Friday 28th April 2017 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Fidelity Bank Records Double Digit Growth in Earnings, Profit in Q1 Nume Ekeghe Despite the challenging and fiercely competitive environment, Fidelity Bank Plc yesterday reported a solid financial performance in the first quarter of 2017, posting

an appreciable growth in its profit and gross earnings for the period ended March 31, 2017. A statement by the lender showed that in its unaudited result released at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) the bank’s gross earnings rose

by 18.8 per cent from N34.4 billion in March 2016 to N40.8 billion for the corresponding period in March 2017. Similarly, Fidelity Bank’s profit before tax in the period surged by 20.5 per cent from N4 billion in 2016 to N4.8 billion

in 2017, just as it recorded a growth in net interest income, deposits, loans and other performance indices. Speaking on the results, Fidelity Bank CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo said the double digit growth in earnings and profit

underscored the disciplined execution of the bank’s medium-term strategy and a business model that enables it to continue to deliver improved performance in line with its 2017 financial year targets. “Gross earnings growth was

driven by a combination of increased yields on earning assets and an absolute growth in the volume of earning assets which led to a 24.1 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) growth Continued on page 10

Naira Strengthens as CBN Offers $100m in Wholesale Forwards… Page 49 Friday 28 April, 2017 Vol 22. No 8044. Price: N250

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Presidency: Buhari Hasn't Fully Recovered, Doctors Advised He Takes Things Slowly… Page 49

NEC Concedes Natural Resource, Ecological Funds to States, LGs Puts balance of both funds at N104.5bn, ECA at $2.2bn Says security agencies have begun crackdown on armed herdsmen A’Ibom joins Rivers, Bayelsa to challenge oil revenue sharing formula for PSCs at S’Court Omololu Ogunmade and Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Economic Council (NEC) rose from its monthly meeting held yesterday in the Presidential

Villa, Abuja, with cheery news that states and local governments would henceforth keep their share of the natural resource and ecological funds. Continued on page 12

2017 Budget: Police Succumb, Return Items Seized from Goje’s Home Senate, House give conflicting timelines for passage of Appropriation Bill Omololu Ogunmade, Damilola Oyedele, James Emejo and Paul Obi in Abuja After the Nigeria Police initially issued a strongly worded statement yesterday morning denying that they carted away the report on the 2017 budget and related documents from the

residence of the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje during a raid on his residence, the police succumbed to subtle armtwisting from the National Assembly forcing the Force to return the items. Continued on page 10

House Asks President to Seek Clarity on EFCC Act from the Court… Page 50

L-R: Chairman, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Aliko Dangote, and acting Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, during the annual general meeting of Dangote Sugar Refinery, held in Lagos… yesterday

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

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˜ ͰͶ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE TEN FIDELITY BANK RECORDS DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH IN EARNINGS, PROFIT IN Q1 in interest income,” he said. The Fidelity Bank helmsman also spoke on the impact of the bank’s efforts at reducing operating cost. “Our cost optimisation initiatives continued to deliver cost savings, as total operating expenses declined y-o-y by 10.4 per cent to N14.4 billion, this

was driven by a decline in over 60 per cent of our operating expense lines in Q1 2017. “We will continue to optimise our cost profile without impacting service delivery through the disciplined execution of the initiatives from our recently completed business optimisation project,”

he explained further. Deposits, which is a measure of customer confidence, in the period under review, grew quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) by 0.9 per cent to N800 billion in March 2017 from N793 billion as at December 2016, with low cost deposits accounting for 79.4 per cent of total deposits.

On the whole, said the statement, the bank’s retail strategy has continued to deliver impressive results with savings increasing by 5.6 per cent to N163.7 billion as at March 31, 2017. Ranked amongst the top Nigerian lenders, Fidelity Bank has a strategic retail distribution

network with a presence in the major cities and commercial centers across the country. Rising from the recent rebranding exercise, the bank has become one of the most visible bank brands in Nigeria, gaining accolades and recognition for its superior e-banking products and

services and promoting small businesses. Its SME financing strategy is delivered through a multifaceted approach that includes robust business advisory, practical handholding and guidance of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to building sustainable businesses.

possible because of what happened. But the good news is that we are doing everything possible to ensure that we catch up for lost time. “So, by the grace of God, I’m thinking that by next week, we should be able to finish our own work and pass the budget for Mr. president to sign,” he said. Lawan who also said the Senate might screen the two ministerial nominees whose names were recently sent to it by the president next week, added that other nominees sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation might also be considered. “Certainly not this week because this is the last legislative day of the week but I have the feeling that the Senate may be looking at that and indeed others, by next week insha Allah (by God’s grace),” he stated. Lawan also said he had visited the president in his capacity as the Senate Leader because it was his responsibility to get the president acquainted with Senate bills and other requests. He said he has a duty to ensure adequate engagement of the president with a view to ensuring that he performs his duty creditably as the Senate Leader. However, in the House, its spokesman Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas yesterday warned that except documents relating to the 2017 Appropriation Bill which were reportedly carted away from Goje’s residence by the police were turned in, the budget’s passage could be delayed by at least two weeks. Speaking to reporters during the weekly media interaction, Namdas, who was possibly unaware that the so-called budget documents allegedly taken from Goje had been returned, said should the police be unable to produce copies of the seized documents, both appropriation committees of the House and Senate would have no option than to attempt to reproduce the missing portions of the budget, stressing that this could take some time to accomplish. He said: “I want to tell you that we still stand on our resolution that there are documents in the possession of the police and we expect that if those documents are with the police, they should be able to make them available. “One thing that I’ve come to confirm is that even the police agreed that they took a laptop from his house and whoever has taken a laptop also knows that there are documents. “But the truth I must tell you is that this is the word of Goje against the police. You should understand the fact that the police invaded the house of Senator Goje and took some documents and certain things. “And Goje himself said documents relating to appropriation had been carted away by the police. So I want you to understand that it’s Goje's word against the police.

“But what I want to let you know is that if the police are unable to produce these documents, personally I would say we will have to go back and try to reproduce this report and that would take us backwards certainly close to about two weeks. We’ll have to reproduce some of the documents that are missing.” When Namdas was asked to give reasons why the committee would have to resort to reinventing the wheel to reproduce the documents when it was expected that the House Committee on Appropriation in particular should have a separate copy of the alleged missing documents. He responded: “You are all aware that the House and the Senate have been working together and that anything that is produced at the House, if we don’t send it to the Senate for concurrence it doesn’t become law. “And you all know that when we did a public hearing on this 2017 budget, it was planned along with the two chairmen of the appropriation committees. So whatever thing they do, they do jointly. “So, the missing documents will jeopardise the 2017 budget in terms of timelines. It is common knowledge that the police had invaded his house and he said the documents were missing. So if the police say it is not missing, it is Goje’s word against the police. “But for us, if he’s unable to lay his hands on these documents, it means all committees have to sit down to rebuild these documents and it’ll take some time and that’s why I’m saying it will delay us.” He also defended the rationale behind taking official documents home, stating: “Gentleman, let’s be fair, we are public officers and if you are in the office, the kind of attention people demand of you sometimes makes it difficult for you to conclude your job. “So if you work on a document and you feel tired and want to go home with some of the documents and still work on them there’s nothing wrong with that because of pressure in the office,” he pointed out.

2017 BUDGET: POLICE SUCCUMB, RETURN ITEMS SEIZED FROM GOJE’S HOME According to THISDAY findings, the police were forced to fold after the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, was confronted by the legislature with evidence of alleged misappropriation of police funds under his watch. Goje at plenary on Wednesday had said his personal laptop and 18 files, some of which were related to the 2017 budget, were taken away during the raid which occurred last week, thus affecting his committee’s capacity to meet the deadline for the laying and passage of the budget immediately after the Easter recess. He also disclosed that the sums of N18 million, $19,000 and 4,000 Saudi Riyals, were seized. Reacting, the National Assembly had blamed the raid on Goje’s residence for stalling the passage of the 2017 budget, following which it ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris to return all the items in less than 24 hours. Summoned to the National Assembly immediately, Idris had met with the leadership of the Senate on Wednesday evening behind closed doors, where THISDAY gathered that he claimed that the raid was informed by “credible information” about huge sums of illegal monies in Goje’s home. Idris had allegedly said that the police was reliably informed that Goje had collected huge sums of money to make some inputs in the 2017 budget. Sources further informed THISDAY that at a separate meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Police Affairs, also on Wednesday evening, Idris was confronted with facts of alleged misappropriation carried out under his leadership of the police force. “Remember that after the House Police Committee summoned him several times he refused to appear, until the House at plenary summoned him in January this year. “He was confronted with the misappropriation of the 2016 budget for the police after he used N1.2 billion approved for the purchase of 10 armoured personnel carriers (APC) for the purchase of 64 Toyota Hiace commuter vehicles without approval from the National Assembly for virement,” the source said. The House last January had also accused Ibrahim of diverting N6 billion appropriated for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 102 police stations to other uses without approval by the National Assembly. “These are criminal offences which constitute a breach of the Appropriation Act, violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Public Procurement Act. “The investigations were tabled after he eventually appeared and the House leadership of Wednesday let

him know that they were ready for him, if that was the route he wanted to go,” the source added. After the meeting with the leadership, the source explained that Idris was forced to back down and directed his men to return all the seized items, including monies to the senator at his home at about 11 a.m. yesterday. The Special Adviser to the President, National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, confirmed that the seized items had been returned in a statement. The statement said: “Further to the visit of the Nigeria Police Force to the residence of Senator Danjuma Goje in the course of the routine duties wherefore certain items were taken by the police, and issues subsequently arising, I am to inform all that the items taken in the course of routine police duties have been returned to the Distinguished Senator at his house by the Nigeria Police. “Further to state that all other issues relating to the subject matter are being addressed with a view to positive resolution. Meanwhile, we sincerely appreciate the Senate and the House of Representatives for the enormous work that they have put in to ensure the timely passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill.”

Police: Goje Lied But before the items were returned, the police yesterday had issued a statement alleging Goje had lied, adding that the 38 files that were taken from his residence had nothing to do with the budget. Police spokesman, CSP Moshood Jimoh maintained that there was no iota of truth in the statement by Goje. He said: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to reports in the media credited to Senator Danjuma Abdullahi Goje captioned, ‘Blame the Police if 2017 Budget is not Ready - Senator Goje.’ “The report in its entirety is false, misleading and capable of misinforming Nigerians about the statutory roles and duties of the Nigeria Police Force as provided under Sections 4 & 28 of Police Act and Regulations, which includes prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations, and authority to enter any house or premises to execute a search warrant. “It is pertinent to set the record straight and inform Nigerians of the facts of the matter. A search warrant duly obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danujma Goje on 20th April, 2017 at No. 10 Haile Salasie

Street, Asokoro District Abuja which was subsequent upon an intelligence report at the disposal of the Force that large sums of money suspected to be stolen public funds and other incriminating items were about to be moved out of the said house. “The Nigeria Police Force sees the report in the media credited to Senator Danjuma Goje as a deliberate distraction to cast aspersions on the police investigation to pervert the end of justice. “Members of the public are hereby implored to disregard the report, as the search warrant which was professionally executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje had nothing to do with 2017 budget.” Jimoh explained that on arrival of the police team at Goje’s house, the housekeeper, Ango Usman informed the senator of their presence and mission of the team and he promised to come home but later switched off his phone. “The search warrant was successfully executed in the presence of three close relatives of Senator Danjuma Goje who were residing in the house and the recoveries were made in their presence. “The three relatives listed below opened the house and took the police team round the building and endorsed their signatures after the completion of the search as required by the procedure of law on the search warrant which contained the money, documents and laptop recovered, and none of the items included 2017 budget documents. This is available for inspection by any interested members of the public. “Danjuma Mohammed, a Master’s degree holder from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Chartered Quantity Surveyor is a nephew to Senator Danjuma Goje; Ango Usman, housekeeper to Senator Danjuma Goje; Aisha Umar, alias Iklima, a step daughter to Senator Danjuma Goje were at the house,” he said. Jimoh disclosed that the items recovered included N18,056,000, $19,850, 9, 400 Saudi Riyal, 38 files and six envelopes containing documents. He maintained that the documents contained information on a variety of issues, but not the 2017 budget. He stressed that there was no single document relating to 2017 budget sighted or removed by the police team that executed the search warrant and there was a video recording of the execution of the search warrant. “The Inspector General of Police honoured the invitation of the National Assembly on 26th April, 2017 to explain the legality of the search warrant that was executed in the house of Senator Danjuma Goje on the 20th of April, 2017, while further investigation is currently ongoing

into the matter,” he said.

Senate, House Give Conflicting Timelines But just as the dust was settling over the items carted away from Goje’s house and the blame game over the delay of the budget’s passage, the Senate and House yesterday gave conflicting information on when the Appropriation Bill will be passed and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent. Whilst the Senate said it would pass the budget next week, all things being equal, the House said its passage would be delayed by at least two weeks due to files taken from Goje’s residence. Speaking on the issue the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan said the upper chamber would pass the 2017 budget and begin the screening of ministerial nominees next week. Lawan, who made the statement while answering questions from State House correspondents after visiting the president, said he was very hopeful that the Senate would have concluded its entire work on the budget next week and consequently pass it for onward transmission to the president. Lawan further explained that following the parliament’s inability to pass the budget in March, as initially conceived, it had rescheduled its passage to this month, a move he said was stalled by the sudden raid on Goje’s house. However, he said the chamber was currently working assiduously to ensure it makes up for the lost time and passes it within one week. “Let me say that there is nothing to worry about. The National Assembly had intended to pass the budget in March but because of some parameters that we didn’t have control over, we couldn’t pass it. “It was our design and desire to pass it within this month, April, but somehow, something happened. “One of our colleagues, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje’s house was raided by the police after a whistle blower gave information and when parts of those documents were taken away, it was reported that parts of the budget papers were included. “This and other things that happened and essentially the trauma that Goje went through, affected the process of budgeting. “When we were going on Easter recess, members of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, including that of the House, did not go on recess. “They stayed back because that was the arrangement, so that by the time we returned on April 25, that was Tuesday, they should have laid the report of the budget. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

˜ ͰͶ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE TWELVE

Why Oba of Lagos ‘Snubbing’ Ooni of Ife Shocked Nigeria Deep respect for leaders is a pillar of the culture of the Yoruba people, one of Nigeria’s biggest ethnic groups. But at a recent public event, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, 74, refused to properly greet the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, 42. As the Ooni leaned over to greet the Oba by shaking his hand, what he got instead was a dismissive wave and what looked like a scowl of disdain. It’s quite unheard of for traditional leaders to rebuff each other in public. And for a lesser leader, like the Oba of Lagos, to rebuff the Ooni of Ife, the spiritual head of all Yoruba people, is an even graver offence. Though there are various interpretations by historians and scholars on the origins of Yoruba people, the Ooni of Ife is widely acknowledged as the overall leader and is known as the “king of kings”. The Oba - of which there are up to 50 in Lagos alone - is

seen to be a lesser traditional ruler, even though he is older. It is not clear yet what upset the Oba of Lagos. But there is speculation it could relate to a spat that goes back over a century. A long rivalry existed between the two thrones even before the colonial era. The ancestors of the Oba of Lagos were loyal to the powerful Benin kingdom, an area south-east of Lagos rather than the Ooni to the north-east. But on independence, the country was divided into different political zones. Lagos fell into roughly the same zone as the Ooni of Ife. In Nigeria, greetings are all-important - from the roadside to the boardroom, how you say hello says a lot about you. So when the video of the disdainful greeting emerged, Nigerian social media were stunned. But as many people have pointed out, the traditional rites of Nigeria's ancient

disrespect not only for the Ooni of Ife but to Yoruba culture as a whole. Most people are watching to see what happens next. The Oba is not a stranger

to controversy. In the run-up to the 2015 national election, a video surfaced on the internet in which he threatened ethnic Igbos living in Lagos that if they didn’t vote for his candidate, they would be thrown “into the lagoon”. Of course, the slight could be the result of a personal gripe. Others have suggested the age difference between the lesser yet older traditional ruler may have played a hand. Nevertheless, it holds a deeper significance. “The Oba’s behaviour undermines the royal institution of the Yoruba people,” says Yoruba scholar Kola Tubosun. He says this kind of gesture shows that traditional institutions are in need of deep reform. “It sends a wrong signal - that the norms, values and culture of the Yoruba people are being taken for granted.” r $VMMFE GSPN UIF ##$

According to them, the suit also deals with the mandatory stipulations in Sections 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act. The plaintiffs averred that the defendant is vested with the ownership and control of all crude hydrocarbon petroleum oil and gas in the country. They said this ownership power vested on the defendant includes the collection of revenue into the Federation Account and Consolidated Revenue Fund. They further said the oil revenue is held in trust for the federal government and its component federating states. “In furtherance of the statutory responsibilities imposed on the defendant, it established various Production Sharing Contracts over various concessions in the inland basin and deep offshore areas, some of which fall into the plaintiffs geographical areas. “These Production Sharing Contracts became necessary as the country was almost bankrupt in the mid 1980s to late 1990s. “The country could not afford its counterpart funding for further exploration and production in the oil industry, then shifting to the rich and prolific offshore reserves. “The necessity for juicy concessions to oil giants with fiscal incentives, attractive waivers and pegged negligible taxes were offered in exchange for their sourcing or applying own funds in exchange for shared profit oil funds,” they averred. They further argued that the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act expressly states that the “profit oil” is the remainder of the available crude oil after deduction of royalty oil, tax oil and cost oil. They averred that the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act provides that “profit oil” shall be shared between the

defendant and the oil companies in the manner specified in the contract. According to the three oil producing states, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act further put a ceiling on the said profit oil sharing formula to the extent that the price per barrel of crude oil does not exceed $20 per barrel. The plaintiffs are therefore asking the court to decide among others, whether by virtue of Sections 162(1), (2) and 10(a-b) of the constitution, in view of the alleged irregularities, they were not underpaid and short-changed in real terms. The plaintiff are also seeking a consequential order compelling the defendant to adjust the share of the Government of the Federation as approved by the defendant from the respective times the price of crude oil exceeded $20 per barrel. They said the shortfall should be calculated with effect from August 2003. The plaintiffs, therefore, said all outstanding statutory allocations due and payable to them arising from the said adjustments should be settled. Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Lucius Nwosu (SAN) said the suit was not a hostile litigation against two warring parties. “It is more like a litigation intended to interpret the provisions of sections 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basic Production Contracts Act. “And this requires that at any time that the price of crude oil exceeds $20 per barrel in real terms, that the share of the profit oil revenue should be reviewed,” he said. According to him, such a review will make it more economically advantageous to the federal government. However, the counsel to the defendant, Mr. Tijani Gazeli, said the AGF was yet to file his process, as the required information needed from agencies of government in the oil sector was still trickling in.

The video that captured the Oba of Lagos waving away the Ooni of Ife cultures are complicated. And with relatively little history preserved in writing, the lines can be blurred. Others reacted by pointing out that such an incident

could have had far more serious consequences in the past. The general feeling on social media seems to be that the Oba of Lagos showed

NEC CONCEDES NATURAL RESOURCE, ECOLOGICAL FUNDS TO STATES, LGS Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor of Anambra State, Mr. Willie Obiano said the states and local governments’ share of the funds would now be used by the affected states and local councils for emerging interventions. Obiano also disclosed that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) told the council that the natural resource fund balance as of March 31, 2017 stood at N70.9 billion while that of the ecological fund was put at N33.6 billion. He also disclosed that the council constituted a committee comprising the Ministers of Finance and Environment and some states – Oyo, Borno, Imo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom and Benue – to audit the ecological fund and come up with recommendations on how the its proceeds would be shared. Obiano also said the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, told the council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as of April 26, 2017 stood at $2.2 billion, adding that the Efficiency Unit set up in her ministry had thus far saved N17 billion since inception. “At the 76th NEC meeting held today at the council chamber and chaired as usual by the vice-president, the following resolutions were arrived at: First, on the natural resource fund and ecological fund, the Account General of the Federation (AGF) briefed the council on funds as follows: “Natural resource fund as of 31st March was N70.9 billion. Ecological fund as of that date was N33.6 billion. “States and local governments are now to keep their share of natural resource and ecological funds for use for interventions as the need arises in their respective jurisdictions. “Council decided that an audit of the ecological fund be carried out. A committee comprising Oyo, Borno, Imo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Benue and Ministers of Environment and Finance has been set up to

do the audit and come up with recommendations on how the fund shall be managed. “The Minister of Finance gave an update on the disbursement of the Paris Club refunds and preparations for the next round of payments to states after the first disbursement. “Governors expressed appreciation to the president for the previous disbursement of the refunds and noted that there are expectations for the next rounds of disbursements from the federal government to the states. “The Minister of Finance told the council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account as of April 26, 2017 stood at $2.2 billion. “The Minister of Finance made a presentation to the council on the operations of the Efficiency Unit in the ministry. She informed the council that the unit has been efficient. It has saved N17 billion since its creation,” he said. The governor also said the council expressed its appreciation to the minister and advised governors to emulate her by equally establishing Efficiency Units in their respective states with a view to entrenching systems that will improve efficiency, reduce cost and block leakages in line with the fiscal sustainability plan. He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo also updated the council on the progress of four of the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) of the administration, which he listed as N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, Homegrown School Feeding Programme, and the Government Economic and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) for micro-credit. He said the council was informed about certain factors hindering the implementation of the programmes, adding that the states and federal government resolved to collaborate and eliminate the obstacles to the successful implementation of the SIP. Obiano said the council

therefore resolved to upgrade the states’ coordinating units of the SIP to governor’s offices for better and more effective collaboration. Also briefing newsmen, Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong said the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, told the council that there were 9,646 suspected cases of Meningitis in six states. He listed such states as Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi and Kaduna, adding that as of April 25, 2017, about 767 deaths, representing 9 per cent of victims of the disease had been recorded. “About N46.7 billion is required to vaccinate the valuable population. Council expressed grave concern over the ravaging effects of the meningitis outbreak in parts of the country and directed the Federal Ministry of Health to intensify its intervention efforts to contain the embarrassing epidemic while advocating for increased funding for the health sector. “The minister in his presentation called for the establishment of a National Health Emergency Fund to be domiciled in the presidency under the supervision of NEC Chairman,” Lalong added. In his briefing, the National Security Adviser (NSA), MajorGeneral Babagana Monguno (rtd.) said he briefed the council on the security situation in the country, especially on the protracted conflict between armed herdsmen and farmers, notably in places such as Kaduna, Taraba and Benue States, among others. He said the council was informed that the security agencies had commenced a nationwide crackdown on armed herdsmen, gunrunners, cattle rustlers, militants and other perpetrators of violence. “Governors gave a robust response to the presentations, commending efforts of the federal government so far in tackling the security challenges and advocated for more

collaboration between the federal government and states. “Council resolved that there is need to have an extraordinary session dedicated to discussing security issues in the country as a means of deepening the issues and effectively addressing the menace,” he said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday fixed November 14, 2017 to hear a suit instituted against the federal government by Rivers and Bayesla States challenging the outdated oil revenue sharing formula for oil and gas assets operated under Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs). Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour led other six justices of the Supreme Court to announce the date after a preliminary session on the suit. Bayelsa and Rivers States had approached the Supreme Court last year to interpret various constitutional provisions and the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act. However, Akwa Ibom yesterday applied to join Bayelsa and Rivers States, hence necessitating the adjournment of the suit to November 14. The three states are challenge the loss of N500 trillion oil revenue to oil companies operating in Nigeria due to negligence in the execution of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is the sole defendant in the suit. The plaintiffs are urging the court to invoke its jurisdiction by interpreting Sections 80(1), 162(1), (2) and (10) of the 1999 Constitution. They also called for the interpretation of Section 16(1) of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act of 2004. The plaintiffs said the suit relates to fiscal responsibility of the defendant regarding alleged unaccounted oil revenues due to them.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

COMMENT

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

NEEDED: A NEW DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR AFRICA There is need to rethink the role of the state, donors and the private sector to sustainable development, argue Marcus Courage and Patrick Utomi

he commodities downturn has revealed the fragility and structural weaknesses of many African economies. With fast-growing populations, African states are under intense pressure to deliver for their citizens. At the same time, austerity is impacting Africa’s traditional donors, with foreign governments focused on domestic priorities rather than overseas largesse. Meanwhile, climate change and income inequality are fuelling conflict and migration and creating new humanitarian challenges. As David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, has noted, ‘the scale and complexity of current humanitarian needs are increasingly out of step with the resources, policies and practices available to meet them.’ It’s clear to us that we need a new approach to development. We need to rethink the role of the state and the contribution of donors and the private sector to sustainable development. We need progressive new compacts which engage all actors to solve the continent’s toughest, most intractable development challenges together. We have the frameworks to guide this. The Sustainable Development Goals alone contain 17 goals and 169 targets. In our view enterprises have a vital role to play in development. They are skilled at delivering public goods and services and can often be held more accountable than governments. In our view governments must understand their limitations and recognise that they alone don’t hold the solutions. Countries like Botswana realised this long ago and have managed to create inclusive growth by enshrining cooperation and conversation with industry and civil society in the enforcement of mining laws, for example, to generate shared value for society from its diamond wealth. Rwanda holds some lessons for us too. The discipline introduced into its development planning process now extends to the use of data and evidence from industry and civil society for policymaking. Across the board, we need to encourage greater collabora-

WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A NEW DEVELOPMENT MODEL WHICH LOOKS AT THE CONTRIBUTION OF DIVERSE PARTNERS TO DELIVER POSITIVE IMPACT AND TO SOLVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF A COMPLEX PROBLEM

tion and greater pooling of evidence from governments, donors, private sector and NGOs in order to determine which policies deliver the greatest positive impact. At the heart of this needs to be a focus on the beneficiaries - the people who all too often are passive recipients rather than active participants in the development process. We need to focus on measuring not just outcomes but impact - not how many classrooms were built or teachers hired but how many children are receiving a quality education and building relevant skills and knowledge they can deploy productively in decent jobs. Defining these collective goals – through the Sustainable Development Goals framework – and creating clear accountability around each actor’s part in achieving the goal, needs to be given much more focus. New coalitions of donors, corporates, governments and civil society, powered by new models of blended finance, offer fresh solutions to old problems. By freeing parties from the restraints of their traditional roles each actor can be encouraged to bring their full skill set, networks and technologies to bear. This is about solving the thorniest market failures and the most intractable social challenges, which in turn will create more predictable operating environments and a larger addressable consumer market for industry - critical factors for job creation on a massive scale. We are advocating for a new development model which looks at the contribution of diverse partners to deliver positive impact and to solve different aspects of a complex problem. This might be stimulating agricultural production in northern Zambia or it might be cleaning up the Niger Delta and creating sustainable income-generation opportunities for communities. That’s the model we need in Africa today, and a model that Africa can export to the rest of the world. Courage is founder and CEO of Africa Practice Ltd, while Prof. Utomi is a Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert

EMERGING GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES IN GOVERNANCE Akintola Benson –Oke writes that public rendering of accounts is an effective way for government to fulfil its responsibility of being transparent

t has been noted that one measure of determining a government’s alignment with citizens’ expectations is to ask the following three questions: one, do the citizenry feel as though government officials abuse their powers or act in the interest of the common good? Two, do citizens feel disconnected from government and its policies? Three, is government service delivery perceived to be inadequate? The answer to the questions above will offer a clear glimpse into the level of effective government performance vis-à-vis citizens’ expectations. However, this appears to be relevant in theory only. This is because a careful scrutiny of the questions above will reveal the near impossibility of collating credible and unbiased responses to such questions. It is then more useful, to my mind, to consider, as an introductory address, the specific practical and empirical illustrations of the expectations from the citizenry from the government. Indeed, the delivery of value to citizens is the fundamental objective of any democratically-elected government. In today’s world, however, the delivered value must be delivered per excellence. This is chiefly because citizens have become sophisticated and exposed to the standards of governance in other climes such that their expectations have been conditioned to demand and insist on compliance with global best practices at all levels of governance. Meeting these expectations is the central challenge for governments in the developing world. Thankfully in Lagos State, we have a government that has boldly embraced this challenge and is, in fact, executing a reasoned-out plan to transform governance and its processes in such a way that the ever-changing and complex expectations of citizens can be admirably met. Led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the present administration in Lagos State is poised to examine those areas, processes and institutions and practices that need to be overhauled or remodelled in order to achieve this end. In approving this training, Governor Ambode has let us into his vision for governance in Lagos State. From my vantage position as a commissioner in this administration, I can confirm that it is a vision of a Lagos State where government objectives, processes and services meet the global standards-conditioned expectation of citizens. I hope that this will mark yet another milestone in

Governor Ambode’s administration’s quest for excellence in governance. As earlier mentioned, the overriding observation today is that citizens expect the government to comply with global best practices in democratic governance. But I will devote this piece instead to the examination of the outline of the practical steps that have been taken in other climes and are now regarded as best practices. The first is the compilation, release and maintenance of a resource that essentially act as a citizens’ manual. This should be a quick reference resource that details the necessary steps and requirements for citizens to quickly complete official procedures. It should also provide information on which government office is responsible for each transaction and should provide the respective contact information of key stakeholders. Among others, such an initiative will improve government efficiency - providing the necessary information for common processes and procedures in an easy-to-use resource can reduce the number of people in lines at government offices, and allow government staff to spend more time helping citizens complete processes and less time providing instructions. As a result, government staff can be more efficient and productive; increase citizen satisfaction by providing citizens with the information they need on how to process a request in an easy-to-use resource, citizens can adequately prepare to complete their transactions and processes in one visit. These officials are to ensure that citizens have a positive experience interacting with the government. Another best practice is that of public rendering of accounts. This is a practice whereby government publicly reports to and informs citizens of government’s expenditures and investments over a given period of time. This forum is similar in structure to a town hall meeting and is open to all citizens. These fora are another way in which citizens can see how their government is investing public funds. These exercises can be participatory and allow citizens to ask questions and comment on government spending, or non-participatory, where government simply presents information to the public. Doing this can help create citizens buy-in. By creating opportunities to inform and discuss public finances with citizens, the government can foster an

informed and involved citizenry. Providing citizens with information regarding government budgets can contribute to constituents feeling they are part of a community development process, and as such cultivate citizens buy-in. It will also increase government transparency and accountability. Informing citizens of government spending, especially if done on a regular basis, is an effective way for government to fulfil its responsibility of being transparent and accountable. These types of initiatives can also reduce outside opportunities for negative speculation looking to undermine the work of a particular administration. Another obtainable best practice is participatory budgeting. This is a practice whereby a government reserves funds from the annual budget and allows citizens to determine the allocation of these resources. Working alongside government representatives, citizens discuss and determine community needs and priorities, and subsequently identify projects (or programmes) to address these. Participation is not limited to organised civil society, but rather is open to all citizens. This approach engages citizens in the decisionmaking processes of the government. Providing citizens a direct voice in the budgeting process allows for their meaningful involvement in decisions that directly affect their communities. By allowing citizens to participate in prioritising development projects in their communities, the government can additionally foster citizen buy-in and ownership of local projects which can significantly increase acceptance of development initiatives within a community. Furthermore, this approach will improve government transparency. Citizens’ involvement in the budgeting process can help reduce citizens’ speculation and misinformation regarding the work of government. In addition to heightening transparency of the management of public funds and decentralising certain aspects of decision-making, participatory budgeting allows for meaningful citizens participation. Besides, by developing a methodology to directly engage and consult with a broad group of citizens on government expenditures, government can use real-time information to inform its planning process as well as respond to citizens needs in a direct and transparent way. Live media shows are a mechanism through which government officials can directly and effectively communicate with constituents. Through

radio or local television, governments can provide up-to- date information on the work of government as well as foster discussion on local issues. Over the course of these programmes, citizens have the ability to call in and ask questions or express thoughts and concerns to government officials and staff. Without a doubt, this will increase government transparency and accountability activities and programmes. Greater citizens’ access to information on the work of their governing institutions is one of many ways in which to increase institutional transparency. Likewise, creating opportunities and mechanisms for citizens to directly engage government officials will lead to increased institutional accountability. This mechanism will also ensure that the government stays engaged with citizens on key issues. Live media is an effective mechanism for enhancing direct communication with constituents. Frequent programmes allow government to keep citizens up-to-date on public initiatives underway in the community as well as discuss any pressing issues within a relevant time frame. Live media shows are also an effective tool through which to gauge citizens’ response to the work of government. Another benefit is that it improves government responsiveness. By having an established medium through which citizens can express concerns and raise questions on anything from public safety to a poorly lit street corners, government officials can more effectively respond to pressing needs in the community as well as use citizens’ feedback to shape future policies and projects. Furthermore, it increases government accessibility. Live media shows have the ability to reach a large audience on a regular basis. Broadcasting programmes during prime time will also ensure more citizens are exposed to important information. These are some of the practical approaches that are now regarded as best practices globally. The value to be derived from them is not quantifiable. But, as always, we must take great pains to carefully domesticate them taking care to avoid importing practices that are not workable under our local circumstances. Beyond this, however, we must be challenged to aspire to the high standards of governance that the citizens expect from the government. Dr. Benson-Oke is Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

EDITORIAL AJAOKUTA: THE PRIVATISATION OPTION It is a deft move that should be encouraged

n what could be described as cheering news from the mining sector, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said recently that the government was putting in a lot to ensure that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex â&#x20AC;&#x153;gets back to lifeâ&#x20AC;?. Pledging that it â&#x20AC;&#x153;would no longer be run as a public concernâ&#x20AC;?, Fayemi added that investors with proven track records and ďŹ nancial capability would be encouraged to buy into the scheme through a competitive and transparent bidding process. To say that the Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd (ASCL) has for decades been a metaphor for broken dreams and gross mismanagement is to put the situation mildly. It was once tagged, without any exaggeration, as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest â&#x20AC;&#x153;white elephant project.â&#x20AC;? Located on 24,000 hectares of sprawling green-ďŹ eld landmass, the contract for the project was signed between the federal government of Nigeria and Messrs Tyajzhprom Export (TPE) of the former Soviet Union in 1979 during the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo as military head of state. But the company, earlier labelled as ONLY COMPETENT Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;bedrock of INVESTORS WITH PROVEN industrialisationâ&#x20AC;? has RECORDS, SELECTED over the years become THROUGH AN OPEN AND an emblem of shame TRANSPARENT BIDDING and waste, such that PROCESS SHOULD BE Fayemi revealed AWARDED THE AJAOKUTA recently that the federal government PRIZE spent over $10 billion on the steel company without providing the technological and the iron and steel needs of the country. Though about 98 per cent technically completed as at the time the project was sold to some Indians, it was later abandoned allegedly after valuable assets had been stripped. Following that misadventure, Ajaokuta was left to rot in one of the most embarrassing cases of scavenging in recent history. It is therefore heartening that the federal government is determined to ensure that the past is consigned

Letters to the Editor

to history. It has renegotiated the concession agreement with Global Steel Holdings Limited and Ajaokuta has at last returned to the government, thus ending the long-drawn dispute that has lasted for almost a decade. Indeed, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was so impressed that all the encumbrances that made it impossible for two major national assets to function had been overcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a tragedy of immense proportion that we have both Ajaokuta Steel Complex and NIOMCO and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get anything out of them for years,â&#x20AC;? he said. That settlement, according to Fayemi, was a pointer to what to expect in the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination to ďŹ x the Nigerian mining sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is one of the key milestones in the road map for the growth and development of the Nigerian mining sector,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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he travails of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy in the past few years have exposed the dangers of overreliance on a mono-product. The lessons from total dependence on oil and gas as the only dependable source of foreign exchange earner are too cruel on the economy to gloss over. President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly promised to diversify the Nigerian economy. Some noticeable efforts are being made in the area of agriculture. The iron and steel industry offers yet another good alternative. The sector will not only create massive jobs for many of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployed graduates, it will catalyse industrial growth. It is in this light that we approve of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intention to privatise Ajaokuta Steel Company. Even if only N4 billion was allocated to the company in the present appropriation bill, the prospects for the steel company are good. If properly managed, it could help trigger the much-needed industrialisation in the country as well as stimulate growth in the iron and steel subsector. We implore the government to ensure, as it has assured, that only competent investors with proven records, selected through an open and transparent bidding process should be awarded the Ajaokuta prize. We cannot afford the costly mistakes of the past.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to speciďŹ c 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.

GOV. GAIDAM: AN HONOUR TRULY EARNED

s Yobe State emerges from nearly six years of acute security challenges, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has stayed true to his commitments, stepping up effort to cover lost ground and making it a little easy for a people so thoroughly traumatised to get back on their lives. For, while Gujba and Gulani local government areas of the state are the hardest hit by Boko Haramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senseless violence, all of Yobe State was directly affected. There were Boko Haram violent incidents in 12 of the 17 local government areas but there were ripple effects in all 17 local government areas of the state. As the Gaidam administration focuses attention on bringing water and sanitation, healthcare and education services to the people, its focus on a key ingredient in the service delivery mix â&#x20AC;&#x201C; civil servants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has remained unwavering. Even at the height of the Boko Haram scourge, when a large chunk of Yobeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revenue earnings were going into supporting military, police and other security agenciesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; counter-terrorism campaign against the insurgents, the Yobe State Government, under Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, has regularly paid workers in its employ. When some sections of the country, as the now ebbing recession set in, initially resorted to asking for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bail outâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; funds from the federal government to pay workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; salaries, Governor Gaidam kept paying Yobe workers without fail. And part of the reason he was able to do this was that, as someone who knew what it means to keep a balanced sheet, he avoided taking unnecessary bank loans to finance projects; loans that, when deducted at source, left the indebted state governments with virtually no money to fulfil basic obligations, including salary payments. Those workers who have retired from the services of the government also do smile home with their pension payments as well. They unfailingly receive their gratuity payments once verification processes were fulfilled. So consistent has the Gaidam administration became in the payment of retiree

pension benefits, that the governor set aside a dedicated ongoing N50 million-permonth fund from which to pay the pensioners every month. The result is that Yobe State has emerged as one of a handful of states in the country where workers remain confident in the knowledge that after a life of service, their labour and strivings will automatically and immediately be rewarded and recognised; that 35 years of working for the state government will never go to waste. This is what informed the award that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) conferred on Governor Gaidam and five other governors at their 10th triennial delegatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; conference in Kaduna. All six of them are recognised for staying true to the obligations of their workers who have spent a lifetime of service and who, as they retire home to a full time with their families, require all the support they would get to settle down to a normal life. The Gaidam administration has gone a step further. Recently, through the office of the Head of the Civil Service, the Yobe State Government, for the very first time, organised a workshop for workers on the verge of retirement. It was designed to awaken them to the realities of life after retirement to help them plan, organise and execute a successful transition out of the civil service. At a time that an unofficial study elsewhere points to a disturbing trend in which many senior civil servants die within five years of their retirement because many couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possibly make ends meet, the workshop organised by the Gaidam administration for would-be retirees was a smart way of averting a catastrophe before it happened. Such is the investment of the Gaidam administration in the welfare and wellbeing of government workers who are the vehicle through which government policies and programmes are conceived and implemented.

Abdullahi Bego, Government House, Damaturu

TAX ON

IMPORTED DRUGS

our editorial on the above issue did not take into consideration that the policy was also meant to encourage and support local pharmaceutical manufacturing. Before now, while import of drugs was zero duty, local manufacturers were paying import duty for raw materials between five and 20% which was a disservice to the economy, labour, expertise and quality of medicines. Importers are mostly responsible for fake and substandard drugs. Dr. Obi Adigwe, o.p.adigwe@gmail.com

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017

POLITICS

Group Politics Editor Tobi Soniyi Email tobi.soniyi@thisdaylive.com 08033146139 SMS ONLY

PERSONALITY FOCUS

Sanusi Under Fire After stirring the hornet’s nest on the negative impact of Islamic conservatism in the north, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, is now under the fire from the northern establishment, writes Tobi Soniyi

f there is anything the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 is known for, it is the fact that he does not shy away from controversies. As governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he courted controversies by the way and manner he handled the restructuring of banks. In Africa, most governors of central banks will not speak against the government under which they serve. But not Sanusi. He wrote a letter alleging that $49.8 billion oil revenue was yet to be accounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). As a result of this letter, his tenure as CBN governor was terminated when in February 2014 President Goodluck Jonathan placed him on suspension. So, when he decided to take on the authority in the north, Sanusi was merely behaving to type. Not many were surprised when he chose to speak on issues that were considered a ‘no go area’ for Muslims, not to talk of an Emir. Before he spoke in Kaduna, Sanusi had called on all religious and traditional leaders to refrain from beating their wives, adding that they would lose their titles if they do so. Although, what Sanusi said was not news to southerners, what is news is that, a highly placed northerner is saying it loud and clear. What did Sanusi say that the authority in the north are now calling for his head? Speaking at an event organised by the Kaduna State to attract investors to the state, Sanusi said: “We are in denial. The north-west and the north-east, demographically, constitute the bulk of Nigeria’s population, but look at human development indices, look at the number of children out of school, look at adult literacy, look at maternal mortality, look at infant mortality, look at girlchild completion rate, look at income per capita, the north-east and the north-west Nigeria, are among the poorest parts of the world,” According to him, the poorest of the poor live in the north. He said: “As far back as 2000, I looked at the numbers, Borno and Yobe states, UNDP figures, Borno and Yobe states, if they were a country on their own, were poorer than Niger, Cameroon and Chad. “Nobody saw this because we were looking at Nigeria as a country that averages the oil-rich Niger Delta, the industrial and commercial-rich Lagos, the commercially viable Southeast, and you have an average. “Break Nigeria into its component parts, and these parts of the country are among the poorest, if it were a country. And we do not realise we are in trouble.” Sanusi also used the occasion to criticise Buhari’s economic model on the same day government approved the economic recovery plans. He said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria is spending 66 percent of its revenues on interests on debts, which means only 34 percent of revenues is available for capital and recurrent expenditures. “That model cannot work. If you look at the 2017 budget of the Federal Government, I sometimes wonder what Nigerian economists are doing? In the 2017 budget presented by the Federal Government, the amount earmarked for debt servicing is in excess of the entire non-oil revenue of the Federal Government, but that is not the problem. The problem is that it is a budget that is even going for more debts.” Sanusi did not stop there. He took on the Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari whose state was being ravaged by meningitis. The governor was reported as saying that God sent the decease to punish people for their sins. Sanusi said: “A governor actually said it was caused by fornication? If Nasir El Rufai sits

My father is not afraid of giving up his throne if it stands in the way of speaking the truth. Those who think that my father would keep quiet because he wants to hold on to his throne, I think they don’t know my father.

Sanusi....will not shy away from the truth

with investors in London or Abu Dhabi and tells them what he is doing, they will come and invest here. There is a battle of ideologies going on. A real battle without bombs of bullets being thrown (my words). We should stop allowing human beings appropriate our religions for selfish reasons.” The Zamfara governor would not go down without a fight. He described Sanusi as an hypocrite living large while his people suffered. In his response, the governor accused Sanusi of hypocrisy, saying he cared less about poverty level of his people - He also advised Sanusi to practise what he preached rather than throw accusation at others In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication, Mr Ibrahim Dosara, the governor said that Sanusi was riding on Rolls Royce while his subjects were in face of palpable poverty. The statement reads: “For those who consider the emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II to be anything but a first class intellectual, a consummate banker and a bona fide member of Nigeria’s royalty, the last couple of weeks were a dizzying spectacle of mixed messages on integrity, royalty and wisdom. “Within a perimeter of weeks, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, whose royal tentacles and social networks traverse the length and breadth of this country, lambasted the nation’s economic framework, the northern elite, subnational leadership especially the governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, and the traditional institution of marriage. “With due respect to our highly revered traditional institutions and royal fathers, as a blue-blooded family member himself, Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar holds the emir in very high esteem. “He believes that the emir as a brother and

co-occupant of elite positions in Nigeria, he could advise governors and those in positions of authority in several chains of communication that are richly available to him. But he preferred the public platform, for reasons best known to him.” The onslaught did not stop there. He was accused of squandering N3 billion of Kano emirate’s money on buying two Rolls Royce and on hiring chartered flights. Sanusi was also accused of “kissing, holding and romancing ladies in public” with the picture of him hugging a woman in public. But unfazed, and not known for shying away from controversy, Sanusi replied his critics with more threats. He said: “Those who are opposed to my views or think I am a problem have a much bigger problem to deal with in the next generation of the Sanusis. “They are far more radical, they are far more progressive, they far more committed and they are far more fearless. So, it is time we address all these issues before these tigers come on the scene.” Sanusi was born into the ruling Sullubawa clan on July 31, 1961. He started his education at St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Kakuri, Kaduna, where he obtained his first school leaving certificate in 1973. His father, Alhaji Aminu Sanusi, was a permanent secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs in the 1960s. Sanusi is the grandson of former emir of Kano and Islamic scholar, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, who was deposed and banished in 1963. A Lagos boy, the emir attended the prestigious King’s College, Lagos in 1972-77. He got a bachelor of science degree in economics in 1981 from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

In 1983-84, he did a master’s in economics at the same university, focusing on monetary policy. He actually started life as a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1983 after his national youth service in Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba). His private sector career began at ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers) where he was for seven years, working in corporate finance, treasury services, credit and marketing, attaining the position of Area Manager, North in1991. In 1997, he got a first-class degree in Sharia and Islamic Studies (with an elective in Arabic) at the International University of Africa, Khartoum, Sudan. On his return from Sudan, he joined United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc as a Principal Manager (Credit Risk Management) and by March 2005 he became a general manager, with expertise in Risk Management. First Bank of Nigeria Plc made him executive director (risk & management control) in 2005 and was appointed the bank’s CEO in 2008. His tenure at First Bank ended after only six months as former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua made him governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Those seeking to understand what drives the emir should listen to her daughter, Shahida. Representing her father at the first annual Chibok Girls lecture in Abuja, she said her father would gladly let go of the throne if it stood in the way of the truth. According to her, Sanusi had dedicated his life to the truth. She said had her father had always wanted to be the emir, but believed in the truth. She said: “My father is not afraid of giving up his throne if it stands in the way of speaking the truth. Those who think that my father would keep quiet because he wants to hold on to his throne, I think they don’t know my father. I know that he has always wanted to be the emir of Kano but to him, if it comes between what is right, what his conscience tells him and choosing the throne, he would happily give up the throne. My father has always been a part of one controversy or the other and it’s normal for us. We are not scared anymore. “And honestly, he has been a source of inspiration and pride. He never fails to fight. He fights for progress, liberty, justice and equality. Those who think they know my father should know that he will never be silenced by blackmail and intimidation. He lost his position once as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and I remember his quote that you can suspend a man but you can never suspend the truth. I know he does not mind being the most unpopular emir so long he speaks the truth.”

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017

POLITICS

PERSPECTIVE

Atiku and the APC National Convention The readiness of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to pander to the dictates of those in power is threatening to destroy a party that once promised to be fair to all its members, writes Udenna Orji

he ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been ravaged by internal dissent since it took power at the centre in 2015. Much of the blame for the crises in the party has been attributed to the disposition of the party leadership to pander to the whims and caprices of elements within the corridors of power, rather than adjudicate in fidelity to the party’s constitution. This leadership by sentiment, rather than by reason, has seen to the alienation of many party stalwarts who staked all they had for the successful formation of the party and its resounding victory at the 2015 general elections. That the party leadership developed a penchant for undermining its own constitution has brought the party to its present sorry pass and only a decision by the party leadership to stop breaking its own rules will ensure the cohesion needed by the party to again win the looming 2019 elections, which time table has already been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As the APC prepares for its National Convention which, until it was postponed indefinitely just recently, had earlier been scheduled to hold on April 29, the party leadership must refrain from engaging in under-the–table deals designed to scheme out or weaken the position of perceived political juggernauts in the party who are not in the good books of the elements in the corridor of power remote-controlling the leadership of the party. APC must learn from the Peoples Democratic Party. Some of the issues that snowballed into unresolvable disputes within the PDP, arose when those in power shut out ordinary members of the party. Of critical mention is the ongoing discussion to transform the Board of Trustees to an “Elders Forum” amidst suggestions for a drastic reduction of the number of people that will make up the Forum. The story making the rounds is that the change is to be used to weaken the political base and support of some members, preparatory to the APC presidential primaries that will come up next year. In his recently published memo to the president, Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufai highlighted the alienation of many people who fought the battles that led to the formation and subsequent electoral success of the APC in the 2015 elections. He regretted that even the Turakin Adamawa, former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, was being frozen out by a cabal that controls both the presidency and the party. The party leadership and the cabal must do well to ensure that a level playing ground is transparently on display for all members and aspirants in the party. Unless the cabals refuse to learn from history, the highhandedness and lack of internal democracy that led to the collapse of the PDP is already rearing its head in the APC. It will thus be a disservice to the interest of the APC if leaders of the party pretend that all is well and choose to sweep all alleged ills of the party under the carpet. In the face of recent developments within the party especially as it relates to intra-party squabbles amongst members of the APC, it is high time a stalwart like Atiku Abubakar was treated with respect and fairness, commensurate with his immense contributions to the party. Apart from the large followership Atiku enjoys

Atiku...sidelined by APC

nationwide which is an asset to the party, he also has the pedigree of being a party builder and trustworthy democrat. Indeed, Atiku has helped to give the

That the party leadership developed a penchant for undermining its own constitution has brought the party to its present sorry pass and only a decision by the party leadership to stop breaking its own rules will ensure the cohesion needed by the party to again win the looming 2019 elections, which time table has already been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

APC the pole position the party occupies among political parties in Nigeria. Rumours have been making the rounds that there is a grand scheme to cut the influence of the Turakin Adamawa by cabals in both the presidency and the APC. If these allegations are true, it is necessary to pass a note of warning to the cabal orchestrating such plots that they may end up being the bigger victims of their own poisoned chalice. Many of those who acted a similar antiAtiku script during the reigning days of the PDP have gone into political oblivion, while today Atiku still shines like the Northern Star. The party leadership should adhere to the rule of law and due process in running the party. Today, many seasoned politicians like Atiku are being scared away by people who believed the APC belonged to them. They remained an invaluable asset to the APC. Without them, APC’s victory at the 2015 election would have been an impossible task. As 2019 draws nearer, it will be a tragic mistake if these party faithfuls are sidelined. The party will have itself to blame in 2019 if those with experience are not given a chance. The APC leadership must not pander to the dictates of some politicians who are clearly afraid of the ever-growing influence of Atiku and have always come up with one plot or the other to deny him the opportunity of presenting himself to the electorate for election to public office. Of all those known to have contested

for or interested in contesting for the presidency of Nigeria, none can marshal the intimidating credentials of the Turakin Adamawa. Atiku’s verifiable track record as a good democrat, astute manager of men and resources, job-creation aficionado, visionary leader, detribalized Nigerian, sound economic and financial manger, nationalist and patriot, coupled with his acceptability among all the ethnic groups in Nigeria should make the APC to seriously consider fielding him as its presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election should he declare interest to run for the office of president. The APC and indeed Nigerians should pay special attention to Atiku’s incisive postulations on building the Nigeria of our dreams. Sentiments should not be used to deny Nigerians the services of Atiku as Nigeria’s president in 2019. Anybody desiring true positive change in Nigeria should look in the direction of Atiku in 2019. He is currently one of the few Nigerian leaders that will have the foresight, wisdom and courage to restructure Nigeria and end the colossal waste of resources and debilitating backwardness that have characterized our failed attempts at national development for several decades. For instance, Atiku’s manifesto and ideas appear to hold the key to Nigeria’s greatness. Rather than scare him away, the APC has a lot to gain by embracing Atiku and others who meant well for the party before it is too late. PDP ignored this timely warning, today it is paying for it.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ 2017

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

A S

A T

NIBOR 15.3333% 17.0332%

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

20.1621% 23.1621%

M A R C H 9 , NITTY 1-MONTH 2-MONTH

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157

2 0 1 7

13.0970% 14.0684%

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

15.7898% 19.6644%

EXCHANGE RATE N305.50//1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Mouka Advocates Good Sleep

Mouka Limited, a leading foam manufacturer, has urged Nigerians to be sleeping well to enhance a healthy living. Top management staff of the company spoke recently when they joined the rest of the world in marking the 2017 World Sleep Day celebration themed; “Sleep Soundly, Nurture Life”. The 2017 World Sleep Day (WSD) celebration is in furtherance of the global campaign to encourage good sleep which is very important to healthy living. A consultant Physician at the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Dr. Adegbaju Adebowale, who spoke at the event, warned that sleep and depression could become the No1 killer in the nearest future. The expert stated that scientific findings show that sleep is a performance enhancer, while depression is the opposite. He said sleep is a normal and essential part of life, and that the body requires sleep to regulate and rejuvenate. He listed some of the impediments to good sleep, adding that good sleepers take fewer calories, and that sleep improves concentration and productivity, thus lowering risk of heart disease and stroke. He went on to say that good sleep lowers risk of depression, while it improves immune function. He also said that very soon depression will be the number one killer in the nearest future. He listed sleep disorders to include hypersomnia, excess sleep, circadian rhythm-sleep-wake disorder, parasomnia and some sleep movement disorders.

Vodacom Business Wins Award

A BOOST TO STEEL SECTOR

L-R:Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Environment, Lanre Edun; Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye; Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; and Managing Director, Global Environmental Technology Limited, Mr. Tayo Seriki at the interactive meeting with management team of steel industries in Abeokuta ...recently

Customs Revenue Threatened as Seme Border Activities Are Badly Hampered Eromosele Abiodun Activities at Nigeria’s Seme international land border, which links other West African countries and noted for its busy nature in vehicular and human traffic have been badly hampered, following the ban on importation of vehicle via the land borders and the current economic situation. THISDAY investigation revealed that activities at the

MARITIME border, for the first time are at very low ebb, a development that has resulted in reduction in revenue generation. Disturbed by the challenge and the state of this retrogressive phenomenon in the command’s revenue, the Customs Seme Command officials were said to have visited the Atlas Park

and critical stakeholders to assess the situation and to know what can be done to reverse the trend. The team, THISDAY learnt, had discovered to its chagrin, an empty park with some broken down/ empty trucks. When contacted, the representative of the stakeholders and Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Seme Chapter, Lasisi Fanu attributed the prob-

lem to low level of economic activities and the prohibition of importation of vehicles, new and old, through land borders by the federal government. He added that the upward review of the value of imported goods by as much as 150 per cent by the Tariff and Trade Unit of the NCS to commensurate with the value of the goods and Continued on page 20

Firms in Talk with FG over Plan to Assemble Aircraft in Nigeria Chinedu Eze Austria aircraft manufacturing company, Diamond Aircraft Industries in collaboration with indigenous company, Interjet Nigeria Limited are in talks with the federal government on their plan to establish aircraft assembly plant in Nigeria. When established, the assembly plant will cater to the West African market and beyond. Diamond Aircraft Industries is an Austrian-based manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and motor gliders. It is the third largest manufacturer of aircraft for the general aviation sector, and had a global presence; possessing its own manufacturing

AVIATION facilities in Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria and in London, Ontario, Canada, as well as further production lines operated as joint ventures in other nations, such as China. Managing Director of Interjet Nigeria Limited, Seun Peters who confirmed the plan, said decisions would soon be taken on the project. “Interjet Limited, in partnership with Diamond Aircraft of Austria, is working towards building a state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Abuja to service Nigeria and other West African countries. We are confident that in view of our experience, the dream of

the Buhari -led Administration to turn Nigeria into a leading aviation hub for sales and maintenance of Aircraft in Africa will be realised,” he said. Diamond Aircraft Industries is supplying the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria 20 trainer aircraft with after sales skills training. During the commissioning of the delivery of the first batch of the aircraft the representative of Diamond, Reinhard Schwaiger confirmed the plan to THISDAY in an interview and said that the management of the company would take decision on when the plant would be established in Nigeria. On the delivery of trainer aircraft to NCAT, Schwaiger said the company had already

trained NCAT technical personnel that would be maintaining the aircraft “We have trained some personnel already. Diamond customer service is a one-stop shop. We train for the airframe and the engine,” he said. Schwaiger said his company in partnership with Interjet would work with NCAT and Nigeria to develop technical skills in aircraft maintenance when the plant would be established. Peters in his address during the commissioning of the newly delivered aircraft, said the College is expected to play significant roles in the development of aviation Continued on page 20

Vodacom Business Nigeria has added more awards to its list of accolades, winning The Internet of Things (IoT) Focused Company and Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year Awards at the 2017 Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Awards. The BoICT awards, which held at the weekend in Lagos, aimed to recognise outstanding contributions to the growth of information and communications technology (ICT) in Nigeria. While receiving the award, Vodacom Business Nigeria’s Managing Director, Mr. Lanre Kolade said; “We are proud of our achievements over the years and are grateful to all our customers who have come to realise the benefits of using our solutions. These awards recognize the leadership position we have established in delivering enterprise-grade total communications solutions in the industry. We will continue to take the lead in leveraging technology to drive businesses growth which will in turn accelerate economic development in Nigeria”. The 2017 BoICT Awards saw over 1,952 739 Nigeria CommunicationsWeek readers vote in different categories, with Vodacom Business Nigeria emerging as the clear winner of the Internet of Things Focused Company, a new category introduced this year. In addition, Vodacom took home the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year Award, a title the company held in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. The award follows the successful partnership recently established between Vodacom and Kaduna State Government to launch an ICT for development initiative. The project supportsmass service delivery in healthcare and education in Kaduna State through the deployment of mobile-based solutions to promote greater efficiency in each sector.

China Southern Orders 20 Airbus

China Southern Airlines has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for 20 A350-900s, becoming the latest customer for the aircraft. China Southern Airlines now operates one of the largest Airbus fleet in the world with more than 300 Airbus aircraft in service, comprising the A320 family, the A330 family and five A380s. President of China Southern Airlines, Tan Wangeng, said, “With its very long range capability, economic fuel consumption and spacious cabin, theA350 XWB is the ideal choice for our international long haul routes. The introduction of the A350 XWB will help to strengthen our position as one of the world’s leading international carriers.” Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft , John Leahy said, “We are proud to welcome China Southern Airlines as the latest airline to select the A350 XWB. The unrivalled operational performance, fuel efficiency and cabin comfort of the A350 XWB will give China Southern Airlines a competitive edge on its international network.” The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines.

“We have also paid significant attention to making it easier to do business and one of our immediate priorities in this regard, is the entry and exit of goods especially in our sea ports,” Vice President

Yemi Osinbajo

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

BUSINESSWORLD CUSTOMS REVENUE THREATENED AS SEME BORDER ACTIVITIES ARE BADLY HAMPERED cent by the Tariff and Trade Unit of the NCS to commensurate with the value of the goods and to meet the current economic realities was not favourable to importers This, he stressed made several importers to resort to change of route and divert their goods to routes that are less harmful to their business. Fanu added that the annual China breaks that usually takes place from January to February could also be a contributory factor to the low and dwindling revenue bedeviling the command. He also said the current economic recession occasioned by the increase in foreign exchange affected importation of general goods into the country. FIRMS IN TALK WITH FG OVER PLAN TO ASSEMBLE AIRCRAFT IN NIGERIA in Nigeria, considering the fact that it is one of the great aviation schools in Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are well aware of the role NCAT is expected to play in training quality manpower; first among equals for safety, standards and efficiency. This role is very crucial to the diversification drive of government to open our country to foreign investments; in this we are proud to be associated with the federal government in making this a reality. Our determination is to see NCAT re-positioned as a foremost international academy; a choice training aviation institution for professionals in the whole of Africa; we believe this is very possible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Aircraft are one of the safest and most durable in the world and come with advanced avionics and sophisticated Austro engines which run on JET-A1 which is much easier to purchase than Aviation Gasoline (AVGAS). The Aircraft are built with composite material which make them light weight and easy to fly and have a remarkable fuel efficiency. Our safety record is unmatched which is why our Aircrafts are the best and most sought after in the world today.

NEWS

FG Urged to Increase Investment in Renewable Energy Ugo Aliogo, Joshua Odebisi and Gloria Onoja As part of efforts to address Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long running electricity problem, experts have called for increased investment in renewable energy sub sector, pointing out that there are a lot of potential in the sector, which the government can tap into with a view to boosting the economy. Speaking at a recent breakfast meeting with journalists, the Sales Director at Eaton, Africa Region, Malvin Naicker, said there is need for Nigeria to focus on the key basics in the power sector, stressing that the concern should not be on attracting investors and making big plans to build new power stations, when the conduits to the end users are not fixed. He also stated that if the country does not fix the transmission lines, reticulation and the substations, all of the mechanisms to get power to the consumer and the generating capacity would amount to nothing. The Eaton boss declared that when the right things are done, the sector becomes more viable and attractive to investors. Naicker explained that the company is focusing on renewable and solar energy. He stated that coupled with the energy storage solutions, Eaton is able to offer solar as a third or fourth option, He explained: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In many instances, you have your grid and diesel generation, then you can put solar as your third option, when you can store it, that becomes

your fourth option for power. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a company, that is where we realised that we can add value, even though we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do power generation. So we will partner other suppliers for the solar panels because that has become a commodity. But the other downstream elements such as inverters, medium and low voltage switch gear; these areas that we are very strong and can add value to the consumer. The energy storage is a very scalable solution, so it is not only applicable to large businesses or conglomerates,

it can really be used for a residential home application, so you can have solar panels, diesel generation and incoming utility, then using our storage as a backup.â&#x20AC;? In his remarks, the Managing Director, Eaton, Africa Region, Seydou Kane, said the company is investing in Nigeria for the long term, stressing that Nigeria is a power house in terms of growth and economy in Africa and they are banking on such significant growth. He explained that apart from investment, Eaton is bringing in

products to Nigeria that have high value, fit for purpose and good for the industry, noting that storage is one issue his company has found applicable for the Nigerian market and they are eager to start promoting testing and piloting those solutions to go very fast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Timing is also a critical element in terms of making sure that you democratise opportunities for everybody to grow in the country. Our focus is more on the distribution side. We have products that are better tailored to delivering an efficient

and sustainable distribution network. Nigeria generates 4 Gigawatts but we believe only 2 Gigawatts is distributed, but we are working on solutions with the Distribution Companies (DISCOS) to distribute more efficiently so that almost all of the four will come to use,â&#x20AC;? Kane noted. Continuing, Kane explained that skills are absolutely critical and one of the models that worked internationally, which can be applied in Nigeria is Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

CAPACITY BUILDING

L-R: Cashless Policy Champion, Ondo State, Mr. Ayotunde Olaoba; General Manager, E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN), Ntia Nnene Sylvia; Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Akure, Mr. Yusuf Fatai; CEO, E-PPAN, Onajite Regha; OďŹ&#x192;cial, Shared Services, CBN Abuja, Mr. Babatunde Ajiboye and Senior Manager, Currency Control Unit, CBN Akure, Mr. Omolola Adegbenga, during the commencement of new sensitisation exercise on the cashless policy in Ondo Stateâ&#x20AC;Ś..recently

Edo-Azura Power Plant Excites World Bank, IMF Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Edo State Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance index in promoting Independent Power Plants (IPP) as a business model and opening up economic opportunities has received international recognition, as it became the cynosure of over 10,000 international personalities at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Spring Meetings last week in

Washington DC, THISDAY reliably gathered. This was as the Azura Independent Power Plant, financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which was expected to provide electricity to 14 million consumers, was highlighted to display how the World Bank Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collaboration supports the development and implementation of infrastructure development. The Azura Power Plant

project was initiated during the administration of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, in which Governor Godwin Obaseki, as the Chairman of the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Team, facilitated the project to the state, thereby making Edo state an investor destination in sub-Saharan Africa. The Azura power project included the construction, operation and maintenance of a 459 megawatts gas-fired open-cycle power plant near

Benin City, and was necessary to add power to the national grid while being considered a priority project for the federal government. With the ability to produce 459 megawatts in the first phase alone, the plant is expected to be the first greenfield Independent Power Project post sector reform to come online and has been described as a ground-breaking project set to pave the way for future private sector driven IPPs in

Nigeria. A statement from the office of the Chief Press Secretary (Interim), Mr. John Mayaki, disclosed that in a special publication widely circulated at the World Bank IMF Office Complex where over 10,000 participants were in attendance titled: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria: the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plantâ&#x20AC;?, it was revealed that the power plant was part of a scheme called the Energy Business Plan (EBP).

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Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x17D;ĂŁ Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Senior Correspondent

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Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x; Ă¤Ă? (Aviation) Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2022;Ă? (Labour) Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; (Maritime) Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2022;Ă? (Energy) Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122; (Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capital) Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039; (Money Mkt) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ě&#x2122; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ě&#x161; Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ě&#x2122; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ě&#x161;

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;E-Commerce Has Potential to Break Stock Market Boundariesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Emma Okonji The emerging e-commerce market has been described as a platform with strong potential to break barriers of all existing trades, including the stock market. Director General, Delta State Innovation Hub (DS IHUB), Mr. Chris Uwaje, who made the disclosure at a recent interactive forum with technology students, said he was particularly thrilled by the energy and innovation with which Yudala stormed the e-commerce market last year, and explained that Yudala, among other e-commerce

platforms, has the potential of breaking the boundaries of the Nigerian Stock market in the next few years, given its strategic positioning and futuristic combination of online and offline in the Nigerian e-commerce industry. According to Uwaje, the remarkable achievements and disruptions by Yudala, a fledging start-up launched at a time the Nigerian economy entered the current recession, makes it a company to look out for in the business space. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yudalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s achievements should instruct you to anticipate a golden future for your tech-

savvy generation. It is important you think outside the box and innovate like the founders of Yudala have done,â&#x20AC;? Uwaje said. He therefore called on the federal government to see reasons for it to throw its weight behind sterling start-ups in the technology sector such as Yudala in line with the huge potential of the sector as a major employer of labour. Uwaje who is the former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, the centre of gravity of the digital knowledge domain resides in understanding the chemistry

of information technology (IT) and software development ecosystem. Humanity today, lives in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;software-firstâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; world, where innovation, bold and disruptive creativity have become the centre of gravity of life and significance of human existence where over 3.6 billion people are connected to the internet, making e-Commerce the ultimate game-changer. For example, the Internet of Things (IoT) is projected to connect about 50 billion devices by 2020 at an estimated market value of about $19 trillion. In my professional evaluation, this represents the most construc-

tive, disruptive, and strategic pathway to Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future; a future dictated by technological know-how and where Nigeria must take the lead and protect her survivability.â&#x20AC;? Our future resides in the mastery, application and sustainable control of our intellectual capital. This is why Yudala has become the most creative and potent milestone in the innovation landscape and a company for major case study in 21st century. I encourage you to increase your passion for the technology sector and fuel your hunger to achieve because technology leaders are global citizens.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Taraba Speaker Advocates National Tea Policy to Boost Local Production Wole Ayodele in Jalingo The Speaker, Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abel Peter Diah has enjoined the federal government to formulate a National Tea policy in order to boost local production of tea in the country. The Speaker, who made the call while receiving members of the Senior Executive Course 39 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru who paid a courtesy visit to the Assembly on Wednesday, said lack of a national policy on tea was hindering the realisation of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full potential in tea production. Diah argued that the Mambilla Beverages Company, which is the only tea producing factory in West Africa has the capacity to meet the tea requirement of Nigeria as well as exports, adding that can only be realisable if the federal government regulates tea imports in order to boost local production. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is

an urgent need for the federal government to formulate a national tea policy in order to boost local production of tea in the country. There must be a deliberate attempt to regulate importation of tea if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re to become self-sufficient and generate foreign exchange through exports.â&#x20AC;? He noted that Mambilla Beverages produces all the varieties of tea including green and black tea, which are very fresh and more beneficial for human consumption than the expired tea being imported into the country from other parts of the world. The company, he further noted, has recently been revitalised by Governor Darius Ishaku, who procured state of the art equipment that are currently the most modern machinery for tea production in the world thereby positioning it to meet national demand. Diah also noted that lack of inclusiveness of the locals in policy formulation in the country over the years was responsible for some policy failures in the

country stressing that policies were being formulated in Abuja without the involvement of the local communities who are expected to key into and benefit from such policies. Insisting that Taraba has the potential to produce food for the entire nation if giving the necessary support, he appealed to the federal government to ensure fertilizers and other agricultural inputs meant for the state are availed at the beginning of each cropping season to enable the state to maximise its agricultural potentials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to appeal to the federal government to consider Taraba for fertilisers and other farm inputs at the beginning of every cropping season to enable us feed the nation. He however commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the realisation of Mambilla Hydro Power Plant project which is expected to generate 3050 MW of electricity saying his administration has demonstrated the zeal to ensure the project takes off.

Ambode Unveils Smartphone Assembly Plant in Lagos Emma Okonji Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has unveiled the AfriOne assembly plant, which has the capacity to assemble Nigerian-made smartphones in large quantities. The mobile phone plant, which was launched in Lagos recently, also has the capacity to manufacture and assemble mobile phone accessories. The governor, who was represented at the unveiling by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Olufemi Odubiyi, commended the management of AfriOne for the courage to build smartphone plant in Lagos, and pledged the commitment of the state

to provide the necessary support that would enable AfriOne thrive in smartphone manufacturing and assembly business in Lagos and beyond. According to Ambode, the siting of the plant in Lagos, would promote job opportunities for the youths as well as enhance skills training and development among students in tertiary institutions, as the state has partnered AfriOne to train students from tertiary institutions in the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our resolve as a state is to develop our youths through technology skills and the partnership with AfriOne, will help achieve the goal of the state,â&#x20AC;? Ambode said. Founder and Chief Executive

Officer of AfriOne, Mr. Sahir Berry, said he was delighted to locate the smartphone assembling plant in Lagos, and thanked the Governor for the support that AfriOne received from the state. AfriOne would soon launch its Nigerian-made smartphone brand and other consumer devices, which will be a technological breakthrough and precedent for the enterprise and Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge population, Berry said. With headquarters in Lagos, Berry explained that AfriOne would serve as a pioneer in the manufacture and assembly of high-end communications technology smartphones in the African space.

Tech Providers Collaborate to Boost African Payment System Emma Okonji MasterCard and Global Technology Partners (GTP), the repaid processing and payments solutions provider, have signed a partnership agreement that will result in the latest prepaid solutions being made available across Africa, to government institutions, financial services and corporate sector and consumers. The partnership will enable the development and implementation of a wide range of solutions across various markets on the continent. These solutions are aimed at supporting government payments, driving innovation in the travel and tourism sector and driving transparency and efficiency

for the financial services and corporate sector. Announcing the partnership deal recently, Division President, sub-Saharan Africa at MasterCard, Daniel Monehin, said; â&#x20AC;&#x153;African economies are in support of driving cash out of the financial system, and the introduction of digital payment solutions is in line with their cashless strategies. Businesses on the continent need smart solutions that will provide efficiency, but also offer convenient ways to track and monitor expenditure.â&#x20AC;? He said by providing MasterCard prepaid card solutions it would strengthen GTPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing offering in Africa, and provide consumers greater access to payment systems, international travel, and online shopping.

Prepaid cards also provide employers with an effective payroll solution, introducing a more efficient and transparent way for businesses to monitor expenditure. Chief Executive Officer at GTP, Rich Bialek, said; â&#x20AC;&#x153;MasterCard prepaid programs give cardholders greater access to the global marketplace, while advancing government efforts to increase financial literacy and inclusion. These programs also give businesses and government agencies a payroll solution that drives cash out of the system and provides essential financial tools to control cash flow. This partnership will also enable GTP to offer new payment solutions such as digital wallets and virtual cards to our customers.â&#x20AC;?

RISK MANAGEMENT WATCH Robert Mbonu

Of Regulatory Roles and Uncertainty

t is always grim news when any operator is fined or sanctioned by its oversight regulatory authority. Regulators are public authorities or government agencies responsible for exercising autonomous authority over some area of human activity in a supervisory capacity. Regulatory agencies are usually a part of the executive branch of government. They are commonly set up to enforce standards and Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; regulate commerce in every critical sector such Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; justice to mention a few. Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă? in laws and regulations will materially impact Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;ĂĄĂ? or regulations made by the government or a regulatory body can increase the costs of Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2039;ĘľĂ&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă? of investment and/or change the competitive landscape. The regulatory space has thus become Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă˘Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ę¨Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014;Ă?ËŞ Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?ĂŁ are selling. They will intervene promptly if they see or anticipate problems. Before this era of seeming tight regulations Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;ĂŁ ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; large vested interests to have virtually unimpeded sway in crucial decisions that had far-reaching Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;ĂŁË&#x203A; Ă? Ă?Ă˘Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x161;Ă? unsuspecting investors in a large number of cases. Ă?Ă?ĂĄ Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; and selling their products above approved prices. Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2039;ĂĄ Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; ÍşÍ¸Í¸Î&#x20AC; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2039; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019; much room for improvement remains. There are Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă?Ă˘Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; clout and relative impunity against regulatory Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Ă Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022; within which they operated. While some sectors appear to be tightly Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014; ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x203A; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁË&#x153; and institutional failures are deeply rooted in ĂĄĂ?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;ĂŁË&#x203A; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ę¨Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x161; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ę¨Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x153;Ă?ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă? and healthy operating processes. The dearth of Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ę¨Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;ĂŁĂ?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĘŠĂ?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă? explanations for failure to enforce regulations Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă?ĘľĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ë&#x203A; Sanctions such as closures of defaulting operators Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁ Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ę°Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ă? through taxes. Some laws in our business environment Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă?ĘľĂ?Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;

Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄ Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁË&#x153; we observe how regulators are standing up to Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022;ĂŁ Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; in various sectors. This stamping of authority must however not create uncertainties that could be counterproductive. Regulation should not result in business failures. Regulators should be the solution and not the problem. They must understand the changing dynamics of the businesses within the sectors overseen. The public interest must be protected rather Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2018;Ă?ĘľĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x;Ă&#x161; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014;ĂŁ ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? our political culture. One of the primary goals of the regulatory Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?ËŞ Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ę¨Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂŁĂ?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă?ĘŠĂ?Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁË&#x203A; Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2018;Ă?ĘľĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ę°Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ę°Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? 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Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x153;Ă?ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;ĂŁ Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă? deemed acceptable. Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă?ĂĄĂ&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă? 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Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2018;Ă?ĘľĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ě&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014; wellbeing of every sector. There needs to be a clear and fairly exercised reward and sanction programme that is consistent and transparent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and applies to every organisation from the biggest to the smallest. There is a translated Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x152;Ë&#x17E; ËŠĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2039;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ËŞË&#x203A; Keeping decay from the roots of our businesses Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022;ĂŁ Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? Ă&#x2018;Ă?ĘľĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; the right reward and sanction process in place.

Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x17E; be employed to strengthen enterprise-wide compliance programmes and implement eďŹ&#x20AC;ective Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ intervention are critical to achieve stable business environment and sustainable development. The Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? regulatory space will greatly help reduce any potential regulatory failures. Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;ĂŁ Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ę¨Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ę¨Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014;ËŞĂ? Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă? ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; regulators must be addressed. The response and management of the regulatory environment is crucial to future success of operators. Ëž Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x;Ë&#x153; Ë&#x153; Ě&#x2122; Ě&#x161;Ë&#x153; Ë&#x153; Ă? Ě&#x2122; Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ě&#x161;Ë&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă˘Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014; Ă?ĂĄ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ě&#x2039; Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Í¸Î Í¸Î ÍşÍ¸Î ÍşÍ¸ÍźÍž Ě&#x2122; Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁĚ&#x161;Ë&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ë? Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014;ÍźĂ&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x17E;ĚśĂ&#x2018;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ë&#x203A;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

AIR WATCH

NAMA Commends FG for Return of Flight Operations to Abuja Stories by Chinedu Eze The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Capt. Fola Akinkuotu has commended the Minister of State for Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika for the successful repair and delivery of the Abuja Airport runway, saying it was a major confidence booster for the air transport sector. The NAMA boss said by delivering the revamped runway ahead of schedule, the minister was “sending an unambiguous message to stakeholders and investors, both foreign and local that Nigerian aviation industry is ready to do serious business, so the travelling should believe in the administration.

Akinkuotu, who made this remark in Lagos recently, also applauded the role played by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amechi, Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and other cabinet Ministers for their efforts in making the project a success. “They all showed uncommon leadership here. They rallied everyone behind them. In fact, Senator Sirika worked round the clock. He took nothing for granted. He was on ground in Abuja and in Kaduna all the time. He has been exemplary. That’s why he succeeded,” Akinkuotu said. Akinkuotu who noted that during the closure of Abuja, Ka-

duna Airport recorded well over 3, 000 domestic flights said the presence of NAMA’s air traffic controllers in sufficient numbers and the upgrade of landing aids by the agency engineers contributed in making that feat a reality. He also commended technical and operational staff of the agency for ensuring that NAMA played a critical role in the smooth running of Kaduna airport. “I must commend them for displaying such diligence. They are well trained and motivated and it showed in their commendable performance. I will continue to build their capacity to enhance our air navigation service delivery,” the NAMA boss.

IATA Urges for Cooperation to Improve Air Safety The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on aviation safety stakeholders to reinforce their commitment to a safety framework based on global standards, cooperation and dialogue, and effective use of data. “Safety is the top priority for all involved in aviation—and aviation is the safest form of long-distance travel. Last year there were over 40 million safe flights. That’s an achievement that we can all be proud of. And it was made possible by a framework that incorporates respect for global standards, cooperation and the value of data,” said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac. Speaking at the IATA Safety and Flight Operations Confer-

ence in Seoul, Republic of Korea, de Juniac identified air accident investigations as a key area where greater cooperation on global standards is needed: “Global standards exist, but they are not being applied universally. The investigation process is one of our most important learning tools when building global standards. However, a recent study showed that of the approximately 1,000 accidents over the last decade, accident reports were available for only around 300 of them. And of those, many had room for improvement. To learn from an accident, we need reports that are complete, accessible and timely. We also need states to fully respect the standards and processes enshrined in global agreements for participation in

the investigation by all specified parties,” said de Juniac. De Juniac also called for increased dialogue between regulators and industry to ensure that industry experience and know-how is incorporated into new regulations and standards. “We have a common interest in safe and secure flights. Yet last month the US and the UK announced that large electronic devices would be banned from passenger cabins on some flights from the Middle East and North Africa. There was no consultation with airlines and the measure challenged public confidence with inconsistencies, while the safety concerns over concentrations of lithium batteries in the aircraft hold have not been adequately considered or addressed.

Emirates Wins Best Airline Worldwide Emirates’ focus on meeting and exceeding customer expectations both in the air and on the ground has been recognised with four accolades at the Business Traveller Middle East 2017 Awards. At a ceremony attended by key travel industry executives, Emirates was crowned “Best Airline Worldwide”. It was also named “Airline with the Best First Class”, “Airline with the Best First Class Lounge” and “Best Frequent Flyer Programme”. Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Adel Al Redha said, “Our customers are at the heart of our brand. In every step of the customer’s journey, we thoroughly and regularly examine the product to achieve a high level of customer care. Providing a truly memorable experience is about continually innovating across our product and offering a personal touch and a warm welcome. Moreover, our Skywards accolade solidifies the programme’s standing as

an industry-leading loyalty programme that offers Emirates customers value through exceptional privileges and benefits. We are honoured to be recognised for our efforts by Business Traveller Middle East’s readers. I would like to thank our team and attribute this award to our dedicated staff who are the pillars behind every achievement and award we receive.” Emirates said it invests continually in product developments and service enhancements. In the past year, the airline’s on-board enhancements include: newly designed Business Class seats, re-designed amenity kits for First and Business Class passengers, environmentally sustainable blankets and interactive augmented reality amenity kits for Economy Class passengers, and regular updates of its range of onboard toys for young flyers. The airline also continues to lead on the in-flight entertainment front with a broad choice of over 2,600 channels on its ice system.

On the ground, Emirates completed a US$ 11 million makeover of its Business Class Lounge at Concourse B in Dubai International Airport, and expanded its global network of dedicated lounges with the opening of its newest Emirates Lounge in Cape Town International Airport. Emirates Skywards, the airline’s loyalty programme, last year launched Cash+Miles, enabling members to redeem flights using a combination of cash and Skywards Miles, regardless of their membership tier. Emirates also introduced “pay-per-visit” lounge access, enabling Emirates Skywards members and their guests travelling on Emirates to enjoy the airline’s First and Business Class lounges at Dubai International Airport and abroad. For corporate customers, Emirates launched a revamped Emirates Business Rewards programme to provide greater value, including easier Miles redemptions and upgrades even on last minute bookings.

Rage over Flight Cancellations

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Þ ßÝßËÖÖã ÒËÚÚÏØÝ ʨÜÝÞ ÌÏÐÙÜÏ ÞÒÏ ÝÏÍßÜÓÞã ÙÚÏÜËÞÓàÏÝ ×ËÕÏ ÏʥÙÜÞÝ ÞÙ ÛßÏÖÖ ÓÞ˛

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Why the Aviation Industry is Stunted Aviation is not contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP. Chinedu Eze writes that the government should step in urgently to salvage the industry a source said airlines pay at least $10, 000 to the agency for each inspection of its aircraft. Also, landing charges are divided into two; day and night. During the day, airlines pay N25 per kilogrammme of the aircraft weight while they are charged N37.5 per kilogramme of the aircraft at night. FAAN collects the charge from airlines. Also, FAAN collects N315 per weight of aircraft after 30 hours from airlines as parking charge while the agency also collects between $40 and $50 from airlines for using the Avio Bridge. For en-route charge, FAAN charges $70 from airlines on international routes while it collects N2,000 for carriers on domestic route. Similarly, domestic airlines are compelled to pay to NAMA $75 as a charge for over-flight while it equally collects $195 from airlines that operate international or regional flights outside the country while N6,000 is remitted into by indigenous airline operators for the same terminal charge. The aeronautic agency also collect clearance fee for indigenous airlines. Besides, N2, 500 per passenger is remitted to the purse of BASL as Passenger Service Charge (PSC) for any air traveller airlifted by airlines at the terminal. The terminal operator also collects $50 from airlines for using its avio bridge while it collects another $50 as extended avio bridge usage. In addition to above charges, FAAN charges N2.50 kobo on every litre of aviation fuel sold to any airline, whether indigenous or international carrier. This accumulates to huge revenue to the agency because the total litres of fuel consumed daily by all the airlines are over one million litres.

Industry analysts estimate that the Nigerian aviation industry has lost up to 30 percent of passenger traffic since 2015 owing to the economic recession. The expectation was that airlines would slash airfares to attract more passengers to travel but instead, airlines have increased fares by over 35 percent on the busy domestic routes, thus shrinking the market further. Industry analysts opined that the airlines do not have a choice because they are cash-strapped and need more money to maintain their aircraft, purchase fuel, pay charges and other operational costs. Conversely the foreign airlines, which were also hit by Nigeria’s economic recession, have started picking up as passenger traffic has increased. They have in fact adjusted their fares to ensure that nothing was lost to the nation’s currency that have lost value. Insufﬁcient Capacity Last week, three major incidents happened that painted gloomy picture about the aviation industry. Aero Flight NG316 recorded smoke incident in its cabin during its flight from Port Harcourt to Lagos, Dana Air flight with registration number 5N-SRI operating 11a.m flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt, on April 21, 2017 had an air return due to bird strike during take-off from Lagos. This resulted in grounding of the aircraft. Also, three Air Peace aircraft were involved in incidents. Two clipped wings why manoevering to park and board passengers at the ramp of the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the third aircraft owned by Air Peace was damaged by Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) in Benin while the aircraft was being prepared for a flight to Abuja. All the aircraft involved in these incidents were grounded for inspection and certification of airworthiness by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). These four incidents reduced the number of operating aircraft in the domestic service by five. It led to cancellation of flights and delays. Air Peace cancelled its Abuja-Benin flight, which should have been operated by the damaged aircraft. Its flights to other destinations were delayed as the airline grappled with the challenge of adjusting its schedule. The passengers suffered air rage and beat up the airline’s staff in Abuja to vent their frustration. Dana Air, which was to operate to Lagos- Kaduna flight on Monday, suspended that service because the aircraft is now on AOG (aircraft on ground). Industry insiders posit that if the absence of five aircraft could paralyse the domestic operations of a country of over 180 million people, then there is a problem with the sector. Losses incurred Airlines involved in these incidents lost so much money because of the flights cancellations and the grounding of their fleet. Dana Air would pay hugely to buy another engine to replace the one damaged by bird strike. Although the regulation may not be clear in this, but THISDAY learnt from a source in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that the agency has robust insurance cover for such incidents like bird strike and ideally the agency has to pay for the damaged aircraft in this circumstance but over the years FAAN has not taken the responsibility to pay airlines when their aircraft are damaged either at the airports or by bird strike. It is the responsibility of FAAN to keep the birds away and the agency is equipped to do that. Also the damage of two Air Peace aircraft at the GAT ramp happened because of the small size of the space, which its remote parking place is clustered with many aircraft on AOG. So it is the responsibility of FAAN to ensure that enough space is created for operating aircraft. Government Industry sources told THISDAY on Monday

Sirika

that the aviation industry has failed to grow because the federal government does not have good policies for the aviation industry, which is aimed at promoting the growth of local airlines and manpower development in the sector. “What this means is that government cannot leave the aviation industry to private entrepreneurs alone. Government has to intervene. We have insufficient number of aircraft operating in Nigeria and the airlines are facing huge financial problems. Government has to intervene; otherwise the existing ones will also die. In South Africa, government recognises that airlines are a catalyst to the growth of every economy so they ensure that South Africa Airways (SAA) continues to operate even when it is making losses. “In 2016 South African government bailed SAA with R30 billion. They know that the airline is contributing to the growth of their economy, the success of their tourism industry and technical and manpower development of air transport in that country. The Nigerian government is not doing any of these. The government of Ethiopia Airlines gives it financial support, creates favourable operational environment for the airline and ensures that it does not encounter hindrances. But why do we have obsolete airports with no airfield lighting in Nigeria?” the industry insider queried. Intervention Many industry observers are of the view that for the Nigerian airlines to overcome the financial crunch it was exposed to in the last two years due to the country’s poor economy, government must provide an incentive of long term loans with single digit interest repayment, monitor the expenditure of the funds and ensure that the loans are repaired in the long run. “Government ought to realise that the fall

of the naira and the change in its financial policy adversely affected many companies in the country, including airlines. Most of what is happening to the airlines stem from the failure of government to do the right things. If things continue as they are, I fear that air cash will happen because most of the airlines don’t have money to maintain their aircraft. Government must have to realise this,” the source said. 43 Charges THISDAY has learn that the total charges and taxes leveled on Nigerian airlines is 43 and this include the five percent Value Added Tax (VAT) paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which the air transport sector alone pay out of other modes of transport like road, waterways and rail. A document recently presented as a new order to the operating airlines in the country disclosed the charges and levies collected by agencies like the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL). The levies according to the document are divided into aeronautic and non-aeronautic revenues and are added to charges collected from passengers as air tickets. 21 of the charges are paid into the coffers of FAAN, six are paid into NCAA, NAMA collects three while Bi-Courtney collects four of the charges from the airlines that operate at its terminal. The breakdown of aeronautic charges included aircraft inspection, which is tickets and Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) paid to the coffers of NCAA. The DTA depends on the country the aircraft is being inspected, but

Penchant for Foreign Airlines Travel expert, Ikechi Uko accused government of seeming to favour foreign airlines at the expense of indigenous airlines. He noted that domestic airlines ought to be protected by government and should be made to benefit from its policies, but presently such policies are inimical to the growth of Nigerian airlines. He said that first Nigeria ought to build capacity and a way to do this is for government to help the airlines by wiping away the debts they owe aviation agencies so that they could use the money they should have paid to the agencies to acquire aircraft, maintain their fleet and fund their operations. “The problem Nigeria has is short term thinking. What we should do to assist our airlines is what government is doing to favour airlines from other countries. Nigerian airlines should benefit from our market. You can give the indigenous carriers subsidy for three years to build the strongest airlines in Africa; then adopt hub strategy to grow the airlines by timing and determining their local destinations,” Uko said. Uko noted that while Nigerian constitutes the bulk of passengers that are moved from West Africa everyday by international carriers, none of the country’s airports can operate as a hub, as Ghana has already positioned Accra as the operating hub in the sub-region. “This is what Ghana is trying to do. They don’t have the capacity to compete, so Ghana government gives foreign airlines rights to operate into Accra. It has given Emirates, South Africa Airways, Air Rwanda, Air Maroc, Egypt Air and others the right to operate from any destination to Accra. This is because they are interested in the service. You pay for the service they provide, which generates revenue, creates jobs and promotes the country. They are building a new airport in Accra at the cost of $250 million and they have removed VAT to allow more players into the country. This is happening at a time our government is encouraging foreign airlines at the expense of indigenous carriers,” Uko added. The economic potential Nigeria has in the aviation sector may never be realised with the present policies that are a disincentive to the growth of successful indigenous carriers.

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How Maritime Fared in Q1 Eromosele Abiodun writes that the first quarter of this year was quite challenging for stakeholders in the maritime sector A top global accounting and audit firm, Deloitte, recently published a report on the maritime sector highlighting several problems bedeviling the sector. The report amongst others revealed that Terminal Handling Charges (THC), which is the main revenue stream of terminal operators, declined by 22.4 per cent between 2006 and 2016 as a result of depreciation of the naira and inflation. The report revealed that at the beginning of port concession in 2006, THC collected by the operators stood at $232 per TEU but declined to $180 per TEU by 2016. According to Deloitte, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The THC is the main source of revenue for the Terminal Operators. This is the payment received from transferring cargo from ship/quay side to the yard for release to clearing agents/customers.â&#x20AC;? According to the report titled: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Public Private Partnership (PPP) as an anchor for diversifying the Nigeria economy: Lagos Container Terminals Concession as a Case Study,â&#x20AC;? during the same period between 2006 and 2016, the terminal operators business was adversely impacted by the rise in Consumer Price Index (CPI)/inflation, with the CPI Nigeria rising to over 177 per cent since 2006. It said foreign exchange (FX) fluctuation also impacted the value of the THC with over 224 per cent FX depreciation between 2006 and 2016.â&#x20AC;? The report, which was released by Deloitte Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director of Strategy and Operations, Bola Asiru; Senior Manager, Oladotun Bamigbetan and two others, stated that if the terminal operators were to adjust the THC yearly in line with changes in foreign exchange and Nigerian CPI , the rate should have increased to N185,112 per TEU. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In real economic terms, the operators are losing revenue by not adjusting their THC in line with market realities,â&#x20AC;? Deloitte stated. The firm said the foreign exchange challenges that Nigeria faces as a result of the fall in global oil prices is further pronounced for terminal operators as a large part of their capex (capital expenditure) and operational costs are in United States Dollars. It said the operatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dollar denominated costs includes equipment acquisition and maintenance costs and payment of lease fees to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). That has been the story of the sector since the beginning of the year. Apart from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) who has managed to record some achievements in terms of revenue collections, other players in the industry have had one or two negative stories to tell. From terminal operators, customs agents and government agencies and regulators, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been lamentations and cry for government to review some of the policies that has driven cargo away from the Nigeria ports. Controversy Galore While operators were wailing, the NCS was swimming in controversy. It started the year with the ban on the importation of vehicles via the land borders and ended the first quarter with the controversial directive by the Comptroller General of the NCS, Col Hameed Ali (rtd) that all vehicles in the country whose customs duties have not been paid, to do so. The service had advised all motor dealers and private owners of such vehicles to visit the nearest Customs zonal office to pay the appropriate duty on them. The NCS in a statement signed by its acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, said the four zonal offices of the Nigeria Customs Service are: Zone A Headquarters, , Yaba, Lagos; Zone B Headquarters, Kabala Doki, Kaduna; Zone C Headquarters, Nigeria Ports Authority, Port Harcourt; and Zone D Headquarters, Yelwa Tudu Road, Bauchi State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The CGC therefore calls on all persons in possession of such vehicles to take advantage of the grace period to pay appropriate duties on them, as there will be an aggressive

STATE OF NIGERIAN PORTS

Poor Ranking on Trading Across Boarders (Ports): 182 out of I85 Countries in World Bank Ease of Doing Business Ranking.

No. of Government Agencies in the Ports: 14 instead of 6

Employment l Potential: 800,000 industrial and 10,000 maritime new jobs.

Average timeline for clearing TEUs: 14 days instead of 2 days.

Revenue Losses: Over N1 trillion attributed to port ineďŹ&#x192;ciencies.

Costs Attributed to Illegal Payments: About 50% import and 61% export processing costs.

Economic Competitiveness Index: 124th out of 140 countries in 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;World Economic Forum.

Delays: 71% of the time spent to import and 64% of the time spent to export are linked to delays.

Large GDP Size $478 billion, now 2nd largest in Africa

anti-smuggling operation to seize, as well as prosecute owners of such smuggled vehicles after the deadline of Wednesday 12th April, 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the avoidance of doubt, all private car owners who are not sure of the authenticity of their vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; customs documents can also approach the zonal offices to verify their status with a view to complying with the provision of the law,â&#x20AC;? the statement concluded. But in a swift reaction, the Senate ordered the NCS to, henceforth, halt the order directing all vehicle owners to verify the payment of their vehiclesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; customs duties within one month. The upper legislative chamber therefore ordered the agency to suspend the directive until it has duly appeared before the Senate to brief it on the rationale behind the move. Raising under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules, Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Allah, who described the NCS circular as ridiculous, said the agency failed to present a clear-cut guidelines on which category of vehicles would be affected by the directive. According to Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Allah, the implementation of such ambiguous circular will create a huge discomfort for innocent Nigerians, bearing in mind that it has already caused significant anxiety among citizens. Against this background, the Senate ordered the NCS to suspend all moves towards implementing the directive and also resolved to engage the Service with a view to ensuring that it comes up with acceptable policies to Nigerians in a typical democratic setting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mr. president, the basis for being here as parliamentarians is to define the rule of engagement between us and those who elected us into this very, very coveted office, to the effect that we would all swear to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law. We already have an existing law called the NCS,â&#x20AC;? he said. While describing the directive as ridiculous, Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Allah challenged his colleagues to uphold the oath they swore to by resisting any obnoxious policy meant to further complicate life for the already troubled Nigerians. Supporting the motion, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu highlighted the excesses and outrageous policies of NCS as he recalled how the Senate had adopted a motion decrying the harassment of traders in Sango-Otta, Ogun State, by men of the

Customs who violently took away purchased items from the market under the guise of non-payment of appropriate customs duties. He said it was unfortunate that the Senate was yet considering another outrageous move of the agency which he said was attempting to foist illegality on the citizenry in its drive to generate more revenues. He also said the NCS lacked the power to impose punishment on Nigerians over deeds committed in the past, arguing that even though the constitution vests the National Assembly with the power to make laws for the federation, the legislative institution does not possess the power to impose penalty on anyone over perceived wrongs of the past and much less a mere agency like the NCS. Cheering News? Perhaps the most cheering news for stakeholders in the maritime sector was the report that the federal government had indicated its readiness to lift the forex ban it placed on some 41 items in 2015. Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, had in the 2017 Fiscal Policy Roadmap, said Federal Government â&#x20AC;&#x153;will replace administrative measures on list of 41 items with fiscal measures to reduce demand pressure in the parallel market. Reacting to the news, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) lauded the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans to lift foreign exchange restriction on 41 imported items. Mr. Stanley Ezenga, the National Publicity Secretary of the association, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. Ezenga said that the plan would boost importation activities at the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ports. He said that lifting of ban on the items would not solve the declining value of the naira, urging government to come up with a more result-oriented forex policy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The plan by the government to lift foreign exchange restriction on some 41 imported items is good news for import. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can now have more import activities at the ports and the various jobs lost to the restriction can now come back. However, the unbanning alone will not solve the problem of the naira. Government should come with a more workable policy to boost value of the naira,â&#x20AC;&#x153; Ezenga said. He said that freight forwarders had lost 50 per cent jobs to the restriction, hoping that the lifting

would address the situation. NIMASA ISPS Code Implementation Another major development in the industry in the first quarter of the year was the move by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to enforce the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code. As part of the measures to get operators to comply, it shut three jetties and port facilities for non-compliance with the provisions of the ISPS code. NIMASA in a statement said the decision is pursuant to its mandate as the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation Code in Nigeria. The facilities are: Heyden Petroleum Jetty Ijora Lagos; Waziri Jetty, Dockyard Road Apapa Lagos and Starz Marine Shipyard Limited Onne in Rivers State. These facilities, the agency stated, have persistently failed to comply with the ISPS code necessitating their closure in order to forestall a situation where security breaches in such facilities will negatively impact the compliant ones. These closures, it added, are in exercise of the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powers in line with provisions of Part VIII of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations 2014 under which the facilities were adjudged to be non-compliant despite repeated warnings to remedy the deficiencies. NIMASA has consistently stated its commitment to the enforcement of full compliance with the ISPS Code especially in the face of growing terroristsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities globally. While hosting a pre-assessment team from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) recently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside expressed the determination of the agency to enforce the code saying that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;ultimately all of us are working for a common purpose, a safer world through safety and security of the maritime sub sector. If we fix our different corners of the earth, the whole world will be safer for everybody. And so no effort should be spared in trying to guarantee safety and security.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;All shut facilities are to remain closed until the managers of such facilities correct the identified deficiencies in line with the dictates of the Code as the Agency aims to achieve 100 per cent compliance with the cooperation of all stakeholders. This exercise is a continuous one, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it stated.

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32 African Countries Move against Dumping of Nuclear, Toxic Wastes Stories by Eromosele Abiodun In a concerted efforts to ensure that African oceans are not over exploited and also not seen as dumping ground for dangerous materials, participating countries at the just concluded conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) have agreed on the need for population, assets and critical infrastructure protection from maritime pollution by prevention of dumping of toxic and nuclear wastes. This was contained in the communique released at the end of the conference which held in Abuja, Nigeria. The body of all administrators of maritime regulatory

bodies came up with the position as one of the major ways to safeguard the future of maritime wealth in the continent alongside other pertinent positions. Members of the association consequently agreed to devote concerted efforts and planning to pursue the enhancement of wealth creation and regional and international trade performance through maritime-centric capacity and capability building while ensuring the minimisation of environmental damage and expedited recovery from catastrophic events. These, they observed, should be taken into cognisance as well as prevention of hostile and criminal acts at sea, by coordination/harmonisation

of the prosecution of offenders and improvement of Integrated Coastal Zone/Area Management in Africa, if the continent is to grow maritime trade. The conference, which had in attendance representatives from Mauritania, South Sudan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Ghana, Cote Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire, Comoros, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Benin, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Kenya, Guinea, Libya and Nigeria as well as other non-African countries and international associations such as Jamaica, Netherlands,

Malaysia, IMO, Abuja MOU, PMAWCA, SOAN, NPA, NSC, NITT, NIWA, ASA, WIMA, FAO also witnessed the election of the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside as the chairman of the association. Peterside, who takes over from Mr. Sobantu Tilayi, the acting Chief Executive Officer of South African Maritime and Safety Agency (SAMSA), who has been the acting Chair of the association since 2013 stated that task of leading the African maritime administrators is enormous but there is the need to collaborate with one another to ensure that the African Oceans and seas are not over exploited to the detriment of the continent.

Part of the resolutions made at the conference enjoined all African countries to participate in the day set aside by the AU as the African Day of Oceans and Seas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The African Union Commission has set aside 25th July of every year as Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day of the Seas and Oceans. Maritime administrators are encouraged to institutionalise this day to raise awareness amongst stakeholders of the strategic importance of maritime governance for sustainable development; highlight the important role Africa needs to play at international maritime forum; raise awareness on Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blue Economyâ&#x20AC;? and enhance the focus on maritime safety,

security, maritime environment protection and human elementâ&#x20AC;?, the said. In noting that capacity building had been a major challenge in the African Maritime sector, member nations agreed to address the enormous challenges of building human capacities in the maritime sector especially regarding training and employment of cadets by urging maritime administrations to develop an integrated human resources strategy for the maritime sector to support the provision of skills taking into account gender balance in the entire maritime value chain which includes shipping and logistics, offshore activities, fishing, tourism and recreation, and safety and security.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We Are Reforming NIMASA for Fresh Direction in Maritime Sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The rebranding of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is part of the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to enhance economic diversification and repositioning of the maritime sector as the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest revenue earner in the very near future, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. Buhari stated this while unveiling the new logo of NIMASA at the just concluded 3rd Conference of the Association of Heads of African Maritime Administration (AAMA) held in Abuja, Nigeria where stakeholders from 34 African countries converged with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other notable global maritme stakeholders. The President, who was represented at the conference by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) where the new brand of NIMASA was unveiled, said that the federal government will not relent in its quest to make the Nigerian Maritime sector a role model on the African continent. While commending the Management of NIMASA under the leadership of the Director General Dr. Dakuku Peterside for the strings of achievements in such a short period, the President assured that the Federal Government is committed to changing the narrative as it concerns the Nigerian Maritime sector. Buhari also stated that NIMASA is the regulatory agency of shipping and maritime activities in Nigeria and that the rebranding of the Agency is in line with the reformation of the Countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sole maritime administration to play an important role in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic advancement. In his words â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are reforming NIMASA so that it can play its expected role

as a facilitator of economic prosperity. We are paying significant attention to making it easier to do business and one of our immediate priorities in this regard, is the entry and exit of goods especially in our sea ports. The measures that we are putting in place are designed to improve the efficiency of our ports and to enable quick turnaround time of vessels. Technology is also being deployed to make our port operations more transparent and effective in support of economic growth.â&#x20AC;? He stated that the new logo and brand usher in a new beginning for the maritime sector, even as he charged leaders of African Maritime Administration to continue to collaborate and develop the human and institutional capacities required to respond appropriately to challenges facing African Maritime sector adding that maritime administrations are across the continent are already rising up to the challenge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For any one following the development of the African maritime sector, there can be no question that more than ever before, our countries are beginning to accord the sector the importance that it deserves,â&#x20AC;?he stated The 3rd AAMA Conference which is themed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sustainable use of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oceans and Seas, provided the veritable platform for the take off the rejuvenation of NIMASA and the maritime industry to be more productive. The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside had recently stated that the present management of the agency has a mandate from the president to reposition the NIMASA and make it a foremost maritime administration in Africa, advancing Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global maritime goals.

ISPON PRESIDENT DINNER

L-R: Managing Director, FinTrack, Bimbo Abioye; Director General, Delta State Innovative Hub, Chris Uwaje; President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Olorogun James Emadoye and 2nd Vice President, ISPON, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, during the 2017 ISPON President Dinner held in Lagos...recently

NDDI Condemns Maritime Academy Oron Restructuring Committee Sunday Okobi A frontline advocacy group in the Niger Delta region, the Niger Delta Development Initiative (NDDI), has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, criticising the recent committee set up by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, to restructure the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Akwa Ibom State. The organisation described it as an action done in bad faith. In a statement issued and signed by the President of the association, Gabriel Thompson, and the Group Secretary, Ita Umiom, NDDI said the recommendations of the committee chaired by Chief Adebayo Sarunmi, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), should be disregarded as it is capable of igniting crises in the region which has recently become calm. Outlining the reasons for condemning the committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report in the statement, the

group said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Sarunmiled Committee is made up of men that have lost touch with modern realities in the maritime industry, and as such, did not interact with professionals in the industry, some of whom are ex-cadets of the institutions which are now globally successful master mariners, before making recommendations to the minister. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These professionals include the best sailors and mariners all over Nigeria who have in-depth knowledge of how maritime institutions are run internationally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The committee was wrongly constituted because when you put together a committee of such magnitude, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bring people that do not have the knowledge of the requirements of STCW (Manilla Convention of 2010 as amended) which are the laws that guide international maritime activities currently. To that extent, the committee even criticised the IMO standards adopted by the institution.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no way a committee can restructure an institution like MAN Oron without interacting with the critical stakeholders, including the host communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The committee was skewed to negativity because its attention should have been focused on bringing recommendations that should make the academy a world class institution that could compete favourably with countries such as Philippine and Singapore whose mariners occupy nearly all the vessels on the world maritime waters.â&#x20AC;? According to NDDI, â&#x20AC;&#x153;provisions of training vessel is critical to the academy because it will enable the cadets to participate in the mandatory sea time experience as required by the STCW Convention 2010; provision of relevant equipment, infrastructures, proper funding, creating enabling learning environment with qualified lectures which are among the critical areas that need restructuring and not the human beings in the

academy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The recommendations that Directors of Oron extraction in the school, who have committed no offence whatsoever, should be compulsorily retired is a misnomer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To show that the committee lacks the required knowledge, the recommendation that the procurement department of the institution should be merged with works department is against the Procurement Act of 2007 and also negates the spirit of due process and world best practices. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommendation to tamper with the original organogram of the school which was approved by the federal government is also a unfortunate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, the committee chairman, a former NPA managing director, who made no known contribution to reposition MAN Oron during his tenure, lacks the requisite knowledge to chair such a committee.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Removal of PenCom Management Team, Intrigues and Legal Questions Iyobosa Uwugiaren highlights the legal implications of the recent removal of PenCom’s management team by the federal government The seeming recent political and ethnic scheming that led to the removal of the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu by President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to produce huge controversy among critical stakeholders in the pension funds administrators (PFA). The president, last week, announced Alhaji Aliyu Abdulrrahman Dikko as a replacement for Mrs. Anohu-Amazu along with other new management team including Chairman and commissioners. However, the letters informing Anohu-Amazu and her colleagues---commissioners of their removal were not delivered until Friday April 21, 2017 at about 5pm----over a week after the announcement on the media. The manoeuvrings swelled as a result of the disagreement over the alleged raiding of the commission corporate headquarters in Abuja--same day by the State Security Services (SSS). THISDAY gathered that the security operatives had frisked personnel of the PenCom as they were exiting the commission’s headquarters. A source at the commission said the workers were visibly irked by the security measures, which they felt were uncalled for. But SSS said that the measures were aimed at ensuring that no official document was taken away. However, some of the staff members held the view that the raid might have been instigated by ‘’powerful people on whose toes’’ the former DG might have stepped on due to her ‘’uncompromising attitude on matters of transparency and due process.’’ It was gathered that upon hearing the news of her sack over the mass media, Anohu-Amazu had requested from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, a formal letter to that effect. The letter was however not received until Friday. A source said the former PenCom DG was in her office on until Friday evening. But a senior SSS operative was quick to say that the agency did not conduct any raid on PenCom office. “What we did was to put a standby team at the office to prevent anybody from tampering or altering any document unlawfully or without due process”, the secret security agent stated. “We had an intelligence information that some documents are being tampered with, some documents are being signed and back dated at the PenCom office following the announcement of a new management of the commission. And we are only being pro-active by ordering all officials there to stop forthwith any action on official documents pending when the new management will assume duty”, the agent added. But debunking the secret security agency’s claim, a senior management staff of PenCom told THISDAY that the SSS acted illegally as there was no need for its action. “You recalled the Presidency recently announced through the media that the Director-General and commissioners in the commission were removed. And they did not get official letters to that effect”, the source in PenCom stated. “So, apparently in order to avoid being accused of negligence of duties, the sacked DG and the commissioners came to office last Friday; and they were there until they received their letters; and by 5pm – official closing hour, they left. “But apparently acting on information from some vested interest that the sacked DG and her commissioners were still in the office, the SSS agents invaded the office few minutes after they left. It is idiotic for anybody or agency to think that vital documents were being tampered with; there was nothing like that,” the PenCom source added. The removal of PenCom management team

Anohu-Amazu

was part of the 22 other Heads of agencies removed. But only PenCom is a statutory agency of all the agencies and parastals dissolved--with Senate confirmation required for the management. In other words, the new team would have to wait for Senate’s confirmation before it resumes work. The growing concern among some stakeholders stems from the seeming inappropriate action that informed the removal of the PenCom management team without regard to the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014. The sound argument is that their appointments were made via Senate’s confirmation for a fixed term, asking what then the value of such confirmation is. In particular, the former DG was confirmed on September 30, 2014 for a five-year term, which is expected to end on September 29, 2019. The controversy is swelled by the fact that the replacement of the former DG is against Section 21 (2) of PRA 2014. The Act says: ‘’In the event of a vacancy, the President shall appoint a replacement from the geo-political zone of the immediate past

The growing concern among some stakeholders stems from the seeming inappropriate action that informed the removal of the PenCom management team without regard to the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014

member who vacated the office to complete the remaining tenure.’’ The former DG is from South East zone. And the question is: why did the President appointed Dikko from the North to replace her? There is also an all-encompassing legal argument that the appointment of the new DG runs contrary to Section 19 (5) of PRA 2014, which says that ‘’the chairman and members of the PenCom Board shall not own controlling shares in any of the pension funds administrator or pension funds custodian----prior to or during their tenure of office as chairman or members of the board. Or be directors or shareholders in any pension funds administrator or pension funds custodian before the expiration of three years after ceasing to be a chairman or member of the board.” THISDAY gathered that the new DG designate is currently a majority shareholder----controlling over 60 per cent shares in the Premium Pension Limited, one of the fast growing pension funds administrators in the country today. The new DG, Aliyu Dikko, was the pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Premium Pension Limited (PPL) until he retired in 2011, and was immediately elected as the Chairman, Board of Directors of the company. Before becoming the MD/CEO of PPL, HE was the Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) until May 10, 2005, when he voluntarily disengaged from the services of the bank to pursue private initiatives. He has a first degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and a Masters Degree in Finance from the University of Manchester, England. Monitors of pension funds administrator who confided in THISDAY said that the removal of Anohu-Amazu would continue to ‘’generate heated debate and controversy, taking into consideration how she raised the standards

of PFA’’-----in terms of regulation. Anohu-Amazu served as the pioneer Secretary/ Legal Adviser of the Pension Commission, before becoming the Director General in December 2014. Her tenure as DG recorded a geometric rise in pension assets, which stood at N2.4 trillion in 2014 and was N6.5 trillion at the time of her exit from the commission recently. Before then, she was a member of Pension Reform Committee of 2004 that introduced Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria. The Act, which repealed the Pension Reform Act No.2, 2004, has continued to govern and regulate the administration of the uniform Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for both the public and private sectors in Nigeria. The major highlights of the new Act, include: remitting contributions-----that an employer is under obligation to remit pension contributions to pension fund custodians within seven days after payment of salaries; otherwise, in addition to making the remittance, the employer shall be liable to a penalty which shall not be less than 2% of the total contributions that remain unpaid for each month or part of each month that the default continues. The PRA 2014 has also revised the rate of pension contribution----from 7.5% contributed equally by the employer and employee under the old law to 8% for the employee and 10% for the employer; bringing the minimum total contributions for both parties to 18% compared to 15% previously. As contained in the 2004 Act, an employer may choose to make the total mandatory contributions without making deductions from the salary of the employee; however, total remittance for any employer who chooses to remit without recourse to the employee must not be less than 20% of the monthly emolument of the employee. Monthly emolument is defined to mean total emolument as contained in the employee’s contract of employment, but shall not be less than the total sum of basic salary, housing and transport allowance. That contribution under the CPS shall form part of tax deductible expenses in the computation of tax payable by an employer or an employee under the relevant income tax law. Any employee who disengages or is disengaged from employment and is unable to secure another job within four months (previously six months) of such disengagement may make withdrawals from his/her RSA in accordance with the Act. And where an employee transfers his/her employment from one employer to another, the same RSA shall continue to be maintained by the employee. Under the Group Life of the Act, every employer must maintain a group life policy in favour of each employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee and, where the employer fails, refuses or omits to make payment for premiums as and when due, the employer shall make arrangement to effect payment of claims arising from the death of any staff in its employment during such period. Unlike the old Act, which mandated proceeds of group life policy be paid into the RSA of a deceased employee, the 2014 Act mandates the insurance company to pay the life insurance proceeds to the named beneficiary in the policy. What this means is that employees must ensure that their HR records are accurately and consistently updated to reflect the appropriate beneficiaries at all times. The former DG may have moved on with her life----facing new challenges in her career, but it will remain on record that she introduced the World Pension Summit for Africa Special---a roundtable for pension supervisor and operators in Africa in Nigeria during her tenure.

WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

LIVING | P31

COLLAGE | P36

THISLIFE | P37

FILE

FOR THE LOVE OF DANCE

ACTING EDITOR CHARLES AJUNWA / charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

28/COVER

28.04.2017

For the Love of Dance In commemoration of International Dance Day, Solomon Elusoji visited the National Theatre, Iganmu, and spoke to a lifelong dance enthusiast about his passion

Iwar with a local xyclophone

On a recent morning at the Artiste Village inside the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, a group of young men and women sat around plastic tables and chairs under a cool spot, trading conversations. Among them was Benjamin Iwar, a lifelong dancer who had started moving his body to the rhythm of time and space since he was nine. Iwar hails from Benue State, where he also had his formative years. His interest in dance was piqued by watching his mother – who used to head their local community’s traditional dance group – and his brother, who was steeped into break dance, influenced by hip hop culture. However, when Iwar made his intention of becoming a professional dancer to his family, they all discouraged him from pursuing the idea. “The perception of being a dancer in Nigeria is a tough one; you have to pass through tough times because they don’t recognise the profession in Nigeria; and once you want to be part of that profession, your family will want to discourage you,” Iwar says. “Mine said it’s a wayward profession and there’s nothing to gain in it. But, as for me, watching my mother and brother do it for such a long time already made dance a part of me.” Iwar stuck with his dream, stubbornly insisting that dance was his way. This led to his parents refusing to pay his school fees when he was in J.S.S 3. But he was able to finish from Government Day Secondary School, Makurdi, self-funding himself through his art. “I used to follow a group who move from house to house playing cartons and jerry-cans and I would accompany them, dancing,” he says. One of his earliest memories of such dances was when they performed the Mammy Water dance, an elaborate performance which demanded that Iwar dress like a lady and

“Nobody believes in you because they feel you don’t know what you are doing, so you have to hustle it out by yourself. But dance has given me so much more in return that I believe all the sacrifices were worth it. Dance frees the soul. It is a message, the movement of the body in time and space.”

Iwar with a dancing mask

mimic mermaid movements. “It was very beautiful and colourful,” he recalls. After secondary school, Iwar joined the Benue State Council for Arts and Culture (BSCAC) in 1997. While there, he started a small dance group, Afrique Theatre Dance Troupe. When the BSCAC, in 2001, wanted to send a dancer to represent Benue in the National Troupe of Nigeria, Iwar was chosen. He served there for two years, before getting a role to work for a dance company in France. Today, Iwar’s decision appears to have paid off. Dancing has taken him across the world, from France to Columbia, to Brazil, to Britain. And most importantly, it pays his bills. “Of course it is hard to survive as a dancer in this country because the government does not support the arts,” Iwar tells THISDAY.

Dancing in Nigeria The history of dance in Nigeria is no doubt a colourful one. With hundreds of tribes and their unique dancing traditions, few nations can boast of such plethora of diversity. According to Wikpedia, these dances “teach social patterns and values and help people work, mature, praise or criticise members of the community while celebrating festivals and funerals, competing, reciting history, proverbs and poetry; and to encounter gods.” They are “largely participatory, with spectators being part of the performance. With the exception of some spiritual, religious or initiation dances, there are traditionally no barriers between dancers and onlookers. Even ritual dances often have a time when spectators participate.” However, these rich cultural tools have not been maximally exploited in the modern world. On its part, the government is lackadaisical and most dancing activities are driven through private pockets and foreign governments. “The people who support dance in Nigeria are foreign agencies like the French Cultural Institute, the Goethe Institute and the British Council,” Iwar says. There is a Dance Guild of Nigeria, but the impact of its management is questionable. For example, its website (danceguildnigeria. com) is stocked with outdated content and reflects the shoddy state of cultural structure in the country. “They obviously need to do more,” Iwar said. “Abroad, it is organisations like these

that spur dance festivals and export dance troupes to showcase a nation’s abundant and virile cultural base.” The day of dance Tomorrow, April 29, millions across the world will celebrate International Dance Day. It was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Council, a UNESCO partner non-profit and has been celebrated annually ever since. For this year’s edition, the message was written by Trisha Brown, an American choreographer and dancer, and one of the founders of the Judson Dance Theatre and the postmodern dance movement. Unfortunately, Brown passed away on March 18. But her message note is worth reproducing here: “I became a dancer because of my desire to fly. The transcendence of gravity was always something that moved me. There is no secret meaning in my dances. They are a spiritual exercise in a physical form. “Dance communicates and expands the universal language of communication, giving birth to joy, beauty and the advancement of human knowledge. Dance is about creativity… again and again…in the thinking, in the making, in the doing, and in the performing. Our bodies are a tool for expression and not a medium for representation. This notion liberates our creativity, which is the essential lesson and gift of art-making. “The life of an artist does not end with age, as some critics believe. Dance is made of people, people and ideas. As an audience, you can take the creative impulse home with you and apply it to your daily life.” To celebrate the Dance Day, Iwar and his friends at the Artist Village organised a dance workshop yesterday at the Just-Dance Studio. “Dancing for me is everything,” he says, “I’ll dance till I die.”

29/XTRA

28.04.2017

Maritime Students ‘Blown Away’ During Facility Tour Solomon Elusoji Members of the University of Lagos’ Maritime Forum have reported being ‘blown away’ after being conducted on a recent facility tour of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) Free Zone base in Lagos. “The facilities we saw literally blew our minds,” the Forum’s President, Mr. Ilemobade Olateru-Olagbegi, said. “Apart from the fact that they place so much emphasis on safety, there’s so much job creation happening here; thousands of people are being employed. This is really encouraging; the whole world needs to see this.” LADOL Free Zone was built out of a disused swamp on a secure island inside Apapa Port. It is strategically located at the point of entry into Lagos Harbour and provides fully serviced facilities and heavy infrastructure designed and deployed to support some of the largest industrial maritime projects in the world. Presently, LADOL, in collaboration with Samsung Heavy Industries, is in the latter stages of completing the facilities for the integration of Total Upstream’s $3.8billion Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel coming in from South Korea. The Forum members were picked up from a dock in Ikoyi and ferried to the LADOL base, where they were shown around by a

An aerial view of the Lagos Deep Oﬀshore Logistics (LADOL) Free Zone base

Security and Marine Manager, Mr. Adewole Gege. Before entrance was granted into the base’ entrails, a 10 minute safety induction tutorial was delivered to the students by LADOL’s Health and Safety Officer, Mr. Joseph Yunusa.

The tour was exhaustive, taking the Forum members through the serene premises of the base, including administration offices, Muster Points, Hotel, Restaurant, Warehouses, and several logistics infrastructures.

“The fact that this company is fully indigenous owned is very impressive,” the Forum’s first ever President, Teniola Akeju, said. “Seeing the structures being put in place, the possibilities are endless when you think about it.” “You cannot quantify the income and foreign exchange this facility brings into Nigeria,” Mr. Ilemobade, the current President, said. “During the tour, I met people from diverse races and countries. And since the company is hundred per cent owned by Nigerians, the profits are being ploughed back into the Nigerian economy.” For Mr. Balogun Adeniyi, who was one of the Founding members of the Forum, LADOL is a dream come true for Nigeria. “I don’t think there’s any company that is as big as LADOL in the Maritime Service industry, for now. And this is an encouragement for the young ones that are coming up. I want to believe that in the next 10 to 15 years, LADOL would have employed a lot of young Nigerians and would have helped to stabilize the Nigerian economy.” Gege, the LADOL official who conducted the tour, said his company was dedicated to improving the fortunes of Nigeria as a country. “We do tours like these because we want to motivate the students and ensure that they understand that, as Nigerians, there is no limit to what they can do,” he said.

Abuja Colour Blast to Create Autism Awareness Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The second edition of Abuja Colour Blast will hold on Saturday April 24 with the organisers using the event to draw public attention to autism, a condition that leads to hearing and speaking disorder. The Abuja Colour Blast is a fitness and wellness event that entails a 5km walk through some of the major roads of the Federal Capital Territory. Prince Ulurcha, the founder of FitCity Club, Abuja, said the event was adopted by The Zamarr Institute (TZR) as a charity to lend support to

Autism Awareness and Education. Some percentage of the registration fees will be remitted to TZA in support of the autism cause. Other sponsors include Sterling Bank and Faro Water. According to Ulurcha of FitCity Club, the non-competitive fitness and lifestyle festival will attract Abuja celebrities, families and students to a massive networking event. The event entails run, walk, skate and bike. The route will begin at Millennium Park, Maitama, passing through Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent all the way to Ahmadu Bello

Way. The revelers will finish at Millennium Park. The participants will register their interest to select any of the three event packages. Over 200 participants featured at the maiden edition held last year. "This year edition promises to be unique. There will be fun, colours and a whole lot of exciting times for families, friends and students. There will be many water points and four DJs to make the event memorable. We have got a lot of calls and emails from many people wanting to participate in the wake of the success of the first edition last year. We call it the festival of

friendship because it is all about the people. We want to do something that will bring people together," Ulurcha said. The event is also promoting local content as all paraphernalia to be used including colouring are locally sourced. The success of the Abuja event will also serve as an inspiration for the event to be organised in other parts of the country. Sterling Bank representative, Ehi Mondritz Ebhohimhen said it was supporting the event to identify with indigenous contents and a Nigeria brand.

Church Wants FG to Build Industries with Recovered Loots Monarch seeks truce in Ibeku leadership crisis Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia The Methodist Church of Nigeria, Umuahia Diocese has advised the federal government to make proper use of the funds so far recovered from treasury looters by investing the huge amounts in establishment of industries to create job opportunities for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths. It gave the advise in a communiqué read by the synod secretary, Very Rev. Evans Onyemara at the end of the 56th annual diocesan synod held at All Saints Methodist Church Amuzukwu, during which participants discussed pertinent national issues. The issues that engaged the attention of the synod, which was chaired by the Archbishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Raphael Opoko, included economic recession, political instability, social disharmony, religious extremism, disarray of families,” among others. The synod said that it was impressed by the success so far recorded in the anti-corruption war of the Muhammadu Buhari administration with the adoption of whistle blowing policy “which has occasioned the recovery of billions of dollars looted and dumped at shallow graves, dustbins, lodges and other hidden places. “Synod calls on the government to sustain the effort and use the recovered funds to establish industries that will give employment to the teeming Nigerian youths while culprits who are economic saboteurs are prosecuted,” the church said. The synod, which comprises the clergy and representatives of the laity from the component churches that make up the diocese, said that the “aggressive fight against corruption and zero tolerance for corruption” that has become the signature of the Buhari government was commendable. It assured that the church would continue to pray that “this fight against corruption should be sustained without respect to sacred cows”.

A cross section of Methodist Church ministers at the 56th annual diocesan synod of the Umuahia

On the insecurity posed by the marauding herdsmen the synod decried the apparent treatment of the issue with kid gloves and called on the federal government to “to checkmate the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians in some parts of Benue State by Fulani herdsmen. “Synod observes with great dismay that the menace of the cattle and herdsmen are causing intolerable food insecurity, hunger, traffic obstruction that leads to road accidents and loss of lives,” the communiqué said, adding that the federal government should compel cattle owners to establish ranches whenever they operate. The move by the federal government to scrap the Faculty of Management Sciences of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), was roundly condemned by the Umuahia diocesan synod, saying that it was saddened by the move. "This single federal tertiary institution in Abia

State is now under threat because of the recent move by the FG to delist some non-core agricultural courses without recourse to the effects on staff, students and parents," the synod lamented. It regretted that the onslaught on MOUAU academic programmes was coming after the recent town hall meetings with both the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, respectively, during which Abia people made passionate appeal for a conventional federal university and federal polytechnic in the state. Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr. Raphael Opoko, who chaired the 56th synod, further explained the stand of the church on the anti-corruption war, saying that those that piled up huge amounts of money in hidden places were engaging in economic sabotage. “Corruption is endemic, corruption is destroying the nation and it is (indeed) absolute madness in this country hence all Nigerians must join

hands and fight this menace,” he said, adding that “the fight against corruption must be total, holistic and unbiased.” In another development, as heavy weight politicians take sides in the leadership crisis rocking the Ibeku Egwuasa Development Association (IEDA), the traditional ruler of Ibeku clan, Eze Samuel Onuoha, Ogurube IV has urged the contending parties to embrace peace and unity. Speaking at a press conference in Umuahia the monarch regretted that politicians have factionalised Ibeku clan, which hosts the capital city of Umuahia, adding that the December 26, 2016 IEDA election should not have led to disunity. Ibeku, has been embroiled in leadership crisis following the emergence of two President-generals, Mr. Emeka Enyeazu and Princewill Ukaegbu. Each of the PG enjoys the backing of top politicians with some PDP politicians throwing their weight behind Enyeazu while Ukaegbu is allegedly backed by APC chieftain, Prince Benjamin Apugo and other APC politicians of Ibeku. But Ogurube IV, who mounted the throne of his ancestors 14 years ago, said that all stakeholders of Ibeku should come together and look into the issues causing division in Ibeku clan with a view to finding a lasting solution. “I urge all Ibeku people to come together, sink their differences and work for the peace and progress of Ibeku clan,” he said. On the alleged rift between him and Senator Theodore Orji, the Ibeku monarch said that he has a robust relationship with the Senator representing Abia Central, whom he described as “a true son of Ibeku and a well respected leader. Eze Onuoha noted that Senator Orji did for Ibeku people what no other governor had done for them hence he deserved every respect by all Ibeku people, adding that “we will support any president general that enjoys the blessings of Ochendo.”

30/ NEWS

28.04.2017

Kaffy Sets to Host Dance Workshop Across Nigeria Nigeria has gotten to the point where her performing arts industry plays a pivotal role in the socio-cultural and economic life of her citizens. Over the years, the art of dance has gradually evolved from being a hobby to a professional career for a handful of youths spread across the country. Mrs. Kafayat Shafau-Ameh popularly known as Kaffy ‘The Dance Queen’ who broke the Guinness book of world record for the longest dance party in 2006 is set to create more opportunity for talented youths. Kaffy has performed in major concerts locally and internationally. She has featured in music videos for A-list Nigerian musicians. She is also recognised as the voice of the future Nigerians through the art of dance. She recently choreographed the show ‘Love like a Movie’ by Dare Art-Alade and also performed with Ciara at the concert. Her relentless passion for her career,

Kaﬀy

children, youth and women empowerment has made Kaffy a source of inspiration, great motivator and influencer. Besides being

an entrepreneur, lovely wife and a super mother to her children, the Dance Queen has also given birth to a large number of professional dancers who are currently making waves in the industry. The dance industry in Nigeria is growing at snail speed and some of the issues faced are non-connectedness and lack of professionalism. This is why “The Dance Workshop 2017” is a project set up by Kaffy to enlighten, promote and create a dance network in Nigeria through a theoretical and practical workshop The workshop, set to hold from June 6th to 11th in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Accra, is aimed at educating dancers on ethics and the business aspect of dance, making them understand the marketability of this industry. The workshop will include; Fun Dance Classes, Interactive/Sessions and Motivational talks.

‘Tunmigbe’ Wows Lovers on Stage Stage performance in Lagos, Nigeria was reborn recently when Nigeria's number one indigenous Family TV series on Africanmagic Yoruba titled Mr. & Mrs. Kogberegbe Comedy maestro gave a scintillating genre-crossing performance in the much anticipated 'Screen2-Stage' event tagged Tunmigbe meaning 'Remarry Me!'. The show, Tunmigbe which was a wholesome representation of Nigerian diverse cultural heritage on stage through the use of music, songs, dance and drama using the Yoruba language took place in an entertainment laden atmosphere with the aim to revive the show of friendship in every relationship most importantly among married couples for a better and sane society. The event, which hosted Nollywood finest and top celebrities in a mind-blowing stage- to-screen experience, witnessed two dramas titled; ‘The cook’ and ‘Religious prostitution’. Creative Village production Executive Director who doubles as the lead actor for the TV series, Adebukola Olakanlu said: "considering the present depressed state of the economy as well as individuals, couples need to stick together and scale through the situation and this can work when they try as much as possible to have fun and laugh away their sorrow from time to time

Tunmigbe cast on stage during a performance

through casual dates in a relaxed laden atmosphere." Also highlighted in the course of the programme were the prevalent issues of family matters, love, deceit, importance of trust and transparency in relationships as well as marriage, all narrated in the most comical yet entertaining way that left audiences giving resounding applause scene after scene. Co-producer, Dunni Badru otherwise known as Mrs. Kogberegbe said: "we need to write our stories ourselves and not expect outsiders to do that for one. We own our history and can be in the

best place to position them in the right order to other communities abroad," Buttressing the relevance of the event to the every Nigerian families as well as love birds, Adebukola Olanrewaju Olakunle known as Mr. Kogberegbe noted that, "it is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages, thus, our main aim through our sit-com, Mr. and Mrs. Kogberegbe is solely to revive that show of friendship in every relationship most importantly among married couples for a better and sane society," Oladunni added.

Make Nigerian Youths Competitive with Entrepreneurial Skills, Says UN Envoy Peace Obi The visiting United Nations special envoy, Mr. Jakaya Kikwete has tasked Nigeria to speedily invest in skills-based education for the youths, warning that advancement in technology would displace many from their current jobs. Kikwete maintained that only people with the right entrepreneurial skills would survive the times. Kikwete, who is the immediate past president of Tanzania made this declaration shortly after he met with the Vice President, Mr. Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, recently Stressing that African youths have bright future, the UN envoy however noted that “the first thing that the youths need now is education – education that will give them the necessary skills that are required in the job market. They need skills that even if they are not employed, they can establish their own businesses and earn some income. "So this is where the problem lies; we have to do that now because as the situation is, by 2050, two billion jobs will be lost to machines. It is only those who have higher skills that will have the cutting edge. So if we can invest in their quality education now, when that time comes, the young people in Africa will be able to compete in the global market.” Kikwete, who on arrival in Lagos met with his friend and businessman, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia among other dignitaries, told journalists in

L-R: Former Minister of Foreign Aﬀairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, President/CEO, Baywood Continental Ltd, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe with the visiting UN envoy, Mr. Jakaya Kikwete at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos…recently

Lagos that his meeting with Prof. Osinbajo was fruitful. “I came here to see the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. I’m a special envoy of the International Commission on Financing of Global Education Opportunity. It is a commission that was set up in September 2015 to do an in-depth study of the state of education in the world. On September 2016, we presented our report to the then Secretary General of the UN, Mr. Bank Ki Moon. “The commission had 27 members. Africa had eight members in it. Of the eight, Nigeria had two members - Aliko Dangote and Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Already, we have finished our work and now we are at the stage of telling the leaders of the world the work of the commission because we have to start somewhere. So the commission

decided to start with 14 countries in Africa. We call those countries pioneer countries with Nigeria as one of them. That is why I came here to see Prof. Osinbajo and to discuss with him. “Now, the conclusion of the commission is that the world is currently facing an alarming education crisis which is more pronounced in the lower and middle income countries. These countries lag far behind developed countries in terms of education development and achievement. We are 70 years behind the developed countries. So the commission is looking at how these countries can catch up with the rest of the world. So what the commission is saying now is that this catching up game has to be achieved within a generation. That is why we call the vision Millennium Generation Vision.

Tope Alabi, SLK for 9th Magodo Zonal Rally Tope Alabi and popular comedian, SLK popularly known as Boda Wasiu are set to perform at the forthcoming 9th Zonal Rally of Foursquare Gospel Church , Magodo Zone scheduled for Thursday, May 4 and Sunday and May 7. The Chairman of the Rally Committee, Mr. Samuel Olatunji said the rally is the first of its kind in this zone and will be a great one. ‘Just as the theme, Tope Alabi ‘On Eagles’ Wings’ indicated, we are going to be empowering people with knowledge on how to stand out like Eagles. We have many anointed ministers of God and speakers who will be speaking at the different days of the programmes. Tope Alabi will be ministering live at the rally. We will also have SLK Comedy (Boda Wasiu) present to entertain everyone with his brand of comedy’, he said Olatunji noted further that programmes planned for the rally include a medical outreach which is free for all and also a dinner for couples and one for singles and teens. ”Other ministers of God slated for the event are, Pastor Alex Unuadjefe who doubles as the Zonal Superintendent of Magodo Zone, Pastor Anetor, Rev. Mrs. Mope Oluwole and Sister Bosun Bankole’, he added. The rally tagged ‘On Eagle’s Wings’ will start on Thursday, May 4 with word exposition and a vigil with Rev. Femi Ogundare from Akure who will lead the congregants into breakthrough prayers while the Saturday programme will be divided into two with the youths and singles being led by Bosun Bankole while the married individuals will be led by Pastor Mope. The Saturday programmes are dinner events. Tope Alabi who is also known as ‘Ore ti o common’ is not a strange name in the Nigerian gospel music industry. She is a multi-platinum gospel singer whose music career gained prominence in the contemporary gospel music industry in the country over a decade ago. SLK also known as Boda Wasiu is an acting comedian. He is also an MC, actor, and writer. He is, in fact, the voice behind “Lying Unilag Girl” on Cool FM and Wazobia FM. He shot to the limelight as a result of his popular Instagram skits.

UNIFEMGA Holds 2017 Public Lecture/Luncheon The Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA), an association of Muslim alumni of the varsity is set to hold its annual public lecture/luncheon in Lagos, with the aim to sensitise its members and members of the public on important issues and areas that are beneficial to their needs. The event will hold on Sunday 30th April, 2017 at the De Renaissance Hotel, 172, Obafemi Awolowo Road, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos from 10a.m.-2p.m. prompt. The lecture with theme: ‘Strategic Imperatives and Opportunities for Investments and Wealth Creation by Nigerian Muslim Professionals in Lagos’ will be chaired by the Chairman of Access Bank, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga while the lecture will be delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global), Lagos State, Alhaji Abdul Ahmed Mustapha. According to a release by the chairman organising committee, Mohammed Buari, says this year’s topic is driven by the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy from crude oil, encourage participation of Muslim professionals in entrepreneurship and create alternative sources of income, amongst others. Expected to grace the lecture are over 200 participants from different industries and business interests as the organisers believe it will create a good learning experience and networking platform for the attendees. Formed over 20 years ago with the purpose to educate, enlighten and address societal problems the association is committed to all-round human development based on Islamic values.

31/LIVING

28.04.2017

Whose Meal Ticket, a Movie with Diverse Intrigues Comes to Cinemas Mary Ekah Everything about the movie, ‘Whose Meal Ticket’, seems to be maneuvered. Even the core message in the movie, which centres on diabetes, a dreaded disease, and how sufferers can manage it through life with ease, is also maneuvered. Or else how could a movie intended to portray a message on an issue as serious as diabetes be presented in such a sublime manner with so much comedy and drama entrenched in it? And then, every single character in the movie seems to be plotting and scheming for one thing or the other, all for the betterment of their personal lives. Everyone is manipulating the other person and also covering up a secret in a bit to get the next meal ticket or to see ‘Whose Meal Ticket’ is next. And then there is also this strange but true revelation made in the movie, which brought about a twist in the entire plot of the storyline. We all know that siblings can have different fathers – technically making them half-siblings. What happens when a set of twins is fathered by two different men? Yes, this occurs in a rare medical condition and they are referred to as "superfecundation twins." Superfecundation twins are born when a woman has intercourse with two different men in a short period of time while ovulating; it's possible for both men to impregnate her separately. In this case, two different sperm impregnate two different eggs. This is exactly what happened to Mrs. Disu in ‘Whose Meal Ticket’ and the result is her superfecundation twins. One of her twins, Taiwo (Iyke Nnabuife) is the product of her relationship with a staff employed to work in the Disu’s family business, while the other twin, Kehinde (Uti Nwachukwu) was conceived during a separate encounter with her husband, Chief Disu within the same period of ovulation. While this phenomenon is rare, research suggests it does happen from time to time. Consequently, Chief Disu, believing he is the father of both boys, went on grooming the more promising of the boys, Taiwo to take over the helms of his fast growing conglomerate not realising that he is actually grooming another man’s son in the true sense of it. His actual son is Kehinde – the ‘black sheep’ of the family, who never takes anything seriously in life. Produced by Roxanne Care Options Project,

Whose Meal Ticket crew

‘Whose Meal Ticket’ is a follow-up on the success of ‘Deeply Cut, another advocacy movie project that dramatises the impact of hepatitis B in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa. Although the flick deals with strong messages, it is done with a comic touch and in an entertaining manner. Premiered penultimate Saturday at Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos, the Executive Producer, KehindeOmoru, who is a practicing disabilities nurse at College of Further Education in the United Kingdom and also founder and coordinator of Raxanne Care Options Foundation, revealed what promoted the movie. “I’m a teacher and nurse. Deep down in my heart I just want to tackle different types of health conditions in Nigeria though I practice in the U.K. I see a lot of know-how and ways to do things in the health sector which is lacking here in Nigerian and so I want to do as much as I can to ensure that I bring health promotion to Nigeria.’ Omoru who said Diabetes is a very serious condition, added that she didn’t want to present it in a scary way that would rather put people off. But that she intended for people who are suffering from it to see how the character in the movie handle it with indifference. “We see Mrs. Disu (Shaffi Bello) in the movie showing her ability to contain the disease without much ado. She handles it simply and with a regular exercise retune. We had to entrench our message on diabetes in a very stylish manner in order not to bore people”, she added.

The movie also portrays the fact that Nigeria is endowed with a whole lot of natural resources which could be used for our benefit when it touches on the merchandise on charcoal for skincare. “Nigeria has plenty of charcoal and there are ways we can harness it for skincare. I use active charcoal on my face and I look around in the shops here and see none. Meanwhile, it is all over the U.K. and Spain. Why are we not incorporating it as an integral part of skincare? So, these are the things I want to ensure that I tackle in Nigeria and Africa,” Omoru noted. And to allow her viewers absorb these salient messages easily, comedy had to be deployed. “Nigeria is full of stress. You can only bring in such health issues and show it to people in a stylistic manner; there is no how you will watch the movie and not see Shaffy Bello talk about diabetes. You will also see her exercising; that will make people living with diabetes or other health condition to want to do same by getting their jugging kit and exercising as well as so other things she does in the movie.’ The Producer and director of the movie, Grace Edwin-Okon, said, the movie, which is already showing at the moment in the cinemas nationwide, has diverse messages from diabetes, neglect to greed and so on, noted, “It is an entertaining and educative film in the sense that everyone in life is hustling for something. We are all trying to achieve something and I’m very sure that every single person here is after where his/her

next meal ticket is coming from. So everybody hustles in different ways but the fact is that while doing these, some people scheme at the detriment of others.’ Edwin-Okon noted however that the whole idea was to push out health messages without necessarily making it boring to people, so they had to put in the comic element and a bit of drama. The movie subtly focusing on health issues with more of comedy and drama, she explained was deliberate. “We had to make it sublime because Nigerians love to release stress but don’t like to be lectured, so we had to pass the message in a soft and easy way, so that they can actually think about it in a little way and then go back home and make some more researches on what they have seen in the movie. At least, there is something to trigger off the thought in their minds.” Obviously satisfied with the production, the director said, “I have done my best for now, and I’m happy that the audience reacted really well and they loved it. I know that for other productions I will do better by God’s grace.” For Edwin-Okon, the film, ‘Whose Meal Ticket’ is her 15th film as a producer, and fourth movie as a director. She described her cast for ‘Whose Meal Ticket’ as amazing. “They are amazing people, they did their best, and we had a good time on set. They are great actors. We had to choose people who kind of fit specific roles, even one of the twins, looks more like the mother than the father, which goes a long way to explain that supposedly father is not actually the biological father.” Her message specifically is that, people should check their health regularly beyond diabetes, just to ensures that you they live long.” Whose Meal Ticket, is starring industry’s best such as Akin Lewis, Ngozi Nwosu, Uti Nwachukwu, Shaffi Bello, Lisa Omorodion, Tana Adelana, Femi Durojaiye and Iyke Nnabuife among others. Ngozi Nwosu who plays the character, Mrs. Philips in the movie at the premiere jocularly said,, ‘The title is ‘Whose Meal Ticket’ and if you watch carefully, you would see that virtually everyone in the movie is hustling. I’m hustling, my daughter, Lisa Philips, is hustling, the guy dating my daughter, Taiwo (Iyke Nnabuife) is trying to play my daughter and even Mrs. Disu is also hustling too.’ So at the end of the day, it is who gets the meal ticket?

Sleep Disorder Clinic Opens in Lagos Mary Ekah Sadly, quite a number of people are not getting the quality sleep needed to truly receive the health benefits of sleep because they suffer from a number of fairly common but undiagnosed sleep disorders such as Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Restless Leg Syndrome, REM behaviour disorders and other parasomnias. The most common major disorder in the spectrum is Sleep Apnea. This is a dangerous condition that has potentially catastrophic consequences. It is associated with significant risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus and stroke amongst other conditions. The predominant symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (a type of sleep apnea) are snoring, fatigue, daytime sleepiness and decreased cognition over time. The good news is it is easily diagnosed and

Sleep Inc. Limited, Chief Circadian Oﬃcer, Dr. Oguntolu

eminently treatable. But it requires a heightened

awareness as well as proactive effort by the patient and healthcare provider for early recognition and treatment. It is therefore in line with this that Sleep Inc. Limited, a subsidiary of Sleep Consultants Limited USA, a specialised Sleep Clinic has opened its flagship Nigerian clinic in Ikoyi, Lagos. Established with the sole aim of delivering world class respiratory and sleep specialty care and education to patients in Nigeria, the clinic will provide care and advice to patients with diverse respiratory related and sleep disorders. The clinic's team of international sleep experts is led by Dr. Olusola Oguntolu, MACP, FCCP, a board certified doctor in Internal Medicine, who also has sub-specialty board certifications in sleep medicine, pulmonary disease and critical care from the American Board of internal Medicine. Oguntolu, who is also the Chief Circadian Officer

of the Clinic, while showing guests around the facility, stated that "having recognised the paucity of qualified providers in the often undiagnosed area of pulmonary and sleep disorders in the country and noticing the devastating effects of these diseases when untreated, one of our main goals, is to raise awareness among Nigerians about sleep disorders and respiratory ailments." He also noted that the Clinic, which can be accessed via www.easysleepinc.com and physically located on Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, is purposely designed for the care of patients with respiratory and sleep disorders. The multi-million naira clinic is, "configured with best-in-class diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to aid in diagnosis and delivery of cutting edge therapies. "The Clinic collaborates closely with a few carefully chosen and well-regarded local and international industry partners in the execution of this lofty vision.”

Adron Homes Donates Free Bus to Students In a measure of giving back to the society, the Group Managing Director of Adron Homes and Properties, Oba Akintola Emmanuel-King, has donated a Mac polo bus to the Secondary School Students in Sagamu area of Ogun State, to ease their stress from to and fro school activities within the community. To illustrate the meaning of making good his promise during the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative event, Oba Emmanuel-King said that he has considered this gesture has a promise to fulfill by believing that this students are our Nigeria's future, so they should be catered for at a tender age by every well meaning individuals. He also added that he had taken his time for twelve years now to study on what to do for the students who resides in that community walking several kilometer before getting into school and he arrived at a conclusion of providing a free school bus that would aid the students get to school on time in a conducive ride that would enable them easily assimilate what they are taught.The property boss however appeal and call on every well-meaning Nigerians, especially the Sagamites to join hands with him in lifting the free bus L-R: ADRON Homes Chairman, Hon. Yinka Mafe;, Oba Adetola Emmanuel-king; HRM, Oba Timothy Akinsanya; Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye;Hon. Raﬁu Soyemi and initiative for this youngsters. Comrade Segun Kayode-Okeowo at the event

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

1004 RESIDENTS CRY OUT Halogen Security Guards sleeping at their duty post

We now fetch water with buckets

Colour of water provided in the last four months on the estate (2 Different Samples)

Vandalized Car

Water is now for sale in the estate

ENOUGH OF MISMANAGEMENT OF 1004 ESTATE BY FAILED 1004 HORA We say enough is enough to this unprecedented level of mismanagement. When you illegally forced out the original managers, you made us believe things would be better but instead, things have gone from good to worse. The estate is not designed to be managed by deceitful and corrupt clique of 8 home owners We say no to bad quality water. You have destroyed new functioning water plant in just 1 year We say no to over 50 power shortages in a day by 1G4 power ltd which destroyed all our appliances. We say no to broken down lifts due to mismanagement and the very dirty surroundings. We say no to excessive charges for electricity and fraud of IG4 power (owned by one of the HORA EXECUTIVES TO FLEECE RESIDENTS FOR THEIR PRIVATE GAIN). WE ARE NO FOOLS . HORA MUST GO ACCOUNT FOR UNPAID EKOC BILLS & METERS. We say no to your high cost of service charge when the quality of services provided have nose-dived. We say no to horrible security services with the vandalisation of our vehicles and home burglaries We say no to the deterioration of 1004 Estate due to the selfish interest of the HORA Executives . We say no to any new facility managers - Ora Egbunike and Clay and Harrowfield, Halogen security have failed. No to your many Committees who all lack large scale estate management experience. WE SAY NO TO WATER POISIONING OF OUR FAMILIES AND TO ELECTRICAL FIRES; We say NO TO HORA!!! YOU ARE TOO INHUMANE AND CAUSE US MUCH SUFFERING WITHOUT A CARE. PLEASE Return our Estate to the state where everything worked! GIVE THE ESTATE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LEGAL MANAGERS!!! YOU HAVE NO LEGITIMACY. WE ARE TIRED OF YOUR EXCUSES AND EXPLANATIONS. THE SUFERING RESIDENTS IN 1000 FLATS IN OUR FORUM ARE MORE THAN THE 40 MEMBERS THAT ATTEND YOUR MEETINGS. HORA MUST GO!! WE HAVE NEVER RECOGNISED HORA ON OUR ESTATE.

1004 RESIDENTS FORUM

33/ TRAVEL, LEISURE & TOURISM

28.04.2017

Nigerian Youths to Discuss Tourism at NATOP Tour Operators Summit Tourism in Nigeria has thrived as an outbound business with the biggest players being outbound. Nigerians spent annually over $1 billion as flight tickets in the past years to travel abroad. But an emerging phenomenon has seen Nigerian youths take advantage of social media to drive domestic travels and this is why the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) decided to host the leading youth operators to a workshop and discussion session as a way of mainstreaming them. The young tourism promoters are drawn from Lagos, Ibadan, Uyo and Enugu and would be joined by other emerging tour operators from all over Nigeria. They will be discussing ‘The Challenges of Promoting Tourism by the Nigerian Youth’. The panelists will Include Wale Olapade, a tourism journalist from Tribune, Chiamaka Obuekwe of Social Prefect Tours, Pelu Awofeso of Travel Next Door, Sam Adeleke of Afrotourism, Allen Effeh of Ibom Tourism, John Paul Ezeani from Enugu, the Oguntoye Twins from Ibadan and Omotosho Olamilekan. The NATOP AGM

Imoke

will be graced by the former executive governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke who will be the Guest Speaker at 2017 Annual General Meeting. Nigerian Association of Tour Operators is the Umbrella body for tour operators in Nigeria.

It is a socialised organisation made up of the leading travel specialists in Nigeria. The theme for the 2017 edition which will hold on the 2nd of May at Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, is ‘Positioning Tourism Within the Nigerian Economic Space’. Last year at its AGM held in Calabar with the theme, ‘Tourism the Low Hanging Fruit in a Depressed Economy’ with Professor Pat Utomi as Guest Speaker, it released a 10-point agenda for tourism in Nigeria which has become the talking point in Nigeria since then. Everyone is talking about low hanging fruit, Presidential Council of Tourism and Review of Tourism Master Plan issues that were raised in Calabar. NATOP also called for the creation of a stand for Tourism Ministry which is yet to receive attention from the government. NATOP was the only tourism association to host a World Tourism Day event last year on September 27. At the event it charged that the government seems to lack the political will to push tourism to its height. This drew an instant response from the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai

Mohammed, who responded that the government has the political will to move tourism forward. For the second time NATOP hosted visiting South Africa tour operators on a road show to Nigeria to a city tour of Lagos, which saw them doing a ‘Know FELA the Legend Tour’ with visits to sites associated with the Famous Black President and Music Maestro Fela Anikulakpo Kuti. Senator Imoke who will be speaking on ‘The Building Blocks of Tourism Products’, will be sharing his experience as a two-term governor of the leading tourism state in Nigeria. Young and aspiring tour operators will be involved in a workshop themed ‘Challenges Facing the Promotion of Tourism by the Youth’. NATOP said it has observed that a lot of young tour operators are promoting domestic tours all over the country and need to be encouraged. According to the President of NATOP Nkereuwem Onung, the CEO of REMLORDS Tours, "These young ones are the future of tourism in Nigeria and we need to support and harness them for the sake of the nation."

Ghana Drops VAT on Domestic Flights as 10 Investors Seek License Organisations The Ghana Ministry of Aviation has received proposals from 10 foreign and local investors to operate in the country’s domestic airline industry. The country’s Minister of Aviation, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, made this known at the opening of this year’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) Day in Accra, according to an online publication, graphic.com.gh. It is being organised by IATA, which is the trade association for the world’s airlines. Participants include key stakeholders in the air travel industry from Africa. The conference has the theme: ‘Aviation: catalyst for socio-economic development in Ghana’ and will discuss the impact of aviation on the economy, infrastructure development and safety in the industry.

Although Dapaah did not give details of the proposals received, she said the ministry was studying them and would announce the final decision in due course. She stated that the government considered the development of the aviation sector a priority, for which reason a lot of investment had been made in infrastructural development at the various airports, aerodromes and airstrips across the country. She added that all facilities at the airports were being modernised to meet international standards and to improve safety and the comfort of travelers. To promote domestic air transport, Dapaah said the government had abolished the 17.5 per cent VAT on domestic airfares to encourage

more patronage by the travelling public and also reduce the cost of operation of airlines. Dapaah said as part of plans to establish a national airline, which would fly initially in the West African region, a transactional advisor had been working on finding a strategic investor to partner the government. To improve the regulation and provision of air navigation services, she said a new entity was being established to take care of air navigation, while the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority concentrated on its core mandate of regulating the sector. “This is intended to improve safety standards and also properly regulate the operations of the various actors in the industry,” she explained. An IATA Regional Head in charge of membership

Ethiopian Airlines Sends Brand New Airbus A350-900 to Abuja Airport Signs Codeshare agreement with Singapore Airlines, Air Europa Africa’s largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, has announced its decision to start its flight to Abuja Airport with its latest technology and the most modern airplane in the world, the Airbus A350-900. The state-of-the-art airplane will start the scheduled service on the Addis Ababa Abuja route, thereby gracing the reopening of Abuja Airport, to be held on April 18, 2017. Following this move Ethiopian Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked; “As a veteran Pan African airline, it has always been our source of pride to connect our beloved continent Africa together and beyond. Our presence in Nigeria dates back to the 1960’s, same time the Federal Republic of Nigeria got independence from foreign colonisation. We have always given our best to Nigeria at all times, both at good and challenging times, and we have been part of Nigeria’s historic growth and always consider ourselves as vital partners in the history and growth of Nigeria as a country. “The A350 is yet one of the landmarks in our 70 years proud history; providing exceptional levels of luxury and reliability for a totally unique passenger experience. Hence, with the reopening of Abuja Airport, the extra features of our game changing fleet, Airbus A350, will be awaiting for our esteemed Nigerian travelers. We shall continue to avail critical air connectivity options and connect African countries together and far beyond.” Ethiopian currently operates 20 weekly flights to four Nigerian cities; Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Kano; offering hassle free connectivity to its worldwide network spread in five continents. Passengers aboard the flight will enjoy the extra features of this latest flying machine: amazing cabin interior features with the latest high-definition touchscreen, personal monitors with a higher selection of movies, wider seats and windows, the lowest twin engine noise level, advanced air conditioning technology, full LED mood lighting. It is to be recalled that Ethiopian has been the first in Africa to own and operate the A350 in African skies. Among a total of 14 orders, Ethiopian currently has three of them in operation. Meanwhile, Star Alliance members, Ethiopian Airlines and Singapore Airlines will expand their codeshare agreement as of 1st of June 2017, offer-

Ethiopian Airlines

ing customers traveling between Africa and Asia seamless connectivity options. Ethiopian Airlines’ daily non-stop services to Singapore from Addis Ababa, due to be launched in June 2017, will be covered by the expanded codeshare agreement. Under the expanded agreement, Ethiopian Airlines customers will be able to access multiple destinations in Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam across Singapore Airlines’ wide network. In turn, Singapore Airlines customers will enjoy access to Ethiopian Airlines’ vast intra-African network including countries like Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, The Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Mr. Girma Shiferaw, Acting Vice President, Strategic Planning and Alliances, remarked: “I wish to thank Singapore Airlines for the successful completion of this vital agreement. The two airlines will synergize their respective networks in Asia and Africa to offer customers the best connectivity options with one ticket and one single check-in at the first boarding airport. It will also play a critical role in enhancing investment, trade and tourism ties between a rising Africa, and a highly developed, innovative, and business-friendly Singapore.” Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Mr. Tan Kai Ping, said, “We are delighted with our expanded codeshare operations with Ethiopian Airlines. This significant expansion of our important partnership is in line with our ongoing effort to continuously expand our network reach and to offer customers more travel options and convenience when travelling

between Africa, Asia and Southwest Pacific.” The airlines first began code sharing on each other’s flights to and from Dubai in 2011. The expanded codeshare flights are subject to regulatory approvals and will be progressively made available for sale across various sales channels. Ethiopian Airlines operates the youngest fleet on the African continent with an average aircraft age of less than five years, serving more than 90 international destinations across five continents with over 240 daily departures. Singapore Airlines operates a modern passenger aircraft fleet of more than 100 aircraft. Together with wholly owned passenger airline subsidiaries SilkAir, Scoot and Tigerair, the SIA Group’s combined network covers more than 130 destinations around the world. Africa’s largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, has also signed a codeshare agreement with Air Europa, which took effect on April 11, 2017. The new partnership is a free sale codeshare agreement, thereby allowing the partner airlines access to each other’s network by creating smooth connection at their respective hubs. Mr. Busera Awel, Chief Commercial Officer Ethiopian Airlines, said: “We are pleased to optimize our collaboration with Air Europa through this instrumental code share agreement. As a customer focused airline, we always strive to meet our customer’s ever growing demand, availing critical connectivity options. This strategic collaboration will enable our esteemed customer’s reach multiple destinations in Europe through one point check-in at point of origin. Reciprocally, Ethiopian vast African network is an added advantage to customers of Air Europa; connecting 53 major cities in Africa with minimum layover at our Addis hub.” Imanol Pérez, Comercial Deputy Director of Air Europa, has expressed his satisfaction for the agreement reached with Ethiopian Airlines as it allows Air Europa to have presence in the African continent and offer its passengers a wider choice of travel destinations. In addition, Air Europa also provides Ethiopian Airline´s passengers with excellent connectivity with other European, Spanish and American destinations where Air Europa flies to through its Madrid hub.

and external relations in Africa and Middle East, Ms Adefunke Ademeyi, commended Ghana for transforming its aviation industry in recent years. She named Ghana and Rwanda as one of the countries in Africa which were using aviation to promote their socio-economic transformation. “The transformations in the airports in Ghana are visible and positive,” she stressed. She urged African governments to open up their aviation markets in order to promote connectivity and facilitate easy travel on the continent. For his part, the President of IATA, Mr. Raphael Kuuchi, said globally, the aviation industry contributed $2.7 trillion, which represents 3.5 per cent of the world’s GDP, and directly employed 9.9 million people.

Stefan Kreuzpaintner Appointed Vice President Sales Lufthansa Group for the EMEA Sales Region As of May 1, 2017, Dr. Stefan Kreuzpaintner (43) has been appointed Vice President Sales EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Lufthansa Group Airlines. In this position Kreuzpaintner will be responsible for Stefan-Kreuzpaintner all sales and commercial activities in the EMEA region including Nigeria - altogether comprising 74 markets in Europe (except for the airlines’ home markets Austria, Germany and Switzerland), the Middle East as well as Africa. Kreuzpaintner will be based in Frankfurt and manage the recently merged areas of Europe and Middle East/Africa for the Group’s premium airlines Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS. Furthermore, Kreuzpaintner and his entire sales team will represent Brussels Airlines in many markets as well as support the sales activities of Eurowings. In his function Kreuzpaintner reports to his predecessor, Heike Birlenbach, Senior Vice President Sales Lufthansa Hub Airlines and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Hub Frankfurt. Heike Birlenbach comments: ”With Stefan Kreuzpaintner we appointed an airline manager with vast experience within the Lufthansa Group, including Network Planning, Revenue Management, Distribution and Sales. With his qualification and dedication we will further strengthen our premium customer approach in these key markets. Mr. Kreuzpainter’s close ties to our strong airline brands Austrian, Lufthansa and SWISS clearly support our commercial strategy to increase the customers’ choice and flexibility within our airline group in the future.” Prior to joining Lufthansa, Kreuzpaintner completed a training programme with Commerzbank and then enrolled in the University of Maastricht in International Management.

34/XTRA

28.04.2017

‘My Rough Past Brings Tears to My Eyes’ She was not born great but by dint of hard work, determination and unwillingness to settle for less, she is achieving great things. She is breaking grounds that ordinarily, she wouldn’t have been able to. Miss Chioma Esther Uwandu is an MSc holder in English Literature and Founder of Impact Her Initiative, an NGO, focused on empowering women and girls. In this interview with Peter Uzoho, Uwandu talks about the organisation, her rough childhood experience and education, her catering vocation, among others You hold a Master’s degree in English Literature, tell us about your educational journey? Yes, I hold a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Lagos. I had my Bachelor of Art in English Literature from Lagos State University. I started school at an early age. By age five, I was already in primary one, even before my hand could touch my ears from my head. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth- I had a rough childhood. My parents had seven children in a one-room apartment. I was the third child and second daughter, and our last were a set of twins. There was definitely no way our parents could afford private schools for the large number of children they had. So I and my siblings attended public schools, sometimes without school bags and textbooks. We put our writing materials in nylon bags and sometimes wore slippers to school, but were not deterred. Our parents, especially our mother would advise us to sit in front and listen to what the teachers were teaching that we would learn even better than children with textbooks or those in private schools. Remembering those days brings tears to my eyes. We struggled until there was a gradual change in our family’s income through my mother’s struggle in various businesses. We moved from the public school to a less-expensive private school where I completed my primary education. From then, I attended State Grammar School, a government secondary school in Surulere, though, things were still not rosy. After secondary school, I had to work for over a year before I started university. I worked as a sales representative in Cash and Carry Nigeria Limited in 2008, and gained admission into Lagos State University (LASU) in October the same year. I graduated from LASU in 2012, went for NYSC in Ekiti State in March 2013 and finished service in February 2013. I went into catering after then, worked in some organisations, before beginning my Master’s programme in January 2016. The journey so far had been rigorous but I had been determined, plus I have dedicated parents who would do anything to see that all their children are educated. Today, my family boasts of a Master’s degree holder, a daughter in journalism who is about rounding up her Master’s programme, a graduate in Economic-Statistics who is also an MTN scholar for three straight years, and two undergraduates. This could only happen where there is a strong determination, even in the face of limitations. Did you originally wish to study English Literature in school? I had always wanted to study English Literature. I grew up loving stories- my mother would sit her seven children and told us those local/ village stories. We had our moonlight tales in Lagos. I started to read novels at an early age, and in JSS1 I had written a story my English teacher said stood out among others. In Senior Secondary School, at a point we didn’t have a Literature teacher, I and few friends organised Literature tutorials for our mates. There was no way I’d thought of a different line of course other than Literature. So, English Literature had always been my choice from the onset. You are also a caterer and a good one indeed, tell us how you ventured into the catering vocation? Yes, I’m a certified caterer. I have a great Cook in the person of my mother. From an early age, I learnt how to cook. I’d said earlier my mother put her hands into many things when we were growing up, ranging from selling perishable goods to seasonal foods, even to selling cooked food- what we call in our local area ‘mama put”. There’s no food my mother would not cook, there’s no pastry she couldn’t make, except cakes. So I grew up loving foods and how to prepare them. After my first degree, before I went for service, I went to a catering class to brush up on my skills and be certified. And after NYSC, I went into catering full time, coming from Okoko

Uwandu

to the Island to distribute chinchin to my clients. From my undergraduate days and even during my NYSC, I was called “Chioma Chinchin”, and many of my friends still call me by that name. My catering outfit is Chioma Delicious Foods, with the motto: ‘A Taste will convince you’. You are the Founder of Impact Her Initiative; can we know more about the organisation? Impact Her Initiative (IHI) is a Non-Governmental, Not-for-Profit organisation geared towards the psychological reorientation of girls and women in our society. It was borne out of a conscious desire to make a change in my society, first as an individual (human), and also as a woman. It seeks among other things to deconstruct every notion that sets a girl or woman on the fringes as a second class individual, or inferior. The organisation came into existence in July 2016. Who are the partners and sponsors of the organisation? Impact Her Initiative would not be able to achieve all it sets out to achieve without the support of people, organisations and bodies who believe in us. Whole Woman Network is one of our chief sponsors (WWN). WWN is an organisation that seeks to educate girls who will in turn educate others. I was privileged to be part of WWN’s Educate s a Girl (EAG) programme in December 2015, and it was an eye opener for me to stand up and make a change. Glass Door Concepts is also one of our sponsors (GDC). GDC supports art and education through its humanitarian arm. IHI was supported with books from GDC during our Maiden Girl’s Summit in April, 2017. Comic Republic also supported us. Comic Republic is a leading comic enterprise that has a section of its work dedicated to the celebration of Nigeria’s heroines like Moremi of Ife, Amina of Zaria, Avonome of Benin, to mention a few. Our partners believe in our vision and have been supporting us morally, financially, and material wise. A good number of organisations are out there championing the cause of women and girls. What makes IHI unique in this regard? Impact Her Initiative is an organisation with a difference. Yes, other NGOs are championing the cause of women and girls, but we’re doing more. We’re changing the way women and girls think, thus, we’re an NGO geared towards the psychological reorientation of girls and women in our society. We want to deconstruct, reconstruct and proffer solutions to women’s problems and not necessarily agitating or fighting. We want women to be empowered. After the conscious education and reorientation, we want these women to learn life skills. That’s why we’re including skills acquisition programmes as part of our

drive to help women become better individuals. Recently, your organisation held its maiden Girl’s Summit; can we know more about that? IHI held its maiden Girl’s Summit in UNILAG on Friday, 7th of April, 2017. The Girl’s Summit was tagged ‘Female Empowerment and Sustainable Development’. We brought together seasoned and distinguished speakers from various fields to come and speak to girls, women, including men, on the need for independence, self-reliance, industry, and empowerment. Among our speakers were Chinyere Obi-Obasi, a lawyer, writer, motivational speaker, comedienne and blogger. She spoke on ‘Maximising Your Potentials as a Woman’. We also had Queen Nkem, the winner of Ideal Nigeria 2016; she spoke on ‘Female Empowerment: A Sure Way to Sustainable Development’. We had Kate Ekanem, a Girlchild activist/advocate, a U.S. Carrington Fellow and Founder of Kate Tales Foundation. She also spoke on ‘The Rights of the Girl-child’. And we had a Doctorate candidate of history and international analyst, Mr. Abimbola Oyarinu, who gave a sizzling lecture titled ‘Women: Through my Lens’. He discussed how he sees women from his perspective as a man, and emphasised that women should stop fighting for equality but demand for equity. One of our speakers, Jide Martin, could not make it to the event due to circumstances beyond his control. Martin is the CEO of Comic Republic. Was the audience motivated at the end of the summit? Yes, the audience was really motivated. The audience was made up of secondary school girls, university female undergraduates, women, and even men. At the end of the summit, questions raised by the audience and suggestions proffered by the resource persons showed the event got through to them. They were indeed empowered. What are the challenges facing Impact Her Initiative as a new organisation? IHI is a new NGO coming on board where there are several NGOs already. We have many challenges at the moment, some of which include funding for projects, land to build Resource/ Vocational Centre,support from key stakeholders. We believe these challenges are surmountable. We can achieve more with great support from men and women of goodwill, private and public sectors, other NGOs and even the government. Where do you wish to see IHI 10 years from now? I hope to see IHI in 10 years time as a formidable structure where women and girls go for succour. IHI will become a beacon of hope to women in the nearest future. We would become a world class hub for women’s development. From your experience as a woman, what are the challenges faced by women in their quest to rise to the top? Growing up as a young girl in a rural community, I saw the challenges women face being mothers and care-givers. One major challenge against women is our gender. Because you’re woman, you’re not expected to do certain things, to achieve certain things, and to hold certain positions. Every other problem women face today in our society is a result of the fact that they are females by gender, and religiously, culturally, economically, and socially, there are codes women are not expected to break. Thus, in our society if a woman rises beyond certain levels, men and even the society frown at it. It takes a lot of strength, determination and dedication for women to rise to the top. Where do you wish to see women in the nearest future? In the future, I want to see women in places hitherto they were not allowed to enter. I want to see women holding viable positions; I want to see women taking responsibilities, risks and challenges. I want to see women empowered in every aspect of life. What is your definition of a perfect woman? A perfect woman is an all-rounder. A woman

who’s intellectually and morally sound in the African ideals of womanhood- a lover of other women, a care-giver and succour to people in distress, and lover of God. From a woman’s perspective, how would you describe feminism? Feminism in its simplicity is the advocating of equal rights and opportunities for women. For me, feminism shouldn’t only be about fighting for equality, but seeks for cooperation, understanding and appreciation, first, as a human, and then, a woman. Feminism as a concept or movement has several strands or branches otherwise known as multiple voices. I tell people that I’m an African feminist. African feminism is not aggressive; it is not fighting for supremacy or control. It advocates respect for African woman for her unique roles, and preaches complementarity between the African woman and man. The African woman needs the support of her man to achieve more. What is your take on women who shy away from cooking in their homes in the name of being career women? For me, women who shy away from cooking but pursue careers are not entirely serious. I do know some women when growing up had maids who took, care of foods in the household,but the truth is when they finally settle down in marriages,that aspect of taking care of a man and children stares them in the face. What do you do when you find yourself in that situation? I advise women as much as we pursue careers, let us also learn to cook, if not for anything, for ourselves and our family. We don’t want our men to be frequenting restaurants and fast food outlets simply because their wives can’t cook. The African adage that says “the way to a man’s heart is through his belly” means well. It’s only a man satisfied in both his belly and “the other room” that will support his woman. In a nutshell, pursuing a career should not be a reason to negate your womanly duties. Of course, the kitchen was first given to women, and,an African woman is incomplete if she cannot cook. Who is your role model? My mother is my role model. She is a strong woman who dares to achieve the seemingly impossible. My mother, Pastor Mrs. Florence Uwandu, is one woman too many. She’s never agreed for less. Having seven children in a harsh local environment like Orile did not deter her from pursuing her dreams. She got herself involved in any kind of trade you can think of, just to cater for us. And she didn’t also give up on her dream to be well educated. Today, she’s a graduate from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, and has even started processing her admission into Lagos State University for another degree. Close to age 60, my mother refuses to give up. She now has a nursery and primary school, and more recently, a college. This is a woman who no one thought could do much because she had more than half a dozen of children with little or no means to cater for them. How would you describe yourself? I am a strong woman. I see myself as a formidable force to reckon with in the near future, in my chosen career. Though single, I see myself as a wonderful wife, mother, and friend. I am simply beautiful and amazing. What kind of man would you love to settle down with as husband? I want a man who would believe in my vision and dreams and supports me- a man who would love me for who I am, and would never see me as a threat in my pursuit for greatness. I want a man who would see beyond care for me and encourage me to achieve the impossible for both us, who would be proud of the woman in his life. I want a man who’s a lover of life, adventurer himself and God-fearing.

35/ENTREPRENEUR

28.04.2017

‘We Restore Hope to Struggling Women’ Dr. Lawretta Ogrih, is an entrepreneur with cluster of businesses within and outside Lagos and founder, Ivory Whetstones and Mentors Foundation, an outlet through which she gives back to the society. In this interview with Mary Ekah, she speaks on how she intends to use her show tagged, ‘The RED Moment’ billed for April 30, to accomplish her mission of alleviating the plight of the Nigerian woman of doing this? I can’t begin to mention the challenges that we have gone through but like I said earlier, I am not compelled to do it. So one of the challenges could have been finance but I have businesses that I do and so as the challenges arise, I take them upon myself to ensure that I overcome them one after the other. I do not depend on people for aids to carry out by duty at the Foundation. The foundation has been over a decade but that is not the only thing I do. Alongside the foundation, I have always had a business going on. I run an event center, a school that is affiliated to reputable universities in Nigeria and then a hotel and many other things. So in the curse of my day to day earning, I try to give back to the society in one way or the other. In that way we restore hope to the struggling and trouble women.

Why did you tag your upcoming event, ‘The RED Moment’? RED stands for Restore Everything Damaged, so it is a time for the launch of the RED moment. It is a season of sacrifice. We are looking at RED as sacrificial, It is sacrificial when someone pays N15, 000 to come and watch a concert. The event is an offshoot our foundation, the Ivory Whetstones and Mentors Foundation. It is one of our babies, a platform for continuing our outreach for women but this time we are using comedy. We would hold a comedy show, music and dance where we would be showcasing some top comedians in Nigeria on the workers Day weekend. So we are trying to get workers, the business people and the public generally to support our course by getting our tickets. And like our slogan says, ‘One ticket, double impacts’. We are looking at people coming to relax on a Workers’ Day weekend and lightening their moods on that day and at the same time, also impacting on a struggling or troubled woman out there. So the proceed from this concert is going to be used to empower women out there like we have done in the past. Those with the VIP and VVIP tickets would get extra treats by us but those with regular would just come and be entertained. Why do you choose a comedy show and not any other thing? We chose comedy because when you look at the economy situation, what is happening in the society and the nation at large, you would find that people are really worked up, stressed up and all that. And so we chose the Worker’s Day weekend so that workers can really be in a relaxed mood. With the situations around us, many people really need to laugh because laughter is a good cure for most of the problems we are having today, some people need to laugh more like the Bible says, ’A merry heart does good is like medicine …’ So that is the more reason we chose comedy, and of course there would be a lot of music in the house. Before now, we have done lots of programmes. This foundation reaches out to beyond women; we reach out to children, giving them scholarships and so on. We reach out to the elderly as well and so now we want to go into entertainment. This is our first time of using comedy to raise funds. Another way of reaching out to the public is that we have had donors offering free return tickets for lucky participants who have any of the tickets for the show either the regular of N500 or the VIP ticket of N15,000 or even the VIPP ticket of N30,000. They will stand the chance of winning first place prize return ticket to Dubai, a second prize for an all-expense-paid night at the Leawood Hotel, Lekki while the third prize will be a Forever Living products wellness hamper. Besides these, there is going to be lots of dance in the house because a renowned DJ will be in the house. Over 50 women would be empowered with proceeds from the event. They would be empowered with life skills, business skills and things that can help them carter to their children so that they would not constitute a menace to the society in future. What kind of women are your target? We are looking at struggling single mothers, widows, and the likes and then we intend to get them through churches, we don’t just pick women from the streets. After which they would be screened to actually ascertain that they really have the needs for what they would be given. We train them on skills for a week, mentor them, empower them and follow up on them, ensuring that they are doing well and making progress. You also publish the SEE magazine, is that an offshoot of your foundation too? The Foundation publishes ‘SEE Magazine’, so

Ogrih

our stories online and because we got a lot of testimonies online, we started going online the more. Now we don’t publish as often as we used to, we tend to tie the publication to events and so we would have one out during ‘The RED Moment’ concert scheduled for Sunday, April, 30 at the SEE Centre, Lekki, Lagos at 5pm.

Ogrih

we can say it is an expression of the foundation. It is an inspirational magazine full of turning point stories. And we use the magazines for ministering because when they are published people sow into them and then they are distributed feely to people who are feeling helpless. This is our sixth year of publishing the magazines and it has been impacting on lives tremendously over the years. It started by being published every other month, but as time went on we started having most of

What motivated you to venture into charity? I would always say that if you are purpose driven, you would always do things to impact the society; for all of what I do, there is a reason. There is something that I have seen that drives me to do them. For me, I give naturally when the need arises. It started right from my childhood days because I lived with parents whom I saw give and I enjoyed seeing them give. And over the years I have learned spiritually that giving is a command, as it is stated in the Bible that ‘Give and it shall be given to you…’ So basically, my upbringing, my teachings and what I have learned from being a child of God have motivated me. And based on my career, I have developed a passion for giving. I have been in contact with a lot of youths and other people and I have been the head of my family’s higher education affiliation, so I have seen the need to help. And I have gone further to pursue a Ph.D. in Corporate Social Responsibilities, so it is for me to lean a helping hand. And the reward, I can’t begin to mention that. I’m not compelled to do it but I just l love doing it. So as the needs arise, I take charge of them with my personal finance most time, so I don’t depend on aids to carry out these activities. This is something that I work hard to execute because I have a number of businesses that I run. What would you say have been the challenges

Can you tell me about your businesses? One of the businesses I do is the SEE Event Centre that carters for events, trainings and conferences with ample parking space. And recently we converted our higher education affiliation business facility to the Leawood Hotel, located on Lekki-Epe Expressway, Oko-Ado, Lekki with over 40 rooms. We are also into Real Estate business outside of Lagos and then I run a school called, Ivory House School, a nursery and primary which, is being reengineered right now. I love creating business. I can have like a hundred expressions – a hundred businesses. Right now I’m into wellness, entertainment, hospitality, publishing and so on. All the businesses come under the SEE and Ivory family. Again, I love to bring people together may be for empowerment, skill acquisition, relationship purpose or educational purpose and so and that is where the need to own an event centre arose. I convene programmes a lot beyond trying to reach out to help women and it was one of my desires to have a place where we can convene women regularly for our various programmes and that was how the SEE Event Centre to being. And then one of the expressions of the foundation is the SEE Inspirational Magazine and this magazine touches all aspects of live. And each time we have an edition of the magazine we hold a talk show, not on air but in a gathering where we address issues in real life and as people participate they are touched in various ways. I am also into praise ministry and intercession and the ministry is part of the SEE family network. You are multi-tasked, how do you cope with all the things you do? I am energetic in nature and I love to delegate as well. I have part time staff as well as full time staff, there are different people to give assignments to and so I apportion duties to them appropriately. I trust people to delegate to them and much more, I have it at the bottom of my mind that I have to live a balance life, give to my family and the society, so that no one is suffering, especially my home front. What is your vision for your organisation? I want to do massive things because I have so much energy and don’t want it to be wasted. I want to do better activities that are more impacting. Can you tell us about the man behind this energetic and successful woman? He is a lovely man. My hero, Mr. Sam Ogrih is a nice man. He is a businessman. He is equally up there that sometimes I have to run after him and say, ‘just hold on a bit’. He has his goals in business and he is a go-getter. How do you relax? I love to work out and I love my home, I love my family, so any opportunity I have, I spend it quietly at home with my family.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

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SELECTION OF FINANCIAL ADISORY SERVICES TO AMCON ON THE DIVESTMENT OF QUACEM LTD.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (â&#x20AC;&#x153;RFPâ&#x20AC;?) AMCON has acquired equity stake in several companies (also known as Eligible Investee Companies or EICs), principally by way of debt-equity swaps and Ordinary sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forfeitures by obligors in settlement of their Eligible Bank Assets (EBAs). Consequently, the Corporation has several EICs in its portfolio. QUACEM LTD (â&#x20AC;&#x153;QUACEMâ&#x20AC;?) is one of such EICs and AMCON hereby seeks for proposals from experienced consultants for the provision of financial advisory services towards the divestment of the Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s equity holding in QUACEM. Interested consultants must provide information confirming they are qualified to perform this service. Each interested party should submit a proposal detailing the following, as a basis for selection: â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Demonstrable experience in similar transactions Recommended transaction approach Indicative timetable Experience of key team members Proposed fee structure Potential conflicts of interest

AMCON now invites financial advisers to respond to its request for proposal to act as financial advisers to AMCON on the divestment of its holdings in QUACEM. The RFP will be available on, and can only be downloaded from, AMCONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website (http://rfp.amcon.com.ng/rfpquacem.aspx) from 12:00 pm (Nigerian Time) on Friday, April 28, 2017. Proposals from consultants must be received on or before 5:00 pm (Nigerian Time) on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Only selected advisers shall be notified of the outcome of the selection process. Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) TO DOWNLOAD THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, VISIT AMCONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WEBSITE: http://rfp.amcon.com.ng/rfp-quacem.aspx

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

38/OPINION

28.04.2017

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Malaria Burden Adds up to Adewole’s Meningitis Burden In November 2009, I sat near Isaac Adewole, in Dare-Salaam, Tanzania. I could tell of his brilliance and dedication to a cause he believed in based on how up-close I saw and interacted with him. He was elected the Chairman of African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) at that meeting unopposed to confirm his leadership prowess. We all roared in jubilation to approve that election. At that time, he was a professor at the University of Ibadan and awaiting Vice Chancellor. He made it to become the Vice Chancellor of the premier university just about one year after. His academic brain and soundness have not been mixed with Nigeria’s perplexing politics. But in November 2015, five years later, Adewole, became Nigeria’s Health Minister and his progress took a turn. He became a reactive man, and not proactive anymore. He must really be frustrated and hiding it. Really, serving in Nigerian government can turn a smart man into a sluggish man. Government work around here can make a man full of vision to lose his sight. Adewole must have had a torrid time as a sitting Health Minister whose tenure has had running battle with outbreak of diseases. With scores of people dying from diseases that are preventable and government using fire brigade approach for a rescue plan, I am fully convinced that Adewole is in a cage too difficult to exit from. “I should start with global health security, as we might be aware, we have been dealing with series of outbreaks over the last one year. We started with Lassa, we moved on to cholera, there were pockets of measles and now we are dealing with meningitis,” he said without putting figures to the number of health-related deaths under him as a minister. But those deaths are now over

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole

a million in less than two years that he became a minister. Honestly, I feel lethargic these days about Nigerian situation that I am hesitant to write. The bad shape that our country is will require not only a smart panel-beater to beat it into shape, but a man of hammer to hit the hell out of Nigeria. This week, after reading the headline, ‘Nigeria begs U.S. to help fight Malaria’, my heart pumped. Sadly, the news story was attributed to the Health Minister, who equally acknowledged that the United States through its USAID/Presidential Malaria Initiative covering 11 states and the National Malaria Programme has invested substantial amount of about 490 million dollars in Nigeria. The United Kingdom through its Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Global Fund, all separately put millions of dollars into malaria fight in Nigeria. But despite the huge money invested in

Nigeria already by the United States, including what the country itself continues to include in its annual budget, no less than 300,000 lives are lost to malaria annually. If you have been a victim of malaria, you will have no reason to dispute the figure. I think it could be more than that after seeing two close family members killed by malaria. So my question is why is malaria-related death continues in Nigeria year after year despite the fact that it is preventable and with the huge amount of money invested in Nigeria by donor countries and nonprofits? The continuous mismanagement and embezzlement of fund by those entrusted with its administration is a big issue in malaria fight in Nigeria. Interestingly, Nigerian administrators are so unkind to the poor. They continue to embezzle such money meant for rescue efforts like security fund, national emergency management fund, Presidential Initiative for the North East fund, malaria control fund and many others. On its National Malaria Control Programme website (www.nmcp.gov.ng), you can get the picture that Nigeria is not interested in eradicating malaria the way the United States did in the 50s. At best, Nigeria wants to roll malaria back so that it can continue to roll forward. The content on the website is outdated and that shows the concern the Ministry of Health has for malaria eradication. When in November 2016, the United States launched a whistle-blowing campaign on Nigeria for theft of its donated anti-malaria fund I was sad, knowing that I have lost people to malaria. According to the Deputy Inspector General in charge of the American supported Malarial Control Programme in Africa in USAID, Jonathan Schofield, antimalarial products

including treated bed nets and medicines carrying the USAID brand meant to be distributed free of charge, as part of the contribution of the American government to eradicate malaria in Nigeria were being diverted or faked by syndicates. I remember that the U.S. government promised to give monetary reward for any useful information that would lead to the arrest of syndicates who hoard or fake the USAID funded malaria products in Nigeria. It was that bad. Why are we the enemies of our own progress? It may surprise many why the United States continues to support Nigeria despite its frustrating experience. Here is the truth. The U.S. understands that America is not completely a safe haven with regards to malaria, though malaria ended in the U.S. in the 50s. Americans are explorers and they go everywhere, and because they visit such malaria endemic countries as Nigeria there’s the probability of being infected. Of course, with more immigrants and tourists arriving in the U.S. everyday, they will likely carry the fever with them and place the burden on America’s healthcare system. For instance, in a report published on April 24, the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene claimed that between 2000 and 2014, about 22,000 people were admitted to U.S. hospitals with complications of malaria. As the U.S. Consul General in Lagos, Francis John Bray, recently wrote that, “ridding the world of this burden will have a long-term transformative impact across the globe, saving millions of lives and generating trillions in additional economic output,” the burden is on Prof. Adewole to follow the money to save lives. Follow me on twitter: @adeolaakinremi1

Suspension of SGF: Matters Arising Mohammed Shehu Many political pundits believe that the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, followed a concerted and sustained campaign of calumny against him by a section of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and their cohorts. According to the political observers, Lawal’s detractors, who felt that he had stepped on the wrong toes, have cashed in on the ill conceived report of the Senate Ad hoc Committee to call for his removal from office, even though the matter had been laid to rest following an investigation by the Presidency. “The attack was so intense that it appeared as if his removal from office was the only solution for peace to reign in Nigeria. It was evident that mere allegation provided cannon fodder for his detractors to achieve what they had failed to achieve through other means,” said a political pundit close to the ruling party. Informed sources have recently indicated that the raging battle against the SGF may not be unconnected with the fact that the Office of the SGF supervises the activities of the Code of Conduct Bureau, (CCB). Lawal’s apparent posture of non-interference with government structures in the course of their duty has identified him as enemy number one. Furthermore, the budget-padding episode and the constituency-project impasse have pitched the National Assembly against the Federal Government and those who cannot bend the wheels of progress place the blame on the doorstep of the SGF who they accuse of not playing ball. The task to dethrone the SGF was executed on all fronts. They thereafter set out to discredit the Buhari

Lawal

administration by underplaying the successful decimation of the Boko Haram insurgency and dusting up outrageous corruption allegation in genuine efforts of resettling the internally displaced persons (IDPs) being championed by the SGF, Babachir Lawal. It is disturbing that these orchestrated attacks on the SGF are being repackaged on a daily basis with a clear intent to discredit him for no other reason than that he is doing his job. Following the phantom allegation of impropriety of contract award leveled against the SGF by the Senate, the Presidency directed the chief law officer; the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to investigate the matter and a no-guilty verdict was returned. But these elements, acting the script of their masters, have alleged that there is a cover up by the Presidency and the Attorney General. Indeed no one is immune from attack by these

people so long as they see one standing in the way of crucifixion of Lawal. The slur campaign continued unabated with no effort made to hear SGF’s side of the story. They simply kept on publishing the fabrications and lies that they were being fed by paymasters. They believe that Nigerians would not know better and would continue to believe their lies because they, Nigerians are so angry. Those close to the SGF, Lawal believe he has inspired the nation with his fearless disposition and courageous hands-on approach to making the change he so passionately championed. Yes, few public figures have caught the imagination of their people as Babachir Lawal. His boldness and no-nonsense approach in contending with adversaries has endeared him to the ordinary Nigerians. An insight into the personality of this distinguished gentleman reveals a man with inner strength of character and an achievement driven persona whose exceptional vision and charisma stand him out. “Lawal’s loyalty and commitment to the Buhari administration also annoyed these demagogue politicians. Unknown to them, Lawal’s passionate desire to change his society, attracted him to active politics in 2002 with the sole objective of working towards the emergence of the then General Muhammadu Buhari as the President of Nigeria. This was informed by his knowledge and understanding that President Buhari is patriotic, incorruptible and disciplined with passion for the unity of Nigeria and justice for all. He joined the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and played key roles in the Buhari Campaign Organisation and later followed his beloved Buhari to Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and eventually, the All Progressives Change (APC) where he played key roles,” one of

Lawal’s aids correctly disclosed. To most discerning Nigerians, the corruption allegation is a cocktail of misinformation, mischief and outright falsehood meant to cast aspersions on the reputation of the SGF and boot him out. To start with, it is important to situate the genesis of the whole saga in its proper context. The SGF chairs the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE) with the responsibility of rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs. In the course of its duties, more than 20 contracts were awarded. The Senate set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged fraud in the contract-award process, following a petition it received. The sensationalised N250 million for ‘grass cutting” was simply coined to attract the fury of the general public. The contractor, Josmon Technologies Limited, was engaged to construct boreholes and procure irrigation pumps, fishing canoes, Toyota Hilux Van, and reclamation of hectares of land amongst others. Contrary to the report, valid documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) show that the SGF resigned as director of Rolavision Engineering Ltd following his appointment. With his appointment this well-known disciplinarian and fiery loyalist applied himself totally to the actualisation of their manifesto to the delight of everyone. It was the kind of personal commitment and undying loyalty that the office had not seen in a long time. Ironically, these sterling attributes that created an iron cast loyalty around the Buhari presidency also ensnared him to enemies of change who will stop at nothing to bring him down, along with the grassroots government of Muhammadu Buhari. .Shehu is a social commentator and can be reached on Moha_shehu@yahoo.co.uk

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͶ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵

BUSINESSWORLD

Ping Express Expands Money Transfer Services to Europe Ping Express, a leading money transfer provider has extended its instant money transfer service to Europe including Belgium, Germany, France, Holland, Austria and Italy. The management of the company took the decision to making it easier for Nigerians and Ghanaians living in these countries to quickly and securely send money to their beneficiary’s bank account or airtime top-up to mobile phones. A statement issued by the oraganisation in Lagos said with Ping Express, users can send money on-the-go enjoying the benefit of convenience, through a mobile phone, tablet or computer and have money directly deposited into their loved ones’ bank accounts instantly. The statement quoted the co-founder, Opeyemi Odeyale, as saying that “We are delighted to be able to extend our first class service to African Diasporas in Europe and to guarantee quality of service, our customers worldwide now have access to our 24 hours’ customer care support via email or telephone”, The platform uses a transparent system with clearly displayed and guaranteed exchange rates giving the

sender the freedom to decide how much to send and the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly when and how much will be received. The company also offers payout options to other countries including Ghana, Nigeria, USA and wider Europe as a solution for businesses requiring retail distribution in those locations. In a related development, the transaction platform celebrated an addition to the family in the person of Akinmayokun Awodumila, the musical maestro popularly known as May D who became a brand ambassador for the company’s low cost online money transfer service. Ping Express CEO and cofounder, Anslem Oshionebo, said: “Building on our success so far in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada and based on demand from our existing customers, Europe is the first of many more market we will be spreading our tentacles to this year, with plans to expand all over Africa. “We will continue to innovate and offer choices for migrants and expats so that we can remain at the forefront in the money transfer industry and we are glad to have May D on board”.

Again, Rack Centre Wins IT Infrastructure Provider Award Rack Centre, Africa’s premium carrier neutral data centre, has for the third consecutive time, won the IT Infrastructure Provider of the Year (Data Centre) category at the Beacon of ICT Awards, held in Lagos at the weekend. For the third year running, Rack Centre was named the winner of the ‘IT Infrastructure Provider of the Year (Data Centre)’ category, and for the second year running, it was named winner of the ‘ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year’. Managing Director, Rack Centre, Mr. Ayotunde Coker, in 2016 won the ICT Personality of the Year and delivered the year’s Distinguished Lecture on the subject “Data Centre as Kiln of Industrialisation and Transformation”. The Beacon of ICT award, which recognises organisation and individual contributions to the development of ICT in Nigeria, is an annual event organised by Nigeria’s Communications Week. Organisers of the awards, in one of its citations, said Rack Centre vote was a testament to its “talents, innovations, contributions and commitment to the growth of the ICT not only in Nigeria but in Africa and a demonstration of the recognition of hard work, sincerity and dedication towards the development of

Data Centre industry and ICT infrastructure in Africa.’’ While receiving the award, Coker said he was delighted for Rack Centre to have been selected as finalist by the judges, and to have then been voted by the public and the information technology (IT) community for such recognition and prestigious awards. “We are grateful and humbled. We are doing our best to bring world class infrastructure to underpin technology developments in Nigeria and the African continent,” Coker said. According to him, “Rack Centre is the state-of-the-art, Tier III certified carrier neutral data centre, offering IT colocation and Cloud services. It is the most connected Tier III certified and carrier neutral data centre in Africa with all major Telco’s, carriers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country connected in situ and direct connection to all undersea cables serving the Atlantic Coast of Africa.” The company’s ‘Cloud on Ground’ services offer a locally hosted cloud heterogenous marketplace. Colocating within Rack Centre allows companies to avoid fixed infrastructure investments and to leave the growing complexity of managing power and environmental issues to specialists, while enjoying unrivalled reliability and quality.

NEWS

Beta Computers Boosts SMEs with POS, Accounting Solutions Emma Okonji Beta Computers Limited has introduced a new computer programme called POSACTSaaS that enables Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to participate in a fixed monthly subscription payment initiative that will help them acquire Point of Sales (POS) machine and accounting solution as a service to run their operations. The initiative is designed as a bailout for SMEs to scale up on their information technology (IT) infrastructure.

Announcing the initiative in Lagos recently, the Managing Director, BETA Computers, Mr. Will Anyaegbunam, said that with the Nigerian current economic realities and its consequential cash and credit squeeze, most SMEs may be hard pressed to afford, on a one-off payment, the capital cost for the acquisition of POS and Accounting Solutions (POSACTS). “This is despite the fact that they are aware of the immense benefits a POS and accounting solution will bring to the

profitability of their businesses. Indeed, these challenging times require as a necessity, not an option, the use of a POS and or Accounting solution to effectively and efficiently manage businesses for survival and growth,” he said. With POSACTSaaS, he assured Nigerians that SMEs would not have to worry about having the total amount required for the acquisition and maintenance of the POSACTs infrastructure. According to him, “There will be no Internet issues and bandwidth charges as this is an

on premise solution. All they expect and will get is 99.9 per cent uptime and availability on the POSACTS solution that is specific to their own industry, for a subscription as low as N10,000 per month. They then only have to concentrate on running their business with a much higher degree of success guaranteed”. Anyaegbunam further explained that the solution would eliminate every huddle for SMEs in accessing POS and accounting solutions for the maximization of their growth and profitability potentials.

LAUNCH OF INSURANCE MARKET PLACE

L-R: MD/CEO, VDT Communications Limited, Biodun Omoniyi; MD, Pinet Informatics, Lanre Ajayi and Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu during e-Insurance conference 2017 held in Lagos...recently

Entrepreneurship: West African Ceramics Partners OC Don PF Investment The on-going nation-wide deployment drive of mega tiles showrooms and experience centers by leading tiles manufacturer, West African Ceramics Ltd have berthed in Osogbo, Osun State. Also Don PF Investment limited has vowed to Train over 2,000Youths for entrepreneurship development in order to improve the nation’s economy and make Nigerian youths be self -reliant. This is the most recent and sixth showroom established since the company launched showroom deployment drive last year Located in the heart of Osogbo, the showroom was set up under the aegis of OC Don Doors Building Ltd, a major building material dealer in Osogbo. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the Executive Chairman of West African Ceramics Ltd., Alhaji Lawal Idirisu said that the new showroom is designed to enlighten customers about the applications of various designs and types of tiles in a building project and to create an unprecedented shopping experience for architects, builders, contractors and project

owners carrying out building projects in the State of Osun and neighboring cities. “This royal exclusive showroom initiative was born out of the necessity to ensure royal brand of tiles are easily accessible and available to architects, builders, contractors, and project owners. It is a one-stop shop for all products under the royal brand stable which will no doubt elevate the trade experience of our dealers to a whole new modern level. Architects, Builders currently engaged in ongoing projects would save a lot of money and logistics cost as they would not need to travel long distances to procure tiles, etc.” Rao explained. Speaking further, Lawal called on consumers to learn more about tile applications. He said that the showroom is equipped with application set up such as Bathroom set up; Living Room set up; Kitchen Set Up; and Office space set up and a trained Customer Relationship Manager armed with vast knowledge on tiles to educate and incisively advise customers on types of tiles and designs suitable for applications

in their building projects. He said that the company has introduced new extensions such as the Royal Innovative Grout, Royal Adhesive and Royal 80 x 80 Beige Matt. However, an entrepreneur, and the Chairman/MD of OC DON PF Investment Company Limited, Mr. Ike Donald Obiora hailed the establishment of the mega showroom. “Indeed, building project owners, architects and contractors can now enjoy the kind of experience in shopping that is obtainable in the European markets and other developed societies. According to him I want to encourage us to patronize these local products as it boast of high quality tiles as in Italy, Spain, China and other countries. Therefore, we should encourage the Naira to rebound by patronising local purchase of tiles.” Obiora said. The entrepreneur, Ike Donald Obiora, has charged the youth to develop entrepreneurial skills in order to improve their lives as well as drive the country’s economic growth. Obiora noted that entrepreneurship, aside helping citizens to attain personal development,

has always been a backbone of every strong economy. Obiora pointed out that it was necessary for the Nigerian youths to develop skills and come out with new open up new businesses so as to create employment opportunity for others. The Chief Executive Officer, Don Investment limited, also noted that said the key skills any entrepreneur should possess are the ability to set goals and to manage time, money and other resources. He charged the youths on the need for them to engage in business activities which would help them to be self-reliant, saying they should take up entrepreneurial skills they might have acquire in the company to improve their lives. While calling on the governments at all level to partner with the company sponsoring youths for entrepreneurship programme in the company, Obiora said no fewer than 40 youths have engaging the various entrepreneurial skill. He said governments should live up to its responsibilities in the area of youth encouragement so as to be able to be self -reliant.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017

CITYSTRINGS Criminal Gang Meets Its Waterloo

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

Operatives of the RRS recently apprehended a truck driver and three other accomplices for allegedly diverting 600 bags of flour meant for delivery to their owners in Ibadan. Femi Ogbonnikan takes a look at the incident and obtains the confessions of those arrested by security agents

Dismantled parts of the truck Late Simpson

The prime suspect, Garuba Lawal

emesis has caught up with four suspects who diverted 600 bags of flour meant for delivery in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. The culprits who are currently in the protective custody of the operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command are currently singing like canaries, confessing how they diverted the truck, conveying the 600 bags of flour to a location in Sagamu, Ogun State and subsequently, dismembering the truck for sale in pieces. It was learnt that upon the report of the disappearance of the products at the command headquarters, Ikeja, the RRS operatives who swung into action with the deployment of tracking devices at their disposal effected the arrest of the driver, Garuba Lawal, who is the prime suspect, in Ilorin, Kwara State. The suspect, Lawal, 36, from Kwara State, it was gathered, connived with three others now at large and diverted the 600 bags of flour to Sagamu, Ogun State. The products, it was learnt, were disposed off to a buyer in Sagamu, while the prime suspect, Lawal, took the truck to Ilorin, Kwara State capital, where it was dismembered and sold in pieces to would-be buyers. Lawal, who was employed by the company

(name withheld), the same day to move the 600 bags of flour to a bakery in Ibadan, Oyo State, THISDAY gathered, was baited with N2 million by his accomplices to do their bidding. The suspect, in his statement to the RRS operatives probing the matter, disclosed that after loading on Sunday, April 2, 2017, at the Nigeria Flour Mills in Apapa, a young man, whose name was later given as Ismaila, from Ibadan, Oyo State, approached him for a discussion, ostensibly, to divert the products to a location in Sagamu.

The products, it was learnt, were disposed off to a buyer in Sagamu, while the prime suspect, Lawal, took the truck to Ilorin, Kwara State capital, where it was dismembered and sold in pieces to would-be buyers

“He invited me close to my truck, just as I was about to drive it out off the loading bay. He asked me, how much I have made in money, since I have been driving the truck. But I replied and told him, that I just joined the haulage company. He asked again, “have you ever seen big money in your life? I said no. He asked me again, “if you see N2 million, what would you do with it”? I answered him, that I would quit this truck driving job. Then, he told me that he would introduce me to a deal. That was how we started.” Lawal continued, “while his two other colleagues were waiting in the Toyota Corrolla they brought, he took me to a corner and brought out a cowrie to swear an oath. He told me that I would have to swallow the cowrie as a sign of bond that anybody that divulge the secret between us would die instantly.” I took the cowrie and swallowed it. Immediately I did that, I observed that whatever instruction he gave me, I was just obeying it without giving it a second thought.” According to police sources at the RRS office, Alausa, Ikeja, Lawal, in company of the three accomplices, diverted the 600 bags of flour to Sagamu, instead of its scheduled destination, Ibadan, on a Sunday night and got to Sagamu at about 2:25 a.m. on Monday morning. “We got to Sagamu, in the very early hours Monday morning and I couldn’t identify anywhere so much, because it was still dark and there was no light in the town. All along, they acted as escort for the truck to Sagamu. One of them was in the truck with me, because the motor boy didn’t follow us.” The source added that at Sagamu, Lawal was informed that the head of the truck had to be removed because the height of the vehicle was high and to enable it enter the warehouse for the goods to be off-loaded on time. “Instead, they fixed a new truck head on the utility vehicle and they gave the spare part seller N50,000. We agreed, that I should drive the truck head to Ilorin, Kwara State,

in company of two other members of the team to sell it off. “We got to Ilorin at about 7:15 a.m. on Monday morning. I took the two guys to where I live with my wife. We agreed and they promised to return with my share of the N2 million proceeds from the sale of the truck head, as soon as banks were opened. From the initial payment I received, they collected N15,000 for hotel accommodation from the N50,000:00 they gave me. When I didn’t see them that very day on Monday and the following day, I agreed with a buyer to knock down the truck into pieces. The tyres, engine, radiator, chasis and others were sold for N450,000. After, we had dismembered it, the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos arrested me.” Sources at the haulage firm disclosed, that they were yet to see the motor boy that followed Faryba on the said trip. This, they said, has fuelled the suspicion that the motor boy might have been killed by the gang to pave way for a seamless execution of their plans. Lawal insisted that the motor boy didn’t follow them on the trip. But the police sources hinted that the motor boy’s phone has remained switched off since the incident occurred. Investigation revealed that the gang that diverted the flour are the same gang which has been involved in several diversions of other products. Arrested along with Lawal, were Jimoh Adeleye, Wasiu Azeez and Adeniran Jacob. While confirming the development, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous Cole, said that there would be no hiding place for those who come to Lagos to perpetrate crimes, adding that the police would fish them out from their hidings. All the four suspects, the Police image maker said, had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti Street, Yaba, for further investigation into the matter and subsequent prosecution.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017

CITYSTRINGS

A Promise Kept Adibe Emenyonu writes on the kept promise made by the wife of Edo State deputy governor, Mrs. Maryann Shaibu, who empowered a mother of triplets abandoned by her husband

ne notorious habit of politicians especially in Nigeria is the intention to double speak. Making promises and will not keep any. This habit is more pronounced during electioneering campaigns when they seek for votes. With this, it is almost unthinkable to talk about Nigerian politicians and other politically exposed persons in the corridors of power without the blemished insinuation or perception of deception. Against this backdrop rightly or wrongly, majority of Nigerian politicians be they old or new breed, conservatives or progressives, carry this stigma of persons who build castles in the air and make bogus promises so as to attract votes and gain cheap publicity. This is not limited to elected politicians alone. Political appointees, and their associates are also in the same league. Little wonder when the wife of Edo State deputy governor, Mrs. Maryann Shaibu, visited a mother of triplets whose husband abandoned her and the newly born, including two older ones, many thought it is one of those usual publicity stunts embarked to seek cheap publicity. Even the beneficiary, Mrs Queen Ndukwe did not believe when Mrs. Shaibu first visited her and promised to alleviate her suffering. She expressed the similar sentiment when the woman said in her words: “I did not expect that she will fulfill the promise she made to empower me after giving me some cash during her first visit.” This goes to demonstrate that in spite of this dose of derision about politicians and public office holders and their associates, there however, seems to be some exceptions among the lot. One of such is Mrs. Shaibu Sometime in February 2017, the deputy governor’s wife visited Mrs. Ndukwe whose husband, Matthew Ndukwe, a tricycle rider abandoned her after she (Queen) delivered a set of triplets as the couple already had a set of twins. The man could not cope with the triple dose of blessings. He fled. During that momentous occasion, she donated cartons of custard baby powder, milk, pampers and an undisclosed amount of cash for the upkeep of the triplets and promised to empower Mrs. Ndukwe by setting-up a hairdressing/beauty salon for her. The deputy governor’s wife made good her promise when she led some family friends on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 to Upper St. Saviour Road, Off Upper Sakponba, Benin City and presented to Mrs. Queen Ndukwe, a brand new salon store located at one of the ultra-modern plaza around– fully stocked with hairdressing equipment, beauty therapy creams/accessories, including electricity generating set and furniture. She also an undisclosed amount of money was presented to the mother of the triplets. Speaking shortly after handing over the shop to Mrs. Ndukwe, Mrs. Shaibu said: “I feel very much fulfilled for this beautiful day because it is by God’s grace that the promise I made has turned out to be a reality. As you already know, the present administration in Edo State under Governor Godwin Obaseki, believes in empowering the people through its promise to create 200,000 jobs over the next four years. So, what you see happening here today is to teach Mrs. Ndukwe how to fish rather than giving her fish.” She added:” I believe with this, she would be able to fend for herself and cater for the needs of the children, rather than depending on public spirited persons or groups for assistance. In addition, the rent for two years has been paid so that she will be able to save some money during the period to keep the business running. From time to time, I am

Wife of Edo State deputy governor, Mrs Maryann Shaibu (m) ﬂanked by Mrs. Yakubu Gowon (right) and mother of triplets, Mrs. Queen Ndukwe, when the former declared open the salon she equipped for mother of the triplets

Mother of triplets, Queen Ndukwe (left) , retouching Mrs. Shaibu’s hair

going to send some of my aides to check on her and see how she is faring with the salon. I am very happy to see that the triplets have improved a lot during this period. You can see that they are looking healthier than

I did not expect that she will fulﬁll the promise she made to empower me after giving me some cash during her ﬁrst visit

Mrs. Shaibu (middle) cutting the tape to declare the salon open

they were when I first visited about a month ago. They have been under the care of our family doctor – a specialist pediatrician who is helping to stabilise their health condition. We are doing all these to show that we care and give glory to Almighty God for the opportunity to express love to others.” To Mr. Matthew Ndukwe, the runaway husband and father of the triplets and twins, she counseled:” Wherever he is, I believe he gets to hear that God has used us to provide succour for his wonderful family. He should come out to join hands with his wife so that both of them can raise these beautiful bundles of joy that God has blessed them with. Who knows, the state government might be moved to engage him

under its 200,000 jobs scheme. So he should come forward and take responsibility for his family.” Responding in an emotion- laden tone, Mrs. Ndukwe, who shed tears of joy for the kind gesture of Mrs. Shaibu, expressed gratitude to God for brining the woman across her way. She said: “God will bless you Ma, your husband and your family. I cannot thank you enough, but I know that God will reward you so abundantly and take care of your family. Whatever you touch will be blessed. God will meet your heart’s desires and promote you in your doings. You will go higher in Jesus Name,” she concluded.

T H I S D AY Ëž , APRIL 28, 2017

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Economy Would Be out of Recession by Second Qtr, CBN Restates Plans to create depository of fraudsters Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria has given a firm assurance that the Nigerian economy would come out of the recession in the second quarter of 2017. The Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi, gave the assurance at a media briefing shortly after the bankers committee meeting in Lagos yesterday. He said the pumping of dollars into the FX market by the CBN has resulted in prices turning downwards and convergence of rates, which have positive effect on the economy. Abdullahi said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The recent development in the FX market has led to prices turning downwards and convergence of rates. We have seen inflation trending downwards. There is a forecast that by the second quarter of this year the economy will be out of recession and we are going to see positive growth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact is that the CBN has the arsenal on its war chest to be able to sustain what is happening in the FX market. That is why CBN recently introduced new windows for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access FX through their banks with minimum documentation. There is need for the public

to know the existence of the window and SMEs should go to their banks to access the window to improve their businesses.â&#x20AC;? According to him, the addition FX window recently created to cater to investors and exporters would aid and attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) back into country. He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is also another initiative, the investor/ exporter window; it will be a market where prices would be determined by market forces and it is a window that will allow investorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to come in and trade their FX at a price they consider appropriate. Because of the convergence of rates, confidence is going to be built in the market so we are likely to see investors come in order to further build confidence, that is why we have this window that will enable them come in and improve the inflow of FX in the economy.â&#x20AC;? He also emphasised that 5per cent of the banks profit would be set aside for financing of SMEs and agriculture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That will help in fast tracking the process of the economy coming out of recession; so the banks are determined to contribute 5per cent to be used in providing equity funding for

Agric and all scale businesses in export driveâ&#x20AC;?, he stressed. Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said part of the resolutions reached at the meeting was to mitigate fraudsters from the banking system. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The committee also deliberated on topical issues that had to do with fraud and one of that is the electronic and card fraud and part of the deliberation was that there is need to create a central depositary, which is a database of suspected fraud through the system.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;So once that data base is set up and there is suspected case going through the system, we can have ways of ensuring there is strong detergent for people who are known as fraudsters within the system.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully if that is implemented, what you will see is that the level of fraud, which is coming through SMS and bank cards will decease significantly. Very strict measures will be implemented to make sure that people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it and repeat offenders are taken out of the banking system to make sure that we sanitise the overall system. It is different from credit default we are talking about fraudstersâ&#x20AC;? he added.

Sterling Bank Debunks Report on Sack of 650 Staff Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Sterling Bank Plc has debunked reports that it sacked 650 staff members. The lender explained that it only returned the affected workers to service providers that had earlier assigned them to work with the bank. The company made the clarification in a statement yesterday. Although, the bank said it had initially refrained from issuing a statement to counter the mischievous claim, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the spread of the falsehood by online reporters has compelled us to come up with this statement to put the record straight.â&#x20AC;? It said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Specifically, the 650 staff being reported are not staff of Sterling Bank Plc. They were assigned to the bank by our service providers and as

contained in the Service Level Agreements (SLA), they can be returned to the service providers for reassignment to any other institution by the service providers as they deem fit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an organisation, we have, over the years invested heavily in making Sterling Bank a great place to work for our staff and this has endeared them to the Bank.â&#x20AC;? Sterling Bank said the number of staff from other banks willing to join Sterling Bank has also remained high. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite the poor economic situation with institutions laying off staff, Sterling Bank in the last 11 years of its corporate existence, has established itself as institution that is employeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Indeed, if you are looking for an institution that cares about its people, Sterling Bank is it.

The bank has continued to build its staff into the best they could be and recognises their contributions to its success,â&#x20AC;? the bank said in the statement. It further stated that Sterling Bank is managed as a business â&#x20AC;&#x153;that cares about its people though operating in an industry that is known for empathy towards employees.â&#x20AC;? Apart from paying what could be described as decent wages, Sterling Bank said it has an outstanding record of winning and growing while giving employees an incredible opportunity to grow and develop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Apart from having retirement plan; a good healthcare facility and the introduction of flexi time and place to enable staff chose the preferred time and place to discharge their responsibility.

DMO Urges Nigerians to Invest in FG Savings Bond Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has advised Nigerians to take advantage of the Federal Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Savings Bond and invest in the scheme. Nwankwo said this was necessary in view of the benefits Nigerians stand to gain especially in the areas of poverty reduction, job opportunities in addition to guaranteeing fixed income. Speaking at a One-day Grassroots Advocacy/Sensitisation Campaign on the Federal Government Savings Bond held in Kano on Thursday, the Director General explained that the new investment opportunity would also guarantee quarterly

interest payments. He said the investment can be used to secure loan facilities, pay school fees and build own houses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Federal Government Savings Bond can be traded at secondary market and is good for savings towards retirement, marriage, school fees and house projects, among other benefits, he added. Besides, he said the savings bond would also give every Nigerian the opportunity to invest or participate in the programme with a view to enhancing their socio-economic status. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The minimum subscription amount is N5,000 with additions in multiples of N1, 000, subject to a minimum of N50 million.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Investors are not required to pay fees or charges to distribution agents when subscribing for the FGN savings bond in the primary market,â&#x20AC;? Nwankwo added. In the same vein, the Director, Management Department of the DMO, Dr. Oladele Afolabi urged Nigerians to make the best use of the new opportunity as it is a secure investment with the federal government with no risk of default. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Interest income is paid quarterly directly into the bondholders account and investors can sell for cash in the secondary market before maturityâ&#x20AC;?, he explained. The programme, which was flagged off in Kano, would also be extended to other major cities across the country.

Godwin EmeďŹ ele

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

DECEMBER 2016 Broad Money (M2)

23,840,392.42

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,520,166.67

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,820,415.90

---- Demand Deposits

9,699,750.76

-- Quasi Money

12,320,225.75

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

9,353,504.03

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

14,486,888.39

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,970,297.97

---- Credit to Government (Net)

4,595,579.89

Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ë? Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ě&#x2122; Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ě&#x161; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ă?

7,436,917.79

Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ë? Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2122; Ě&#x161;

-2,841,337.90

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,374,718.08

--Other Assets Net

-12,483,409.58

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,837,322.41

--Currency in Circulation

2,179,174.28

--Banks Reserves

3,318,344.71 Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

MANAGED FUNDS Month

December 2016

Inter-Bank Call Rate

10.39

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

13.96

Savings Deposit Rate

4.18

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.53

3 Months Deposit Rate

8.80

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.23

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.76

Prime Lending rate

17.09

Maximum Lending Rate

28.55 Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ÍŻÍąĎą

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, WED, 26 APRIL 2017 The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $49.63 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $49.21 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

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 28, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank Records Impressive First Quarter Performance Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie Access Bank Plc has reported an impressive first quarter profits, showing improvement in performance indicators. The bank’s unaudited financial results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2017 released yesterday showed an increase of 38 per cent in Profit before Tax, )PBT) to N31.2 billion when

compared to N22.6 billion in Q1 2016. Profit after Tax (PAT) grew by 34 per cent to N26.0 billion in 2017, up from N19.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2016. The profit was recorded from gross earnings of N116 billion, which showed an increase of 44 per cent compared with N80.3 billion in 2016. Interest income and non-interest income contributed 68 per cent and 31

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

per cent respectively to the gross earnings. Further analysis of the results showed that Access Bank’s balance sheet remained strong with a total assets standing at N3.54 trillion at the end of Q1 , compared with N3.48 trillion in December 2016. The Group‘s capital and liquidity ratios of 21 per cent and 46.3 per cent respectively, remained in excess of the mini-

N I G E R I A N QUANTITY TRADED

STO C K

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Daily Summary as of 22/02/2016 Printed 22/02/2016 14:36:10.010

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC

6 6 12

30.00 34.00

19 19 31

mum regulatory requirement and would support the business adequately. Speaking on the results, Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe said: “2017 marks the end of our third five-year transformation journey and in the coming months, we will focus our priorities on the delivery of our strategic objectives.” “We will continue to improve

12,629 11,640 24,269

374,530.15 421,345.20 795,875.35

1.25

1,078,511 1,078,511 1,102,780

1,358,964.30 1,358,964.30 2,154,839.65

5 68 13 86 86

0.77 1.13 20.47

33,500 6,740,423 65,995 6,839,918 6,839,918

25,070.00 7,635,453.96 1,344,425.15 9,004,949.11 9,004,949.11

13 13

41.50

31,970 31,970

1,409,214.78 1,409,214.78

5 5 18

5.20

28,901 28,901 60,871

154,716.48 154,716.48 1,563,931.26

6 24 7 98 135

2.85 118.85 20.00 99.00

190,900 53,000 15,200 429,541 688,641

528,079.00 6,201,924.95 293,757.00 42,728,789.84 49,752,550.79

9 9

168.50

166,476 166,476

28,285,937.95 28,285,937.95

54 38 6 12 1 29 140

5.61 19.00 1.37 6.86 6.65 1.27

2,120,306 314,421 40,000 119,863 433 3,285,739,119 3,288,334,142

11,610,520.13 5,953,792.96 55,716.00 842,442.48 2,736.56 4,074,348,894.07 4,092,814,102.20

11 54 65

17.86 700.00

18,825 98,360 117,185

329,518.50 68,567,962.00 68,897,480.50

11 11

4.46

99,050 99,050

420,455.00 420,455.00

13 21 34 394

21.90 28.00

36,887 133,117 170,004 3,289,575,498

820,034.75 3,737,067.92 4,557,102.67 4,244,727,629.11

82 51 21 25 200 41 16 147 11 15 67 676

4.10 1.49 15.60 1.21 16.70 1.07 1.76 2.95 5.30 0.63 0.98

3,962,506 2,163,396 278,470 790,900 4,847,312 1,969,858 1,204,932 8,586,418 39,752 501,617 5,920,564 30,265,725

16,210,255.82 3,314,106.88 4,136,459.40 958,864.34 80,963,793.44 2,115,552.11 2,087,767.85 25,302,954.71 205,645.40 316,018.71 5,813,502.17 141,424,920.83

14 8 2 3 7 10 1 1 46

0.80 0.90 0.50 0.50 2.06 0.76 0.50 0.50

200,107 276,500 5,004,000 1,000,000 351,540 327,285 37,708,135 10 44,867,577

160,838.67 251,350.00 2,502,000.00 500,000.00 720,728.80 245,325.31 18,854,067.50 5.00 23,234,315.28

1 1

1.08

4,760 4,760

4,950.40 4,950.40

31 7 105 7 20 170 893

2.46 4.00 0.85 14.15 1.31

1,149,464 27,041 31,257,120 38,035 708,255 33,179,915 108,317,977

2,830,722.84 104,002.06 26,613,309.20 537,985.34 931,556.31 31,017,575.75 195,681,762.26

2.69

614,065

1,572,223.05

on profitability and shareholder value by maintaining our capital and liquidity positions, assiduously implementing our cost management strategy, and exploiting retail business opportunities using our digital platforms and deepening market share of the wholesale business.” Wigwe had last month assured stakeholders that the bank was now stronger and

well positioned to deliver longterm value to its stakeholders. According to him, although the macro-economic conditions and corresponding implications on the banking industry remain uncertain, the bank’s diversified banking model, robust balance sheet and solid management team give it the strength and resilience that will keep the financial institution in good stead.

E XC H A N G E

MAIN BOARD GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM Board Totals Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals PREMIUM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

32 4 6 69 69

25.33 0.94 0.69

551,998 16,020 597,000 1,779,083 1,779,083

13,903,164.18 15,299.40 412,110.00 15,902,796.63 15,902,796.63

1 1 1

1.69

500 500 500

805.00 805.00 805.00

16 9 4 6 10 31 76

24.00 9.30 35.78 8.62 3.36 80.50

110,727 40,229 26,700 142,300 299,900 14,373,223 14,993,079

2,707,053.97 362,501.29 992,680.00 1,227,076.00 966,480.00 1,157,057,077.16 1,163,312,868.42

6 6

1.51

134,500 134,500

204,240.00 204,240.00

5 5 87

50.00

24,529 24,529 15,152,108

1,165,135.50 1,165,135.50 1,164,682,243.92

2 2

0.50

24,262 24,262

12,131.00 12,131.00

90 90

3.47

3,827,573 3,827,573

13,288,632.05 13,288,632.05

21 7 8 21 7 64

18.34 1.84 342.00 150.00 145.00

81,125 100,300 20,300 16,295 13,699 231,719

1,505,034.50 182,832.00 6,595,470.00 2,396,080.60 1,959,692.96 12,639,110.06

33 33 189

318.00

389,934 389,934 4,473,488

124,037,602.56 124,037,602.56 149,977,475.67

1 1

0.50

941 941

470.50 470.50

5 5

3.80

32,870 32,870

127,756.40 127,756.40

13 13

0.89

624,500 624,500

538,430.00 538,430.00

1 22 23

2.29 4.00

4,588 251,094 255,682

10,001.84 1,001,583.80 1,011,585.64

1 1 43 1,811

1.68

10,000 10,000 923,993 3,428,226,216

16,000.00 16,000.00 1,694,242.54 5,785,390,675.15

2 2 2 2

1.21

270,464 270,464 270,464 270,464

327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44 327,261.44

306 306

11.45

13,929,679 13,929,679

159,605,439.23 159,605,439.23

278 278 584

3.74

10,438,552 10,438,552 24,368,231

39,515,087.18 39,515,087.18 199,120,526.41

35 35 35 619 2,432

139.83

38,770 38,770 38,770 24,407,001 3,452,903,681

5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 5,304,666.00 204,425,192.41 5,990,143,129.00

2 2 2 2 2 10 10 10

2,330.00 2.33 6.02 11.09 18.07

3,000 20 20 20 15 3,075 3,075 3,075

6,986,000.00 46.70 120.20 221.80 270.65 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35 6,986,659.35

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA BANKING ETF VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF VETIVA INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

˾ FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017

MARKET NEWS

UBA Group Grows First Quarter Profit by 41% to N25.5bn United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc yesterday released its unaudited first quarter(Q1) results ended March 30, 2017, showing significant growth across major income lines. Leveraging on strong growth in both interest and non-interest income as well as increased efficiency, UBA recorded N25.5 billion in profit before tax (PBT) in 2017, compared to N18.1 billion achieved in Q1 of 2016. The Group also recorded a profit after tax (PAT) of N22.4 billion, showing 32 per cent growth compared to N17.0 billion achieved in the corresponding

period of 2016. The group sustained its strong profitability recording an annualised 19.4 per cent Return on Average equity (RoAE). Driven by an unprecedented 43 per cent year-on-year growth in interest income, UBA Group recorded a 38 per cent percent year-on-year growth in gross earnings to close at N101.2 billion in 2017, compared to N73.7 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the year 2016. The Group Managing Director/ CEO of the United Bank for Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, expressed

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

satisfaction with the bank’s impressive performance 2017, despite intensifying competition and a very challenging business environment. “Our performance in the first quarter of the year strengthens our optimism on economic and business recovery in Nigeria and many of our markets across Africa. More importantly, this result is evidence of efficiency gains in our pricing, balance sheet management and operations,” Uzoka said. “Driven by our balance sheet liquidity, we grew interest income by

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 26-Apr-2017, unless otherwise stated.

43% to an unprecedented quarterly run-rate of N77 billion. Buoyed by improving foreign currency supply in Nigeria, remittance and trade services fees almost doubled and foreign currency trading income grew by 148 per cent year-on-year, as we leveraged our Customer First initiatives to gain market share in these offerings. More so, it is my pleasure to report that we made further progress in our consistent retail penetration, as reflected in the 12 per cent year-to-date growth in retail savings and current account

deposits. Notwithstanding the tight interest rate environment, we recorded a 30bps reduction in cost of funds to 3.4 per cent, a positive result of our customer service-led approach to low cost deposit mobilisation. As at Q1, low cost savings and current accounts (CASA) represent 80 per cent of our deposit funding,” Uzoka explained. While emphasising the increasing relevance of its African operations to its bottom line, Uzoka said: “Our businesses outside Nigeria continued to wax stronger, contributing 35 per

cent of our earnings. We remained prudent in risk asset creation growing net loans by two per cent, as we have continued to monitor development in key sectors of the economy to take advantage of emerging bankable opportunities in due time. Albeit the structural challenges that exist in Africa, the opportunities and returns are immense and compelling. We will deepen our penetration across our chosen markets, as we diligently execute our strategies for consistent market share gain.”

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 131.06 131.06 131.06 Nigeria International Debt Fund 219.80 219.80 219.80 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 0.71 0.72 1.98% 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 16.91% 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 12.59 12.97 1.95% ARM Discovery Fund 295.87 304.79 3.03% ARM Ethical Fund 22.58 23.27 1.09% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.80% 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 108.40 108.40 2.34% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 17.62% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.00% Paramount Equity Fund 9.66 9.91 3.22% Women's Investment Fund 88.49 90.76 4.60% 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 18.01% 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 1,062.95 1,064.10 5.26% FBN Heritage Fund 114.75 115.52 2.84% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.58% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $106.68 $107.49 3.70% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $106.34 $107.15 4.08% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 116.95 118.41 3.77% 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 0.99 1.01 6.38% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.69 2.69 4.84% 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 2,266.92 2,294.23 2.63% Coral Income Fund 2,223.38 2,223.38 5.66% 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 17.52% 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 16.98% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.76 1.77 4.49% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.54%

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 1.02 1.04 3.07% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,017.49 1,017.49 3.44% 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 9.97 10.05 3.11% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.35% 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 1.09 1.12 10.72% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.54 10.60 1.39% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.94% 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 113.05 113.98 11.04% 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 1.29 1.29 3.35% 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 1,878.38 1,888.01 2.55% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 157.32 157.32 2.18% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.78 0.79 1.95% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 195.66 195.66 4.69% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 131.96 133.77 1.68% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 17.94% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,449.95 7,536.39 -1.76% 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 1.16 1.17 8.48% United Capital Bond Fund 1.27 1.27 15.68% United Capital Equity Fund 0.65 0.67 -0.11% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.15 1.15 11.33% 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 10.36 10.55 7.41% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.57 11.69 5.97% Zenith Income Fund 17.62 17.62 6.63%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 126.01

1.01% 1.65%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.02 73.72

8.12 75.09

-8.61% -2.73%

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

2.75 6.11 11.98 17.23 129.35

2.79 6.19 12.08 17.43 131.35

0.00% -13.01% -0.16% 7.98% -0.40%

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.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

WORLD OF ISLAM INTERNATIONAL Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Communicating with Allah –3 Spahic Omer/IslamiCity Continued from last week

his paradigm applies to any relationship with individuals who genuinely love and care for each other. They are often seen not talking much to one another, and when they do, they do so softly and quietly. They simply whisper, or speak in undertones, to each other. This is so because their hearts are together, and are one. And it is right in their hearts that most of their communication unfolds and mutual understanding takes place. Their united hearts talk, though the separated physical bodies appear still and silent. Regardless, they perfectly understand each other. On the diametrically opposite side stand relationships with individuals who gravely misunderstand each other. They often, as a rule, quarrel, screaming and shouting at one another. They do so because, even though they are physically side by side, their hearts are worlds apart. They recognise that very well and so, feel they have to scream and shout. They know, no matter what, they will not be heard by the one(s) on the other side. Hence, such squabbles never solve anything. They are simply vain attempts to out-scream and out-shout one another. There is rarely any room for reason and sanity in such situations.

Prophets’ calling to communication with Allah Owing to this importance of communication with Allah, each and every prophet’s mission paid special attention to it. Communicating with Allah was seen as a logical, plausible and natural process, for Allah is a Personality (Huwa or He) -- not a mere abstract conception of philosophy -- with a Nature of His so sublime that it is far beyond our limited conceptions; He exists, but in such a way that He is the Ever-Living, Self-Sustaining; He created and sustains the world; and He sent prophets to mend people’s ways and create for them suitable communication patterns with their Creator and Master. For example, when Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) confronted his unbelieving and rebellious people, he among other things tried to bring home to them the inappropriateness and danger of polytheism. His focus was the delusion, futility, uselessness and unresponsiveness of their home-grown idols and deities. They simply could not communicate in any way, nor could they benefit or harm anybody. They were but a fragment of dead matter to which only mentally incapacitated and spiritually dead individuals could be devotedly attached: “Deaf, dumb and blind -- so they will not return (to the right path)” (al-Baqarah, 18). Ibrahim said to his father, an idol-maker: “O my father! Why do you worship something that can neither hear, nor see, nor yet profit you in any way?” (Maryam, 42). This is a segment of Ibrahim’s discussion with his polytheistic people: “Ibrahim, are you he who has done this to our gods?” He answered: “Rather it was this supreme one who has done it. So ask them, if they can speak.” Thereupon they turned to their (inner) selves and said (to themselves): “Surely it is you who are the wrong-doers.” Then their minds were turned upside down, and they said: “You know well that they do not speak.” Ibrahim said: “Do you, then, worship beside Allah a thing that can neither benefit you nor hurt you? Fie upon you and upon all that you worship beside Allah. Do you have no sense?” (al-Anbiya’, 62-67). Ibrahim also said to his people concerning their fraudulent gods and their inability to communicate: “Do they listen to you when you call (on them)? Or do they profit you or cause you harm?” (al-Shu’ara’, 72-73). And about Allah, his Almighty Creator and Lord -- with Whom Prophet Ibrahim enjoyed such a close relationship that Allah said that He took him for a friend (khalil) (al-Nisa’, 125) – Ibrahim said that it was He: “Who created me, and it is He Who guides me; Who gives me food and drink, and when I am ill, it is He Who cures me; Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me back to life; and Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgment” (al-Shu’ara’, 78-82).

Why can’t we see Allah? One may ask why we cannot see Allah, although we can communicate with Him so closely. In a nutshell, we cannot see Allah because, first, there is nothing like Him (al-Shura, 11). Our eyes, and other senses and faculties, are things and thus, can only see other things belonging to the corresponding existential realms. They cannot see, hear or recognize beyond the orb of our everyday existential things and objects. Second, nobody says that humans will not see Allah. Both the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s sunnah are explicit that believers will see Him in Paradise (jannah). The vision will be as clear and certain as seeing “the moon on the night when it is full” and “the sun on a cloudless day” (Sahih al-Bukhari). What is more, seeing Allah will be the best reward in Paradise; whereas not seeing Him will be the worst and most painful chastisement for the inhabitants of Hell. Seeing Allah is the greatest blessing and joy, so it is withheld for the place of ultimate blessing and joy, namely Paradise, and it is reserved

exclusively for believers. This, in addition, serves to believers as a strong motive to continue doing good in this world and never get bored or give up. It goes without saying that not seeing Allah is only a temporary decree for Allah’s true servants, who are closest to Him in this world. Seeing Allah in Paradise could also imply the pinnacle, or culmination, of their incessant drawing closer to Him. Third, we cannot see Allah now and here because we are trapped in time and space, while He is beyond them. Time and space are Allah’s creation. He is not fettered by them; we are. Consequently, man cannot think except along the lines of time, space and matter. Once the hindrances posed by the time and space factors of this world are eliminated in the Hereafter -- or modulated, together with man himself and his various faculties, so as to make them suitable and fitting for the conditions of the Hereafter – seeing Allah will appear utterly viable and sensible, especially for those who will be Paradise-bound. Even in this world, man can see instantly and directly very little and a very few things. Man is myopic or short-sighted, so to speak. He cannot see more because of a myriad of time and space factors and influences standing between him and things, incapacitating him from seeing more. To see more, man must overcome, or eliminate, those factors and influences. The problem, therefore, is not with things and objects, but with man and his limited abilities. For example, a person sitting in a windowless room can only see the room’s interior. To see outside, he must leave the room; that is to say, he must overcome the room as a hindrance to seeing outside. Moreover, to see a friend in a nearby town, 50 km away, the man must travel that much; that is, he must overcome the hindrance of the necessary distance and time that separate him from seeing the friend. The same principle applies to seeing everything else that lies outside the parameters of the windowless room. Similarly, for a person to see his friend who passed away two years ago, he will have to travel back in time two years or more; that is to say, he will have to deal with the unsurmountable time hurdle, or barrier, in order to see his friend. Also, for a person to see his future grandchildren, he will have to travel into the future as much as necessary; that is, he will again have to contend with the unassailable time difficulty. At any rate, to see and experience things, man must free himself from the physical milieus and situations wherein he, as substantially a physical being himself, is confined or imprisoned. The whole issue is about man and his weaknesses, exacerbated by the spatial and temporal parameters and constraints within which he operates. Yet, there are many other things right inside man, or everywhere around him, which man cannot see, but which undeniably exist. Some of those things are radio waves as a type of electronic wave used to transmit data for satellites, computer networks and radio, atoms as the smallest building blocks of matter, air or oxygen, ultraviolet light, gravity, the mind, the soul, emotions, quantum particles, the actual size of the universe, etc. Anyway, it makes sense to wish, yet ask, to see existing things and objects. But a code of ethics, as well as a dose of pragmatism and common sense, are needed. Man must realize that, just like in everything else, there are certain physical, rational, ethical and spiritual rules, regulations and procedures that preside over the prospect of seeing things. For man -- insignificant, weak and vulnerable as he is -- to insist on seeing Almighty Allah, Who is the only truly Transcendent Being, the Exalted, Sublime, Ever-Living and Self-Sustaining, while he is imprisoned and stuck in the yokes of matter, is at once an ignorant, arrogant and preposterous pretence. When Allah spoke to Prophet Musa (Moses) on Mount Sinai, Musa at one point said: “O my Lord! Show (Yourself) to me that I may look upon You.” Musa asked to see Allah because, as a prophet, he knew that seeing Allah is not impossible, nor that wishing, or even humbly asking, to see Him in extraordinary situations such as the one in which Musa had found himself, is blasphemous. When Allah replied that Musa neither will, nor could, see Him, He meant that in the context of this world only – as is the view of all mainstream exegesis (mufassir). And when Allah said to Musa after that: “Behold this mountain: if it remains firm in its place, then -- only then -- will you see Me”, Allah wanted to bring home to Musa his existing human weaknesses, as well as the impediments and hurdles of time and space, which will need to be overcome, or liquidated, if he was to see Almighty Allah. Allah wanted to communicate to Musa that he was not ready to see Him, nor had the time come for such an event to take place. At last: “When his Lord manifested His glory on the mount, He made it as dust and Musa fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses, he said: ‘Glory be to You! To You I turn in repentance and I am the first to believe’” (al-A’raf, 143). When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked if he had seen Allah on the night of Mi’raj (ascension into heaven), he replied: “(He is veiled by) Light, how could I see Him?” (Sahih Muslim). Finally, Allah declares: “No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is above all comprehension yet is acquainted with all things” (al-An’am, 103).

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

UK Police Arrest Man with Knives on Suspicion of Terrorism Police carrying out a counterterrorism investigation Thursday swooped in on a man they said was carrying knives in a bag near Britain’s Parliament and arrested him on suspicion of planning terrorist acts. London’s Metropolitan Police said the 27-yearold man was stopped and detained “as part of an ongoing operation” by the department’s counterterrorism unit. The department said knives were recovered during the operation. It said the man was being held at a London police station on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and on suspicion of the commission, preparation

and instigation of acts of terrorism. Police said that as a result of the arrest, there is “no immediate known threat” to the public. Witnesses reported seeing armed police blocking off Whitehall, a street lined with government buildings, and a man on the ground surrounded by police. A black-clad man could later be seen standing on the sidewalk, surrounded by police, before being put into a police vehicle. A photo showed a forensic officer looking at a black bag and what appeared to be two knives on the ground. Security has been increased around Parliament

US Admiral Says N. Korea Crisis Is at Worst Point He’s Seen

after an attacker drove an SUV into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge on March 22, killing four, before stabbing a police officer to death inside the gates of Parliament. The attacker, Khalid Masood, was shot dead by police. Police believe Masood, 52, a British-born Muslim convert with convictions for violence, acted alone. Thursday was Parliament’s last sitting day before Britain’s June 8 election. Police say there has been a surge in knife crimes in London in the past year. Britain also faces a threat from international terrorism classified as “severe,” meaning an attack is highly likely.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and address as BLESSING OBONO OFEM now wish to be known and address as MRS BLESSING VANDEFAN. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note. I formerly known and addressed as JIMOH TAWAKALITU OMOLARA, now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH TAWAKALITU BUHARI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note. I formerly known and address as MISS ONYERO GOODNESS UGOCHI OLUCHI now wish to be known and address as MRS Dt ͳ^EKt 'KK E ^^ UGOCHI. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note. I formerly known and address as TOBECHUKWU LEONARD CHILAKA now wish to be known and address as CHILAKA LEONARD TOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

The senior U.S. Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific says the crisis with North Korea is at the worst point he’s ever seen. But he declined to compare the situation to the Cuban Missile Crisis decades ago. Adm. Harry Harris Jr. is commander of U.S. Pacific Command. He tells a Senate committee, “It’s real.” Harris says he has no doubt North Korea intends to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States. The admiral says there’s uncertainty within U.S. intelligence agencies over how far along North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are. But Harris says it’s not a matter of if, but when.

I formerly known and address as MISS EMMANUELA IKAZOBOH now wish to be known and address as MRS EMMANUELA /< K K,ͳ < E D͘ All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as BUKO AYOMIDE C. now wish to be known and address as BUKO OLUWAGBENGA CALEB. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as TUNBOSUN RISIKAT now wish to be known and address as YEKINI RISIKAT. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as ANIMASHAUN MARIAM KIKE now wish to be known and address as ADETAYO MARIAM KIKE. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as DASUR CHRISTOPHER now wish to be known and address as DASUR CHRISTOPHER BAPTET. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as MISS MERCY ANGELIQUE ISIBOR now wish to be known and address as MRS MERCY ANGELIQUE EGBAGBE. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note. I formerly known and address as DAVID OLUFEMI DINA ESQ now wish to be known and address as DAVID OLUMIDE DINA ESQ. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as MARIAN YETUNDE BATAN now wish to be known and address as DZ^ D Z/ E z dhE :/ ͳ ENIOLA. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as UGWUANYI CHRISTOPHER EPHRIAM now wish to be known and address as UGWUANYI CHRISTOPHER. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as MISS GLORY IBUKUN AJIBOYE now wish to be known and address as MRS GLORY IBUKUN AYANDA. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as MISS ESTHER ADEJOH now wish to be known and address as MRS YUNUSA MUNIRATU. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

I formerly known and address as OGUIBE CATHERINE CHINYERE now wish to be known and address as EKEH CATHERINE CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. The public should please take note.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Davidson Iriekpen Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

FBN Holdings Records N226bn Impairment Charges, N17.1bn Profit After Tax Goddy Egene FBN Holdings Plc yesterday released its full year results for the year ended December 31, 2016, recording impairment charges of N226 billion, which was 38 per cent of the gross earnings reported by the group for the year. The bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio also deteriorated

to 24.4 per cent in 2016, compared with 18.1 per cent in 2015. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NPL ratio was 19.4 percentage points above the regulatory maximum of five per cent and 9.6 percentage points above the industry NPL ratio of 14 per cent at the end of 2016. The huge provisioning also made FBN Holdings to end the year with a paltry N17.1

DMO: Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Total Domestic Debt Stock Stood at N2.95tn in Dec Lagos, Delta, Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ibom top list Â Ndubuisi Francis Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The total domestic debt stock of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as at December 31, 2016, stood at N2.958 trillion, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said.Â A breakdown of the indebtedness shows thatÂ Lagos, Delta and Akwa Ibom States topped the list with a domestic debt stock of N311.7 billion, N241.3 billion and N155.4 billion respectively. Lagos, which remains the commercial nerve centre of the country, DMO said in a document posted on its website, emerged the state with the highest local debt stock in the country during the period. Lagos, Delta and Akwa Ibom States were followed by the FCT with N152.8 billion debt stock,

Osun with N147 billion, Rivers N142.4 billion and Bayelsa N140.1 billion. Anambra emerged the state with the least debt ( N3.9 billion), followed by Yobe with N13.5 billion and Jigawa with N19 billion. Anambra State had also in 2015 recorded the least debt of N3.5 billion. Domestic debt is the amount of money raised by the any sub-national government denominated in local currency and from its own residents. It consists of two components -Â bank and nonbank borrowing, andÂ are issued through government debt instruments such as Nigerian Treasury Bills, Nigerian Treasury Certificates, Federal Government Development Stocks, Treasury Bonds, Ways and Means Advances.

billion profit after tax (PAT), which showed a net profit margin of 2.9 per cent. According to the audited results, FBN Holdings posted gross earnings of N581.8billion in 2016, up 15.7 per cent from N505.7 billion in 2015. Netinterest income grew by 14.8 per cent from N265.2 billion to N304.4 billion, while non-interest income grew faster by 68.9 per cent from N97.9 billion to N165.5 billion. Similarly, operating income rose by 29.4 per cent from N363 billion to N469.9 billion. However, impairment charges surged by 90 per cent to N226 billion in 2016, from N118.8 billion in 2015. Consequently, FBN Holdings posted a profit before tax of N22.9 billion, up 6.3 per cent from N21.6 billion recorded in 2015, while PAT stood at N17.1 billion, indicating a growth of 10.3 per cent from N15.5 billion in 2015.

Customer deposits grew to N3.1 trillion from N3.0 trillion in 2015, while loans and advances increased to N2.1 trillion, compared to N1.8 trillion in 2015. FBN Holdings ended the year with total assets of N4.7 trillion, up by 13.7 per cent as against N4.2 trillion in 2015. But the directors did not recommend any dividend as the company appears to the retaining its earnings. Commenting on the results, the Managing Director, FBN Holdings, UK Eke said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;2016 has been a year characterised by significant uncertainty in the operating environment.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deterioration in asset quality, he added was â&#x20AC;&#x153;largely driven by the translation effect of the foreign currency portfolio due to the naira devaluation as well as one-off exceptional credit charge from legacy exposures in subsidiariesâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Credit losses are predominately driven by the

oil and gas sector exposures and to a lesser extent real estate/residential mortgages, general commerce and the general sectors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a result, cost of risk increased to 10.4 per cent , (Dec 2015: 5.7 per cent), while NPL ratio closed at 24.4 percent (Dec 2015: 18.1 per cent). â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have remained focused on remediation and recovery activities towards declassifying non-performing accounts and driving asset quality improvements. In line with this, we have made significant progress on remediation and recovery of NPLs in the last nine months. One of the three major accounts contributing to the NPL has been fully restructured and will be reclassified as a performing loan in 2017 in line with IFRS guideline, while asset realization is at advanced stage on the second material NPL. Resolution on Atlantic Energy

has taken longer than expected but despite the delays we are confident in achieving a positive outcome in the near future,â&#x20AC;? he added. Despite this, Ekeh said FBN Holdings delivered a solid performance while focusing on addressing the pre-existing issues in the loan book which resulted in the current loan loss. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This performance has been achieved through ongoing initiatives in driving efficiency across the various businesses, transforming the risk management and control environment, containing cost, as well as enhancing revenue generation from the banking and non-banking subsidiaries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We expect an improved economic environment through 2017 and are confident that the foundations we have put in place will drive improved financial performance and consequently enhance shareholder returns,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Presidency: Buhari Hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Fully Recovered, Doctors Advised He Takes Things Slowly Omololu Ogunmade Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The presidency yesterday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has not fully recovered after his medical treatment in the United Kingdom recently, saying his doctors advised him to take things slowly. It added that there was nothing to be apprehensive about over the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health. Buhari was Wednesday absent at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja. But a statement by Senior Special Assistant to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s absence at the FEC meeting was a last minute decision. He noted that even though the president was eager to be up and about, his doctors had advised him to take things slowly â&#x20AC;&#x153;as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the UK some weeks ago.â&#x20AC;? Shehu also said Buhari had upon his return to the country from a medical vacation in

London, informed Nigerians of the state of his health, adding that full recovery could sometimes be a slow process which he said might require periods of rest and relaxation as disclosed by the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed, Wednesday. He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should be rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as the Commander-inChief of Nigeria. He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His private residence, in which he has been spending most of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office. â&#x20AC;&#x153;God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our president through the worst period of his convalescence in London. We are thankful that the president has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period.â&#x20AC;?

EXECUTIVE PLEASANTRIES

L-R: Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai; Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, after the meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication at the State House in Abuja....yesterday

Naira Strengthens as CBN Offers $100mÂ in Wholesale Forwards Chika Amanze-Nwachuku The naira sustained its gains on the parallel market yesterday, where it closed at N380 to the dollar, stronger than the N383 to the dollar the previous day. This is as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday offered $100 million toÂ authorised dealers toÂ meet the requests of wholesale customersÂ at the forex auction in the interbank wholesale window.Â The CBN spokesman, Isaac Okorafor,Â who disclosed this in a statement, stated that no intervention was made in the retail window in yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s auction.Â He however, disclosed that the bank continued its weekly sale of forex to the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment to meet the needs of low-end users.Â

Furthermore, he saidÂ theÂ CBN had observed that quite a good number of dealers were adhering to the forex guidelines. Nevertheless, he said the CBN would continue to monitor the activities of authorised dealers to ensure that no outfit or individual circumvents the laid down forex rules. Â While urging all concerned to put the Nigerian economy first, he reiterated that the CBN was determined to guarantee the international value of the naira. In line with assurances by CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, that the CBN will continue to intervene in the foreign exchange market, the bank last Wednesday auctioned the sum of $185.86 million through retail Secondary Market

Intervention Sales (SMIS). The bank also on Wednesdaysettled the 10th Over-the-Counter (OTC) foreign exchange (FX) Futures Contract valued at $965.29 million which matured on the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. The FMDQ revealed this on its website. Okorafor while confirming the last Wednesday auction sale, disclosed that out of the auctioned amount, only $3.14million was sold as spots, while the sum of $182.72million was sold as forwards. He further explained that the overall picture of the inter-bank forex market was that of optimism, going by the level of access now being enjoyed by different categories of customers in

both the wholesale and retail segments of the market. The CBN governor had given a firm assurance of the imminent end of the current recession in 2017, at the end of his meeting with intervention in the forex market. Emefiele declared that the bank will continue its relentless hinged the optimism of the CBN on the accretion to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign reserve, which he said currently hovered above the $31billion mark. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our reserves stand at above $31 billion and that provides us enough of firepower or ammunition to be able to defend the currency, and we will do so with all intensity to ensure that foreign exchange is procured by everybody.â&#x20AC;?Â

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

NLC: FG Lied to Us About N500bn Palliatives Insists on review of minimum wage Senator Iroegbu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the

federal government lied to Nigerians when it promised to roll out palliative to ensure that the citizenry do not feel

Sheriff Pulls out of Peace Efforts Championed by Jonathan The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said he is pulling out the reconciliation move of the former President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership crisis. Sheriff in a statement signed by his Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, issued yesterday in Abuja, said this was to enable his National Working Committee (NWC) to focus on repositioning the PDP. He said the reconciliation moves initiated by Jonathan had finally collapsed, alleging that the move had been hijacked by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are opting out and focusing our efforts at making the party the darling of Nigerians again. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had made tremendous progress before former President Jonathan was asked

by party leaders to convene a meeting where stakeholders will adopt the Governor Seriake Dicksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Committee report on reconciliation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfortunately, former president Jonathan lost control of the meeting he convened and allowed Makarfi group to continue with their anti-party posture,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the organs of the party were already queuing up behind us and Jonathan came to unbundle the progress we made by his inability to control the meeting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will not continue again but rather concentrate on rebuilding our party,â&#x20AC;? he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Sheriff also stated that his NWC had postponed the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for May 4 indefinitely, adding that a new date would be announced later.

the impact of the fuel subsidy removal. The Deputy President of NLC and Chairman of the 2017 May Day celebration, Peters Adeyemi, stated this yesterday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities mapped out for the May Day celebrations. Adeyemi said contrary to the promise by the federal government that it budgeted about N500billion as a palliative to cushion the effect of the increase in pump price of petroleum, there is nothing as such. He assured Nigerians that the organised labour union is determined to ensure government review the N18,000 minimum wage. He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Federal government told us when we protested against the

Calls for the release of Chibok girls increase of pump price of fuel from N97 to N145, that N500billion was budgeted as a palliative for workers, but to our greatest surprise, we discovered there was nothing as such, rather government is blaming the situation in the price of crude oil at the international market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are determined to ensure government provide palliative to cushion the effect of hash economic policies of this government and also ensure there is food on the table of Nigerians.â&#x20AC;? Speaking further, Adeyemi said Nigerian workers would among other things, during the May Day, include immediate implementation of the new minimum wage. He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153; We shall use this opportunity to renew the call for the review of

the national minimum wage that is overdue for review considering the current economic trend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inflation has increased, the naira has lost its value and current minimum wage has been completely eroded. Therefore, the need and urgency for a call for the review of the current minimum wage.â&#x20AC;? On the theme of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Labour relations in economic recession: an appraisal,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; the labour leader said it would provide working class the opportunity to engage the government on how to revive the economy He further stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the theme of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s May Day suggests, this is a time for us as working class to look at the present economic situation that has witnessed negative

downturn and the reality of the moment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to critically look at the opportunity afforded us to work toward achieving economic revival and chart a way to a national rebirth, economic recovery and advocate for the engendering of socio-economic policies that is pro-poor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, we use the opportunity to join in the call for the continuous search and eventual release of the remaining Chibok girls abducted over three years ago. We plead with those who abducted these girls to release the remaining girls in the spirit of national rebirth and lay down their arms to give way for a reconciliatory dialogue for peace and stability of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress.â&#x20AC;?

Rivers Senators Differ on N13bn Ikoyi Money Damilola Oyedele Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039;Ëż Senators George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East) and Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) yesterday differed over the N13 billion found in an Ikoyi apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). While Sekibo insisted that the money belongs to the Rivers State Government, Abe called for him to be summoned to appear before the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-led panel, to provide proof to buttress his claim.Â Sekibo is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Abe was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Sekibo, in a point of order raised at plenary yesterday,Â said the Rivers State GovernmentÂ had already â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blown a whistleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that money amounting to $700 million was taken from the coffers of the state.Â The state Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had claimed that the N13 billion is part of monies allegedly stolen from the state by former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a suspicion and our suspicion is coming through this direction: the

Rivers State government had forwarded a petition claiming the loss of over $700 million allegedly taken by the former governor of the state, and we prayed the Senate to do something about it at that time, but it became too political,â&#x20AC;? he said.Â He called on the Osinbajo committee to unravel the real owner of Flat 7B, where the money was found.Â Adding some drama to his presentation, Sekibo blew a whistle in the chamber. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That was a whistle that the state government blew at the time. We are coming back to say that money found in that 7b - we have done our interim investigation by the state government, and we are blowing the whistle the second time. We trust the capacity of the vicepresident as the chairman of the investigative team. And on behalf of my constituents, I am blowing the whistle a second time,â&#x20AC;? he said and blewÂ the whistle three times. Abe, while reacting in an interview with journalists, said Sekibo should provide the panel with facts to prove his whistle blowing stunt at the Senate.Â

GREAT ACHIEVERS

L-R: Guest of Honour, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams; Mrs. Stella Marie Awani; and Publisher, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka, at the public presentation of Hallmarks of Labour in Lagos...yesterday

House Asks Buhari to Seek Clarity on EFCC Act from Courts Asks executive to adhere to separation of powersÂ James Emejo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The House of Representatives yesterday passed a resolution urging President Muhammadu Buhari to seek interpretation in the court of law on any contrived conflict in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act, which is an existing law in the country. It further advised officials of the executive arm of government to refrain from making statements that connote the usurpation of the powers of the judiciary with their negative effects on the doctrine of separation of powers. The House also mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation of the resolution.

The House position was sequel to a motion sponsored by House Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (Delta, PDP), on the need to prevent the erosion of the doctrine of separation of powers in the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democratic practice. The motion had acted on the ongoing feud over the confirmation of the Chairman of the EFCC whereby a statement had been reportedly credited to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to the effect that the appointment of the Chairman of the EFCC does not require confirmation of the Senate, in line with Section 171 of the constitution. The lawmakers said they were convinced that the EFCC Act is an Act of the National Assembly

that could only be set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, maintaining that until that happens, the law remains in force and binding on all persons and authorities in the country. They further noted that the executive arm of government has not filed any proceeding in any court to challenge the provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act of 2004. Among other things, the House expressed concern that the statement credited to Osinbajo was capable of eroding the doctrine of separation of powers in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democracy, with its obvious implication of instituting a dictatorship in

the country. Hon. Kinsley Chinda (Rivers, PDP) Â said he regretted that an opinion of the vice president had been upgraded to mean the position of the presidency on the appointment of the EFCC boss. He cautioned the executive to be weary of how it interprets laws of the National Assembly. But Hon. Mohammed Sani Zoro (Jigawa, APC) had urged for restraint until the reports on the alleged statement by Osinbajo was ascertained before passing the resolutions. Â Nevertheless, his opinion to step down the prayers of the motion until investigation was concluded was overturned by an overwhelming majority voice vote. Â

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

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Again, Babachir Shuns Senate C’ttee Probe C’ttee to submit final report Tuesday Damilola Oyedele ÓØ ÌßÔË

re-open the investigations for Lawal to appear on The suspended Secretary to the March 14, 2017. Lawal had Government of the Federation, however failed to honour the Mr. Babachir Lawal, for the invitation, initially writing to third time, failed to appear the committee that he had before the Senate ad hoc gone to court to challenge committee investigating the his summons, then making mounting humanitarian crises a U-Turn and then requested for another date to appear. in the North-east. A new date was scheduled; The committee however noted that it would submit its April 27, 2017, but Lawal again final report of the investigations failed to appear, nor did he send any communication to next Tuesday. Lawal was summoned to the committee, whose members appear before the committee waited for him for two hours; yesterday over alleged contract 10a.m, to 12 noon. The Chairman, Senator scams under the Presidential Initiatives on the North East Shehu Sani, said two letters (PINE), which he oversaw as were sent to the former SGF, SGF, and to explain the role one to his former office and of his company, Rholavision the other to his home. The Engineering, in a controversial letter to Lawal’s home could grass-cutting contract of however not be delivered as the security men refused to N200million. An interim report of the take it, allegedly stating that Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna they have been instructed not Central) led committee had to receive any correspondence, indicted Lawal for inflated and Sani disclosed. He added that the deliberate fictitious contracts amounting to N2.5 billion, and called for choice by Lawal to shun the his suspension from office probe which was intended to and prosecution. President provide him a chance at fair Muhammadu Buhari had hearing, would not stop the however written to the Senate, committee from submitting picking holes in its reports and its final report next Tuesday. “We thought that now he is indicating that Lawal was not given a chance at fair hearing. under suspension, he would Buhari’s position prompted have enough time to be here. the committee to resolved to Now we are here since 10a.m.

Two Dead, Scores Injured as Building Collapses in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi

out dead. Already, the building Scores of construction workers has been cordoned off by were yesterday injured and LASEMA pending an ontwo killed when a two- the-spot assessment of the storey building undergoing Lagos State Building Control construction in NICON Town Agency (LASBCA), who are Estate, off Admirality Way expected to take some samples in the Lekki area of Lagos, for tests. Confirming the incident, partially collapsed. It was gathered that the the General Manager, Lagos construction workers were State Emergency Management mixing concrete at the site Agency (LASEMA), Mr. when part of the building Tiamiyu Adesina, however said cracked and collapsed, trapping although two persons died, many of them under the they only have one person injured who was taken to rubble. The deceased persons who the hospital. He said: “The agency were simply identified as Tasiu Tanko and Abdullahi Usman received a report regarding the had since been deposited at partial collapse of a building at the morgue while the injured Nicon town Estate, Admiralty persons were taken to the way Lekki. “Investigations conducted hospital. Immediately news of by the agency’s Emergency the incident filtered out, Respone Team (ERT) at scene officials of the Lagos State of the incident revealed that the Emergency Management structure under the process of Agency (LASEMA), and other casting of the roof beam and emergency responders rushed parapet partially collapsed as to the accident scene to rescue mixed concrete, and the poker those trapped underneath the vibrator were seen at the site. “The building suddenly rubble. According to eyewitness collapsed on some of the account, the collapsed building workers on site and two took all by surprise as it had adult male named Tasiu and previously not given any sign Abdulahi were reportedly killed, while an adult male of wear and tear. It was gathered that the named Yakub sustained some structure suddenly had a crack injuries and have been taken and partially collapsed like a to the hospital. “The agency’s Emergency pack of badly stacked cards. It took the concerted efforts Response Team immediately of emergency workers to cordoned off the building for bring out the workers from further investigation to be underneath the rubbles, carried out by the appropriate although two were brought authorities.”

waiting for him and its now 12. It is clear to us that he is not appearing. We would certainly go ahead and present our report on the floor of the Senate based on the fact and figures, we have with us at our disposal,” Sani said. “We see this as deliberate choice to absent himself from this committee, and we believe that the general public has seen how we all tried to give the man opportunity to defend himself publicly. This is a public hearing, and we insisted that it should be open to all Nigerians to come and hear his own side of the story,” the Chairman added. “We know the implication of indicting a person, it goes

to his records, his personality, his history and his legacy, and it is on the grounds of that ,we felt such a historical mark, should be done with all fairness, and justice. We did that to the best of our ability, but since he has decided to absent himself, we declare this a no show for him, and that would not in anyway stop us from presenting our report on the floor of the senate, next week,” Sani added. Senator Ben Murray Bruce (Bayelsa East) again emphasised that the issues raised in President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter were incorrect. The letter dated January 24, 2017 had claimed that

the interim report was signed by only three out of the nine members, and that Lawal was not invited to state his side of the story. Bruce stated that seven members signed the report, including himself. “It is very sad that we are here today to conclude our investigation on this very important matter, and the former SGF did not show up. This is like a man holding a knife with a jagged edge and stabbing himself. Had he shown up, maybe he could have clarified a couple of issues, maybe the report would not be the way we intend to send it to our colleagues on Tuesday, maybe he could have

resolved some issues,” he said. Bruce, speaking further said, “this is a lesson for any government official, when they are invited to the Senate, they should show up, they should do the right thing to communicate with us, so it gives them a chance for fair hearing. In view of the fact that he hasn’t, I guess our work is done.” Lawal who was suspended by the president last week, is currently being investigated by a three-man committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The Osinbajo committee has since requested that the Senate committee submit documents relevant to the allegations against Lawal.

Nigerian Men Still Jittery About Women in Politics, Says Chikwe Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, has said despite the several in-roads made by the women in governance in the country, there are still a lot of obstacles on their way in political participation. She said many of the men folk still feel jittery whenever a woman signifies her intention to contest for elective office and would make every effort to truncate it. Chikwe who is also a former ambassador and the immediate past National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated this during an interview with ARISE Television, a THISDAY Newspaper sister broadcast network in Abuja. She said it was regrettable that while women campaign the most during elections, they hardly get anything commensurate to their effort after victory is secured. The top woman politician from Imo State said she has floated a women leadership development institute that would help address some of the shortcomings and to embolden women to be more assertive in their approach to politics and governance issues. “In Nigeria, I think the competition is too keen, most men would rather mobilise the women to support their interest but most of these men do not support the interest of women. And even when some women have worked very hard and are almost there, like becoming governors, something happens and when you go behind the scene, it is this hypocrisy of support for women in our society that is at the root cause. This is really dangerous,” she said. Mrs. Chikwe said there is no basis for such

hypocritical attitude from the men because from available records, most women that have held office in the country have done creditably well. “Most of these women have set the pace but the men still feel that it is a man’s world,” she said. On the objective of her

pet project, the former minister said the women institute would go a long way to prepare women for leadership roles in the society and to strengthen her resolve to participate in politics and governance. “When there is a curricular set up for women to go through formal training,

classroom orientation, I think it would be taken more seriously even by them and when they get back home after earning their certificate and diplomas for the training, they will be more confident to confront the challenges in their local areas, especially political leadership,” she said.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

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Atiku Backs Devolution of Powers, Resource Control Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has made a case for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to enable the federating states assume more powers with regards to creation of local government areas and control of revenues it generates. He emphasised the urgent need for all the federating units in the country to sit down and agree on how to share its resources in such a manner that would instigate healthy rivalry and competition. Speaking at the formal public presentation of the Daily Stream Newspaper which took place in Abuja, Atiku said there was no doubt that the current structure of our federation has â&#x20AC;&#x153;constituted an impediment to our economic development, political stability and social harmony,â&#x20AC;? adding thatÂ changing them would result in phenomenal and unhindered development of the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We must sit down, discuss, and agree on the nature of our fiscal federalism - how to share our resources. I am on record as having advocated for the control of rents by the federating units from which they are derived while the federal government retains its powers to levy taxes.

That will make us all productive again and our federating units to engage in healthy rivalries and competition, which will only result in more progress,â&#x20AC;? he said. Atiku said restructuring would facilitate the emergence of a leaner bureaucracy, enhance efficiency, block wastages and promote more prudent management. According to Atiku, the situation is made even worse by the cocktail of economic, social and political problems which the country has had to contend with. On power devolution, the former vice president said a situation where the federal government is saddled with the creation of local governments and directly funding them, makes nonsense of the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;local.â&#x20AC;?Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those powers should be vested in the state governments. And it should include an end to federal ownership of interstate roads, schools, hospitals and the uniformity in remunerations across the country,â&#x20AC;? he said. Atiku also said he was opposed to the idea of states and local governments operating joint account, saying that the practice has absolved state governments of its responsibilities to fund local governments as they virtually confiscate the funds allocated

Man Petitions IG over Abduction of Daughter for Forceful Marriage Laleye Dipo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039; A local farmer in Shudna village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Habila Gambo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG), Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, over the abduction and forceful marriage of his 16-year-old daughter, Janet, by a tailor, Nasiru Yusuf. Yusuf, according to the petition, had abducted the teenager in Erena village where she was learning tailoring. In the petition titled: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Complaints of criminal breach of trust, kidnapping, unlawful abduction and forceful marriage of a minor, Janet Habila by one Nasiru Yusuf of Erena village in Shiroro Local Government of Niger State.â&#x20AC;? Gambo said his daughter was kidnapped and forced into marriage by the man who was entrusted to train her as a tailor. Â The petition Â dated April 24, 2017, and signed on behalf of the petitioner by one Daniel Omakor of Cosmic Chambers in Minna, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY, also accused a Sharia court judge in Erena of conspiring with Yusuf to secretly contract a marriage between Janet and Yusuf under unknown Islamic law without the consent of her Christian parents. The petition read in part, â&#x20AC;&#x153;On March 15, 2017, our client got home and was showed a summons from the Sharia Court, Erena, commanding him to attend court the following day unfailingly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our client accompanied by his cousin, one Pastor Ishaya Jagaba,

without knowing the nefarious grand plan that awaited him, was shocked to hear from the judge of the Sharia Court that his daughter, Janet, had converted and embraced Islam and her name had been changed to Zainab and that she has been married to Yusuf of Erena whom she has been entrusted to learn the art of tailoring.â&#x20AC;? Habila said the judge ignored his vehement objection to the purported marriage on the grounds that his daughter â&#x20AC;&#x153;is a minor and incapable of giving consent to marriage without her parents.â&#x20AC;? He expressed shock that the judge ordered him out of the court, claiming the judge said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was only summoned to be informed of the marriage and nothing more.â&#x20AC;? The petitioner lamented that an earlier petition to the Minna Area Police Command did not yield any form of justice, saying Yusuf was released at state CID and Janet handed over to the suspect after establishing the fact that the girl was minor and there was no parental consent. The petitioner therefore asked the IG to assist in the immediate return of Janet to him Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;from the unlawful custody.â&#x20AC;? He also asked that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a thorough medical examination on her should be conductedâ&#x20AC;? because Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;she is likely to have been violated and defiled by Yusuf.â&#x20AC;? Â He also prayed the IG to order a full scale investigation into the matter and immediately prosecute Yusuf along with the judge.

by the federal government to the local governments.Â The former vice-president who has been campaigning for restructuring of the federation, noted that the problem with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s federalism is that over the years it had become so skewed in favour of the centre, thereby impeding economic

development and threatening Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence as a united country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, I am not here just to lament over the sad and unenviable state of affairs in Nigeria. I firmly believe in the viability of the Nigerian Project, I remain unshaken and completely persuaded that

we can eventually change the story of Nigeria for good by collectively making Nigeria a productive, prosperous, peaceful and united nation whose people are happy and contented and one that is able to really lead Africa and assume a pride of place in the comity of nations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But to achieve that, we must

elevate and steer conversation away from empty rhetoric and platitudes. We must instigate and see to the full and faithful implementation of profound changes in the political structure, organisation, functions and performance of state, and a radical re-organisation of government, its organs and personnel,â&#x20AC;? he said.

PUNUKA LECTURE SERIES

L-R: Senior Partner, Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN); Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule; Mrs. Elizabeth Idigbe; and Chairman, Nestle/Special Guest of Honour, Mr. David C. Ifezulike, during the 2017 Punuka Annual Lecture in Lagos...yesterday

Crude Oil Market Heading Towards Balance, Says Barkindo Oil prices at a four-week low Ejiofor Alike The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) wants oil inventories to decline further and is working to ensure that a policy-setting meeting scheduled next month reaches consensus, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secretary-general said yesterday in comments pointing to an extension of a global supply cut. However, crude oil prices yesterday dampened OPEC optimism as prices fell to fourweek low with both Benchmark Brent and US crude future falling more than two per cent in late morning trade, extending losses to drop below their 200-day moving averages. OPEC, Russia and other producers originally agreed to curb production by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months from January 1, 2017 to support the market. Reuters reported that oil

prices have gained support from the pact but a supply glut has been slow to shift, limiting their increase. As a result, OPEC members including top exporter Saudi Arabia have signalled support for extending the deal at a May 25meeting. OPEC Secretary General, Â Mohammad Barkindo, while speaking at a conference in Paris, and other officials from OPEC countries said the oil market was moving towards a balance between supply and demand with the help of the agreement. OPEC and a number of nonOPEC producers meet on May 25 to discuss extending output curbs that cover the first half of 2017. The cuts total 1.8 million barrels per day, two-thirds of that from OPEC producers, and are aimed at clearing a supply glut that has depressed oil prices.

Luaibi added that Baghdad would go with the consensus reached by OPEC when the group meets in Vienna next month. Angolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil minister, JosĂŠ Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos said he believed the deal would be extended beyond June. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The market is moving toward rebalancing,â&#x20AC;? Amin Nasser, chief executive of state oil giant Saudi Aramco, said at the same event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I see the oil market pointing upward and expect it to continue improving,â&#x20AC;? he added. Barkindo said consensus on a decision during OPECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next meeting was â&#x20AC;&#x153;gradually building up.â&#x20AC;? In spite of OPECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s optimism, Brent yesterday fell to $50.45 a barrel, just above the key $50 technical level. US oil prices fell below $49 a barrel amid deteriorating gasoline futures and a higher dollar in the wake of the

European Central Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest interest rate decision. Benchmark Brent and US crude future fell more than two percent in late morning trade, extending losses to drop below their 200-day moving averages. News that Libya had restarted two of its main oil fields after protests also added to selling pressure. Libya is one of two exporters exempt from OPECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production cuts aimed at reducing a global oversupply of oil. The International Energy Agency said in its latest monthly market report that oil stocks in industrialised countries stood at around 3.06 billion barrels at the end of February, a figure that mostly includes crude and oil products. Stocks were some 336 million barrels above the five-year average, the Paris-based IEA said.

PRCAN Carpets Finance Minister over Foreign PR Firm Following media reports on the alleged hiring of a United Kingdom-based public relations firm by the federal government to manage the campaign of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation at the just concluded World Bank Spring Meeting in Washington DC, United States, the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has cautioned the government to respect its

own â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Buy Nigeria, Save the Nairaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign. According to a statement by PRCAN President, John Ehiguese, President Muhammadu Buhari should make his Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who led the Nigerian delegation to the Washington DC meeting to explain whether the process of choosing the UK firm complied with the provisions

of the Public Procurement Act, regarding competitive bid from other equally qualified Public Relations Consulting firms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will also be of interest to the Nigerian people to know if the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance signed off on the payment of the retainer fee allegedly paid to the PR firm in question,â&#x20AC;? Ehiguese further

said. The PRCAN president expressed concern that the ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s action buttressed the insatiable appetite and penchant of Nigerian political office holders for â&#x20AC;&#x153;foreign is better,â&#x20AC;? and might indeed have confirmed the feeling held in professional circles that Nigerian leaders have no regard for indigenous professionals.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

FG Moves to Strengthen Fight against Corruption Adopts five-year National Anti-corruption Strategy

Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË˿ The federal government yesterday commenced a move to strengthen the fight against corruption in the country with the adoption and validation of the harmonised National Anti-corruption Strategy (NACS). The document, which is a

five-year strategic plan aims at presenting a common and united platform for all stakeholders in the fight against corruption. According to the Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the five-year plan involves prevention of corruption, public engagement, campaign

Absence of Prosecution Witness Stalls Saraki’s Trial at CCT Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for alleged false declaration of asset when he was governor of Kwara State, was again stalled yesterday at the Code of Conduct Bureau in Abuja. The federal government is prosecuting Saraki over allegations bordering on false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as governor of Kwara State from 20032011. At the resumption of trial yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, asked the court for an adjournment as the witness he had planned to call for the day was indisposed. He disclosed that the witness, who is Saraki’s account officer, had informed him that he would be

undergoing a surgery; hence he would not make himself available to testify in the trial. Jacobs, therefore, urged the tribunal to adjourn the matter. Consequently, the tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, adjourned the trial to May 4. This is the third time Saraki’s trial would be adjourned at the instance of the prosecution. The case was initially slated for April 18, but it was shifted to 25, and then yesterday, and now to May 4. Earlier, the prosecution had tendered before the tribunal a statement made by the senate president to the EFCC on August 13, through Alvan Gurummaal, a detective of the agency. Saraki is facing an 18-count amended charges of false asset declaration. His trial started in September 2015, and it has lingered ever since.

Adopted Ekiti Children Reunite with Family after 12 Years in Netherlands Victor Ogunje ÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ Two Ekiti State indigenes who were adopted by a Dutch couple 12 years ago have pleaded with the state government to place a high premium on the upkeep of the children in orphanages. The duo said this yesterday when their foster parents, Donald and Gertruda Boots, brought them home to familiarise them with their immediate relatives. The two brothers, aged 17 and 14, were a product of a poverty-stricken polygamous family, but were adopted by the couple in 2005 during the first tenure of the state Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. The eldest son, Joshua, who expressed his joy to be at home, thanked the state government and every other person that took part in the adoption process, saying their fortunes have improved tremendously. Receiving the couple and the children at her office in Ado Ekiti, the wife of the governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, expressed joy over

the radical turnaround of their lives, saying seeing them in good health and high spirits was pleasing and fulfilling to her as a mother. She noted that her interest in the welfare of the two children informed her decision to personally visit them in Amsterdam in 2006 during her first time in office, saying, “Honestly, l am happy to see them back home in good health and high spirit.” Mrs. Fayose however, regretted the inability of her husband to personally receive the couple and the two boys due to the fact that the governor was on an official engagement outside the state. She thanked the couple for taking care of the two children as if they were their biological children, and prayed for the long life and prosperity of the Boots family. Speaking earlier, Donald said they decided to bring them back home, so as to familiarise themselves with members of their immediate family. He said their education would not be completed if the two boys were unable to trace their roots.

for ethical reorientation, enforcement and sanctions and recovery of proceeds of corruption. Malami, who was speaking at the adoption/ validation meeting on the Harmonisation of the National Anti-corruption Strategy in Abuja, yesterday noted that the five-year plan would serve as the driving force across board in both private and public sectors. He expressed optimism that the strategy would be viewed by the international community as Nigeria’s supportable and sustainable effort in taking concrete steps in creating a sustainable policy framework to tackle corruption head on in all ramifications. Represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, the

AGF canvassed the unconditional support and cooperation of all well meaning Nigerians and the international community in ensuring that the draft of the strategy was validated and adopted to achieve the vision of a Nigeria free of corruption for sustainable human development. He said the collective actions of participants would assure Nigerians and the whole world that the present administration is committed to its mandate of tackling the menace of corruption beyond political rhetoric. “It is pertinent to reiterate that one of the cardinal objectives of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is to fight corruption in all its ramified manifestations including the adoption of effective preventive measures

against corruption, recovery, of stolen assets and putting mechanisms, systems and processes in place to profitably manage stolen and recovered assets. “This five-year strategy will provide a framework to improve the anti-corruption regime in Nigeria by focusing on key areas of policy improvement, institution strengthening and technical support in the public and private sectors as well as society as a whole.” Also speaking at the occasion, Prof. Femi Odekunle, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), said the Muhammadu Buhari administration could be credited with definitive achievements from direct and consequential efforts in the fight against corruption

unlike previously insincere or half-hearted alleged fights against corruption. Odekunle said with the renewed efforts the fight against corruption would be fully institutionalised by the present government in the best interest of Nigerians. “It should suffice to state that, besides other indices, the fact that some of our elites who love and worship money are now dumping loads of cash in odd places and denying their ownership is proof-positive that the efforts in the fight against corruption is yielding efforts. The solicitor-general disclosed that in spite of the successes recorded by the Buhari administration in the fight against corruption, “There were still many rivers to cross, indentifiable gaps for closure and emergent hiccups for attention.”

FAMILIARISATION VISIT

L-R: Mr. Donald Boots; his wife, Gertruda; wife of Ekiti State governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose; and the adopted children, Ayoola and Oluwasola, during the familiarisation visit of the Boots’ family to the wife of the governor in Ado Ekiti ...yesterday

Lack of Incentives for Good Conduct in Nigeria Breeds Corruption, Says Chidoka Sunday Okobi Former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, has lamented that the rate of corruption is high in Nigeria because good behaviour and meritorious public service are hardly appreciated. He further noted that the scourge of graft in the society is increasing as a result of the undeserving honour corrupt people get in public place, including churches, mosques among others. The ex-FRSC boss made these comments yesterday at the induction ceremony of the Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON) where he was inducted as one of the Distinguished Fellows of

the organisation in Lagos. While lamenting the effect of corruption in the country, Chidoka said: “Corruption in Nigeria, as far as I am concerned, is a national malaise, because there is really no incentive for good behaviour. If you said you wanted to be a House of Representatives member today, people on the street expect you to bring money before they will even support you. Gone are the days when people come together and say ‘this man is a good candidate, let’s support him’. I know that if Barack Obama were to be a Nigerian, even the audacity of his hope would not have led him to think of being a Nigerian President, because the vast amount of personal resources he would need to deploy is such that

nobody that has access to such resources would want to put his hands on. “So I believe that the media, the civil society and the public have to stop incentivising bad behaviour. For so long as we keep rewarding those who have the resources and say they are the ones who would get honours in the churches, mosques, and who will get political office, the country will continue to encourage corruption.” The Anambra State governorship hopeful added that importantly, political office everywhere in the world is a middle class endeavour; it’s not something done because one is rich. “And I believe that Nigerians must return to that time where public servants and politicians are middle class people who

are supported by both the professional and business class, and even the citizens. “One of my contributions I want to make to Nigerian politics is to restore back the fact that politics is a middle class game, and stop singing praises for corrupt people.” On the significance of the award, the former Minister of Aviation hinted that he came for the award (honour) because “I believe that Nigeria needs to produce a new cadre of people who are recognised and rewarded for their contributions either in their professions, in business or in public service. And this recognition has nothing to do with monetary value or how much you have acquired or how much wealth you have, but has to do with the contributions you make to the society.”

˜ ͰͶ˜ Ͱͮͯ͵ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

N8.2bn Nigeria 2009 Broadcast Vans Rot Away Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The huge investment of N8.2billion by federal government into upgrading the Outside Broadcast Vans for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009 appears to have gone down the drain following the brazen cannibalisation of the component parts of the vans that have reduced them to monumental relics. The federal government headed by the Late Umar Yar’Adua approved the huge sum for UK-based company, Well Trade Services (WTS) in collaboration with Sony to upgrade six OB vans to Higher Definition format to enable the production and distribution of world-class live television signals from the eight designated centres in Nigeria to the rest of the world. The OB vans were used for the All Africa Games in Abuja in 2003 and were upgraded from Standard Definition to High Definition (HD) signals. The tournament was held in Lagos, Calabar, Kaduna, IjebuOde, Abuja, Enugu, Bauchi and Kano from October 24 through November 15, 2009. But the alarming development is that 10 years after the successful hosting of the event, four of the mobile broadcast stations now stay lifeless at the packing space opposite the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) office at the

National Stadium, Abuja. After the hosting of the cadet World Cup which Switzerland won at first time of asking, the state of the art broadcast equipment was handed over to NTA as the national broadcasting station. Concerned citizens estimate the current market value of the brazenly vandalised broadcast components in each of the four OB vans at N2.5 billion. One of the vans is still in use and is permanently stationed at the Three Arms Zone, where it serves the National Assembly and the State House. It is not, however, clear in which part of the country the remaining one is deployed. THISDAY was reliably informed yesterday that each of the vans is fitted with HD facilities that can rarely been seen in any part of Africa, except South Africa that hosted the continent’s maiden and only FIFA World Cup in 2010. Some of the features of each van include 12 high speed television cameras, high capacity cables, control system technologies that allows slow motions, audio mixer, air conditioning system, switcher, router and servers that supported a variety of workflows among others. Some of the cannibalised parts of the broadcast equipment were installed in 2009 shortly before the hosting of the cadet World Cup.

Special Olympics Nigeria to Host 2017 World Malaria Day In an effort to commemorate the World Malaria Day 2017 and through the support of ExxonMobil, Special Olympics Nigeria will tomorrow host activities including a Unified Soccer Tournament to raise awareness on Malaria and HIV. The official theme for the 2017 World Malaria Day is “End Malaria for Good”. The Unified Soccer Tournament and the other activities to mark the day have been listed to take place at the St Finbarr’s College in Akoka, Lagos. According to the programme released yesterday, attendees to this year’s event will be invited to take part in activities such as a Family Health Forum (FHF) where Health Talks on Malaria and HIV with demonstrations will be given, Voluntary Counseling and Testing on Malaria and HIV and distribution of mosquito nets. In 2017, SO Nigeria will be implementing the initiative in four states in south-south Nigeria namely Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River and Rivers states and in four states in south-east Nigeria - Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo state. SO Nigeria will collaborate with Grassroots Soccer, to educate our athletes on Malaria and HIV/AIDS using football as a learning tool. This is an effective platform for bringing together and providing people with intellectual disabilities as well as the community with relevant information about the prevention of Malaria and HIV/

AIDS, treatment, as well as basic life-saving skills. Special Olympics Nigeria is part of a worldwide movement (Special Olympics international) that is aimed at changing the misconceptions individuals have about people with intellectual disabilities (PWID). Our mission is to provide year round sports training and athletics competitions in a variety of Olympic - type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing continuous opportunities to develop physical fitness and skills required to manage day to day life. World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, WHO’s decision making body; World Malaria Day, is a day set aside to raise awareness on the need for continuous investment and support to various countries, in their efforts to combat Malaria and its associated problems, as well as provide information and support where necessary for communities prone to malaria. It is commemorated every year on April 25. According to WHO’s World Malaria Report 2016, in 2015, there were 212million new cases of malaria and 429,000 deaths. One child dies from malaria every two minutes. It is estimated that globally, 3.3billion people in 106 countries are at risk of Malaria resulting in over 198 million cases while some 627,000 deaths occurred in 2012 as a result of malaria infection.

One of the Outside Broadcast Vans at the Abuja National Stadium

Nigeria’s Female Team Secures Ticket to African Junior Championship Nigeria secured qualification for the African Junior Tennis Championship slated for September in Casablanca, Morocco as the 1st ITF/CAT West and Central African Teams Championships ended yesterday in Lagos. The Nigerian girls’ team which has Iye Onoja, Oiza Yakubu and Serena Teluwo finished second after losing 2-1 to Benin in Thursday’s game and it was

enough to see them clinch the ticket alongside their conquerors, for the event in Morocco at the expense of Ghana. It was, however, a different story for the Nigerian boys’ team featuring Gabriel Inyang, David Ekpeyong and Fortune Joseph as they lost 3-0 to Togo to miss out of the train to the North African country. Ghana finished top of the boys’ standing with Togo ending as runners up.

The tournament featured four countries and was rounded off earlier than schedule owing to few numbers of participating nations which led to the change of format. Nigeria’s coach, Mohammed Ubale expressed satisfaction over the performance of the Nigerian teams despite failing to meet the target of securing qualification of both teams. Ubale said, “Our goal was

to get the tickets in both categories but we could not. It’s not that I’m disappointed because it’s a developmental programme rather, we are delighted that we showed great potential which points that the future of our tennis is bright. We equally had injury troubles particularly the one sustained by Reya Holmes, who had gone on preparation for the championship in London.”

Zenith Bank Basketball: Over 200 Female Players Invade Kaduna Ramat Square, Kaduna will be a beehive of activities from tomorrow, Saturday April 29 as over 200 female basketballers arrive the city in continuation of this year’s Zenith Bank Women Basketball League which dunked off in Abuja a fortnight ago. Secretary General of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Augustine Balewa, said the arrival of the teams would serve as prelude to the Technical Committee Meeting fixed for the Indoor Sports Hall of Ramat Square the next day. He said actions would begin on Monday, May 1st with all

the 18 teams rubbing shoulders until the Monday, May 8th when the second phase will come to an end. Balewa said that the best four teams in each group in phase 1 and 2 would proceed to Round Two of the league while the last two teams in each group would be relegated to division one at the end of the competition. Defending Champion, First Bank, Customs and Dolphins won all their matches at the first phase in Abuja, but the setting will different at this stage where they are expected to confront one and another.

First Bank Head Coach, Peter Ahmedu, said after the first phase that the real battle would begin at the Kaduna leg. He explained that the first phase has given them the opportunity to assess their arc rivals, Dolphins and Customs. “We are going to Kaduna to continue with the determination and commitment we displayed during our first phase matches. We are not going to undermine any team as we will play each game as it comes,” the First Bank Coach said. Ahmedu said with fair officiating and a good atmosphere

the second phase would point the finger to where the league title would head to at the end of the championship Saturday August 8th in Lagos. Also speaking during the first leg in Abuja founder and Coach of Dolphins, Mr. Wale Aboderin, exuded confidence that his youthful side would gave a good account of themselves in the league. “It is too early to predict who will wear the crown at this stage but we shall surely give the title a good chase with hard work, discipline and determination,” he posited.

Serie A: Inter Milan vs Napoli Blockbuster Live on StarTimes StarTimes World Football, a popular sport channel on Pay TV network, StarTimes, is set to broadcast live on Sunday evening, April 30, top contenders in the Italian League, Serie A, as Inter Milan hosts Napoli in San Siro Arena. With Napoli third on 71 points and Inter trailing behind in seventh with 56 point, football

lovers should be in for a fascinating clash as both teams will be going all out for the win, which should make for an open and exciting game on Sunday. Inter heads into this clash in outstanding form as manager Stefano Pioli insists his boys are ready for the game. The last time the two teams met inter suffered 3-0 defeat.

While the team from Naples have lost just one of their previous 19 league matches. They have only been beaten four times in Serie A and have the best away record in the division. Football viewers can enjoy this thrilling sporting actions on StarTimes World Football Channel 244 or 254 On Sunday at 7:45pm. StarTimes Acting Brand and

Marketing Director, Mr. Qasim Elegbede, said its commitment to delivering quality sporting content to its subscribers was the reason behind the acquisitions of sporting rights like the Serie A, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, Chinese Super League, Eredivisie and recently, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in over 48 territories in Africa.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY APRIL 28, 2017

Friday, April 28, 2017

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MISSILE El-Rufai to Nigerians “We are not worried about the development, it is not compulsory for the president to preside over every Federal Executive Council (FEC); that is why our constitution makes available the place of the vice-president.” – Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai dismissing mounting worries surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari’s rumored incapacitation asserting that there is no cause for alarm.

ISSA AREMU Abuja Airport As a Metaphor GUEST COLUMNIST

iven the euphoria that has trailed the successful reconstruction of the runway of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, my interest as usual is purely academic, a tall order in a country in which deep reflection about nation building is a luxury. The airport which services the federal capital closed on March 8 with the promise of being reopened on April 19 after a comprehensive overhaul. There is a general national consensus that for once in recent time we recorded “a remarkable feat”. Well before the reconstruction deadline, new run away was delivered, precisely on Monday, April 17 with resumed flights and operations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. Don’t get me wrong please. We must definitely salute the Hon Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for delivering on promise and for reportedly putting his integrity on the line by vowing to resign if the airport was not reopened. But lest we forget, this is a run way long over due for a repair almost two decades ago. The received wisdom has it that there is no greater crime than a loss of time. If we could roll out the drums for a belated rehabilitation , it will very well be nice we are also sobered with the knowledge of the huge costs we have so far incurred for the original delay and outright criminal neglect. To dispense with some N5.8 billion earmarked for an airport rehabilitation within a month and few days, must task our cost consciousness in an economy technically in a recession. That is if at all we are cost conscious in the first place. Undoubtedly the opportunity cost of non-repair is as high. But the opportunity cost of the decades long neglect is certainly higher. Sometimes in 2010 we were debating the prospect of building the second runway at the estimated controversial N63.5 billion contract. Almost a decade later, we are celebrating a rehab of an old run

Sirika

way even as we keep a sealed lip on building a new one. Nigeria is often characterized as a mono- economy, relying almost on nothing but oil and gas (accounting for 94 per cent of export earnings and 62 per cent of Government revenue!). Abuja airport is another metaphor for a nation that stands on one leg, sorry, for a nation whose major international airport relies on only (and only one!) rehabilitated run way. For me the bigger picture of delay, neglect and the recent belated tokenism at a huge cost calls for sobriety rather the recent self praise that we have achieved “a feat”. With feat like this, we can as well say a farewell to ambitious nation building project. Yet Nigeria must learn to be ambitious as a nation. So far with all the official noise, the comprehensive repair of the Abuja terminal is yet to be completed. While we all micro manage

Abuja airport, (sorry rehabilitating a runway!) we should not forget that Nigeria parades as many as 26 airports in the country operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Five of these are called “international airports” namely that of Kaduna, Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu. On arrival at the Murtala international airport, every passenger is ever psychologically prepared that the elevator will ever not function. While the repair was on, President Buhari launched with fanfare , the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan Job creation and youth empowerment. One cardinal principle of this new commendable road plan for growth and development is to promote public finance aimed at reducing unemployment and underemployment, especially among the youths. Pray how many sustainable jobs are the fall outs of N5.8 billion Abuja airport repairs/ intervention? The ERGP also sets to promote local content. What then is the local content of N5.8 billion Abuja airport repairs? We even ignored the “local content” suggestion by critical stakeholders, in the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), who argued that the rehabilitation could take place with the airport in use. Are we using public intervention in infrastructure development to empower Nigerians and move the economy from recession to recovery or doing business as usual patronizing foreign investors and fueling capital flight and perpetuating underdevelopment? Still on ERGP .

But it is a national shame and indeed national disgrace that we now inadvertently promote foreign airlines at the expense of our own. Many Nigerian compatriots certainly feel diminished that a foreign airline was indulged to land on a runway Nigerians paid for and the ﬁrst pilot to be so favored to speak to us is not Nigerian

This wonderful document is almost romantic about “..placing emphasis on Made-in-Nigeria” as part of the “.. diversification of the economy”. It is therefore mind boggling seeing almost all Nigerians, federal government and the media alike doing generous promotion of Ethiopian Airlines, “the only foreign airline that accepted to use the alternative Kaduna airport during the rehabilitation” having being the first aircraft to have landed at the reopened airport. Haba! Again lest we forget, our national anthem opens with the clarion call “Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey, To serve our fatherland” NOT another country certainly not Ethiopia. Again don’t get me wrong. Ethiopia airlines in a gloablized world is commendably doing very well to corner the huge market share of Nigeria which scandalously kills its own national carrier. But even at that for as long as Abuja repair lasted Ethiopia airlines was not doing charity work but smart business making good money on routes abandoned by other international airlines. Why on earth should we rise in unison with cheap advert for a foreign airline having fun at our idiocy and gross underdevelopment? . Nigeria and Nigerians must certainly return to basics in patriotism and nation building. We sign on to open sky policy without reciprocal flights to any of the countries that have colonized our routes. That is bad enough. But it is a national shame and indeed national disgrace that we now inadvertently promote foreign airlines at the expense of our own. Many Nigerian compatriots certainly feel diminished that a foreign airline was indulged to land on a runway Nigerians paid for and the first pilot to be so favored to speak to us is nor from Nigeria. Sir Nnamdi Azikiwe who the airport is deservedly named after must be wondering in his grave; what has happened to the promise of independence him and his compatriots fought for.

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