish and hope that despite the bite of the hardship or poverty, we should stand firm and fight our thieving leaders vigorously.

Let us learn to look down on them and with all they have.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * Our leaders and the masses both past and present share in the blame as they complement each other albeit negatively. Absolute patriotism without compromise prevents any individual or group from manipulating the country, citizen or economy e.t.c. selfishly. Unnecessary financial greed has reduced both the leaders and the followers to a corrupt people at the detriment of the nation altogether. Leaders’ acts of impunity to mismanage our resources just because followers show apathy and even turn on each other as unwise revenge heaped complex myriads of challenges on Nigeria till date. All have sinned.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Patronising made-in Nigeria products at an open air boutique in CMS, Lagos

ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

ILO Tasks Nigeria, Others on Development, Capacity Building Paul Obi in Abuja with agency report The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has tasked Nigeria and other African countries to expedite action in bringing development closer to the masses and increase their capacity building.

ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Africa, Mrs. Aeneas Chuma, stated this during the 43rd ARLAC Governing Council Meeting and High Level Symposium on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. She explained that there is “the need for Nigeria and other African countries to ensure development reaches the masses at all levels.�

Chuma added that efforts are on to “make the ILO more

responsive to the needs of the Africa region while also assisting them articulate issues relevant to their development.�

Nigeria was also elected the Vice Chairperson of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC). It was the first since the formation of the regional labour body for the English-speaking African countries in 1974.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige who led Nigeria’s delegation said the development which also yielded one of the three Deputy Directorship of the interim management structure of the organisation to Nigeria, was a loud tribute to the country’s unequalled contributions to the organisation. “You are aware that Zimbabwe has been the chairperson of ARLAC since formation by

the virtue of the fact that its headquarters is domiciled in the country. However, Nigeria reasoned the need for full democratisation of the body to enhance freedom and encourage efficiency. “While we ceded the chairmanship to Zimbabwe and Nigeria unanimously elected Vice, it stands that periodic elections which we galvanized support for, has replaced an era where Zimbabwe or any other country would appropriate such privilege as a right,�

Ngige said. “The election shows a lot of respect, trust and faith in Nigeria’s leadership role in the continent. They appreciate our concern for Africa, our unity and our commitment to the economic and sociopolitical development of our continent and above all, our

commitment to decent work practices where, Nigeria has domesticated almost all the ILO conventions,� he added.

The Minister further called on the Regional Labour Centre and the International Labour Organisation( ILO) to intensify capacity building of labour administrators in order to fast track development among member nations. “The dynamics of labour administration in the face of dwindling global economy makes a strong case for an increased capacity building of labour administrators to enable nations contain emerging development challenges, hence, the need for ARLAC and the ILO to intensify efforts in this direction,� Ngige added.

He further pledged Nigeria’s continued support for the Regional Training Centre while

requesting for an increased training of Nigeria’s labour officers as a reward for steadfastness and contributions. “We have allowed labour unions to thrive, having in mind, the provisions of section 40 of our constitution on fundamental freedoms and the elaborate provisions of section 14 on the welfare of workers,� he said.

Earlier, the chairperson of ARLAC and Zimbabwe’s Minister for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Priscah Mupfumira enumerated numerous roles which the organisation play in labour administration in member countries as well as challenges facing it.

She said ARLAC would continue to provide a platform for members to review labour issues, learn from

individual experience while forging a common agenda, reflective of its special needs to the International Labour Organisation.

She added that ARLAC would continue its push for labour administration to be used a tool for development in member nations and urged them to live up to their financial obligations.

Nigeria’s delegation included the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Clement Iloh, the Director General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC) Dr. Kashim Akor, the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, Mr. Olakunle Obayan and the Director General of the Michael Imoudu Institute of Labour, Ilorin, Kwara State.

House C’ttee Bemoans N8.1bn Budget to Fight Climate Change Damilola Oyedele in Abuja The House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change has lamented that the N8.1 billion budget proposal to fight climate change is inadequate considering the level of challenges experienced by the country.

Speaking during the budget defense session of the Ministry of Environment in Abuja recently, the Chairman, Hon. Sam Onuigbu noted that the havoc caused by climate

change requires more serious commitment from the Federal Government, including funds and efforts. The Ministry’s budget proposal for capital projects to combat climate change includes 31 projects in all six geo-political zones with 27 projects amounting to N2.3 billion.

Four projects are proposed to be implemented by the totaling Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW) amounting to N1.465

billion. “When you juxtapose Nigeria’s investments of N8 billion against investments in climate change activities by our peers, Nigerian’s investment pales into insignificance. “We have responsibility to meet our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC’s) and demonstrate to the world that we are a serious nation that is always prepared to match President Buhari’s signing of the Paris Agreement on September 22, 2016 and other lofty

declarations at different global meetings with veritable practical actions at home,� Onuigbu said.

The Chairman accused some ministries of paying lip service to the efforts against climate change, despite the commitment made by Nigeria at the Paris declaration. “They give the impression they are with the President in combating the negative effects of climate change and they follow him to sign agreements and treaties, but never show up when you call them to explain

what they are doing about the threat,� he said.

He however commended the proposed launch of a $20 billion Green Bond Climate finance package in March 2017 targeted at sustainable development for the country, describing it as a step in the right direction.

The devastating effects of climate change, offer immense investment opportunities, which can be unlocked through the bonds, in both private and public sector, he added.

The Permanent Secretary,

Ministry of Environment, Mr. Bukar Hassan, spoke on the process of issuance of the Sovereign Green Bonds, adding that there is a need to also strengthen and enforce regulatory functions. â€œâ€Śincrease efforts to reclaim the desert through a new and improved Great Green Wall strategy and establish new initiatives for ensuring green and clean environment through atonal campaigns, tree planting, sanitation and public toilets,â€? he said.

35

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“We must, on a global scale, look again at how to deal with these new challenges. We need to look at the governing conventions, what type of legal categories, and the recognition of law we should give them (to the perpetrators of terror and insurgents). We need to re-examine how to deal with these individuals according to law�

- ACTING PRESIDENT YEMI OSINBAJO SPEAKING IN ABUJA

BoA Partners Osun Govt, Farmers in South-west Region Disburses N213m to Ĺ˜Ĺ–Ĺ–ČąÄ™ÂœÂ‘ČąÂ?Š›–Ž›œ Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Bauchi Distributes 1m Doses of Antimalarial Drugs to Health Centres Approves N27m for therapeutic food for children Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi state government has commenced the distribution of over one million antimalarial drugs and other medical consumables to healthcare centres across the state.

Executive Secretary of Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr. Mansur Dada, who disclosed this at a press conference in Bauchi recently, said the state government is carrying out the distribution for the first quarter of 2017 from January to June.

According to him, 1,077,810 doses of Artemisinin-based Combination Theraphy (ACT), 136,350 doses of Suphodoxine Pyrimethamine (SP) and 285,775 Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDT) will be distributed and given free to patients at 210 Primary and Secondary health centres across the state. “The Bauchi State government through BACATMA with support from US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) will distribute the Antimalarial drugs and Malaria testing kits to 210 Primary and Secondary Health facilities across the 20 local government areas of the State for Quarter one (January to March)�.

He said the drugs would be distributed through a third party Vendor from the State store directly to the health facilities with notification and involvement of the LGA PHC department and the community leaders to ensure judicious utilisation by the targeted communities. “This is part of the routine distribution to ensure availability of Malaria drugs and commodities in our health facilities. This is helping Bauchi State in reducing the burden of Malaria as well as reducing morbidity and mortality from Malaria,� he added.

Meanwhile, in its efforts to reduce mortality and morbidity in Bauchi, the state government has approved the sum of N27 million for the procurement of ready to eat therapeutic

Getting treatment for malaria food for the treatment of children with severe malnutrition.

This was made known by the wife of the state governor, Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar who also revealed approval of N180 million for the expansion of nutritious services in six additional Local Government Areas of the state.

Hajiya Abubakar, at the recent flag-off ceremony of Bauchi state World breast-feeding Week at Miri village, expressed delight that Bauchi is the first state to expand community nutrition services to the Local Government Areas.

She expressed the appreciation of the state government to its development partners and donors for the resources they have continued to deploy to support the government in improving maternal child health and other social services in the state.

Abubakar also assured the development partners that within the ambit of available resources, the government will continue to meet

its obligations to ensure that the partnership collaboration continue to benefit the people of the state.

The Governor’s wife noted that Bauchi has the lowest exclusive breastfeeding with 17 per cent of children less than six months exclusively breast-fed, indicating that more than half of children in the state are stunted.

Also speaking, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Abdulai Kai Kai said breastfeeding is one of the most effective and cost effective ways to save and improve the lives of children everywhere, yielding lifelong health benefits for infants and their mothers.

Kai Kai, represented by the Office Education Specialist, Mairama Bukar Dikwa, further explained that breastfeeding is also one of the keys to reducing under-five mortality, improves long-term health, decrease risk of non-communicable diseases including childhood asthma and obesity.

The Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and Osun state Government have agreed to partner each other to enhance collaboration between them in the areas of business and farming, to boost the revenue drive and income generation in the state.

The Bank has also commenced disbursement of funds for farmers in Osun and Oyo states under the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

Already the Bank has disbursed N213 million to 200 fish out grower farmers and over 4,600 cassava farmers under the Anchor programme.

Also, N17.5 million has already been distributed to 83 beneficiaries for arable crops, livestock, and trading.

THISDAY learnt that the Anchor programme, which is the first in the South-west region, will accommodate fish out-grower farmers and cassava out-grower farmers. It will also provide support through supply of input and technical advice to farmers in the South-west.

The Bank of Agriculture had earlier visited Erinmo-Ijesa, Erin-Ijesa, Onilapa village in Ogbagba area of Osun state to educate rice and potatoes farmers in the area. Also a mega forum was held in Osogbo, the state capital, where the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola commended the Bank for enhancing corroboration with government, and promised full collaboration with the Bank in the coming raining season on a large scale.

In his remarks, the state governor called for mass participation in agriculture as the only way to rescue the nation from her present socio-economic challenges. He said the economic situation in the country has called for the need to improve on the nation’s agricultural capacity, saying all hands must be on deck to promote farming.

Lamenting on the state of the nation’s economy, Governor Aregbesola said it has become imperative for all to do the needful in promoting agriculture. He said his government was ready to support and collaborate with any individual or group that shows interest in farming. According to him, “with the present economic reality, it has become imperative to produce what we consume because failure to do so, we will remain dependent. Any nation that cannot feed itself will continue to be enslaved. It is time to embrace agriculture and take our minds from the money coming from the crude oil as the commodity can no longer sustain our economy.�

Expressing his administration’s readiness towards the realisation of improved farming practices in the state, Aregbesola said efforts are continuously being geared up in meeting the state’s objectives in the agriculture sector.

He called on the rice farmers to double efforts at increasing their productivity, saying “Osun has the capacity to produce 20 tonnes of rice per hectare.� Meanwhile the South-west Zonal Manager of the Bank, Mrs. Idiat Folorunsho, has appreciated the Governor for his interest in farmers and support for business relationship with BoA in Osogbo.

Also at Iseyin area of Oyo state, Folorunsho commended both Osun and Oyo state governments for showing massive interest in the scheme that is set out to alleviate poverty in the country.

36

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Dealing with Diarrhea While diarrhea is still one of the major killers of children in Nigeria, Martins Ifijeh writes on the need to prioritise interventions in tackling the disease

Diarrhea can be prevented

W

hile over half of the world’s population is at risk of diarrhea and more than 2.2 million persons are said to be dying from the disease annually, especially among children in developing countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), not many low and middle income countries consider it a health emergency that must be tackled head on.

For instance, in Asia and Africa, it is regarded as one of the most deadly diseases affecting children, as the highest burden from the scourge globally is found in these two continents.

Over half of the deaths occur in just five countries: India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Ethiopia. Today, Nigeria is the worst hit in Africa with over 150,000 deaths occurring yearly in the country, especially among children under age five. This is as United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has put the prevalence rate of the disease in Nigeria at 18.8 per cent, accounting for over 16 per cent of child deaths in the country.

The WHO says the highly deadly disease is mainly caused by poor sanitation, poor hygiene practices and intake of unclean water or infected foods. Despite Nigeria’s various interventions to tackle the menace and reduce the prevalence of the disease in the country, it seems to be a hard nut to crack as outbreaks are still experienced in some parts of the country. Sometime last year, diarrhea outbreak hit over 22 Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, with about 500 persons affected, resulting in frequent diarrhea and vomiting of the affected displaced persons.

Few months ago, there was reported case of about 300 students of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) located in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, who were hit by the outbreak of the disease, resulting in hospitalisation of most of the affected students.

Meanwhile, as some teachers from the school believed the water source might be the root of the diarrhea, others believed it may be due to contaminated food which the children might have taken.

The recently reported cases of two students of a popular secondary school in Lagos, who died of diarrhea last week; therefore bringing to the fore again the need for the government and stakeholders to find a lasting solution to what the WHO said ordinarily was preventable.

While the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has ordered investigation into the deaths of the students, observers are still putting their ears to the ground to know the direct causal factors of the students’ deaths. They hoped the investigation by the Ministry of Health will reveal what went wrong.

According to experts, diarrhea is a condition of having more than three or more frequent, loose, or watery stool per day.

It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin with loss of the normal stretchiness of the skin and changes in personality.

In an interview with THISDAY, the Medical Director, Healing Hands Hospital, Ikorodu, Dr. Alfred Ikenna, said diarrhea was 100 per cent preventable through proper hygiene, including proper preparation of food, good hand washing culture; especially when preparing food and after the use of the toilet, as well as good culture of food storage.

“However, in cases where there are outbreaks of the disease, with a lot of people affected, there is a likelihood that their source of water has been contaminated or their source of food contaminated.

“One of the most common causes of infectious diarrhea is lack of clean water. Often, improper fecal disposal leads to contamination of groundwater. This can lead to widespread infection among a population, especially in the absence of water filtration or purification.

Human faeces contain a variety of potentially harmful human pathogens.

“Water contaminated with human faeces for example from municipal sewage, septic tanks and latrines is of special concern. Animal faeces also contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can also spread from person to person, aggravated by poor personal hygiene,” he added.

He called on people who still involve in open defecation to shun the health hazard, adding that the faeces of an infected person can most likely travel into water which other people use, including streams, lakes, rivers, among others.

“We also understand a lot of places in the country have no clean water, either for drinking or for cooking. The government should do something about this, because the citizens are entitled to it. Most of these things shouldn’t be left in the hands of the people because majority cannot afford it,” he noted.

He explained that since the disease thrives in places where water sources were compromised, government should work hard to ensure that all Nigerians have access to potable water.

He believed potable water was a necessity for every citizen, hence the government must ensure that its citizens, whether in urban or rural areas have access to clean and potable water.

According to him, it was no longer news that the outbreak occur every year in the country, hence the need for sustained public education on its prevention. “Government should ensure that they do everything within their powers to provide potable water. As well as educate the people on the need to be cautious of the type of water they drink, as well as the nature of the raw and uncooked food they eat, as infected foods can be source of diarrhea.

“Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before consumption. The outbreak of the disease also calls for increased personal

hygiene and public health consciousness,” he noted. Explaining the symptoms associated with diarrhea, Ikenna stressed that the disease was a medical emergency which must be tackled immediately it was noted because of the severity of symptoms it presents.

The symptoms, he said include increased frequency of bowel movements, watery stools, urgency to stool (having to use the toilet immediately), incontinence (leakage of stools), bloating, wind rectal pain, lower abdominal pain or cramping Nausea, vomiting, fever, blood or flecks of mucus in the stool, loss of appetite, weight loss, among others.

He explained that diarrhea due to infection may last a few days, or several weeks, as in persistent diarrhea. With severe cases being life threatening due to fluid loss in watery diarrhea, particularly in infants and young children, the malnourished and people with impaired immunity. He advised that persons who experience these symptoms, should seek medical assistance from doctors or the hospital, to ascertain whether they have diarrhea or not, so that they can be attended to accordingly.

“Diarrhea can be prevented from spreading from one person to the other if personal hygiene is put into consideration. If someone in your home has diarrhea, take precautions to stop it from spreading: Disinfect the toilet, handle and the seat after the person has used it each time. Don’t share towels, cutlery or utensils with the person who is unwell,” he noted As part of efforts to reduce this disease in the country, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, last year rolled out a programme to tackle issues of diarrhea and pneumonia, adding that the programme will tackle treatment of the diseases, as well as three other areas of healthcare.

The programme, according to the society will advocate for the use of Zinc/Oral Rehydration Solution (Zn/ORS) for childhood diarrhea, as this would drastically reduce the deaths occasioned by the disease.

37

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

HEALTH

‘Strike Action: Govt Policy on No-Work No-Pay Has Saved Health of Nigerians’ Martins Ifijeh The Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Chris Bode, has stated that the present Federal Ministry of Health’s policy on no-work no-pay has greatly saved the health of most Nigerians, who otherwise would not have been accessing treatment due to incessant strike actions in the health sector.

He said it was heartwarming to know that most medical and health workers were beginning to understand that strike actions in the sector do not solve any issue, but rather affects patients negatively, with some losing their lives because of inability to be attended to.

Bode who spoke during the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) Annual Symposium in Lagos, said “One of our major challenges here at LUTH before now was the incessant strike actions by some groups. But that has changed with the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of Prof. Isaac Adewole in the Federal Ministry of Health.

“Now the 10 or 15 members who spearhead this are no longer taken seriously by other members of their associations.

In the last few months they have called for strike action four times, but my doctors disregarded them and continued their work. The strike actions were unsuccessful.

“The FMOH has made it clear other mediums should be considered to resolve issues because we deal with human lives. Nigerians must be able to access healthcare and its personnel anytime they want,” he said.

Meanwhile he stated that many good things were happening in the health sector that the media must showcase in

order to instill confidence in Nigerians that they don’t need to access healthcare abroad when institutions like LUTH can provide treatments. “Let’s encourage our health institutions doing good work by writing about their efforts,” he added.

The Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu , who spoke on

‘Disease Outbreaks: The NCDC Experience’, said the centre was doing a lot in terms of prevention, detection and response.

Ihekweazu, who was represented by the Centre’s Technical Assistant on Communication, Dr. Lawal Bakare said the centre was operating an open door policy such that information on disease outbreaks were put on its website for everyone to

access, adding that it was also very active on social media in order to be able to engage Nigerians and get information in the shortest time possible.

“Adding, he said, “NCDC is also strengthening the capacity of states through the National Surveillance Meeting, which has helped in engaging various states on their level of capacity in disease control.”

NAFDAC Arrests Criminal Syndicate Producing Fake Drugs, Food Products Martins Ifijeh The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has made a major breakthrough in the fight against counterfeiters in the country by arresting members of a syndicate producing Fake Injection Water, Peak Milk, Codrux Cough Syrup and several Alcoholic Spirits.

Stating this during the parade of the criminal syndicate, the Acting Director General of the Agency, Dr. Yetunde Oni, said they were also involved in forging NAFDAC’s numbers, certificates and documents of other government agencies.

Oni, who was represented by the Director of Enforcement, NAFDAC, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, said among the documents recovered from the suspects were certificate of registration bearing forged signature of the acting DG of NAFDAC, documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal High Court; as well as a payment verification form from a non-existent Barclays Bank.

According to her, the discovery was made possible after the agency investigated complaints from three countries about some Nigerians who pose as NAFDAC employees to process registration documents for intending importers of regulated products.

“Complaints were received from the High Commission of Nigeria in New Delhi, India on behalf of a firm called Bharti Phosphates, a German manufacturer of pet food supplement and one Mr. Akeem from Tunisia, who wanted to confirm whether he should pay money to a company in Nigeria called Samjoe Ventures for the registration and shipment of 5,000 metric tonnes of calcium carbonate.

“Upon investigation, it was discovered that the three cases were hatched and executed

by an alleged international criminal group headed by Mr. Eze Okoronkwo, a resident of Aba, Abia State.

“Okoronkwo had other Nigerian collaborators, Indian collaborators, as well as nationals of Philippines, Tunisia, El-Salvador, the United States, Canada, Mauritania, Denmark, Mexico, Greece, Switzerland, Indonesia and Republic of South Korea, who all acted as brokers to the syndicate,” she explained.

She noted that the syndicate had collected the sum of $13,640, while there were plans to collect a further sum of $57,720.

The NAFDAC DG added that the group sourced for brokers with dollar or euro account with a promise that the broker would be entitled to 30 per cent or 40 per cent of the proceeds of the venture.

“They contacted the companies thereafter through their known websites. (E.g.

European Union Distributors website).

The victim is then gradually fleeced, while being presented with fake documents,” she added.

The agency also paraded a distributor of fake Peak Milk and a manufacturer of fake water used in mixing injections, while disclosing that it had raided the premises of one Mrs. Nkiru Okoro of Ezedams Nigeria Limited located along Kilometre 16, Badagry Expressway, Ojo, allegedly being used as a base for the production, distribution and sales of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

Oni added that on February 24, the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Water Production arrested one Mr. Daniel Ezekwelu for allegedly producing fake water for injection in two compounds at Ojoto, a village near Nnewi in Anambra State.

She said, “During the raid, two under-aged girls were found filling and sealing the fake water for injection under Ezekwelu’s cover.

L-R: President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Yakasai Ibrahim; Representative of Acting Director General, NAFDAC, Dr. Umar Musa; Project Coordinator, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Mr. Glen Prichard; and Project Officer, UNODC, Ms. Harsheen Virk, at the launch of the 2016 annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board by NAFDAC in Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

Fights Cancer with Aisha Buhari Raises Alarm BPW Hydroponics over High Infant, Maternal Kuni inside the soil. With hydroponTyessi in Abuja ics, you can grow things that Mortality The fight against cancer is don’t usually grow in Nigeria.”

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, said the 576 deaths per 1000 births for pregnant women and 201 per cent per 1000 live births for infant was unacceptable.

She made this known recently in Lokoja, Kogi State at the opening of a three day retreat tagged “The role of women in driving the new direction agenda of Kogi state government,” organised for wives of local government administrators in the state. Mrs. Buhari who was represented by the former deputy governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen, said the figure of infant and maternal mortality released by the global health agencies was alarming and should be addressed.

According to her, women should be at hand to assist in formulating good policies and implementing programmes that would make life more meaningful to the electorate.

She said since it had been established that majority of the people live in the rural areas, there was the need to empower the traditional birth attendants in those rural communities to further reduce the mortality rate. She noted that the traditional birth attendants should be equipped and monitored to ensure that they adhere to standard best practices and contribute to the reduction in infant and maternal mortality rate. She

also advised the wives of the local government chairmen to key into the humanitarian programmes of the federal and states governments to enable them reach out to the vulnerable in the society.

She called on wives of local governments and women at the grassroots level to complement the efforts at extending qualitative healthcare delivery to the various communities in the country. The wife of the Kogi State governor, Mrs. Rashida Bello, in her speech said she was committed to the effective and positive change in the standard of living of the women and children.

She said her pet project, the Kogi Women and Youth Advancement Foundation (KOWYAF), had been collaborating with the relevant ministries and agencies to make to actualise the new direction programmes of government.

She said the zeal in her husband for the development of the state encouraged her to develop programmes and projects that had direct bearing on the lives of the people, adding that such programmes had brought succour and transformation to the people at the grassroots.

Bello however appealed to the local government administrators to emulate the governor by providing adequate support for their wives to enable them achieve lofty programmes and projects.

gathering more momentum as the Business Professional Women has blended technology and agriculture to create a new kind of farming known as hydroponics, which is agriculture without soil.

This type of farming enables users to create new kinds of leafs which are not grown in Nigeria with the aid of just water and other nutrients and with the sole aim to fight cancer, create jobs and boost the entrepreneurial skills of women in agriculture.

Angel Adelaja, a farmer and entrepreneur as well as member of BPW and an expert in hydroponics made this revelation during the organisations’ commemoration of the International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Be bold for change’. The programme which was organised in conjunction with Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) was done with the aim to encourage women in all facets of life with emphasis on their economical growth and well-being. “Hydroponics growing plants without soil in water. Hydro means water and ponics means to grow. Under hydroponics, you have aquaponics which means without water and it has fish in it and the fish waste is actually growing the plants. We also have aero-ponics. When the water is taken and turned into mist or to fog, that’s what feeds the plants nutrients, so the plants don’t have to grow

“A lot of people who have had an experience with cancer now go for my kind of crops because they want to live healthy. Many of the products I grow help in the fight against cancer.

“There are so many opportunities in what we are doing and the unemployed youths can be taught and encouraged to leverage on this. Many people don’t want to get into agriculture because it’s seen as dirty and stressful. Leveraging on hydroponics will ensure they have enough protein, vegetables that are high in vitamins and other nutrients. It’s not all about the indeginous leafs available as other new leafs can be introduced.” ”We train women on how to make and use hydroponic systems. We train them on how to be bold on hydroponics and so you don’t have to necessarily have to do it in one level or in a green house. You can do it on a balcony, on a roof top, in a container or anywhere you want. Whenever you experience difficulty in getting access to land, you can use hydroponics.”

President of BPW, Yinka Ajibola, in her speech, after revealing that about 30 new members were going to be inducted, said “We are trying to encourage women to be bold because in times like this, you can’t afford to just sit without doing anything. You’ve got to encourage yourself, you’ve got to be bold for change.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

38

HEALTH NEWS

Losing a Generation to Obstetric Fistula Odimegwu Onwumere writes that despite government’s efforts in the media against Obstetric Fistula, many rural women and girls are still suffering from the menace without proper access to hospital

A

ishat Sani, 14, had pushed for a long time in the labour room at a hospital in Kaduna State. It was 4-5 hours and her handlers said that the blood provision to the urethra has stopped, which means in the medical term “ischemic death and drop off”.

Sani’s channel of urine is intervallic between the bladder and birth canal. She can no longer control her urine as it later comes from kidney and empties into the birth canal. After the experience, she oozes out unpleasant odour resulting to her husband abandoning her. She is now a Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patient and conversely, being derided by her friends and well-wishers.

While she survived during the child birth but only developed Fistula, Nkechi Lawson, 15, from Ebonyi State, is not living to tell her experiences during a child birth. She is no more, resulting from what stakeholders in the health sector attributed to “unfortunate admittance to quality and reasonable healthcare as well as dearth of emergency obstetric care.”

Despite media hype by government and its agents saying that everything VVF, a condition linked with discharge of urine in women was under control, Aishat Sani is one among the many girls and women in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas, who are untreated and cannot access treatment. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently unearthed that many girls and women are badly affected with the disease in Nigeria, with Ebonyi State encompassing the highest of over 3,000 cases.

Across the country, experts’ opinion is that the number of girls and women suffering from Fistula has risen to 90 per cent, with about 13, 000 novel cases diagnosed annually.

In a chat, a Clinical Associate, Fistula Care Plus, Dr. Suleiman Zakariya was angst-ridden, stating that 150,000 Nigerian women are living with Fistula. The irony is that there’re only 20 Fistula surgeons across the country, handling just a minute number of the victims, as against thousands.

Besides this influence, specialists said that not all medical doctors know about repairing Fistula. While many girls and women are affected by Fistula, professionals said that the exercise of early marriage being a major contributory factor to Obstetric Fistula in Nigeria; in climes like North America and Europe, Fistula has be hounded away more than a century ago.

However, the UN General Assembly Report in 2011, titled ‘The Girl Child – Report of The Secretary Genera’, stated, “The younger a girl is when she becomes pregnant, whether she is married or not, the greater the risk to her health. Girls under the age of 15 are at more risk of dying in childbirth than women in their 20s.” According to the World Health

No woman deserves the pain of obstetric fistula

Organisation (WHO), “Adolescent pregnancies put newborns at risk. The risk of death during the first month of life is 50 per cent higher among babies born to adolescent mothers.

The younger the mother is, the higher the risk for the baby.”

In an assessment, Dr. Ejike Orji, Country Representative, Ipas Nigeria, warned against girl-child marriage, saying that it’s a major contributory factor to Fistula. Orji said, “Early marriage puts girls at great risk for premature child-bearing, disability and death. When a girl is under-aged and is pregnant, the birth canal is not well developed.

“It is narrow and unable to carry the head of the baby. If the baby is forced to pass through the birth canal, two things can happen.

The girl, who is a baby herself and has no business having babies, would either rupture her uterus, and both the girl and the baby will die.

“The other thing that can happen is that even if the girl succeeds in delivering the baby after several hours of labour, she will end up with VVF, or if it is in the rural area where there are no skilled attendants, she will develop RVF. VVF occurs as she is pushing; she is stressing the tissues of the birth canal, because the head of baby is bigger than the birth canal.”

Checks revealed that about 230 million girls and women (that include Nigerians) worldwide are afraid to be pregnant for the reason of

family planning because they do not have entree to novel contraception. Many of the women are even derided in their different villages for the reason of myths surrounding family planning. Mr. Ban Ki Moon as United Nations Secretary General held-responsible the pushiness of Fistula in countries that include Nigeria on extremely pitiable access to reputable maternal health services. He bemoaned this during the 2016 International Day to End of Obstetric Fistula.

Moon observed that the victims of Fistula annually were not less than two million globally and these were poor and marginalised women and girls. “The persistence of Fistula in some countries and regions is an indicator of very poor access to quality maternal health services,” he said.

Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, accredited in the course of the world Fistula Day, saying, “For UNFPA, ending Fistula remains one of our highest priorities, and we will continue to accelerate efforts, both in our own work and within the United Nations system.

“The global Campaign to End Fistula, launched in 2003 by UNFPA and partners, has made significant progress towards eliminating fistula and supporting its survivors through prevention, treatment, social reintegration and advocacy. UNFPA has supported more than 70,000 Fistula repair surgeries for women and girls in need, and Campaign partners have

enabled many more to receive treatment.”

In another vein, Zakariya added, “There is need for government to provide needed policies to reduce chances of women coming down with Fistula. There is need to improve the health seeking behaviour of Nigerian women and access to family planning. There is also the need to upgrade care for obstetric care to prevent obstetric fistula.

“There is still need to increasing awareness at the community level about fistula, improve the health seeking behaviour of women at the community level, institute girl child education, women empowerment, poverty reduction, road networks and other infrastructures.”

This was as Moon added, “We must strengthen health systems and address broader development and human rights issues affecting women and girls: poverty, gender inequality, early marriage, early childbearing, and lack of education. Fistula has virtually been eliminated in most high-and middle.”

Osotimehin noted, “As we talk about ending polio, HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation and so many other forms of suffering, so must we commit to stepping up our efforts to end Fistula, once and for all.

“This means heeding the call of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind, especially those most neglected, invisible and powerless, including the women and girls living with Fistula. Now is the time, and I am confident we can do it.”

PACFaH Seeks Increased Role for Reporting Health Budget Issues As part of efforts to ensuring that government meets her commitment towards adequate funding of the health sector, the Partnership Advocacy for Child and Family Health (PACFaH) has urged the media to actively report issues surrounding health budget and finance in the media space.

The request was made by Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) Programme Officer on PACFaH project, Ms. Aanu’ Rotimi while making presentation on the ‘Role of Media In Advocating For Increased Health Sector

Budget in Nigeria’ during a symposium organised by the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) in Lagos.

The Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health project is an innovative social accountability project being implemented through the unique strategy of capacity building for civil society organisations (CSOs) on the demand side and government champions on the supply side to build partnerships to advance child and family health through advocacy.

The project’s top line objective is to improve the

accountability of government at the national and state levels to deliver on commitments by increasing health budget, timely expenditure releases, and implementation of policies and guidelines in support of improved child and family health in Nigeria as a result of evidence-based, high-impact advocacy led by coalitions of local CSOs. In her presentation, Rotimi stated that the media’s power in influencing opinions and behaviour as well as ability to inspire public interest through creating awareness around respective issues has a great

role to play in ensuring that government adequately finance the healthcare sector.

Rotimi said: “Over the years, evidence has shown that media plays a vital role in mobilising people for national development. It is the connection between the people and government. Advocating for improved health outcomes is a role for all stakeholders in which health journalists are critical stakeholders.

“It is interesting to note the interplay of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors that determine what good health is all about.

Appropriate allocation, prompt

release and value for money utilisation of health funds are important, and not just mere reduction in MMR, U5MR or IMR, which although are expected ultimate results, but can be transient till an assured funding, much more transparent utilisation and ownership are available.”

She specifically stated that the media should remind government to honour her various commitments on health financing, such as the Abuja Declaration that stated that 15 per cent of the country’s annual budget must be allocated to health, Goal

3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Target 3.c ( Increase substantially health financing), National Health Act that says one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) should be allocated to the health sector, Nigeria’s commitment to the Declaration of African Ministers of Health, Finance, Education, Social Affairs, Local Governments attending the Ministerial Conference on Immunisation in Africa, Addis Ababa in 2016 and The London 2012 Family planning (FP) commitment and the costed FP Blueprint.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

HEALTH

Medical Tourism: Ibom Specialty Hospital to the Rescue While most Nigerians prefer to access healthcare in advanced countries, making the country lose billions of dollars yearly on medical tourism, the Ibom Specialist Hospital in Akwa Ibom State hopes to reverse the trend. Martins Ifijeh writes

W

hen the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) declared in a report that in October 2015, its medical tourism sector was estimated to be worth US $3 billion and projected to grow to $7–8 billion by 2020, it did not mention in the report that Nigeria alone contributed about US $1 billion to that 2015 medical tourism income.

This is as the Nigerian medical tourism indices showed that outside India, many Nigerians also access medical treatment in Europe and the United States, thereby spending several millions of dollars annually on healthcare in foreign countries, an action stakeholders say boosts the economy of such countries at the detriment of Nigeria’s.

But in order to change the narrative, the then administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and that of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan declared their intentions to revitalise the healthcare system such that government officials and Nigerians would not have reasons to travel abroad for healthcare. But the more they reiterated the declaration, the more Nigerians access healthcare abroad, as there exist no adequate world class healthcare system and standard facilities.

In fact, the Indian High Commission in Nigeria says of the over 40,000 Nigerians that got visas to its country in 2015, more than 20,000 obtained their visas for medical reasons; a sharp increase from what used to obtain years ago despite various declarations by previous administrations to curb medical tourism in Nigeria.

Also, the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari early last year made the same declaration, which so far has not been met with action. Even more surprising is that the President of the country, according to some school of thoughts has no faith in the country’s healthcare, as he is presently receiving treatment in the United Kingdom.

He has been in the foreign land for over 40 days now.

While health experts, stakeholders and Nigerians across the country consider his action as not good for the healthcare sector, other Nigerians who prefer to access healthcare outside the country do not feel ashamed.

All they want is a place where they can be treated with a global standard.

But the Ibom Specialist Hospital in Akwa Ibom State is changing the narrative and coming to the rescue to stopping medical tourism in the country; combining primary, secondary and tertiary treatments with a model only seen in world’s most luxurious health facilities like the famous RAK Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, the Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore, among other few, which most rich Nigerians like to patronise.

“With the level of facilities and expertise we have in this multi specialty centre, we would have been able to treat the President if consulted or asked to offer such service, just same way other world class health facilities will treat him,” the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr. Adewale Adekanye has said during a media tour of the facility recently.

He said the specialist hospital was specifically designed to stop medical tourism in Nigeria by offering expertise in cardiology, oncology,

One of the CT scan in Ibom Specialist Hospital

plastic surgery, internal medicine, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, among others, through an approach designed to be above what the best tertiary health facility in Nigeria offers.

“But the problem is that the hospital is still fairly new and majority of Nigerians are not yet aware that instead of going abroad to treat cases like kidney disease, heart disease, cancer, organ transplants, among others, they could save a lot of travel money and other expenses by getting same globally acclaimed standard treatment in Ibom Specialist Hospital.

“While most of our equipments are first in not just Nigeria, but in Africa, the ambience, the five star rooms and other facilities are designed to provide first class treatment in a five-star hotel like manner to its patients, a treat that can only be seen in few world class hospitals.

“The hospital, which is equipped with 640 slides CT scan, digital mammography, endoscopy surgery, highly sophisticated intensive care units and medical gas plants, is sitting on a large landmass with paperless and fully automated laboratories. It also has a helipad to facilitate easy emergency movements to and from the hospital. The entire hospital system is also hooked up to a global system for best practice,” he said.

He explained that already, in its neurosurgery unit, complex surgeries involving cephalusis, a form of tumour in young children where they have extension of the skull, were successfully

done. “The baby is alive and fine. We did that on a three-day-old baby. And that is just one among the several neurosurgeries that have been done. In neurosurgery, these are surgeries a typical Nigerian would want to go do in India or United States “We have seen and treated successfully patients who broke their spine or neck, hip and back in accidents, as well. When the well publicised church building fell and killed some persons and injured many, we were equal to the task. It’s a capacity we have set out for from day one.

He said the hospital now get referrals from major tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, with the most recent being a referral from the National Hospital Abuja where a patient who needed brain surgery was referred to it.

But why was the pioneer of the facility, former Governor Godswill Akpabio flown abroad in 2015 when he was involved in an accident in Abuja if indeed the hospital could tackle serious health issues? Adekanye says at the time the incident happened, the hospital was not operational then.

“The hospital was inaugurated early in January 2015, but started operation in November 2015. It was between this time the incident happened. But since we started, both him, his family, and several government officials regularly patronise us,” he added.

According to the Executive Secretary of the hospital, Faith Akpokighe, while most

of the personnel are world class foreign doctors and health workers, there are also Nigerian doctors who have excelled in their previous place of work. “Personnel here were carefully selected because of the professional standard we intend to maintain in our service to Nigerians. This can directly reverse medical tourism in Nigeria and in turn bring in people from other countries to access healthcare here.”

But while the specialist hospital is arguably one of the best in Africa, it comes with an array of challenges, as it is typical with government owned institutions where continuity of projects and passions are luxuries.

The hospital, which was pioneered by Senator Akpabio, was inaugurated during the winding phase of his second term as governor even though there were still other surgical units and structural facilities that were still not yet in place. It is believed he has completed over 80 per cent of the project, while it is expected that the present governor will go along with the passion, which was designed to be a medical tourist hub to the state.

However, since the inauguration, the remaining structural and other pending facilities needed to complete the vision 100 per cent are yet not in place, even though it is a state government hospital.

As at the time THISDAY visited, the facility runs on 24 hours alternate power supply as it is not yet connected to the power grid, thereby using up more expenses for the hospital.

Dubai Health Authority Launches ‘Partnership for Better Health’ Avails Nigerians opportunity of top notch healthcare services Rebecca Ejiforma In a bid to create awareness for the state of the art healthcare services available to Africans and Nigerians, Dubai Health

Authority is launching a first of its kind road show called ‘Dubai-Africa Partnership for Better Health’.

The ‘Dubai-Africa Partnership for Better Health’ road show/

event which is set to hold on the 16th and 17thMarch at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will bring together at least 20 medical and hospital organisations with

a range of profiles in terms of specialist focus areas including Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cardiology, Neuro Surgery, amongst others.

The Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Health Experience, and the local UAE Embassy officials will be on hand at this event to meet with key stakeholders in the Lagos

healthcare industry as well as prospective customers.

A brainchild of the Dubai Health Authority, the ‘DubaiAfrica Partnership for Better Health’

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2017

40

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

$1.2bn Debt: Three Nigerian Banks Move to Take over Etisalat Obinna Chima åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž Following the seeming collapse of talks between Etisalat Nigeria and a consortium of banks -Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), Access Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, there are indications that the financial institutions are making move to take over the telecom firm.

Premium Times reported that despite the intervention of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), to broker a peaceful resolution of the matter, it appeared that the effort may not have yielded a truce.

The consortium of banks have been having a running battle with the mobile telephone operator over a loan facility totalling $1.2 billion Etisalat obtained in 2013. Etisalat Nigeria had signed a $1.2 billion medium-term facility with 13 Nigerian banks in 2013, which it used to refinance an existing $650 million loan and fund a modernisation of its network.

The loan, which involved a foreign-backed guaranty bond, was for Etisalat to finance a major network rehabilitation and expansion of its operational base in Nigeria.

However, following the failure of the company to meet its debt servicing schedule agreed

since 2016, the three Nigerian banks, prodded by their foreign partners, reported Etisalat to banking sector regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the NCC. Although Etisalat blamed its inability to fulfil its obligation to the banks on the current economic recession in Nigeria as well as the depreciation of the naira, the banks said their attempt to recover the loan by all means was fuelled by the need to cut down on the rate of their non-performing loans.

A senior official of one of the banks who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said one of the options they have proposed to Etisalat management as a middle way out of the crisis was for it to request for a bankruptcy status.

The official, who requested that his name should not be revealed, since he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the consortium, said the bankruptcy option would require having receivership management appointed by the banks to oversee its operations.

But, the NCC appears not to be favourably disposed to the takeover proposal, the source said, as it believes Etisalat was not only a viable going concern, but also willing and able to negotiate its loan servicing.

However, a top source at the NCC said late Tuesday that the commission had approved the takeover, which is expected to occur today.

Nonetheless, the vice president for regulatory affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Ibrahim Dikko, has said that the subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi-listed telecoms group is in talks with local banks to renegotiate the terms of the loan.

Dikko told Reuters that Etisalat missed payments due to an economic downturn in Nigeria, currency devaluation and dollar shortages on the country’s interbank market. “We are in discussions with our bankers and have been for quite a while. They have not taken over the business and we are hoping that we can resolve the issue and find a way to renegotiate terms,�

Dikko told Reuters.

Emirates Telecommunications Group (Etisalat) owns a 40 percent stake in its Nigerian affiliate, which accounted for around 3.7 percent of the group’s revenue in 2013.

Dikko said the business performed well last year and it was still in profit at the level of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, while loan repayments had been up to date “until recently�.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

OCTOBER 2016 Broad Money (M2)

22,275,512.54

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,023,616.69

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,521,797.77

---- Demand Deposits

8,501,818.92

N500m Intervention Fund for Schools Ready, Says CBN

-- Quasi Money

12,251,895.85

Ademola Babalola Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜ A Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Adebayo Adelabu has assured the benefiting public secondary schools in Nigeria that the N500 million intervention fund by the Bank is ready for the commencement of infrastructural development of these schools by the end of second quarter of this year.

Adelabu who was recently appointed as Chairman of the

School Governing Board of the Lagelu Grammar School, his Alma Mata by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state made this disclosure during the election and swearing-in of the newly executives of the Lagelu Grammar School Old Boys Association (LAGSOBA).

A professor of urban and regional planning in Obafemi Awolowo University, Olufemi Omisore was elected as the new president of the body.

Dr. Bayo Windapo and Dr.

Duro Ogunsesan are the Deputy National President 1&2 respectively while Comrade Wale Adeoye was elected as Secretary General.

Describing his appointment as the Chairman of the school board as a task that must be accomplished, Adelabu said the absence of the board of the CBN was the reason for the delay in carrying out the projects which Lagelu Grammar School was also a beneficiary.

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,612,243.68

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,654,268.86

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,774,684.47

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,705,049.41

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

6,242,932.95

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

2,537,883.55

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

21,424,953.01

--Other Assets Net

-9,738,841.27

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,580,594.55

--Currency in Circulation

1,825,664.51

--Banks Reserves

4,415,126.62 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

MANAGED FUNDS

Diamond Bank Partners BoI on N140bn GEEP Fund Obinna Chima As part of efforts to ensure that more farmers, market women, youths and artisans access the N140 billion Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the Bank of Industry (BoI) has gone into a partnership with Diamond Bank Plc. The GEEP s a micro-credit scheme that provides loans to people at the bottom of the pyramid. The loans are between N10,000 and N100,000 and the tenor is six months. The beneficiaries pay back in weekly installments.

Speaking during a media briefing on the partnership in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, described the collaboration as a public-private sector partnership. Dozie said the coming together of both organisations was to enable them bring their resources to bear

in order to create a sustainable platform for entreprenuers and small businesses to access finance to grow their businesses. “This is also to help create a sustainable environment. In any economy, the biggest employers of labour are the small businesses and not government and this is an opportunity to drive that. The most interesting part of this is the mechanism through which we are driving this. It is not about doling out cash, but using digital infrastructure to drive it. “Not only is it going to provide finance, it is also a strategy to promote financial inclusion.

When you make payments digitally, you can see what is happening with the money. For us at Diamond Bank, this is a sustainable path that I believe we need to invest in and I am very glad that we are working with the BoI to drive gender empowerment and sustainable growth of businesses,� the Diamond Bank boss explained.

Also shedding more light on the partnership, an Executive Director at the BoI, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji said the idea of access to finance to women, farmers, artisans and those at the bottom of the pyramid remains very important to the federal government and one of the ways the BoI aligns with that is to support micro-businesses.

According to her, what makes the GEEP initiative interesting is that every beneficiary must have a Bank Verification Number (BVN), they must belong to an association and they must get some form of endorsement from the association. “When we think about financial inclusion in Nigeria and when we look at the commercial banks, Diamond Bank jumps at you because of their total commitment to financial inclusion. Not only because they say it, but because they do it. Financial inclusion is the heartbeat of this administration,� Adeniji added.

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 % )

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯͲϹ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY 7, MARCH 2017 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $53.54 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $53.13 the previous day, 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

41

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Î Ëœ ͺ͸͚;

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

8-Mar-17

7-Mar-17

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

Open 7-Mar-1

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

25,129.27 8.70

24,986.02 8.65

-0.57% -0.57%

104.23 8.12

103.73 8.08

-0.48% -0.48%

01 Dangote Cement Plc

152.15

156.61

-2.85%

2,592,713,201,670.75

9.20

16.53

4.56

5.26%

3.46

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

139.80

133.15

4.99%

1,108,488,304,142.40

4.03

34.65

3.67

2.58%

6.76

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

25.95

25.95

0.00%

763,739,100,862.80

4.90

-4.73

0.60

2.13%

1.92

691.00

691.00

0.00%

547,725,470,132.00

8.81

78.42

3.17

4.20%

17.36

14.59

14.69

-0.68%

458,074,844,337.74

3.91

3.73

0.96

12.34%

0.66

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

380.00

400.00

-5.00%

210,257,918,940.00 -44.58

-8.52

2.71

4.19%

0.53

Stock

6.46

6.45

0.16%

186,874,696,736.26

2.59

2.50

0.53

8.51%

0.42

08 Presco Plc

47.00

47.00

0.00%

186,612,421,115.00

0.03 1,607.40

2.62

2.77%

4.46

09 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

10.10

10.00

1.00%

185,330,467,271.50

0.68

14.93

0.32

6.14%

0.30

10 United Bank for Africa Plc

5.04

5.03

0.20%

182,848,812,662.88

1.75

2.89

0.55

11.90%

0.42

11 Stanbic IBTCÂ Holdings Plc

17.75

17.98

-1.28%

177,500,000,000.00

2.04

8.72

1.26

0.56%

1.51

12 Lafarge Africa Plc

37.05

39.00

-5.00%

168,759,112,060.50

-9.39

-3.95

0.79

8.10%

0.83

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc 05 Zenith Bank Plc 06 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd 07 Access Bank Plc

13 Unilever Nigeria Plc

29.40

28.00

5.00%

111,228,909,750.00

0.69

42.48

1.68

0.17%

11.86

14 FBN Holdings Plc

2.96

3.00

-1.33%

106,250,066,664.32

0.21

14.27

0.20

5.07%

0.17

15 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

285.00

285.00

0.00%

102,769,649,670.00

19.32

14.75

1.13

2.53%

5.55

16 Guinness Nig Plc

66.94

64.40

3.94%

100,804,155,304.72

-3.06

-21.89

0.98

4.78%

2.56

17 Total Nigeria Plc

284.00

284.00

0.00%

96,424,201,708.00

38.02

7.47

0.36

4.93%

4.23

6.00

5.73

4.71%

72,000,000,000.00

1.03

5.85

0.50

8.33%

1.16

52.16

54.90

-4.99%

67,937,414,332.48

3.31

15.78

0.44

6.61%

1.57

4.96

4.96

0.00%

59,691,709,714.24

-3.15

-1.57

0.23

15.12%

0.38

21 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

86.00

86.00

0.00%

55,090,771,218.00

-0.05

0.59

2.56%

2.48

22 International Breweries Plc

15.70

15.70

0.00%

51,719,713,696.00

0.02

696.79

1.94

1.59%

4.71

23 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

38.66

38.66

0.00%

51,031,200,000.00

-2.95

-13.12

0.44

3.88%

2.69

24 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

17.20

17.40

-1.15%

45,136,879,616.40

-1.19

-14.42

0.11

11.63%

0.45

25 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

47.00

47.00

0.00%

44,833,770,000.00

4.82

9.74

6.82

0.21%

2.78

0.75

0.75

0.00%

29,040,748,068.75

-0.47

-1.61

0.56

0.00%

0.39

18 Dangote Sugar ReďŹ nery Plc 19 Forte Oil Plc. 20 Oando Plc

26 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc 27 U A C NÂ Plc

13.00

13.00

0.00%

24,971,237,031.00

3.37

3.86

0.33

7.69%

0.33

28 Fidelity Bank Plc

0.83

0.80

3.75%

24,038,946,124.36

0.39

2.14

0.16

19.28%

0.13

29 FCMB Group Plc

1.20

1.20

0.00%

23,763,252,937.20

0.61

1.96

0.15

8.33%

0.13

30 Sterling Bank Plc

0.74

0.74

0.00%

21,304,909,413.24

0.29

2.57

0.20

12.16%

0.26

28.12

28.12

0.00%

19,684,000,000.00

2.28

12.31

2.95

4.09%

11.50

32 Wema Bank Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

19,287,233,040.50

0.06

8.39

0.38

0.00%

0.41

33 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.23

3.30

-2.12%

18,998,421,349.85

0.76

4.23

0.52

4.33%

0.66

34 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

7.00

7.00

0.00%

18,546,068,646.00

0.85

8.24

0.99

7.86%

2.51

35 Diamond Bank Plc

0.80

0.81

-1.23%

18,528,311,174.40

-0.29

-2.72

0.09

0.00%

0.08

14.10

14.10

0.00%

16,861,858,480.80

-2.98

-8.67

1.10

1.16%

3.52

37 Mansard Insurance Plc

1.52

1.52

0.00%

15,960,000,000.00

0.28

5.46

0.80

3.29%

0.76

38 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

7.80

7.80

0.00%

14,649,975,912.00

0.50

15.62

0.52

16.67%

1.43

13.99

13.99

0.00%

13,990,000,000.00

5.69

2.46

0.98

0.71%

0.38

40 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.06

1.06

0.00%

10,995,108,970.72

0.42

2.52

0.50

11.32%

0.59

41 Unity Bank Plc

0.67

0.67

0.00%

7,831,856,421.14

-0.10

-6.54

0.12

0.00%

0.09

42 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

0.92

0.95

-3.16%

7,295,781,845.36

-0.40

-2.28

0.15

17.39%

0.22

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,940,150,705.00

-2.93

-0.17

0.04

60.00%

0.07

44 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.18

2.78

0.85

6.00%

0.41

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

4.30

4.30

0.00%

5,403,714,393.80

0.22

19.64

0.49

2.33%

0.50

47 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.60

0.60

0.00%

4,158,122,688.00

0.22

2.69

0.14

8.33%

0.41

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

2.30

2.30

0.00%

3,735,703,125.00

0.15

15.22

0.46

8.70%

0.62

49 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

1.79

1.79

0.00%

3,076,562,491.05

0.30

5.98

0.73

39.11%

0.09

50 Fidson Healthcare Plc

0.93

0.90

3.33%

1,395,000,000.00

0.24

3.95

0.21

5.38%

0.22

31 Cap Plc

36 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

39 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

TOTAL

8,076,655,989,752.16

TOTAL MARKET CAP

8,647,189,826,506.75

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

93.40%

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open 7-Mar-1

Unilever Nigeria Plc Nigerian Breweries Plc Dangote Sugar ReďŹ nery Plc Guinness Nig Plc Fidelity Bank Plc

28.00 133.15 5.73 64.40 0.80

Close 8-Mar-17

Change %

Close Change % 8-Mar-17 29.40 139.80 6.00 66.94 0.83

5.00% 4.99% 4.71% 3.94% 3.75%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open 7-Mar-1

Lafarge Africa Plc Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd Forte Oil Plc. Honeywell Flour Mill Plc Dangote Cement Plc

39.00 400.00 54.90 0.95 156.61

Close Change % 8-Mar-17 37.05 380.00 52.16 0.92 152.15

-5.00% -5.00% -4.99% -3.16% -2.85%

NSE All Share Index drops by a difďŹ dent 0.57% Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Wednesday, March 8th, 2017 ended on a negative note as the stock market closed red. This was further highlighted by negative performance from the NSE Subsectors: Insurance and Oil & Gas (Save Banking and Consumer Goods). However, trading activities increased in volume as 218.72m shares worth of N3.90 billion in 3,191 deals exchanged hands today.

This is an increase from as 215.36m shares worth of N2.60 billion in 3,692 deals which exchanged hands on Tuesday.

Topping in volume terms are: Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Access Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, Guinness Nig. Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms. Today, Brent crude oil price drops further to US$53.04 per barrel.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with 0.57% (-143.25) decrease to close at 24,986.02 from 25,129.27 the previous trading day. Market capitalization depreciated in tandem to N8.65 trillion from N8.70 trillion of prior trading day.

Similarly, the Thisday BGL 50 Index closes with an decrease of 0.48% to 103.73 from 104.23 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N8.08 trillion from N8.12 trillion of the previous trading day.

Market breath closed positive today as 10 stocks gained on the bourse while 26 stocks also declined, leaving 62 stocks unchanged. Topping the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list is Unilever Nigeria Plc as it emerged as the day’s toast of investors with a gain of 5.00% to close at N29.40 per share. It was followed by Nigerian Breweries Plc with a gain of 4.99% to close at N139.80 per share. Others on the gainers list include: Dangote Sugar ReďŹ nery Plc, Guinness Nig. Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc; while on the decliners’ list, Lafarge Africa Plc lead with a loss of 5.00% to close at N37.05 per share. It was closely followed by Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd with a loss of 5.00% to close at N380.00 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Forte Oil Plc, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc and Dangote Cement 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 ďŹ rm may have a conict 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

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2017

42

MARKET NEWS

GTBank Posts N132bn Profit, Recommends 175k Final Dividend Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc reported gross earnings of N414.62 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016, showing an increase of 37 per cent from N301.85 billion in 2015. The gross earnings were driven primarily by growth in interest income as well as foreign exchange income.

Profit before tax stood at N165.14billion, representing a growth of 37 per cent over N120.69billion recorded in 2015, while profit after tax rose from N99.436 billion in 2015 to N132 billion.

A further analysis of the performance showed that GTBank’s loan book grew by 16 per cent from N1.373trillion in 2015 to N1.590 trillion in 2016, just as total deposits grew by

T H E

29 per cent to N2.111trillion from N1.637trillion in 2015.

In all, total assets and contingents stood at N3.70 trillion and shareholders’ funds of N504.9 billion. GTBank’s non-performing loans remained low and within regulatory threshold at 3.66 per cent with adequate coverage of 131.79 per cent. Capital remains strong with capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 19.79 per cent, while return on equity (ROAE)

N I G E R I A N

and return on assets (ROAA) closed at 35.96 per cent and 5.85 per cent respectively. Based on the results, the bank has proposing final dividend of 175 kobo, bringing the total dividend to 200 kobo per share. The bank has already paid an interim dividend of 25 kobo. Commenting on the financial results, the Managing Director/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “The bank’s financial

STO C K

performance in 2016, does not only reflect the resilience of our franchise, it demonstrates the fundamental strength of our businesses to deliver sustainable long-term growth.

We successfully navigated the heightened economic uncertainty and regulatory headwinds which dominated the year to deliver a solid performance across all financial and non-financial indices.

E XC H A N G E

He added: “We are transforming our organization into a platform for enriching lives by positioning ourselves at the centre of an extended ecosystem that offers our stakeholders, benefits beyond banking.

We also remain committed to maximising shareholders’ value and delivering superior and sustainable return, guided by our founding values of hard work, discipline and integrity.�

43

˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Greenwich Lists Money Market Fund on Nigerian Stock Exchange Joshua Odebisi The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has listed the 20,000,000 units of Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund, the pioneer mutual fund of Greenwich Asset Management Limited.

Speaking at the listing ceremony, Group Managing Director, Greenwich Trust Limited, Mr. Kayode Falowo said: “The fund’s primary objective is to provide a steady stream of income for investors and to preserve capital by

investing in low-risk shortterm debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) such as treasury bills and money market instruments issued by top-rated banks. At the close of the initial public offering of the fund on August 8, 2016, it was oversubscribed by 44.8 per cent with over 400 unit holders and remains open for subscription due to its open-ended structure.”

According to him, since commencement of full operations in October 2016,

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

the fund has continually outperformed the benchmark 91-day treasury bill with a current yield of 17.2 per cent annum.

“Looking forward, the fund manager is confident that this performance will be sustained and improved upon in the future,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director, Greenwich Asset Management Limited, Mr. Dayo Obisan, said with about 90 per cent of its assets invested in treasury bills, investors can

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 7-Mar-2017, unless otherwise stated.

benefit from the high yield obtainable in the money market with ease of entry and exit at any time.

He said the fund pays out dividends at the end of every calendar quarter, with its first disbursement earlier paid in January, and the next one due in April.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, lauded the fund manager’s decision to list the fund on the NSE and emphasised the need for a broader base of asset-class

offerings on Nigeria’s biggest bourse to a fast-growing investor community.

The fund had already been listed on the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, being the first collective investment scheme on FMDQ to promote transparency.

“Our choice to list the Greenwich Plus on FMDQ as the first collective investment scheme on its platform is a deliberate strategy to promote the transparency and visibility of the fund,” Obisan had said.

He said that the listing of the pioneer mutual fund would encourage others to seek listing on FMDQ platform.

Commenting on the listing, Managing Director, FMDQ, Mr. Bola Onadele, commended the fund manager on its choice of securities exchange for the memorandum listing.

Onadele reiterated the exchange’s commitment to facilitate growth and development in the Nigerian debt capital market (DCM).

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 aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 128.37 128.78 1.04% Nigeria International Debt Fund 220.01 220.61 2.19% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.70 0.71 -0.29% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.53% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 12.01 12.37 -2.71% ARM Discovery Fund 284.27 292.84 -1.01% ARM Ethical Fund 21.95 22.61 -1.76% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.76% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 105.53 106.27 0.43% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.57% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Nigeria Global Investment Fund 2.21 2.26 1.59% Paramount Equity Fund 9.36 9.60 0.00% Women's Investment Fund 86.68 88.90 2.46% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.52% FBN CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,122.96 1,124.07 2.99% FBN Heritage Fund 110.51 111.24 -0.97% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 16.38% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $107.27 $107.82 3.02% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $106.96 $107.52 3.43% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 111.73 113.20 -0.83% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 1.06% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.64 2.64 2.67% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,166.47 2,191.29 -1.95% Coral Income Fund 2,174.94 2,174.94 3.36% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.13% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.88% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.70 1.71 0.83% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.61%

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 1.55% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,022.03 1,022.03 1.91% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 9.58 9.67 -0.81% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.89% 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 1.07 1.09 2.17% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.42 10.45 0.11% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.95% 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 110.68 111.58 8.71% 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 1.27 1.27 1.86% 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 1,827.35 1,837.08 -0.22% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 154.22 154.22 0.17% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.75 0.76 -1.95% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 191.08 191.08 2.24% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 127.06 128.73 -2.12% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.50% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,306.76 7,396.42 -3.62% 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 1.13 1.14 8.39% United Capital Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 15.86% United Capital Equity Fund 0.64 0.65 -0.95% 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 9.64 9.82 0.26% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.06 11.16 1.38% Zenith Income Fund 17.21 17.21 4.19%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 125.18

1.01% 0.98%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.73 71.00

7.83 72.34

-11.89% -6.30%

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

2.38 5.05 11.24 12.75 124.66

2.42 5.13 11.34 12.95 126.66

-13.21% -28.01% -6.23% -19.94% -3.99%

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.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017

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THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Afghanistan: IS Gunmen Dressed as Medics Kill 30 at Kabul Military Hospital More than 30 people have been killed after attackers dressed as doctors stormed the largest military hospital in Kabul, Afghan officials say.

Militants armed with guns and grenades gained entry after one detonated explosives at a hospital gate and then opened fire on staff and patients.

Commandos who landed on the Sardar Daud hospital roof killed all four attackers after several hours of fighting.

The so-called Islamic State (IS) group has claimed the attack.

The Taliban has denied any involvement.

More than 50 people were also wounded, the defence ministry said.

President Ashraf Ghani said the attack at the 400-bed hospital “trampled all human values”.

“In all religions, a hospital is regarded as an immune site and attacking it is attacking the whole of Afghanistan,” he said.

The attack began at 09:00 local time (04:30 GMT). One hospital staff member who was able to get out saw an attacker “wearing a white coat holding a Kalashnikov and opening

fire on everyone, including the guards, patients and doctors”.

One employee wrote on Facebook: “Attackers are inside the hospital. Pray for us.”

TV pictures showed people hiding from the gunmen on ledges outside windows on upper floors of the building.

More than six hours after the attack began, interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted that special forces had ended their operation and all the attackers were dead.

The IS-affiliated Amaq news agency shared two images via the Telegram messaging app that appeared to show one of the militants taking part in the assault and a number of dead bodies.

Afghanistan’s de-facto deputy leader Abdullah Abdullah also condemned the attack on Twitter and vowed to “avenge the blood of our people”.

BBC Afghan’s Inayatulhaq Yasini says that, if this is confirmed an IS attack, it would be the first time its jihadists had used the Taliban-style tactic of first blowing the gates and then sending another group of attackers into the targeted

building.

It would also show, he says, that despite the Afghan government’s claim that IS is on back foot, its militants are increasing their ability to carry out high-profile attacks that require a lot of planning and resources.

IS announced it was moving into Afghanistan and Pakistan when it declared its so-called Khorasan Province in 2015 and has since carried out a number of attacks.

In July 2016, a suicide bomb attack on a rally in Kabul killed about 80 people.

Three months later, two similar attacks during the religious festival of Ashura claimed about 30 lives and in November 2016 an attack at a mosque in Kabul killed more than 30.

IS also claimed a suicide attack at Kabul’s Supreme Court last month that killed 22 people and has stepped up activity in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Taliban has also been carrying out attacks, killing 16 people in Kabul in suicide attacks a week ago, after beginning its Spring offensive early.

48

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Witness: How Ashinze, Others Received N5.6bn from NSA’s Office Paul Obi Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Hassan Seidu, yesterday at the ongoing trial of Nicholas Ashinze, a former aide to exNational Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, told Justice Gabrial Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how Ashinze and others got N5.6billion from the Office of the NSA. Seidu, who testified as the first witness, said he was part of the team that conducted search in Ashinze’s house, located at No. 67 Vision Court Estate, Apo, Abuja.

EFCC Head of Media and Information, Wilson Uwujaren, said: “Ashinze, a retired army colonel, is standing trial alongside an Austrian, Wolfgang Reinl; Edidiong Idiong and Sagir Mohammed, on a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N36.8billion. “Other defendants in the case are five companies-Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organisation, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Service Limited.�

The PW1 said on December 23, 2015, Ashinze was brought to their office for interview and after the interview, he was asked

if he would be able to respond to allegations of money laundering leveled against him.

Seidu said: “After accepting, Ashinze’s statement was recorded, but it was his colleague, Mohammed Goje, who administered the cautionary word to him where he signed and voluntarily wrote his statement.�

He further said a search was conducted at his (Ashinze) house at Apo where some items were recovered.

The admissibility of the search warrant which Ofem Uket, counsel to EFCC, sought to tender as evidence was objected to by Ashinze’s counsel, L. S. Nwoye, who argued that it had no date.

Nwoye cited Section 147 of Administrative of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, which stated that a document must have date on it for identification.

Justice Kolawale, in a bench ruling, held that the issues raised were omissions of details. He overruled the objection and admitted the search warrant in evidence as Exhibit two.

He also admitted items recovered which are one black diary, one blue notebook and one page of unsigned document, written in red ink dated April 17, 2014, in evidence as Exhibits 2a, b and c respectively.

Seidu also said the one page

US Embassy Insists Nigeria is Not Affected

by Trump Travel Ban Alex Enumah Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The United States Embassy in Nigeria has reiterated that Nigeria is not in any way affected by the Executive Order on Immigration, thereby denying claims that some Nigerian citizens with valid travel documents to the US were denied entry into the US and sent back on the next available flight.  While dismissing the allegation as untrue, the US urged Nigerians with valid visas who intend to visit to feel free to do so and not postpone or cancel their trip.

In a statement from the information office of the embassy in Abuja, it reiterated that Nigeria was not named in the Executive Order on Immigration issued on March 6.  Part of the statement read: “The U.S. Embassy in Abuja wishes to clarify that there is no reason for Nigerians with valid visas to postpone or cancel their travel to the US. “Nigeria is not named in the Executive Order on Immigration issued on March 6, and there is no prohibition against Nigerian lawful permanent residents or persons with a valid visa or other US government authorisation from entering the US.�

Controversy has trailed the U.S Executive Order on Immigration with the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matter, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, advising

Nigerians with urgent reasons to shelve their visits to the US pending a better understanding of the new policy.

She had predicated her advice on some reports to her office that Nigerians with valid travel documents were denied entry into the US. But, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is the organ of government responsible for international affairs had immediately urged Nigerians to disregard the advice on grounds that the report has not been corroborated by Nigeria’s embassy or her consular in the US. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofffrey Onyeama, speaking to journalists in Abuja said:“We have embassy at almost 114 countries around the world and we rely on their reports. We have absolutely no report whatsoever from the U.S. that our people are being turned back from the US or any of our consulate or any Nigerian that any of our people are turned back.�  Speaking further, he said: “You need to look at the sources of the information; if that is the case, the government is obliged to take it up that Nigerians with a valid entry visa is being turned back. “I am in touch with the US embassy and the ambassador said no, there was nothing of such nature. “I can tell you to ignore any call on the advice to reconsider travelling to the US because there is no basis for that.�

of unsigned document written in red ink (Exhibit 2c) contained list of five companies, their banks and account numbers of each of the company with amount that has been transferred to them.

He said they got analysis of it and found out that N3.125billion was transferred to the account of Geonel Integrated Services (fifth defendant) with Heritage Bank

from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Â He further stated that they found out that the document (Exhibit 2c) was prepared three days after N3.125billion was given value in the account of Geonel Integrated Service Limited. Â According to the PW1, they also found out that N2.5billion was transferred from CBN to

Geonel’s account on February 16, 2015, and the contract was awarded from ONSA to Geonel Integrated Services. He stated that the N3.125 billion was for a purported contract given to Geonel as mobilisation fee in securing 22 dams in Nigeria and the N2.5billion was for full and final payment of the purported contract.

When asked by the prosecution the relationship of the defendants to the companies, Seidu said Unity Bank Nigeria Limited was owned by Sagir Mohammed (4th defendant) who is a course mate and friend to Dasuki. Â Justice Kolawole further adjourned the matter to March 21, 2017, for ruling on the objection raised by the defence counsel.

INDUSTRIALISATION IN OGUN

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Chief Kola Jamodu; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amusun; and the representative of Chief Olusegun Obasnjo, Chief Abraham Akanle Idowu, during the inauguration of Ota Brewery Upgrade by the governor in Ota, Ogun State....yesterday Ë&#x;

PDP SENATORS TO MEET GOVS, SEEK OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENT ON PARTY’S CRISIS and disappointed that Dickson made public presentation of a purported report approved or endorsed by us and other stakeholders as reported. “He met me yesterday (Tuesday) and I pointed out the problems with his proposals that it will go against even the Court of Appeal judgment. At the end, I told him, as caretaker committee, whatever is approved by the organs of the party that we represent, we will work with, and advised him to revert back to his colleagues and other organs. But this is what we are seeing,� Markafi said.

In its report, the reconciliation committee recommended the formation of a national convention committee that would conduct a national unity convention latest June 30.

According to the template, Sheriff is expected to select, in consultation with party stakeholders, 12 members of the national convention planning committee.

The Standing Committee had also urged the national convention planning committee to consider appointing into the planning committee, seven state governors, seven senators, including the deputy Senate president, 12 members of the House of Representatives and six members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Others being considered for membership of the convention planning committee, according to Dickson, are national vice chairmen (one per zone), three state chairmen per zone, six serving speakers of the state

Houses of Assembly and six former governors.

The report also suggested for the inclusion of six former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly (who are still members of the party), six prominent Women Leaders, six Youth Leaders of the party and six former Ministers of the party However, the NWC of the Sheriff-led faction of the party has said it would go ahead and hold congresses in five states where the exercise did not take place prior to the intra party crisis.

The move came just as the National Caretaker Committee went into deliberation yesterday night to consider the report of the reconciliation committee.

According to the spokesman of the Senator Ahmed Makarfiled committee, the meeting would come up with a position of the Dickson’s report as well the  way forward.

This followed the acceptance of the report of the Standing Committee on Reconciliation led by Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Sirieka Dickson, by the Sheriff-led NWC yesterday.

At its meeting held yesterday, the NWC said it deliberated on various issues concerning the party among which is the report of the reconciliation committee.

In a statement issued by the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, the leadership pleaded with governors of the party to redouble their reunification efforts in order to enable the party prepare for its national convention.

The statement said: “That in line with recommendation No. 6 of the reconciliation committee, the NWC has mandated the Office of National Organising Secretary to quickly come up with the time table for the conduct of congresses in Oyo, Kwara, Sokoto, Lagos and Anambra States, where congresses did not take place and so captured in the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.�

While accepting the report of the Dickson reconciliation committee, the Sheriff-led NWC said most of the recommendations of the committee are in line with its thinking.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the party from Kaduna State yesterday stormed the party’s national secretariat, Wadata House, in Abuja, urging leaders to end the crisis and unite to rebuild the party.

The Kaduna PDP, under the aegis of Zone III of the PDP Solidarity Group, expressed their loyalty to the leadership of Sheriff.

Speaking during a meeting with Sheriff, the leader of the group, David Kajid, said the Sheriff-led NWC has demonstrated an uncommon respect for the rule of law, without which the party would have been in greater jeopardy.

Kajid appealed to the leadership of the party to explore dialogue and peaceful resolution of the crisis in the party and to also intensify confidence building measures that will return the

party to the pre-2015 position.

Kajid further stated that the allegation that the Sheriff-led NWC is out to undermine the PDP is baseless stating that those who desire to sabotage the party and abandon it deserve more of the accusation. “We are not unaware that ever since your victory at the temple of justice, there has been surreptitious moves to further divide us into compartments through the guise of a new political outfit.�

The Kaduna PDP called on all supporters and aggrieved members to respect the rule of law and also appealed to NWC led by Sheriff to explore dialogue and peaceful resolution of the issues confronting the party. “We are law abiding party supporters; we respect and uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal which reaffirmed your leadership of the party and we disassociate ourselves from any insinuation to the contrary.

We do so in the firm believe that where there is no law, anarchy prevails and society is the worst for it. We do not desire such for our people nor for our party.�

Responding, Sheriff appealed to all members of the party to join him in rebuilding PDP, adding that the party needs unity to survive.

He said he did not consider the Appeal Court triumph as a personal victory but an opportunity for all sides to embrace dialogue to resolve the dispute.

49

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Xenophobic Attacks: House Forces Senate to Cancel Trip to South Africa Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË The Senate yesterday cancelled its planned trip to South Africa to protest the recurrent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians by citizens of the former apartheid nation.

The decision to cancel the trip was taken at a closeddoor session held before the commencement of yesterday’s plenary.

Reporting the Senate’s decision at the take-off of the plenary, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session,

said the Senate was compelled to cancel the trip in view of House of Representatives’ insistence that it would lead a separate delegation to South Africa.

According to him, efforts made to persuade the House of Representatives to allow its delegation join that of the Senate so that a single delegation of the National Assembly could be led to South Africa did not yield any fruitful result because the House insisted that it would lead a separate team to South Africa.

Metuh Cries Out as Armed Men Invade His Home Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has said armed men suspected to be assassins invaded his house located at Prince and Princess Estate, Abuja on Tuesday night.

In a statement signed

by Metuh’s media aide, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, and made available to THISDAY, he said the invaders broke into other buildings in the premises including an outeroffice where they carted away some documents and electronic equipment.

While giving account of the incident, Ihediwa said the armed men numbering about eight, fired several shots and forcibly gained entrance into the compound after destroying a section of its spiked security fence.

“They tied up security guards and a driver at the premises and attempted to gain access in the main building, but could not due

to the security doors at the front and back entrances of the main house.

“When they could not gain access into the main building, they beat up the security guards and ordered them at gunpoint to call out Metuh using their phones, but the guards insisted that he was not at home but had travelled to the east.

According to Ihediuwa, the invading armed men out of frustration, broke into other buildings in the premises including Metuh’s out-office where they carted away some documents and electronic equipment.

“Their escape route trailed with blood as one of the armed men got injured in the course of their breaking through the spiked security fence.

Already, a shocked Metuh had made an official report to the police to unravel those behind the attack and intention manifested in the incidence. his guards and driver are already assisting the police in their investigation,” he said.

Nigerian, Camerounian Troops Neutralise Boko Haram Terrorists at Border Villages In order to clear fleeing Boko Haram terrorists hibernating within remote and border areas, Nigerian and Camerounian troops have carried out another joint operation to weed out Boko Haram terrorists along Nigeria and Cameroun borders.

The two-day joint operation which was led by Col. Dourai and Lt-Col. Mohaman of the Camerounian Defence Forces, had troops drawn from the Cameroun’s Battalion Rapid Intervention (BRI) and 151 Task Force Battalion of 21 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

During the operation which ended on Tuesday, troops from the two countries cleared Siyara, Kote, Sigawa and proceeded to Bulabundibe towns. Other areas cleared include AdeleKe, Tchatike and Lamukura villages.

While conducting the

operation the troops came in contact with Boko Haram terrorists and neutralised many of them, apprehended two others, while many other terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds.

The troops further recovered broken down Toyota Canter, seven Dane Guns and five Boko Haram terrorists flags, four vehicle tyres, two motorcycles and vehicle spare parts.

While addressing the joint troops at the conclusion of the clearance operation, the team leader, Col. Dourai, stated that the operation was carried out to secure both countries’ borders from the menace of the Boko Haram terrorists.

He further commended the Nigeria Army on the conduct of the troops.

He added that Senate insistence that the National Assembly should lead a single delegation to the country was meant to save it from embarrassment that will arise from two delegations visiting South Africa from the same body and the same country over the same purpose, explaining that Senate therefore opted to pull out of the planned trip and allow only the House to embark on the trip.

“On our trip to South Africa, we noted that the House of Representatives insists on going to South Africa independently. We thought we could lead a single and harmonised delegation of the National Assembly to avoid the embarrassment of multiple delegations. The Senate,

therefore, decided to pull out to allow the House delegation to proceed,” Ekweremadu said.

The Senate had on March 1, raised a delegation meant to be led by Ekweremadu to South Africa to engage their counterparts in South Africa Parliament with a view to ending recurrent attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.

The constitution of the delegation was the fallout of February 28, 2017 resolution of the Senate to dispatch a delegation of the upper chamber on a parliamentary diplomatic mission to the country to register the nation’s displeasure on the resurgence of the attacks on its citizens and to dialogue with their South African counterparts on how to end the perennial attacks.

The resolution was spurred by a motion moved by Senator Rose Oko (Cross River North), with the title: “Resurgence of Xenophobic Attacks and Extrajudicial Killings of Nigerians in South Africa.”

Besides Ekweremadu, other members of the dissolved delegation were Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North); the Chief Whip, Sola Adeyeye (Osun Central); Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central); Stella Oduah (Anambra North); Magnus Abe (Rivers North-east) and Senator Shaba Lafiaji (Kwara North).

Also yesterday, the Senate tasked governments at all levels to concede to women an appreciable number of elective offices in the country.

The resolution was the fallout of a motion moved

by Senator Binta Masi Garba

(Adamawa North) along with seven others, titled: “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030,” in commemoration of International Women’s Day. The Senate also mandated its Committee on Women Affairs to examine Violence against Persons Prohibition Act with a view to domesticating it in all states of the federation and report its findings back to the Senate.

In the motion, Garba recalled how in 2015, world leaders adopted the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by placing gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at the heart of the 2030 agenda to foster sustainable development.

GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

L-R: Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, when the governor addressed Government House Correspondents shortly after his inspection of ongoing projects in the state at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday

Amosun Tasks Private Sector on Local Content, Import Substitution Commissions Nigerian Breweries N11bn plant Ugo Aliogo ËØÎ Gloria Onoja The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosu, yesterday called on private sector operators in the country to focus more on increasing local content and import substitution in the production of goods and service delivery in the country.

He stressed that this step is essential to the growth and development of economies of nations.

Amosu, who disclosed this at the official opening of the Nigerian Breweries, Ota factory upgrade of water treatment plant, PET line and waste water treatment plant in Ogun State, said local outsourcing of raw materials was the way forward for the economy especially in the period of recession and scarcity of forex.

He stated that 50 per cent local outsourcing of raw materials is not sufficient, adding that

there was need to increase capacity because the country is self-sufficient in the areas of local raw materials for industries.

“We need to focus on import substitution and also focus on backward integration. Local outsourcing will reduce the cost of production for industries and save time. It is good news that 50 per cent of the raw materials used by Nigerian breweries are sourced locally. There is no way we can have all the forex that we need. It is not ideal to wait for forex which will increase the cost of production. I want to commend the Nigerian Breweries for its backward integration and local sourcing of over 50 per cent of its raw materials and 95 per cent of its packaging material,” he stated.

He assured of the administration’s commitment to create enabling environment for private investors, adding that there was no need for investors

to import raw materials as the state country is committed to meeting the raw material needs of industries.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Breweries Plc, Kola Jamodu, said the three facilities which were inaugurated by the governor and the other investments of the company in the country constitutes their commitment to the country’s economy, in spite of the current challenges.

He explained that the ceremony signifies their contribution to the social development of the state, noting that as part of the company’s commitment to winning with Nigeria, they have embarked on local outsourcing of raw materials for the 19 brands, and over 250 farmers are benefitting from the initiative.

He further stated that the modern water treatment plant

was constructed to promote excellence in the quality of the company’s brands, while noting that the plant would further contribute to the success of sustainability agenda of brewing a better world.

Jamodu added: “These investments, totalling over N11 billion stand out as a testimony to our corporate philosophy of winning with Nigeria and they reflect our company’s bold confidence in Ogun State and Nigeria as an investment destination.”

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, who was represented by Chief Abraham Akanle, praised the brewery on the giant strides, describing the private sector as the engine room of economic growth and urged other corporate organisations to follow the example of the company.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

NLNG: Amendment of NLNG Act Could Hurt Investments in Proposed Trains Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ Abuja The Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Tony Attah, has advised the National Assembly to stop the

proposed attempts to amend the NLNG Act of 1989 as it is not in the interest of the nation.

Attah said the move by the federal legislators to delete guarantees, concessions and

Heritage Bank Exonerates Executive Director of Fraud Allegation James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË The management of Heritage Bank on Tuesday gave one of its Executive Directors, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, a clean bill of health, saying she had being performing her duties creditably.

In a statement denying an online news portal report that she had been asked to resign her position for allegedly authorising unwholesome transactions, the bank said neither Akpobome nor any of its management team members had been found wanting, dismissing the report as mischievous.

“We strongly disclaim all allegations made in the very malicious report published on the news blog that Mrs. Mary Akpobome or any other member of our Board and Management have in any way engaged in any fraud whatsoever,” adding that she “remains a valued Executive Director of the Bank.”

It said the online news platform, which had in recent times made the de-marketing of the bank its major occupation, betrayed its crass ignorance of banking rules in Nigeria.

According to the bank: “Financial institutions have credit policies governing its processes and management. These policies are designed and enforced by

regulatory agencies to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the entire credit chain. But above all, Heritage Bank like all other banks in Nigeria are under the strict supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Heritage Bank said its operations were in strict compliance with extant laws and established banking principles which could not have allowed any member or a group of members of the management team to manipulate it.

It said: “Heritage Bank has never been controlled by any one individual or ‘powerful’ individual(s) as deceitfully stated by this online news platform.

Heritage bank is a legal entity, and like any other public liability company, is managed by an efficient Management and Board accountable to all its stakeholders and the Central Bank of Nigeria” The management assured its customers that it would continue to manage the bank efficiently and sustain its reputation as one the fastest growing commercial banks in the country.

“Consistent with our core values, we are resolutely committed to strict adherence to regulations and to our service contract with all our stakeholders,” the bank said.

Ishaku Plans New System of Water Management for Taraba The Taraba State Government is planning to turn its water corporation into an independent, profit-making venture.

The indication to this effect was given recently in Jalingo, capital of the state, by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku when a seven-member delegation of the Nairobi Water and Sewage Corporation paid him a courtesy visit.

The visit was a follow-up to an earlier one made to that company in Nairobi, Kenya by the governor late last year.

Speaking at the occasion, Ishaku said the visit to Nairobi was an eye opener for him.

“In Nairobi I saw that huge profits were being made from water management and I was impressed and I came back desirous to see our own water agency operate as a commercial enterprise like what I saw. That is what we are going to do.”

He said what was required to achieve that was a turn-around in the attitude and thinking of

the workers.

The government, he said, would send about 50 members of staff of the state water agency to Nairobi to be trained by the famous water company in that country.

He expressed the hope that on their return to Taraba they would apply not just the technical knowledge acquired but the work ethics and attitude that are the secrets behind the success story of the Nairobi water giant.

Ishaku noted that for the provision of water to be sustainable, it must be effectively managed noting that the era when people left the pipes running and the water is wasted was over because it costs a lot of money to harness water resources and treat it for domestic use. He said in Kenya, he saw an excellent water billing system that he would want to see replicated in Taraba.

assurances in the Act could lead to an immediate loss of foreign investments of $25 billion in the construction of Trains 7 and 8 respectively in addition to loss of 18,000 jobs required for the construction.

He gave the warning yesterday in Bonny when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, paid a facility visit to the NLNG plant.

Attah urged Mohammed to draw the attention of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to the national risk by mobilising enough support to prevent an avoidable action that could result in loss of urgently needed investor confidence and hurt current and future generations of Nigerians.

Nigeria is the world fourth largest producer of natural gas with a proven reserve of 600 trillion cubic feet (TcF) but has not expanded its

production capacity since Train six was built in 2007.

The addition of seventh train will bring production capacity to approximately 30 million tonnes per year.

The National Assembly proposed to amend the act ratified in 1989 by injecting additional tax in form of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levy of three percent of budget on NLNG in addition to withdrawal of aforementioned guarantees and assurances.

“The NLNG Act allowed the investors to plough back what otherwise would have been paid as tax into investing in the trains and laying the foundation. The IOCs brought the initial $6 billion. Amending the NLNG Act would portray Nigeria as untrustworthy, damaging the country’s reputation and hamstringing its ability to attract further foreign

investments,’’ Attah warned.

He added that the loss of investors’ confidence would also constrain the operation of the company to attract the over $1 billion annual investment required for the next few years to ensure the steady gas supply for Trains 1-6 over the contracted life of the plant.

Attah similarly argued that the discriminatory application of NDDC levy to NLNG would inevitably amount to double taxation since NLNG’s shareholders affiliate companies already pay NDDC levy as upstream companies who supply the gas to NLNG. The NLG boss, who admonished that any amendment could result in loss of income of between $53 m- $124 million due to government as dividends and withholding tax, added that any breach would expose

the country to the risk of indemnity at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) tribunal.

Attempts to amend the NLNG Act in 2008 and 2013 by past sessions of National Assembly were halted when the import and implications of the action became apparent. ‘’We saw what happened when Venezuela was ordered to pay a penalty of $1.6 billion in the matter brought against it by ExxonMobil. A similar penalty was imposed on Ecuador in the matter brought against it occidental.

The danger of violating the guarantees is highlighted by the fact the NLNG’s shareholders have a treaty protection under Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) entered into

by Nigeria with France, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom,’’ Attah submitted.

POTABLE WATER FOR ALL

Governor Darius Ishaku (middle); and Dr. Kennedy Omoke from Nairobi Water and Sewage Corporation (third right),listening to the site engineer of SCC, at the site of the Jalingo primary water source project at Saminaka, Jalingo....yesterday

New Labour Group Calls for Drastic Action to Sanitise FX Market Ugo Aliogo In order to achieve sustainable result in the battle to save the naira, the United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) has called for a drastic action to sanitise the foreign exchange (FX) market.

The labour centre blamed the current exchange rate crisis and galloping inflation on the activities of unscrupulous FX dealers which had resulted in widespread hardship among citizens.

It also urged government to review the nation’s minimum wage which is long over due for review in order to make living conditions of Nigerian workers more bearable.

Briefing journalists at the end of its inaugural Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lagos on Friday, ULC President,

Joe Ajaero, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to deploy similar zeal it applied to halt free fall of the naira to end multiple FX windows and immediately stop the hemorrhaging activities of rent seekers.

“We call on government to deploy the same zeal with which it has battled to halt the decimation of the naira to mount a more sustainable action to push naira - dollar exchange rate to less than N100 to the dollar,” Ajaero said To effectively address the source of dollar pillaging, the labour leader called on government to quickly revive existing refineries, build modular refineries and also legalise refining of petroleum products in the creeks of Niger Delta within six months.

According to him, these

measures will bring an end to massive petroleum products imports which the union leader described as one of the serious sources of wasting scarce dollars otherwise could have been conserved by government for other purposes.

A nine-point communique issued by the union also condemned lawlessness and impunity being exhibited by employers both in the private and public sectors.

“Our work places have become increasingly more dangerous as a result of flagrant abuse and violation of the rights and privileges of workers in total disregard for our extant labour laws,” the communique stated.

He lamented that workers have been endangered due to deepening impunity in the nation’s industrial relations

affairs and urged government to protect workers to ensure improved productivity.

Against this background, ULC threatened that it has resolved to go against serial and stubborn abusers of workers’ rights in the coming weeks if employers involved in notorious cases of impunity against its members refused to listen to the voice of reason.

The union specifically called on Ogun State government to recall workers illegally disengaged from service, warning that they might resort to litigation if the state refuses to do the needful.

It also appealed to the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) to prevail on their members in the private sector to be law abiding in their industrial relations with workers.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Police Confirm Seven Dead in Yoruba, Hausa Communal Clash in Ife Aregbesola warns against breach of public peace, orders probe

Tinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ The police yesterday confirmed that seven persons were killed in the communal clash between indigenes and Hausa residents in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Also, the state government said it has immediately ordered the deployment of heavy security forces to the scene of the crisis in Ile Ife.

The clash which started early this morning was allegedly as a result of feud between Hausa man and a Yoruba woman yesterday.

THISDAY which was at Ile-Ife yesterday observed that property worth millions of naira, including vehicles had been burnt by both sides.

Angry mob were seen destroying goods belonging

Ayade Congratulates Onnoghen on Appointment as CJN Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has described as putting a round peg in a round hole, the appointment of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Mohammadu Buhari.

Ayade said the appointment of Justice Onnoghen, could not have come at a better time than now, especially given the needed reforms in the judiciary.

In a statement signed by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, Ayade said: “We the people of Cross River State rejoice with you on your appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. For us, this is another well deserved honour and recognition of your deep intellect, integrity

and experience. There is no doubt that you will bring your expertise and ingenuity to bear on the administration of the justice system in Nigeria.”

According to the governor, “Given your antecedent, Nigerians can be rest assured that the much needed reforms in the judiciary will take place during your time as CJN, even as you strive to uphold its independence.”

While lauding President Buhari for considering yet another Cross Riverian for an appointment to such an exalted position as CJN, Ayade said: “I want to thank Mr. President Buhari for finding our son, Justice Onnoghen worthy of the exalted office of the CJN. Once again, His Excellency has demonstrated that he is indeed a president for all.”

to Hausa traders at lageere in retaliation to the havoc done by the Hausa around at Sabo market.

A combined team of the Nigerian army and police are currently bringing the situation under control.

As at the time of filing this report, the people living and trading around lageere, Obalufon, sabo and other streets in the town have all ran to safety while human and vehicular movement has been restricted to some areas.

The police have also rescued pupils in all the crises ridden area to the police Area Command in Ife. Meanwhile, the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Aminu Koji, assured the people that he would reinforce his men to ensure that nothing of such happen again in the evening.

In the mayhem, no fewer than 300 Hausa people said to have been captured by the Ife people. However, the Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has ordered that they should be released, saying nothing should happen to them as he

called for calm.

THISDAY investigations learnt that trouble started when a Hausa man living at Sabo area of the town was accused to have slept with a wife of an Ife man who reportedly went berserk when he discovered that his wife had been made love to.

The incident which was said to have been generating controversy between the Yoruba and the Hausa people living in the community since last Tuesday when the act allegedly took place, snowballed into an orgy of violence in the early hours of yesterday when dangerous weapons like daggers, guns, clubs, arrows, cutlasses and swords were freely used in a free-for-all fierce battle between the two tribes.

At the battle ground around Sabo area of the town, the Hausa people said to have made used of daggers, arrows and bows to confront the Yoruba people who was said to be armed with Dane guns, cutlasses and charms.

When THISDAY visited the battle ground, the Ife warriors

Osun govt imposes curfew

were seen on the street, threatening not to retreat as they alleged conspiracy, as that some police men dispatched to maintain law and order were on the side of the Hausa people because the police team was led by a Hausa man.

Also, several shops rwere eportedly looted by miscreants who took advantage of the violence that engulfed the ancient city to perpetrate inhuman acts while several other havoc was reportedly wrecked by thugs.

Shop owners locked up their shops while the area was completely deserted by both commercial and private vehicle owners. Residents and inhabitants of the area had relocated to another part of the town so as not to be victims of blood bath.

Speaking on the development, Imam Muhammed Basir, the senior special assistant to the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Arewa Matters, said: “The situation has taken a very dangerous dimension because as “I am talking to you now, people have been shot dead.

“I have notified the state governor and the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, and the state Director of the Department of State Security Services (SSS) on the development.”

Speaking on the matter, the acting Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Koji, who spoke through the command police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, said the policemen are in control of the situation.

Also, the Ooni of Ife, has cautioned the warring factions to give peace a chance, saying there is no gain in crisis.

Speaking through his media aide, Moses Olafare, the monarch said he had instructed some palace men to see to the rescue of the Hausa people who were captured by the Ife people in the mayhem.

The state government therefore warned those involved in this act of criminal breach of public peace to end it immediately as the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone arrested.

Emeh Commends Wike as Emohua PDP Welcomes Him Back The former Chief of Staff to Rivers State Government and Commissioner for Transport and Aviation, Mr. Emeh Glory Emeh, has commended Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for massive road construction and other infrastructural development across the various local government areas in the state.

Chief Glory Emeh, described as a political strategist, was speaking at a reception in his honour by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ward 4 executive members in his Emohua Local Government Area over the weekend.

The astute politician further described Governor Wike as a utility politician whose capacity and capability is continuously inelastic, adding that Wike prescribes solutions to problems within a framework of ideological perspective.

Emeh, who recalled that, within a short but very impressive period of one and a half years, the governor has instilled a new spirit of times, and promoted fresh commitment to the values of efficient performance, called on

the people of the state to give the governor maximum support as we progress to 2019.

The accountant turned politician also commended the leaders of the party for their cohesiveness and cooperation which he said has cemented the bond of fraternal co-existence within the party in the area.

Emeh was full of praises for Chief Sergeant Awuse and Chief Emeka Woke, Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House for their leadership roles in sustaining the party and promised to join hands to take the party to greater heights in the Local Government Area.

Speaking earlier, the leader of Ward four in Emohua, Hon. Bartholomew Owhor, had thanked Emeh for returning to the PDP. Describing the decision as a welcome development, Owhor stressed that Emeh’s return to the PDP would no doubt enhance the fortunes of the party in the area, given his wealth of experience in political strategy.

He further advised the PDP chieftain to carry every body along in the scheme of things, in his usual tradition.

INTER-AGENCY VISIT

L-R: Director. Human Capital and Infrastructure Group, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mrs. Maryam Bayi; Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, National Insurance Commission (NICOM), Mohammed Kari; Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta; and Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, NCC, Mr. Sunday Dare, during a courtesy visit buy NICON team to NCC head office in Abuja... recently,

FG Restates Commitment to Restructure BOA John Shiklam in Kaduna The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, stated yesterday in Kaduna that there was no going back on the restructuring and repositioning of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

Speaking yesterday at the launching of capacity building and institutional strengthening of BOA project, Ogbeh disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had since given the nod for the restructuring and repositioning of the bank.

Represented at the occasion by an official in the ministry

of agriculture and rural development, Mr. Godwin Obinna Opara, the minister said the restructuring of the bank will help in diversifying the nation’s economy from over dependence on oil as the main stay of the economy.

He stressed that restructuring, capitalising and repositioning of the bank is one of such programmes through which the president has given his approval in order to ensure that it remains a key instruments for funding agricultural activities to help diversify economy.

The minister said Nigeria currently needs a financing

mechanism that will help small farmers, agro-prenure and SMEs to access credit facilities at affordable cost and at single digit interest rate adding that only the bank can provide such services.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Special Adviser to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor on Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Mr. Paul Eluhaiwe, noted that BoA “is sick and needs restructuring.”

He said the bank has all the resources to turn its fortunes for the better, pointing out that “posterity will not forgive us

if we fail to turn it around around for the good of Nigerian farmers.”

Speaking earlier, the acting Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Babatunde Igun, admitted that the bank is financially weak, with several challenges militating against its performance, including improvement of staff skills to enhance their capacity.

He stressed the need for the bank to brace up for modern agricultural activities in order to cope with competition and for it to deliver its core mandate to the people.

52

CELEBRATING INT'L WOMEN'S DAY…

˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

CELEBRATING INT'L WOMEN'S DAY…

Amnesty International Seeks Passage of Gender, Equal Opportunity Bill Dogara: Relegating women, unhealthy for national development Our correspondents Amnesty International has called on the National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure the speedy passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill.

In a statement released yesterday to mark the International Women’s Day, the organisation noted that more than 30 years after Nigeria ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), women still experience various forms of discrimination in law and practice.

Amnesty International acknowledged that Nigeria ratified CEDAW in 1985, and ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Women’s Protocol) in 2004.

It however, added that the country is yet to domesticate either of these treaties. “The two treaties contain vital provisions that will protect women from discrimination and ensure they live with dignity and fully enjoy their human rights.

Attempts to incorporate these treaties into domestic law continue to generate public and parliamentary L-R; Head, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs. Omolara Akinfolarin; Director, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Egbichi debates,” Amnesty explained.

Akinsayan; Managing Director/CEO, D O II Designs, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo; and General Manager, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare, at According to Amnesty, earlier attempts to pass the launch of One Woman Proposition by Sterling Bank in Lagos....yesterday SONDAY ADIGUN the bill were defeated by strong opposition as some legislators, religious groups and leaders had argued that the provisions would erode local contributing a significant share to this. Renewed Nigeria media to address the imbalance in the customs and religious beliefs. efforts are urgently needed. Girls’ education spurs coverage of women so that their true voices could Minister Empowers 200 Women Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of exponential positive effects on social and economic be heard in politics, elections, governance and in Sokoto Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said development for generations to come. Educating development,” he said.

it is unhealthy for Nigeria to maintain all attitudes girls secures the future of Nigeria. #GirlsCount According to the IPC Director, by so doing The Minister of State, Industry, Trade and that relegate women to the background, as this is uniting people to make the scale of this crisis the Nigerian media would contribute to the Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, has empowered would hinder national development. processes that will lead to the realisation of this 200 women on best methods of food processing clear and to call on leaders to act urgently.”

This is as female lawmakers lamented that Makka appealed to people who want to help year’s theme: “Women in the changing world and packaging in Sokoto State. cultural and religious restrictions continue to change the lives of millions of girls around the of work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.”

Speaking during a one -day seminar on serve as barriers hindering the participation of world to join the campaign by counting a number

food packaging in commemoration of the women in politics.

Ajimobi Calls for A More Gender 2017 International Women Day in Sokoto and posting the video or picture online.

There are only 21 women in the 360 member Wednesday, Hajiya Aisha said the training was International supporters, who are joining the Inclusive Society House of Representatives. meant to empower women to become self-reliant. count in solidarity, including Malala Yousafzai, Dogara, in a statement to commemorate the Sheryl Sandberg, Angelique Kidjo, ONE founder, She stated that the 200 beneficiaries were selected The wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence 2017 International Women’s Day yesterday, also Bono; David Oyelowo, and Asa. Ajimobi, has called for a more gender–inclusive from the 23 local government areas of the state. called for repealing of all laws that encourage According to her, the training covered streams ONE Campaign plans to combine the videos society for women to be able to exhibit more of violence against women. of value that could be derived from agricultural into the world’s longest ever film to urge world their potentials in leadership positions.

“Women make up approximately half of the leaders to take the action needed to ensure every Ajimobi made the charge in her message to products indigenous to local communities of Nigerian population, and it is extremely important girl receives a quality education. women in the state as they join their counterpart Sokoto State. that an environment that brings out the best in The minister, who spoke through Hajiya Aisha In Nigeria, the ONE Africa teams would meet worldwide to mark this year’s international them and enables them reach their full potential, is with senior officials of the Federal Ministry of women’s day.

Dasuki, said the training would impact positively provided. We can’t have half of our people unable Education in Abuja to bring this issue to the She tasked women to embark on groundbreaking on the lives of the women by building their capacity to attain their goals or contribute meaningfully to attention of the government and would also actions so as to accelerate changes in their status for sustainable enterprises. the economy, and expect development,” Dogara meet with the Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar in their respective communities.

She called on the women to utilise all the support said.

On the campaign theme for this year’s celebration: they have received to improve their businesses.

Atiku Bagudu.

“Be Bold for Change” Ajimobi said the time has come for women irrespective of their status in Women Call for Gender My Administration will Continue ONE Campaign: 130m Girls Out of the community to aspire for leadership positions Responsive Policies from FG to Be Women-friendly, Says Wike School by taking bold and realistic steps which in turn

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo would make them relevant in their own little way.

Nigerian women yesterday called on the federal She also enjoined women in leadership positions government to formulate and implement gender ONE Campaign, an international advocacy Wike, has assured women in the state that and campaigning organisation, has disclosed his administration will continue to be women- to mentor women in the lower strata of the society responsive policies that would ensure women so as to set them on the right path and make full inclusion in all developmental strategies to that globally, 130 million girls are not in school. friendly as it strives to develop the state.

He declared that women would always them gain the confidence needed to overcome promote national economy.

The group affirms that because poverty is This they said would mitigate to a large extent sexist, girls in the poorest countries are less likely feature prominently in the creation of a New all barriers to success.

Rivers State. all forms of gender disparity against women. to receive education than boys.

In a message to Rivers women to mark Lagos Deputy Urges Women to The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women “This means a generation of adolescent girls Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Phylis is being denied the education they need to get this year’s International Women’s Day, the Unite Against Gender Disparity Nwokedi, while speaking in Abuja at an event a job, broaden their opportunities and break the governor noted that women are strategically placed As the Lagos State Government joined the rest to commemorate this year's international cycle of poverty. A girl with an education can in his administration to help in translating the tenets of the New Rivers Development Blueprint of the world to mark the year 2017 International women's day with the theme: 'Women in change the world,” the group stated.

Women’s day celebration, the Deputy Governor, the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 ONE Campaign has launched its #GirlsCount into reality.

The governor

expressed Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, has called on women by 2030', said the world was still gender bias campaign, a bold initiative that has rallied citizens and leaders from around the world and satisfaction with the contributions of women from all walks of life to unite together and speak despite global and national efforts to remedy with one voice that all forms of discrimination, the situation. in Nigeria to bring a spotlight on this crisis as to the growth of the state.

He felicitated with women across the domestic violence and gender inequality against According to her, "Globally, the gender parity well as demand action from global leaders to globe for their roles in the promotion of peace, women be stopped with immediate effect. stands at an alarming 24 percent and as such end this crisis.

Adebule noted that the annual International women are still very much discriminated against In Nigeria, Omotola Jalaide Ekehinde is the development and societal stability.

Wike declared that his administration would Women’s Day celebration by the United Nations is in as a result of their gender and not expertise." main champion for the campaign, which has

recognition of the important roles that women play been backed by the new United Nations Deputy always celebrate women.

in the political, social and economic development Condition of Women in Conflict Secretary General, Ms Amina Mohammed, and of the society, adding that in spite of all the barriers Areas Worries Catholic Women Bring Back our Girls Campaign Co-founder, Dr. IPC Calls on the Media to Give being faced in the society, women over the years More Voice to Women

Oby Ezekwesili. have broken the walls of limitation to be highly The federal government has been tasked not

The #GirlsCount video which features to ignore people especially women trapped in The International Press Centre (IPC) has enjoined successful in their chosen careers. citizens from every walk of life, is aimed at Adebule who described the theme for the year conflict areas in the North-east, Southern Kaduna getting people to join forces by filming themselves the Nigerian media to give more voice to women and counting a number between one and 130 so that they could be bolder in contributing to 2017 International Women’s Day Celebration, and other war-like areas.

“Be Bold Change” as relevant and instructive, The Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria the country’s development. million out loud.

Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, made stated that it is a clarion call for women to unite, made the call yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State One film, the group said, is meant to represent the call in a statement yesterday to mark the 2017 come together and take bold and pragmatic steps capital, while celebrating the International Women’s every girl denied an education.

ONE Campaign’s Nigeria Director, Serah Makka, International Women’s Day, which celebrates the to accelerate gender parity and fight all forms Day, saying the federal government should do of discriminations that have hindered women its best to improve the living standard of women said: “It is a global crisis that 130 million girls achievements of women in all spheres of life. in those conflict areas.

“On this day, we at IPC are calling on the development. are not in school, and Nigeria is unfortunately

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

53

CRIME&PUNISHMENT

Chinese Nationals Arraigned in Lagos Court over Importation of Fake Tyres Two Chinese, Tao Shen and Jing Yau, yesterday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over charges bordering on alleged importation of fake tyres.

Shen, 36, and Yau, 22, are charged alongside a Nigerian, Chinedu Madubuike and two companies, Sino Nigeria Import and export Ltd, and Nedeca International Ltd, on four counts bordering on importation of substandard products.

When the case was called on yesterday, Mr. Babatunde Alajogun announced appearance

for the prosecution while Mr. Victor Okpara announced appeared for the defence.

The accused were called into the dock but their arraignment could not proceed, due to the absence of a Chinese interpreter to translate the charges to them in Chinese language.

The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, consequently, ordered that an interpreter be produced in court at the next adjourned date for the accused to take their plea.

In the charge, the accused were said to have committed

the offence in February (this year) by conspiring to import tyres which did not meet the relevant Nigeria industrial standard.

They were alleged to have stuffed various sizes of tyres into one, knowing same to be in a dangerous state, or injurious to human life.

The accused were said to have

imported the tyres which did not comply with the mandatory Nigeria standard, on account of their stuffing different sizes into one, thereby making the tyres to be unfit for its purpose.

The tyres were said to have failed to meet the relevant Nigerian industrial standard and likely to endanger human

lives.

Again, the accused were alleged to have failed to furnish returns on the conditions of the imported tyres as required by law.

The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of sections 320 and 510 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the

Federation, 2004.

It is also said to have contravened the provisions of sections 26 and 32 of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria Act, No 14, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Justice Olatoregun adjourned their arraignment to March 20, adding that the accused be returned to where they came from.

Absence of Defence Witness Stalls Nyame’s N1.64bn Fraud Trial The trial of Jolly Nyame, a former Governor of Taraba State, who is being prosecuted for a N1.64 billion fraud could not go on, yesterday as expected as his defence team did not produce its witnesses in court.

Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gudu, had on February 14, 2017 dismissed his no-case submission as lacking in merit, and ordered him to begin his defence today.

The trial judge had held that: “Having had a close look at the evidence and exhibits, I hold that this case requires him to provide information and give explanation with regards to evidence presented by the prosecution, and so he is ordered to enter into his defence in the interest of justice.”

At the resumed sitting, Olalekan Ojo, counsel for Nyame, told the court that

he had challenges in bringing three witnesses, which the defence had earlier told the court that it intends to call, to testify in defence of Nyame.

“We had conducted conferences with one of the witnesses, but unfortunately, the witness was unable to be here,” he said.

He informed the court that the first defence witness was a police officer from Gombe State, and “we have decided that it will be necessary to have a subpoena served on him in order to compel his presence in court.”

He thereafter, pleaded with the court for an adjournment, as “failure to bring our witnesses to court was not anticipated.”

Justice Banjoko, who had earlier ruled that the trial would be on a day-to-day basis, was however, compelled to adjourn to April 24, 2017.

Violators of Appropriation Act Risk Two-year Jail Term Damilola Oyedele ÓØ ÌßÔË˿ Violations of Appropriation Act may attract a minimum of a twoyear jail term, if a bill seeking to introduce radical reforms to the nation’s budgeting process is eventually passed into law.

The bill, sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, passed through first reading at the House of Representatives yesterday.

It also provides for a Budget Process Calender, which stipulates that the budget presentation by the President will be within the first week of September of every year, while the passage by the National Assembly must not exceed the second week of December, with accent by December 30, annually.

The bill stipulates regulations for the preparation, presentation, enactment, implementation, monitoring and oversight, and penalties for contravention of the Appropriations Act in each fiscal year.

Other proposed penalties for violation of the Appropriations

Act include written reprimand or warning, suspension from office, surcharge, demotion or reduction in status, denial of promotion, termination of employment, impeachment and for committee chairmen in the National Assembly, removal from chairmanship of committee, among others.

In addition, the bill outlines methods of dispute resolution which may occur between the Executive and Legislative arms of government, during the annual budgetary process.

It should be recalled that the 2016 budget was caught in a dispute between the Executive and the Legislature, following the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to provide assent on allegations that the lawmakers removed critical projects from the budget, and inserted theirs, to stay within the budget envelop.

The face-off was eventually resolved after a harmonisation committee was set up between both arms of government to ensure compromise.

CONFUSION IN IFE A scene from Yoruba-Hausa clash in Ile-Ife...yesterday How New Environmental Law will Benefit Lagosians The details of how the newly enacted Environmental Management and Protection Bill by the Lagos State Government will transform the lives of everyone working or living in Lagos has started to crystalise.

In addition to creating 27,500 new jobs, the new policy will fast track the process of metamorphosing Lagos State into a cleaner megacity by decisively tackling the problems of air and water pollution, preventing diseases and halting the deterioration of the environment to avert adverse effect on socio-economic activities.

The new policy has also made a very special provision for the thousands of Community Sanitation Workers (CSWs) who will be directly employed to

work on the scheme by making their salaries tax free.

Additionally, the new environmental regime will provide numerous insurance benefits including life, health, accident and injury cover to the 27,500 CSWs who will also enjoy a pension scheme.

In a carefully articulated strategy to enhance the quality of lives of the sanitation workers who will be saddled with the task of keeping Lagos clean, an arrangement has been made to ensure that the sanitation workers will only work in their immediate communities, thereby eliminating transportation cost.

Admitting how precarious environmental sanitation issues have become in Lagos State, the state government said: “Lagos is at critical levels of pollution.

We must change course because our children’s lives and future depend on it.

The state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, expressed optimism that the new law would result in historic environmental victories for a state which over the years has struggled with effective management of the 10,000 metric tonnes of waste it generates daily.

At the signing ceremony, Ambode said: “I am delighted that our bill has been signed into law. Our major environmental laws are outdated and do not address our present-day challenges.”

Stressing the importance of the bill, Ambode said “we exist in a world where the protection and preservation of public health and the environment have evolved

and are primarily driven by data. We cannot compete if our laws are based on obsolete information.”

The governor commended the state House of Assembly for shelving their differences in the best overall interest of the state to align and pass the bill.

“I know that the process of change may seem daunting at first but ultimately this shows that we can achieve a lot on our own and we can join with others for the common good of Lagos State. We have taken everyone along the value chain into consideration from the existing PSPs, to the cart pushers and the scavengers on the landfills. Everyone will be accommodated under this new environmental scheme,” he said.

Aregbesola Stopped from Increasing Filing Fees in Osun Courts Yinka Kolawole ÓØ ÝÙÑÌÙ Practicing lawyers in Osun State yesterday trooped out to celebrate the order of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo which restrained the state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, from implementing the new regime of fees to be paid for filling documents in the courts in the state.

The lawyers addressed a press conference under the

auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The Chairman of the Forum of NBA Chairmen in the state, Mr. Marice Olufisayo Okediya, who spoke on behalf of the lawyers in the state, said the order of Justice Maureen Adaobi Onyetenu which restrained the governor from implementing the increment in the filing fees was in the best interest of the common man.

Okediya explained that with the order of the Federal High Court, the old fees would be maintained in all the courts in Osun until March 16, 2017 when the matter would come up again for hearing.

The lawyers in the state have shunned the courts since February 28 over the hike in the filing fees.

Okediya promised that the lawyers would return

to the courts as soon as the state governor obeys the court order.

Okediya said the lawyers championed the matter in defence of the downtrodden who might not be able to afford the exorbitant fees that were introduced by the governor and vowed that the NBA would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

Ëœ Î Ëœ ͺ͸͚Ϳ Ëž T H I S D AY

54

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Chukwu Hopeful Zamalek Will Fall as Rangers Depart for Cairo Duro Ikhazuagbe Chairman of Rangers International FC of Enugu, Christian Chukwu, insisted yesterday that the Flying Antelopes have the character and tenacity to upstage Zamalek in the CAF Champions League second round, first leg encounter in Cairo on Sunday.

The Nigerian league champions are scheduled to depart Lagos for the North African city today  “We will go to Egypt with a game-plan to get a favourable result ahead of the return leg in Enugu next weekend,� Chukwu who is a former Eagles captain and coach said ahead of today’s departure to Cairo.

Rangers eliminated Algerian debutants JS Saoura on the away goal rule in the earlier round, and need to be at their best to overcome the experienced Egyptian campaigners to secure ticket to the mini-league stage of Africa’s prime club competition.

Already, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed respected South African official, Daniel Frazer Bennett to be in charge of the clash at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo. Kick off is 9pm Egypt time.

Bennett will be assisted by fellow South Africans Zakhele

Thusi Siwela (assistant referee 1), Sandile Dilikane (assistant referee 2) and Tinyiko Victor Hlungwani (reserve referee).

The match commissioner is former FIFA referee Mourad Daami from Tunisia who officiated the AFCON 2000 final between hosts Nigeria and Cameroon at the Sportcity in Lagos. The Indomitable Lions won the trophy in a shootout.

Nigeria’s other representatives in the CAF Champions League, Rivers United, will host top Sudanese side, Al Merreikh at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt also on Sunday.

The ‘Pride of Rivers’ were in great form in the earlier round, pounding AS Real Bamako 3-0 at the same venue after both teams played a 0-0 draw in Bamako in the first leg.

Egyptian official Ghead Grisha, who was in charge when the Super Eagles defeated Zambia 2-1 in Ndola at the beginning of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series five months ago, will superintend proceedings in Port Harcourt.

He will be assisted by fellow Rangers International FC players are to leave Lagos this morning for Egypt Egyptians Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (assistant referee 1), Ayman Degaish (assistant referee 2) and Mahmoud Zakaria Mohamed (reserve referee). The match commissioner is Mukaila Nassam Adam from Ghana.

Lagos Will Not Discharge FG Equity in National Stadium, Says Dalung

Okpekpe Organisers Re-appoint Abmayr as Elite Athletes Manager Organisers of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have for the second successive year named world renowned international road race organiser, Walter Abmayr, as the Elite Athletes Manager for the fifth edition of the race which holds on Saturday, May 13,2017 in Okpekpe  near Auchi in Edo State.

Like he did last year at the fourth edition of the race, Abmayr will take care of the elite athletes management which includes elite athletes recruitment, their travel and accommodation in Nigeria. “We are delighted to have Mr Walter Abmayr work with us again on this race which, for the third year running has received  international recognition as one of only two road races in the African continent with an IAAF label status,’ said Dare Esan, spokesman for the race.

Esan also revealed that Mr Abmayr will assist with the technical organisation of the race alongside other officials from Nigeria. “Our objectives for the race are clear and one of them is to continue to have that international recognition and move up to the silver-label ranking. To do this we decided to re-engage Abmayr whose track record in the technical organisation of road races across the globe and the management of the elite athletes field is second to none.

“He is well respected in the sport of athletics, especially road races and has,since 2013 been in-charge of the elite athletes field at the IAAF bronze label LATTELECOM Riga Marathon in Latvia. “Mr Abmayr was also in-charge of the technical organisation of the International University 10km Road Race in Heidelberg, Germany from 1987 to 2000 and the gold-label Singapore international marathon (2008-2010),�  revealed Esan.

The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race still holds its position as the only road race in Nigeria nay West Africa to receive the prestigious IAAF bronze label award thus confirming the high quality and excellent organizational level of the race.

Each year IAAF awards the leading road races in the world label status to enhance quality of the races. The award is based on a wide range of criteria; including technical requirements to secure health and safety of participants, achieve high results, certain media and promotion requirements and many more.

For the fifth edition this year, the course is officially measured according to Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) standards, the first and only road race course to be measured by a certified measurer in Nigeria.

The Federal Government will remain a major stakeholder when the Lagos State Government concludes renovation of the National Stadium complex in Surulere, Lagos.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, made the clarification when he paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, in his office in Alausa.

He explained that the Federal Government will not completely take its hands off the management of the National Stadium when it is renovated but will remain a partner and maintain its own equity in the facility. “Taking over ownership and management of the National Stadium does not mean Lagos state will completely discharge our equity. No. The federal government will still reserve its rights just like it is in other national sporting monuments

that have gone through the same process. The intention basically is to abate the national embarrassment being faced as a result of the stadium’s present state.�

The minister noted that the facility has produced great sportsmen and women who are the symbol of the country’s sports pride but they cannot look back and point at the origin of their success. “In uplifting and renovating the National Stadium, we are also willing to assuage the emotions of those who have made Nigeria proud in the past. It will also help to groom young Nigerians who will serve in future and create employment opportunities, foreign investments and develop a tourist tradition.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to drive the process to a logical conclusion and also assured Ambode that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue

to partner Lagos state in other areas where they can add value to humanity.

Earlier, Ambode thanked the minister, describing the step taken in giving the stadium a facelift as a convergence of vision. “Our visitation and inspection of the National Stadium is a clear example of what a true leader should do in times of difficulty.

The white collar job is gone and so we have to think out of the box to create employment for our people and activate their creativity and ability to use their skills and earn income.�

The Lagos State governor pledged the state’s commitment to youth and sports development, promising to use sports as an instrument to galvanize the state’s economy. “This stadium that you’ve seen is not only for Lagosians .

It is for Nigerians and foreigners.

That is our own sports tourists’

attraction. We have our own Teslim Balogun stadium but the National Stadium will catapult us to be able to create other sports facilities across the state. We will be able to generate employment for millions of Lagosians. There is no amount of investment that we both commit to this project that will not bring back returns to Nigeria. So we will support you in whatever steps that need to be taken, up to the final processing for this national stadium project to come to fruition. “ At the end of the day, it will be to your credit that we had Ministers of sports and Directorsgeneral of sports but there was one Solomon Dalung that came across and built bridges across the nation. That’s the history I want to create with you and I believe we can make this happen and also give you all the support you need to make sports grow in this country�, Gov Ambode said.

SNEPCO JUNIOR TENNIS

Lone Foreign Entrant Advance to Qâ€™ďŹ nals Adekya Kaftkarren, the lone foreign entrant in the ongoing SNEPCo Junior Tennis Championship is through to the quarterfinals with an 8-5 victory over Ajayi Abayomi.

The 16 year-old Indian will now play the fifth seed Ezekiel Ekong who defeated Lukman Abdul-Malik 8-3 to qualify for the next stage.

In other boys’ 18

quarterfinal matches, No. 2 seed Augustine Stephen thrashed Garba Abdullahi 8-0 to stay on course for another possible encounter in the finals against top seed Michael Osewa who is also through.

The top two seeds in the girls 14 were merciless against their round of 16 opponents.

No.1 seed Timipre Maxwell defeated Mandy Enoffiong 8-0,

a score matched by second seed Rebecca Ekpeyong who also eliminated Ajiri Imoniefano 8-0.

There was a minor upset in the girls’ 10 round robin where Reya Holmes beat Mary Benjamin runner up in the category at the CBN Junior Championships two weeks ago 8-4. Another young talent Serena Teluwo also advance with a convincing 8-1 score

against Blessing Akpan.

The tournament which is featuring 158 players in five age categories - boys and girls 10 & under, 12 & under, 14 & under, 16 & under and 18 & under - is a project of the International Tennis Academy.

The championship continues today at 10 am at the National Stadium Surulere with quarterfinal matches in all categories.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

THURSDAYSPORTS

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Barcelona Pulls off Greatest Fight back in History to Reach Q’final Beats PSG 6-5 aggregate as Messi equals Ronaldo’s record Sergi Roberto scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time as Barcelona capped a sensational Champions League comeback to thrash Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 and reach the quarterfinals last night.

Despite Luis Suarez’s early opener, a Layvin Kurzawa own goal and Lionel Messi’s penalty, Barca, who lost the first leg 4-0, looked down and out when Edison Cavani volleyed home what seemed to be the vital away goal for PSG. However, Neymar restored Barca’s belief as he firstly fired home a sensational free-kick two minutes from time and then converted from the penalty spot.

And Roberto capped the biggest comeback in Champions League history when he stretched to turn home Neymar’s dinked cross to the delight of a near 100 000 at a rocking Camp Nou, making the score 6-5 on aggregate.

Barca also enter the record books by reaching the quarterfinals for a 10th straight season. Messi’s penalty against Paris Saint-Germain saw him equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s 11-goal record as the Champions League’s most potent player from the spot.

Outgoing Barca coach Luis Enrique warned the French champions on Tuesday that his side were capable of scoring six and they needed the full 95 minutes to pull off a miracle revival.

No side had ever come back from a 4-0 first leg deficit in the Champions League, but after much pre-match hype of a historic turnaround, Barca truly believed when Suarez opened the scoring after just three minutes.

The PSG defence was stationary as Marquinhos headed Rafinha’s cross high into the air and Suarez nipped in ahead of the flapping goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to nod in despite Thomas Meunier’s best efforts to clear off the line.

In a role reversal from the first leg, Barca’s high pressing wasn’t allowing the visitors any restbite, while PSG failed to take advantage of the huge spaces in behind the Barca defence on the counter-attack.

Neymar was inches away from delivering a spectacular second when he drilled just wide from well outside the area before Trapp easily collected a Suarez effort from an acute angle.

However, Barca’s hopes were further raised five minutes before the break thanks to more shambolic PSG defending.

Andres Iniesta reached Suarez’s hopeful through ball and his backheel provoked Kurzawa into shanking the ball into his own net on his weaker right foot.

The second period started just as the first ended as Barca edged closer to the history books when Neymar was clipped by the prone Meunier and, after consultation with one of his assistants, German referee Deniz Aytekin pointed to the spot.

Messi made no mistake with the penalty to rifle home his 11th Champions League goal of the season.

Only when 3-0 down did PSG begin to come out in search of the crucial away goal and were nearly rewarded immediately as Meunier got to the by-line and his low cross was turned onto the post by Cavani.

The Uruguayan had to wait just 10 minutes more, though, to find the net.

Kurzawa made amends for his earlier error by heading down a free-kick and Cavani connected sweetly on the volley to register his 38th and seemingly most important goal of the season.

PSG were then to rue to huge missed chances to put the tie completely beyond Barca.

Firstly, Cavani should have had his second as he was played in by Draxler, but this time MarcAndre ter Stegen stood up to block with an outstretched leg.

PSG’s two-goal hero from the first Angel di Maria had started on the bench, but the former Real Madrid man should have rubbed salt in Barca’s wounds five minutes from time when he somehow skewed wide with just Ter Stegen to beat.

Just when Barca looked down and out Neymar restored hope when he curled home a sensational free-kick high into the top corner.

And as the match entered stoppage time, Barca were awarded a second controversial penalty when Suarez tumbled under a challenge form Marquinhos.

Neymar this time took responsibility to send Trapp the wrong way.

And the Brazilian also showed a cool head among a mad final minute when he cut inside before chipping into the box for substitute Roberto to extend his right leg just enough to beat Trapp and leave PSG floored.

Sergi Roberto (centre) celebrating his winning goal for Barcelona with team mates… last night

Europa: Rostov Pitch Riles Mourinho Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has criticised the pitch for his side’s Europa League match against Russian side FC Rostov tonight.

Rostov, fifth in the Russian Premier League, plays at the Olimp-2 which was built in 1930 and has a capacity of just over 15,000.

Ahead of the last-16, first leg tie, Mourinho said: “It’s hard for me to believe we are going to play on that field - if you can call it a field.

“I don’t know which team to play.”

UEFA told BBC Sport the pitch “may not be in perfect condition, but has been deemed playable” following a pitch inspection yesterday.

“The match will go ahead as scheduled,” a spokesperson added.

Mourinho drew comparisons with the quagmire that saw United’s pre-season friendly against Manchester City in Beijing called off.

“In a very similar pitch in

the summer in China, we and Manchester City decided not to play. But it looks like we have to play.”

The Portuguese manager insists the pitch could affect his team selection. Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is available after missing two games with a hamstring injury, but now Mourinho does not know whether to risk him.

“I don’t know what team to play, really. I don’t know if Henrikh Mkhitaryan is going to play, I don’t

know,” said Mourinho.

In December, Mourinho was angered by UEFA making United play the Europa League groupstage decider at Zorya Luhansk on a frozen pitch.

Asked about his latest grievance he said: “I just had a quick contact with one gentleman from UEFA when I was looking at the pitch and when I told him about my concerns, the gentleman just told me, ‘The players are insured, if something happens no problem’.”

Upsets Rule Kandaval Bournemouth Defender to Serve Cup T’tennis Tourney Five-match Ban for Violent Conduct It was upset galore at the finals of the 6th edition of Kandaval Inter-school Table tennis championship, ‘Kandaval Cup’ as the defending champions in both boys and girls categories were sent packing in the quarter final rounds of the annual tourney which took place at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja recently.

Top seed and defending champion, Gbadamosi Dare of Isheri Grammar School was dismissed in two straight sets by Muiz Adegoke of Birch Freeman High School who went ahead to win the boy’s singles event while Muibi Barakat of Stadium High school who had earlier trashed the Zainab Moruf, the defending champion in straight sets in the semis won the girls’ trophy at the expense of Adetunji Adeola of Oduduwa Senior Secondary School.

In addition to the trophies, each winner got a tablet and

other prizes including a slot in the high level training program organised by the sponsors. They will be tutored

by Coach Sylvester Dominic at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Meanwhile, sponsor of the annual championship, MD/CEO of Kandaval Communications Ltd, Tony Obot, applauded the players for their skills and called on other stake holders to contribute their quotas to the development of table tennis in Nigeria rather than the usual complaints.

‘I have since called it quits with criticising and now put my money where my mouth is, let us all join hands and make the sports great again’ He added.

Kandaval Inter School Table Tennis Championship is an annual competition specially created to develop talents from the grassroots for the sport of ping pong in the country.

Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings will serve a five-match ban for violent conduct after a Football Association panel ruled he deliberately stood on the head of Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The 23-year-old landed with his studs on the forward’s head during Saturday’s fiery 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Ibrahimovic elbowed Mings shortly after, and accepted a three-match ban.

Bournemouth said they it was “extremely disappointed” with the FA’s decision.

Speaking to the BBC after Saturday’s match, Mings denied any intent.

He said: “It was a good battle, you know exactly what you are going to get playing against him (Ibrahimovic). There will be things highlighted more than others, but I enjoyed it.”

Mings will miss Bournemouth’s next five league fixtures but is due

to return for the match at Tottenham on Saturday, 15 April.

The Cherries are 14th and five points above the relegation zone.

They will be without Mings for almost half of their remaining 11 games this season.

Mings’ ban leaves Eddie Howe’s side increasingly short of defensive cover. Simon Francis is still out with a hamstring injury, Nathan Ake has returned to parent club Chelsea and Marc Wilson has joined West Brom on loan after making only three appearances for the Cherries.

It also adds to a tough start for Mings in the Premier League, having been sidelined for a year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament on his debut inAugust 2015.

“AFC Bournemouth is extremely disappointed with the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision to find Tyrone Mings guilty of the charges against him and impose a five-game suspension following Saturday’s incident at Old Trafford

involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“We will study the detailed reasons of the commission once they become available but find it extraordinary that the charges can be described as ‘proven’ when there is absolutely no evidence to prove the incident was intentional.

“It is our strongly held belief backed up by our relationship with the player, and knowledge of his background and character - that it was an accidental collision.

“Tyrone twice apologised to Ibrahimovic during the match for the accidental collision and also reiterated that there was no intent straight after the final whistle in a series of television interviews.

“We fully support our player.

Tyrone has an excellent disciplinary record and has not been sent off in 75 matches as a professional. During that time he has only received 13 yellow cards - the last of which came in April 2015.

“The club will be making no further comment.”

Thursday, March 9, 2017

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MISSILE Emeka Ihedioha to Modu Sheriff “For you to say that Sheriff is at the helm of affairs of our party is simply saying we have no party and by the way; like a friend of mine said, rather than work with Sheriff in the same PDP, he would rather join APC because the Sheriff faction is like joining APC through the back-door” – Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Sir Emeka Ihedioha on the antics of the factional PDP National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Battered, Bruised and Broken THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

I

n the past three weeks, no fewer than a thousand Nigerians have been deported from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Belgium, South Africa and Libya.

Meanwhile, we are still awaiting the deluge that will come from the United States given the resolve of President Donald Trump to unleash a policy of “settlers and indigenes” on his country. It doesn’t matter that his own grandfather, Friedrich Trump, in 1905, wrote a letter to the German authorities begging that he and his family be spared the pain and humiliation of deportation.

If you excuse the diplomatic blunder in issuing an American travel warning which is not within her remit, I still believe the Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has done well on the issue of Nigerian deportees from abroad. But it is time the authorities began to find a lasting solution to the problem of our citizens who, desperate to get out of Nigeria, now find themselves in a bind in foreign lands where they are no longer welcome.

Last week, another batch of 180 Nigerians arrived from Libya to join the 171 colleagues who were brought back a few days earlier by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) after they had spent several months in Libyan detention facilities. Among them were physically and psychologically broken men, malnourished children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. They came back not only battered and bruised but with harrowing stories.

From South Africa, where many of our nationals have in recent weeks been under Xenophobic attacks, 97 Nigerians (95 males and two females) were also deported back home last week by their government allegedly for committing various offences. As it would happen, they arrived on the same day 41 Nigerian girls who were trafficked to Mali for sex and labour exploitation were evacuated back home. On Tuesday night, another batch of 37 deportees arrived Lagos from Italy while many more are still on their way home from Europe and America.

I can relate to the stories of many of these Nigerians essentially because of the travails of my younger brother which formed the kernel of my 1st October 2005 ‘Platform Nigeria’ intervention titled “If We Stay Here We Die” which resonated with many Nigerians, given the feedback I got after. But my worry is that we are not doing enough to discourage the mindset among majority of our young people that tend to suggest that the grass is greener on the other side.

At a time when multiculturalism is under a serious global threat, it is important for our young people to know that attempting to go abroad is no longer a ticket to the good life that it used to be in the past. It is now almost like a death sentence for majority of those desperate enough to try the land route who may end up either in the Mediterranean Sea or rot in some African jails. Even for the educated ones who may seek emigration for economic reasons with valid (tourist) visas, the opportunities for them abroad are shrinking by

Abike Dabiri-Erewa the day aside the indignities that now await them in the countries of their dreams should they be lucky to get in.

However, rather than blame Europe and America for the growing anti-immigrant sentiment, it is also important for us to reflect and put ourselves in their position. For instance, while the number of poor people continue to decline in other regions of the world, Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries currently account for half of the global poor, according to a World Bank December 2015 Report. The irony of it is that it is those same poor countries that are witnessing explosions in their populations, bringing up children whose future are hardly planned for.

I have highlighted in the past on this page, a 2010 report sponsored by the British Council and coordinated by David Bloom, Harvard Professor of Economics and Demography, titled, “Nigeria-The Next Generation”. The report remains instructive as it states inter alia: “Nigeria is at a crossroads: one path offers a huge demographic dividend, with tremendous opportunity for widespread economic and human progress, while the other path leaves Nigeria descending into quicksand.”

The kernel of that point is to ask: what kind of population are we breeding? Even when I have not conducted any research, most educated and relatively comfortable people in our society no longer subscribe to having many children.

They have only the number they believe they can care for. On the other hand, those who are at the bottom of the society have no qualms about having as many children as they like without considering the welfare of those they are bringing into the world. For instance, I have a friend, a professional with a very good job who has three children because, as he said, that is the number he can comfortably care for. Meanwhile, his driver has 13 children from three women!

I predicted on this page several years ago that the 1974 controversial book, “Life Boat Ethics: The Case Against Helping The Poor”

by Garrett Hardin could one day become the

handbook for policy makers in most immigration departments of Western countries. Now, I have been proved right as most countries close their doors on desperate economic migrants. That was what brought Mr. Donald Trump to power and led to the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom.

To appreciate the message, I want to republish some parts of the rather interesting theory so that the relevant authorities in our country can begin to appreciate the challenge before us as we strive to reposition our economy while at the same time thinking of policy options on how to control our population. In Hardin’s words: “If we divide the world crudely into rich nations and poor nations, two thirds of them are desperately poor, and only one third comparatively rich, with the United States the wealthiest of all. Metaphorically, each rich nation can be seen as a lifeboat full of comparatively rich people. In the ocean outside each lifeboat swim the poor of the world, who would like to get in, or at least to share some of the wealth. What should the lifeboat passengers do?

“First, we must recognise the limited capacity of any lifeboat. For example, a nation’s land has a limited capacity to support a population and as the current energy crisis has shown us, in some ways we have already exceeded the carrying capacity of our land. So here we sit, say 50 people in our lifeboat. To be generous, let us assume it has room for 10 more, making a total capacity of 60. Suppose the 50 of us in the lifeboat see 100 others swimming in the water outside, begging for admission to our boat or for handouts.

“We have several options: we may be tempted to try to live by the Christian ideal of being ‘our brother’s keeper’ or by the Marxist ideal of ‘to each according to his needs.’ Since the needs of all in the water are the same, and since they can all be seen as ‘our brothers,’ we could take them all into our boat, making a total of 150 in a boat designed for 60. The boat swamps, everyone drowns. Complete justice, complete catastrophe.

“Since the boat has an unused excess capacity of 10 more passengers, we could admit just 10 more to it. But which 10 do we let in? How

do we choose? Do we pick the best 10, ‘first come, first served’? And what do we say to the 90 we exclude? If we do let an extra 10 into our lifeboat, we will have lost our ‘safety factor,’ an engineering principle of critical importance. Suppose we decide to preserve our small safety factor and admit no more to the lifeboat. Our survival is then possible although we shall have to be constantly on guard against boarding parties. While this last solution clearly offers the only means of our survival, it is morally abhorrent to many people. Some say they feel guilty about their good luck. My reply is simple: ‘Get out and yield your place to others.’ This may solve the problem of the guilt-ridden person’s conscience, but it does not change the ethics of the lifeboat. The needy person to whom the guilt-ridden person yields his place will not himself feel guilty about his good luck.

If he did, he would not climb aboard.

“The harsh ethics of the lifeboat become harsher when we consider the reproductive differences between rich and poor. A wise and competent government saves out of the production of the good years in anticipation of bad years to come. Joseph taught this policy to Pharaoh in Egypt more than 2,000 years ago.

Yet the great majority of the governments in the world today do not follow such a policy. They lack either the wisdom or the competence, or both. On the average, poor countries undergo a 2.5 percent increase in population each year; rich countries, about 0.8 percent. Because of the higher rate of population growth in the poor countries of the world, 88 percent of today’s children are born poor, and only 12 percent rich. Year by year the ratio becomes worse, as the fast-reproducing poor outnumber the slow-reproducing rich…”

What the foregoing suggests, as I have written in the past, is that it is no longer easy for our nationals to run abroad in search of the proverbial greener pastures that are not there anymore; even for the citizens of the host nations. The only solution is for us to put our house in order. That also entails having to rethink the issue of population control. It is in our collective interest.

Death of Onukaba

T

he late Mr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo was running from armed robbers when he met a most gruesome death last Sunday on what has become one of Nigeria’s most treacherous roads.

And there can be no better tribute to the accomplished journalist than the one paid on Tuesday by my brother, Dr Reuben Abati. In Onukaba, Nigeria lost an illustrious citizen and a fantastic human being.

Incidentally, while I had a good relationship with Onukaba, as to be expected of people in the same profession, it was not journalism that drew us close. It was our children; or rather, their (former) school. When my

family returned from the United States late in 2011, my wife decided that our children should not return to the school they were attending before we left Nigeria. That was how they ended up at Funtaj Primary School, Asokoro, where the late Onukaba’s daughter was also attending. And with both of us doing school runs every morning, it was natural that our paths would cross.

Even though my senior by some years both in age and in the profession, Onukaba treated me like a friend and an equal. When I heard about his sudden death on Monday, I could not but shed tears. I pray God to comfort the family he left behind.

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