Friday 23rd June 2017

Crude Oil Bounces Back Above $45 Per Barrel, Despite Glut Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Crude oil yesterday edged up from multi-month low, but prices remained under pressure from a supply glut that has persisted despite the efforts led by the Organisation

of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to balance the market.

Brent crude futures were up 60 cents yesterday at $45.42 per barrel, after falling as low as $44.53. They fell 2.6 per cent in the previous session to $44.35, their lowest

since November 2016.

US crude futures were up 40 cents at $42.93 a barrel, after also slipping. On Wednesday, they touched $42.05 per barrel, their lowest intraday level since August 2016.

Since peaking at $55 per barrel in late February, crude

has dropped around 20 per cent, erasing gains recorded at the end of 2016, in the wake of the initial OPEC-led production cut.

OPEC and other producers agreed to reduce output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from January for six months,

and last month extended the deal for a further nine months until March 2018.

However, oversupply has persisted, particularly with output rising in Libya and Nigeria, which were exempt from the cuts due to unrest that had limited their output.

OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers' compliance with the deal to cut output reached its highest in May since they agreed on the curbs last year, reaching 106 per cent last month in May. Continued on page 12

NCP: Osinbajo Inaugurates Adeosun, Emefiele, Others…

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Friday 23 June, 2017 Vol 22. No 8100. Price: N250

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Nigeria Will Remain One United Country, Says Sultan APC governors identify bad governance as cause of agitations Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Senator Iroegbu in Abuja and Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto Efforts to douse the rising

tension in the country have received a huge boost with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, saying Nigeria will not only

overcome the prevailing hatefilled agitations but will also remain one united country.

A coalition of northern youth groups had recently

Labour warns against hate speeches

given the Igbos living in the northern parts of the country up to October 1, 2017 to quit or face the consequences of failing to obey the notice.

The action, which was predicated on the agitations by some Igbo youths in the South-east for an independent state of Biafra,

had attracted retaliatory quit notices from other sections of the country with several Continued on page 10

Osinbajo Summons Security Chiefs, Deploys More Troops in Taraba Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday summoned security chiefs over the recent violence that left many people dead in several communities in Taraba State.

The acting president, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, ordered the security chiefs to deploy an extra military battalion,

police reinforcements and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to the areas affected.

Osinbajo who also held a meeting with Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku, commiserated with the government and people of the state, promising them that the perpetrators of the violence would be brought to book.

"The Acting President has Continued on page 10

MEDIA FOR ONE NIGERIA… INEC Writes Dino Melaye, Begins Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (m) flanked by Director-General of Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura (left) Chairman and Publisher of THISDAY Newspapers Limited, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, during a Recall Process July 3… Page 51 meeting withandmedia chiefs and editors in Abuja… yesterday state house

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NCP: Osinbajo Inaugurates Adeosun, Emefiele, Others Chineme Okafor in Abuja Two years after its dissolution, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday inaugurated new members of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the body responsible for making decisions on the sale and liberalisation of government’s interests in national assets and companies.

According to a statement in Abuja by the Head of Public Communications in the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the secretariat of the NCP, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, those who made it into the new and fifth NCP were Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, as Vice Chairman; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of

Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah; and Minister of National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma.

Others included the acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Hajia Habibat Lawal; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Mr. Ituah Ighodalo; Mr. Ghandi Olaoye; Senator A.A. Ibrahim; Dr. Bashir Gwandu; and Director General of BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, who is also the Secretary of the body chaired by Osinbajo.

According to the BPE, Osinbajo said the NCP had since its inception in 1999

successfully concluded the privatisation and reform of over 142 public enterprises.

He also pointed out that the inauguration of the NCP was a critical step in the process of putting in place part of the institutional framework necessary for the actualisation of the socio-economic agenda of the government. “It is also a demonstration of our administration’s commitment to public sector reform and the central role of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) in this process. Even though the public sector has been at the centre stage in the provision of critical infrastructure and services cutting across the whole spectrum of the nation’s life since independence, the

emerging importance and centrality of the private sector to the actualisation of the economic agenda of the administration cannot be downplayed,� said Osinbajo.

He stated that apart from playing a dominant role of generating employment opportunities, the intervention of the private sector enhances the process of industrialisation and delivery of critical infrastructure and services in the country.

He equally noted that with robust commitment, government could make its role of regulating and creating an enabling environment for private businesses a lot better. “This will in turn offer the private sector the required comfort and assurance to

make investments and expect a reasonable return on thereon,� he said.

The acting president then pledged the government’s commitment to giving all the required support to the NCP to undertake its statutory responsibilities.

He said: “In return, the government expects the NCP to come up with creative out-ofthe box solutions for addressing the numerous challenges facing the privatisation and commercialisation programmes such as non-performance by some privatised enterprises and post-privatisation challenges facing some of the privatised enterprises.� “The government also expects the NCP to make measurable progress in respect

of the outstanding transactions affecting some of the areas critical to the economic recovery of the nation. You must make deliberate and conscious efforts to learn from past experiences and guard against avoidable mistakes of the past,� he added.

On challenges experienced in privatised sectors of the country like electricity, Osinbajo said: “A mega reform process in the power sector is ongoing with ambitious expectations.

Although there are numerous challenges trailing the process, the NCP is expected to critically analyse these challenges and come up with sustainable solutions as part of government commitment to make power available at accelerated rates and to wide sections of the populace.�

and purposes.�

The governors called on all decent voices across the country to speak up against the upsurge of some desperate irredentist movements across all ethnic groups and support the emergence of a stronger and virile unified Nigeria.

They said the challenge before Nigerians was to commit themselves to the unity of the country.

Acknowledging the challenges of nation building, the governors said they believed that the resolution of the challenges rested with the development of a virile democratic culture and the ascendency of structured processes of national consultations, negotiations and agreements.

disunity need to be schooled on the realities of war,� he said.

These views, he said, do not represent the true feelings of patriotic Nigerians and the nation’s workforce, rather, he said, those views “symbolize the intensity of greed, the implacable arrogance and desperation of the elites, some of whom have been funding or sponsoring the hate campaigns that can only lead to the disintegration of our dear nation.�

Projecting the Nigerian workforce as an organisation that believed in the sovereignty and indissolubility of the country, Wabba said the body was not in support of a fragmented Nigeria because workers and pensioners and their families would be the direct and immediate casualties of the conflict.

Stressing that dialogue remained the most tested and result-oriented form of conflict resolutions mechanism, he said: “In attempting to resolve issues of conflict of interest for the purpose of having a better union, we are irrevocably committed to dialogue; responsible and responsive dialogue that takes on board socio-economic justice, democratic culture, cohesion, political competitiveness, mutual respect and all those other values that strengthen a nation.�

Labour organizations in the country, he added ,will underscore the need for good governance in the country as a basis for any realistic development and eventual emancipation of the people, saying, “if the resources available to us as a nation were well managed and not stolen by both the corrupt public and private sector operators, the escalating problems of youth unemployment, decaying infrastructure, non-funding of education, health and other social services, would have been adequately addressed. “In our estimation, most of the issues in contention can be resolved through good governance, sustainable and transparent fight against corruption and addressing inequities and injustice in the system�.

The President of Trade Union Congress, Bobboi Kaigama said the leadership of the country

should look at issues raised in the report of the 2014 National Conference if the APC- led government is serious about addressing the many problems besetting the country, the Buhari administration must as a matter of necessity adopt vital resolutions reached at the Confab to restructure Nigeria. “Let us look at those issues raised by the 2014 National Conference and implement them. Though the APC as a party then did not participate in the conference, you cannot throw the baby away with the bathwater just because the APC then did not support the conference. There are far-reaching decisions in the report that can help in restructuring the nation and amending the current constitution�, he said.

NIGERIA WILL REMAIN ONE UNITED COUNTRY, SAYS SULTAN sectional groups issuing hate statements that had put the nation on the edge.

With palpable tension in the air, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo waded in, holding high level consultations with traditional rulers, religious leaders, the 36 state governors, public opinion leaders and media owners and editors, telling them about the dire implications of the hate speeches that were polluting the polity.

The Sultan gave the acting president a helping hand on Wednesday night, describing the agitations by the sectional groups as unnecessary diversion, saying that resorting to uncomplimentary remarks and violence to make their demands heard would not augur well for the peace and stability of the country.

Speaking while hosting leaders of resident communities, heads of security agencies, civil society groups and media practitioners to a breaking of fast in his palace in Sokoto on Wednesday night, the monarch wondered why anyone would want to hold the entire country to ransom?

The Sultan said violence and war had never solved any problem in any part of the globe.

"We don't have to resort to uncomplimentary remarks or violence to make our demands heard because insecurity doesn't help anybody, he said, adding: “Violence does not pay or resolve any problem.�

The Sultan told his guests: "We should stop looking down on others unless we want to lift them up. We should understand ourselves and respect one another.

"Let us sit down, discuss these issues so that together we can find out what really went wrong. Let us retrace our steps and see where did we start to get things wrong so that we can find the way of sorting things out.

"It is a simple thing because we are all eager to live in peace, united and to have a morally upright country based on justice, equity and above all the fear of God. "So I am not totally surprised over what is

happening. I like challenges and we are in a challenging period and we will take it up.

We will continue preaching love, impartiality, respect and unity in the country."

The monarch said he was confident that Nigeria would still remain as one indivisible entity despite all the agitations and counter agitations in the polity.

According to him, God did not make a mistake in creating us as Nigerians, adding that as men of faith, Nigerians should accept that and live in peace with one another.

He advised Nigerians to stop associating religion or ethnic group with any act of violence, saying criminals should be identified by their acts not by their religion or tribe.

The monarch noted that suspicion always breeds enmity and disunity and called on elders in the country to caution their youths.

The Sultan said: "No matter what anybody can say, no matter what is happening we are still one big family.

"If you see your son misbehaving and decide to keep quiet it means you are supporting him because no father wants to see his son go astray without doing anything."

He also spoke against removing History and Religious Studies from the country’s education curriculum, saying it was at the nation's detriment.

According to the monarch: "We should never forget our history so that we cannot copy other people, and religious studies ensures spiritual wellbeing of our children.

"I don't know why the government decided to remove them from our curriculum, which is very wrong and we want them back."

He called on those who felt short changed or marginalised to also look at other people, describing the north as the most marginalised region in the country.

The Sultan cited the number of out-of-school children and those who were displaced by the Book Haram insurgency in the region to

buttress his claim.

Weak Governance Responsible For Rising Agitations Also intervening in the spate of hate speeches making the rounds in the country, governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have blamed the resurgent agitations by youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions, on weak governance.

Reacting to the spate of threats and counter threats emanating from the quit notice issued to the people of the South-east by a coalition of Northern youth groups, the governors under the auspices of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), warned all those fanning the ember of disunity to desist from the act in the interest of peace and survival of the nation.

The governors in a statement signed by the Director General of the PGF, Mr. Salihu Lukman, said they would work with the federal government and other patriotic Nigerians to ensure unencumbered protection of lives of all citizens in every part of the country.

The PGF said: "Acknowledging the rich diverse heritage of Nigeria as a country, the PGF particularly notes that the resurgence of desperate youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions from the different geo-political zones across the nation as currently experienced, is a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system in Nigeria."

The APC governors said they were committed to building a country every Nigeria would call their home, irrespective of tongues and localities.

"The Forum condemns in the strongest terms the present secessionist and separatist agitations promoting ethno-regional identity in the country,� they said, adding: “These sundry factional groups, claiming to represent different ethnic nationalities, sow seeds of disunity and promote secessionist agenda in the nation. We decry and reject their activities in all intents

Labour Cautioned Against Hate Speeches On its part the organised labour condemned the quit notice by the northern youth groups to the Igbo.

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Wabba, and President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, spoke at a press conference at the Labour House, Abuja, decrying the pronouncements that were capable of destroying the unity and stability of Nigeria.

They called on Nigerians not to fall cheaply for the glamorization of conflict or war, as a solution to the nation’s crisis.

According to Wabba the briefing was in response "to the drum beats of war, which have escalated to a deafening dimension while the leadership of the labour unions were attending the just concluded International Labour Congress meeting in Geneva, Switzerland."

He drew the attention of Nigerians to the danger inherent in the on-going warmongering, stating that the Nigerian workforce condemned in its entirety the threats and counter-threats as well as persistent hot exchanges of words by various ethnic groups, which were capable of threatening the foundation and integrity of the sovereignty and unity of Nigeria. “Those fanning the ember of

OSINBAJO SUMMONS SECURITY CHIEFS, DEPLOYS MORE TROOPS IN TARABA ordered the provision of relief materials to be delivered to the affected communities in Toffi, Mayo Daga, Mayo Sina, Tamiya, Kwara-Kwara, Tungan Lugere, Timjire, Nguroje and other villages in the hinterlands of Mambilla Plateau,� Akande said, adding: “The Federal Government has also put in motion long time solutions, including mediation between opposing groups in the communal conflict.�

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN CONOIL 4.14 44.56 ASHAKACEM 1.50 16.27 BERBPAINTS 0.65 7.12 NEIMETH 0.08 0.92 LIVESTOCK 0.09 1.08 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN MAYBAKER 0.53 4.98 TRANSCORP 0.16 1.52 WEMABANK 0.06 0.61 ETI 1.23 13.30 DIAMONDBANK 0.10 1.12 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś900.01 Volume: 509.768 million shares Value: N5.034 billion Deals: 5,321 As at 22/6/17 See details on Page 46

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Lagos, 13th Most Expensive City to Live in the World

Two-Minute BrieďŹ ng NEWS Nnamdi Kanu: No Election in

South-east The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has warned that elections will be boycotted in the South-east states starting with the Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 18 if the federal government fails to hold

EDITORIAL The Tuberculosis burden

Tuberculosis still constitutes a major publichealthprobleminNigeria.

A new report by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme has simply confirmed that the country has not made any progress‌ Page 15

POLITICS Obi, Obiano’s Supporters Spar

over Anambra’s Security The claim by arrested kidnapper, Chukwudi Dumeme Onwuamadike ke (aka Evans), that he relocated to Lagos from Anambra when the heat on criminals became unbearable under Peter Obi‌ Page 17

WEEKENDFILE Propelled by an Unpleasant Past ast

Influenced by a harrowing experience as a child, Mrs. Olubunmi mi Igbinijesu, suddenly developed a compelling urge to bring succour to women, especially young o women who have been forced into prostitution. Over years she has through her not for profit, nongovernmental organisation‌ Page 27 Lagos Central Business District Lagos, the capital of Lagos State, is the 13th most expensive city in the world, says Mercer, the world’s largest human resource consulting firm.

The consulting firm also said in its 23rd Cost of Living Survey that African, Asian, and European cities dominated the 2017 list of most expensive locations for working abroad.

According to the survey, Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, ranked 20th in 2016.

The capital city of Angola, Luanda, however, ranked first globally, moving up from second place and taking over from Hong Kong as the world’s most expensive city.

The survey attributed cost of goods and security as factors that determined the cost of living in Luanda.

Other African cities that ranked high reflected high living costs and prices of goods for expatriate employees.

They include Victoria, Seychelles in the 14th position, N’djamena, Chad in the 16th position and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo ranked 18th.

The least expensive African cities include Gaborone, Botswana in the 196th position; Cape Town, South Africa ranking 199th and Blantyre, Malawi ranking 205th.

Windhoek, Namibia ranked 206 while Tunis, Tunisia ranked 209 and was found to be the least expensive country globally.

In Europe, three cities remained in the

naibuzz.com top 10 list of most expensive cities for expatriates, which included Zurich, Geneva and Bern which ranked fourth, seventh and 10th respectively.

Moscow ranked 14th and London ranked 30th position and the German cities of Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin dropped significantly ranking 98, 117 and 120 respectively.

Also, five of the top 10 expensive cities in the ranking were in Asia; Hong Kong ranked second and was found to be the most expensive city in the region as a result of its currency pegged to the US dollar, which drove up the cost of accommodations locally.

Others are Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Shanghai which ranked third, fifth, sixth and eighth respectively.

Nathalie Constantin-MĂŠtral, Principal at Mercer who is responsible for compiling the survey ranking, explained that the majority of Chinese cities fell in the ranking due to the weakening of the Chinese yuan against the U.S. dollar.

In India, Mumbai ranked 57, moving up 25 places due to its rapid economic growth, inflation on the goods and services basket and a stable currency against the U.S. Dollar.

New Delhi and Chennai ranked 99 and 135 respectively.

In the Middle East, Tel Aviv ranked 17 and continues to be the most expensive

city for expatriates followed by Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh ranking 20, 23 and 52 respectively.

Jeddah ranked 117, Muscat ranked 92 and Doha ranked 81 and are among the least expensive cities in the region.

The survey found that cities in the U.S. were the most expensive locations in the Americas.

New York City ranked ninth as the costliest city; San Francisco ranked 22nd and Los Angeles 24th.

Ms. Constantin-MĂŠtral said, “Overall, U.S. cities either remained stable in the ranking or have slightly increased due to the movement of the U.S. dollar against the majority of currencies worldwide.

The Canadian city of Vancouver ranked 107, overtaking Toronto which ranked 119, to become the most expensive Canadian city in the ranking. Ottawa was found to be the least expensive city in Canada ranking 152. “The Canadian dollar has appreciated in value triggering the major jumps in this year’s ranking,â€? explained Constantin-MĂŠtral.

Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey finds that factors like instability of housing markets and inflation for goods and services contribute to the overall cost of doing business in today’s global environment.

The survey is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees.

ÍœÍ˛Íł Ëœ

OPEC supplies, however, jumped in May as output recovered in Libya and Nigeria, both exempt from the production reduction agreement.

Reuters reported that Libya's oil production rose more than 50,000 bpd to 885,000 bpd after the state oil company settled a dispute with Germany's Wintershall.

Nigeria’s oil production is also rising as exports of the country's Bonny Light crude are set to reach 226,000 bpd in August, up from 164,000 bpd in July.

Prices slid on Wednesday despite a bigger-than-expected drop in US crude stockpiles, and a drop in gasoline stocks.

Tropical storm Cindy traveling

through the Gulf of Mexico, home to about 17 percent of US crude and five per cent of dry natural gas output, which disrupted some operations, also offered limited support.

Overall, output is still increasing in the United States, where some shale producers can produce profitably even if oil prices drop below $40 a barrel.

BUSINESS FG Urged to Develop Maritime

Transport Policy for Economic Devt IMO has called on the Nigerian Government to urgently put in place a maritime transport policy to drive the country’s inland waterway transportation and economic development.

Page 19

NEWSXTRA Kaduna Plans Disarmament

Programme in Southern Kaduna The Kaduna State Government is to initiate a disarmament programme to mop up weapons in the hands of people in the Southern part of the state.

Page 54

INTERNATIONAL Main Forest Fires in Portugal

under Control The main forest fires that have raged in Portugal since the weekend, killing more than 60 people, were brought under control onThursday, the civil protection agency said, but grief‌ Page 49

SPORTS Cameroon’s Hope Dented by

Australia Draw Cameroon’s hope of progressing to the next stage of the Confederations Cup in Russia was dented by a 1-1 draw with Australia in Saint Petersburg yesterday.

Page 55

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FORWARD

98

DELTA

road projects embarked upon since May 29, 2015

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roads completed

OKPE-OLOMU TO OLOMU SECONDARY SCHOOL ROAD, OTORERE IN UGHELLI SOUTH LGA

GOV. OKOWA (2ND LEFT) COMMISSIONS OKPARE-UMOLO-OVWODOKPOKPOR-KIAGBODO ROAD IN UGHELLI SOUTH AND BURUTU LGAs AS PART OF ACTIVITIES MARKING HIS SECOND YEAR IN OFFICE

ONGOING JESSE ACCESS ROAD DUALIZATION, ETHIOPE WEST LGA

CONCRETE-PAVED OBODO AVENUE (BERGER ROAD), SHAGUOLO AREA, EKPAN, UVWIE LGA

THE REHABILITATED/RESEALED OKPARE-UMOLO-OVWODOKPOKPOR-KIAGBODO ROAD IN UGHELLI SOUTH AND BURUTU LGAs

ONGOING DUALISATION OF WARRI-SAPELE ROAD FROM AMUKPE ROUNDABOUT IN SAPELE LGA

GOVERNOR OKOWA IS KEEPING HIS PROMISES!

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

COMMENT

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

UFUK DIALOGUE AND QUEST FOR UNITY Nigerians should live together in peace and harmony, writes Onome Oboh

R

ecently, Nigeria has come under deluge of hate and divisive speeches threatening to tear its very foundation apart. From provocative and violent language by Biafra separatists in the South-east to the corresponding incitement by Arewa Youths, the country has simply been pushed to the edge.

Although those causing the trouble belong to the younger generation, some elders from both Northern and Southern parts of the country have done nothing to lower the political temperature. Rather, they have fuelled the tension.

It is against this background that I commend the UFUK Dialogue Foundation for organising an event to bring people together to talk peace. The event, themed “Friendship and Dialogue Dinner”, had in attendance prominent religious leaders of both Islam and Christian faith, traditional leaders from both Southern and Northern parts of the country, prominent political office holders, amongst others. They all preached peace and urged all to bury the hatchet.

Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who was in attendance, restated the importance of cautious utterances and peaceful coexistence. He said there was no alternative to living together as one Nigeria. “God has put us all in this one boat called Nigeria,” he said. “And we really have no other option than to try to live together in peace with all our differences. We all must recognise and respect these differences. If we do not take that route, I do not see another alternative.” He said that the alternative to living in peace was a civil unrest.

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, spoke in similar vein. He said the principle of UFUK Dialogue could resolve current challenges bedevilling the country. “One thing that struck me at this UFUK Dialogue programme is this saying, ‘Reserve a seat In Your Heart for Everyone’,” he said. “That is the solution to the complexity that constitutes the problem in a country like Nigeria, in terms of interrelationship. If you reserve a seat in your heart for everyone, you won’t promote insurrection. You won’t demand for your own republic. If you reserve a place in your heart for everyone, you wouldn’t give a quit notice to anybody on the basis of tribe.” I cannot agree any less.

I believe that behind every veil of agitations and tribal jingoism are dissatisfied politicians. The average Nigerian, on his own, does not really care where his fellow countrymen hail from, by and large. When doing business, he will not abandon a good transaction or better product on tribal

GOD HAS PUT US ALL IN THIS ONE BOAT CALLED NIGERIA. AND WE REALLY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO TRY TO LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE WITH ALL OUR DIFFERENCES

sentiments. When seeking for the services of an artisan, he simply wants someone who can do a good job. He doesn’t care if the plumber is a Yoruba, Hausa or Ibo. He won’t go looking for a Niger Delta plumber or Middle Belt mechanic.

He will ask for a good plumber or mechanic.

A look at the reaction that trailed the recent bank robbery video in Owerri will further reinforce this point. In the video that went viral, a policeman was seen gallantly engaging the armed robbers, and, as we later learnt, lost his life in the process. In other to support the family he left behind, a national daily, with some civil society organisations, set up a fundraising with a $15,000 target. This target was exceeded within 24 hours. And who were the donors, considering that the event happened in the South-east and to an Igbo? The larger part of the funds came from non-Igbo living outside South-east.

These examples indeed show that the threat to national unity does not come from the average Nigerian. Politicians are directly or indirectly responsible. I, therefore, urge them to desist from actions that are inimical to our unity. As US-based Islamic cleric, Fethullah Gulen, noted, dialogue, mutual respect, meeting at universal human values and instilling security for people are necessity to our survival as a nation. Although Gulen, whose works were referred to by the President of UFUK Dialogue Foundation, Mr Kamil Kermabci, expressed confidence that Nigeria would overcome its challenges, I must add that such optimism can only materialise if we are resolved to extol national unity above all else.

On this note, the followership must realise that the ‘leaders’ only play the tribal card when they are not personally benefiting from the ‘national cake’. That is when you hear the song of marginalisation. The current Biafra agitation began with complaints that Igbo were being left out from federal political appointments. What about the ordinary citizen from the North? Is he better off because the president hails from his region? The truth is, the real marginalised are the poor, whether from North or South. The real marginalised are those who cannot have education. And we don’t want to add to this list by creating victims of civil unrest. As Cardinal Onaiyekan said, there is “no other option than to try to live together in peace with all our differences. We all must recognise and respect these differences. If we do not take that route”, the consequences, I’m afraid are too grave.

We must, indeed, reserve in our heart a seat for everyone.

Oboh wrote from Abuja

THE NLNG QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS Taiwo Ogundipe urges the NLNG to give the NDDC its due

F

or years the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has wilfully reneged on a statutory obligation occasioned by the setting up of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to redress the extensive environmental degradation and meet the dire need of the Niger Delta Region for development.

The NDDC was established about 17 years ago to provide for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta and to tackle the ecological and environmental challenges in the region. The establishment came in the face of the daunting natural ecological difficulties in the region due to its peculiar delicate terrain, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the cumulative environmental devastation imposed on the communities in the region as a result of oil and gas operations which commenced over 60 years at Oloibiri in the present Bayelsa State.

The NDDC Act made provisions for the funding of the commission that will involve government and oil and gas companies. Whereas government is bound to make yearly budgetary allocation to the NDDC, Section 14 (2)(b) of the commission’s enabling act provides that gas processing companies including the NLNG, operating in the Niger Delta should pay three per cent of their annual budgets to the NDDC Fund.

The NLNG, owned by the federal government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 49 per cent; Shell Gas (25.6 percent); Total (15 percent) and Eni (10.4 percent), was incorporated in 1989 to produce liquefied natural gas as well as natural gas liquids for export.

It commenced production in 1999. Up to date, the NLNG has refused to pay any money to the NDDC. The NLNG essentially based its refusal to pay on the following grounds: One, that it, the NLNG, is not a ‘gas processing company’ in the context of the NDDC Act. Two, that the NLNG is not subject to any new laws, taxes, dues or other obligations enacted or

prescribed in Nigeria after 1993, except such laws, taxes or obligations are generally applicable to all companies registered in Nigeria. This, it argued, is in line with the special exemption granted in perpetuity to the NLNG by virtue of Section 9 of and Clauses 2,3,6 and 15 of the 2nd Schedule to the N LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act 2004, previously Decrees Nos. 39 of 1990 and 113 of 1993 (herein also called the “NLNG Act”) Three, that the NLNG does not operate on an “annual budget”, as stipulated by the NDDC Act, from which it would be expected to pay three per cent.

The NLNG’s recalcitrant stance has consistently been criticised by dispassionate observers. The circumstance in which the guarantees and commitments were given has invariably been questioned.

The NLNG Act was first promulgated as a military decree in 1990 (Decree No. 39 of 1990). However, the provisions exempting the company from complying with new laws and taxes were added to the act through an amendment decree signed by the late General Sani Abacha. The amendment decree was signed on November 18, 1993 by Sani Abacha who only assumed power the evening before (i.e.

November 17, 1993) through a military coup.

The Abacha junta was notorious for its repression and brutality, especially toward the people of the Niger Delta region whom he did not allow to have a significant voice in the negotiations that birthed this act. Instead he murdered leading members of the region, notably Ken Saro Wiwa, who stood up for fairness and justice. This illegitimate foundation is enough reason to amend the act, which the NLNG has consistently resisted.

The NLNG and its scores of supporters are simply putting profit before national interest. The organisation has made spirited efforts over the years to frustrate the good intentions of the NDDC. The premise that the NLNG is not a gas producer and does not flare gas is totally wrong.

It claims that it purchases gas from its gas

producing shareholders, and that these gas producers are already subject to the NDDC Act which is targeted at companies in oil and gas production.

This claims beggar the fact that the NLNG is a full-fledged independent entity regardless that it is constituted by shareholders. It is not an extension or a subsidiary of those shareholding companies that constitute it.

Besides, the stipulated payment of three per cent is not a punitive measure as seen by the NLNG managers and fellow thinkers. It is an ideal measure designed to create a conducive environment for the oil and gas companies to operate under a peaceful atmosphere. A lot of energy, resources and time have been dissipated to fruitless end in attempts to maintain peace in the region. The establishment of the NDDC is no doubt a masterstroke to attain the elusive peace in the region. And if properly funded with the likes of the NLNG meeting their statutory obligation to it, peace will reign and businesses will continue to blossom. This is a logic that cannot be faulted.

It is also hard to believe that the NLNG, as it managers and supporters claim, does not operate an annual budget that would have enabled it to disburse the three per cent payment to the NDDC. It is generally expected that a well-grounded venture like the NLNG would have clearly outlined fiscal policies and measures to determine financial inflows and outlays periodically, if not monthly, otherwise it will be operating in the dark. If not, how then has the organisation been computing the taxes it has been paying to the government so far?

How does it calculate its balance sheet? How is the profit paid to shareholders determined?

The sacrosanct halo that suggests the NLNG is not subject to any new laws, taxes, dues or other obligations enacted or prescribed in Nigeria after 1993 in line with the special exemption granted in perpetuity to the NLNG by virtue of Section 9 of and clauses 2, 3, 6 and 15 of the 2nd Schedule to the N LNG (fiscal incentives, guarantees and assurances) act is also not tenable. The trite saying

that no condition is permanent belies this. Even countries amend their constitutions, how much more a business entity that has to be alive to the dynamics of change?

The NLNG has always cited some CSR efforts it has recorded in its operating communities, such as offering student scholarships and construction of roads. These are few and far between, and they are at best a clear case of tokenism. These exertions can barely scratch the surface of the humongous needs of the communities.

A number of critics have denigrated the NDDC as a conduit pipe and an inefficient organisation.

This is simply a case of giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it. While it is not being argued that financial recklessness and corruption should be condoned, the major problem that has beset the organisation over the years is that of underfunding.

The federal government itself is remiss in meeting its yearly financial obligation to the organisation and it seems to be giving tacit support to the NNPC, its representative on the board of the NLNG, to flout the three per cent payment to the NDDC. This is condemnable.

Regarding the integrity of the NDDC, there is no doubt that those currently at the helm of affairs are capable and credible. The Chairman of the Board, Victor Ndoma-Egba was Senate Majority Leader, and is a highly regarded Senior Advocate while Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director, is a real estate expert and a former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Since they came into the saddle, they have pointed the organisation in the right direction and they are steering its affairs accordingly.

Without further delay, it is imperative for the NLNG to have a rethink and give the NDDC its due. The spirit behind the birth of the NDDC is unimpeachable. The region needs a focused attention to address its multifarious needs and the NDDC is best placed to play this role. It should not be drained of life through underfunding as is currently the case with the criminally uncooperative attitude of the NLNG.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

EDITORIAL THE TUBERCULOSIS BURDEN The health authorities could do more to contain the scourge

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uberculosis still constitutes a major public health problem in Nigeria. A new report by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme has simply conďŹ rmed that the country has not made any progress in tackling the infectious but curable disease. The report ranked the country fourth with the highest cases of TB in the world, the same position it held in the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2016 “Global Tuberculosis Report.â€? Nigeria was ranked ďŹ rst in Africa and only came behind India, Indonesia and China in the total TB burden. The new report also said some 80 per cent of TB cases were undetected while some 1.5 million people died from TB annually.

The WHO 10-year strategy (2006-2015) to cut down the burden of TB in the world worked elsewhere as it reportedly saved some 37 million lives while some countries halved the prevalence of the disease. But in Nigeria, the reverse was the case. According to the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), over 600,000 new cases of tuberculosis occurred in Nigeria from a global report conducted TUBERCULOSIS IS A in 2014. It is even more CURABLE DISEASE. BUT worrying because THAT IS DEPENDENT ON substantial numbers EARLY DETECTION AND of the people infected CORRECT DIAGNOSIS in the country were AIDED WITH PROPER unreported or undiagnosed, most of them TREATMENT women and children in neighbourhoods where poor ventilation and squalor abet the spread of the disease. “If you do not reach those women and children infected�, said Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, WHO representative in Nigeria “they will continue to spread TB in their communities.�

Tuberculosis, better known as TB, is perhaps the single leading cause of death from any infectious agent. It is caused by a bacterium which most commonly affects the lungs and transmitted from person to person through air droplets. TB affects all species of vertebrates and though control measures had reportedly limited the spread

Letters to the Editor

through animals, they (particularly cattle) still constitute a signiďŹ cant source of risk in countries like Nigeria where meat and milk inspection by health ofďŹ cials are often overlooked. Globally, TB was one of the top causes of death in 2015, responsible for more deaths than HIV and malaria.

However, tuberculosis is a curable disease. But that is dependent on early detection and correct diagnosis aided with proper treatment. Many patients aficted with TB do not complete the TB therapy and even worse, many do not make themselves available for treatment. Failure to complete the treatment and the mismanagement of drugs had led to the death of many patients and an increase in variants of the disease that are drug-resistant. Indeed, Dr. Adebola Lawanson, National Coodinator of NTBLCPO said that the burden of the disease was often complicated by the drug-resistant TB, the Human Immune Virus and the Acquired Immune DeďŹ ciency Syndrome.

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ronically, current efforts are not enough to ďŹ nd, treat and cure people suffering from the ailment even though treatment centres for drug-resistant TB have grown from one in 2010 to 12 in 2014. Some 15 states are said to have initiated treatment of drug-resistant TB patients in their communities. Dr. Gabriel Akang, former National Coordinator, NTBLCP said the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) services are currently provided in about 6000 health facilities in the country, and diagnosis in 1515 microscopy laboratories. DOTS is said to be an efďŹ cient and cost effective strategy that consists of physically observing patients as they take the TB medications to ensure treatment compliance.

Unfortunately, all these still fall short of what is expected to contain the epidemic. “We face an uphill battle to reach the global targets for tuberculosis,� said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director General. “There must be a massive scale-up of efforts, or countries will continue to run behind this deadly epidemic and these ambitious goals will be missed.�

What this means is that the relevant agencies have to put in more effort to achieve the global target of 90 per cent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 per cent reduction in TB cases by 2030. It is, no doubt, an uphill task.

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.

ADDRESSING THE SCOURGE OF DOMESTICVIOLENCE

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n both rich and poor nations of the world, democracies and dictatorships, domestic violence is clearly making the headlines across the globe. In Nigeria, for instance, such headlines include: ‘Judge Sentences man to death for killing wife’, ‘Husband pours acid on wife’, ‘67 year -old man defiles eight- year -old girl’, ‘Wife stabs husband to death’, ‘My husband uses me as punching bag,’ and many more.

This violence is not actually a new phenomenon as it has always been part of the fabric of many societies and cultures worldwide. For years, we have been hearing about such individual tragedies while diverse studies and surveys have been carried out in that direction.

Yet nothing seems to be changing. Rather, domestic violence is taking a completely monstrous dimension across the globe.

Whilst women, men, boys and girls can be victims of domestic violence, women and girls are disproportionally affected. Common forms of violence in the home are perpetrated by males who are in positions of trust, intimacy and power over the female partner, like husbands, boyfriends, fathers, father-in-laws and mother-in-laws, step fathers and step mothers, uncles, among others.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, nearly 2.5 million cases of sexual violence were reported globally in 2014, with many countries reporting more than 100 instances of rape or sexual assault per 100,000 people.

Domestic violence is often defined in varied and broad terms depending on the country and calling of the person wanting to enforce the law. What constitutes domestic violence and degree of occurrence in Nigeria may vary from what it is in countries such as America, Britain, India or Saudi Arabia.

Our social-cultural cum religious difference in Nigeria has also

given room to diverse understanding of what constitutes domestic violence from one geo-political zone to another. For instance, in Lagos State, where we have Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Section 18 (1-xiv) of the Lagos State Protection against Domestic Violence Law has defined domestic violence as, ‘acts against any person; physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation including but not limited to rape, incest and sexual assault, starvation, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, economic abuse, denial of basic education, intimidation, harassment stalking, hazardous attack including acid bath with offensive or poisonous substance, damage to property, entry into the complainants residence without consent where the parties do not share the same residence, or any other controlling or abusive behaviour towards a complainant where such conduct harms or may cause imminent harms to the safety, health or well-being of the complainant’’.

Basically, all forms of domestic violence have one purpose: to gain and maintain control over the victim. On the effect of domestic violence, children are often the most hit in terms of setbacks and the trauma they go through and which are most times irreparable. A child who is exposed to domestic violence during his/her upbringing will suffer in terms of developmental and psychological welfare. Depression and self-esteem issues can follow due to traumatic experiences while problems of attitude and cognition in school can start developing, along with a lack of skills such as problem solving.

Following recent cases of Akolade Arowolo who allegedly killed his banker wife, Titilayo, Sulaiman Olalekan who was sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, Chika Egbo and alleged domestic violence case between Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe and her husband, Lanre Gentry, it is time we began to see domestic violence

as something even bigger – as a vital issue of governance, and even as betrayal of true democratic norms.

It is a bigger issue because family, religion, education and political institutions are culpable as pastors, imams, teachers, political leaders and other duty bearers are not left out of list of aggressors as far as domestic violence is concerned. That this set of people are not immune from committing the act makes the problem a more complicated one and tell us that we’re still a long way from finding an effective way to deal with the problem.

According to Amnesty International, a third of women in Nigeria are believed to have been subjected to physical, sexual and psychological violence carried out primarily by husbands, partners and fathers. This is terribly reprehensible. In the last one year, no fewer than 4,035 domestic violence cases have been reported in Lagos State.

One question remains unanswered: what is the reason behind the sky-rocketing increase of domestic violence in Nigeria? Is it that the long hands of the law is not catching up with the perpetrators of this dastardly act or the punishment doled out on these perpetrators is not thorough enough to keep others with such intentions at bay?

The reasons are not far-fetched. In Nigeria, the violence is still being accepted as a cultural phenomenon or as a way of life instead of being treated as a criminal matter. We have this tendency of seeing woman as a lesser or inferior human being. It is sad that many still encourage husbands to beat ‘madness’ out of their wives.

Domestic violence is not yet understood by many as a human right issue which touches on the right to liberty, freedom of expression, freedom of movement, among other rights.

Rasak Musbau, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017

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

POLITICS

PERSONALITY FOCUS

Obi, Obiano’s Supporters Spar over Anambra’s Security The claim by arrested kidnapper, Chukwudi Dumeme Onwuamadike (aka Evans), that he relocated to Lagos from Anambra when the heat on criminals became unbearable under former governor, Peter Obi, has pitched supporters of Governor Willie Obiano against those of Obi over who actually restored security to the state, writes David-Chyddy Eleke

Obi

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he news of the arrest of Mr Chukwudi Dumeme Onwuamadike, by men of the Lagos State Police Command brought relief to families, and joy to the police, who believe that their nightmare has at last come to an end. Onwuamadike, who hails from Nnewi in Anambra State was described as the most intelligent kidnapper in history. He was said to be super rich with choice houses in the city and outside the country too.

Videos showing the kidnap kingpin allegedly making confessional statement have gone viral on the internet. In one of such videos, he said that he started his infamous business of kidnapping in Anambra State, during the tenure of Mr Peter Obi as governor, but could not stay as the then governor declared war on kidnappers, forcing him to relocate to Lagos.

This confession has been trending on the social media, especially around Anambra State, where supporters of the former governor, Peter Obi have given him (Obi) credit for the secured environment being enjoyed by the people of the state. Supporters of Obi and those of the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano have been at loggerheads over who between the two, is responsible for the security in the state. Obi’s supporters believe that he initiated the security through support to security agencies, and the eventual decision to pull down houses and other investments made by kidnappers from proceeds of their crime.

On the other hand, supporters of Obiano insist that security during the time of Obi was so porous that Anambra became the unofficial headquarters of kidnapping and other violent crimes. They argue that it was Obiano who deserved the credit. They cited his decision to convene security summits for governors of the southeast states and Delta in which an Israeli security expert Morshe Kennan was brought down to the state to brainstorm with the people

Obiano, their supporters at loggerheads

on how to secure the state.

Evans’ arrest has provided another topic for the supporters of both men, who have been using the social media to attribute the relative peace being enjoyed in the state to either of the two depending on whose side they are.

A social media commentator, Mr Stanley Chirah, who first circulated the video of Evans’ confessional statement said that the truth had at last come out, as the confession by the kidnap kingpin that he had to escape from Anambra during the Peter Obi era to Lagos, showed that Obi should take the credit for the security being enjoyed in the state.

Chirah, using Facebook and WhatsApp hailed Obi for his work on security, arguing that if Anambra was not secured by Peter Obi, Evans

Government everywhere is a continuum, more so in Anambra, where Obi worked very hard to give us Obiano, who had also promised to continue the good works he inherited.

Both men in reality should join Anambra people in rejoicing that the state has at last achieved security, rather than working to discredit each other over who made it happen.

would most probably have settled in Anambra to carry out his trade. He also argued that lots of kidnappers had to flee Anambra after Obi gave support to the police through donation of security gadgets and automobiles, which aided the police in smoking out kidnappers, whose houses were also pulled down.

On the other hand, Chief Ifeanyi Aniagor, Senior Special Assistant to Anambra governor on New Media has released a new video of the kidnap kingpin, while being interviewed by journalists in Lagos. In the new video which is being circulated by Aniagor, Evans stated that he never did any form of kidnapping in Anambra state. With this video, he hoped to contradict claims by Obi’s supporters that Evans was forced out of Anambra by the security measures put in place by the Obi. Aniagor said, “I am sharing this video to serve as deterrent and put to shame a few online blackmailers peddling lies about how and who sanitized Anambra State.” He added further that in doing this, he was trying to show that even though he lived in Lagos and carried out his trade around the country, Evans could not penetrate Anambra State because of the security Obiano had put in place.

Obiano has always harped on the fact that he was the one who secured the state through his purposeful leadership. While addressing a conference of the National Association of Law Teachers recently, Obiano said; “We placed law and order as a precondition for growth and development. Today, Anambra State stands out as a shining example of what a people can achieve if they make unrelenting efforts to place law and order and national security first.

“Anyone who is familiar with Anambra’s narrative would remember that for decades, our beloved state was held down by lawlessness and insecurity which made all efforts at meaningful development totally impossible. At a point in time, Anambra could almost pass

for a postcard of disorder and insecurity, but our story has changed within just three years.

We have made rapid progress from being an address for lawlessness to an oasis of peace and a destination for wise investors.”

But people who spoke to THISDAY said the bickering over who initiated security in the state or not, should not be an issue. Mr Toochukwu Eze, a lawyer told our correspondent that what was playing out between both men was just the normal politicking, which Nigeria politicians have become used to. “They politicize everything for their own gain, but that is not supposed to be so. Obi was here, an even though there was high crime rate then, he did his best to combat it, to the point of signing a law that anyone caught engaging in kidnapping would forfeit his property, which is deemed to be proceeds from crime.

“Government everywhere is a continuum, more so in Anambra, where Obi worked very hard to give us Obiano, who had also promised to continue the good works he inherited. Both men in reality should join Anambra people in rejoicing that the state has at last achieved security, rather than working to discredit each other over who made it happen.”

Another respondent, Mr Uchechukwu Nwamadi, a commercial motorcyclist is of the view that Obiano has done very well in the area of security.

He recalled that before he was elected governor, there were all manner of ‘small’ crimes around cities in the state, especially Onitsha. “That was when Upper Iweka became the den of robbers, and they operated freely in broad daylight without interference, even though there were usually police checkpoints around the area. But I also recall that before Peter Obi left office, he sanitized Upper Iweka and other dangerous spots in the state. Obiano on his part has done well, so, it is not a matter of who did it, but has it been done in Anambra State? And the answer to that is yes.

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017

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POLITICS

It’s Payback Time for Kekemeke For supporting Olusegun Abrahams against Rotimi Akeredolu, who later clinched the All Progressives Congress’ ticket to win the Ondo governorship election, the party’s state chairman, Isaacs Kekemeke, has been unceremoniously removed from office, writes James Sowole

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he relative peace being enjoyed by the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the crisis that broke out during the preparation for the September 3, 2016 governorship primary of the party was broken recently when the State Executive Council of the party passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman, Hon Isaacs Kekemeke for allegedly deserting the party.

Kekemeke’s problems with the party executive started with the endorsement of one of the aspirants, Mr Olusegun Abraham by the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who directed him (Kekemeke) to work with other executive members to ensure that Abraham was returned as the party’s flag bearer.

The endorsement, which did not go down well with other aspirants especially Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who later emerged the party’s flag bearer and winner of the governorship election, nearly tore the party apart but for the timely intervention of the national exco of the party.

Many party loyalists were irked by Tinubu’s decision to impose Abraham.

The emergence of Akeredolu as the party’s standard bearer further deflated the ego of the party’s chairman as he almost became an outcast in the party. However, after series of meeting, he agreed to be part of the campaign train of Akeredolu though some party leaders doubted his commitment.

When Akeredolu eventually won the governorship election held on November 26, 2015, everybody knew that time was running out for Kekemeke as far as his position as the Ondo State APC chairman was concerned. On the other hand, Kekemeke’s deputy, Mr Ade Adetimehin, a die-hard supporter of Akeredolu became the toast of party members as he became visible at all party and government functions unlike his chairman.

Despite the fact that the chairman was no longer popular among party leaders and members, removing him from office was very difficult in view of the provisions of the party’s constitution.

But on June 1st, the party’s executive council announced that a vote of no confidence had been passed against the chairman.

The action of the exco was announced in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Abayomi Adesanya. The statement accused Kekemeke of neglecting his responsibilities as the chairman of the party.

The statement said: “The State Executive Committee of the APC in Ondo State, on this day, June 1st, 2017, unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the state chairman, Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke.

“The action became imperative for failing to discharge his responsibilities, neglect and dereliction of duty, among other offences.

“This is in compliance with Article 21(D)(vi), of the constitution of the APC, (October 2014 as amended).”

While empowering the deputy chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who many party members referred to as “Jagaban of Ondo Politics” to act as the acting chairman, a three-man fact-finding committee was set up to investigate Kekemeke.

The fact-finding committee has Adesanya as the chairman, Saka Yusuff as the Secretary while Rasheed Badmus as a member.

Reacting swiftly to the action, Kekemeke described the vote of no confidence passed on him as scandalous and irritating insisting that he remained the unshakable elected state chairman of the party.

“This scandalous and irritating move prompted by a promise of pot of porridge for the action by a segment of party executive, though not unexpected, beats the imagination of many reasonable party people.

“Sincerely I wish I did not have to react to this remote-controlled, illegal and morally

Akeredolu...denied having a hand in Kekemeke’s sack but justified it

reprehensible conduct of some rancorous elements in the State executive, who had on many occasions traveled this ignoble path without success’’, Kekemeke said.

Not stopping at that level, the embattled chairman, petitioned the Commissioner of Police for the Ondo State Command, Mrs Hilda Ibuforo- Harrison.

In the petition, Kekemeke alleged that three members of the party namely Abayomi Adesanya, Saka Yusuff Ogunleye and Rasheed Badmus forcefully took over the secretariat and chased out the staff of the secretariat.

He described the alleged invasion of the party secretariat by the trio and some other thugs as criminal, illegal and unlawful, urging security operatives in the state to investigate the involvement of the three party members in the incident.

“The trio invited the secretariat staff headed by the administrative secretary and forcefully disposed him of the keys to the party secretariat

Kekemeke’s problems with the party executive started with the endorsement of one of the aspirants, Mr Olusegun Abraham by the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who directed him (Kekemeke) to work with other executive members to ensure that Abraham was returned as the party’s candidate

and chased the staff out of office, locked it up and took the keys away “This is patently unlawful, criminal and illegal as the state secretary of our party is the constitutionally empowered custodian of the party secretaria.”, he said.

He said the petition became imperative because of the antecedent of the three party members involved in the invasion of the party office.

“I have reasons to fear that these persons want to loot the office, particularly the computer sets, generating sets, motorcycles and other valuables items of the party.

“Their intention was to remove and alter documents particularly those indicting Saka Yusuff Ogunleye and Ade Adetimehin as working for the PDP and SDP respectively during the National Assembly election”, he said.

However, Adesanya said there was no iota of truth in Kekemeke’s allegation but said the embattled chairman was “crying wolf where there was none and raising a false alarm.”

He said the state’s executive empowered his committee to investigate Kekemeke and said it would be better for the chairman to appear before the party rather than hiding under one finger.

He said “this is a family affair and we are not out to crucify Kekemeke but he should come forward to explain his side of the story and I am assuring him the committee will not be partial and will be fair to him.”

Compounding Kekemeke’s problem, party chairmen of the 18 local government areas of the state were said to have backed his removal at a news briefing addressed by the Chairman of Akoko South West, Mr Daudu Bolakale.

He said “it became necessary for Kekemeke to step down as Ondo State Chairman because he has committed the following offences ranging from gross abuse of office, financial impropriety, neglect and dereliction of duty and other antiparty activities.

In the battle to save his office, Kekemeke petitioned the South West Zonal Committee of the party calling the attention of the zone to what he described as the extremely dangerous;

most unconscionable and unconstitutional actions of some members of the state exco.

He said that no meeting of the exco was ever called by either the chairman or the State Working Committee; neither was there a complaint nor petition by any member against him or any other officer to necessitate the invoking of the disciplinary procedure as provided for by Artticle 21(B) of the party’s constitution, Kekemeke alleged that the state governor, was the one behind the whole drama.

“Clearly; this song with its familiar and cacophonic tune was scripted by Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; Governor of Ondo State; who has refused to break-away from the bitterness and vestige of the Ondo State APC gubernatorial primary election; and has therefore deployed state machinery to vilify perceived enemies; resulting in this latest choreography with a macabre sense of humour.

“We are however baffled that such a respected and respectable organ of our party created by the constitution for noble ends, could be wrongly and maliciously appropriated by a few misguided and unqualified elements without regards to the clear constitutional requirements of the mode and composition of that organ.

“And most shockingly; with the active connivance of the state governor, who ought to know better; but is only bent on re-enacting his position immediately before the Ondo State APC gubernatorial primary election. We are quick to draw your attention to this ongoing political experiment because of the danger it poses to the health of our party in the state, zone and nation at large”, Zone and Nation at large”, Kekemeke added.

The allegation that Akeredolu was the one that orchestrated the action of the executive members was vehemently denied by the his Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties and Strategies, Dr Doyin Odebowale, The governor’s aide, who punctured Kekemeke’s position that the meeting where he was suspended was an illegal and fraudulent one, said Akeredolu was not connected remotely or otherwise in the whole matter.

He said: “In as much as we can assert that the governor is not connected remotely or otherwise with the present development in respect of the chairmanship of the party in Ondo State, we posit that no process could have been more legal than the meeting which determined Kekemeke’s queer leadership.

“It is verifiable that majority of the executive members attended the meeting where a vote of no confidence was passed on him. The proceeding was said to have been recorded in full. There was nothing secretive about it.

“All those who attended the meeting are well known party members. Therefore, the laughable claim by Mr Kekemeke that he had been informed through phantom calls and visits by men and women of his like, should be seen as the plaintive cry of a man whose influence has waned as due recompense for non-perfomance.

“A true democrat would have resigned as the chairman of any political party, let alone the ruling platform which dislodged powerful political groups without him. His continued stay, after the resounding rejection of his lack luster leadership, depicts him as deluded and withdrawn from reality. He cuts a pitiable picture with this latest assault on logic and decency.”

He described Kekemeke as a general without troops.

“If a supposed leader of a ruling party does not attend meetings, party functions and appears to be collaborating with antagonistic and extraneous interests, actively, decency demands that he should quit his pretense. True democrats respect the will of the majority. Only deluded potentates think and act otherwise”, Odebowale stated.

However, THISDAY gathered that the suspension of Kekemeke was to pave way for Akeredolu to constitute his cabinet.

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S NIBOR OVERNIGHT 1-MONTH

A S

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M A Y

NIBOR 21.3750% 21.0038 %

3-MONTH 6-MONTH

22.5331% 24.6856%

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NITTY 1-MONTH 3-MONTH 3-MONTH

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

2 0 1 7 20.1827% 19.3855% 16.2693%

6-MONTH 9-MONTH 12-MONTH

21.3861% 21.5058% 22.4006%

EXCHANGE RATE N305.35//1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes VAS2Nets Clinches Innovation Award

VAS2Nets Technologies Limited, a leading developer of consumer and enterprise mobile value-added services, has won the Mobile Innovation Award at the prestigious West African Mobile Awards (WAMA) 2017, which took place in Lagos recently.

The company clinched the award for the innovative Mobile Biometric Verification Number (BVN) platform it developed in conjunction with Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking on the new award, Executive Director, VAS2Nets Technologies Limited, Mrs. Teniola Stuffman revealed that, VAS2Nets Technologies Limited has been an outstanding applications and Infrastructure service provider for media consumers, telecoms services and enterprise in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her words: “The award has come to restate the quality and zest our company has in the IT world and our capacity to provide cutting-edge services that support everyday life�.

BUSINESS MEETING

L-R: Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alex A. Okoh and a Director of Lead Capital Consortium, Mr. Abimbola Olashore, at the Kick-off Meeting on Strategic Equity Investment by National Sovereign Investment Authority into the Nigeria Commodity Exchange ‌ recently

FG Urged to Develop Maritime Transport Policy for Economic Devt Eromosele Abiodun The International Maritime Organisation, (IMO), has called on the Nigerian Government to urgently put in place a maritime transport policy to drive the country’s inland waterway transportation and economic development.

The Secretary General of the organisation, Mr. Kitack gave the advice at the opening of the national workshop on Maritime Transport Policy (MTP) organised by NIMASA in collaboration with IMO. The IMO, boss who was represented at the event by the IMO Head, Africa Section, Technical Cooperation Division, Mr. William Azuh, stated that promotion and development of national policies to guide planning, decision making and

MARITIME relevant legislative actions is an important governance practice of many governments, including Nigeria.

According to him, “We will support NIMASA in developing a sustainable maritime transport system reflecting and balancing the interests of stakeholders with a carefully devised and executed maritime transport policy, which is crucial in serving as a fundamental guidance document to provide a long-term sustainable vision for the future of the Nigerian maritime sector, � Lim said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, stated that Nigeria is in dire need of an MTP, which will complement the existing National Transport Policy and advance the country’s global maritime trade.

Peterside noted that the programme is a new phase in the nation’s journey towards effectively maximising the maritime opportunities that abound the sector, especially in line with the Agency’s mandate of promoting and facilitating maritime trade. According to Peterside, “You will agree with me that 60 per cent of the cargo headed to West Africa will likely end up in Nigeria, we have not only a long coast but also one of the longest inland waterways; in addition of six active port complexes. All these, coupled with our population, make us the biggest economy

in Africa. Therefore, we need a sustainable maritime policy that would guide the coordination of maritime activities as we strive to advance Nigeria’s Global maritime Goal.�

Peterside also said that as part of the revolution going on in the transport sector, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is advancing the intermodal transport system by linking all the port complexes to the hinterland via the railway to further facilitate ease of doing business.

The NIMASA boss, however, opined that NIMASA cannot achieve this goal alone, hence the need to seek support of the IMO and other relevant Continued on page 20

Without Clear Economic Policy, Airlines Won’t Survive, Operators Warn Chinedu Eze The Airline Operators of Nigerian (AON) has warned that more airlines would go under unless the federal government introduces clear economic policies aimed at buoying the airlines to profitability.

The Executive Chairman of AON, Captain Nogie Meggison stated this at a press conference on Wednesday.

Meggison expressed concern that while Nigeria has all the potential to become the hub for West and Central Africa, a small country like Ghana, which has been able to put its acts together in aviation is dominating the sub-region in the sector.

AVIATION The operators insisted that it is through deliberate economic policy that the aviation industry can grow. “There is an urgent need for a deliberate economic policy that will eliminate the many challenges that adversely affect the sector in a bid to guarantee survival of domestic airlines in the country and to make Nigeria the hub for Africa,�

Meggison said.

He noted that Nigeria has huge potential as a country blessed with a natural Godgiven geographic location at the centre of Africa (4.30hrs to most parts of Africa); with most

of its airport at approximately sea level, being the 6th largest producer of crude oil (JetA1), a human population of 190 million, and skilled manpower, yet Nigeria is not a hub for aviation activities on the African continent. “Following the air crashes of 2005/06, the federal government came up with a deliberate policy to ensure air safety in Nigeria.

As fallout of that singular action, today Nigeria has had an excellent safety record of 93 percent between 2006 and 2017. The country also secured the Category 1 safety status and most of the scheduled airlines are currently IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certified as a strong testimony of the country’s

commitment to air safety. “Safety and economic policy go hand-in-hand. Where there is no financial profit for airlines safety would be compromised.

A clear economic policy for the survival of domestic airlines is very critical at this time which has resulted over the years in the death of over 25 airlines in 30 years. Safety and financial economic policy must go handin-hand; as airline investors are in the business of aviation for the profit and can’t make profit without safety or have a safe airline without profit,�

Meggison said.

The AON said some of the Continued on page 20

Airtel’s The Voice Nigeria Returns

Nigeria’s leading music talent show, The Voice, proudly sponsored by Airtel Nigeria has returned with the promise of an even more exciting journey of talent discovery.

The Season hit TV screens across the country from Sunday, 18th of June, 2017.

Contestants for this year’s show emerged at auditions which took place in April in four cities, namely: Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Lagos.

The Voice Nigeria airs on Africa Magic Showcase on channel 151 and Africa Magic Urban on Channel 153 by 7pm.

The Airtel sponsored show is bound to keep viewers at the edge of their seats as they watch thrilling performances from talented Nigerians. Another interesting part to this year’s show is the addition of the ‘King of Queens’, Yemi Alade to the trio of Timi Dakolo, Patoranking and Waje. Yemi replaces Tuface Idibia on the judges’ list.

Commenting on why Airtel is sponsoring the show, the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Ahmad Mokhles, said the telco is committed to creating exciting platforms that will give Nigerians a voice to be heard, thrill music lovers as well as provide opportunities to identify, nurture and develop young, talented Nigerians.

ELAN Expo to Hold in July

Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Installation System, Water Treatment, and Insulation expo will hold at the Landmark Centre in Lagos between July13 and15.

The event was put in place to help keep the Nigeria construction sector abreast of the latest technology products and developments.

The event will provide the participants with an avenue to present and showcase their latest product and technology innovations to the contractors, wholesalers, dealers, architects and more.

According to the Project Coordinator, Mr. Jude Chime, HVAC Expo will be the best platform to meet target segments in local and international trade. He added that Nigerians has powerful knowledge about heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, water treatment and insulation sectors because of its features of climate.

The Chairman , Elan, told THISDAY that exhibitors from different countries and visitors from other parts of Africa and Europe would be on ground not only to showcase their products but to begin process of investing in Nigeria.

“Egina FPSO will increase our knowledge base of inspection techniques, certification and rules for maintaining classification and ultimately benefit the Nigerian economy in terms of foreign exchange“ Director General of NIMASA

Dr Dakuku Peterside

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BUSINESSWORLD FG URGED TO DEVELOP MARITIME TRANSPORT POLICY FOR ECONOMIC DEVT stakeholders in order to come up with a model to develop a maritime transport policy that will serve Nigeria’s interest and stand the test of time. “A workable maritime transport policy of any nation should be stakeholders driven. Therefore all associated stakeholders and professionals in the sector are needed to participate in the articulation and formulation of this policy, Peterside said.

In readiness to support the policy were the Chairmen, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, who was represented by the Committee Deputy, Senator Ahmed Ogembe and his Federal House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Umar Bago, represented

by Hon. Solomon Adaelu unequivocally assured of the National Assembly’s support to see to the formulation of the policy.

WITHOUT CLEAR ECONOMIC POLICY, AIRLINES WON’T SURVIVE, OPERATORS WARN major issues that need to be addressed to grow the sector include, but are not limited to: the Removal of Value Added Tax (VAT), as domestic airlines are the only mode of transport paying VAT, noting that marine, road, rail and even the international airlines don’t pay VAT).

The operators urged government to review the five percent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) to a flat rate (in line with the global best practices); the harmonisation of over 35 multiple charges, which add huge burdens on airlines.

Others charges include poor navigational and landing aids that limits operations to daylight operation for most airports (Nigerian airlines fly an average of only five hours as against the average of 10 hours worldwide per airplane); high cost and epileptic supply of JetA1; Obsolete infrastructure that hampers the ease of doing business; and lack of consultations with airlines before introduction of new charges and policies among others.

Group Business Editor

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Ghana Maritime Authority Applauds LADOL’s Investment in Infrastructure Eromosele Abiodun The Director-General, Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Mr. Kwame Owusu has commended the management of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL), for the massive investment in infrastructure and employment generation for Nigerians.

Owusu stated this when he led a delegation of the GMA on a visit to LADOL in Lagos.

LADOL is currently playing host to the fabrication of a $3.8 billion oil and gas logistics service facility commonly known as the Floating Production Storage and Offloading –FPSO rig, otherwise called the Egina project.

While congratulating LADOL for the massive investment and the speed of work on the Egina project, he said his country would collaborate with LADOL for the development of its oil and gas industry.

According to him, “We have a free trade zone in Ghana but in a different format. This one is massive. With the cooperation that we intend to have, we can collaborate to ensure that what we cannot do in Ghana we can do here. We are very grateful for the opportunity to be here and we will take back what we have learnt here back home and encourage our politicians to begin to think in this direction.�

On his impression about the facilities put in place by LADOL, he said it is world class, adding that Nigeria has always set the pace in Africa in terms of infrastructural and oil and gas development.

Owusu said: “This is massive, we are quite impressed. A country of this size whatever

you do must be big; I think Nigeria is leading in Africa in terms of this kind of development. You are paving way for the rest of Africa. We are not surprised because you have been in this for quite a long time.

So whatever you do we must at least try to emulate and in the future improve upon what you are doing and also take advantage of the difficulties that you encountered at the time you started and I think that is an eye opener for us. “For the purpose of cooperation, that is why we are here.

Nigeria and Ghana are both Anglophone countries and the leading in terms of development and I think that with Nigeria been here we cannot begin to develop an industry that it has been for so long without coming to learn.

When I took over as the head of my country’s maritime industry I said look let us go and learn the best practice from our brothers and that is why we are here. We will do everything possible to collaborate with you. “What we are trying to do is to see how we can streamline the activities and make sure

our ports operate on the same basis so that we don’t have people crossing from country to country when they fail in a jurisdiction. We want to make sure that everybody pays their fair share to our respective countries.�

In his response, the DG of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Authority (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside thanked the Ghanaian delegation for coming to Nigeria, adding that both countries have a lot to learn from each another.

Peterside, who was repre-

sented by the Director, Shipping and Seafarers Development, NIMASA, Sunday Umoren hailed LADOL for the massive investment and employment opportunities created for Nigerians.

He said: “We are really impressed by what we see and I believe the next time we come here we are going to be wowed. We urged you to sustain the tempo and keep the flag of Nigeria flying. We were at the FPSO project site in South Korea and we can confidently say that this project is the game changer for Nigeria.

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R: Associate, Debt solutions, Chuma Onwuka; Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Lolade Sasore; Head, Debt Solutions, Patrick Mgbenwelu, receiving the Best Structured Finance House in Africa award on behalf of FBN Merchant Bank from Christopher Moore, Publisher & CEO, EMEA Finance at the Achievement Awards Charity Dinner in London‌recently

INTELS: De-categorisation of Port TerminalsViolates Concession Agreement Eromosele Abiodun INTELS Nigeria Limited has picked holes in the decategorisation of port terminals by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), insisting it is not in the nation’s best interest as it violates concession agreement and will result in huge revenue loss to the federal government.

In a statement on Oath filed at the Federal High Court Abuja in a case instituted by the company against NPA and four others, a Senior Legal Manager of INTELS, Mr. Dominic Onwuchekwa, averred that the

proposed de-categorisation of the terminals will not only jeopardise the prospect of the Plaintiff (INTELS) recovering its investments under the concession agreement signed with the federal government, but it will also undermine the commitments made to its lenders. “In addition, the decategorisation will lead to a situation whereby all terminals will charge the lower fee of $1.2 per ton (even for oil and gas cargoes for which $5.83 per ton should be paid) in order to attract patronage from port

users, but on the other hand short-changing the government itself and the people of Nigeria,�

Onwuchekwa stated.

He further averred that in discharging its obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the various Lease Agreements (including the Concession) with the federal government, INTELS expended huge sums of money in upgrading port facilities and building infrastructures as well as developing specialised oil and gas designated terminals based on the need and requirements of the oil and gas industry

world-wide. “Conservatively, the Plaintiff has, thus far, expended over $2 billion out of its own resources without amortization in various projects and has budgeted additional $5 billion in phased Port Terminals development and infrastructural renewal, �he stated.

He stated that the huge investment by INTELS in five concessioned port terminals across the country, were made in response to the federal government’s quest and demand for investment in port infrastructure development in Nigeria.

“In addition to the above, the Plaintiff had also expended these huge expenses because it had entered into and executed 5 nos. Lease Agreements on the Concessioned Port Terminals, which life span were 25 years with option of renewal for a further term on each terminal,�

Onwuchekwa added.

He said INTELS’ investment in the concessioned terminals was “based on the assurances and comforts from the 1st - 5th Defendants, especially the 3rd Defendant’s (NPA) categorisation of Ports and Terminals, stating that the company.

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Senior Correspondent

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NEPC, AEA Partner to Export Shear Butter to Europe From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

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The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) will boast Shear Butter production in the country and export the commodity to the European Union as a foreign exchange earner.

Shear butter is rich in natural vitamins and fatty acids that nourish and moisturise the skin. Besides, the regular use,

this natural cream can treat many skin problems, including blemishes, wrinkles, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, insect bites, frost bite, and other skin conditions.

AEA Managing Director, Arabi Muhammed Tukur, disclosed at the weekend that the Agency was in the process of scaling up the shear butter capacity production in two communities of Rimba and Nuku in the Abaji Area Council of FCT. Tukur said the mutual col-

laboration with NEPC and Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) will increase the quality of shear butter through better production processes and capacity building.

He stressed the European Union has agreed to visit Nigeria to upscale the equipment and cranes that are producing the product. Similarly, the process will entail the improvement of the shear nut storage facility.

According to him, if procedures were right, Nigeria would start exporting the commodity

in six months to a company in the UK that has indicated interest in buying the product in commercial quantity. “Shear Butter is a hot cake and is our next oil. A company in the UK wants to start importing the product but we are the one holding them back because we yet to complete the process of up-scaling our facilities. We are at B+ and we want to attain Grade A through up-scaling to be ready for the export market,�

Tukur said.

He said the scheme under

the One Village One Product programme, has impacted on 106 women through training in addition to the sales on platforms such as Kaymus, Olx and market linkage.

Tukur also disclosed that the FCT Administration has approved the establishment of 10 cottage centre in the rural communities per quarter this year, while the agency has disbursed N1.98 billion to 5,317 micro, small and medium enterprises, cooperative society and people living with disabilities.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NPA MD Visits Port to Assess Implementation of Executive Order Eromosele Abiodun In a sustained drive to ensure total adherence to the presidential order on 24 hour operations at the ports, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman has urged stakeholders at the nation seaports to collaborate effectively towards the actualisation of the tenets of the Executive Order through the window of the institutionalised ease of doing business.

Hadiza, who inspected

operations at the Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa from midnight on Saturday to the wee hours of Sunday morning, stated that the port environment has been prepared for total compliance with the order. She therefore charged agencies at the ports to collaborate, prioritising information sharing as a tool to be utilised in this regards.

According to her, there are no rooms for compromises on the wheel of progress to total obedience to this Executive Order. She noted that

she was at the port to lead by example and to ensure the Nigerian ports and indeed the nation at large take their place of pride in the comity of nations.

The NPA boss stated: “As we come to the end of the ultimatum on the subject, we must work in unison and create pathways to efficiency. This is why we are in the trenches this night so that the work gets done.

Therefore it is appreciated if we go extra mile on compliance and implementation of this regulation.�

‘Navigational Safety, Security Vital to Ports Operations’ Eromosele Abiodun In ensuring that navigational safety and security occupy a prime position in operations at the nation’s seaports, the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has stated that it will collaborate meaningfully with stakeholders towards the sustenance of effective hydrographic charting of the navigable channels.

The NPA has also assured operators in the sub-sector and international community that it will uphold the highest standards in all operational activities in order to attract more businesses to the Nigerian Ports.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman stated this when a team of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS), led by the President of the NHS, Com-

modore C.E. Okafor, paid her a courtesy call in Lagos.

Bala-Usman expressed the desire of the NPA to synergise with the Nigerian Navy in the actualisation of a safe anchorage across board in national maritime activities.

She expressed optimism regarding the dividends that would accrue to the country in updating regularly available channel charting records through cooperation with the Nigerian Navy.

She tasked the visiting team to step up operations concerning safety and security of lives and cargoes within the ports community.

In his response, Okafor sought the support of the NPA in enthroning best practices whilst stating that the Hydrographic Society looks forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with

the organisation.

The NPA and the Nigerian Navy had collaborated during the survey and charting of the navigable channels of the nation’s waters in the years 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The hydrographers requested the NPA to sustain the archiving of its materials for effective use, stressing that some of the materials available for use dates back to the 1892 hydrographic charting of our navigable waters.

The two organisations are expected to further collaborate in heralding the World Hydrographic Day that came 21st June, 2017 with the theme, ‘Managing our seas, oceans and waterways – more important than ever,’ as well as a Conference of African Hydrographers coming up in October, 2017 during which greater sensitisation on the issues would be highlighted.

NIMASA: We Will Ensure Nigerians BeneďŹ t from Shipping Eromosele Abiodun The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that the agency will ensure that Nigerians benefit optimally from shipping. It also pledged its commitment to ensuring that the maritime domain is safe, secured and clean for all to do business.

Peterside, who made the remarks shortly after receiving the TELL Award of Excellence for the 2016 Public Organisation of the year 2016 in Lagos, noted that the award will challenge the agency to continue in its quest to improving on the ease of doing business in the Nigerian maritime domain even as he assured investors in the Nigerian maritime sector of the safety of their investments.

Speaking further, he vowed that the agency would leave no stone unturned in curbing piracy activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to him, “We are

working every day to put things right. The Maritime Security Architecture which the Federal Government of Nigeria is putting in place is to significantly curb sea robbery and piracy on our waterways.

We also have the Anti-Piracy Bill, which will go a long way in aiding our fight against all maritime crimes when its passed into law�

While thanking the organisers and Nigerians for finding NIMASA worthy of the award, Peterside dedicated the award to the board, management staff of the agency, and all stakeholders for their support in discharging its core mandates. “NIMASA has attained full automation of all operational processes and the Agency has been restructured to semiautonomous zonal operations so that functions such as issuance of Sailing Certificates, payment of bills and other operational procedures decentralised which has enhanced the federal government’s ease of doing business initiative to attract

foreign direct investment into Nigeria. “The present management at NIMASA has intensified the agency’s drive to ensure strict compliance of the International Ships and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code ISPS Code. The recently approved Maritime Security Architecture and Infrastructure to be jointly coordinated by NIMASA, the Ministry of Transportation and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) is seen as one major reason Nigerian voted the agency as the Public Organisation of the year,� he added.

Other recipients of the awards include, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who emerged winner in the National Icon of Democracy category, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State as the Governor of the year, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari as the Woman of the year, and late Dele Giwa as the all-time “national icon of freedom of speech�, amongst others.

RISK MANAGEMENT WATCH Robert Mbonu

Early Warnings – Key Risk Indicators Can governments make predictions to enable the delivery of social services and projects?

Can organisations foresee potential risk events?

With the correct early warning signals, the answer to both questions is YES. A well-designed Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework system provides information that allows management to understand whether key strategic objectives are being met, and to adjust strategies and tactics to take advantage of shifts in the environment that might be exploited for the benefit of the organisation and its stakeholders.

Boards have become increasingly aware of their responsibilities related to effective oversight of management’s execution of enterprise-wide risk management processes. This is due, in part, to significant external pressures that have developed recently thrusting risk management and its oversight to the forefront of many board agendas and action plans. Forward looking governments and organisations now embrace ERM as an enterprise-wide approach to risk oversight.

The idea behind ERM is to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of entity objectives. It boils down to being proactive, that is, pre-empting unfavorable situation(s) from occurring.

As time goes by, the range of uncertainty begins to increase, threatening the successful execution of those strategies. The early warning indicators used to measure the possible changes to a risk are known as Key Risk Indicators (KRI’s). By monitoring changes in the levels of risk exposure, they are critical predictors of unfavorable events that can adversely impact organisations and prevent crises.

KRI’s append themselves to the risk that has been identified, analysed and prioritised.

They should be measurable. Such early warning signals tell us more about how the risk can change, how fast it can change and when it might peak or trough. Developing KRI’s require a lot of data and time, but offer rich rewards in terms of helping to predict risk.

The hardest thing about key risk indicators in a business environment is to get them right – this is the “KEY� part of it. That’s why the most important risks to the goal or objective must be picked before setting out what key risk indicators are for that risk.

Mapping key risks to core strategic initiatives puts management in a position to begin identifying the most critical metrics that can serve as leading key risk indicators to help oversee the execution of core strategic initiatives. Such mapping reduces the likelihood that management becomes distracted by other information that may be less relevant to the achievement of enterprise objectives.

Safeguarding an organization from operational, reputational and other risks, necessitates periodic and regular reviews of these KRI’s. All of this is possible through an in-depth understanding of risks which will enable proper identification, establish appropriate risk indicators, and monitor performance consistently.

Developing effective KRI’s mandates a thorough understanding of organisational objectives and risk-related events that might affect the achievement of those objectives.

While most organisations monitor KRI’s that have developed over time, it is essential for these to be regularly evaluated for efficiency and continuously monitored to highlight potential risks. Over time, they must be augmented with new KRI’s to meet the dynamic circumstances as newer risks emerge and the older KRI’s

become insufficient.

An effective method for developing KRI’s begins by analysing a risk event that has affected the organisation in the past (or present) and then working backwards to pinpoint intermediate and root cause events that led to the ultimate loss or lost opportunity. The goal is to develop key risk indicators that provide valuable leading indications that risks may be emerging. The closer the KRI is to the ultimate root cause of the risk event, the more likely the KRI will provide management time to proactively take action to respond to the risk event.

As an illustration, let’s assume that management of a company is concerned about the risk that outstanding loans may not be repaid. In this example, a possible loan default would represent the risk event that is of concern. In developing effective KRIs to help management monitor the risk of default, they may look backwards to identify potential intermediate events. For example, this might involve decreases in sales in recent months. Additionally, shortages of cash or increases in the need for short-term borrowings or draws under existing lines-ofcredit may provide early warning signs that a breach may be looming in the near term.

KRI’s that help monitor these intermediate events put management in a better position to implement potential mitigation strategies, such as earlier discussions with key lenders before an actual covenant breach has occurred.

In addition, these key risk indicators may highlight potential opportunities to increase sales or improve operations that management may wish to capture.

Using government as an example, if the deteriorating internal security due to long term economic downtime is the risk event, the KRI’s to help monitor this trend could include employment outlook for federal government agencies and government supportive businesses; forecasts related to unemployment; rising food price index; and consumer spending trends in the economy to mention few.

Designing and setting up KRI’s is critical to a successful ERM process. While the potential advantages of creating an effective set of KRI’s has been highlighted, it is equally important to set the design elements and protocols for their proper communication and flow within the sphere of corporate governance, all within a framework.

There is more and more movement towards sound and robust KRI systems particularly in the financial services sector driven by regulation.

Going beyond regulation for all sectors and investing on sound KRI systems will bring great rewards and confidence in an age when threats are becoming more apparent, regular and severe. Once the KRI system is working for the threats, then the biggest rewards come in using the same systems for opportunities.

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22

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

AIR WATCH

Passengers Commend Domestic Carriers for Improvement on On-time Departure Stories by Chinedu Eze Air travellers on the domestic routes have commended improvement in on time departure by some airlines, which some industry operators attributed to availability of aviation fuel and relatively low capacity because many of the airlines are operating fewer aircraft.

This was acknowledged by the Director of Consumer Protection, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Mr. Adamu Abdullahi, who remarked that Arik Air is the most improved because compared to its past performance, it has restored passengers’ confidence.

Abduallahi however noted that the major challenge this season is bad weather because Nigeria is transiting from dry season to wet season and the rains are ushered in by thunderstorm, which is a threat to flight operations.

“There is improvement on on-time performance by domestic airlines, but Arik Air has improved much more. There are no more flight cancellations and they take off as schedule but I attribute this to the fact that the airline has reduced its overall schedule. They have rescheduled their flights, cut down their service to some destinations, so they can now manage their operations. They are winning their customers back,� the Director of Consumer Protection said. Air travellers have also confirmed that other airlines like Air Peace, Dana Air, Medview, First Nation Airways have also improved on their departure time but noted that some of the airport facilities needed improvement and expansion because sometimes delays are caused by the inability to process passengers at the airport terminals. “As a regular traveller I can

say that airlines are doing better now. I travel mostly with Air Peace and Arik Air. Last week we had weather problems when I travelled with Arik Air from Lagos to Abuja, which forced us to spend more time in the air than the 55 minutes flight time.

Many of us were apprehensive because of the weather but what was remarkable was the pilot carried us along. He continued to tell us his next action, how long he would hover and when he wanted to approach landing he told us. We were satisfied,� the passenger said.

An airline operator however noted that due to obsolete infrastructure and limited capacity, it is difficult for any airline to operate up to 10 aircraft with full schedule of each aircraft to about five flights a day without experiencing delay and cancellation because there are constraining factors due to poor infrastructure.

ART lauds Presidency’s Plan to Revamp Aviation Sector Aviation Round Table (ART), a think-tank body in the industry has commended the Presidency for the recently issued Executive Orders designed to facilitate the ease of doing business in the aviation sector of the economy as well as the dismantling of the “dash table “ (checked in baggage screening tables) at the nation’s international airports, which it said has improved passenger facilitation.

In a statement signed by the secretary of the group, Fidel Olu Ohunayo , ART urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the unions to desist from “embarrassing the country� with acts of barricading Check- in- Counters of airlines in order to collect outstanding payments. Rather, the ART said that the agencies should develop efficient and effective

ways of collecting dues, rates and remittances from operators in the industry rather than strong arm tactics that could lead to break down of law and order in the airport environment. “The internal communication system among all agencies involved in the management of the air navigational services should be immediately overhauled for a modern technology driven with accurate and effective communication system to promote aviation safety. The communication gap often exhibited between airline operators and Air Traffic Controllers has variously resulted in instances of Air and Ground Returns, abortion/cancelation of flights with attendant jeopardy to flight safety and financial losses to airline operators who are the raison d’etre,� ART said.

It also called on the aviation agencies to diligently discharge

their duties to operators in the industry by ensuring that air navigational services and ground handling services both at the point of departure and destination are more efficient in order to prevent incidences of flight clearance /approval at departure and denial of landing rights at destination, adding that a strict enforcement of the rules bolstered by the imposition of appropriate sanctions for defaulting agency or persons could address this unwholesome operational safety lapse. “The agencies, which render services at a fee should also be insured; while also compensating for financial losses resulting from negligence and failure to discharge responsibilities to operators, clients or passengers. This is the hallmark of corporate governance and ease of doing business,� the group said.

Emirates Fetes Nigerian Children with Unique Services On Board Flight Major Middle East carrier, Emirates Airlines has said that Nigerian children felt honoured as it recently feted them during the last Children’s Day on May 27, which those that participated described as memorable.

The event was organised at the Silverbird Cinemas, located at Ikeja City Mall, the children watched a blockbuster movie with the Emirates Regional Manager West Africa, Mr. Afzal Parambil, and also had several photographs with him. Selected children were also dressed in the Emirates pilot and cabin crew uniforms. The presence of a beautiful cake and an improvised aircraft portrayed the brand in good light, and wowed the children whom were keen on having a snap shot with them. There were

lots of food, drinks, popcorn, and souvenirs for the kids and their parents.

The airline said the children are recognized as important part of the society, so “Children’s Day focuses on the significance of loving, accepting and appreciating children.�

The airline also said it has improved passengers’ experience on-board its flights, noting that most airlines have First class, Business class and Economy class sections, and yearn to give passengers treats according to the class of ticket of travel. “This has often made passengers to crave for a higher class of ticket. Economy class section has always had a lesser treat compared to the First and Business Class, thus people often aspire for the latter

because of the perception of the level of comfort they will get, as long as they have the financial stamina to walk the talk. However, in order to make Economic class passengers feel elated, airlines have since started raising their games in this section of the airline. “In 1992, Emirates was the first airline to introduce individual television screens in Economy Class, and has since continued its journey of innovation.

Today, customers enjoy personal seatback monitors with over 2,500 channels of news and entertainment programming, including text messaging, telephone, and internet access. Every meal has been planned and prepared with meticulous care,� the airline said.

The Fate of Nigerian Airlines

Saleh Dunoma,

I

ndustry experts have variously posited that one of the major challenges being suered

by Nigerian airlines is lack of government support. Whereas other countries easily negotiate Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the Nigerian government for ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? Ę¨Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ“ĘŠĂ?Ă&#x;Ă–Ăž to get approval from other countries to operate to their airports.

ÑËÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÎÙ×Ă?Ă?ÞÓĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂœËœ Ă?ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ ÑÙÞ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă‹Ă– ÞÙ ĘŽĂŁ ÞÙ Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ‹Ă“Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă“Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă“Ă? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ the state and enjoys a monopoly in Dubai had told the Nigerian carrier that it would not have a slot ÞÙ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă? Ă“Ăž Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ‹Ă“ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂžËœ Ă?Ă™ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ÞËÕĂ? its operations elsewhere.

Ă˜ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂŽĂ?Ëœ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ cannot earmark a time to provide service to the Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂœËœ Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ÞÙ Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ‹Ă“Ë› ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă‹ Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ–Ă‹Ă?Ă•Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ the same airline along with others in Africa and Asia and stopped it from operating to London åÓÞÒ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ę°Ëœ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—ĂšĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ăž to wet lease aircraft from European Union based airline to operate to London. Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ʨà Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ëœ ĂœĂ“Ă• Ă“Ăœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?ÞÙÚÚĂ?ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË̋ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ ĘŽĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜

airport authorities told the Nigerian carrier that it ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?ÖÙÞ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“ĂžĂ? ĘŽĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă”Ă‹Ëœ Ă?Ă™ Ă“Ăž Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ě‹ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ ĘŽĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă? Ă‹ ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž British Airways was operating daily ights from Lagos to London and from Abuja to London. Also Virgin Atlantic Airways was also operating daily ĘŽĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ÞÙ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ë› Ă™ Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ™ĂžĂ‹Ă–Ëœ ÞåÙ

Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Í°ÍŻ ĘŽĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?Ăœ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ËÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ ʨÑÒÞĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ åÓÞÒ ͯͲ frequencies as allocated in the BASA between Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă&#x;ÞÓÖÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽË› Ă’Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ Stella Oduah protested and wanted to retaliate by stopping British Airways ights from operating ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă”Ă‹Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă’ ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž ÙÙÎÖĂ&#x;Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ Ă?ÞÙÚÚĂ?ĂŽ ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă’ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ËŞĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ô˲ Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ ĂœĂ“Ă• ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă?ÞÙÚÚĂ?ĂŽ from operating to London from Abuja. And it was the Nigerian government that allowed that to happen despite the fact that in the BASA signed ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÞåÙ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ËÖÖÙå Í°ÍŻ ĘŽĂ“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? ĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă•Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;Ăž ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?ÞÙÚÚĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ“Ă• ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂŒ Ă?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ëœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ“ĂœĂ“Ăž Ă™Ă? reciprocity that govern international diplomacy Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ËÖÖÙåĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ăž ĂŽĂ™ĂĄĂ˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ“Ă•Ë› While the Nigerian government eagerly welcomes Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™Ă?Ă? airlines operate into Nigeria usually refuse Nigerian carriers from operating to their countries in order to protect their own airlines by curbing or eliminating competition. The Chairman of Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜ Ă˜ĂŁĂ?Ă—Ă‹ ÞÙÖÎ ÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?

recently that the airline was refused request by Togolese government to operate to that country until he threatened court action. The letter he wrote to Senegal to approve its ight operation to that country was not responded to. But these Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă? the biggest market in the sub-region and which are given BASA approvals by the Nigerian government.

IndustryobserversaccusedtheNigeriangovernment of complacency and indierence to the well-being of Nigerian carriers and said that while other countries support their airlines and protect them; the Nigerian government seem detached from the problem of its indigenous carriers. ĂœĂ‹Ă Ă?Ă– Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂžËœ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă“ Ă•Ă™ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙÖÎ ÞÒËÞ åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËŞĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžËœ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ceed; whether the airlines are owned by government Ă™Ăœ ĂŒĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?Ëž ÞÒËÞ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËŞĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž buoys such carriers to success when government opens diplomatic doors for its indigenous carriers. Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‹Ă˜ ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ ÞÙÖÎ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ government has a misconception that because the indigenous carriers are owned by private investors it does not have any obligation towards the airlines. ËŤ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ÞÙ support Nigerian airlines for them to do well. We are not asking for intervention fund; we are asking for support in the sense that government should be conscious of the fact that if a country refuses Ă‹ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ reciprocate and make it clear that any Nigerian airline that is dealing with another country or organisation of another country is representing Nigeria. We are ag carriers of Nigeria; it is not only national carriers that should be protected and support by ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœËŹ ÞÒĂ? ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ ÞÙÖÎ Ë› Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ăœ ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ London the fares from Lagos to London would have doubled by BA and Virgin Atlantic Airways ÞÒÓĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂœËœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă“Ăž Ă?ÞÓÖÖ ÒÙà Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ͳ͎͎ ÚÙĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ë› “They bring this politics to eliminate competition so that they can fix exploitative fares and milk Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ÓÞÓäĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ë› ÓÞÒ Ă?ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ™Ă˜ they do not have the privilege to hike their fares and this is what they are scheming to do if they succeed in stopping Nigerian airlines. This is what government should understand and take it as its responsibility to protect our own. There is nothing ĂĄĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ËœËŹ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› An industry observer alleged that Emirates might have used its ground handling company to stop Ă?ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ‹Ă“ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ there was a time Emirates was operating daily flights to Abuja and twice daily from Lagos “but Ă“Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă–ĂŁ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ they withdrew their Abuja-Dubai flight and also Ă?ÞÙÚÚĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŽĂ‹Ă“Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; can bet that when the economy rebounds they will come back and the Nigerian government would give them quick approval. They were encouraged ÞÙ ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ăž Ă?ĂŽĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂŽĂ“ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ are aware of what BA did with Arik and knew that the Nigerian government did nothing to protect Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂœĂ“Ă?ĂœË›ËŹ

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Why Running an Airline is Expensive in Nigeria Lack of indigenous expertise, offshore training and aircraft maintenance, experts say, are the major reasons the airline business doesn’t thrive in Nigeria, writes Chinedu Eze students, teachers, instructors and professors have access to in their training institutions and ATOs.�

During the International Air Transport Association (IATA) conference held in Abuja last year, it was established by industry experts that the reason why airfares are costly in Africa is because most governments in Africa still see air transport as luxury rather than a catalyst for economic development.

Presenters at the two-day conference talked about heavy taxes government levelled on airlines, the tax on aviation fuel and other types of charges, which invariably are passed to the passengers.

Nevertheless air transport contributes significantly to the economic development of every country. The decision makers, the business moguls, entrepreneurs, government officials need to move fast in their diurnal activities and they need to travel by air. In , Md FAAN fact, it has become obvious that without air travel the economy of most countries would ground to a halt.

The conclusion of the IATA meeting was that governments in Africa should cut down on charges and see air travel as a necessity and make it as affordable as road transport so that more people would travel by air because if they do, the aviation sector would galvanise the economy, create thousands of jobs, boost tourism and contribute significantly to each country’s GDP. But beyond the high taxation and government’s perception of air travel as luxury, aviation is underdeveloped in most parts of Africa. In Nigeria, there is high potential that air transport could multiply the number of people currently engaged directly and indirectly in the aviation sector and also the resources generated therein but government need to provide fillip for this potential to be realised.

Training In a speech he delivered on Monday at a seminar titled the Nigerian Aviation Education Infrastructure- Challenges and Potential, organised

by Springfountain and Boeing, the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika said the seminar wanted to know what the Nigeria’s aviation education policy is, the experts and the approved training organisations (ATO), the current situation in the aviation education infrastructure and the quality of students, staff and graduates from the Nigerian approved ATO, polytechnics, universities and others.

Sirika noted that these questions were pertinent because their answers would enable government to enact the best public policy and strategy that would evolve a viable aviation industry and produce for the local and global aviation industry highly skilled and capable Nigerian pilots, engineers, technicians, ICT experts, etc. “I believe these questions are asked within the context of the role that Nigeria and Nigerians seek to play within the global aviation industry, an industry that is worth more than $5.2 trillion dollars. It should be noted that airlines alone have consistently generated a turnover in excess of $700 billion per annum over the last five years, and reported profit over $30 billion per annum on the average over the last five years,� he said.

Sirika noted that in the aviation industry the airline and aircraft Maintenance Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) organisation are expected to generate in excess of $1.8 trillion dollars over the next 20 years, this turnover excludes upgrade services, adding that other service providers in the aviation and aerospace industry such as Boeing, Airbus, General Electric, Pratt and Whitney, Honeywell, etc would generate far in excess of these in their capacity as aerospace and aircraft original equipment manufacturers.

He also noted that the aviation industry globally, expects between 5.8 billion and 7.2 billion passengers to travel yearly by the year 2035, a near doubling of the 3.8 billion air travelers in 2016 (source: International Air Transport Association (IATA)). “The above predicted growth has implications for aviation education and education infrastructure and Nigeria and indeed Africa needs to be properly positioned to be beneficiaries

Sirika

of the growth potentials. For this to happen, Nigerian colleges, universities and other approved aviation training institutions will need to define the policy and strategy that will enable them train and graduate students who will join the global industry to move this quantity of passengers in a safe, secure and satisfactory manner; after all, it is reported that the top ten fastest-growing markets in percentage terms will be in Africa: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Central African Republic, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Madagascar. Each of these markets is expected to grow by more than eight percent each year on average over the next 20 years, doubling in size each decade,�

Sirika said.

The minister said he was convinced that Nigeria, as the giant of Africa could do better than the predictions for the above countries “if we pay due attention to germane issues bothering the industry such as the issue of aviation education and aviation education infrastructure. If we properly address these issues I believe that we would have better safety, security, operation, customer service, consumer protection, regulation, economic and social benefits.�

Expensive Expatriates Because Nigeria lacks these highly skilled technical personnel in aviation industry, the airlines have to pay for expatriates and they pay more than twice what they would pay indigenous alternatives. They also get half of the service the indigenous personnel would offer because most of the expatriate pilots and engineers would work six months for Nigerian

airlines and enjoy six months holiday, while the airlines pay first class ticket for their movements.

Sirika said that apart from adequately meeting the human resource requirement in the Nigerian aviation industry, Nigeria and Nigerians could become expatriates in the world aviation industry and also further fulfill the yearnings of the Yamoussoukro Declaration (YD) and African Union Agenda 2063 (AU 2063), which canvass open sky for African airlines in the continent. “In doing this, Nigeria and Nigerian aviation professionals working in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe, America will join the world in earning huge foreign exchange and making Diaspora remittances,� Sirika added.

He noted that employment in the aviation industry is expected to remain stable over the next 20 years and beyond, describing aviation as an enabler and an economic multiplier. “People want to fly in a safe and secure environment, this allows people and nations to trade, explore, and share the benefits of economic prosperity.

The Banjul accord, YD NDP and African union Agenda 2063 underscores and promotes the need to make Africa and the world a better place. Nigerians who are well educated and well trained can be better positioned to join the world in the world global Aviation market place to offer quality services and thus contribute to Nigeria’s GNP and GDP. “The ability of Nigeria to play this role will largely come from the quality of aviation education policy and the faithful implementation of such policy. This will be complemented by the positive enabling environment and the good quality modern aviation infrastructure that the

MRO Facility Another factor that makes running airline business very expensive in Nigeria is the fact that airlines ferry their aircraft overseas for maintenance. Ferrying the aircraft overseas costs huge money because the airline would pay for fuel, landing charges, parking charges; it would pay the pilots and engineers that would ferry the aircraft and then it would pay the inspectors from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) that would inspect the aircraft at the maintenance facility overseas.

This is in addition to paying the cost of the maintenance, which could cost from $500,000 to $2 million. These cost the airlines hugely, but if the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility is located in Nigeria, it would at least save the airlines about 50 percent of these expenses.

The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema said the huge capital flight to other countries as a result of non-availability of critical infrastructure such as MRO, leasing companies and others have impacted negatively on the aviation sector, adding that Nigerian airlines would save hugely if the country could establish maintenance facility locally.

As corollary to aircraft maintenance is aircraft leasing and insurance. Because Nigeria lacks technical know-how and it is believed that the operational environment is harsh, it costs Nigerian airlines more to lease aircraft and also the insurance premium for aircraft that operates in Nigeria is relatively very high.

Onyema observed that the stringent conditions given to Nigeria airlines whenever they plan to lease aircraft is exorbitant and that is why many operators consider outright purchase of aircraft instead of leasing at such outrageous costs. “I can confess to you that it has been difficult leasing aircraft to airlines in this part of the world, the conditions given to Nigerian airlines is killing, they tell us we are unsafe, government is not supportive, their planes can be endangered, the condition are outrageous, so we make do with what we have but it is capital flight and there is nothing we can do. “But we will be happy if we can have our own GECAS (aircraft leasing company) in Nigeria, this country will be saving over $500 million every year, if we have our own MRO, because we spend millions on aircraft maintenance I am truly in support of the plan to have a leasing company in Nigeria. This is what we have been yearning for, if this can happen, all the challenges will become a thing of the past. This is a great idea that will create jobs for Nigerians�, he said.

Skills Acquisition Sirika disclosed that over the next 20 years, aircraft manufacturer, according to prediction by Boeing would manufacture over 39,600 airplanes valued at more than $5.9 trillion because the total number of aircraft in 2015 would increase from 22,510 units to 45,240 aircrafts by the year 2035. This will come from the manufacture of 39,620 new units of various types of aircraft worth $5,930 billion. It is predicted that Africa would require 1,150 units valued at $ 170 billion.

So he said that the engineers, ICT experts, pilots, etc that would join and participate in the design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance of these aircrafts would be in excess of one million people, adding that there would also be additional need for additional aviation infrastructure to service the increasing fleet of aircraft. “The challenge is how many of these aviation experts and professionals will be Nigerians and how can we implement and benefit from setting up the various infrastructure required?

Is the current Nigerian university system or technical education system able to train, educate and produce experts and professionals that will participate in this $5.9 trillion dollar marketplace?� he rhetorically asked.

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The Beleaguered Auction The decision of the NigeriaAssociation ofAuctioneers to drag the Nigeria Customs Service to court over the latter’s planned e-auction of seized and contraband goods may have put the exercise on hold, writes Eromosele Abiodun Although the uproar that trailed the order that owners of all vehicles whose customs duties were not paid should do so, is gradually dying down, there is an indication that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) may still face yet another battle.

This time, the battle is between the Customs boss and the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA), who has made good its threat to file a legal action to stop the plan by the NCS to auction seized and contrabands goods by e-auction.

The NCS had last week announced that it would begin auction of seized and condemned goods to qualified persons on July 1, 2017.

According to the Service, the decision to reopen the suspended auction scheme after about 18 months was taken following successful test running of the new electronic auction portal.

The new date for the auction was contained in a statement obtained from the NCS website, which listed ownership of Tax Identification Number (TIN), among others, as the criteria to buy any of the goods that would be put up for sale under the scheme.

Ali, had suspended the auction of seized and condemned goods to allow for a more transparent and electronic method that would allow for equal opportunities for all participants. ‘’After repeated tests of the e-auction platform, Nigeria Customs is now set to deploy the e-auction portal on July 1, 2017,� the statement said It added that the portal has been fully networked to designated banks to ensure that money accruing from the auction gets to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Treasury Single Account for transparency and accountability.

Although Ali has suspended his planned duty collection drive on motor vehicles suspected to have been smuggled into the country without duty payment, the NCS boss’ much reported fall-out with the national assembly over his refusal to put on uniform of the customs service as it’s Comptroller-General is still very fresh.

Stakeholders believe the leadership of the NCS is heading towards the wrong direction because of its desperation to drive the mandate given to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

On appointment, Ali was given three basic tasks: go to customs, reform customs, restructure customs and increase the revenue generation. “I don’t think that is ambiguous; I don’t think that is cumbersome, �Ali had declared at a media briefing shortly after he assumed office.

This, analysts believe, might have forced the NCS leadership to employ measure it thinks will help meet the set targets. The drive to meet target has set the NCS leadership against major stakeholders in the maritime industry.

It is not just the NAA that are battling the NCS leadership, recently, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), shut-down the ports, citing unfriendly policies by the NCS and the federal government.

In a bid to suspend the strike action, Ali and top management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) paid an unscheduled visit to the secretariat of both associations to plead for understanding and cooperation.

New Directive Few days after the peace deal was reached with ANLCA and NAGAFF, the NCS announced its decision to commence the auction on July 1, 2017.

In a swift reaction, the NAA warned the NCS not to embark on the proposed e-auction of seized and condemned goods from July 1, until the court rules over the matter.

The auctioneers said such a decision was against the law of the country and cannot stand since the court has not ruled on the suit brought by way of originating summons by the association against the NCS.

The association had dragged the NCS and Ali before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over the plan by the NCS to conduct online auction sales of seized vehicles and other seized items.

In an originating summons, the auctioneers are praying the court to declare that by virtue of its incorporation, registration and accreditation pursuant to the relevant laws of the federation, an auction sale cannot be conducted by a committee appointed by the NCS. The legal adviser to the association, Wale Yusuf said since the matter was still in court, all the parties involved must not do anything that will threaten the decision of the court.

According to him, the Customs lawyer filed a motion of adjournment at the last court sitting and the matter had been adjourned to September. “Technically, the rule says every party in the dispute must hang up. Nobody must do anything that will jeopardize the decision of the court; they will not force on the court a situation of helplessness by doing anything contrary to the determination of the suit. For now, the injunction is still hanging in the court till September; Ali cannot carry out that e-auction until the court decides. “He will not even try it or we will file for contempt. I think he has been trying to monitor the matter and thought the case will finish by June but I think he will also have to adjourn the commencement of the proposed exercise,� he said.

Similarly, the Secretary of the caretaker committee of the association, Goke Adedokun, said: “We are registered auctioneers and we have been paying our taxes; we have all the necessary documents, we are registered with the Customs. Recently, 120 members of the association renewed their licences as auctioneers. If the NCS have jobs like this, we are supposed to be called upon to do it because we don’t have any other job.� “If Customs goes ahead with the e-auction, it will deny our members of jobs. We want to generate revenue for the country in a transparent

manner. If we are allowed to do the job, it will be a physical exercise. “The United States of America’s system of e-auction that the NCS is trying to copy allows open bidding and allows auctioneers to carry out the bid; the Procurement Act of 2007 gives us the right to carry out such exercises,� he stated.

How it all Started The NCS had in announcing the planned auction of seizure across its commands, disclosed that the e-auction portal was expected to reduce congestion in the various government warehouses and increase revenue from the sales.

Ali, THISDAY learnt, introduced the process as a way of enhancing transparency, reduce human contacts and ensure that only the highest bidders for any auctioned item takes it.

Aside TIN by prospective bidders, other terms and conditions included: exclusion of customs officers and their families from participating in the bidding process either directly or by proxy.

The guidelines also indicate that auctioned items cannot be replaced or funds paid refunded to bidders.

Successful bidders, THISDAY findings revealed, are expected to make payments within five working days as auctioned items whose winners fail to pay within the period forfeit the auctioned item to the second highest bidder.

Successful bidders will be given a period 14 days from the date of payment to remove the item, for which a bid had been submitted for or forfeit it on expiration of the period.

Any auctioned item not removed from the warehouse within 14 days from the date of payment shall revert to its pre-bidding status which makes such item open for sale again.

Winners in the auction process are also expected to pay 25 per cent of the auction amount to the Terminal Operator with another 25 per cent of the auction amount to the shipping line operator. Owners of seized

items are excluded from bidding for them but may however participate in the bidding of other items while owners of overtime items with evidence of payment of duty and other charges has priority over a successful bidder of the item provided the item has not been exited out of the Customs control.

Aside being transparent, the new method will also increase the amount of revenue government makes from auctions as bidding will be competitive and devoid of bias or favouritism.

Hitherto, the Service had done auctions through issuance of documents to beneficiaries with which such beneficiaries approached the warehouses before making payments to designated banks.

This method was viewed as not being transparent as beneficiaries of the auctions were believed to have been selected through a non-competitive process.

This new auction policy is coming 19 months after customs auctions were suspended following the voluntary retirement of the former Controller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi.

There have been media reports that seized goods amounting to billions of naira that have been condemned through court processes are lying in the warehouses.

Confirming the development, spokesman for NCS, Joseph Attah said the Comptroller General took time to entrench the new method that requires deploying of ICT, avoiding human contact and influences.

He said apart from increase of revenue for government, the online platform would ensure integrity of the process.

Attah added that the new system is undergoing a test run for applicant acceptability before it is open to the public for access and transactions.

Billions of naira is expected to be generated from the sales and items listed for sale include cars, trucks, tankers, leather and other items seized from smugglers who ostensibly wanted to evade duty payment.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

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PROPELLED BY AN UNPLEASANT PAST ACTING EDITOR CHARLES AJUNWA / charles.ajunwa@thisdaylive.com

28/COVER

23.06.2017

Propelled by an Unpleasant Past Influenced by a harrowing experience as a child, Mrs. Olubunmi Igbinijesu, suddenly developed a compelling urge to bring succour to women, especially young women who have been forced into prostitution. Over years she has through her not for profit, non-governmental organisation, King’s Daughter, provided counselling, shelter and education to homeless, battered and self-harming young women. In this interview with Mary Ekah, she talks about her childhood experience and how it propelled her into what she is doing today What is the inspiration behind the King’s Daughter?

The inspiration for it goes back to when I was growing up as a child. I grew up in a dysfunctional family where you call a polygamous home, so to say. My father had four wives and my mother happened to have been the first wife. I went through all the traumas of growing up in a polygamous home and all the stress of growing up with step mothers who were not loving or caring and were very abusive. They were really unkind to me and as I grew up, I didn’t want to see any woman suffer what my mother suffered.

My mother was so maltreated that it destabilised her mentally and affected her all round and she ended up raising us as a single mother. I knew it was not convenient for her. So I grew up not wanting to see women go through such situation in life. So as I grew up, I made up my mind that I was going to help women in any way that I can. Apart from that, when I was growing up, I saw a lot of girls and young women going into sex work, especially when I stayed with my father. She was living in a compound where there was a brothel and I saw men going in to have sex with these young women and then coming out. It destabilised me and I felt this was not the way to go. So I made up my mind that this dehumanisation of womanhood was wrong and I wanted to do something about it. I saw a lot of girls on the streets, marketing themselves and men picking them up and so the thoughts, passion and burden to help them got over me again and again, so I decided to come up with The King’s Daughter Ministry to help them with a new direction to life.

The King's Daughter is a non-governmental organisation with the main focus to carter for women who are sex workers. The King’s Daughter Ministry is a residential ministry providing counselling, education and daily life skills to women between ages 18-30 and children who may be homeless, battered, self-harming or recovering from substance abuse. We are a non-denominational organisation and, one of our main goals is getting girls off the streets.

We have been re-orienting, rehabilitating and empowering these young sex workers through various means for them to be useful to the society.

We also do several things for women of all ages.

A lot of young girls go into prostitution voluntarily. Do you really think it is easy to talk them out of it?

Let’s be careful using the word ‘voluntarily’ because there is always a reason for every action.

Every one of those girls who go into sex work– some are because they were abused when they were children and because they are not healed due to the fact that they didn’t go through the process of counselling and so nobody told them how to heal out of it. We all know that any child that is abused is always secretive about it and she doesn’t want anybody to know about it and when anybody gets to know, sometimes, we do not handle it well most of the times, especially in this part of the world, they don’t go through the normal healing process that they ought to, so they increase in age but are not getting matured in that area. Their emotional lives are not healed yet and so as they grow up they get to a point in their lives where they get tempted by such things again and a lot of them don’t even know when they fall into such errors again. So it looks like it is voluntary but it really was not voluntary but there was a situation that warranted it. Sometimes we think that it is the harsh economy that is the problem but we have spoken with a lot of them and realised that some of them are even educated and know how to make money but they still want to go prostituting.

So that tells me that there is a spiritual angle to it – it is just like a well, when you fall into it, you keep going down until you get to the bottom. That is the kind of thing sex work is. So there is always a reason for it and so now we need to help them find out what this reason is

What is TEAM all about?

TEAM means, Teach Equip Advise and Mentor and this is part of what we do. We discovered that since we pick girls off the streets, which is a curative measure, we can also put in place a preventive measure by catching them young before they get to that point. So we decided to work with public secondary schools. We discovered from research that a lot of these sex workers come from homes that are not well to do and as result they cannot further their education after secondary school and so they feel what else can I do. So we go to public secondary schools to teach, empower, advise and mentor them. We teach them from personal development to skill acquisition. We teach them leadership skills, chastity, personal hygiene so that when they leave school, even if they cannot further their education, they can be on their own make money in a legitimate way to make a living and even further themselves in school later on. We have given awards to a lot of students who are exceptional in all what we teach them.

Igbinijesu

and then proffer solution to it. If I sit with a sex worker for few minutes, no matter how excited and willing she is about what she is doing, by the time we are done talking, she would dislike what she is doing because she would suddenly realise that it is abnormal.

What strategies do you use to attract them and then talk to them?

First of all, we try to have a passion for them.

Luckily, all the people working for me have a passion for these sex workers. There is this burden they have for them. So every one of us comes together and talk to each other that we need to help these people get out of their situations. And I must say that as a spiritual woman, I also encourage us to pray. And we say to ourselves, we are going to these people because we love them.

So when we go to their shelters and every other place they stay like beaches and brothels, we approach them with so much love and treat them as normal people because they are also normal people like us only that their situations are different. One of the things that they like, which we have learned, is touch and that is one of the ways these men get them. They touch them and then speak to them, it is all about romance and all that but we don’t go that extent but we touch them to let them know that we care about them. We go there at the right time

Igbinijesu during an empowermnet talk

too because the timing is very important. If you go there when they are busy with their trade, it is like a waste of time because they would not listen. So the best time we go there is like early in the morning when their potential ‘customers’ are at work and only return by evening to spend the money on them.

One of our biggest success stories is a girl I met at the one of the Lagos beaches. When I met her for the first time, she was more or less in her underwear, so I greeted her and then embraced her. She was so shocked, you know, she felt like, “Oh she knows what I do and then my outfit is not even welcoming and yet she is being so nice to me”. But I just felt that I was looking pass what she was wearing because I was there on a mission and after talking to her suddenly she started weeping. And from there, we won her heart to the Lord and today, she is transformed and she is serving God. She had a baby in the course of doing her sex work because she was pregnant by the time we met her and didn’t know and when she realised, she wanted to abort it but we said she shouldn’t. We helped her and before the baby was born, we were able to unite her with her parents, delivered her of the baby there and they are both doing very well right now. We have set her up in a trade and she is so grateful today. One of the other things we do is TEAM.

Do sex workers have the right to sue for rape?

They do have right to sue but it is kind of dicey because prostitution is illegal in Nigeria and if they have to sue, it should be something legal. But then they have the right to sue as human beings for somebody violating their human rights. They ought not to be raped - that is the violation of their human rights.

So they can sue if they can be helped but then we have to able to draw the line– I am being careful because the matter here is illegal because if they are going to sue, they are going to sue based on whether they were not paid for service rendered but again, where do we draw the line. Is this a rape or a consensual act? They can sue but at the same time there is a bone of contention when it comes to a point where it has to be determined if what they are involved in is legal or not. So since it’s not legal, I would rather say to them, get out of that trade because you are already in the trade, so how do you say you are raped?

You are already dehumanising yourself by giving men the right to do whatever they like to you, so what are you suing for?

Who is Olubunmi Igbinijesu?

I am a pastor with Word Assembly Church and my husband is the senior pastor of the church. We have churches all over the country.

I’m an accountant by training and also a professional counsellor and member of the American Counselling Association (ACA), with a Master of Arts in counselling (in view). I graduated from the Oakseed Executive Leadership Course of the Institute for National Transformation (INT), Lagos. I’m married to Pastor Philip Igbinijesu, and together we have Joshua, Jochebed, and Joel.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

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30/ NEWS

23.06.2017

Top Nigerian Artistes Throw Weight on GoodFathers Foundation Mary Ekah Top Nigerian artistes recently gave support to The Goodfathers Foundation, a non-profit organisation, when they participated in a two-fold event that started with a Walk For Fathers to drum-up support for fathers and to ignite a fresh commitment to support and celebrate the Nigerian man during a programme to commemorate this year's International Father’s Day. The walk led by celebrities including Sir Bimbo Manuel, Femi Jacobs, Ohimai Amaize, Chuks Anyaduba (Road Safety Activist), Charly Boy Oputa, Mc Amana, Toksdam of Africa, Amb. David Egwu and others started at 7.30am.

However, the D-Day was on the Father’s Day proper on June 18 when the foundation held a black bow-tie event and the evening featured a special father’s monologue by Bimbo Manuel, Femi Jacobs, Ope Jideojo and Rume Sefia.

Also, a brief panel discussion was held discussing ‘Absentee Fathers and the impact on society’. The panelists include Prof. Barth Nnaji, Sir Bimbo Manuel, Mr. Jonson Ojogbane, Mr. Sunny Ikechukwu Nnacheta. Special Father's Day messages were delivered by the Indian Ambassador to Nigeria and other dignitaries.

Ebere Nwoji

L-R: Co-founder, GoodFathers, Tokunbo Olorundami; Head of Operations, Bryt Nzenwa, Founder, Nnaedu Umeohia, Comrade Isaach Balami and Events Coordinator, Rapheal Abejirin

However, several people won free invites to bring their fathers to the event as they had an evening to remember.

These special people won these invites by posting a picture on Instagram with their dad telling what their fathers meant to them.

This was the maiden edition and according to the founder, Mr. Nnaedu Umeohia, it won’t be the last, they went on to explain that, “The Goodfathers Foundation is a non-governmental organiation. Our mandate is to Support,

Inspire, Transform and Empower men to become Good Fathers. At TG Foundation, we understand that the bedrock of every society is the family. We hold the view that building a sustainable nation is intricately linked with having Good Fathers who can serve as role models at home and in the wider society.” Other members of the organising team includes, Mr. Tokunbo Olorundami (co-founder), Mr. Bryt Nzenwa (Head of Operations), Comrade Isaach Balami and Mr. Rapheal Abejirin (Events coordinator).

RCCG Province 44 Trains 200 in skill Acquisition Desirous to improve financial status and independence of members, The Redeemed Christian Church of God Lagos Province 44 has trained over 200 individuals in various requisite skills and capability.

The scheme is part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions of the Province to equip the unemployed and under-employed with a view to becoming self-dependent. It also aimed at enabling them to imbibe the spirit of entrepreneurship as this will make them self-dependent and further reduce poverty.

Pastor in Charge of the Province, Pastor Amos Emovon, speaking at the graduation ceremony noted that unemployment will reduce considerably if most youths shun the quest for non-existing white collar jobs and rediscover themselves by tapping into their creative talents and improving on their inert abilities.

According to him, the Leadership of Lagos Province 44, in alignment with the vision and mission of the Church, regularly embark on various CSR Initiatives as a way of positively impacting the quality of lives within the communities the parishes are located.

“Sequel to the implementation of various mega CSR interventions in Education, Medical Care, Poverty Alleviation, Youth

L-R: Representative of Principal, Lagos Island Local Government Vocational Institute, Mr. Akamo Olabode, graduandS, Maureen Nkemchor; Pastor Joseph Ekhator and Mrs. Ikara Mercy; Pastor Ajibola Opeoluwa- Calebs; Pastor Amos Emovon with wife, Temitope; and Head, Lagos State Vocational Training Institute, Surulere, Mrs. Bolanle Arikawe Otu, at the event

Development, Food for All Initiatives, Security and Safety, our next mega CSR intervention is focused on equipping the unemployed and under-employed with the requisite skills, knowledge and capability to create value and improve their financial status and independence. We are optimistic that with this intervention, individuals and families who hitherto could not secure a job can be equipped to become value creators and

L-R: Project Executive Glitz Entertainment, Miss Balqis Abdur-Razzaq, Comedian, Mimicko and CEO Glitz Entertainment and Promotions, Adetola Juyitan at the event

Artiste Management consultants. “We know the entertainment industry requires a lot of innovation; we at Glitz Entertainment and Promotions Company are not just thinking in that direction, we will do our bit to add to supporting the industry and we are starting this by providing the platform and required resources."

To mark the beginning of the working relationship, Glitz has announced the launch of "The Diary of Mimicko" a bi-annual comedy show. The first edition which will hold in

The World Health Organsation (WHO's) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), is convening a meeting of global leaders and thinkers to explore Africa’s healthcare priorities and challenges and find new ways to achieve better health for all in the continent.

The Africa Health Forum, holding for the first time, will take place in Kigali, Rwanda between June 27 and 28, 2017.

The forum, which has the theme ‘Putting People First: The Road to Universal Health Coverage in Africa’, will provide a platform to forge new partnerships for delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a mechanism for improving access to quality, affordable healthcare for all, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A statement made available to THISDAY by Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the forum, would provide a unique opportunity for its partners. “Health is at the heart of the SDGs, and is critical for better quality of life.”

He said the WHO AFRO, is committed to working with countries and partners to attain the highest possible level of health for Africa’s people. "This forum will help pave the way to attain UHC across the continent. We are convinced that together, we can do more to save lives and achieve a prosperous and sustainable future for all," Moeti said.

According to him, the forum, will witness experts from a wide range of backgrounds speaking on relevant health issues, including academics, government representatives, the private sector and youth organisations. He said topics to be covered at the two-day event will include health financing; health security; health research, innovation and data, UHC and the private sector in Africa. He said issues on old enemies such as HIV and the rise of new threats such as non-communicable diseases will be discussed.

Moeti, also said there would be special sessions on e-health in Africa and the health of young people in the healthcare debate.

Beauty Queen, Chizoba Ejike Hosts Charity Concert

also be positioned to effectively contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities, state and the nation at large,” he said. He tasked the over 200 graduands who went through the rigorous 1 month vocational training (theory and practical) in various disciplines including Skills Acquisition and Vocational training, Agro-Allied, ICT and others, to effectively utilise the skills acquired to better themselves and the society.

Comedian Mimicko, Glitz Entertainment Sign Management Agreement Glitz Entertainment and Promotions has signed a management agreement with a Nigerian Comedian Anton Mitchual, popularly known as “Mimicko”. The agreement was signed on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Glitz Event Center in Lekki, Lagos witnessed by representatives of both parties.

Commenting on the agreement, Adetola Juyitan CEO, Glitz Entertainment said; “Mimicko is a young talented act and we are happy to be part of building, nurturing his brand and strategically maximizing his potential in the industry."

On his own part, Anton Mitchual (AKA Mimicko), “I feel honoured to be the first artiste on the stable of Glitz.

I feel privileged and excited with the Mimicko-Glitz partnership especially as it allows me to expand frontiers. I can now focus more on the creativity and innovation while Glitz takes care of the entire business side.”

Details of the agreement includes that Glitz will manage the artiste grooming, product/content development, marketing/ sponsorship management amongst others.

Adetola Juyitan further, stated that Mimicko would be managed by a team of trained

WHO Africa Hosts Inaugural Africa Health Forum in Rwanda

August is dedicated to the memory of one of the most outstanding Nollywood comic veterans; Sam Loco-Efe. According to Anton Mitchual also known as Mimicko “The Diary of Mimicko” was borne out of the need to celebrate veterans in the entertainment industry. For a start, Sam-Loco was a great actor and mentor to many in Nollywood”. During the show, several hilarious Sam Loco-Efe’s characters in different movies will be shown on the big screen and then acted live on stage.

Chizoba Ejike

Beauty Queen Chizoba Ejike hosted a Charity Concert in Awka, Anambra State tagged, "Be Bold" which was aimed at creating awareness on Gender Inequality Sustainable Development Goal 5. Ejike who won the the maiden edition of the 2014 Miss Independence Anambra Pageant And 2015, MBGN Runner Up/Miss Tourism at the event disclosed that gender inequality does not affect women only but also cripples down our economy. World Economic Forum estimated that sub-Sahara Africa loses an annual sum of 96 million US dollars economically because women are not allowed to contribute.

It also threw light on the effect of violence and how we can work towards achieving these sustainable goals. We worked with the ministry for Her Excellency Mrs. Ebelechukuw Obiano who was our mother of the day, the Ministry for Women Affairs and Honourable Commissioner for Education to achieve this great feat.

About 20 orphanage homes, 10 secondary schools and three major universities in Anambra State came to be part of the movement, gift items were distributed to the orphanage homes, prices and honorary awards were awarded to school teachers, students and other philanthropists for their commitments.

31/LIVING

23.06.2017

Alakwe: How We Planned and Hosted the 2017 Pan Africa Hash in Nigeria During the last weekend in May, the 2017 edition of the Pan Africa Hash held over a period of three days. Non-competitive in nature and charged with the purpose of fitness, social connection and charity, the Hash is the world biggest running/walking club. 2017 marks the first time that Nigeria will be hosting the African regional inter-Hash, known as the Pan Africa Hash. Fausta Alakwe, an entrepreneur and leader of the bid team for Nigeria, Co-founder of the Surulere Hash and the event’s Local Organising Committee Chairman, speaks on the event among other issues. He spoke with Eromosele Abiodun The 2017 Pan Africa Hash held in Lagos penultimate week. As the head of the local organising committee, tell us, in a nutshell, what this event is all about.

It was a three-day bi-annual running/walking, social and charity event that brings together all the Hash House Harriers (houses) in Africa.

Hash, being an international organisation that exists in almost all the countries of the world, typically attracts visitors from beyond the African continent for such events. The host would use the opportunity to showcase different geographical areas, topography, and culture of area. We had 13 different runs within the three days, which showcased the rich diversity of Lagos, both in people and places. We had runs from Takwa Bay, Elegushi Beach, Eko Atlantic, Lekki/Ikoyi axis, Victoria Island, through Third Mainland Bridge, Sangotedo and many others. Each of these runs/walk was on the average 10 km and participants had the opportunity of participating in different runs on different days. The first day was only for charity run, which we fondly call Red Dress Run. You may have seen sea of people wearing Red that walked through the streets of Victoria Island, on the last Friday of May. The second and third days were planned for the other 12 runs - 6 per day.

The Hash strongly promotes fitness, social connection and charity. This has been the tradition for decades. How, in your opinion, has the Hash sustained this?

Hash runs on the first working day of the week in all locations around the world. This could be Sunday or Monday, depending on the region's work calendar. It is estimated that 10 million people run in the hash every week, around the world, making it the biggest running organisation in the world. In cities where more than a House exists, the running days are scheduled to avoid conflict. In Lagos, we have five Houses that run on different days.

The weekly runs are Monday for Lagos Hash House Harrier (LHHH), Thursday for Thursday Boys HHH and Sunday for Surulere HHH. There are 20 Houses in Nigeria with about 5,000 members. Participation in any or all of the run/walks keeps our members fit. We had in attendance an 88-year-old participant from the United Kingdom that participated in the 2017 Pan African Hash. Every run is followed by a social “circle”, where runners are “rewarded” or “punished” with gulp of hasher’s choice of drinks for any conceivable reason, by the Grand Master (GM) and the Religious Adviser (RA).

Through our annual Red Dress Run, we identify with the less-privileged and make personal and group donations to our adopted charities. The three core objectives as you mentioned, are central and eternally relevant to humanity, therefore the hash easily connects with people for the individual reasons or a combination of them.

Hashers from about 20 countries participated in the 2017 Pan Africa Hash, how did Nigeria emerge the host country?

Hosting right for Pan Africa Hash is earned in a similar way to the Nations Cup/World Cup bid through very competitive bid process. We won the hosting right in July 2015 at Malinda, Kenya, the host of the last Pan Africa Hash before Lagos. The East and Southern African countries have dominated the hosting of the event because they understand, more than us, the tourism and economic impact of the event. The last event was the 13th edition but the second time the event was hosted in West Africa. Cape Coast, Ghana, hosted in 2013. The other 11 times were between Southern and East

members from other Houses were deeply engaged, depending on their identified offering and skill set. Abuja HHH, for instance coordinated with federal agencies for some approvals. We were meeting every Wednesday for almost 16 months at the committee level. The sub-committees were also meeting on the same regularity. We exploited the social media and ICT to maximum use in conducting our meetings. For example, the Director of Beverages Committee lives and works in the UK and participated in almost all the meetings and only had to be physically present towards the last week. We maintained a very active secretariat that was managing the internal workings of the LOC including communication.

There were some daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly communication, at different levels to members of the LOC and registered participant.

Alakwe

African countries. We articulated a bid package that clearly showed the facilities that we would offer for the event, transportation and logistics, hotel accommodation, security and safety plan, visa and immigration plan, etc. We also made a strong case for showcasing our vibrant Nollywood, music and entertainment industry. At the end of the day, we beat Kilimanjaro House, Tanzania, at the final voting by a land slide.

What challenges did the LOC encounter in putting this event together and how did you overcome these challenges?

We had agreed internally, amongst the leadership, since 2013, that we would bid and host Pan Africa Hash in 2017, so we carefully developed a road map that was closely followed to the letter. This included organising national hash events around Nigerian cities and participation in all international events to learn, form alliances with other countries and develop competencies in select areas. Some of our members attended World Inter Hash in Brussels 2013, and Bali, Indonesia 2016. Others attended regional Inter Hash events in Hanoi, Denmark, Liverpool and Dallas, at different times with clear objectives of learning for the 2017 Pan Africa Hash.

Our first and major challenge was of self-belief that we could organise a world class event. We formed a very formidable Local Organising Committee comprising six very competent Nigerians as Committee Directors, from diverse backgrounds with hashing experiences. They are Dr. John Mbonu, Gabriel Dimowo, Chika Dieobi, Dr. (Mrs.) Nnenna Mbonu, Sir Simeon Udie, and Col. Dr. Oladokun Olayinka (Rtd).

They worked with 55 other members in their various committees to actualise the 2017 Pan Africa Hash. The team endeared confidence both internationally and locally.

Beyond that, was dealing with the Nigerian stereotyping. We focused on Africa-first philosophy to elicit support. We made several trips to West African countries of Ghana and Sierra-Leone, who traditionally align with Nigeria. Next was the East African diplomacy because of their strength in numbers and depth of hash. Our members made several trips to attend their National and Regional events. This paid off. We had about 150 participants between East and West Africa with Kenya and Uganda attending the most, followed by Ghana and Sierra Lone. In all, we had attendees from 20 countries from across the globe.

With that level of participation, how was the event funded? Did the event attract sponsorship?

What roles did sponsorship play?

The hash is a not-for-profit organisation and to that extent, we are almost cash-neutral at all times.

To fund the event of that magnitude therefore required a lot of cash and material infusion from external sources. But for the registration fees of the participants, which accounted for less than 30 per cent of revenue, all other funding were from private and corporate support and sponsorship. South Energyx, developers of Eko Atlantic was generous in offering us the venue.

Coca-Cola Nigeria sponsored the Red Dress Run and provided the T-shirts and all the drinks consumed on that day. Nigeria Breweries Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc donated free cases of their assorted drinks. Nigeria Breweries also provided us with musical band. Fiki Marine offered free use of their Marina and cruise boats for trips to Takwa Bay. The Nigeria Navy, through the FOC Western Naval Command, offered us their personnel for security, medics, coaster buses, ambulances, and the use of Navy Hospital in Victoria Island. The Nigerian Army Medical Corp also donated an ambulance, medics, and offered the use of Military Hospital at Ikoyi. The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Sports, supported, endorsed and participated in the three days of activities. In addition, we got the metal barricades, free from the state government. Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission/Special Adviser to His Excellency on Sports, Deji Tinubu, conducted the opening ceremony while the Director of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Ada Oni formally closed it.

We also got cash donations from the following Dr. A. B. C. Orjiako, Taofik Balogun, Nexus Alliance, and Westfield Energy. We received massive support from the Nigeria Police, LASTMA, and FRSC. We are indeed most grateful.

There are about 20 Hash House Harriers in Nigeria. How did the LOC collaborate with these local hash hubs for the planning of the 2017 Pan Africa hash?

The hosting right was awarded to Nigeria Hash Houses. The LOC chose Lagos for the event for several reasons. Every GM of each of the 20 houses in Nigeria was therefore, automatically, a member of the LOC. In addition, some

From a project management point of view, what has been your experience with the justconcluded hash event?

Hash has unbelievably large diversity - social, economic, religious, political, race, etc. - and therefore poses great challenge in alignment of objectives. Managing that diversity could be frustrating, but in the end, it was most humbling and it offered me insight to the workings of the lager society. Only very few believed that we could host the event about five years ago, yet we ended up with what has been adjudged the best Pan Africa Inter Hash so far. It demonstrates how much we can achieve as a people (Nigerians), if we can set aside our personal and primordial interests and focus on a common Nigerian project. We had world class Directors, who are extremely competent and successful people in their individual careers.

That made the biggest difference.

We have several other running groups in Nigeria. What is unique about the Hash?

The three unique distinguishing features of hash are that Hash is a not-for-profit organisation, the Hash is non-competitive, and the run/walk route (trail) is not known to the runners, except the hare (host) who lays the trail ahead of the run. One or more members (“hares”) lay a trail, which is then followed by the remainder of the group (the "pack"). Sawdust, flour, chalk, and toilet paper are used to mark the trail. The trail periodically ends at a "check" and the pack must find where it begins again. Often the trail includes false trails, short cuts, dead ends, back checks, and splits. These features are designed to keep the pack together despite differences in fitness level or running speed, as front-runners are forced to slow down to find the "true" trail, allowing stragglers to catch up. The trails are laid in such a manner that the fastest and the slowest arrive the endpoint at about the same time. This is the most intriguing part of the Hash.

We indeed “punish” people for attempting to compete in the runs.

This year’s event recorded donations to the needy. Who are the beneficiaries of the donations and how were they chosen?

In the past, particularly during Christmas, we had raised materials and money, through our Red Dress Run, on annual basis and send to The Lagos Old People’s Home. We traditionally support the Lagos Old People’s Home in Yaba.

We adopted Child Lifeline Centre in Ikorodu late last year and have ran from there once. All proceeds from our Red Dress Run, on 26th May 2017, went 100 per cent to the two charities.

Coca-Cola Nigeria was the sole sponsor of the run.

Our general philosophy aligns with supporting the old and encouraging the young ones.

32 / XTRA

23.06.2017

Time to Return to Sustainable Architecture Professor Michael Adeloye Adebamowo, in his inaugural lecture says there is no better time to reshape the world's built environment than now. And that the direction to go is for Nigerians to imbibe the principles of sustainable architecture, Peace Obi reports

Adebamowo

The Ade Ajayi Hall of the University of Lagos, on Wednesday, May 10, hosted the fourth inaugural lecture from the Department of Architecture 46 years after its establishment during 1971/1972 academic session. The lecture which also served as the sixth for the 2016/2017 academic session was also the seventh for the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and was delivered by Professor Michael Adeloye Adebamowo of the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences.

To many, the inaugural lecture was a significant achievement, a beam of light that revealed some of the great works and academic prowess of the department led by lecturer, Adebamowo. As though welcoming a long awaited treasure, the turn up of guests was huge which may leave Adebamowo's inaugural lecture with the remark of a well attended, if not the most well attended inaugural lecture in the history of the citadel of learning. The guests who cut across all walks of life came from different parts of the world. Well represented were the academics, industry, government functionaries, clergy, royalties among various groups in different attires was said to be a measure of the lecturer's span of influence.

About 30 minutes to the event that is billed for 4pm, the venue was almost filled up.

Leaving one to think that the early arrival of guests, was a preemptive move to secure a space. Religiously submitting themselves for security checks, the guests anxiously filed into the hall as though going for a new discovery.

And just like the enthusiastic move of the crowd suggested, the lecture though an academic research work and scientific in nature, amazingly turned out to be some practical and environmental-friendly solutions to the various challenges posed by the climate change, population increase and the ubiquitous influence of telecommunications, among others on Nigerian environment.

Delivering the lecture titled, ‘Sustainable Architecture: A Return to Nature Through Biomimicry’, Adebamowo said that in addressing the problems, there is a compelling need to reshape the built environment in the light of current global challenges. According to him, it has become necessary for Nigeria

to return to designing and constructing appropriate buildings that are relevant to her society and climate.

Deliberating further on the principles of sustainable architecture, Adebamowo said it requires man to return to nature. "There is a need for us to return to nature and returning to nature simply means returning to fundamentals, returning to God and returning to sustainable architecture through biomimicry. This simply means that we should not just copy designs and construct buildings that are not climatic responsive, that are not environmentally inclusive, that are not socially responsive and are not economically viable.

"The message of sustainability is that the building has to be environmentally responsive, socially inclusive and economically viable. And when we do this, then the building will be energy efficient and water efficient. And with the problem of climate change, global economic recession, there is need for us to return to designing appropriate buildings, relevant to our society, relevant to our climate. That is the message of sustainable architecture, he said." And for the message of sustainability to transverse across all strata of the society, he said, "there is need to create awareness of sustainability to cut across the society so that we can all imbibe sustainable practices as simple as making sure that we reduce waste, making sure that we do not mess up the environment, we do not litter the environment, we don't spit saliva anyhow, we stop the use of generators when we can imbibe renewable energy, design buildings in such a way that they are naturally ventilated, naturally lit. And in such a way, we will be able to cut down energy used in buildings."

Disclosing that the challenges encountered in the process of the research were numerous, Adebamowo however revealed that challenges in architecture are stepping stones into exercising their creativity and architectural ingenuity in coming up with solutions. "Architecture has to do with solving the challenges of the built environment and really that is no problem,” he said.

Attesting to the practicability of Adebamowo's research, the Vice-Chancellor,

University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello said that Adebamowo has been applying sustainability principles in all the projects that he has been doing for UNILAG and that many other projects that he is doing outside are based on that principle.

Analysing the sustainability principles further, the VC said, "what he is saying is that architecture should go beyond just putting blocks together and every other things. You have to be able to input nature and what is available within the environment to ensure that we have sustainable designs, and that, I can attest to he is practicing."

Describing Adebamowo as a very hard working, very professional and a very sustainable person himself, the VC said he is someone the academic community reposed so much confidence in. "We believe in him and he is doing what he knows best in architecture."

Speaking further, Bello noted that opportunity abounds for anyone who wishes to excel in the academic environment. "If you want to be in academic system, there are opportunities for everybody, but what we do here is to ensure that we add value to our profession and to anything we do. That is what academics is all about. You carry out researches and then you put your findings into what you profess and then make it practicable to people, that is really what the university is all about,” the VC said.

And for a bosom friend of Adebamowo, Bishop David Adeoye who came all the way from the U.S. to grace the occasion, said that he won't miss celebrating the moment with his childhood friend who has found a greener pastures in Nigeria for anything in the world. "I came all the way from the U.S. to fellowship and rejoice with my friend, Professor Michael Adebamowo. He is my childhood friend. We have been together in our teenage age, we did almost everything together before I moved down to the United States of America and of course, he found greener pastures here in Nigeria."

Describing the professor as a blessing to this generation who has continued to touch lives in different areas, Adeoye said that he is a principled and a man of integrity whose

influence spans to different sectors, professions and society strata. "His academic achievement is just one of the many things that God has done in his life. I know he is going to touch many lives in different areas. He is a minister of the gospel and a very successful man in different areas of life. So, I know to the world, he is a blessing. The generation we are in has received a tremendous blessing from God. Mike Adebamowo is a gift from God to our nation and our generation,” Adeoye said.

For a lecturer in the Department of Architecture, David Adio-Moses, his HOD, Prof. Adebamowo is better described as a transformer who does not only carry out practicable research, but someone who both colleagues and students have found to be a pillar and a ladder to greater heights. According Adio-Moses, "he has transformed the facilities and improved the quality of our curriculum and many other things we have done at the department level." Mentioning a few of the department's achievements, he said, "we just had our ARCON - Architect Registration Council of Nigerian accreditation, which went well. He has carried out a lot of innovations and also making sure that there is improved quality in terms of our work, not just for students but also for the lecturers. We have won several international competitions and I even presented one of the awards from the Lagos Housing Fair recently.

"He is doing a lot for the department. The students have really gained a lot. We have the orientation of not just having designs that are functional but designs that make impact in society. We are aware of the global warming and problems of environmental pollution, so we try to emphasise on architecture that can actually transform the environment and make positive impact on the society,” Adio-Moses said.

Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion include Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly, Apostle Bank and Sharon Akinmola of Word Outreach Missions Inc. Atlana, USA, Rev. and Mrs. Milton Job, Prophet Olu Oshodi, Prof. Clement Adebamowo, among others.

33/ PERSPECTIVE

23.06.2017

Enugu First Lady Touching the Lives of the Downtrodden Laurence Ani writes on how the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, crisscrossed the 17 local government areas of the state to bring social welfare programmes to the residents of various rural communities through her Ugo Touch of Life Foundation A major criticism of non-governmental organisations is the fact their operations are mostly sited in urban areas, and less so in rural areas where the critical intervention they offer is more expedient. But there is also another compelling reason why NGOs ought to train their attention on rural areas a large majority of the country's population resides there.

A sense of just how severe the development deficit could be for rural dwellers emerged in the last couple of weeks as the Enugu State First Lady, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, crisscrossed the state's 17 local government areas to bring the social welfare programmes offered by the Ugo Touch of Life Foundation (U-TOLF) to residents of various rural communities.

At each stop, an overwhelming number of locals thronged venues of the humanitarian outreach to access items donated by the foundation and services that often comprise screenings and treatment for medical ailments, entrepreneurship training with the accompanying seed capital, scholarship awards to indigent students and several other vital socio-economic undertakings.

From the outset, the goal of the foundation established by Mrs. Ugwuanyi was unmistaken. “It is our commitment to touch the lives of the vulnerable in 17 local government areas of the state. This pursuit is a care-giving job designed to touch the lives of the downtrodden," she explained during her visit to Ohodo, a community in Igbo-Etiti council area.

The conviction that underline her humanitarian endeavour is a fairly straightforward philosophy. "Learn to be compassionate to one another to attract the blessings of the Lord. The time is never ever insufficient for us to touch somebody’s life. Touch people’s lives to enable them to always remember you, love one another, don’t hate your fellow human being and endeavour to assist the vulnerable," said the governor’s wife.

And it's just as well that such altruistic outlook syncs perfectly with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's move to often reach out to disadvantaged groups, the least developed zones and the vision to create more urban centres via extensive infrastructure upgrade in rural communities. It was this commitment that inspired the administration's "every community, one project" initiative and simultaneous flag-off of 35 major projects across all the local government areas, late last year.

Like her self-effacing husband, she is demure and unassuming, traits that are at odds with life in the spotlight. But she has nonetheless been inexorably thrust into public glare by fate. And how well she has acquitted herself, earning wide acclaim through her infectious grace, simplicity, generosity and remarkable work ethics. She has so far traversed numerous communities in councils such as Igbo-Etiti, Nkanu West, Isi-Uzo, Udenu as well as Oji River, and despite the physical strain that such busy schedule exerts, remains unrelenting in her resolve.

For instance, just a few months after her visit to Nkanu West for a mass deworming of pupils, she was back last week at the council. This time she implemented projects which somewhat eclipsed the equally spectacular deeds undertaken at her last visit. This includes the award of scholarship to six pupils of Community Central School, Obe, where she cut the ribbons to inaugurate lavatories and blocks of classroom built and renovated, respectively, by her foundation and also distributed uniforms to the pupils, gestures which the member representing Nkanu West at the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Nkiru Ogbodo, described as the "first of its kind in the state".

A common refrain during such visits is how complementary her welfare-themed interventions have proved in relation to the

First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi (middle) with pupils of Community Central School, Obe, Nkanu West Council, where her foundation offered some scholarship awards, built lavatories and renovated classroom blocks

First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi (1st right) with a participant at a skills acquisition training programme in Isi-Uzo Local Govternment Area...recently

government's own programmes, and how supportive she has been of the governor's objectives. The paramount ruler of Ngwo, Igwe Innocent Ayalogu, alluded to these in exultant terms when the First Lady visited Udi Local Government Area in continuation of her socio-economic outreach.

“The monumental development in Enugu State piloted by our dynamic and amiable governor leaves no one in doubt. We believe in the axiom that behind every successful man is the wife, the people’s governor is a grassroots politician," he said at the medical

outreach that featured screenings to detect medical ailments like eye defects, diabetes, cervical and breast cancer.

Mrs. Nwanneka Agbo, wife of the IgboEtiti council chairman paid the governor's wife a similar compliment during her visit. "This is an era where over 30 states of the federation are struggling to pay or simply cannot pay salaries. Enugu State is gradually but steadily reclaiming its past glory as a pacesetter in development, in peace, and in security. You deserve as much encomiums having proved beyond any

shade of doubt to be a pillar of strength," she noted, commending the First Lady for her medical outreach which she said has helped in alleviating several health challenges that residents in their communities typically experience.

But beyond the resounding applause the Enugu State First Lady is earning for her selfless efforts to bridge social gaps, there is a gradual imbibing of the virtues she has tirelessly espoused among the populace.

Wife of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area chairman, Mrs. Roseline Edeoga, hinted at this during the graduation ceremony of Sure Hope Empowerment Scheme, a foundation she fashioned after Mrs. Ugwuanyi’s U-TOLF. “Inspired by your zeal to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged in our state, and in line with your exhortations with regard to improving the lives of the poor and needy at the grassroots, I embarked on the empowerment programme to assist indigent youths in the council's 11 wards.

We educate them on the dangers of drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, indolence, and offer them skills acquisition trainings. By the grace of God, they will soon become self-reliant and employers of labour. I appreciate your motherly care, support and encouragement in making this day a success," she said.

Mrs. Ugwuanyi admonished the trainees to always be diligent and hardworking to enable them to actualise their dreams and grow in their different vocations. "Make use of the skills you have learnt to assist others; a journey of a thousand miles starts with a pace," she counseled the youths as they waited in line to receive their certificates and items comprising computer laptops, sewing machines, hair dryers and welding machines.

The beneficiaries and host communities of the outreaches have expressed their gratitude in mostly effusive terms, pronouncing God's blessings and conferring traditional titles on her. But despite all the adulation, Mrs. Ugwuanyi still betrays no obsession for the limelight or the fripperies of privilege.

For her, empowering society's most vulnerable ones is simply a calling to which she will always be committed.

Ani, formerly editor of ThisDay, The Saturday Newspaper and later Saturday Telegraph, is a senior research and communications aide to the governor of Enugu State

34/XTRA

23.06.2017

Redefining CSR for Sustainable Development Obinna Chima writes that the establishment of a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is a crucial component of any bank’s competitiveness in their quest to give back to the society they operate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become one of the standard business practices for reputable organisations in the country.

It has also helped in enhancing the overall reputation of a lot of organisations, especially in the financial sector where commercial banks strive to outshine each other.

Therefore, since banks provide linkages to all sectors of the economy, they have stepped up their corporate social responsibility activities in all the key sectors of the economy.

CSR is described as an instrument, a concept or even a business model that requires companies to apply a radical change in attitude.

For banks, since the introduction of the Nigeria Sustainable Banking Principles, as a pillar for CSR by the Bankers’ Committee in 2012, a lot of the financial institutions have continued to support the society.

That is why First City Monument Bank (FCMB), through its CSR initiatives is impacting positively on many lives and communities in Nigeria.

Indeed, as businesses act responsively and boost their performance, they devote part of their income to giving back to the society by engaging in various life changing activities.

Over the years, FCMB has elevated this practice to a commendable height by consciously championing and executing various programmes in a manner that reflects its commitment to the use of CSR as a tool to add value and ensure sustainable development.

The 34-year-old bank has been able to achieve this through its strategic interventions in various areas of human endeavour, especially in its focal CSR areas of poverty alleviation, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability anchored on its mantra of, ‘Teach a man to fish’.

All these gestures, the bank explained, are in line with its time-tested value as a helpful bank committed to creating opportunities that would further enhance the well-being of individuals, customers, groups and the entire society.

Speaking on FCMB’s CSR drive, the Group Head, Corporate Affairs of the bank, Mr. Diran Olojo said: “We are aware of the challenges faced by people and the society. Hence, our choice of bringing hopes and smiles to individuals, communities and the country at large.

“This is further proof of our culture of excellence and our commitment to doing the right things at all times to ensure sustainable development across various spheres. This ethos has continued to guide our views and approach to not just business, but also CSR.” Economic empowerment FCMB’s CSR philosophy, according to a report from the bank, is focused on helping to create an enabling environment for empowerment of individuals, businesses and the nation at large through micro-entrepreneurship, microcredit and skills acquisition.

In demonstration of this, the bank explained that in 2016, it extended its support to internally displaced women in Maiduguri, Borno State by providing training and financial support to 100 of them to start any small scale business of their choice.

The financial institution also organised skills acquisition and other capacity building programmes for the beneficiaries. Speaking at the fund disbursement ceremony then, the Borno State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Hajia Inna Galadima, had commended FCMB for making a difference in the lives of the internally displaced women.

Also, FCMB’s intervention in economic empowerment is further seen in its partnership with Wecyclers, a company involved in recycling, on a waste-to-wealth franchise scheme. Through this collaboration, the bank was able to tackle the challenges of waste management by deploying an innovative recycling project aimed at job and wealth creation, while promoting health and sanitation.

To further deepen the project, FCMB had

to the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) as it recently donated 15 Braille machines (comparable to a typewriter) to the Vocational Training Centre (VCT) located at Oshodi, Lagos State.

“The gesture is aimed at effectively supporting the efforts of the FNSB towards enhancing the standard of teaching, as well as learning of the blind, who are students of the VCT,” FCMB explained.

The centre was established 60 years ago and so far, over 2,000 visually impaired men and women have benefitted from the various training programmes at the VCT. FCMB said it is also playing a very important role in the on-going efforts to eradicate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) – a group of 17 parasitic and bacterial infections that affect over 1 billion of the world’s poorest people.

These diseases reduce economic productivity and prevent affected individuals from being able to work or care for themselves and their families.

The bank’s intervention to eradicate NTDs, in partnership with Sight Savers, an international NGO, covers four severely affected states (Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara and Sokoto). This involves a mass drug distribution approach by an extensive network of volunteer community drug distributors. The bank’s intervention has gone a long way to combat the impact of the diseases.

CEO, FCMB, Adam Nuru

put in place a monthly reward scheme for top recyclers. The first batch of winners emerged in May this year and has been presented with their prizes.

Youth empowerment Furthermore, FCMB’s economic empowerment activities have also impacted positively on youths. The bank instituted a capacity building programme for youths tagged: ‘Empowered for the Future’.

The initiative which was in partnership with Youth Empowerment Foundation focuses on peer-to-peer economic empowerment and reproductive health education for in- and out-of-school adolescents. It commenced with 50 youths who were trained on various aspects of human development. The beneficiaries were expected to reach out to 750 peers over a one year period, with focus on financial literacy, skills acquisition, sexual and reproductive health, while undergoing vocational training, job shadowing and knowledge building programmes.

Poverty alleviation For FCMB, poverty alleviation involves the strategic use of tools such as education, economic development, health and income redistribution to improve the livelihoods of the world’s poorest people by governments and organisations. Over the years, the bank said it has been carrying out series of activities, through CSR, to tackle this challenge and its attendant effects One of such initiatives, according to FCMB was the Priceless Gift of Sight programme

which it has been sponsoring since 2009 in partnership with the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF), a Nigerian-Indian non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The programme involves eye screening tests, full ophthalmic medical examination, eye surgeries, provision of free medication, eye glasses and counselling for those suffering from cataract, an eye defect that could lead to blindness if not promptly treated.

According to FCMB, over 100,000 people across Nigeria have so far benefited from this project since it took up the sponsorship eight years ago.

This year, FCMB sponsored 500 eye surgeries in Kebbi, Cross River and Imo states, while more than a thousand others underwent the screening for cataract during the programme.

The bank has previously carried out the programme in Katsina, Adamawa and Ogun states.

A beneficiary of this year’s programme, Mr. Jonathan Nwosu (aged 78) from Umuaro community in Nkwere Local Government of Imo State, described the priceless gift of sight project as a service to humanity.

Also, a former commercial vehicle driver who plied Port-Harcourt and Aba until he completely lost his sight in February 3, 2016 to cataract, Mr. Nwosu had this to say: “I cannot but sincerely appreciate FCMB for what I consider as service to humanity. I do not have anything to give to show appreciation, but to pray for the management and staff of the bank.”

Similarly, the bank revealed that its poverty alleviation activities have also been extended

Environmental sustainability According to the bank, the commitment towards environmental protection and sustainability remains a core pillar of its CSR focus.

Indeed, the bank stressed that it places a lot of emphasis on not just what it achieves as an organisation, but how it achieves it.

Hence, it stated that its business activities and operations are designed to ensure that it lends responsibly, promotes financial inclusion, encourages diversity, adheres to health and safety standards, and reduces (or totally avoids where possible) negative impact on the environment.

“A highpoint of the bank’s environmental sustainability activities is its ability to identify and innovatively devise means of converting challenges posed by the environment to opportunities.

“One of such is the bank’s sponsorship of a project that relates to the conversion of water hyacinths to valuable materials in partnership with another NGO, Mitimeth International, since 2015.

“Under this programme, which has so far been executed at Bayeku community in Ikorodu and Epe, hundreds of people have been trained on how to make handicrafts, such as baskets, lamps, dressing accessories, mugs, vases, table mats and so on, for commercial purposes from invasive aquatic materials (such as water hyacinths).

“With the new skills learnt, women and youths of Bayeku community in Ikorodu Epe and adjoining communities have been empowered to turn an environmental menace into a source of income; courtesy of FCMB’s CSR intervention,” it stated.

Furthermore, FCMB said it has continued to actively participate in World Environment Day (WED) activities over the years.

At the commemoration of the Day in 2015, the bank collaborated with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) to organise series of programmes to further raise awareness on the need to protect the environment.

And as part of efforts to ensure a cleaner environment, FCMB is in an on-going partnership with the Lagos State Central Business District to clean up the Marina/Tinubu square axis of the state.

Through its activities across its three adopted spheres as an institution, FCMB is clearly demonstrating its determination to provide the required support needed to build a viable society.

35/ENTREPRENEUR

23.06.2017

‘Tenacity is The key to Business Success’ In this interview with Solomon Elusoji, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Red Star Express, a logistic business affiliated to American giant, FedEx, Olusola Obabori, talks about what it takes to build a successful business in a challenging environment like Nigeria How have you been able to build a successful logistics business in an infrastructuredeficit environment like Nigeria?

Surviving is a game of tenacity, and things will not always be perfect, either in Nigeria or in other parts of the world where infrastructure is excellent. So I would say that surviving is a game of tenacity, perseverance, making the best of what is available. In the past, in Nigeria, we used to have fairly good infrastructure, but as time went by the population exploded and there was more pressure on the facilities available – coupled with the fact that there were no new investments – and what used to be good became bad. So, it goes back to a maintenance culture, which we don’t have as a people generally, and continuous improvement.

Besides, logistics and courier business is a major contributor to economic development.

We are like the drive of economic activity in any economy. Take for example the United States: what makes them tick is their ability to connect goods and people together from point to point, either by road, air, rail or sea, and that’s what we do. So this industry is a major contributor to whatever economic picture you are trying to look at. This is what we have done for 25 years in Nigeria.

How can the government improve on infrastructure?

I would say that this government appears, to me, very serious on infrastructure. The Executive Order on the Ease of Doing business is commendable. Then, the Ease of Movement of Goods is also key for this government.

This is not a day to blame this government, because from all indications, we have seen progressive movements in the right direction, so let’s give them all the support and hope that they can improve the road network. And, as I travel around, I can see that the roads are also being fixed. The road from Abuja to Kaduna to Kano has been fixed; I was there some weeks ago. If they can do same in the eastern part, that means I can take a truck from here and determine when it gets to its destination. Then, business can move. The rail infrastructure is also important. Some of the things that are moved by road – cement, iron rods, and other heavy stuffs - are meant to be moved by rail. So whatever they are doing on the rail should be sped up. And all of this added together will create more jobs and bigger economic activities.

Your company is organising a conference, SME1000, for businesses. Why? What we are trying to do is to provide a platform for SMEs to connect, to grow their businesses and to tap into opportunities that we have made available to them. We are more of a global company; yes, we are a Nigerian company, but we have a global network that connects the world. Through our foreign partners, we can take you from here to any part of the world within 72 hours.

That’s the kind of strength we have brought to the table. So if you are a businessman in Nigeria, we can take it from here and deliver your goods to anyone who has made an order from any part of the world.

So, our SME1000 programme will bring at least 1,000 SMEs together across various industries, ranging from food to textile to small scale manufacturing companies. Whatever you produce, we are interested in partnering with you to take your goods across Nigeria and to the rest of world. You can display your products during the programme, network with other SMEs to see where you are lacking and gain access to bigger markets. We are going to be bringing people who have an understanding of how you should run an SME, how to get financing. The banks will be joining, and the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce too.

We will also organise a business clinic after the programme, where you can sit down with an expert who can mentor you and ensure

Obabori

that your business grows in the next five years, because what we’ve found out is that, for anyone who starts a business, the most turbulent time is the first five years since nobody knows you, trusts you or would want to commit anything into your hands. But after five years, people can close their eyes and commit assignments into your hands and they are sure you will do it. If you can cross the tenth year, that means you are stable. So, our desire is to help as many companies as possible, so that in 2022, for example, we will be happy to showcase some of the guys who will join us in this first edition.

What do you think is the problem of SMEs in Nigeria?

SMEs have always been there. Most businesses that become big started small. It is the tenacity to grow to a big business that becomes a problem. So what should we do to help more small businesses make that leap? That is a job for everybody. It is the job of the government to provide an enabling environment, it is the job of people like you and I, who can help put the information in the public domain and help them get the requisite training and awareness they need to have to enable them sell whatever they are producing to the rest of the world.

I have travelled a bit, so if you go to places like Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, apart from the major organisations that drive major economic activity, the SMEs are the secondin-rank drivers. For example, in Malaysia, the focus of the government is to help those at the middle level, to ensure that they can produce the little thing they can and send

them to foreign markets. I have worked in factories and I saw that the small companies were contributing too. So if you talk about giant companies like Cadbury, whatever they do, there are small companies that can also do the same, on a smaller level. But how do you help these small companies grow their market share. This is one of the things we are also trying to do with SME1000.

But we should also note that governments in Nigeria are also doing lots of work. I am aware that the Government of Abia is doing a lot of work in Aba, to ensure that what is produced there can get to other markets. Aba has made a lot of contribution to SME development and technology development in Nigeria.

Also, infrastructure is a big problem.

Consistency on the part of business owners is also another issue. When people make money, instead of putting the money back into the business, they will take it and buy land. That is the kind of mentality we have in this part.

We don’t stay on it until it becomes big. If you travel to Europe, most of the companies there have survived for 100 years or more. In Nigeria, it is not so; it is either the man dies and the business dies with him or something happens to derail it in the short term.

But I think we can say that we have not done very badly, because even in Nigeria, you will find out that there are companies in Nigeria that have stood the test of time. For example, the Chellarams Group business; the fourth generation of the Chellarams family are the ones currently running the business.

They are Indians, but they are here in Nigeria.

Then also, FCMB, which started as a family business but has been there for many years.

So we have good examples of those who have done well, including Dangote and Adenuga, but what is the percentage of those who have done well?

How do you innovate at Red Star?

It was the founder of FedEx that said, for him to innovate, he checks the telecoms and banking industry and introduces what they are doing into his own business. If you are going to do well in this business, you have to be up to date with technology. When we pick up a shipment and scan it, the information goes into the system, and you can track the shipment as it travels to its destination. If you have a ship that is coming from Norway to Nigeria, you can track it and know where it is at a particular time. You can use drones to do delivery today. In fact, FedEx tells us that they are a technology company not a courier company, because they have all kinds of gadgets which they also sell to other companies. They have a full Research and Development team which comes up with all kind of technology products, and we are also learning a lot from them.

We are investing a lot in infrastructure.

Innovation drives us, and we also want to improve on the things that we have been doing before. I am very passionate about investments, because without that there is no future. So we are building new warehouses and we have all kinds of approval now. We are buying large fleet of vehicles, in addition to what we already have. We are responding through cold chain warehouse facilities. In fact, there is one in the works and the Minister of Agriculture will commission when it is ready.

36

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017 Advertorial

I<AF@E;<I KF GL9C@: EFK@:< IN REACTION TO THE PUBLIC NOTICE ISSUED BY ‘LANRE OLAOLUWA ON 16TH JUNE, 2017, THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT AMCON PURPORTEDLY APPOINTED MR ‘LANRE OLAOLUWA AS A RECEIVER DESPITE PENDING APPLICATIONS AT THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN SUIT NO: FHC/L/CS/1742/2015, SEEKING AN INJUNCTION TO RESTRAIN AMCON FROM APPOINTING A RECEIVER AND IF APPOINTED, TO RESTRAIN HIM FROM EXERCISING ANY POWERS OF A RECEIVER AND TO SUSPEND THE RECEIVERSHIP. ANOTHER APPLICATION TO RESTRAIN AMCON AND MR. LANRE OLAOLUWA FROM EXERCISING ANY POWERS OF RECEIVERSHIP IS CURRENTLY PENDING AT THE COURT OF APPEAL. BOTH AMCON AND MR. LANRE OLAOUWA ARE AWARE AND HAVE RESPONDED TO THE PENDING APPLICATION.

AMCON AND MR. LANRE OLAOLUWA’S COUNSEL HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH THIS APPLICATION AND THEY ARE PRESUMED TO UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF LAW THAT THEY CANNOT CONTINUE TO TAKE ANY STEPS TOWARDS FURTHER EXECUTING THE ORDER OBTAINED EX-PARTE OVER TEN MONTHS AGO UNTIL THE APPLICATION, WHICH IS FIXED FOR HEARING ON 4TH JULY, 2017 IS DETERMINED. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS COMING CURIOUSLY AFTER WE OBTAINED JUDGMENT ON 2ND JUNE, 2017 AT THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE IN SUIT NO. LD/576/2012 TO RECOVER A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF OUR CLIENTS ASSETS THAT WAS MISAPPROPRIATED AND WE WROTE TO AMCON WITH A PROPOSAL TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

RATHER THAN SEEKING TO JOIN HANDS WITH OUR CLIENT TO AMCON AND MR. ‘LANRE OLAOLUWA HOWEVER OBTAINED RETRIEVE THE ASSETS, AMCON AND MR. ‘LANRE OLAOLUWA A ONE-SIDED EX-PARTE ORDER ON 16TH AUGUST, 2016 DECIDED TO EXECUTE AN ORDER OBTAINED EX-PARTE IN WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE EXISTENCE OF THE PENDING AUGUST, 2016.

APPLICATIONS TO THE COURT. IT HAS COME TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT MR. ‘LANRE IN VIEW OF THE PENDING APPLICATIONS, AMCON AND MR. OLAOLUWA IS TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO SELL PART OF THE LANRE OLAOLUWA APPARENTLY RESTRAINED THEMSELVES ASSETS OF OUR CLIENT, DESPITE THE PENDING APPLICATION FROM EXECUTING THE EX-PARTE ORDERS SINCE AUGUST TO SET ASIDE THE EX-PARTE ORDER. MR ‘LANRE OLAOLUWA 2016 AND AMCON SUBSEQUENTLY FILED AN ACTION AT THE DOES NOT POSSESS THE RIGHT TO SELL ANY PORTION OF OUR FEDERAL HIGH COURT, ABEOKUTA, SEEKING RECOVERY OF CLIENTS PROPERTY AT VICTORY PARK ESTATE OR ANYWHERE DEBT AND POWERS TO EXERCISE AMCON’S POWERS AKIN TO ELSE, EITHER ACTING PURSUANT TO HIS POWERS AS A RECEIVER OR PURSUANT TO THE EX-PARTE ORDER. RECEIVERSHIP. ANYONE WHO INTENDS TO BUY OR ACQUIRE ANY INTEREST WITHIN THE ENTIRE 46.703 HECTARES OF LAND KNOWN AS VICTORY PARK ESTATE AT IGBOKUSHU VILLAGE, BEHIND FEMI OKUNNU HOUSING ESTATE, LEKKI PENINSULA SCHEME II, GOVERNMENT ESTATE, IN ETI-OSA AREA OF LAGOS STATE OR ANY OF THE ASSETS OF OUR CLIENT WRONGFULLY ATTACHED WE HAVE AGAIN FILED AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE FEDERAL WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PENDING APPLICATIONS IN HIGH COURT, ABEOKUTA IN SUIT NO FHC/AB/69/2017 COURT, DOES SO AT HIS OR HER OWN PERIL. SEEKING FOR ORDERS TO SET ASIDE THE EX-PARTE ORDER AND STAY OF EXECUTION OF THE SAID ORDERS AND THE POWERS OF THE RECEIVER. OUR CLIENT HAD JOINED ISSUES WITH AMCON ON THE DISPUTE AND EQUALLY INITIATED STEPS TO SETTLE THE MATTER, BEFORE AMCON AND MR. ‘LANRE OLAOLUWA SUDDENLY DECIDED TO COMMENCE EXECUTION OF THE ORDER OBTAINED OVER 10 MONTHS AGO.

LET ALL PERSONS BEWARE, CAVEAT EMPTOR! DATED THE 22ND DAY OF JUNE 2017

J. A. BADEJO, S.A.N. BONAJO BADEJO & CO. 15, SHODIPE STREET, OFF ADEGUNWA STREET, ALONG HUGHES AVENUE, ALAGOMEJI, LAGOS E-MAIL:BONAJOBADEJO@GMAIL.COM TELEPHONE: 01-4533788, 08148479504, 08149686593

37/THISLIFE

23.06.2017

‘My Love for Camera Drove Me into Photography’ Mr. Divine Sajere is a former banker, a top-notch photographer, National Leader at Helping Hands International (H2i), and Chief Executive Officer of Wealthplus Community, a humanitarian arm of H21. In this interview with Peter Uzoho, Sajere speaks on his banking experience, his foray into photography, the mission of (H2i), among others without having a plan B-something you can fall back on. So for me I’ll still pick photography business over bank work any day.

You were a banker before you went into photography business; tell us your experience working in the bank?

I worked in Zenith Bank. I joined the bank in 2007, worked there for six years before I left in 2013. For me, banking was a means to an end. I took the pleasure of attending to the less-privileged and the physically challenged customers who came to the bank for transaction and making sure that they were all happy. So, for me, it was an opportunity to serve and I’m glad I had been able to satisfy a good number of people through my service in the bank. Interestingly, when I left the banking sector these same people who I had done one or two favours for by attending to them without expecting anything in return formed my pioneer clientele when I started my photography business. They started introducing me to people, convincing people about my ability to deliver in my job. So it’s good to be good.

Banking was really a very good start up point for me and I bless God for it.

There is this perception that those who work in banks are rich and big men. So why did you decide to leave?

For me, what I see is totally different. Most of the things you see when we go to the bank, especially those who don’t work there, are just make-belief. I’m speaking as an insider and as someone with experience. I enjoyed my banking days, no doubt. Why did I say I enjoyed it?

Any work you find yourself doing in life, do it with all joy and with service to humanity. Do it with all humility; be a team player, support your team very well, and you will see that you will enjoy it. Those who can’t do these things I just counted will still be struggling; they will always be angry, and they won’t feel fulfilled.

Most people you see in the bank as workers, if you look deep within you will see pains; you will see so many things that are untrue compared to the picture they paint-putting up plastic smiles to make customers feel good and all that. Some work without having service at the back of their heart. They are after the tips or what they can get and how much they can make. That’s why some people even go to the extent of doing all manner of funny things just to meet up with their target. We all know what is happening in the system. But proudly I can say I’m happy that I worked in the bank for those years because it instilled some values in me. I really learnt some things no doubt, especially in Zenith Bank where our slogan was “In Your Best Interest”.

So I learnt service, I learnt how to really serve people, how to give people the real worth for their money and I’m really happy serving my people and the society. I met a lot of people in the banking sector, though it cannot be compared to the kind of people I met doing photography.

I never got to meet presidents while in the bank but I’ve met them while doing photography. I’ve travelled from one country to the other doing photography. But in all it’s just God taking you from one stage to the other.

started from there. It was indeed mind-blowing.

I would not have forgiven myself if I had missed that class.

Then after that class I started practicing. I asked my sister-in-law, Mrs. George, to help me buy a photo camera when coming back from her leave in Dubai. She bought it and I said I would be paying her gradually. That was how I started.

Some Fridays, I would do some works, finish all the work in the bank so that I could be able to hit the road to neighbouring states like Oyo and others, to cover events-weddings, birthdays and all that. Starting from there, I did quite a few jobs and then discovered that the banking work was limiting me and not helping me cover all the jobs I had.

For instance, sometimes the jobs that you are supposed to travel on a Friday against Saturday and Sunday, the bank will not grant you a one day off. Even out of your leave you can’t skip time, and I’m a very hard working person right from the branches where I had worked. In the bank they used to call me ‘speed of light’ because I work with speed, I work with accuracy; I work with excellence. If I was around you would never see a crowd in the banking hall. Without blowing my trumpet I’m that good. So I brought all that I’ve learnt in the banking sector into the photography business. It gave me an edge over my contemporaries even in the photography sector.

I know where to cut the strings and with that, God helped me. It was when I saw the limitations the bank was giving me that I decided to throw in my resignation. Initially, no head of operation was ready to accept my letter of resignation but finally I had my way after disturbing them for so long that I wanted to leave. It was painful to them but you know a mind that is made up is dangerous, you can’t stop it. So they had to let me go, and I’m here today.

When you were thinking of leaving the banking sector, were you worried by the thought of how to survive?

I’ve always been a risk taker and, I’ve always known that from what one of my pastors used to tell me back in the days. He told me that it’s even more risky not taking risk. I’ve always loved adventure.

One day, I was in the bank and one of my supervivors who had known and studied me so well called me and said there was a certain skills acquisition programme going on in their church that I should come and learn a skill there.

Being someone who has interest in life-skills, the day she brought the flyer to the bank, I saw it and picked it up. She gave the flyers to everybody in the bank but I was the only one who attended. When preparing to attend, I put up for my leave and they were trying to play all manner of pranks just to make me not to attend but I was ready to resign in order to attend the skills acquisition. I only pledged for two days and attended the programme. I took the photography class at the programme and it

Your moving into photography was it because people there were making money or because you had passion for it?

It was because of passion. I’ve always had this flair for photography and cameras. Back in the days when I finished secondary school in the early 90s, instead of sitting down at home idle I decided to pick up a job in a photography studio. Then, the only job available was Studio Attendant- someone who would be looking after the cameras, cleaning them and all that, and I was doing that. As I was doing that I was also studying the cameras without a coach. One day the person who was handling the coverage was not around, he went to school, and we had a military governor who visited my Local Government, Sapele, and someone had to do the shooting.

So when the local government chairman’s wife asked who would cover the event, I said I can do it. Everybody was all in doubt. They said no, you can’t shoot; you are just a studio boy.

She said okay, show me what you can do and I did a little sample and showed it to her and she said I should go and cover it. I went and

Sajere

covered it. That was my first coverage without any experience, without being taught, I covered it and it was aired in Delta Television. From there, I got that spark and it just kept on. I just love cameras and I can spend my last dine on camera and equipment.

How has the photography business been?

It has been so wonderful. Photography has been paying the bills, doing all sorts, taking me from place to place. I’ve met the high and the low, I’ve met several people, and I’ve been able to bless a lot of life even with my photography work. There are people I’ve met that ordinarily are supposed to pay hundreds of thousands for their coverage, but I blessed them by slashing the pay to half because of the passion I have for it. If you don’t have passion for it you can’t do it because you will fold up. I’ve even rendered some free services to my current organisation, Helping Hands International, where I’m a leader in. That’s because of my passion for the work and not because of the money, and that has been my policy. When you do what you do very well money will come and that’s the best way to make it.

Some people see a photographer as just anybody. So being a photographer, how do you manage to deal with this seemingly discouraging notion?

Yes, I have experienced that several times.

There are times I will go to events as the major company covering them and there, some people will want to run you down like, ‘he’s just a photographer’. I don’t let that get to me because with time, most of them do apologise when they find quality and value in what I do for them. I don’t get discouraged by what people say about what I do. I’m a man of many parts; I’ve tried my hands on so many things. I’ve done Uber transport service with my own car.

How would you compare photography business with banking in terms of returns?

Initially, in photography, it’s really not about the money but the passion as I said. To be very candid photography job does not come every day, it comes in seasons. But on a good day in photography, just one weekend job can pay two months’ salary in the bank. People who build their dreams around one banking job I don’t think they’re doing justice to themselves. They should look beyond the banking sector and pick up a skill; it must not be photography. It could be makeup; it could be cake baking; it could be any skill at all. Whatever you have flair for. There is something God has deposited in everyone, you can pick it and do it and, it just gives you extra income apart from what you earn doing the banking job. There are times also in the banking sector where bills will come and even your salary won’t be able to carry them. Even, despite the fact that you work in the bank you cannot get a loan. It’s going to be and tough and terrible

You met people who were already wellgrounded in photography business. So how did you manage to carve a niche?

You know I told you I’ve always been a risktaker. With the kind of knowledge and exposure I have, I already knew I would survive in such an already saturated business like photography.

I’ve learnt a whole lot from one of my mentors, Rev. Sam Adeyemi, who I listen to all the time, and who I attended his school. And that also formed part of why I was not scared or worried of going into the sector irrespective of all the professionals, the gurus and all of that in the business. I know you cannot be taller than me and at the same time be shorter than me. There are areas where you are good at and there are areas where I am better than you. We’ve always known that. So I went in ready and prepared to hit the market with my own strategies, and with my own strength. I was not worried; I was not scared of anybody. I knew quite alright there are those that are good. Even there are people who are better than me that have worked with me and, are still working for me up till now, and I pay their bills. So that’s because for me I don’t take it like a competition. I always tell them- I don’t compete with anybody. You are good and you are good for you. I’m good at what I do and I’m good for me. I’ve integrity in what I do and I always maintain my name because I want people to see my brand and call me another day.

I hit the market with a good price not necessarily high and not low either but with a good quality in mind. I render quality service. If I know this work is going to cost me N100, 000 and I know I will make N10, 000 gain but the customer will be satisfied and will refer 10 customers to me, I’ll prefer some people that will do a job and make N30, 000 gain and lose a customer that will lead to nobody calling them for the next10 years. Even there are some businesses that I will do and make N2, 000 or N3, 000 but the referral I will get will be so mind-blowing and I’ll be satisfied with that. It’s just like in the bank where some staff run for tips while I went for service.

So that’s it for me and it has paid off. Today, there are people who insist I must be at their wedding to cover it for them. Also there are other gains that come from covering events apart from the monetary aspect. I’m spiritually sound and I have discernment because I watch very well; I perceive very well; I’m very observant. So there are mishaps that may happen at your event if I’m not there. So many people always insist I must be on ground to cover their weddings or their events.

How did your wife respond to your idea of leaving the bank for photography?

Right from our university days we’ve always had our goals written down. Even before I took the banking job she was aware and before I resigned I sat her down and told her my mind and she was already seeing it. Initially she said no. We prayed about it; reflected over it and at a time we started seeing that it has got to the point that it’s time to leave. She was aware and funny enough she edicts while I go to the field to shoot. She is a strong back up in this business that I do and I always give kudos to her. And then, women also should try and be supportive to their husbands. Businesses done by husband and wife turn out good and successful.

You are also a national leader in Helping Hands International, what is the mission of the organization?

We touch lives and empower people. When you run a humanitarian service and empower people, refer people, bring them in to join you in the business of touching lives, the organisation rewards you for doing these things. By then you now get rewards in assets and property supports, financial empowerment, and scholarship for your children and all that as their own reward for doing a humanitarian and skills acquisition to non-partners.

38/OPINION

23.06.2017

ADEOLAAKINREMI HOME TRUTHS

Email: adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com

Tel 08116759785(sms only)

Abuja is Oxygen for Biafra As always every president in Nigeria in our recent history comes in to face a different battle with little time for serious governance. If you think I am wrong, wait for it. For Olusegun Obasanjo, it was militia groups combined—Oodua Peoples Congress, Egbesu Boys, Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra, Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Arewa Youths. Of course, the enforcement of Sharia in Kano and Zamfara almost drowned Obasanjo’s presidency.

With Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in power, the monstrous Niger Delta militants confronted the destiny of his presidency and of course, Boko Haram gave Goodluck Jonathan a hell.

Though Boko Haram, Niger Delta militancy and other pockets of agitation and violence exist, the Muhammadu Buhari government has been battling Biafra as a major challenge in its hands.

The sad side of the story is that the country is now in an uneasy state after groups in the North ask Igbo to leave by October 1.

I’ll make no apology for this: the Biafra bandwagon that is now rolling may have been caused by the champions of Sovereign National Conference (SNC) who went silent because of party politics.

Of course, you’ll find the “former” champions of Sovereign National Conference in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It makes no common sense to have fought hard for the convocation of Sovereign National Conference with intent to restructure the polity and decentralise power, and then makes a u-turn, when we have the best of time in our hands to do it.

Sadly, our political system ludicrously overemphasises unity, when there’s no commitment to equality and support for the weak.

The system asks people to vote, when the Independent National Electoral Commission

Buhari

(INEC) is owned by the presidency.

The system asks citizens not to fear, when the police owe its allegiance to the rich and the powerful.

The system tells us to believe in religious freedom, when there will always be suspicion over the teaching of Islamic religious Knowledge and the Christian Religious Knowledge at our high schools.

Wealth of speeches from Aso Rock, proclamation by kings in their kingdoms, bile of bishops from the pulpits, immalleable words of Imams and Ulamas have increased hatred in the land.

We are now a country pushed further into disintegration and at this time stand at the precipice.

Moderate thinking should prevail that with many of those who fought hard for SNC in power now is the time to make real their rhetoric.

Honestly, among its mountain of errors, the decision to ignore that aspect of our life to facilitate a forum to discuss our existence by

the APC-populated champions of SNC is a low point for the party.

A disappointed Dr. Tunji Braithwaite died conscientising the country on the speedy need for SNC. In fact, he literally declared that the 2015 election must not hold without SNC, the Jonathan conference notwithstanding.

In our recent history, the anguish that followed Braithwaite to the grave is evident. For instance, we have been subsidising stupidity for co-existence, where murderers and marauders are kings.

Where is the nationhood when death and destruction become free for all over unnecessary questions of indigeneship?

Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Ife, Nasarawa and many other places bear the scar of conflicts.

Even in Lagos State, seen as cosmopolitan, a former governor, Babatunde Fashola once packed Nigerians like sardine against their will into a Black Maria for a dump in Awka, where he believed they came from and should be because they were not contributing to the economy of Lagos.

Of course, over the years, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has consistently threatened the Igbo in Lagos not to exercise much freedom contained in the constitution.

And there’s the rub, if certain leaders of Lagos adjudged to be a melting pot of the nation can be so inhuman, what shall we say of other states.

Now, that everyone is running in circle over a simple ultimatum by some northern groups and their leaders for the Igbo to leave the North

by October 1, shouldn’t the country see beyond the Biafra agitation?

The timing of the Biafra agitation is significant. It is a recycle idea that finds its nest in the rumblings across Nigeria on governance structure, Sharia law, Boko Haram insurgency, terror of herdsmen, poor quality education, religious conflict, resource

control, revenue allocation, independent candidacy, corruption, nepotism and others.

Interestingly, the acting President Yemi Osinbajo, is not new to the process.

He has been part of the agitation himself over the years, but he’s now in a delicate position to speak out his mind. That must be frustrating for a professor of law who has been part of civil rights movement over the years.

But we cannot ignore the agitations around the country for too long, because they continue to find oxygen in our political system.

Naively, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has analysed the trend from a myopic view throwing blanket statement on it as nothing but corruption fighting back.

“The cost of corruption to this nation is much.

It is poisonous. It is something that breeds Boko Haram, militancy, these boys calling for Biafra and those people calling for some parts to leave Nigeria.

“The looters actually funded these agitations.

There are people behind these boys funding them to sabotage this country in order to have room to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth.

“The root of these agitations is corruption. Join us and other Nigerians in fighting corruption for the survival of this country,” he explained.

Certainly, to listen to Magu is to ignore the fact. As we approach another independence anniversary we can hold our nation together by finding ways to remove suspicion. The political system we run is where that suspicion is found.

Indeed, the question of SNC wouldn’t come up again, if we have made effort to decentralize the government. That I believe is a needful task for the Buhari Government. Once that is done, you’ll find Biafra dies out of our life.

LEKANFATODU HEADS-UP

Email lekantodun@yahoo.com

Tel 07058069255

Now We Are Talking Not a few Nigerians are wont to saying that government has no business in business.

And what is popularly adjudged to be the interpretation of that statement is that, given its appalling management of several potentially profitable business-structured government assets, the Nigerian Government is one that shouldn't really come near any business concern.

Incidentally, examples of the government's gross mismanagement of lucrative enterprises abound in the misfortune that was brought upon the defunct Nigeria Airways, the sinking of the huge revenue potentials of the rested Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) along with its multi-million dollars worth of ships to mention just a few. These are significant instances of bad businesses conducted by the government.

That said, there's need for clarity of terms here. This is to ensure that the habitual failings of the government will not dampen the zeal of the citizens to point to the government and also compel it to take up its legitimate position in business for the prosperity of the nation.

Essentially, government control over its business-structured assets, which often brings about losses, should be distinguished from the actions of the government in creating an enabling environment for businesses to start and thrive, which normally should be their major involvement in business activities in the country.

Interestingly, observations from recent happenings in government are suggesting that the highest authority in the land is currently toeing the expected path quite well. Isn't it fascinating to note that the government that started off by trumpeting Made-in-Nigeria

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah

goods almost as if Nigerians will suddenly develop capacity to locally produce many of the ludicrous imported goods without the government acting as the primary enabler of such endeavour, is now talking about the need to provide an enabling environment?

Of course, now we are talking; and also making efforts to address the major issues that are encumbering growth. It seems we have finally realised that the usual approach of placing the cart before the horse has only resulted in appearance of motion without movement whatsoever.

The talks, as observed recently, which focus on policy improvement and introduction of critical interventions that will stimulate aggressive

interest and activities in several enterprises are what the nation has been waiting for as part of the promises of change.

And more importantly, the talks are being backed with action. Clearly, signing into law the two pieces of legislation that will help to facilitate access to more affordable credit facilities for businesses in the country is a remarkable route to reflating the economy.

As a result of this effort, Nigeria now has the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017 which are laws essentially made to strengthen Nigeria's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) economy and empower the players in this sector. And with these laws, budding entrepreneurs in MSMEs market will, for the first time ever, use their reputation, generators, deep freezers, school certificates and many unconventional properties to access credit.

To demonstrate its concern, the government further stated that, access to credit is critical to economic growth and is considered to be the motor for driving private sector development. However, in Nigeria more than 70 per cent of private enterprises, typically MSMEs, have limited or no access to credit. Credit applications get rejected due to insufficient credit history and information for the lender to use to make a reasonable judgement, as well as unacceptable collateral. The two new Acts remove those obstacles for MSMEs. Traditionally, banks only give loans to businesses that can provide fixed land and property as collateral. This shuts out MSMEs which usually own only movable assets like

motor vehicles and equipment.

The Collateral Registry Bill, 2017, will give confidence to lenders to utilise the registry and thereby make credit available to MSMEs and individuals through the "use of their movable assets as collateral.”

Well, a good move, you would say. But really this important move shouldn't just be read as part of those captivating platitudes. Indeed, being of greater concern to the government should be the lack of implementation of many meaningful laws and policies like the two that have just been brought to existence which make nonsense of the whole exercise.

Therefore, efforts at implementation should now be made more aggressive and purposeful possibly more than the energy that was deployed to the introduction of the laws.

Reasonably, it should be just enough that the beginning looks good, but the end result must be made to wear a greater outlook.

Similarly, constant supply of power remains a major force towards achieving a viable and truly prosperous MSMEs market in Nigeria.

So it behooves on the government to deal decisively with the demon that has been holding down power thereby ensuring that lives and businesses are run in darkness.

And what does this bring? More grave blunders, stagnation, confusion and other national catastrophe.

As such, if only for the sake of the MSMEs players and other stakeholders who have been acknowledged as the engine of the economy, the government needs to revisit the power issue with a view to finding a lasting solution and then, bolster other infrastructural necessities that support growth.

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

39

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE NIGERIA

NIGERIA OFFERS ITS FIRST SOVEREIGN SUKUK The Debt Management Office wishes to inform the general public that due to the upcoming public holiday for the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr and the need to give the investing public ample time and opportunity to invest, the date earlier announced for the Issuance of the first Sovereign Sukuk (Wednesday, June 28, 2017) has been postponed. A new date will be announced soon.

How to Invest: Investors should contact the branches of First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Lotus Financial Services Limited nationwide.

For Who: All classes of investors: Individuals, Corporates, Co-operative Societies, Government Agencies, Staff Schemes, Non-Bank Financial Institutions, Pension Fund Administrators, Foreign Investors, Trade Unions, Community Associations, Cultural Associations, Religious Institutions, etc.

Benefits to Investors: x Rental income will be paid half-yearly directly into Sukuk holderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s account. x Good investment opportunity towards retirement and future projects, etc. x Sukuk investment can be transferred and traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. x The Custodian Accounts of Sukuk Holders will be credited and text alerts will be sent to investors on Settlement Day. Benefit to Government: x Funds will be used to fund road projects in the six (6) geopolitical zones across the country. x Diversification of sources of Government funding, deepening of the market for domestic securities, improving financial inclusion.

Features: x Tenor: x Issue Amount: x Profit Payment: x Mode of Issuance: x Rental Rate: x Subscription Period: x Minimum Subscription: x Security:

7 years.

N100 Billion.

Half-yearly.

Book-Building.

To be announced by the DMO. Three (3) days.

N10,000.00 with multiples of N1,000.00 thereafter.

Backed by the full faith and credit of FGN.

Contact: Investors should contact the Debt Management Office and the Financial Advisers to the issue: FBN Merchant Bank Limited and Lotus Financial Services Limited.

DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE The Presidency NDIC Building (First Floor) Plot 447/448 Constitution Avenue Central Business District P.M.B. 532, Garki, Abuja Tel: +234 - 8110000881-3 Website: http://www.dmo.gov.ng

FBN Merchant Bank Ltd RC 264978 10 Keffi Street, Off Awolowo Road S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria Tel: +234 1 2702290-4 Website: www.fbnmerchantbank.com

Lotus Financial Services Ltd 1b Udi Street Osborne Foreshore Estate Osborne Road Lagos Nigeria Tel: 234 1 291 4626 234 8077099552 Website: www.lotuscapitallimited.com Email: info@lotuscapitallimited.com

T H I S D AY Ëž , JUNE 23, 2017

44

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Investors Cheer Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Currency Shift Nume Ekeghe with agency report The Central Bank of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) recent tentative steps to free up its naira currency, particularly via a new trading window, have gone down well with some adventurous stock and bond investors who are cautiously returning to the markets they fled two years ago, Reuters reported yesterday.

Once considered one of the most promising emerging markets, Nigeria was hammered when it introduced draconian foreign exchange restrictions to counter the effects of the 2014 oil price crash.

These will take years to unwind, some analysts fear, while others are concerned the new trading facility could come under pressure if oil prices were to take another tumble, or trade through it could slow if Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currency reserves run low.

The much-criticised move

starved the economy of dollars, throttled foreign investment and plunged Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest economy into recession for the first time in more than 25 years.

But authorities have since tried to normalise the currency market and alleviate dollar shortages, most recently via the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Investors & Exporters FX Windowâ&#x20AC;?, which allows investors and traders to swap naira for dollars at market-determined rates.

The new window seems to be succeeding in luring back some foreign funds, especially as the economy should return to growth soon and inflation is finally slowing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a very good thing.

Obviously having multiple exchange rates is not an optimum situation yet, but it is moving towards a more realistic exchange rate,â&#x20AC;? economist at hedge fund Emso Asset Management, Oliver Weeks said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This certainly makes the country more interesting.â&#x20AC;?

Under the new system in place since April, the opening and closing naira/dollar rates are determined by a poll of authorised bank dealers. The NAFEX or Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Rate Fixing is set around noon and serves as a benchmark for derivatives such as forwards and futures.

Weeks said Emso has used the new mechanism successfully several times in the past six weeks.

Since the windowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s launch, foreigners have swapped some $2.2 billion through it, according to the central bank although London-based Exotix Capital said many of the deals were likely small as some people test the new system.

Data from Lagos-based FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, which hosts the window, shows the naira NAFEX fix at nearly N369 per dollar, well below the official N305 rate the central bank had previously clung to.

MARKET INDICATORS

CBN Warns against Abuse of the Naira Nume Ekeghe The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged members of the public to desist from ill handling of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currency, the naira. The central bank stressed that the cost of maintaining the naira note was expensive, while also urging members of the informal sector to embrace the various e-payment options in the economy.

This call was made at the CBNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development Fair,â&#x20AC;? in Lagos yesterday, which had a collective attendance of farmers, traders, SMEs and others from the informal sector. The Assistant Director, Currency Operations Department, CBN, Mr. Benedict Maduagwu said that there are so many interventions by the CBN aimed at promoting the well-being and also in diversifying the economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have the Anchor Borrow-

ersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scheme which is a wonderful initiative. We also have the MSME intervention scheme of N220 billion which 60 percent is reserved for women. We also have the youth empowerment development program and we are also promoting cashless. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The way currency is being handled, it is being abused and the cost is huge. As at 2005 to 2010, it was over N192 billion and as i speak it is more than that. So the effort in the cashless policy and also telling people on how to carry clean naira are all aimed at reduction of the huge cost in currency.â&#x20AC;?

He also added that this sensitisation fair would be a nationwide event, in order to enlighten members of the public on various reforms made by the central bank. This is expected to improve financial stability and economic development.

On his part, the Deputy Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Mr. Olu Vincent

said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a sensitisation to the public on what CBN has been doing federally over the past few years to stimulate the economy to produce a base for economic development since the volatility in the oil price market. This is to divert the economy from oil to non-oil export, which everyone is clamouring we should lay more emphasis on non-oil export. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There have been various interventions that the central bank has put in place as part of the proactive measures of the bank in stimulating the growth of the economy. So what we doing basically this period is to sensitise the public about what the bank has been doing underground and also sensitise the public about their rights while relating with their banks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are moving from oil to non-oil and the strength of the economy is actually in the agricultural sector and other SMEs.â&#x20AC;?

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

Ě&#x2122;

Ě&#x161;

DECEMBER 2016 Broad Money (M2)

23,840,392.42

Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁ Ě&#x2122; ÍŻĚ&#x161;

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

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

26,970,297.97

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

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

Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ě&#x2122; Ě&#x161;

22,374,718.08

--Other Assets Net

-12,483,409.58

Reserve Money (Base Money)

5,837,322.41

Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;

2,179,174.28

Ě&#x2039;Ě&#x2039; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă?Ă?

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

FCMB Creates Banking Platform forYouths First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a Flexx Hub at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo state. The Hub is a mini branch where basic banking transactions can be carried out, while also serving as an exclusive banking arena for FCMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s customers who hold its youth account, known as Flexx.

This, according to a statement from the bank, is the third of such structure to be unveiled by the bank in Nigeria and would further solidify its existing relationship with the youth segment in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, the bank described the Flexx Hub as one of the innovative strategies it had adopted to simplify banking services as it removes avoidable physical banking transactions at branches, while providing holders of the Flexx account the privilege to enjoy extra benefits, such as wifi, charging ports etc. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Flexx proposition is also designed to meet the overall financial and other socio-economic needs of young

people within the age range of 16 and 25 years. This is summarised in the description of Flexx as, â&#x20AC;&#x153;An app, a card, an accountâ&#x20AC;?, features which give account holders the freedom to bank on the go, using the Flexx Mobile App. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The opening of the FCMB Flexx Hub at UNIBEN included series of exciting, empowering and rewarding activities for the students and other attendees.

There were also activities such as appearances by popular celebrities, motivational speakers, music, game shows, dancing competitions and talent contests, during which participating students and other youths won various gifts which thrilled the audience,â&#x20AC;? it added.

Declaring the Flexx Hub open, the Regional Director, South-east/South-south of FCMB, Mr.Okey Ezeala, said the development would go a long way to promote financial inclusion in university campuses as well as surrounding communities. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;what the FCMB Flexx Hub brings to the table is

a further simplification of banking services for our young customers, as it removes the rigours of banking, so that they are encouraged and happy to adopt mainstream financial services using the Flexx Hub whenever the need arises. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ultimately, the goal is to demystify and remove the perceived rigours of banking thereby reinforcing our values as a simple, reliable and helpful financial institution anchored on the culture of excellence.â&#x20AC;?

Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Professor Osasere Orumwense, expressed gratitude to FCMB for bringing its excellent banking services to the school. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted with the presence of FCMB at UNIBEN. This is a strong demonstration that the Bank is truly committed to support the development of students, education and Nigeria in general. I encourage students and staff of the school to make the best use of this opportunity. We look forward to more rewarding partnerships with the Bank,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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; ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, WED, 21 JUNE 2017 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $43.14 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $43.90 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), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), 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

45

˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017

Nigeria’s top 50 stocks based on market fundamentals

22-Jun-17

21-Jun-17

% Change

Capitalisation

EPS

P/E

P/S

Div. Yld

Price/ Book Value

Table 1 Market Statistics Mkt Indicators

01 Dangote Cement Plc

205.00

205.00

0.00%

3,493,304,018,025.00

10.95

18.72

5.68

3.90%

4.38

02 Nigerian Breweries Plc

158.03

166.00

-4.80%

1,253,035,813,330.64

3.58

44.09

3.99

2.28%

7.55

03 Guaranty Trust Bank Plc

34.34

34.99

-1.86%

1,010,666,694,552.16

4.49

7.64

2.44

5.15%

2.00

900.01

900.00

0.00%

713,398,553,362.52

10.00

90.02

3.92

3.22%

23.10

Thisday BGL 50 Index Thisday BGL 50 Market Cap (N'Trillion)

20.43

21.20

-3.63%

641,430,368,047.98

4.13

4.95

1.26

8.81%

0.91

Table 3 Top 5 Gainers

06 United Bank for Africa Plc

9.20

8.82

4.31%

333,771,642,162.40

1.99

4.62

0.87

6.52%

0.74

Stock

07 Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc

30.60

32.00

-4.38%

306,000,000,000.00

2.85

10.73

1.96

0.33%

2.17

08 Presco Plc

73.00

76.00

-3.95%

289,844,824,285.00

0.03

2,496.60

4.06

1.78%

6.93

9.22

9.40

-1.91%

266,715,898,437.82

13.18

0.70

0.70

5.97%

0.59

460.00

460.00

0.00%

254,522,743,980.00 -82.02

-5.61

4.02

3.46%

0.68

11 Ecobank Transnational Incorporated

13.30

14.53

-8.47%

244,049,031,159.50

0.68

19.66

0.42

4.66%

0.39

12 Lafarge Africa Plc

51.15

52.00

-1.63%

232,983,227,581.50

3.71

13.79

1.06

5.87%

0.94

04 Nestle Nigeria Plc 05 Zenith Bank Plc

09 Access Bank Plc 10 Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Ltd

13 FBN Holdings Plc

6.08

6.34

-4.10%

218,243,380,175.36

0.21

29.30

0.41

2.47%

0.35

42.99

42.99

0.00%

162,643,905,787.50

0.81

52.95

2.33

0.12%

13.91

9.01

9.01

0.00%

108,120,000,000.00

1.20

7.51

0.64

5.55%

1.63

16 Guinness Nig Plc

71.50

73.00

-2.05%

107,671,005,442.00

-3.06

-23.38

1.04

4.48%

2.73

17 International Breweries Plc

29.12

30.65

-4.99%

95,928,539,033.60

0.02

1,292.38

3.60

0.86%

8.74

18 Total Nigeria Plc

272.01

272.01

0.00%

92,353,334,882.37

43.58

6.24

0.32

5.15%

3.92

19 Mobil Oil Nig Plc

248.00

250.90

-1.16%

89,427,624,976.00

22.61

10.97

0.95

2.90%

4.17

6.91

7.27

-4.95%

83,159,216,557.54

0.29

23.80

0.18

10.85%

0.43

21 Flour Mills Nig. Plc

29.20

29.50

-1.02%

76,627,725,860.40

-1.19

-24.47

0.18

6.85%

0.77

22 Forte Oil Plc.

50.04

50.04

0.00%

65,176,154,394.12

2.22

22.55

0.44

6.89%

1.50

23 Okomu Oil Palm Plc

64.80

68.20

-4.99%

61,813,368,000.00

5.15

12.59

4.30

0.15%

3.63

1.52

1.68

-9.52%

58,855,916,086.00

-0.03

-52.22

0.99

0.00%

0.68

25 7-Up Bottling Comp. Plc

90.00

90.01

-0.01%

57,653,132,670.00

-0.05 -1,970.44

0.62

2.44%

2.60

26 Julius Berger Nig. Plc

41.52

43.70

-4.99%

54,806,400,000.00

-2.89

-14.36

0.39

3.61%

0.78

27 U A C N Plc

18.00

17.90

0.56%

34,575,558,966.00

3.37

5.34

0.46

5.56%

0.46

28 Fidelity Bank Plc

1.19

1.29

-7.75%

34,465,476,973.48

0.39

3.07

0.23

13.45%

0.19

29 Sterling Bank Plc

1.02

1.03

-0.97%

29,366,226,488.52

0.18

5.69

0.26

8.82%

0.34

30 Diamond Bank Plc

1.12

1.22

-8.20%

25,939,635,644.16

-0.29

-3.81

0.12

0.00%

0.11

31 Cadbury Nigeria Plc

13.54

13.54

0.00%

25,430,855,621.60

-0.16

-85.80

0.85

9.60%

2.30

32 National Salt Co. Nig. Plc

9.56

10.00

-4.40%

25,328,630,893.68

0.91

10.49

1.38

5.75%

3.15

33 FCMB Group Plc

1.24

1.30

-4.62%

24,555,361,368.44

0.72

1.71

0.14

8.06%

0.14

34 Cap Plc

34.99

34.99

0.00%

24,493,000,000.00

2.29

15.28

3.59

3.29%

10.73

35 Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Nig. Plc

20.45

20.45

0.00%

24,455,674,179.60

3.51

5.82

1.70

1.47%

1.43

36 Mansard Insurance Plc

2.30

2.42

-4.96%

24,150,000,000.00

0.25

9.17

1.17

2.17%

1.20

37 Wema Bank Plc

0.61

0.67

-8.96%

23,530,424,309.41

0.07

9.08

0.44

0.00%

0.49

20.90

20.90

0.00%

20,900,000,000.00

5.69

3.68

1.46

0.48%

0.56

39 Custodian And Allied Insurance Plc

3.43

3.52

-2.56%

20,174,794,188.85

0.91

3.78

0.52

4.08%

0.67

40 Honeywell Flour Mill Plc

1.94

1.97

-1.52%

15,384,583,456.52

-0.40

-4.80

0.32

8.25%

0.46

41 Cement Co. Of North.Nig. Plc

10.74

11.27

-4.70%

13,496,719,206.84

0.22

49.06

1.21

0.93%

1.26

42 Continental Reinsurance Plc

1.29

1.30

-0.77%

13,380,840,162.48

0.42

3.07

0.60

9.30%

0.72

43 Skye Bank Plc

0.70

0.76

-7.89%

9,716,210,987.00

-2.93

-0.24

0.06

42.86%

0.09

44 Unity Bank Plc

0.76

0.80

-5.00%

8,883,896,835.92

0.19

4.07

0.11

0.00%

0.11

45 Wapic Insurance Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

6,691,369,126.00

0.18

2.78

0.85

6.00%

0.41

46 Resort Savings & Loans Plc

0.50

0.50

0.00%

5,664,866,202.00

0.03

17.71

3.72

0.00%

1.94

47 UACN Property Development Co. Limited

2.80

2.81

-0.36%

4,812,499,986.00

-0.90

-3.10

0.76

25.00%

0.14

48 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc

2.95

3.10

-4.84%

4,791,445,312.50

0.36

8.25

0.60

6.78%

0.74

49 Fidson Healthcare Plc

2.85

2.99

-4.68%

4,275,000,000.00

0.21

13.50

0.56

1.75%

0.65

50 AIICO Insurance Plc

0.58

0.61

-4.92%

4,019,518,598.40

1.48

0.39

0.15

8.62%

0.46

14 Unilever Nigeria Plc 15 Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc

20 Oando Plc

24 Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc

38 PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc

TOTAL

10,800,685,107,296.80

TOTAL MARKET CAP

11,576,748,412,005.40

% OF MARKET CAP Annotation - MA* = Simple Moving Average

93.30%

NSE All Share Index NSE Market Cap (N'Trillion)

Open 21-Jun-17

Close 22-Jun-17

Change %

33,477.89 11.58

32,928.44 11.39

-1.64% -1.64%

141.29 11.00

138.72 10.80

-1.82% -1.82%

Open Close Change 21-Jun-17 22-Jun-17 %

United Bank for Africa Plc U A C N Plc

8.82 17.90

9.20 18.00

4.31% 0.56%

Table 4 Top 5 Losers Stock

Open Close Change 21-Jun-17 22-Jun-17 %

Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc Wema Bank Plc Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Diamond Bank Plc Skye Bank Plc

1.68

1.52 -9.52%

0.67 14.53

0.61 -8.96% 13.30 -8.47%

1.22 0.76

1.12 -8.20% 0.70 -7.89%

Market records further drop in NSE Index Market pulse on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) today – Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 ended on a negative note as the stock market closed red. This was further highlighted by negative performance from the NSE Subsectors: Banking, Insurance, Consumer Goods and Oil & Gas. Also, trading activities decreased in volume as 509.76m shares worth of N5.03 billion in 5,321 deals exchanged hands today. This is a decrease from 508.73m shares worth of N6.40 billion in 5,876 deals which exchanged hands on Wednesday. Topping in volume terms are: United Bank for Africa Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc; Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc ended trading as the most active stocks in value terms. Brent crude oil price slides further to US$45.59 per barrel.

The All Share Index (NSEASI) closed negative with 1.64% (-549.45) decrease to close at 32,928.44 from 33,477.89 the previous trading day. Market capitalization depreciated in tandem to N11.39 trillion from N11.58 trillion of prior trading day. Similarly, the THISDAY BGL 50 Index closes with a decrease of 1.82% to 138.72 from 141.29 recorded at the end of the previous trading day, while its market capitalization stood at N10.80 trillion from N11.00 trillion of the previous trading day.

Market breath closed positive today as 14 stocks gained on the bourse while 45 stocks also declined, leaving 57 stocks unchanged. Leading the pack was Con Oil Plc with a gain of 10.24% to close at N44.56 per share. It was closely followed by Ashaka Cement Plc with a gain of 10.16% to close at N16.27 per share. Others on the gainers’ list include: Berger Paints Plc, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc and Livestock Feeds Plc. On the decliners’ list, May & Baker Nigeria Plc led with a loss of 9.62% to close at N4.98 share. It was closely followed by Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc with a loss of 9.52% to close at N1.52 per share.

Others on the decliners’ list are: Wema Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporation and Diamond Bank Plc. Topping the Thisday BGL 50 Index gainers’ list United Bank for Africa Plc as it emerged as the day’s toast of investors with a gain of 4.31% to close at N9.20 per share.

It was followed by UACN Plc with a gain of 0.56% to close at N18.00 per share; while on the decliners’ list, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc lead with a loss of 9.52% to close at N1.52 share. It was followed by Wema Bank Plc with a loss of 8.96% to close at N0.61 per share. Others on the decliners list include: Ecobank Transnational Incorporation, Diamond Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE This report has been prepared by BGL Plc. BGL Plc does and seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should use this report as one of many other factors in making their investment decisions.

For more details go to www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ , 23 JUNE, 2017

46

MARKET NEWS

Expect Better Performance from DMO, Nwankwo Assures Nigerians Ebere Nwoji The Director General of Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has assured the capital market community in particular and Nigerians in general that his exit from the agency will not affect its performance negatively.

Nwankwo will be leaving DMO at the end of this month after serving out his tenure.

Speaking on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos after sounding the closing gong, Nwankwo said that the team he would leave behind at DMO will improve on the achievements and performance.

According to him, the agency has capable hands, who will run DMO and continue to manage the debts of the country efficiently, saying it has been

T H E MAIN BOARD

DEALS

MARKET PRICE

a teamwork over the years.

Nwankwo commended the stockbrokers, NSE and its management for the support DMO received during his tenure, pointing out that they have enjoyed a good working relationship with the exchange and dealing members in the market.

“I assure you that DMO remains on a trajectory, resilience and positive initiatives,” he said.

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

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, commended Nwankwo, saying his leadership has helped to restructure the debt instrument, thereby deepening the Nigerian debt market both at the primary and secondary level.

Onyema explained that the success and initiatives of FGN Bond, Sukuk, Diaspora Bond among others, should be

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

27

2.69

614,065

1,572,223.05

credited to the efforts of the outgoing DMO DG. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said that the forthcoming N100 billion Sukuk will catalyse the development of non-interest capital market products.

The issuance of this Sukuk, follows diligent advocacy efforts from the SEC on the need to issue the instrument in order to

serve as an alternative product for investors.

Sukuk, the non-interest equivalent of bonds, is becoming increasingly attractive as a preferred option for funding infrastructure development and indeed economic growth across the globe. Several countries across diverse continents have increasingly issued non-interest financial instruments to fund their infrastructure deficit.

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

47

˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017

MARKET NEWS

Meyer Concludes Right Issue, Eyes Foreign Technical Partner Ugo Aliogo Meyer Plc has recorded 71 per cent subscription in its Right Issue, saying the proceeds of the issue will be used to upgrade its factory, enhance its brand, market presence and boost working capital.

Speaking at the annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, the Chairman Meyer Plc, Kayode Falowo, said that a combination of adverse economic variables resulted in the increase in the cost

of sales and administrative expenses, while reduction in production led to a decline in turnover.

He said the company incurred a loss after tax of N219.196 million in 2016 compared to a profit of N52.86 Million in 2015 due to the economic recession, which led to high cost of imported raw materials, instability of the forex, and other factors that affected manufacturing industry in 2016.

“The year 2016 was indeed

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

tough for us as a business.

Although, the year started on a bright note leveraging on the good performance of the previous year, by half-year the business started to record a downturn that lingered till end of the year. The challenges the business faced were both external and internal in nature and these significantly impacted our performance as a business.

The forex impact in terms of availability, accessibility and exchange rate was huge and significantly affected

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 21-June-2017, unless otherwise stated.

our business, as almost 90 percent of our raw materials are imported. This further weakened our working capital base and management had to devise some indigenous ways to stay afloat. We are still servicing the AMCON loan which is obviously a huge burden on the business and hope that during the year 2017, we will be able to come up with a solution for settling the obligation,” he said.

Falowo explained that the AMCON loan was restructured on June 6, 2016

with a new principal amount of N521.5 million at a rate of eight percent and spread over 60 months’ payable on quarterly basis commencing from August 31, 2016.

According to him, the management commenced a rebranding exercise that included the change of name and logo of the company.

“The former name DN Meyer Plc was effectively changed to Meyer Plc and the authorities have approved this change. A formal event to unveil the new

name and logo is planned for 2017. We implemented several initiatives in the last quarter of the year that helped mitigate our position. Some of these include: redesign of our route to the market (RTM) to create better efficiency around our distribution cost and help in product penetration. We are prospecting for foreign technical partnership to strengthen our technical capability and open our business to untapped opportunities in the industries,” Falowo said.

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 161.15 162.27 27.08% Nigeria International Debt Fund 223.81 225.30 5.58% 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 0.75 0.76 7.06% 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 18.74% 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 16.26 16.75 31.72% ARM Discovery Fund 348.00 358.49 21.18% ARM Ethical Fund 25.07 25.82 12.20% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 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 129.56 130.47 23.18% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 18.48% 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 16.91% Paramount Equity Fund 11.33 11.62 21.04% Women's Investment Fund 91.22 93.56 7.83% 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 16.66% 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 1,075.57 1,076.70 6.42% FBN Heritage Fund 130.55 131.65 17.10% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 19.51% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $108.43 $109.40 5.46% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $107.68 $108.64 5.45% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 148.69 150.81 32.04% 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 1.27 1.29 36.17% Legacy Short Maturity (NGN) Fund 2.76 2.76 7.53% 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 2,657.83 2,705.12 20.67% Coral Income Fund 2,292.12 2,292.12 8.93% 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 16.52% 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 17.67% Vantage Balanced Fund 1.97 1.99 17.03% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 17.40%

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 1.07 1.09 8.62% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,036.14 1,036.14 5.28% 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 13.02 13.12 34.69% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 17.88% 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 1.12 1.15 13.63% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 10.62 10.69 2.23% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 16.95% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 122.60 124.08 20.65% 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 1.31 1.31 5.53% 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 2,081.28 2,093.56 13.67% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 160.33 160.33 4.14% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.93 0.94 21.43% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 200.80 200.80 7.44% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 163.57 165.16 25.79% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 18.40% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,033.78 9,138.10 19.12% 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 1.28 1.29 8.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.35 1.35 14.87% United Capital Equity Fund 0.82 0.84 0.38% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.16 1.16 11.26% 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 12.01 12.21 23.86% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.75 12.90 16.55% Zenith Income Fund 18.08 18.08 9.36%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 127.54

1.01% 2.88%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.12 97.98

10.22 99.80

15.18% 29.28%

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

4.12 8.20 16.10 20.38 130.19

4.16 8.28 16.20 20.58 132.19

48.93% 16.55% 34.84% 27.60% 1.00%

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.

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

48

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Rulings of Sadaqat al-Fitr â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2 Continued from last week

By Mufti Faraz ibn Adam/Darul Fiqh

H

aving said this, it will be permissible for a husband to discharge of Sadaqat al-Fitr on behalf of his wife. Equally a father can pay on behalf of his mature children.

(Sharh Fath al-Qadir, 2:289-290) A woman who has the quantum will be obliged to pay the Sadaqat al-Fitr herself, irrespective whether she is married or not. (Imdad al-Fatawa, 2:110) Mature children who are in possession of the quantum will also be responsible to pay Sadaqat al-Fitr for themselves.

A point worthy of mentioning here is that a male isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t responsible to pay Sadaqat al-Fitr on behalf of his parents, minor siblings or his relatives. However, if he did dispense of Sadaqat al-Fitr on their behalf, it will be permissible. (al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu, 2:903) In conclusion, every male and female is responsible to give Sadaqat al-Fitr when they are eligible to do so.

What to Give Islam is way of life which can be practised in all eras and all locations. Many injunctions are based on simple and common articles. For example, the calendar is based on the sighting of the moon, salah is centred on the positioning of the sun, fasting is founded on dawn and dusk, the sentence of an adulterer is executed by stoning.

Likewise, the valuation of many monetary advancements within the Islamic code of law, revolve around simple grain and cereal widely available in the markets.

Abu Saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We would give Zakat al-Fitr on behalf of every minor and adult, the free and enslaved in the era of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of foodstuff or one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of cheese or one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of barley or one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;of dates or one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of raisins. (Sahih Muslim, 2:106) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Abd Allah Ibn â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) instructed us to give Sadaqat al-Fitr of one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of dates or one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;of barley. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Abd Allah Ibn â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Umar mentions that the Sahabah later gave two mud (½ saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) of wheat in place of dates and barley. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1:411) Shaykh Bashar Bakri Arrabi in his annotation of the great Hanafi work al-Lubab states one saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;equates to 3.2 kg. This is supported by various other texts and commentaries. Thus, ½ saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is equivalent to 1.632 kg. (al-Lubab fi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;l-Sharh al-Kitab, p.169) Based on the aforementioned ahadith, Imam al-Kasani mentions one should give: 1.

1 saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of barley or 2.

1 saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of dates or 3. ½ saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of wheat or 4.

1 saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; raisins 5.

(Badaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i al-Sanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i, 2:540) Imam Ibn al-Humam has mentioned that for everything besides wheat one should give 1 saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;and for wheat he should give ½ saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. He endorsed that this view is shared

by Muâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;awiyah, Taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;us, Saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;id Ibn Musayyab, Ibn Zubayr, Saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;id Ibn Jubayr and many other prominent individuals.

(Sharh Fath al-Qadir, 2:228) It is permissible to give the value of the above in cash, instead of the actual grain. However, according to Imam Muhammad al-Shaybani, only the value of wheat should be considered (not the value of barley or dates).

(Radd al-Muhtar, 3:322) By virtue of the inferred meaning (dalalah an-nass), the scholars have pointed out that the goal of Sadaqat al-Fitr is to enrich the poor and suffice their need. This enriching and sufficing is easily done with cash and other commodities. Thus, it will be permissible to give anything which has a value to it. Again, one will give whatever values to 1.6 kg of wheat. (al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu, 2:909-910; Badaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i al-Sanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i, 2:543) So, it is permissible to give the authentically narrated items in their respected quantities or to give the value of 1.6 kg of wheat.

When calculating the price of wheat, one will consider the price and value of the area they dwell in.

Ibn Nujaym al-Misri states â&#x20AC;&#x153;Commodities will be evaluated in the city or areas there are in.â&#x20AC;? (al-Bahr al-Raâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;iq, 2:400)

The Time of Dispensing Sadaqat al-Fitr The dispensing of Sadaqat al-Fitr becomes compulsory upon an individual with the break of dawn on the day of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id [al-Fitr, the 1st of Shawwal]. (Badaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i al-Sanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i, 2:544) It is recommended to pay the Sadaqat al-Fitr before

attending the place where â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id salah will be performed.

(Sharh Fath al-Qadir, 2:305) It is permissible to pay Sadaqat al-Fitr prior to the day of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Abd Allah Ibn â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Umar said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;People used to give Sadaqat al-Fitr a day or two before the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1:411) In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s climate, it is better and preferable to pay the Sadaqat al-Fitr many days in advance. The whole idea of Sadaqat al-Fitr is to benefit and suffice the poor on the day of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id. Discharging of it prior to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id salah in the masjid or musallah, as it is common practice in the west, defeats the purpose and objective of Sadaqat al-Fitr. Hence, one should ideally pay the Sadaqah in adequate time so it can reach those who are worthy of it in due time. (Kitab al-Fatawa, 3:362) If somebody failed to pay Sadaqat al-Fitr prior to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Id salah, it will be permissible to discharge of it afterwards.

Although to delay it is discouraged and disliked. (Nur al-Idah, p.162) The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If one pays Sadaqat al-Fitr before thesalah, it is considered an accepted charity, if he pays it after the salah, it is considered an ordinary charity.â&#x20AC;? (Sunan Abu Dawud, p. 263) There is dispute amongst the classical scholars with regards to exactly how many days in advance can Sadaqat al-Fitr be paid. The preferred view is that it will be permissible to pay even before the onset of Ramadan.

However, to discharge of it in the month of Ramadan is the most preferred course of action, as all the scholars agree to this. (Kitab al-Fatawa, 3:363)

The Recipients of Sadaqat al-Fitr The scholars are unanimous that the recipients of Sadaqat al-Fitr are identical to that of Zakat. This is based on the following verse: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [Zakat] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveller â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.â&#x20AC;?

(Surat al-Tawbah v. 60)

The verse contains eight types of people: 1.

Poor (fuqaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;): They are those people who do not own in excess of their personal needs any type of wealth that is equal to the value of nisab (612.36 g of silver).

2.

Needy (masakin): According to some scholars, they are those whose economic status is worse than the poor (fuqaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;). The difference is a technical difference, but the principle is that neither of them possess in excess of their personal needs any type of wealth that is equal to the value of nisab.

3.

Zakat collectors (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;amilin alayha): This refers to those individuals commissioned by the head of the Islamic government to collect Zakat. This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t applicable today.

4.

Those whose hearts are being reconciled (muâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;allafah al-qulub): This was an avenue to dispense your Zakat in during the early days of Islam. The Zakat money would be given to three types of people: 1.

Those disbelievers from whom it was perceived that by giving this donation, they would embrace Islam.

2.

To the leaders of the disbelievers in order to save the believers from their evil.

3.

To those who have just accepted Islam. This payment would be made to elevate their spirits.

According to the Hanafi scholars, this avenue is now abrogated. (Sharh Fath al-Qadir, 2:265) 5.

Emancipating slaves (fi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;l-riqab): Zakat money can be used to purchase a slave from his master in order to set him free. Again, this is inapplicable.

6.

Debtors (al-gharimin): This is regarding a person who despite having assets at his disposal, he is overwhelmed with debt and the debt exceeds the value of his assets.

7.

Those in the cause of Allah (fi sabil Allah): According to the majority of scholars, this refers to and is restricted to only those people who are engaged in Jihad (military struggle).

8.

Travellers (ibn al-sabil): This refers to those travellers who are in a desperate situation and have no access to their personal money. Money nowadays can be wired across the globe in a matter of minutes, hence, one who has the ability to receive his money, will not be allowed to take Zakat or Sadaqat al-Fitr.

Currently, only the poor, needy, debtor, the Mujahidin and the travellers are eligible to receiving Zakat and Sadaqat al-Fitr.

49

FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Main Forest Fires in Portugal under Control The main forest fires that have raged in Portugal since the weekend, killing more than 60 people, were brought under control on Thursday, the civil protection

agency said, but grief and anger smouldered across the country.

The giant blaze broke out initially at Pedrogao Grande and spread to adjacent

Turkey, Saudi Arabia Discuss Efforts to End Qatar Rift Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spoken with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and its new crown prince over the phone and they agreed to increase efforts to end tension related to Qatar, sources from Erdogan’s office said.

Turkey has offered support to Qatar after Saudi Arabia and several other nations severed ties with Doha over accusations of funding terrorism and fomenting regional instability.

Qatar denied the accusations and said the measures were “unjustified”.

Erdogan spoke with the Saudi leaders on Wednesday evening and “agreement was reached on increasing efforts towards ending tension in the region related to Qatar”, the sources said in a statement.

The leaders also stressed their determination to strengthen Turkish-Saudi ties, while Erdogan congratulated Mohammed bin Salman on his promotion to crown prince, the sources said before adding that Erdogan and King Salman also agreed to hold face-to-face talks at the G20 meeting in Hamburg next month.

King Salman made his son next-in-line to the throne on Wednesday, handing the 32-year-old sweeping powers as the Kingdom seeks a radical overhaul of its oil-dependent economy and faces mounting tensions with regional rival Iran.

On June 7, Turkey’s parliament fast-tracked legislation to allow troops to be deployed to a military base in Qatar, two days after Gulf countries cut ties with Doha in the worst diplomatic crisis in the region in years.

Turkish analysts talking to Al Jazeera interpreted the move as “an apparent show of support for Qatar”.

“This indeed suggests that Turkey sees its defence ties with Qatar as an indispensable pillar of its strategic posture in the region,” Can Kasapoglu, a defence analyst from Turkey’s EDAM, said.

“It also shows that Ankara would not drastically alter its long-term vision for regional fluctuations.”

Turkey has a military base in Qatar that currently houses about 90 Turkish soldiers.

The Turkish forces conducted their first training at Tariq bin Ziyad military base earlier this month in drill that had been long planned.

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central areas including Gois, Pampilhosa da Serra and Arganil.

The fire in Pedrogao Grande, which ravaged 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of forests, was doused only late Wednesday as fire fighters contended with searing heat as well as rapidly shifting winds.

The blaze in Gois, the second biggest after Pedrogao Grande, was brought “under control” on Thursday, said Carlos Tavares, the civil protection official leading the operations, though he cautioned that some fires

could resume.

Nearly 2,400 firemen and water-bombing planes, including aircraft sent from Spain, France and Italy, took part in the effort.

In both areas, temperatures were expected to fall after several days of intense heat, reaching 29 degrees Celsius (84 Fahrenheit), while in the rest of Portugal temperatures were forecast to top out at 34 Celsius.

Over the weekend, Portugal had sweltered under temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius in several regions.

Meanwhile, Spanish

Agriculture Minister Isabel Garcia Tejerina on Thursday told lawmakers that conditions were worrying southwest Spain, hit by a drought.

An estimated 204 people were injured during the Portuguese fires, and funerals began Wednesday for the 64 people killed.

“Now that the most threatening fires are under control, I have two words for this unprecedented human tragedy: pain and solidarity,” said Prime Minister Antonio Costa, as he left a cabinet meet-

ing in Lisbon wearing a black tie.

“It is essential to fully clarify what happened,” he added.

Press reports have suggested that Portugal’s fire plan had not been revised for four years and that the intense heat might have made some communication antennae malfunction.

Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa l a t e We d n e s d a y acknowledged a partial failure in the country’s communications systems.

Battle for Mosul: Destruction of al-Nuri Mosque ‘Shows IS Defeated’ Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says the destruction of an ancient mosque in the city of Mosul is “an official declaration

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of defeat” by so-called Islamic State (IS).

Iraqi forces say IS blew up the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and its famous leaning minaret as jihadists battled to stop advancing pro-government troops.

IS said American aircraft had destroyed the complex, a claim denied by the US. Aerial photographs show the complex largely destroyed.

The mosque, which was more than 800 years old, was where in July 2014 IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi demanded allegiance in his first and only public appearance following the declaration days earlier of a “caliphate”.

The mosque’s destruction has brought widespread condemnation.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo,

deputy director of the UN’s cultural organisation Unesco, said the “iconic” mosque could have helped foster “reconciliation and peace” in Iraq in future.

The Iraqi commander in charge of the offensive to retake Mosul said troops were within 50m (160ft) of the mosque when IS “committed another historical crime”.

50

T H I S D AY FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2017 Advertorial

E@><I@8E :FEK<EK @J FE :FLIJ< ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƟĞƐ͕ ŵĂŶLJ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ͕ ĚƌĂǁŶ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͕ ĐƌĞĞĚƐ ĂŶĚ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ǁŚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌLJ ĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞ ƚŚĞ ŇŝŐŚƚ ŽĨ ďŝůůŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ĚŽůůĂƌƐ ŝŶ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ƐƉĞŶĚ ƚŽ ĨŽƌĞŝŐŶ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĂĚĞƋƵĂƚĞ ĞŵƉŽǁĞƌŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ůŽĐĂů ƉĞƌƐŽŶŶĞů͕ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ͕ ƉƌŽĐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƐŬŝůůƐ ŝŶ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Kŝů ĂŶĚ 'ĂƐ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ;EK'/ Ϳ ĨĂďƌŝĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ŶĞĞĚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ Đƚ ŚĂƐ ĞǀŝĚĞŶƚůLJ ďĞĂƚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĂĨŽƌĞŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ ŽĚĚƐ͕ ƐŝŶĐĞ ŝƚƐ ĞŶĂĐƚŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ Ɖƌŝů ϮϬϭϬ͕ ŝƐ Ă ƌŝǀĞƟŶŐ ƉŚĞŶŽŵĞŶŽŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ŵĂĚĞ ŝƚƐ ŵĂũŽƌ ŚĂƌďŝŶŐĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉŝŽŶĞĞƌ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ƐŝŵƉůĞ ůŽŐŝĐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵ ƚŚĂƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ džĞĐƵƟǀĞ ^ĞĐƌĞƚĂƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ DŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ŽĂƌĚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ &ƵŶĚ ;E &Ϳ͕ ĂƐ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EK'/ Đƚ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ;E D Ϳ ŶŐƌ͘ ƌŶĞƐƚ EǁĂƉĂ ĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐŽƌ͕ ŶŐƌ͘ ^ŝŵďŝ tĂďŽƚĞ Ă ĐĂƐĞ ƐƚƵĚLJ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ ŽĨ ĞǀĞƌLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ĂǁĂƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƵƉƐƚƌĞĂŵ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ŵĂŶĂŐĞĚ ďLJ E D ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ďĞLJŽŶĚ͘ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ŝŶĚŝŐĞŶŽƵƐ ŽƉĞƌĂƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ƵŶĚĞƌ Ă dŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Kŝů ĂŶĚ 'ĂƐ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ Đƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ůĞŐĂů ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚ ĚĞĮŶĞĚ ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ͕ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ŐƌŽǁŶ ĨƌŽŵ njĞƌŽ ƚŽ ĂďŽƵƚ ΨϲϬϬ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ƚŽĚĂLJ ŝƐ Ă ǀĂůŝĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĞŵďŽůĚĞŶƐ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ƉŽůŝĐLJ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂůůLJ ƐĞĞŬƐ ƚŽ ĞŶĂďůĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ͛ ĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ƚŽ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐĂƉĂĐŝƟĞƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂďůĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ƚŽ ĨƵŶĐƟŽŶ /ŶƐƚƌƵĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŚƵŐĞ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ŚĂƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŝŶƚĂĐƚ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ĂŶ ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƐƚ ƚŽ ǁŚĂƚ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ Ăůů ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞĚ ŝŶ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉƵďůŝĐ ĨƵŶĚƐ ĂƌĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ůĞƚ Žƌ ŚŝŶĚƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͘ ǁŝŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĂƉƉĞĂƌŝŶŐ ĞƚĞƌŶĂůůLJ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉŽĐŬĞƚƐ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞ ƌĂƉĂĐŝŽƵƐ ƉƵďůŝĐ dŚĞ ĂĐƚ͕ Ă ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚ ůĞŐĂů ĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬ͕ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽĸĐŝĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŽƌƐ͘ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͖ ĂƌƟĐƵůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ƉůĂŶ͖ ŶĚ ŝŶ Ăůů ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƌŐƵŵĞŶƚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞĚ ĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉĞƌǀŝƐŝŽŶ͕ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ͘ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌͲ ĞůƚĂ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŝƐ ĂďƐŽůƵƚĞůLJ ĨĞĞďůĞ Ăƚ ďĞƐƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ŝƐ dŚƵƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ Θ DŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ŽĂƌĚ ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ŚĂƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ;E D Ϳ͕ ĂƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƚ͕ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽƚĂů ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŶĂƟŽŶƐ͘ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ǀŝĞǁ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌŝŶŐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ŝŶ Ăůů ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ͕ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ Žƌ KĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ ŽĨ >ŽŶĚŽŶ ƐĞƌǀĞƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŚƵď ŽĨ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ <ŝŶŐĚŽŵ ĂŶĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ďĞƌĚĞĞŶ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ĞƉŝĐĞŶƚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͘ <ŝŶŐĚŽŵ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǁĂLJ ŝƐ >ĂŐŽƐ ŬŶŽǁŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů ŶĞƌǀĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĞ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ dŚŽƵŐŚƞƵůůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ džĞĐƵƟǀĞ ^ĞĐƌĞƚĂƌLJ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƚ ƚŽ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌͲ ĞůƚĂ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĞ ĐĞŶƚƌĞ ŽĨ ĂĐƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶĚĂƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽĂƌĚ ŝƐ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ ĂŶĚ ǀŝĂďůĞ ŝĚĞĂƐ ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ ŽĨ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ ůŝŬĞ dĞdžĂƐ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĞdžĞĐƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƟŽŶ ƉůĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ĂŶĚ >ŽƵŝƐŝĂŶĂ͘ dŚĞŶ ǁŽƵůĚ ŝƚ ŵĂŬĞ ƐĞŶƐĞ ĨŽƌ ĂŶLJ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ŽďũĞĐƟŽŶƐ ŽŶ ĂƩĂŝŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐŽĂůƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ͘ ǁŚLJ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ďLJ dĞdžĂŶƐ ǁŚĞŶ ĞǀĞŶ ďLJ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŐĞ ĚĞƉŽƐŝƚƐ ŽĨ ŚLJĚƌŽĐĂƌďŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ďĞůŽǁ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚ ŽĨ ,ŽƵƐƚŽŶ͕ dĞdžĂƐ͍ ŶĚ ƌĞĂƐŽŶĂďůLJ͕ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞdžƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĞŵĞŶĚŽƵƐ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ƐŽ ĨĂƌ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ EK'/ Đƚ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ĞŶĂĐƚŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϬ ĂŶĚ ŶŽǁ͕ /ƚ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ǁŽƌƚŚLJ ŽĨ ŶŽƚĞ ƚŽ ƐƚĂƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽĐĂů ĂŶĚ ůŽĐĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ĂƐ ĞdžĞŵƉůĂƌLJ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƋƵŝƚĞ ĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƐƚĂƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŶŽ ŽŶĞ͕ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ĐLJŶŝĐĂů Žƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚĂů ƐƚƌĞĂŬ͕ ŝŶ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƐĂŶĞ ĐůŝŵĞƐ ŝƐ Ă ŶŽͲďƌĂŝŶĞƌ͘ &Žƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ ^ŚĞůů͕ h< ŚĂƐ ŝƚƐ ŚĞĂĚƋƵĂƌƚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ĐĂŶ ĮŶĚ Ă ĨĂƵůƚ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ŵŽĚĞů ŽĨ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ĂƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ďLJ E D tĂƚĞƌůŽŽ͕ >ŽŶĚŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌƵŶƐ ŝƚƐ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ďĞƌĚĞĞŶ͘ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ŽƉĞŶ ƚŽ Ăůů ĞLJĞƐ͘ ŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĂƐŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĞĚĞƌĂů ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ĨƌĂŶƟĐ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ƌĞƉůŝĐĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ƚĞŵƉůĂƚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E D ŝŶ ŽƚŚĞƌ ǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ďƵīƐ͕ ǁŚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƌĂĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞůŝĞĨƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ŵŽƌĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂďůĞ ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŵƵůƟĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŝƐŵ ŝŶ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŵĂũŽƌ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ĐĞŶƚƌĞƐ ŝŶ ^ŝůŝĐŽŶ sĂůůĞLJ͕ ĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞǀĞŶƚ ŚƵŐĞ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ŇŝŐŚƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ ŚĂƐ ŐŽƚ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĚŽ ǁŝƚŚ ƉŽůŝƟĐƐ͕ ĞƚŚŶŝĐŝƚLJ͕ ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ Žƌ ƐĞĐƚŽƌĂů ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ dŚĂƚ ŝƐ ǁŚLJ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŶĐŽŶĐĞŝǀĂďůĞ ƚŽ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŽŵĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂƌĞ ƵƐƵĂůůLJ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƐŽĐŝŽͲĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƚĞŶĚ ƚŽ ǁŝƚŚŚŽůĚŝŶŐ ĂĐĐŽůĂĚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĚƵƐƚ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ E D ŚĂƐ ŚŝŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ƚŽ ĂƩĂŝŶ ůŽŌLJ ŚĞŝŐŚƚƐ͘ ďĞĞŶ ǁŝĚĞůLJ ĂĚũƵĚŐĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĚŝƐƉůĂLJĞĚ ĞdžĞŵƉůĂƌLJ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ /ƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝƐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ E D ŚĂƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ŝƚƐ ŽǁŶ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ŽǀĞƌǁŚĞůŵŝŶŐ ĞŶĐŽŵŝƵŵ͘ ŵĞůƟŶŐ ƉŽŝŶƚ ŽĨ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞƐ ďLJ ŝƚƐ ƚŚŽƌŽƵŐŚ ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĞŵƉŽǁĞƌŵĞŶƚ ^ĞƌŝŽƵƐůLJ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚŽƐĞ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞƐ ǁŚĞŶ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƉƌŽďĞ ǁŚĂƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ƉĂƌƚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ǁŚŽ ĂƌĞ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƐ ǁĞ ƌĞĂůůLJ ĚĞƐŝƌĞ ĂƐ Ă ŶĂƟŽŶ͘ tŚĞƌĞ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ĚĞĞƉůLJ ŝŶƚĞƌƌŽŐĂƚĞ ŝĨ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ͛Ɛ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŝŶ ĂĐĐŽƌĚĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶƐ ƐŽ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ďĂĚ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ ƐƵĐŚ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ďŽůĚ ŝŶƐŝŐŶŝĂ ŽĨ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞŵĞŶƚ ůŽŽŬƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EK'/ Đƚ͘ ƐŽ ĂďƐƚƌĂĐƚ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƐŝŐŚƚ͘ ǀĞŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ŵĂũŽƌ ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐ ĨŽƌĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ Ŷ ŽƉŝŶŝŽŶͲĐƵŵͲĂĚǀĞƌƚŽƌŝĂů ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞĚ Ă ĨĞǁ ĚĂLJƐ ĂŐŽ ďLJ Ă ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ĞŶƟƚLJ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĂƐƉŝƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ƚŚƌŽǁŶ ƵŶƵƐƵĂů ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ǁŝůů ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ĂƩĂŝŶŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƟŶŐ Ă ƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞĚ ƉŽůŝƟĐŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ E D ͛Ɛ ŵĂŶĚĂƚĞ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŐŽĂůƐ ŚĂƐ͕ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ďĞƐƚ ƌĞĂƐŽŶŝŶŐ͕ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůLJ ŵŽŽƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŝĚĞĂ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ ŶĞĐĞƐƐŝƚĂƚĞĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ůĂLJ ƐŽŵĞ ĨĂĐƚƐ ďĂƌĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ůĂŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂĚƋƵĂƌƚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů Kŝů ŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ;/K ƐͿ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌͲ ĞůƚĂ ŝŶƐŝŶƵĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĚŝďůĞ ƐƚƌŝĚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E D ͘ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĨĂǀŽƵƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ ĂďŽǀĞ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ďƵƚ ĨŽƌ ƌĂƉŝĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞĂƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ /K Ɛ͛ ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ dŽ ďĞŐŝŶ ǁŝƚŚ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟĐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƟĐƵůŽƵƐ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ůĂǁ ĂŶĚ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ĚĞĮŶĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĂŶƚƵŵ ŽĨ ĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƚĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ĂĚĚĞĚ Žƌ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ƵƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŚƵŵĂŶ ZĞĂůůLJ͕ ŽŶ E D ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƵŶƐƵƌƉƌŝƐŝŶŐůLJ ƋƵŝƚĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ĨŽƌ ƐŽŵĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ ƚŽ ŝŵĂŐŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ŐŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƚƌŽůĞƵŵ ƚŚĂƚ ĂŶ ĂŐĞŶĐLJ ŽĨ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĐĂŶ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ŐƌĞĂƚůLJ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞŶ ďĞLJŽŶĚ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞ ƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƐƟŵƵůĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŝŶ Ă ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŵĞƌŝƚŽĐƌĂĐLJ ŝƐ ŽŌĞŶ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞĚ ĨŽƌ ŵĞĚŝŽĐƌŝƚLJ͘ DĂŶLJ ŽĨ ŝŶĚŝŐĞŶŽƵƐ ĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ͍ DŝŶĚ LJŽƵ͕ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽůŝĐLJ ĐĂŵĞ ĂďŽĂƌĚ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŽŶƚĞŶƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ǁŚŽ͕ ƵŶĨŽƌƚƵŶĂƚĞůLJ͕ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƐŽ ĂĐĐƵƐƚŽŵĞĚ ƚŽ Ă ĚLJƐĨƵŶĐƟŽŶĂů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ Žŝů ĂŶĚ ŐĂƐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŚĂƐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ ůĞƐƐ ƚŚĂŶ ĮǀĞ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ϮϬϭϬ ƚŽ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ŽĨ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ǁŝůů ĂůǁĂLJƐ ƐĞĞ Ă ŵĂƌŬ ŽĨ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂďĞƌƌĂƟŽŶ͖ ĂŶĚ ϯϱ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐŚ ϱϬ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϵ͘ ŐŽŽĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂƐ ĂŶ ŽĚĚŝƚLJ͘ dŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŚŝŐŚůLJ ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ůĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ǁŝůů ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚǁŝŶ ůŝŵŝƚĂƟŽŶƐ ŽŌĞŶ ĨŽƵŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽƚ ŽĨ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ͛ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŶŽƌŵĂůůLJ ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ŝŶ ƐƟŵƵůĂƟŶŐ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘

tŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟĐƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉĂŝŶƐƚĂŬŝŶŐ ƐƵƉĞƌǀŝƐŽƌLJ ƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E D ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ƌĞƐƵůƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǁĂƌĚĞĚ ďLJ ŽƉĞƌĂƟŶŐ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ƚŽ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ũƵŵƉŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂďŽƵƚ ϰϬ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŽƚĂů ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ϮϬϭϬ ƚŽ ϴϬ ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ ǁŚŝůĞ ŚŽƉŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞ ϵϬ ƉĞƌ ĐĞŶƚ ďLJ ϮϬϭϵ͍

^Ž ƚŚĞ ĞĂƌůŝĞƌ ƚŚĞ E D ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƵŶĐŝů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚ ƌĞĂůŝƐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ƉĞĐƵůŝĂƌ ďƵƌĚĞŶ ŽĨ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĐĂƌƌŝĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƐŽ ůŽŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƩĞƌ͘ ŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ĐŽŵƉĞů ƚŚĞ ďŽĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĚĞĞƉĞŶ ŝƚƐ ŵĂŶĚĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĞƉ ƵƉ ĂĐƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŝƚƐ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐ ŝŶ Ă ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ĨĂĐƚƐ ĂƌĞ ďĞŝŶŐ ƉĞĚĚůĞĚ ĂƐ ŐŽƐƉĞů ƚŽ ŵŝƐůĞĂĚ ƚŚĞ ƵŶƐƵƐƉĞĐƟŶŐ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ Įƌŵ ƌĞƐŽůƵƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E D ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƵďůŝĐ͘

Signed:

BABAJIDE AJAYI

WƌŽũĞĐƚ ŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚŽƌ :ƵƐƚ ĂƵƐĞ EĞƚǁŽƌŬ ϭϰϮ͕ ŽĚĞ dŚŽŵĂƐ ^ƵƌƵůĞƌĞ͕ >ĂŐŽƐ͕ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

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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

Nnamdi Kanu: No Election in South-east Without Biafra Referendum The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi

Kanu, has warned that elections will be boycotted in the South-east states

FG, States, LGs Share N462bn for May as Allocation Improves Ndubuisi Francis Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; A total of N462.359 billion was shared by the three tiers of government for the month of May, an increase over the N415.7 billion distributed for April.

A breakdown showed that Value Added Tax (VAT) accounted for N76.786 billion; statutory revenue, N317.562 billion, and exchange rates differential of N64.812 billion.

The figures were unveiled by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, at a briefing after the monthly meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) presided over by him.

He disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which had been defraying its N450 billion indebtedness to FAAC monthly at N6.7 billion had liquidated the debt.

From the statutory allocation,

the federal government got N147.682 billion; states, N74.906 billion; local governments, N57.750 billion while N20.505 billion went to the oil-producing areas as 13 per cent derivation.

According to Mahmoud, the gross statutory revenue of N317.562 billion received for the month was more than the N274.110 billion received in the preceding month by N43.452 billion, adding that everything would be done to ensure salaries were paid to civil servants before the Sallah celebration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The slight drop in the average price of crude oil from $55.38 to $55.18 per barrel and a decrease in export volume by 1.023 million barrels, reduced oil revenue by about $57.12 million.

Crude oil production suffered due to leakages, sabotage, shut-ins- and shut -downs at terminals for maintenance and the force majeure declared at Forcados terminal since February, 2016 subsisted,â&#x20AC;? he said.

starting with the Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 18 if the federal government fails to hold referendum for the realisation of the state of Biafra. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the federal government does not agree with us on a date for referendum, there will be no elections in the South-east, we are starting with Anambra come November this year. There will be no governorship election in Anambra State,â&#x20AC;? Kanu said while addressing a crowd of protesters in his father â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compound in Abia State.

According to Premium Times, it was not clear when the video was shot. If it happened after Kanuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release from detention in April, then it would appear a violation of conditions set by Justice Binta Nyako when she

granted Kanu bail in April.

Kanu, who is facing charges of treasonable felony at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has been at the vanguard of the call for an independent Biafra Republic from the Nigerian state.

In granting him bail in April after more than a year in detention, Justice Nyako listed 12 conditions, including an order for  Kanu to avoid being seen in a crowd of more than 10 people.

The court also instructed that Kanu desist from granting interviews or engaging in any form of rallies as part of his conditions for bail.

However, in the 16 minutes, 21 seconds video posted on Youtube last Tuesday, Kanu who was seen speaking to a congregation of Biafran supporters, also said

there would be no form of election in the South-east during the 2019 general election, stressing that he would not relent in his agitation for Biafra. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 2019, the whole of Biafra land will not vote for any president.

There will be no senator, there will be no House of Representatives, there will be no House of Assembly and there will be no councillorship elections in Biafra land if they (federal government) fail to call for a referendum. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigerian government should build as many prisons as possible to jail all Biafrans because there is no going back and we are ready to go there (prisons) unless the federal government gives us Biafra. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not like any other people. People like us donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come twice.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I know that

with the last breath in this very body that Biafra will be restored. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing anybody can do about it. Tell them thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I said. Nobody on this earth can stop Biafra,â&#x20AC;? the IPOB leader said.

Since the IPOB leader was freed, he has not only addressed hundreds of his supporters but has also granted media interviews.

Last month, while addressing the members of the Jewish Synagogue at his residence in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia in Abia State, Kanu declared that the coming of the Republic of Biafra was imminent.

Similarly, Kanu had told Al Jazeera that he was not bothered about landing in trouble over his actions due to the bail conditions given to him

by Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Division of the High Court.

Crude Oil Bounces Back Above $45 Per Barrel Despite Glut Ejiofor Alike ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă?

Crude oil yesterday edged up from multi-month low, but prices remained under pressure from a supply glut that has persisted despite the efforts led by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) efforts to balance the market.

Since peaking at $55 per barrel in late February, crude has dropped around 20 per cent, erasing the gains recorded at the end of 2016, in the wake of the initial OPEC-led production cut.

OPEC and other producers agreed to reduce output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from January for six months, and last month extended the deal for a further nine months until March 2018.

However, oversupply has persisted, particularly with output rising in Libya and Nigeria, which were exempt from the cuts due to unrest that had limited their output.

OPEC and non-OPEC oil producersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; compliance with the deal to cut output reached its highest in May since they agreed on the curbs last year, reaching 106 per cent last month in May. OPEC supplies, however, jumped in May as output recovered in Libya and Nigeria, both exempt from the production reduction

agreement.

Reuters reported that Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil production rose more than 50,000 bpd to 885,000 bpd after the state oil company settled a dispute with Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wintershall.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil production is also rising as exports of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bonny Light crude are set to reach 226,000 bpd in August, up from 164,000 bpd in July. Â Brent crude futures were up 60 cents yesterday at $45.42 per barrel , after falling as low as $44.53. They fell 2.6 per cent in the previous session to $44.35, their lowest since November 2017.

US crude futures were up 40 cents at $42.93 a barrel, after also slipping. Â On Wednesday, they touched $42.05 per barrel, their lowest intraday level since August 2016.

Prices slid on Wednesday despite a bigger-than-expected drop in US crude stockpiles, and a drop in gasoline stocks.

Tropical storm Cindy travelling through the Gulf of Mexico, home to about 17 per cent of US crude and five per cent of dry natural gas output, disrupted some operations, also offered limited support.

Overall, output is still increasing in the United States where some shale producers can produce profitably even if oil prices drop below $40 a barrel.Â

WAR AGAINST AIDS

L-R: Head , Sustainability, Access Bank Plc, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan; GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe; and MD/CEO, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Nicolas Terraz, during the inaugural board meeting of the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS held at the bank in Lagos.....yesterday

INEC Formally Writes Dino Melaye, to Begin Recall Process July 3 Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Abuja

the National Commissioner and member, Information and Voter Education Mallam The Independent National Committee, Haruna, Electoral Commission Mohammed said having (INEC) yesterday wrote INEC to the senator representing received the petition Kogi West senatorial and the signatures of district, Senator Dino the electorate, the next Melaye, to inform him step is to verify that the that it would commence petitioners are registered the process of recalling voters in the Kogi West senatorial district. him by July 3.

The statement read: The commission said it had formally â&#x20AC;&#x153;INEC held its regular acknowledged the receipt weekly meeting today considered the of the petition from the and petitionersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; representatives petition submitted by some and had conveyed a letter registered voters from Kogi notifying Melaye of the West senatorial district to receipt of such petition.  kick-start the process of In a statement signed by recalling Melaye.

 â&#x20AC;&#x153;In accordance with the INEC guidelines for the recall of members of the National Assembly, the commission has formally acknowledged the receipt of the petition to the petitionersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; representatives and has conveyed a letter notifying Melaye of our receipt of the petition.   â&#x20AC;&#x153;The next step is to verify that the petitioners are registered voters in the Kogi West senatorial district.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;INEC will on July 3, 2017 issue a public notice stating the day(s), time, location and other details for the verification exercise.â&#x20AC;?

 Electorate from the Kogi West senatorial district had stormed the INEC headquarters last Wednesday to submit their petition against Melaye.  Addressing journalists after their meeting with INEC chairman, Olowo Cornelius told journalists that they have been able to gather 52.3 per cent more than the constitutionally required 50.1 per cent signatories.

However, reacting to the INECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state in a text m e s s a g e t o T H I S D AY said he had not received any form of communication from the commission.

52

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

NUPENG: Apapa Gridlock May Lead to Fuel Scarcity The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed concern over the gridlock being experienced by petroleum tankers and articulated vehicles as a result of the ongoing reconstruction on ApapaWharf  road in Lagos.

The South-west Zonal Chairman of the union, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday, noted that the gridlock might result in fuel scarcity.

According to Korodo, since the inauguration of reconstruction of the road, petroleum tanker drivers had been on cue, finding it difficult

to gain access to the tank farms to get products.

He said the tank farms within the Apapa Marine Bridge road received petroleum products from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which was to be distributed by petroleum tankers to different parts of the country.

He, however, said that the reconstruction of the road would affect movement of articulated vehicles to the port, adding that it was also taking its toll on tanker drivers as they now find it difficult loading at tank farms in the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reconstruction work on Apapa Wharf Road will affect loading of our petroleum tankers

at the depots,â&#x20AC;? Korodo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the inauguration of reconstruction works, our tankers have queued up on the roads finding it difficult to gain access to tank farms. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even queuing of articulated vehicles, going to the port have blocked the access road and tankers have been on the same spot for three days now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to apply to NNPC to use its System 2B distribution channel to pump products to its depots in Mosinmi, Ejigbo,

Ibadan, Ilorin and Ore so that most of the tankers will stop coming to Apapa to load. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is irrational now for tankers to come and load at Apapa tank farms because the access roads are blocked and traffic is the order of the day.â&#x20AC;?

Korodo called on NNPC to address the lingering issues before it degenerates into fuel scarcity, adding that the delay in getting petroleum products to filling stations would be seen as lack of products.

The federal government had on Saturday handed over the road to Dangote Industries Limited and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc for immediate reconstruction with a concrete overlay.

Dangote had said that the poor state of the road costs the economy N20billion daily. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The economy loses more than N20 billion daily. It affects businesses across the country. All our operations in the hinterland in Ilorin, in Kano are operating at

40 per cent maximum capacity,â&#x20AC;?

Dangote said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, there is no linkage road going from South West to the North. You have to go all the way through Ajaokuta, Obajana, Lokoja and you have to go by that uncompleted road Obasanjo started 13 years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Both Dangote and Flour Mills are pumping in over N2.5 billion for the two kilometres double lane on each side making a total of four kilometres.â&#x20AC;?

Court Remands Ex-minister, Akinjide in EFCC Custody Ademola Babalola Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; For collecting a sum of N650million from the alleged $2.1billion arms deal allegedly diverted by the former National Security Adviser (BSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to fund the 2015 campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, was yesterday remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Akinjide, a former senator in the seventh National Assembly, Ademola Ayoade Adeseun, and the erstwhile Chairman of the party in Oyo State, Alhaji Yinka Taiwo, were said to have collected the money on behalf of the state to fund President Goodluck Jonathanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s re-election campaign and other partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard bearers in the said election.

But a Federal High Court 2 sitting in Ibadan presided over

by Justice Joyce Abdul Malik who ordered the remand of Akinjide, also joined another chieftain of the party, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti, to be remanded in the anti-graft custody till July 6, 2017.

The court also ordered the EFCC to produce unfailingly the second defendant in the case, Senator Adeseun, who has failed to appear in court to face trial over the alleged fraud.

At yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearing, counsel to the first and second defendants, Akinjide and Ayoade Adeseun (at large), Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Chief Michael Lana, announced their withdrawal from the case amid heated argument over a ruling by the presiding judge, which they considered â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;unfairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the defendants.  In charge no FHC/ IB/26c/2017, the defendants were accused to have conspired to take possession of N650millon unlawfully and committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the money laundering Act 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) and 4 of the Act. Before the court took the plea of the defendants, Justice Abdul-Malik ordered that the12-count charge be read out

to the defendants, to which they pleaded not guilty.

The counsel to the first defendant Akinjide), Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, in his submission, urged the court to refuse an alleged defective prosecution applications dated 9 March, 2017 and 20 March , 2017 for not having the seal of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA).

He said it was improper for the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, to seek to substitute a charge without an order or permission of the court.

He challenged the EFCC counsel for seeking to replace the original charge with another charge sheet dated March 20, contending that the charge sheet to be amended is defective. Â Also, Lana, counsel to second defendant, Adeseun, while supporting the position of Ayorinde, submitted that once there is no seal in a charge sheet, it is deemed not to have been filed.

The EFCC counsel, Oyedepo, while reacting, argued that the contentious charge sheet is competent and valid before the court, since it carried a receipt issued by the NBA. In resolving the issue, Justice Abdul-Malik, after listening to the submission of the counsel, ruled that the court would not harbour any charge sheet not bearing the seal of the NBA, but ordered that the prosecution counsel could substitute the defective charge with the one with the NBA receipt. Â There was, however, emotional outburst while the prosecution counsel was seeking to substitute the charge sheet as the defendant counsel rose against it, which led to the decision of the two defendant counsel to announce their withdrawal from the case. Â Earlier, the first defendant, Akinjide, through an application, sought to enter into plea bargain as well as the third defendant, lanrewaju.

The prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, informed the court also that the parties have agreed on the plea bargain agreement and that negotiation has commenced.

Counsel to the third defendant, Ishola, while aligning himself to the plea bargain agreement, also moved application for bail for the third defendant.

STATE-OF-THE-NATION MEETING

L-R: Senate Majority Leader, Bello Ibn Naâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Alla; Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahaman Dambazau (rtd); Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and Acting.President Yemi Osinbajo during acting president meeting with state governors on the security situation in the country at the State House in Abuja ....Wednesday

CAN to FG: Publish Details of the New Education Curriculum Opposes merging of CRK, IRK and Civic Education Says Adamu withholding truth Senator Iroegbu Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to publish the full details of the controversial new curriculum of education if they have no hidden agenda.  The CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement yesterday through his Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, , said the umbrella body of all Christians in the country foresaw the danger ahead of the curriculum that merged Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Religious Knowledge with the Civic Education.  Ayokunle said the perceived dangers packaged in the new curriculum have brought the document to the fore since the leadership of CAN raised the issue in a meeting with acting President Yemi Osinbajo, and asked the government to ensure there is no discrimination against any student because of religious beliefs in public schools.  He also disclosed what he described as some perceived

discriminations against Christian students in the curriculum.    According to Ayokunle, â&#x20AC;&#x153;... in this curriculum, Islamic and Christian Religious Studies will no longer be studied in schools as subjects on their own but as themes in a civic education. This undermines the sound moral values that these two subjects had imparted in the past to our children which had made us to religiously and ethnically co-exist without any tension. â&#x20AC;&#x153;...Islamic Religious Knowledge was equally made available as a subject in another section without any corresponding availability of Christian Religious Knowledge.

Is this not a divisive curriculum that can set the nation on fire? Is this fair to millions of Christians in this nation?â&#x20AC;?

To buttress his point, the CAN president cited a case in Kwara State where a student was punished for refusing to register for Islamic Religious Knowledge. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Christian student in a secondary school in Kwara State had his body lacerated with cane by the Arabic Teacher because the pupil refused to do Islamic Religious Knowledge when French teacher was not available and Christian Religious

Knowledge, Hebrew or Greek were not part of the options at all,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

The clergy noted that in a swift reaction, the Federal Ministry of Education debunked the claim that Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) had been removed as a subject of study from the secondary school curriculum and Islamic Religious Studies reintroduced.  He stressed that the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Chinenye Ihuoma, was reported to have said the ministry has only designed a new subject which merged Civic Education, IRS, CRK and Social Studies into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Religion and National Valuesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.  He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;But her words, to say the least, confirmed our fear when she stated that the ministry has designed a new subject which merged Civic Education, IRS, CRK and Social Studies into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Religion and National Valuesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.â&#x20AC;?  The CAN quoted Ihuoma to have stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;the alternation is not from the minister; this is purely from the National Council on Education. It is just as the council has said History should be a subject of its own at the basic level in the first nine years.

 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, a new subject has been introduced called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Religion and National Valuesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It is a fusion of religion and civics.â&#x20AC;?  The clergy expressed surprise that she admitted â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have not seen the details but in a case where you have subject combinations in the same period, everyone will attend lectures that correspond with their own religion.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Arabic and Islamic Studies are not standing alone. Islamic Religious Study and Christian Religious Study as well as National Values will be taught under a new subject.â&#x20AC;?  Ayokunle also disagreed with the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Professor Ismail Junaidu, â&#x20AC;&#x153;who also faulted our position, contradicting the position of the ministry, but his (Junaidu) defence too is full of loopholes.â&#x20AC;?  He queried that â&#x20AC;&#x153;if the two religions were different subjects in the new curriculum, why did the minister have to seek the approval of the agency â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to make Christian Religious Knowledge compulsory for all Christians students and Islamic Studies compulsory for their Muslim counterparts?â&#x20AC;?

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

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DHQ Denies Allegation of Service Chief Extending Military Careers of Course Mates US: We’re yet to respond to army’s report on rights abuse

Paul Obi and Alex Enumah ÓØ Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday debunked allegations that service chiefs are illegally extending military careers of most of their course mates.

Reports earlier this week revealed a trend in which the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Chief of Air Staff (CAS) had secretly extended the stay of their colleagues and close allies in the Armed Forces notwithstanding that they were all due for retirement.

However, DHQ Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, denied any such policy in the military.

He said: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a report making the round in the media captioned: ‘How Service Chiefs Illegally Extend Military Careers of Course Mates’.

“Thus, it has become

necessary to clear this issue that was addressed particularly to the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air force.

“It cited Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2012, Paragraph 02: 10 (b) as justification for the assertion, which is a tabulation of the conditions relating to the length of service of a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“However, it failed to give an insight into other sections of the paragraph that border specifically on extension of service for a commissioned officer.”

Enenche stated that “in view of this kind of an unbalanced publication, the Defence Headquarters wishes to posit that paragraph 02:10 (d) of Armed Forces Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for officers 2012 is clear on the considerations for extending the length of service for officers, which are summarised as follows: ‘An officer’s career

can be extended based on the interest of the Service, in this case, Army, Navy and Air force.

In a very exceptional cases, an officer’s career can be extended beyond one year for as long as necessary.

“Extension of service for officers can only be approved by the Service council/board comprising the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, Service Director at Ministry of Defence and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.”

He held that “extension of service for officers can also be at the discretion of the Commander in Chief. From the foregoing, I

wish to state that there was no act of illegality perpetuated by the CAS, CNS or CAS regarding extending the length of service for officers.

“Extant guidelines and policies are always followed as laid out in the aforementioned document when the need arises. It is also worthy of note, that quite a good number of the officers mentioned in the article are no longer in service.

“Only very few are still in service, in the interest of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which is in line with Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers 2012, paragraph 02.10 (d).

“The public is hereby reassured that the service chiefs under the strategic leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff are focused and will remain so in tackling the security challenges of the nation, and would not be distracted by any means.”

Meanwhile, the United States Government yesterday said it was yet to respond to the recent report by the Nigerian Army on human rights abuses in the Northeast and alleged murder of some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), among others.

US embassy official, Russell Brooks, told THISDAY that

“we are aware of news reports concerning the Nigerian military’s investigation.

“The US has not issued a statement on the Nigerian military’s investigation or its conclusions.”

On the alleged refusal of visa to some Nigerian military officials over rights abuse, Brooks explained: “Visa records are confidential under US law. We do not discuss the details of individual visa cases.

“All visa applications are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and other

NEITI: Over $21.8bn Unaccounted for by NNPC Emma Okonji The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has revealed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is supposed to remit over $21.8 billion billions to the Federation Account.

The agency’s Director of Communications, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, on spoke yesterday on ARISE Television, a THISDAY sister broadcast station, said the discovery came as a result of the audited account of the NNPC. He explained that the unremitted amount was a combination of monies earned by the NNPC and all its subsidiaries

from several projects executed in the oil sector in the past few years, but were not remitted to the federation account.

He further said the agency’s report had been made known to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was impressed with its findings.

He said the agency discovered that the money was earned but not remitted to the Federation Account.

He added that such unremitted money could be used for major critical government projects, adding that investigations are ongoing into how monies were appropriated and spent within the NNPC.

FG Declares June 26, 27 Public Holidays Kuni Tyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government has declared, June 26 and 27, as public holidays to mark Eid-el Fitr celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the government, enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of the celebration for sober reflection and pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation in its march to nationhood.

Dambazau urged all Nigerians to shun hate speeches and divisive tendencies and join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari

to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria which guarantees fundamental freedoms, including the right of residence in any part of the country, as enshrined in the constitution.

The minister who reaffirmed the determination of the administration to protect all lives and property of Nigerians, added that the will of the administration should not be tested as to its capability to deploy security agencies to deal with any individual or group that may threaten the corporate existence of the nation, as well as the peaceful co-existence of the people.

He further promised the government’s resolve to be just and fair to all.

DO A GOOD JOB

Group Chief Risk Officer, Dangote Group, Mrs. Adenike Fajemirokun (third left), exchanging pleasantries with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (riight), with Mr. Hakeem Adeniji-Adele, Microsoft’s Public Sector Director (first left); Oladokun Oye, Director Direct Sales, Airtel (second left); and state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olawale Oluwo, at the inauguration of Lagos State Science and Innovation Council in Lagos...recently

Concession of Port Harcourt Refinery: 20 Rights Groups Drag FG to Court

European Countries Deport 34 Nigerians

Ejiofor Alike

Six European countries yesterday deported 34 Nigerians for allegedly committing immigrationrelated offences.

The Nigerians were deported from Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, Austria, Belgium and Hungary.

The deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos at about 6.30a.m.

The deportees, comprising of 32 males and two females, were brought back in a chartered Airblue Panorama flight.

The spokesman of Lagos Airport Police Command, Joseph Alabi, confirmed the deportation to journalists.

“This morning, we received 34 Nigerians who were brought back from Europe. They were made up of 32 males and two females,” Alabi said.

He said all the deportees were alleged to have committed immigration-related offences

Despite the recent clarifications by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that the federal government has not given out the Port Harcourt Refinery to private investors, 20 rights groups have dragged the federal government to a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over the planned concession of the refinery.

In the suit filed by Festus Keyamo, the plaintiffs joined Kachikwu, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Agip Oil Company and Oando Plc as first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

Kachikwu had clarified recently that the recent reports insinuating that the refinery was concessioned to Oando and Agip were untrue.

He said about $1.2 billion was needed to repair the three refineries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to him, a technical committee set up by the

government to undertake the review and selection process was yet to submit its report.

But in a suit number FHC/ ABJ/CS/558/2017, the 20 rights groups want the Federal High Court to determine whether the decision by Kachikwu and the AGF to enter into an agreement with theAgip and Oando to “repair, operate and maintain” the Port Harcourt refinery does not amount to granting “concession”of a federal government infrastructure in view of the provisions of sections4(1) and (2), 5(a) and (b) of the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment, Etc) Act, 2005.

The plaintiffs also want the court to determine whether the decision to enter into the agreement “without recourse to the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission is not illegal, null and void in view of the provisions of sections4(1) and (2), 5(a) and (b) of the Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment, Etc) Act, 2005.”

Chinedu Eze

in their host countries and disclosed that the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the police.

Also on ground to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as the deportees who wore sad and sullen faces were profiled by immigration authorities and were allowed to depart to their various destinations.

The deportation came after about 175 Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya last Tuesday aboard a chartered Nouvelair aircraft with registration number TS-INA. The returnees were made up of 34 males, 122 females, 10 children and nine infants.

It has been estimated that over 1,000 Nigerians have been deported from Libya and European countries since late last year.

54

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Kaduna Plans Disarmament Programme in Southern Kaduna John Shiklam ÓØ ËÎßØË The Kaduna State Government is to initiate a disarmament programme to mop up weapons in the hands of people in the

Southern part of the state.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Jafaru Sani, disclosed this yesterday at workshop on peace and

Lagos Police Keep Mum over Alleged Kidnappers’Threat to Storm Badagry School Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Police Command yesterday kept mum over the alleged letter sent to the Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry by a gang of kidnappers, threatening to abduct some students and staff of the school.

The letter, which purportedly emanated from the same gang who had earlier stormed the Lagos State Model College Igbonla, was said to have created palpable tension in the school.

This is coming on the heels of the continued hostage of the six students from Igbonla college, who were abducted from their school premises about a month ago.

According to reports, the kidnappers in the letters sent to both the junior and senior sections of the college, had threatened to abduct not just the students but also the staff.

The content of the said letter purportedly read: “Kidnappers are visiting the school the same way we did at Igbonla, Epe. We are going to capture three pupils from senior school and three from junior school.

“We are kidnapping both principals. We are coming in two days time. No security put in place will stop us from gaining entry and fulfilling our

mission as stated in this letter.

Be expecting us!”

Although the security agencies and the state government were said to have been alerted, it did little to douse the fear of the students, their parents or even the staff Even with the security presence, the parents expressed fear that the low school fence and bushes at the back of the premises would aid the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) Chairman, Mr. Wale Alao, said the case has been reported to Area K Command, Badagry.

He said: “We have been trying to beef up security. The state government sent policemen and military personnel. The school also employed some vigilantes to secure the school, especially at night.

“I learnt that the deputy governor is aware. The school is a little bit far from the waterside, but we must not leave anything to chance.”

When contacted, the state Police spokesperson, Olarinde Famous-Cole, kept mum on the issue.

As at press time, he was yet to reply to the text message sent to his phone, neither did he debunk or confirm the allegations.

reconciliation for stakeholders from the area.

He, however, said before the programme commences, every step would be taken to restore the confidence of the people in their security and safety.

“We must first restore people’s confidence. Why should you ask somebody to surrender his weapon when you don’t show sufficient resolve to protect him and his community? That is why the programme has been delayed.

“We want to restore the confidence of the people so that they now willingly come out to surrender their weapons, believing that they will go back and sleep with their eyes closed,”

the commissioner said.

According to him, anyone who surrenders a weapon during the disarmament programme, expected to last for three months, would be paid compensation based on the type of weapon being surrendered.

He said before the commencement of the programme, the state government would hold town hall meetings to consult widely with stakeholders, especially traditional rulers and cultural associations like the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) to ensure its success.

Sani said: “The state government has an elaborate

programme, one of which is the recognition of the fact that these weapons have been purchased with sweat from our people, to surrender them just like that will be a loss to the people.

“So there is a form of compensation that will be paid for each weapon that is surrendered based on the category of the weapon.

“After the three month period of mopping the arms, whoever that is found with arms and ammunition either in his private residence or farm would be termed as a criminal and would be dealt with accordingly, regardless of his standing in the society.”

The workshop which

was organised by Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) was attended by stakeholders in the Southern Kaduna crisis, including representatives of SOKAPU and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria ( MACBAN).

In the past five years, hundreds of people have been killed, while property worth millions of naira have been destroyed in the area following incessant attacks by gunmen believed to be herdsmen.

It is believed that in the quest for self-defence, a lot of arms found their ways into the hands of many people in the area.

AGREEMENT REACHED

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki (right), and President, Nigerian Institute of Welders (NIW), Dr. Solomon Edebiri (left), after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a fabrication village in the state at the Government House in Benin City....yesterday.

Magu, Runsewe Seek Cultural Amaechi’s Aides, PDP Bicker over Wike’s Allegations Reorientation as Panacea to against Ex-gov’s Wife Fighting Corruption Ernest Chinwo ÓØ ÙÜÞ ËÜÍÙßÜÞ Area, respectively, accused Wike, chairmen. With this rare privilege Nwanosike said: “Rivers people The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the DirectorGeneral, National Council for Arts and Culture, Olusegun Runsewe, have agreed on a holistic approach of cultural reorientation among Nigerians as a permanent solution to stemming the menace of corruption in the country.

This position was adopted and agreed upon when Runsewe alongside members of his management team visited the headquarters of the (EFCC) in Abuja.

As part of the itinerary for the visit, the NCAC DG took the campaign of cultural promotion to the headquarters of the anti-corruption agency in Nigeria, suggesting that for corruption to be nipped in the bud, Nigeria needs to re-evaluate her value system which at the moment glamourises people with questionable sources of income at the expense of hard work.

Runsewe while commending the acting head of the commission for using his zeal, vigour and doggedness to fight the monster called corruption that has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation, said: “As you are doing everything to make the nation safer through waging war against corruption, posterity will remember your good works and I believe it is time to introduce a cultural angle in order to fight corruption to a logical conclusion.”

Speaking further, Runsewe praised Magu for being fearless against all odds and fighting the looters to a standstill in the process not even sparing his in-law.

On his part, the EFCC chairman thanked him for his kind words promising to fight on irrespective of how corruption is fighting back.

He implored all Nigerians to champion the fight against corruption as its remains the only monster against all of us as a nation.

The allegation by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that wife of former governor of the state, Mrs. Judith Amaechi, was extorting between N2 and N3 million monthly from commissioners and local government chairmen during the tenure of the former governor has pitted both camps in a war of words.

While former Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s aides claim the allegation was false, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said evidence of the payments abound.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, the commissioners and local government chairmen who served during the tenure of Amaechi described the allegation as false.

The statement, signed on their behalf, by Fred Mbombo-Igwe and Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, former Commissioner for Sports and former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government

who was former Chief of Staff under Amaechi, of hiding under the subterfuge of his office as intermediary between the then governor and other elected or appointed public officials made financial demands and extorted money from council chairmen including arm twisting them to award contracts to him.

The statement read in part, “The attention of former Chairmen of Local Government Councils and Commissioners in Rivers State during the administration of former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi have been drawn to a recent media interview granted by current governor of Rivers State, Wike, where Wike falsely accused Judith Amaechi, the wife of our boss of extorting and collecting monthly, between N2million to N3million from Commissioners and Local Government Council chairmen respectively, while her husband was the state governor.

“Wike, while serving as the Chief of Staff to Amaechi interfaced regularly with council

and his avarice plus his corrupt tendencies, he elected to commit a lot of fraudulent and sharp practices including massive looting and various degree of financial extortion on the council chairmen and commissioners who felt hapless due to his perceived closeness to the governor as the chief of staff.

“On several occasions, Wike hiding under the subterfuge of his office as intermediary between the then governor and other elected or appointed public officials, made financial demands and extorted money from council chairmen including arm twisting them to award contracts to him.”

But, in a swift reaction, the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Samuel Nwanosike, challenged the former commissioners and chairmen local government councils to provide evidence that Wike made monetary demands from elected and political appointees while serving as Chief of Staff to Amaechi.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday,

are aware of what happened in Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) under the leadership of Amaechi. In fact, to put the record straight, it is not only commissioners, even lawmakers’ constituency projects were made to be diverted to ESI as part of condition to allow them the opportunity to run for election again.

“As I am talking to you, Timothy Nsirim, the former chairman of Obio/Akpor local government area, was sacked from office because he insisted that he will not contribute to that.

“I challenge Ojukaye FlagAmachree and those that signed the press statement to produce any document showing payments made to Wike. But, I am telling you, all the monies paid during the tenure of Amaechi to ESI have evidences.”

The PDP publicity secretary also said Amaechi should bury his head in shame for daring to talk about probity when he mismanaged the resources of the state during his eight years as governor.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017

55

FRIDAYSPORTS Cameroon’s Hope Dented by Australia Draw Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

F I FA C O N F E D E R AT I O N S C U P

Cameroon’s hope of progressing to the next stage of the Confederations Cup in Russia was dented by a 1-1 draw with Australia in Saint Petersburg yesterday.

The Indomitable Lions took the lead at the end of the first half when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa scored his first international goal.

Australia’s Captain Mark Milligan equalised from the penalty spot in the 60th minute after Alex Gersbach was brought down inside the box.

The draw makes it very unlikely that the African champions will progress to the next round.

They face Germany in their final group game in Sochi on Sunday while Australia play Chile at the same time in Moscow.

In the other game of the group

last night, Alexis Sanchez became Chile’s all-time leading scorer when he grabbed an early goal in their 1-1 draw against Germany.

Lars Stindl equalised for the world champions just before halftime although the game petered out in the second half as the high-octane Chileans appeared to run out of gas.

The result left both teams level at the top of Group B with four points each from their opening two games, although Chile have the better goal difference. Both Cameroon and Australia have one point each going into Sunday’s last matches of the group.

The Cameroonians have to beat the reigning world champions and hope other results go their way.

STA N D I N G S A F T E R M ATC H DAY 2 Team P Mexico 2 Portugal 2 Russia 2 New Zealand2

W 1 1 1 0

D 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 2

GF 4 3 2 1

GA 3 2 1 4

GD 1 1 1 -3

Pts 4 4 3 0

GD 2 1 -1 -2

Pts 4 4 1 1

STA N D I N G S A F T E R M ATC H DAY 2 Team Chile Germany Australia Cameroon

P 2 2 2 2

W 1 1 0 0

D 1 1 1 1

L 0 0 1 1

GF 3 4 3 1

GA 1 3 4 3

Demekaa, Cole-Kotas Win Air France Invitational Golf Tourney Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Francis Demekaa and Susan ColeKotas were the star performers at the Air France-KLM Invitational golf tournament played at Port Harcourt Club 1928 Golf Section.

The tournament had a field of 108 players in attendance. It was organized to commemorate Air France -KLM 20 years of operation in the Garden City.

Demakaa, an eighthhandicapper, won the men prize with a nett score of 68. But victory did not come on a platter of gold as he nicked a three-way tie on countback.

The Vice Captain, Port Harcourt Club, Chris Allagoa (68) edged Elle Anthony for the first runner up position also on CB. Princess Joyce Nule (73) again stumbled as Susan Cole-Kotas beat her by four-shot for the Ladies Best Nett prize.

Dimeeka won the star prize

of a Business Class ticket, while Cole-Kotas, who plays golf as a 9-handicapper, won the premium economy ticket to any where in Europe.

Okey Scott-Ananaba posted a 77 to claim the Gross prize. The Longest Drive (men) was won

by Captain Port Harcourt Club, Emmanuel Okene, while Ruth Lawoye won the Ladies’ prize.

The Nearest to the Pin prize (men) was won by Timson Okah, just as Anchelee Le-Cocq took the prize for ladies.

The tournament played over 18-hole was graced by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the First Lady, Justice Suzzette Wike.

Other dignitaries included the Amayanabo Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete- Spiff, the French Consul in Nigeria, Mr Erwan de Gouvello, the Deputy Managing Director of Total, François Le-Cocq and GM Air France-KLM, Nigeria and Ghana, Jean- Raoul Tauzin.

LMC Rearranges League Fixtures All the ten fixtures of Match-day 26 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have been rearranged by the League Management Company (LMC).

The games were supposed to hold on Sunday, June 25 but have now been moved to Wednesday, June 28.

However, Rivers United’s fixture against Shooting Stars on the affected match day has been brought forward.

The game between the ‘Pride of Rivers’ and the ‘Oluyole Warriors’ will now hold on Saturday, June

24 at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt.

United’s fixture was brought forward due to the club’s participation in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup. The Port Harcourt club will face Tunisian outfit, Club Africain in Port Harcourt on July 2.

Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, revealed in a release made available to supersport.com that the change in date of the fixtures was occasioned by the Eid-el-Fitr Sallah holidays which will hold from June 25-27.

Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar (in front) and Trent Sainsburry of Australia battling it out during their second Group A match at the ongoing FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia F I FA

TRANSFER

Enyeama Welcomes Burkina Faso’s Koffi to Lille Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and Captain, Vincent Enyeama, has welcomed the signing of Burkina Faso international Herve Koffi by the French Ligue 1 side, Lille.

Koffi, 20, left Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas and penned a long-term contract with the three-time French champions on Wednesday.

Enyeama, who joined Lille in June 2011 and has made 164 appearances, said he was delighted with the arrival of another African goalkeeper.

“Koffi is a fantastic young goalkeeper and I’m very proud to see another African come to the club,” Enyeama told BBC

Enyeama Sport yesterday.

“It’s heart-warming to see a young African goalkeeper earn a move to Europe; it says a lot about his qualities.

“My advice to him is that he should focus on what has brought him to France, keep working hard and concentrate on his job.

“I’ll be available to help him settle and give him all the necessary support he needs.”

Koffi arrives in Lille with a solid reputation as one of the continent’s finest goalkeepers when it comes to one-on-one situations.

Other African players who have used Lille as a springboard to bigger things include Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, Nigerian Osaze Peter Odemwingie, Senegal striker Moussa Sow and Cameroon’s Jean Makoun.

Koffi joined ASEC Mimosas

from Racing club de BoboDioulasso in his native Burkina Faso in December 2015 and helped the club to the 2017 Ivorian title.

Then his country third-choice goalkeeper, Koffi made his international debut as a late substitute against Uganda in March 2016.

He eventually took over the number one jersey from veteran Daouda Diakité in October last year.

Koffi has kept goal for the Stallions in their last nine internationals and played all six matches as the Burkinabe finished third at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Zenith B/Ball: Dolphins, IGP Queens in Bright Start Dolphins Basketball Team consolidated its determination to win this year’s Zenith Bank Women Premier Basketball League with a whopping 28-point gap over Sunshine Angels of Akure.

The Aboderin Babes overpowered the Angels by 86 to 58 points to jump into the lead at the third phase of

the series going on at the Asaba Indoor Sports Hall.

Speaking after the victory, Dolphins Coach, Ochuko Okworogun, expressed satisfaction with the performance of her lads, stressing that they won because they played to instructions.

“I noticed some lapses in their performance but this will

be corrected before our next match with rival, Customs,” she explained.

Okworogun said Dolphins target is to better the second place finish it achieved last year.

In other Day-one matches played yesterday, Lagos side, 1st DeepWater narrowly beat Plateau Rocks 68-62, IGP Queens

defeated FCT Angels 61-57 while GT 2000 overwhelmed AHIP Queens 61-53.

Meanwhile, six teams, Oluyole Babes, Nigeria Immigration, Coal City, Zamfara Babes, Nasarawa Amazons and Taraba Hurricanes have been relegated to division one from the Premier League.

Friday, June 23, 2017

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE NCC to Consortium of Banks â&#x20AC;&#x153;The grant of a licence shall be personal to the licensee and the licence shall not be operated by, assigned, sub-licensed or transferred to another party unless the prior written approval of the commission has been granted.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nigerian Communications Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (NCC) spokesman, Tony Ojobo informing a consortium of banks attempting to forcefully take-over Etisalat over $1.2b debt that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unconstitutional to do so without prior approval from the commission.

BENMURRAYBRUCE MAKING COMMON SENSE

ben.murraybruce@thisdaylive.com

We Need An Abdulsalami Now More Than Ever

T

oday (Wednesday June 14, 2017), my friend and big brother, General Abdulsalami Abubakar celebrates his 75th birthday and I felicitate with him. There are many elder statesmen who like to pride themselves as being the father of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democracy, but that title actually belongs to General Abubakar, a man so modest and humble that he has never sought that honor which by right belongs to him.

Those who are old enough to remember, will recollect how starkly divided Nigeria was on June 9, 1998 when then Lt. General Abubakar emerged the head of state to succeed General Sani Abacha.

The Southwest was on the verge of secession and the rest of the country was on edge because of Abachaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination to succeed himself thus continuing his usurpation of Chief MKO Abiolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate. Our prisons and detention centers were full of real and imagined enemies of the Abacha regime and the Nigerian soil had soaked up the blood of martyrs like Kudirat Abiola, Chief Alfred Rewane, Dr. Omatsola to mention a few.

Great patriots like Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka were declared enemies of the state and the nation became a pariah.

I will never forget the sense of relief that greeted Nigeria when General Abubakar assumed power and the reason why was because Nigerians could at once see that here was a man who was driven by the power of love rather than by the love of power.

In rapid succession, General Abubakar took a series of actions that ushered in freedom and the more he gave Nigerians freedom the more Nigerians began to unite and the threat of a break up dissipated.

General Abdulsalami set all political prisoners free, including General Obasanjo, repealed all obnoxious laws including the decrees that limited political associations and rather than waiting at the top of the mountain for those who had an axe to grind with government, he went down the mountain to meet them.

He went to Lagos from Abuja and met and consulted with the leading lights of NADECO. He charmed his critics and won them over and saved Nigeria from disintegration.

I have taken the pains to go down memory lane today because, today, just like in 1998, Nigeria is on the verge of break up and there is a dearth of the type of national leadership that General Abubakar demonstrated and without that type of leadership, Nigeria will continue to totter.

With the Southeast singing a song of recession and the Southwest echoing the same song, albeit in lower tones, Nigeria is heading towards a destination which

Abdulsalami

none of us know.

It is trite logic that no nation can survive two civil wars. If it happens again the world powers through the United Nations will intervene to help us disagree without being disagreeable.

What Nigeria needs in 2017 is what we needed and got in 1998, a leader who has the self discipline and largeness of heart to refuse to be led by ego and allow himself be led by conscience.

I was reading the statements credited to the acting President and even though I admire Professor Yemi Osinbajo, I still must say that if he thinks threats can bring about an end to these agitations then he has thoroughly misjudged human nature.

Like General Abdulsalami, he must climb down from the mountain and go to meet his critics and win them over.

Threats will not solve this problem. It will only make it worse. Threats will lead to counter threats and soon we will be having a dialogue of the deaf.

Either President Muhammadu Buhari or acting President Yemi Osinbajo must talk to the Igbos. Find out why they are agitating.

To jaw jaw is always better to war war.

Are they bitter because every other region has at least 6 states while they have just five?

Are they bitter that whereas their people are some of the most prolific travelers in Nigeria, they have to travel long distances before they can get to an airport while they see that states with very little air traffic have federal government built airports that are lying fallow? Are they bitter because the standards to qualify for entry into public schools and the civil service are raised high for them and made Lowe for others as if to punish them for embracing education?

These are things that can be looked into.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar did the for the Southwest in 1999. He bent over backwards. He ensured that the process he

midwifed threw up two Southwesterners as the candidates for Presidency in 1999.

Did he have to do that? No. But he did that and today the Southwest remained in the union and power has returned to the North.

No price is to high to pay for peace.

If the federal government keeps making excuses and carries on issuing threats, we should all remember that a house of failure is built with the nails of excuses and a city of backwardness is built on the foundation of threats.

If force of arms and threats could preserve a nation, the Berlin Wall would still be standing and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics would still be a country. Instead, it is the land of freedom that continues to exist after 240 years!

And the thing that we should understand is that Nigerians intrinsically are not tribalistic.

Tribalism is a bad habit that we learned and what can be learned can be unlearned.

And look at Lagos. Lagos state is already unlearning the bad habit of tribalism.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of Lagos state who have shown the way by electing resident non natives as House of Representatives Members and Chairmen of local councils including: OGHENE Egho, from Delta State who was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Rita Orji who was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Lagos State in the House of Representatives, and, Tony Chinedu Nwulu from Imo state who was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency, Lagos State.

Just like Lagos, the whole of Nigeria must be open to all, regardless of tribe, region, religion and political persuasion.

This was the case in pre Independent Nigeria when a Fulani man named Umaru Altine emerged as the first elected mayor of Enugu city in 1956 and also in 1957 when Felix Okonkwo, alias Okonkwo Kano, was appointed a member of the Northern Nigeria House of Chiefs.

The most prominent South-easterners have actually been Northerners by birth.

Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ojukwu were both born in Zungeru, Niger state.

How can we in 2017 be moving backwards from these very noble acts of pre Independent Nigeria?

We must resist this retrogression and Go on With One Nigeria!

How can we be celebrating the feat of seven Nigerians being elected into the British Parliament and back home we

are asking each other to go back to our region of origin? What if the British had told Chi Onwurah, Chuka Umunna, Kate Osamor, Kemi Badenoch, Bim Afolami, Fiona Onasanya and Helen Grant to go back to their country to contest?

Can you imagine how South Africans must be laughing at us today. We called them xenophobic yet we cannot live with each other. At least they love themselves!

Do we love ourselves? This must change.

Nothing in the last eighteen years has affected our unity as much as the infamous 5% versus 97% Washington speech of President Muhammadu Buhari and I advise him to consider apologizing to the nation for that Freudian slip. It may look to him like a little thing, but life has taught me not to underestimate the big difference little things can make.

That unfortunate statement, rightly or wrongly, made many Nigerians feel unwanted by this administration. They felt left out in the cold. They felt like unwanted children in a polygamous home whose mother was unloved and forced on the head of the home. It was worse than unfortunate. It was tragic. It broke the spirits of many people who had expected an embrace and instead got a very hot slap!

Will Nigeria still be a going concern of General Abdulsalami Abubakar had had such a mentality in 1999? Doubtful. Very doubtful. You see, everything rises and falls on leadership.

You are not a leader just because you have the title of leader. Even if you have an officer that makes you a titular leader, yet your thoughts, words and actions do not inspire people to want to belong to what you belong, then you are NOT a leader irrespective of whatever title you have. At best, you are in office and in power but not in authority because the strongest form of authority is moral authority. The office of president must be an office of moral authority.

It is that type of authority that made Mandela so influential in South Africa, Africa and the world.

We claim to be the Giant of Africa and we can be that, but only if we can show the rest of Africa that we can lead ourselves.

If we cannot lead ourselves, how can we lead our continent?

This is the million dollar question that must now be answered by the current administration and if they need help answering it I suggest they go to Minna to pay a birthday visit to a man who knows how to answer the question. r .VSSBZ #SVDF JT UIF 'PVOEFS PG UIF 4JMWFSCJSE &OUFSUBJONFOU (SPVQ BOE UIF 4FOBUPS SFQSFTFOUJOH #BZFMTB &BTU JO UIF /BUJPOBM "TTFNCMZ

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