Six tips to prepare your smartphone for sale – Page 3 FG to demolish illegal Federal High Court Ex-first ladies spent structures along Lagos- redeploys Abang, £32,000 as landing Ibadan Expressway Liman, nine others fees –Aisha Buhari • Fashola Page 26 Page 9 Page 11 • Aisha

The Herdsmen kill four policemen, five others in Adamawa, Page 13 Ex-Niger gov, Kure, dies in Germany Page 14 • Kure MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 VOL 41 NO. 21,349 www.punchng.com The Punch Newspapers @mobilepunch @+Punchng1 N200 Governance code: Minister, FRCN Page 7 boss clash over Adeboye, others • Law created to weaken the church, says CAN official

• Members of Bbog during their 1000th-day protest on the abduction of Chibok girls to the Presidential Villa in ... on Sunday. Photos Olatunji Obasa 1000th-day: Police block BBOG protesters from Aso Rock Page 9 Driver steals boss’s N5,000 beneficiaries Bakare condemns car, dog over selected two years CBN forex policy, unpaid salaries ago –Presidency high interest rates Pages 4 & 5 Page 10Page ? • Buhari PagePage 10 ? Six tips to prepare your smartphone for sale – Page 3 Herdsmen kill four Federal High Court Former Niger policemen, five others redeploys Abang, gov, Kure, dies in Adamawa, Kaduna Liman, nine others in Germany • Idris Page 13 Page 9 Page 14 • Kure

The FG to demolish illegal structures along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Page 26 N5,000 beneficiaries selected two years ago –Presidency Page 10 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 VOL 41 NO. 21,349 www.punchng.com The Punch Newspapers @mobilepunch @+Punchng1 N200 Governance code: Minister, FRCN Page 7 boss clash over Adeboye, others • Law created to weaken the church, says CAN official

• Members of Bbog during their 1000th-day protest on the abduction of Chibok girls to the Presidential Villa in Abuja... on Sunday. Photos Olatunji Obasa 1000th-day: Police block BBOG protesters from Aso Rock Page 9 Soldiers, others killed Ex-first ladies spent Minister moves as terrorists attack £32,000 as landing against FCT vandals, troops in Yobe fees –Aisha Buhari prostitutes Page 13 Page 11Page ? • Aisha PagePage 8 ? Six tips to prepare your smartphone for sale – Page 3 Ex-militant leader, Federal High Court Ex-first ladies spent others arrested ahead redeploys Abang, £32,000 as landing of Osinbajo’s visit Liman, nine others fees –Aisha Buhari • Osinbajo Page 12 Page 9 Page 11 • Aisha

The FG to demolish illegal structures along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Page 26 Herdsmen kill four policemen, 10 others in Adamawa, Kaduna, Delta Pages 8 & 13 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 VOL 41 NO. 21,349 www.punchng.com The Punch Newspapers @mobilepunch @+Punchng1 N200 Governance code: Minister, FRCN boss clash over Adeboye, others • Law created to weaken the church, says CAN official

• Christian clerics during a peaceful protest on the killings in Southern Kaduna in , ... on Sunday. Photo: Chukwudi Akasike N5,000 beneficiaries Edo creates Former Niger selected two years electronic platform governor, Kure, dies ago –Presidency to collect revenue in Germany Page 10 Page 12Page ? • Obaseki PagePage 14 ? 2 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 Vox pop Is FG doing enough to rescue missing Chibok girls?

UNDAY, January 8, 2017, is UR government spends too much S1,000th day since 276 schoolgirls Otime celebrating the over 20 girls were abducted from their school that were found, but have not done in Chibok, , , by enough to bring back the rest or confirm terrorists on the night of April 14, 2014. if they are dead or alive. Fifty-seven girls escaped within days of The #BringBackOurGirls group the abduction and 219 were taken into that was always outspoken went dead captivity. Since then, four girls have or quiet. Issues of security of lives been found. Ten weeks ago, when the should never be politicised for whatever 21 Chibok girls returned, the Nigerian reasons. government said that based on their The military are trying and we salute discussions, 83 more girls would return and commend them, but they should soon. Nothing has been said of them maintain their professional role and since that time. The BringBackOurGirls only rush to the press with facts and movement worries that the Nigerian for public enlightenment, not to please government has, once again, relapsed powers. into the same complacency, lethargy, One of the major issues this and inertia that has been recurrent government used to convince many on this tragedy. What else explains Nigerians to vote for it is that it will get the fact that despite all assurances the Chibok girls back in a very short time, that the release of another 83 Chibok or it will be more aggressive to bring •John Hayab (PRO, Christian Association Girls is being negotiated, there has •Aisha Yesufu (#BringBackOurGirls back the girls. 1,000 days is enough for of Nigeria for 19 northern states and Abuja) been no further communication on campaigner) us to have many of them back or know the status of their release? We are more about their whereabouts. soldiers, what is the faith of the parents doubly disappointed that the Federal same stronghold in which the Federal Imagine their parents wailing and and all of us that were praying for their Government contradicted itself by the Government stated that the girls waiting for the return of their daughters, safe return? recent declaration and celebration of were being held and the 21 released especially now that some are home. We acknowledge and sincerely the capture of Sambisa Forest as the were from there. Should parents, Initially, we all thought that they were commend the success so far, but we end of the war. This action is contrary communities, Nigerians and the world in Sambisa Forest, but now that the need to see and know more than what to the pledge that Mr. President and assume that the Federal Government forest is under the control of our gallant we know and have seen now. the military have made repeatedly has given up on the Chibok girls and that they would not declare victory other abductees? Painfully, #Day1000 of their tragic abduction is here HE answer is a resounding no! If the missions that require two different without the rescue of our Chibok approaches. girls and all other victims of terrorist and there has been no status report Tquestion were to be focused on the military engagements of the insurgents, it The negotiation of the Federal abduction. Sambisa’s camp zero is the provided by the Federal Government. would be another matter entirely. We must Government with the insurgents for not make the mistake of equivocating the the release of the girls was also handled girls were abducted; even the last progress of our military personnel being poorly. We don’t know what was administration under President reported by the media, as progress on the exchanged; whether prisoners or money did not tell us Chibok girls’ rescue. They are two different or even ammunition. It is, therefore, very where the girls were being kept dicey to suggest that the FG go ahead because they said they didn’t know. with another round of negotiations for There was even a controversy as some more Chibok girls. to whether or not the girls were By all means, if the negotiations for 20 abducted. It will be difficult for girls took so long, we should remember President to that we have 195 Chibok girls and a host come in and say where the girls are of others still in captivity. The Federal being kept. Since this administration Government needs to take a stronger came on board, it has been working approach to rescuing these girls and those in captivity and that could involve hard to bring back the girls and we setting up a unit consisting of negotiators, have seen that this effort has led to military personnel and psychologists for the recovery of about 29 of them. the sole purpose of rescuing the Chibok Now that Sambisa forest has been girls and others in captivity. liberated, there is hope that the rest It must be said too that those who can be recovered as the military are said to be repentant continues to search. Nobody can say militants are, first of all, not militants. As this government is not trying in this a country, we must learn how to combat • Mashood Erubami (President, Voters regard. What I can add is that the Assembly) actors of violence, not encourage them administration can do better and it through amnesty or what we now call HIS government is doing its should not rest on its oars until the rehabilitation after they had expressly last girl is found and reunited with best. Remember, it is not •Jude ‘Feranmi (KOWA Nat’l Youth waged a war against the state and flouted T her family alive. under this administration that the Leader) all laws. It won’t work.

HE Federal Government needs to be improved upon. It is possible to get useful to themselves, parents or even the Tbe more proactive and committed all the other abducted girls who are still society again. This is because of the long to rescuing the remaining abducted alive. There is no doubt that some of them time they had spent with the insurgents. Chibok girls. I know that the Federal may have died and many of them could For those rescued girls, there is the Government and the Nigerian Army have been indoctrinated and inducted need for a reorientation; to train them are doing a lot, but more can still be into the sect. Some of them could have about good behaviour and how to done. I believe that with the capacity become wives of the insurgents. Some of maintain themselves in the society. The of the Nigerian Army, if the Federal them are already pregnant for them, so government should send them back to Government supports them more, they there is the need for total reorientation of their parents if they are still in protective will be able to do this successfully. the girls. custody. They should be allowed to go What people are suspecting is that Their indoctrination by Boko Haram back to the society. There is a lot of there are some powerful Nigerians that insurgents portrays danger for this nation positive impacts that their parents can are making it difficult for all the girls to if they are not de-radicalised. The longer make in their lives. be rescued. The level of achievement the they stay, the worse they become. By the The #BringBackOurGirls campaigners Federal Government has recorded can time they come back, they may not be should continue in their agitation because definitely, the abduction of the Chibok Compiled by: Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, girls by Boko Haram is a serious violation •Dr Biola Adimula (Chairperson, Success Nwogu and Alexander Okere. of the Child Right Act of 2011. Women and Child Watch Initiatives) MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 3

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GadgetWith Ozioma Ubabukohsmart Six tips to prepare your smartphone for sale

•Source: Google • Where do you want to sell your phone? t is a new year and you may probably want to replace the • Delete personal information Do you want to sell your phone online or offline? The most smartphone you have been using for several years. Besides After backing up your device, do not forget to delete I likely offline platform to sell your phone is Computer Village this, you may need money to deal with an emergency. You your personal information from your phone. Sensitive in Ikeja where you will never get a good bargain. There are may decide to get rid of your phone. Whatever the case information like your Automated Teller Machine also quite a number of online platforms where you can also maybe, you have to prepare your phone for sale to get the card details, contact numbers and emails should be sell it. So, you have to weigh your options. best deal from the sale. Here are some tips to prepare your removed. smartphone for sale. This will prevent whoever is buying your smartphone • Clean the device from using the information against you or to defraud A clean and neat smartphone is likely to be bought quicker • Backup your smartphone friends and family. than an ugly looking one. You can use white spirit to softly Phones can automatically back up your data as far as clean or wipe the phone. they are connected to the Internet. However, you should • Find out the value still check to ensure that you backup all your pictures, The street value for different phones depends on • Decide what to do with the accessories videos, and other important files before you sell your the brand. So, before you sell it, you should find out In Nigeria, used phones are never sold with accessories. But phone. the street value so that you don’t sell it at a giveaway if you want more money, you may include chargers, earphones, With the backup, you can access your data whenever price. This is very important if you want to get the and cases. So, decide on what to do with the accessories. you want. In addition, don’t forget to remove your SD card. best price. Source: Jumia Travels #Takeaway Apps, Internet devices that make travel easy obile technology has changed almost everything. It has network of hostels all over the world. And if you’re adventurous public transport - the fastest, the shortest and the cheapest routes Mchanged the way we work, the way we eat, the way we date or looking for even more unconventional travel options, there are all at your fingertips. You don’t need to ask for directions or and especially the way we travel. is CouchSurfing. wander around a city with your head in a map any longer. Because of innovations in mobile technology, travel has And let’s not forget about Airbnb, which needless to say, Need to communicate with a local? You used to have to thumb become easier and more accessible than ever before. These are changed the travelling forever. through phrasebooks to try to figure out what to say, and that seven ways mobile technology has changed travel, indefinitely. And guess what? All of these options are mobile, which means was only half the battle. The other half was figuring out what the you can find flights and accommodation on the go. native had said in return. Now, with at least a dozen translating • Deciding on a destination apps like Google Translate, iTranslate and Waygo, there is no Back in the day, if you wanted to discover new destinations, • Travel documents need for any of that. All you need is right there in your phone. you had to scour brochures in the lobby of a travel agency. Once upon a time, people carried a small mountain of papers People bought guides, the size of telephones’ books, and called on any given trip: airplane tickets, confirmations numbers, maps, • Travel photography up friends for personal recommendations on things to do. hotel reservations - the list goes on and on. Now, all of those We have come a long way from disposable Kodak cameras. In With the coming of the Internet and apps like MyDestination documents are readily available on your mobile device. There are the last five years, there have been tremendous improvements and TripAdvisor, all of that information is at your fingertips, even apps like TripIt that organise them for you and keep them to mobile cameras. So much so, that you can arguably take literally. There are also tonnes of travel bloggers that share in one safe place. The only physical document you need to carry professional quality photos with the latest iPhone or Android awesome information about their amazing travels via Instagram is your passport, but who knows what the future might bring. device (look it up, iPhone photography is a thing). You don’t even and other social platforms. You don’t have to look further than have to ask a stranger to take your photo anymore, thanks to the your smartphone for inspiration. • On the go entertainment invention of the selfie stick. Couple that with extensive editing Remember when your carryon bag was full of books, crossword apps that enable you to do everything you could in a dark room • Booking flights and hotels puzzles and playing cards? Now, all you need to entertain yourself and you have amazing travel photos without lugging around any In the past, you needed a good travel agent to shop around while travelling and even on your vacation is on your phone or equipment. Not to mention that you can share them instantly with and get you the best prices on flights and accommodation. Not tablet. Mobile devices allow you to carry an infinite number of your friends and family on Facebook and Instagram. anymore; now, you can do it in seconds from your phone. Apps addicting games (Piano Tiles 2, Kill Shot Bravo and Rover Craft like Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak will even bundle flight and Racing) and an entire library of books around wherever you go. • Keeping in touch hotel packages for you. You can also read reviews and check out If you’re still carrying around paperback books, it’s time to let go. It used to be that international calling cards were a travel hotel amenities. necessity. Now, you can call home for free from anywhere in the Travel has also become significantly more accessible, thanks • Getting around world. All you need is Wi-Fi access and you can make free calls to alternative and more affordable accommodation options. No map, no problem. The Global Positioning System via Skype. And if you’re #TeamIphone, there’s also FaceTime. There is, of course, the budget and student-friendly Hostel navigation, namely Google Maps, brought a freedom and World that allows you to find accommodation within their huge independence like no other. Whether you are on foot, bike or Source: Kiip 4 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017

... City, Crime, Courts metro 08185225745, 08055126196 Driver steals ex- boss’ car, dog over unpaid salaries Samson Folarin the Toyota Avensis for N2m boss. I worked for him for when he was apprehended. four years before quitting in HE Police He said, “The suspect August 2016. I left because Command has arrested stopped working for his boss things were tough for him. I Ta driver, Abass Ope, in August 2016. While the also left so that he could sort for allegedly stealing his man was away for Christmas himself out. While things former boss’ car, television with his family, he sneaked were tough for him, he owed sets and dog in the Magodo, into the house at a time he me eight months’ salaries. Ketu area of the state. knew the gatekeeper would This prompted me to take Ope, who hails from Ogun have gone to church. his property and the vehicle. State, was said to have “Since he knew where his “I took the car because I sneaked into his boss’ home boss normally kept keys to had no money to take care of while the latter was away the rooms, the job was easier myself and my younger ones. with his family members on for him. He and his gang left They had no clothes and no a Christmas holiday in Delta with the man’s car, two TVs, shoes for Christmas. They State. two decoders, a suitcase and looked up to me to take care Together with three other a dog. of the expenses. accomplices, the suspect “The former boss, on “The auto dealer wanted was alleged to have made learning of what happened, to pay N2m for the car, but away with a Toyota Avensis, called him to ask if he knew I insisted on N4m because 2013 model, a 100-inch LCD anything about it, but he I knew it was worth more television, a 42-inch LCD denied. than that. He offered me • One of the stations Photo: NSCDC TV, a dog, a suitcase and two “The police, who got the N1m instantly and said the DSTV decoders. information of the theft, balance would be ready in a The victim, Ekinodo tracked the Toyota Avensis few minutes. But I decided to Ifoghale, upon getting a to Ojuelegba. He was picked ignore the offer, hoping that 13 filling stations shut for report of the incident, cut up while trying to sell the car he would call me back for a short his Yuletide trip and for N2m.” re-negotiation. returned to Lagos. Ope, in his statement to the “I went back to Ojuelegba tampering with meters He was said to have police, allegedly confessed a few hours later in company Afeez Hanafi 13 filling stations dispensed promised to get back to our reported the case to to the crime, adding that with three of my friends; that fuel below the standard correspondent with details policemen at the Magodo he stole the items because was when the RRS operatives O fewer than 13 metering. They have been of the operation. division. Ifoghale owed him eight arrested us. My former boss filling stations in sealed up and their owners “The extent of the under- The suspect was said to months’ salaries. was nice to me. He enrolled Badagry, Lagos have several questions to dispensing in those filling have been rounded up by He said he committed the me in a university, but I N stations ranges from 0.4 a decoy team of the Rapid crime to raise funds with dropped out after I left him.” State, have been sealed for answer before the DPR,” the allegedly tampering with source added. to 1 per 10 litres. Any Response Squad in the which he would celebrate The complainant, Ifoghale, their meters in order to A member of the team that filling station that under- Ojuelegba area on December Christmas with his family in his statement to the police, cheat customers. carried out the operation dispenses will be closed 26, 2016. members. denied owing Ope any salary. PUNCH Metro learnt that told PUNCH Metro on down because that is clear A police source said the He said, “It has been four He said, “I am in shock. two Total filling stations, an condition of anonymity that cheating,” he added. suspect was about to sell months since I left my former This was a guy I treated like MRS filling station and two the stations manipulated Energy filling stations were their meters, thinking allegedly involved in the act. nobody would know. Others are Dalco, Royal “The filling stations are Stream, Lasbat, Ramos, on the outskirts; so the Monarch promises to help twins if parents reconcile JWMS, Jackos, Olubisi operators were cashing in Obinja and NYBO filling on the location to perpetrate Samson Folarin December 16, leaving behind the money N150,000. left the facility, Adeyemi’s stations. the act,” he said. the babies. He had disowned his wife first wife, Abimbola, went to The affected filling The state commandant monarch in Adeyemi had told our and said he was not interested Felken to nurse the babies. stations reportedly under- of the NSCDC, Tajudeen has promised to help correspondent that he had in her whereabouts. After the report hit the dispensed fuel between Balogun, said the corps A the two abandoned to empty his account to pay Our correspondent newsstand, Nigerians from 0.4 and 1 litre in every would continue to fight every babies in the Somolu area of additional N60,000, making reported that after Sarah different parts of the country 10 litres of petrol sold to manifestation of crime in the Lagos State and their family unsuspecting members of state and provide necessary if the parents would bury the public. support to sister agencies. their differences. They were sealed on He said, “We got The monarch, who asked Thursday by officials of the information that some not to be identified, urged the Department of Petroleum filling stations were under- Ademolas to come together Resources backed up by dispensing, which means to take care of the twins, operatives of the Nigeria that if you pay for 10 saying it was in their interest. Security and Civil Defence jerrycans of fuel, what you This is just as the twins’ Corps, Lagos State eventually get is about eight father, Adeyemi, said Command. jerrycans. We did further he was not opposed to a A source told our investigation and confirmed reconciliation, but wanted correspondent on Sunday that it was true. By the law, his second wife, Sarah, to that the command had it is the DPR that normally “suffer” for abandoning the received reports from some seals up filling stations. babies when they were barely customers, lamenting that “We contacted the DPR two weeks old. the fuel sold to them at and gave them security back- PUNCH Metro had the filling stations did not up to Badagry. Two Total reported that Sarah was commensurate with the and Energy filling stations rushed to Felken Maternity amount they paid. were sealed up. Others were Centre on Awofodu Street, “But because the NSCDC Dalco MRS, Royal Stream, Somolu, where she was does not have the power Lasbat, Ramos, JWMS, delivered of a set of two girls to seal filling stations, the Jackos, Olubisi Obinja and on December 3, 2016. DPR was informed about NYBO filling stations. They The centre was reported what was going in the filling have been sealed up by the to have billed the family stations. On Thursday, two DPR working in conjunction N300,000 which they could NSCDC teams gave DPR with the NSCDC.” not raise. officials security back-up to The DPR Zonal Director, After paying an initial sum the Badagry area. Mr. Wole Akinsoye, who of N90,000, Sarah was said “It was discovered that confirmed the sealing, to have fled the hospital on • The twins Photo: File MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 5

16-year-old boy, Victor the case was reported at the Igando Akintunde, has drowned in the Boy drowns in hotel’s pool during friend’s birthday Police Station. Aswimming pool of the Fedeco Samson Folarin Our correspondent gathered that He said, “Everybody subsequently The Police Public Relations Officer, Hotel during a birthday celebration of Akintunde hit his head against the wall searched for him, and when he was SP Dolapo Badmos, said, “The his close friend, identified only as Dare. hotel together last Monday along with of the pool without anybody noticing. pulled up, he had lost consciousness. command is investigating the case. PUNCH Metro learnt that Akintunde other friends and family members. A resident, who did not identify “He was rushed to the Alimosho We will also investigate the culpability and Dare lived in the Ijegun area of The celebration was in top gear when himself, said there was panic after the General Hospital where he was of the hotel owners to ascertain if they 08185225745, 08055126196 Lagos State. the two friends allegedly dived into the victim did not rise above the water confirmed dead.” actually put in place safety measures They were said to have gone to the hotel’s swimming pool. surface. Our correspondent gathered that for swimmers.” Driver steals ex- boss’ car, dog over unpaid salaries a son. Aside from my wife, my house during the period he needed money, I would members of the public to to criminals. Criminal Investigation and he was the closest person to that he claimed. have given him because we always run a background She said Ope and the Intelligence Department, me. He did my shopping for “I called him more than were still close even after he check on their domestic other suspects had been Yaba, for further me. How can I owe him eight twice when I got the report stopped working for me.” helps to avoid falling prey transferred to the State investigation. months’ salaries when he that my house was burgled. The Lagos State Police never worked for me during He told me he knew nothing Public Relations Officer, SP the period? He was never in about it. If he had told me that Dolapo Badmos, advised Three arrested for killing couple, kidnapping four children Armstrong Bakam, Bauchi

HE Police Command has arrested Tthree suspects for killing a man and his wife, as well as abducting their four children. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, said this in a statement on Sunday. He said the suspects committed the crime at Kisi village in the Bauchi Local Government Area of the state in October 2016. He said police detectives attached to the anti- kidnapping unit of the command arrested the suspects at Yuga village in the Toro LGA on Saturday after “painstaking intelligence and surveillance.” Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police, said, “You will recall that • Some paraded suspects Photo: File sometime in October 2016, gunmen stormed Kusi village Shuaibu Mohammed, his arrested were Alhassan • Ope Photo: RRS in Bauchi LGA and killed one wife Adama Dahiru, and Adam, Umar Maidawa and abducted four children – Sambo Bala. three boys and one female. He added that the suspects “The suspects further released all the hostages after robbed One Salmanu a ransom of N500,000 was Monarch promises to help twins if parents reconcile Habu of Dumi village of his paid to them. motorcycle and used it to Mohammed added that indicated interest in paying There is nobody that can play wrong. our correspondent that the convey the hostages to Yuga on Friday, January 6, 2017, the balance of N150,000. that role for them, but their “Except Senator Ashafa, monarch had reached out to Forest in the Toro LGA. at about 2pm, policemen One non-governmental mother. I want to urge the no other person has given his family, saying the matter “However, following attached to the Darazo organisation, which arrived man to forgive his wife.” the twins anything. And we was being considered. painstaking intelligence division arrested one Dauda early at the hospital on When contacted, Adeyemi need money. I just lost my Sarah told PUNCH and surveillance, police Yunusa of Jimi village in the Thursday, settled the bill, said his family had decided job because I decided to take Metro she had returned detectives arrested the Darazo LGA, explaining that while a Lagos Senator, to let Sarah realise her error a break to take my babies at from Agbowa, her parents’ three suspects on January the suspect was among those Gbenga Ashafa, donated first. the police station.” hometown, to the Somolu 7, 2006, at about 7pm.” ,who abducted a woman, N100,000 to the babies. He said, “How wicked can Adeyemi confirmed to area. The PPRO said that those Talatu Abdullahi. Our correspondent had a woman be to have left her “The suspect voluntarily also got calls from Nigerians babies and run away? It is confessed to have committed both home and abroad, who not true that the hospital Man arraigned for issuing the offence and further indicated interest in raising didn’t attend to her as she is mentioned other accomplices. funds for the welfare of the claiming. There were other fake travel tickets “The exhibits recovered babies. patients in that hospital and Opeyemi Soyoye Eyarune, sometime in November 2016, at Ogba, from the suspect include One of such was the they had no reason not to Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did one single-barrelled gun and monarch, who said he would treat her. If she was ill like 49-year-old travel agent, Abdulmalik fraudulently obtain the sum of N1.1m from one firearm components, two help the babies if their she claimed, how come she Eyarune, has been arraigned in an Ogba Simeon Akinbobola, under the pretext that you mobile phones and N4,190.” parents could come together. suddenly recovered and is AMagistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for wanted to procure travel tickets to United States The police spokesman He said, “I read the now asking for the babies? allegedly defrauding one Simeon Akinbobola for him, a presentation you know to be false, further stated that the touching report of the “I believe that there are of N1.1m. thereby committing an offence contrary to and policemen attached to the abandoned twins like other some people pushing her. I Eyarune was said to have collected the punishable under Section 312 of the Criminal Ganjuwa division arrested Nigerians and I decided to have been getting calls from money sometime in November 2016. He Law of Lagos, Nigeria, 2011. one Haruna Jaji on Sunday. settle the bill, but I was told some of her friends, telling reportedly collected the sum under the pretext “That you, on the same date, time and “The suspect is a member it had been paid. me to release the babies to of procuring travel tickets to the United States place, in the aforementioned magisterial of the syndicate which went “But I believe there are their mother. They believe for Akinbobola, his wife and children. district, did steal the sum of N1.1m from one to the residence of one Alhaji other ways of helping the we have made a lot of money. It was learnt that the defendant issued fake Simeon Akinbobola, being the money you were Ali Abubakar and threatened family. What I, however, “She does not really care tickets to the victim instead, after which the case supposed to use to procure travel tickets for him, to kidnap his entire family think is important is that the about the babies. I don’t was reported to the police. thereby committing an offence contrary to and members if he didn’t give parents must let go of their want her to know where the A police prosecutor, Ayorinde Ezekiel, punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal them N3m,” he added. differences. Those babies babies are. They need to arraigned Eyarune on two counts bordering on Law of Lagos, Nigeria, 2011.” Mohammed said the cases would have been missing be protected from her. My fraud and stealing. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty were under investigation, their mother and no matter family has said we should Ezekiel told the court that the offence was before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.J. adding that efforts were being what the woman might have not just allow her to return punishable under sections 312 and 285 of the Awope, and was granted bail of N500,000 with intensified to apprehend done, she needs to be around without feeling the pains Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011. two sureties in like sum. other fleeing accomplices and them to breastfeed them. that she had done something The charge read in part, “That you, Abdulmalik The case was adjourned till February 1, 2017. bring them to justice. 6 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 photo Ambode attributes Lagos growth to God news Sesan Olufowobi “We believe that as we are gathered here to praise Him, OVERNOR Akinwunmi new doors of opportunities GAmbode of Lagos State shall be opened for us as says the steady growth of the individuals, as a state and state in all sectors is due to as a nation. God’s intervention. “We want to officially The governor, who spoke welcome all other states on Sunday at a special and governors to the Year thanksgiving service for the 2017. We wish President New Year, held at the Lagos Muhammadu Buhari, who House in Ikeja, added that had worshipped here with with divine direction, the us in the past, Happy New state would continue to Year. We pray that God help move up. him as he leads the ship of He said, “Exactly a year the nation to its rightful ago, I stated that despite destination,” he said. the bleak economic outlook In his sermon, the General predicted in many quarters, Overseer of The Redeemed Lagos State would be Christian Church of God prosperous. Worldwide, Pastor Enoch “No doubt, God has been Adeboye, said for people to faithful. Lagos State will experience a new beginning, witness pleasant surprises they must be willing to in every sector in 2017.” follow God completely and While alluding to serve Him in truth and the significance of the spirit. thanksgiving service, Adeboye also admonished Ambode said it was Nigerians to embrace, as •L-R: Head, Environment Compliance and Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluseyi Osunsedo; Managing Director, important to show well as accept the invitation Kantar Consumer Insight Nigeria, Aggrey Maposa; and Head, Marketing Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Seni appreciation to God. of God. Ogunkola, during the presentation of the award for the ‘Most Connected Brand in Nigeria,’ won by Etisalat at the 2016 Kantar Awards for Brands in Nigeria, in Lagos.... recently. Photo: Etisalat Govt bans trading in arcades Afeez Hanafi “The arcade has been abused, particularly by street traders HE Lagos State Government and hawkers, who blocked road Tsays trading and other setbacks and walkways around activities capable of causing the arcade. environmental nuisance are no “Operatives of the state task longer allowed around arcades force, led by its Chairman, in the state. Olayinka Egbeyemi, with The resolution led officials of the Kick Against to the dislodgement of Indiscipline, have dislodged traders around the Tinubu street traders around Tinubu Monumental Arcade on the Monumental Arcade, in the Lagos Island by officials of Lagos Island Local Government the Lagos State Task Force Area,” he said. on Environment and Special Meanwhile, the task force Offences (Enforcement) Unit. has relocated from Ikeja to The task force spokesperson, a multi-purpose complex in Taofiq Adebayo, stated on Bolade Oshodi, opposite the Sunday that some of the arcades Arena complex. were meant to preserve cultural The task force said the heritage and serve as archives relocation was meant to for academic research. strengthen its operations. “The Tinubu Monumental “Other government agencies Arcade, which was re- affected by the relocation constructed by the present include the Lagos State administration, was named Emergency Management after Madam Efunroye Tinubu Agency, KAI, Nigeria Legion and •L-R: Head of Operations, South-South, Globacom, Mr. Enekwachi Aja; winner, ‘Glo Campus Data Dude,’ Mr. Njoku (1810 - 1887), a female aristocrat the Lagos State Environmental Raymond; winner, ‘Glo Campus Data Diva,’ Onukwufor Chiamaka; and Globacom Business Director, Enugu, Mrs. and trader during pre-colonial Sanitation Mobile Courts,” Bidemi Ajagbe, at the Glo Campus Storm at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka... recently. Photo: Globacom and colonial period in Nigeria. Adebayo added. LASG to dislodge miscreants in riverside communities Afeez Hanafi and property until they were dislodged. non-governmental He said, “We are glad to A organisation, Safe update members of the public Habitat, says it has received that further information reports that the Lagos State reaching us after our statement Government and other indicates that the state stakeholders are set to rid government and other relevant riverside communities in the stakeholders in the Eti-Osa Eti-Osa Local Government LGA have started taking Area of illegal occupants. steps to remove the shanties The organisation had in Ebute Ikate Elegushi to raised the alarm that some stop the entrenchment of Boko Haram terrorists and environmental nuisance and militants from other parts of security threats. the country were fleeing to the “We are aware that the communities. prompt response by the state It added that the illegal and the relevant stakeholders settlers terrorised residents is to prevent fleeing Boko of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Haram insurgents dislodged Island, among others, and from the North East, Niger constituted environmental Delta militants and other nuisance. criminal elements from •L-R: Managing Partner, Red Media Africa, Chude Jideonwo; Managing Partner, Brandzone Consulting and Safe Habitat Executive neighbouring countries from Convener, Brand Platform, Chizor Malize; Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh; and founder, Director, Ade Williams, in a having a foothold in Eti- statement on Sunday, said Osa, and indeed Lagos state. HealthPlus Limited, Bukky George, at the Brand Innovation Summit organised by Brandzone in Lagos... on Friday. the miscreants would remain We commend this and urge Photo: Brandzone a threat to safety of lives support for the effort.” MONDay, JANUARY 9, 2017 7 news Governance code: Minister, FRCN boss clash over Adeboye, others Niyi Odebode, John Alechenu, Olusola organisation would not heed the directive of resources. Federal Government was planning to control Fabiyi, Friday Olokor, Ifeanyi Onuba the minister on the code. “But in practical terms, we feel strongly that religious organisations in the country. and Success Nwogu The source added, “The Minister of the law is targeted at weakening the church Spokesperson for the Senator Ahmed - Industry, Trade and Investment wrote a in Nigeria and ensure that the generals of the led caretaker committee, Dayo Adeyeye, here are strong indications that letter to us saying that he didn’t want the code church, who have the vision of developing the stated this in an interview with one of our Tthe Minister of Industry, Trade and to be effective now and that he wanted it to be church, are pulled off to make churches and correspondents on Sunday. Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah, suspended for now. members vulnerable to attacks. He said the PDP was not comfortable with and the Executive Secretary of the Financial “But you know in government circles, “It is difficult for the church to keep quiet on the law as being implemented by the Federal Regulatory Council of Nigeria, Mr. Jim particularly in the public sector, when you are such laws. Government. Obazee, are currently engaged in a face-off suspending something, you back it up with a “While, as Christians, we are admonished Adeyeye said, “No, we are not comfortable with over an FRCN regulation, which stipulates paper – a gazette and all of that, but as it is by the Holy Bible to respect and be obedient the law at all. It is an insidious attempt to exercise 20 years tenure for heads of religious groups now, there is no gazette. to constituted authorities in our nation, we state control over religion and is a violation of the and civil society groups in the country. “It must have a gazette, indicating that are sure it is in response and respect for this constitutional right to freedom of worship. The PUNCH reliably gathered in Abuja the law has been suspended. There is no admonition that our highly-esteemed father, “It has a hidden sinister motive, especially for on Sunday that the minister had written gazette to that effect that this law has been Pastor E. A. Adeboye, decided to resign his the Christian religion.” the FRCN boss, directing him to suspend suspended. So as it is now, the code has not headship of The Redeemed Christian Church A lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, said the the implementation of the controversial been suspended because there is no gazette of God.’’ emerging trend in the RCCG gave cause for regulation. to that effect and that is where we are now. He added, “We will consult widely and study serious concern.” But it was learnt that Obazee defied the “The code has been on naturally, right from the law further and the future implications He compared what was happening in the instruction of the minister, insisting that the (ex-President Goodluck) Jonathan’s time in line with our vision and calling as pastors, church to what occurred in The Gambia, where implementation of the regulation would go and this has been over four years. When implications on our followers, and the motive the incumbent President called to congratulate ahead. the code was being done, we engaged all the of the law before taking the appropriate the winner and conceded defeat, but later Findings showed that Obazee said the stakeholders and their presentations formed measures of clearly stating our opinion for or recanted. implementation of the regulation could not part of what was in the code at the end of the against the law to the authorities. The Public Relations Officer of CAN in the 19 be suspended because there was no gazette day. “Adeboye is not just a Redeemed Church northern states, John Hayab, said, “From the that indicated that it had been amended or “The only people that took the matter to pastor but a mentor, counsellor and distant available press statement from The Redeemed suspended. court were the churches and they lost. It was pastor to a lot of Christians and non-Christians Christian Church of God, I understand Papa It was gathered that though the minister’s on the day they lost that our legal adviser said in Nigeria and the world over. We understand Adeboye only did what godly leaders should do letter to the FRCN boss was written on ‘okay, we could go ahead and release the code the news will take many by surprise but the by reducing his workload and preparing others October 17, 2016, the council had insisted and that if we don’t release this code, other fact that he remains the General Overseer to take over when he is still alive, not when he on the resignation of heads of other affected bodies will go to court to challenge it’. (Worldwide) is enough consolation to most dies and trouble will start. groups. “The private sector came to us three weeks of us.” “Appointing someone to be National Overseer The General Overseer of The Redeemed ago and they told us the sections they wanted is a show of maturity and our politicians and all Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch amended and we told them that we will look Atiku, PDP, Oloyede, others react other church leaders should emulate him for Adeboye, had, on Saturday, announced at it when we are doing what we call fine- Also, former Vice-President peaceful transition and transfer of power in every Pastor Joseph Obayemi, as the new leader of tuning.” described Adeboye as a unique example of sector.” the church in Nigeria. When asked if the code was still effective, the kind of inspirational leadership he prayed In his own reaction, the immediate Secretary- General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for The G. O. made the announcement at the he said, “The code is still on as it stands that Nigeria continued to have. Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said NSCIA church’s annual ministers’ thanksgiving held now. All the banks are complying with the Atiku said this in a series of tweets on his was indifferent to the FRC Act. at the Redemption Camp in the Mowe area of codes. If it has been suspended, why are they twitter handle, @atiku, on Sunday. He stated that the law was not strictly Ogun State. complying with it. The churches don’t want He said the clergyman’s influence cut across He cited a government regulation, which it and that was why they went to court and ethnicity, class and religion. meant for religious organisations but for non- stipulates mandatory office tenure for they have lost. The former vice-president, a chieftain of governmental organisations. general overseers of all registered churches, “So, the law is still in force. Mr. President is the All Progressives Congress, in one of the He spoke in an interview with journalists in as the reason for the restructuring. aware of this issue and he has not issued any tweets, said, “Pastor Adeboye is the kind of Ilorin, the capital, on Sunday, on Adeboye had said the regulation would also directive to stop the law.” religious leader I pray that we see more of the sidelines of the 56th birthday anniversary of the General Secretary, National Union of Textile be extended to clergymen such as Bishop Law created to weaken the church, in Nigeria, while in another, he said, “He is a man beloved and who loves one and all Garment Workers of Nigeria, Mr. Issa Aremu. David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church says CAN official without discrimination.” The occasion also marked the public Worldwide International aka Winners Meanwhile, an official of the Christian He also said, “Some of the most prominent presentation of two books written by Aremu. Chapel; Pastor W. F. Kumuyi of the Deeper Association of Nigeria, on Sunday, said the personalities Nigeria has been blessed with Oloyede said, “I was a bit disturbed because Christian Life Ministry and Bishop Mike law, regulating the tenure of the heads of have been those who learnt from the pulpit rather than facing issues, we always divert Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical not-for-profit and religious organisations, of Pastor Adeboye. A most recent example attention. Was it (law) made by Buhari? The Mission. was created to weaken the church in the is our current Vice-President, Prof. Yemi answer is no! It is not a new law; it has been A source in the Ministry of Industry, country. Osinbajo.” there. Trade and Investment, who confided in The He said although the government was A statement from his media office on the “When this law was made, our Christian PUNCH, confirmed that the minister had hiding under the “good motive” to regulate same subject on Sunday added, “The Turakin counterparts approached Islamic groups to written the Executive Secretary of the FRCN, the excesses of those organisations in Adamawa (Atiku) also hailed the several ask for our reaction and our reaction was directing him not to execute the regulation. Nigeria and ensure prudent management efforts of Pastor Adeboye, which clearly indifference. He stated, “There is an issue with the of offices and resources, there were ulterior went beyond the normal expectations for a “I believe our Christian counterparts went to new code of corporate governance and the motives behind the law. preacher, such as his active participation in the former President about it. What they did or minister wrote the Financial Reporting The National Director, Legal and Public the war against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, which failed to do is not our business. Council and told the council not to execute Affairs, CAN, Kwamkur Samuel, said this in saw the G. O. featured in an anti-AIDS “When I read it in a daily today, I felt a bit it because a lot of people from the private an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja on advert that was aired on national television. disturbed that they were not honest enough to sector have complained about it. Sunday. “In addition, the former Vice-President say that this is not a new law. I think some people “So the minister wanted to look into it and He argued that a similar law, which hailed the role that the G. O. has played as are just hell bent in creating sensation and see what the issues were. He (FRC boss) compelled churches in Nigeria to surrender a converging figure for other religious leaders discrediting the government. It is unfair. was asked not to go ahead with executing it. their mission schools, built by missionaries in Nigeria, many who openly attended his Oloyede stated that Adeboye should have There is a controversy on that FRC issue and and churches to government, had been services or consulted with him despite being explained to his congregation that the FRCN we are now looking into the matter to know introduced in the past. of different congregations.” regulation was not a new law. what the issues are before we can finally Samuel stated, “From the look of the But the National Caretaker Committee of He said, “The impression was being given take a decision. This is where the matter is law, it seems to have been enacted with the Peoples Democratic Party frowned on the as if the present government created the currently.” a good motive to regulate the excesses of law for leaders of churches and any not-for- law. Whether the law is good or bad, that is But a source in the FRCN, who spoke on not-for-profit organisations in Nigeria and profit organisations. another thing and everybody can face that as Sunday on condition of anonymity, said the ensure prudent management of offices and The party said there were signs that the it is.” Have a story for us? Code of Ethics For more information, Contact: • We are guided by conduct are the basis independent body would Newspaper Proprietors’ please contact: Politics: 08033461633 the principles of of public trust and best serve the interest Association of Nigeria, Office of the Ombudsman, [email protected]; factual, balanced and confidence. of the profession and Newspaper Proprietors’ General News: 08165625046 supported by other • We believe that a system society. Association of Nigeria Online: 08033430804 fair reporting and stakeholders, to mediate commentaries. of self regulation, • We subscribe to the complaints against the 8, Maryland Crescent, [email protected]; Maryland, Ikeja. Or e-mail: Business: 07068835954 • We believe that these through a professional Ombudsman mechanism press on ethical conduct code of ethics under an established by the ngrombudsman@yahoo. [email protected] principles and ethical and recommend redress. com 8 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 Northern city news ... Crime, Courts, others Police arrest Redeemed pastor involved in burial of murdered boy Adelani Adepegba, before they would admit leading to the arrest and Abuja the body. detention of the cleric he police have The source said, “The for allegedly leading the Tarrested a cleric, workers at the clinic burial team. Pastor Timothy Adigun, refused to admit the body The FCT Police Public • Governor, of the Redeemed Christian when they saw blood Relations Officer, Manzah Mr. Atiku Bagudu Church of God, Shere all over the vehicle. Mr. Anjuguri, confirmed that Koro, Bwari Area Council, Olaoye then approached investigators had arrested Kebbi rescues Federal Capital Territory the Chief of Shere Koro Adigun for involvement 42 children, 4 for allegedly assisting community to purchase in the illegal burial of a couple, Mr. and Mrs. a piece of land for the Samuel. corpses Olaoye, to bury a boy that burial of the boy, but He added that efforts he Kebbi State Hisbah died in their home. the chief refused, so he were ongoing to apprehend TCommittee has recovered The couple had contacted Pastor Adigun, the Olaoyes, who, he said, 42 abandoned children, four reportedly fled with the one Kayode and two police were the prime suspects in dead bodies and 17 dumped body of Ayomide Samuel, officers who are members the homicide case. babies in the state. who died at their residence of the church to assist with “We have a suspect in The News Agency of Nigeria in the Zone B area of the the burial.” custody in respect of the reports that the state Director community on December But following rigorous case; he assisted the couple of Sharia and Special Adviser to 25 last year. •Olaoye’s residence investigation by the to bury the deceased. The Kebbi State Governor on Sharia The primary four pupil police, all the people police are on the trail of It was gathered that the a clinic, but the workers Matters, Alhaji Abubakar was said to have given up the that participated in the prime suspects, we are couple had earlier taken reportedly asked them Muhammad, made this known ghost after he was allegedly the internment of the working hard to get them,” the corpse of the boy to to bring a police report in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday. hit on the head with an deceased were identified, Anjuguri said. Abubakar said 115 cases of object by the housewife on missing children were recorded Christmas Day. FCT minister moves against vandals, prostitutes in 2016 in the state and 42 The police had full wrath of the law. properly monitored and children rescued were handed embarked on a manhunt Adelani Adepegba, and called for closer Bello, at a meeting with their owners asked to take over to their parents. for the couple for fleeing Abuja collaboration in 2017 and the FCT Security Committee beyond. proper possession “as they He said that the committee also with Samuel’s corpse he Federal Capital on Friday, noted that most would be held responsible recorded 44 unwanted pregnancies, after they were directed to He said, “The FCT Territory Minister, for any security breach in 17 dumped babies, one homosexual report the incident at the T of the traffic lights in the Administration this year Mallam Muhammad such places.” case, 18 force marriages and nine Bwari Divisional Police Abuja metropolis had been would give serious attention Bello, has directed security Bello also directed the cases of Hajj fraud. Station. vandalised, which has led to the problems of traffic agencies to clamp down security agents to restrict He said the committee had A source who was to signal failure at such offenders, illegal activities of on vandals, scavengers the activities of scavengers resolved 501 disputes between familiar with the interchanges. commercial motorcyclists, and other miscreants in to dumpsites and arrest spouses, friends, parents and investigation told He directed security vandalisation of public the FCT. any of them found roaming their children among others, Northern City News on operatives to track down utilities, restriction of Keke He stated that around the city. and took 134 cases to court. Friday that Adigun was the perpetrators and bring Napep to designated areas, vandalisation of public He announced that the “Let me use this opportunity arrested by the police them to justice. which are the estates, among utilities in the city must FCT Judiciary had already to appeal to parents to monitor for assisting the wanted The minister appreciated others.” stop forthwith, stressing assigned five magistrates to the whereabouts of their couple to bury the the support the FCT He emphasized that the security agents man five mobile courts to children all the time as well as deceased in an unmarked Administration had been that abandoned and would clamp down on deal with all the problems. be mindful of what is happening grave in Shere Koro at enjoying from the FCT uncompleted buildings any suspected vandal who The mobile courts, around to them,” he said. night. would be made to face the Security Community across the FCT would be He also revealed that 22 he said, were set up for youths were arrested for Cattle rustlers kill one, injure 15 in Niger immediate dispensation camping young girls in hotels, of justice and appropriate while 20 women were arrested Enyioha Opara, Minna Fifteen others who four days after some armed cases of kidnapping and penalties to serve as were trying to escape the mobile policemen patrolled cattle rustling in some deterrent. for prostitution. ATTLE rustlers invasion were attacked by the area, saying, “We have parts of Rafi and Shiroro The minister further said He said 11 youths were attacked Angwar C the bandits and were said reported the latest attack Local Government Area of that commercial sex workers arrested for drug addiction, Umadi Village in Shiroro one woman for abortion and to be receiving treatment to the authority but we are the state. when arrested would be Local Government Area at the Arena Dispensary. yet to hear from them”. The Commissioner for taken to Rehabilitation three others taken to court for of on Sunday stealing livestock. One of the villagers, This is the 20th attack Information, Culture and Centre, Lugbe for skill killing a teenager and According to him, the Isaiah Bag, who spoke to on communities in Shiroro Tourism, Mr. Jonathan acquisition in order to be leaving 15 others seriously committee amicably resolved 25 our correspondent, said the Local Government Area Vatsa, in a statement more useful to themselves injured. debt cases and confiscated clothing rustlers, numbering about of the state with over 100 said the government was and the society. The deceased, a materials with Allah’s inscription 40, arrived the village at people killed and over worried by the activities of He advised FCT 19-year-old senior on them as well as counseled 134 about 12am on Sunday 1,500 cattle and sheep people with questionable residents to pass any useful secondary school student, people on various issues. morning and operated for stolen. characters operating information they have on was reportedly shot at a The director thanked about one hour. The last night attack within the notorious Birni any security situation to the close range by the armed the state government for Baga said 212 cattle and is coming 24hours after Gwari forest. relevant security agencies rustlers when the boy came providing 15 motorcycles and a number of sheep were the state government Vatsa said the criminals nearest to them. two vehicles, adding that the out to ease himself, not taken away, including 7 expressed the readiness were those chased out from gesture would ease the work of knowing that the bandits new motorcycles. of the security agencies Zamafara State by the the committee. were operating. The attack, he said, came to tackle the upsurge in ongoing military operation and have infiltrated the Kano court convicts 52 for illegal car racing state through the Birni Gwari axis to engage in Ted Odogwu, Kano on seeing policemen, the by the Police convicted to six months kidnapping and cattle Command’s spokesman, youths attacked them with magistrate court has imprisonment or alternatively rustling. stones, during which 52 of Asentenced 52 youths to DSP Magaji Majiya, said. pay a fine of N10, 000 each. The commissioner six months imprisonment It explained that the 52 them were arrested and two “The command under the stated that to ensure for illegal car racing in Kano. youths were arrested on cars confiscated. leadership of Commissioner the protection of lives The convicts were January 1, 2017 for engaging It said, “All the arrested of Police, Rabiu Yusuf, has and properties, the however given the option of in illegal car racing on Zoo suspects were charged to re-iterated its standpoint government had mobilised N10,000 fines each by the Road, Kano. court, where they pleaded to sanction anyone caught security agencies to curb •FCT Minister court, a statement on Friday The command added that guilty, tried and summarily violating laws of the state.” the trends. Mohammed Bello 8 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 Southern city news ... Crime, Courts, others 08037073962 Ibusa landlord accused of beating Godwin Udoh, Asaba pregnant woman into coma landlord and the head Aof Okponta quarters the roadside where she was beating and kicking me. Harrison on 05/01/2017. It in Ibusa town, Oshimili- revived and thereafter she That is all I can remember.” read in part, “Observation North Local Government was rushed to a hospital Speaking to our reporter, and treatment report Area of , Sunday where the doctor demanded Joshua Isong, the husband that the victim sustained ‘Allah-day’ Okocha, has for a police permit before of the victim, said he bruises in the face and allegedly beaten a woman, she would be attended to.” received a call and had to both arms.” Mrs. Chioma Joshua, of The victim, who narrated rush down to the hospital The medical report Umuehe Quarters into a her ordeal after being where he was told that he also analyzed that there coma. resuscitated, said, “On that needed to present a police was a case of incomplete Mrs. Joshua was fateful day, Mama Sam report before his wife would abortion with minimal reportedly on her way back visited me at my apartment be treated. retained products, even as from a visit to a friend with her two children to It was gathered that the husband of the victim (Mama Sam) when she stay with me while she went Isong had to rush to Ibusa alleged that the abortion was allegedly attacked to the market. Police Station where he was caused by the beating. by Okocha, her former “On her return at about obtained a police report Isong appealed to the landlord. 4.30pm, the children for medical treatment, state government, human An eyewitness, who were asleep and she which was signed by the rights activists and well- gave her name as Victoria, asked me to escort her Investigating Police Officer, meaning Nigerians to help said, “The (former) with one of the children Inspector Francis, and him as he was finding it landlord started beating to their house, which I addressed to the Federal difficult to pay the hospital her without words and obliged. At her compound, Medical Centre, Asaba. bill. before we knew it, the Explaining that the only nothing happened. But •The victim A copy of the medical young lady was on the floor on my way home, I heard report, which was made support he had received bleeding profusely and someone calling on me. saw Sunday Okocha, my attacked me without saying available to our reporter, was from a neighbour, unconscious. When I turned around, I former landlord and he any word. He just started was signed by Dr. Elipeni Isong further alleged that “We took the victim to the community head was after his life. Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill five Delta farmers While responding to a question on what could Ovie Okpare, The deceased were said lives of two males and a have led to the beating of to have refused to allow female. his wife by the community USPECTED Fulani herdsmen to graze their The victims, according to head, Isong alleged that it Sherdsmen have cattle on their farms. sources, were indigenes of might not be unconnected reportedly hacked five Their corpses were Obiaruku community. with the fact that their farmers to death in two recovered following a search “They had gone to the former landlord might not separate attacks in Abraka on Wednesday afternoon in farm last week Tuesday and have been happy with the and Obiaruku, both in a bush said to be very prone when they did not return, the way they packed out of his Ethiope East and Ukwuani to herdsmen attacks. next day, a search party sent house as tenants. Local Government Area of Akpovona, a father of five, to look for them found their When contacted, Delta State. was said to have been shot lifeless bodies at separate Okocha in a phone Southern City News by the herdsmen while his locations by a river bank near conversation with our gathered that the incident brother was hacked to death their farm,” Progress Aganbi, reporter, said, “The happened between Tuesday and his fingers cut off. a native of the area, narrated. issue on the ground has and Wednesday last week The second incident The state’s Police Public no relationship with when the communities were happened in a farm around Relations Officer, Andrew the media and you as a allegedly attacked by the a forest reserve along the Aniamaka, a Deputy reporter should go to hell. herdsmen who had been Abraka-Benin road, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the number of up to prevent any form of “In fact, tell Joshua having a running battle with boundary area between confirmed that there were casualties. reprisal, urging residents Isong and his wife that I farmers in the areas over the Urhoka-Abraka and clashes in the two areas, Aniamaka added that and herdsmen in the area to will be waiting for them destruction of their crops by Obiaruku. It claimed the but could not immediately security had been beefed maintain the peace. in court.” cattle. The incidents, which have reportedly sparked Ex-militant monarch denies involvement in community killings tension between local Chukwudi Akasike, linking him with the murder ONELGA. However, the farmers and herdsmen in Port Harcourt of Toby and his (Toby) son surviving son of the late the state, claimed the lives were enemies, who were not former CDC chairman HE traditional ruler of of four males and a female interested in his progress. identified one of the killers as more residents in the state TAligwu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local “Some days ago, I heard of his father. called for the ejection of the that the former chairman “I have been praying for herdsmen from their lands. Government Area of Rivers State, Chief Igwedibia Ejima of Omoku CDC and his son, ONELGA to have peace. Two According to a source, Johnson, has dismissed the as well as another boy were wrongs cannot make a right,” two of the victims, who were allegation that he had a hand killed. I felt very bad about it. Eze Johnson further said. cousins, Akpovona Felix in the recent killings in the This is because I have been In his remark, the elder and Sunday Akpupu, were area. saying in the media that we brother of the late Toby, indigenes of Eku community Johnson said specifically need peace in ONELGA. I Mr. Ikechukwu Wokocha, residing at the Delta State that he had no hand in cannot get myself involved absolved the traditional University host community the murder of the former in that. ruler of any complicity in of Abraka. chairman of Omoku “I am a peaceful man. As the murder of his younger It was gathered that two Community Development a traditional ruler, I cannot brother. support anybody or groups Wokocha said their family of them were killed in their Committee, Azubuike Toby, •Johnson to take laws into their hands, had identified one of the farms as their lifeless bodies and his son. The traditional ruler, crime, especially after they recently enthroned as Eze especially in my zone. I suspects as Jungle Boy, were discovered there on who had embraced the state were granted amnesty. Oyirimba 1 of Ogbaland, said cannot do such things. I am even as he urged the federal Wednesday. It was learnt amnesty programme, said Popularly known as he was a man of peace and against the killings. and state governments to that they had gone to the on Saturday in Omoku, General Don Waney, the had no interest in going back “They (local government expose those who killed Toby farm on Tuesday but failed ONELGA, that he and his former leader of Aggrieved to the creeks. area) know the people and the reason behind their to return home. ‘boys’ had nothing to do with Orashi Youths, who was He maintained that those causing the problem in action. 8 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 personal

09055512063 (sms only) [email protected] banking With Nike Popoola More banking words

avings ratio: A measurement of how much money Speople in a country are saving, which compares the amount of money they have available to spend with the amount of money they do spend. Sort code: A number that is used, for example on cheques, for recognising the particular office of a bank where someone keeps their account. Standing order: An instruction that you give a bank to take a particular amount of money out of your account on a particular day, usually each month, to pay a person or organisation for you. A direct debit is a similar arrangement, except that the amount can change and is decided by the person who you are paying. Statement: An official document that lists the amounts of money that have been put in or taken out of a bank account. Stress test: A test used to find out if a bank or other financial institution is likely to fail or have serious problems in a difficult economic situation. Strongroom: A room, often in a bank, for protecting money and other valuable things from being stolen or burned in a fire. Sub-prime: Used to describe lending at a higher than usual rate of interest because it involves borrowers who are less likely to be able to pay back their loan. Telebanking: A way of doing business with a bank by using your telephone or computer. Unsecured:An unsecured loan is money that a bank lends someone without making them promise to give property to the bank if they cannot pay the money back. Vault: A strongly protected room in a bank where money, gold etc. is kept. Withdrawal: The process of taking an amount of money out of your bank account, or the amount of money Regular banking words you that you take out. ere are some institutions make money In credit: To have more money in an account than the Heveryday banking by lending money to other amount that you have taken out. terms an accountholder should know organisations. In the black:With money in your bank account, or should be familiar with, Mortgage: A legal according to http://www. bank if you fail to pay back Direct debit: An order agreement in which you with more money than you owe. macmillandictionary.com. the money that you have to a bank to regularly pay borrow money from a bank Annual percentage borrowed. money from your account to in order to buy a house. You rate: The percentage that Commission: An extra a person or organisation. pay back your mortgage by a bank makes you pay in amount of money that you Discount rate: The rate making monthly payments. interest when you borrow have to pay to a bank or of interest that a central Online banking: A money from it, calculated other organisations when bank charges another bank system that allows you to over a period of one year. they provide a service for that borrows from it. communicate with your Balance: The amount you. EFTPOS/Electronic bank on the Internet. of money you have in your Credit: An arrangement funds transfer at point Overdraft: An bank account. to receive goods from a shop of sale: A system of paying agreement with your bank Bank draft: An order or money from a bank and for goods by moving money that allows you to spend to pay someone that is sent pay for it later. It can also by computer from the money when you have no from one bank to another be an amount of money that customer’s bank account to money left in your account. bank, usually in a different you add to an account. An the account of the company It can also be the amount of country. amount of money that you or person they have bought money that someone owes Bank rate: The rate of take out of an account is a from. their bank because they interest that banks use to debit. Interest: Money that a have used this agreement. calculate how much interest Credit limit: The person or institution such Overdrawn: If you are to charge on the money they maximum amount of money as a bank charges you for overdrawn, or if your bank lend to each other rather that a customer can borrow lending you money. It can account is overdrawn, you than to their customers. using a particular credit card also be the money that you owe your bank money that Bank statement: A account. receive from an institution you have spent when there document that shows all the Credit line: An amount such as a bank when you was no money in your money that went into or out of money that a person or keep money in an account account. of your bank account during company can borrow from there. Real-time a particular period of time. a bank or other financial Interest rate: The authorisation: A system Bank Internet institution. percentage that an that can check whether payment system: An Credit rating: Financial institution such as a bank a customer’s credit card electronic system for making information about someone charges or pays you in is acceptable in a few payments by moving money that a bank or shop uses for interest when you borrow seconds, so that an Internet directly into a bank account deciding whether to lend money from it or keep shop can process an order over the Internet them money or to give them money in an account. immediately. Borrower: Someone credit. Internet banking: A Safety deposit box: who borrows money from a Credit transfer: A system that allows you to use A small box that is usually bank. payment made directly the Internet to communicate kept in a bank and used Cardholder: Someone from one bank account to with your bank, check your for storing valuable who owns a credit card or another. account, pay bills and do possessions. debit card for buying things. Debit: An amount of other transactions. Saver: Someone who Cash back: Money from money taken from a bank Lending rate: A regularly puts money in a your bank account that you account. percentage that a bank bank or building society so can get from a shop when Deposit: An amount of charges a customer who that they can use it later. you pay for goods with a money that you pay into a borrows money. Savings: Money that debit card. bank account. Money market: you have saved in a bank or Collateral: Property Depositor: Someone Business activities in which invested so that you can use that you agree to give to a who pays money into a bank. banks and other financial it later. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 9 news Police block Chibok girls’ protesters from Aso Rock Olalekan Adetayo and ache is in our hearts. But hope President stressed. in routing the insurgents Adelani Adepegba, Abuja •Chibok girls will return soon —President remains constant, eternal, and Meanwhile, Governor from their stronghold as he were abducted, 57 escaped, yet rejoin their families and we believe our pains will be David Umahi of combined military skills and he #BringBackOurGirls four were found and 21 were loved ones. assuaged. has hailed Buhari for the finesse to achieve the feat. Tgroup has accused released with four infants. “Three of them have been “Our hopes will not be Nigerian Army’s impeccable “He also assembled the President Muhammadu She added that 19 Chibok recovered by our diligent shattered, and our hearts will feat of routing the Boko best, high-ranking officers Buhari of conducting its affairs parents had died during the military, while the freedom leap for joy, as more and more Haram insurgents from their in the military to storm the like the former administration period while 195 girls were of 21 others was secured of our daughters return. It is Sambisa Forest stronghold. Sambisa Forest an haven of of Goodluck Jonathan. still missing. through engagement with a goal we remain steadfastly Umahi gave the the insurgents and matched It noted that this was However, President their captors. committed to,” the President commendation at an inter- them force to force which apparent in its handling of Buhari on Sunday assured “We are hopeful that many said. denominational service destabilised them,” he said. the issue of the abducted all stakeholders that the more will still return as soon On the occasion of the 1,000 to mark the 2017 Armed Chibok girls, insecurity across remaining girls would soon as practicable.” days, Buhari commended Forces Remembrance Day FHC redeploys the country, welfare of the be reunited with their parents. The President reiterated all who had been in the celebration in Abakaliki on internally displaced persons, In a statement on Sunday his pledge, pronounced vanguard for the recovery Sunday. Justices Liman, military welfare, corruption by his Special Adviser on many times in the past, that of the girls, nationally and Represented by Dr. Kelechi and poor governance. Media and Publicity, Mr. government would not spare internationally. Igwe, his deputy, Umahi said Abang, nine The group said this Femi Adesina, the President any effort to reunite the girls “Someday soon, we will Buhari had shown that he was on Sunday during its restated the commitment of with their families. all rejoice together. Our commanding the Nigerian others commemoration of the 1000th the Federal Government to “I salute the fortitude of intelligence and security forces armed forces effectively. Olusola Fabiyi day of the abduction of the securing the release of the the distraught parents. As a are unrelenting, and whatever “The feat is unprecedented and Ade Adesomoju Chibok schoolgirls in Borno girls. parent also, I identify with it takes, we remain resolute. in the nation’s long years State by the Boko Haram sect. Buhari said, “We are their plight. Days turned Chibok community, Nigeria, of fighting insurgency and he Chief Judge of the The coalition members, grateful to God that on this to weeks, weeks turned to and, indeed, the world, will militancy and it signifies TFederal High Court, Justice who marched towards the landmark day, we are not months, months turned to yet rise in brotherhood, to continued security for the Ibrahim Auta, has redeployed Presidential Villa, Abuja, were completely in the depths of years, and today, it is 1,000 welcome our remaining girls nation’s troubled areas. 11 judges in different divisions blocked by riot policemen and despair, but buoyed with days. back home. We trust God “The president’s military of the court. women who cordoned off the hope that our daughters will “The tears never dry, the for that eventuality,” the expertise was brought to bear Two prominent judges of entrance road to the seat of the court, Justice Mohammed government. Liman of Port Harcourt But the Co-coordinator of Division and Justice Okon the group, Oby Ezekwesili, Abang of the Abuja Division, informed the leader of the are affected by the posting. police team who was in mufti The Chief Judge, in a that the BBOG members were circular dated December not interested in marching to 21, 2016 and addressed to the villa. “All Judges of Federal High The group thereafter Court,” redeployed Justice addressed newsmen and Liman from Port Harcourt to pasted the posters of the Enugu Division, and Justice Chibok schoolgirls on the Abang redeployed from Abuja bridge. to Asaba Division, Delta State. A co-coordinator of the The circular obtained from coalition, Aisha Yesufu, who a lawyer close to the Chief read a statement on behalf Judge’s office directed the of the movement, noted that affected judges to resume at the Federal Government had their new stations by January not given any update on the 30. status of the remaining girls The Chief Judge gave “the in the Boko Haram custody recent developments in the after 21 of them were released court” as the reason for the last year. •L-R: Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; her husband, Akinwunmi; General Overseer, Redeemed posting. “As with the Jonathan Christian Church of God (RCCG) Worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; his wife, Folu, during the 2017 Annual Thanksgiving Details of the said “recent administration, the Buhari Service at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Sunday. Photo: Lagos State Government House developments” were not stated administration’s response in the circular. to issues about the Chibok According to the circular, girls is representative of FG aims to attack church leaders with FRC law —Fayose the posting would not affect its handling of other issues Kamarudeen Ogundele path to avoid tragedy of hand, God will amputate the By using laws against the the criminal cases the affected — insecurity, welfare of and Success Nwogu monumental proportion hand. Ayo Fayose is anointed church, they have started to judges are currently handling. internally displaced persons, befalling the nation. of God. crumble. It read in part, “In view military welfare, corruption he Governor, Fayose spoke during the “I have warned and I’m “Christians are being of the fact some divisions and poor governance,” the TAyodele Fayose, on 53rd birthday thanksgiving still warning, take your slaughtered in Southern are currently short of BBOG stated. Sunday cautioned the Federal service of his wife, Feyisetan, hands away from the Kaduna and noble men judges following the recent The group said it had Government against the held at the governor office administration of churches, cannot talk because of fear developments in the court, it resolved to carry out a series continuous implementation chapel, in Ado Ekiti, the state you are killing Christians, of incarceration. Remember has become necessary to take of activities for a period of the Financial Regulation chapter on Sunday. The Lord will rise against you are here today, tomorrow urgent steps to fill in existing of one week to compel the Council Act, which, he said, He said, “There is one you. By rising against the you would not be here again. vacancies. government “to accelerate had tampered with the thing every government church, this government We must condemn what is “Affected judges are expected the decision and actions administration of churches must not do, the moment has failed as anyone that happening here today, “ he to resume in their new divisions necessary to bring back the in Nigeria. you face the church of God, rises against God will fail. said. by January 30, 2017. rest of our Chibok Girls to an Based on the new law, you will fail. The God of “The judges shall continue anxiously waiting nation.” Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Adeboye, Kumuyi will bring Fire razes filling station, 20 houses in Ekiti with the hearing of criminal The actions, it added, would Saturday stepped down as down all the enemies in Kamarudeen Ogundele, the time of filing this report. cases currently before them, also serve to remind Nigerians the General Overseer of the this government. Somebody Ado-Ekiti But about 20 houses, 30 as well as at least two witnesses and the international Redeemed Christian Church must tell them, there are offices and shops were razed by have testified.” community of the continued of God in Nigeria. certain things you don’t do. ire broke out from the the fire while no live was lost. Others affected include state of insecurity in the The FRC Act could soon They are going from frying FStrive-Energy filling station Governor Ayodele Fayose Justice S. Saidu (moved from country. force other clergymen like pan to fire. in Old Garage, Ado Ekiti, on raced to the scene to assess Lagos to Port Harcourt); “Painfully, #Day1000 of Bishop David Oyedepo of “This government wants Sunday razing adjourning the situation and also joined Justice A.O. Faji (from Asaba their tragic abduction is here the Living Faith Church to subdue the church, God residential and commercial in rescue efforts. to Lagos); Justice R. M. Aikawa and there has been no status Worldwide International will subdue them. They are buildings in the area. Hoodlums took advantage (from Sokoto to Lagos); report provided by the Federal a.k.a. Winners Chapel, ridiculing leaders of the The fire, an eyewitness said, of the confusion caused by the Justice B.O. Quadri (from Port Government. As such, we are Pastor William Kumuyi of church, God will rubbish broke from a tanker that was inferno to dispossess passers- Harcourt to Abuja); and Justice constrained to resume our the Deeper Christian Life them. The same church discharging fuel at the station. by of their valuables. Mallong Hoommuk (from Port various activities to mark this Ministry and Bishop Mike they had deceived to get There has yet to be official They stole some wares which Harcourt to Lafia). tragic milestone, expecting Okonkwo of The Redeemed power, they are saying that information on the cause of were being evacuated from Others are, Justice K.K. Mr. President to regard this Evangelical Mission, among we now have the ring, who the accident but the witness some shops affected by the Dagat (from Lagos to Kano); #Day1000 milestone as an others to retire as the heads will remove it from our hand, said the inferno started when inferno. Justice Saleh Idrissa (Kano overdue time to bring this of their churches in the the Lord will cut off the hand a driver, who had queued for The fire, which started to Sokoto); Justice H.I.O. horrific saga to an end,” country. that wears the ring. fuel, started his engine. around 4p.m, lasted for Oshomah (from Lafia to Port Yesufu stated. Criticising the law, “The APC is behaving in The number of casualties and about three hours before the Harcourt) and Justice J.K. She explained that since Fayose said the government this way, but God is the worth of properties destroyed firefighters from the state fire Omotosho) from Kano to Port 2014 when the 279 girls must tread softly on this creator of the ring and the could not be ascertained as of service could put it out. Harcourt. 10 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 news Bakare condemns CBN forex policy, high interest rates Gbenro Adeoya our people and economy and economy would cushion the May 24, 1966. said, derailed the country’s true from the landmarks set by the and Ramon Oladimeji attractive to foreign investors, effect of the current recession He said this Unification federalism. fathers is a crucial reason for should be put in place. on the people. Decree was what killed Nigeria Any positive change in the our disjointed nationhood and he Founder of The “Similarly, prohibitive and “These are just two low by bastardising true federalism, country’s fortune, therefore, the perennial socio-economic TLatter Rain Assembly and punitive interest rates must be hanging fruit solutions that which the then regional Bakare said, must begin with decay. convener of the Save Nigeria lowered in order to liberate the demonstrate a commitment administrators agreed to at the restructuring, which he urged “It is why efforts at economic Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, creative ingenuity of our people to turning the tide of decline,” London Conference which led President Buhari to summon diversification by government says the Central Bank of as well as encourage those Bakare, who was Buhari’s to the Lyttletton Constitution the courage to immediately after government, including the Nigeria must change its foreign who can access mortgages at running mate in the President’s of 1954. undertake. present government, have failed exchange policy and lower the affordable rates to become unsuccessful bid in the 2011 He said though five years later, He argued that the collapse to yield the expected results.” interest rates to get the country homeowners, especially if our presidential elections, said. Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), of Nigeria’s true federalism Bakare called for the collapse out of recession. pension scheme is up-to-date Bakare also traced the woes reversed the Unification Decree was what had continued to fuel of the 36 states into only six According to him, the and robust,” Bakare said. of the nation to the Unification and created 12 states, Nigeria, sectional agitations because the regions to be governed by country’s multiple naira He explained that the Decree made by a former till today, had yet to recover nation now lacked a national mayors, arguing that the exchange rates are confusing multiplier effect of the removal military Head of State, the late from the negative impact of the vision. recurrent expenditure in the and discriminatory, while the of the bottlenecks in the Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, on Unification Decree, which, he He said, “This deviation administration of the 36 states interest rates are punitive and had become a major drainpipe stifling creativity. in the nation’s resources. Bakare said this in his He said, “These 36 states ‘State of the nation broadcast’ should, in fact, become districts on Sunday, during which headed by mayors within the he noted that the hardship framework of six geopolitical Nigerians were facing had zones, because they will be led many of them to associate stronger and more productive the change promised by the within a zonal structure. President Muhammadu “As zonal structures, they Buhari-led government with can pool resources to build “retrogression and suffering.” transportation infrastructure; He, however, explained that as zonal structures, they will the government could turn empower local governments things around by reviewing to bring effective governance some of its economic policies. directly to the people. As zonal He said, “The way forward structures, they will efficiently is not so complex for those coordinate socio-economic interested in genuine change. policies for the benefit of every “To begin with, the confusing Nigerian.” and discriminatory multiple Illustrating his argument with dollar to naira exchange rates the scenario in the education – favourable to some and not sector, Bakare noted that so favourable to others, and at independence, the three without doubt confusing for regional education ministries, potential investors – must be headed by only three ministers, discarded while a more reliable • L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola; wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose; her husband engineered rapid educational and predictable exchange Ayodele; and wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Janet Olusola, during the birthday thanksgiving service of Feyisetan advancement in their regions rate, mutually beneficial to Fayose in Ado Ekiti...on Sunday. Photo: Ekiti State Government by competing through policies such as free education. Now with 36 states and 36 We picked N5,000 stipend beneficiaries two years ago – Presidency ministries of education and 36 Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja the state officials, identified governments on the YESSO Akande also said their details are uploaded onto Commissioners for Education, the poorest local government project. beneficiaries had been a server at the Nigeria Inter- Bakare argued that a large he Presidency on Sunday areas, using an existing He said the ninth state, receiving the monthly stipends Bank Settlement System, chunk of the funds allocated Tsaid beneficiaries of the poverty map for the state. Borno, was added because in all the nine pilot states: which hosts the electronic to education now went into Conditional Cash Transfer “Then the local government of the Internally Displaced Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, platform that validates all administration. could not be said to have been officials identified the poorest Persons situation, with the list Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun the payments of the FG for “This is a very huge drainpipe chosen based on any partisan communities in the LGAs and of the beneficiaries that had and Oyo. the SIPs. in our economy. It ranks consideration because they we sent our teams there. been verified by SEMA. In addition to the nine pilot “Banks have been informed pari-passu with the cancer of were picked before the “The first thing our team “This is an entirely fair and states, he said with the release of that payments must be at corruption in hampering our inception of the present does after selection of the LGAs transparent process and short funds for the programmes, the community level; so, those growth and development as a administration. is to select members of the of mischief. There is no way CBT model had commenced in banks engaged for the pilot nation. The Senior Special Assistant NOA, the LGA and community you can describe this process other states. stage have in turn engaged “Imagine how much we to the Vice-President on Media officials to form the CBT team. as partisan. The President He said, “The states have been several payment agents, could save with six efficient and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Then we train the selected is President of the entire updated on the requirements to ensure cash-out to the and effective ministries in Akande, made the clarification officials on how to conduct country and the SIPs are for for the engagement by the beneficiaries in their places of education and other relevant in a statement made available focus group discussions at all Nigerians as the case may federal team and once the lists residence which are distant to socio-economic sectors in six to journalists. community level. These focus be,” he added. from states are enumerated, the bank locations.” geopolitical zones,” Bakare said. Under the CCT, a component groups comprise of women, of the government’s Social men, youth, as the community Police commission shuns court order to reinstate 43 workers Investment Programmes, one determines.” Adelani Adepegba, Abuja (PSC and Chairman, PSC, Mike the PSC, Tijani Mohammed, he planned to take ‘necessary million Nigerians are expected Akande further explained Okiro), are hereby mandatorily to grant the commission two action’ against the commission to receive N5,000 monthly that after the training, the he Police Service directed to pay the claimants weeks’ grace to comply with if it failed to comply with the as a form of social safety net CBT teams went to their TCommission has refused to forthwith their first 28 days the court order. court order by month end. for the poorest and the most communities to sensitise the obey an order of the National allowances, salaries, allowances The claimants again visited “I still spoke with the vulnerable. leaders, including traditional Industrial Court directing it to of equivalent rank in the Civil the PSC headquarters in commission’s legal adviser last There have been fears that all rulers, on the process and regularise the appointment of Service of the Federation, Abuja on December 19 for the Friday and he assured me that or most of the beneficiaries will the need for objectivity and 43 workers three months after commencing from the date enforcement of the order, but they would comply with the be picked from the ruling All openness. Justice E. Isele handed down of their employment to when Mohammed assured them order. He said the letters (of Progressives Congress. The CBT team, he said, the ruling. the claimants’ employment that they would get their letters reinstatement) had not been But Akande said the would then compile the criteria The judge had in his ruling is properly determined in of reinstatement after the delivered because the PSC Community-Based Targeting and parameters and ask each dated October 7, 2016, described accordance with the provisions Yuletide holidays. workers have not fully resumed model of the World Bank was group to return to their break- as illegal the refusal of the of the law regulating the The legal adviser had after the holidays, but I am used two years ago to identify out sessions and then began commission to pay the workers claimants employment with told our correspondent giving them till January ending most of the beneficiaries in the to identify the households in their salaries and allowances. the defendants.” in December that the PSC to comply before I know the pilot states. the community that had been He stated that it was a The 43 workers had on would obey the order and next action to take,” he said. He said, “There is no way identified as fitting the criteria violation of the provision of December 5 stormed the attributed the delay in issuance The claimants were engaged anyone can describe the and parameters. Section 10(3)(b) of the Police commission along with a of the reinstatement letters to by the erstwhile chairman of selection of the beneficiaries According to Akande, in Service Commission Act, 2001, court bailiff to enforce the bureaucratic bottleneck. the PSC, Parry Osayande, in of the CCT as partisan as the eight of the nine pilot states, Rules 040102 and 130105 of judgment which ordered it to He could not be reached on April 2013, but the Mike Okiro- beneficiaries from eight of the the process had taken place the Public Service Rules and pay them their first 28 days Sunday for comments on the led board of the commission nine pilot sates were picked at least two years ago under the Police Service Conditions of allowance, remuneration and failure of the commission to – which took over – allegedly even before this administration a programme supported Service paragraphs 4.1(c) and allowances from the date of obey the order. did not pay their salaries on the came into office. by the World Bank under 4-2(e). their employment till date. But the lawyer to the workers, grounds that their appointment “First, the officials at the an agreement entered The judgment read in part, But they were persuaded Samuel Ogala, told our did not conform with the civil federal level, working with into directly with the state “The 1st and 2nd defendants by the Head, Legal Section of correspondent on Sunday that service rules and regulations. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 11 news FG bans unauthorised Ex-first ladies spent £32,000 as landing courses in specialised Olalekan Adetayo, not have been linked to varsities Abuja the “bogus allegation” of Friday Olokor, Abuja corruption made by Sahara fees –Aisha Buhari he Federal Government rs. Aisha Buhari, the Reporters’ “spurious has warned specialised wife of the President corruption insinuated in “According to her, VIP involved in the transaction. headline” earlier on as these T M universities in the country, Muhammadu Buhari, said the report. treatment is simple protocol “This is even a far cry are approved trips. which have been running on Sunday that £32,000 “Part of the wife of the for a personality of her from the £32,000 expended She said it would be to programmes that are not was spent in the past by the President’s trips abroad are status, which is done all over in the past as landing fees the credit of the news portal in conformity with their Nigerian High Commission for her NGO, which is not the world, and at no point for private jets of former to carry out a thorough mandates, to stop such with in the United Kingdom as funded by the government, was she offered anywhere first ladies.” check if the so-called immediate effect. landing fees for private jets and it is not uncommon to else. Mrs. Buhari also said monies (£3,500) spent for In a statement on of former First Ladies. have stopover in Britain like “The High Commission attending an international whatever reason by the High Sunday, the government He said the money any other country as the case provided the lounge and women function with the Commission had any direct therefore directed that such spent on the lounge when may be. Hajiya Buhari was not governors’ wives could link with her. universities should stick to she visited the UK was their core mandates for which a far cry from what was they were set up “and desist obtainable during the past from running programmes administrations. which have no bearing to Mrs. Buhari said this in their names and foundation.” a statement by her Special It described as Assistant on Media, Adebisi unfortunate a situation where Olumide-Ajayi. universities of agriculture She was reacting offered programmes in Law to another report by an and management courses online news portal, Sahara such as Accounting, Banking Reporters, accusing her of and Finance, Business fleecing the Nigerian High Administration, among Commission and abuse others. of privilege whenever she The statement by travels to the UK. the spokesman for the He said the continuous Joint Admissions and publication of what she called unfounded stories by Matriculation Board, Dr. the news portal against her Fabian Benjamin, stated that was becoming a source of the Minister of Education, great concern. Mallam Adamu Adamu, had She said the “purported directed JAMB “to delete all internal memo within the such courses on its portal.” Consulate” quoted in the All candidates desirous news report had no direct • L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Chief Philip Asiodu; Wife of the Ogun State of sitting the 2017 Unified link to her. Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; NCF BoT Member, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel; and NCF National Executive Council Tertiary Matriculation The President’s wife said Chairman, Chief Ede Dafinone, during the Foundation’s Annual Dinner Dance and the inauguration of new logo in Examination, the statement the new allegation had still Lagos.... recently. Photo: NCF advised, “should not be not substantiated where she hoodwinked into such made any direct contact with programmes as they are the mission for anything. Reps will subject budget to thorough scrutiny –Gbajabiamila illegal and are not provided The statement read, John Ameh, Abuja prepared to reconvene on Assembly, a day before the Namdas, also corroborated for in JAMB brochure.” “The High Commission has Tuesday (tomorrow). lawmakers proceeded on Gbajabiamila’s position, The statement described its internal administrative he Majority Leader Gbajabiamila explained their Christmas and New saying members would specialised universities as procedure, and it is not within Tof the House of that much as the members Year break. devote adequate time to the those set up to pursue specific the purview of the wife of the Representatives, Mr. would work hard to ensure It came behind the budget before passing the courses and programmes President to ask for diplomatic Femi Gbajabiamila, said that the budget was out of September date as details. to generate manpower in files. on Sunday that lawmakers the National Assembly in provided under the Fiscal “The budget will be a particular sectors of the “Furthermore, that the would not overlook time, they would not rush Responsibility Act, 2007. major issue on our agenda. economy. said memo showed little or no thoroughness just because things simply to satisfy that Members are expected We are going to study every He said, “Some of these knowledge of Her Excellency’s they must pass the 2017 purpose. to get their individual detail. The process has to be specialised institutions itinerary proves the simple fact budget in time for the President Muhammadu copies from Tuesday as thorough and transparent,” include universities of we earlier submitted that executive to implement. Buhari had, on December they reconvene to study the he added. agriculture, universities of she had no direct business He told The PUNCH that 14, 2016, presented a budget details for debate. On the $29.96bn technologies and universities the budget would be a key size of N7.298tn to a joint Gbajabiamila, a member loan, which Buhari had with the embassy to warrant of medicine, amongst others. item for debate as members session of the National of the All Progressives requested the National the accusation of waste or “The Federal Government Congress, added, “We will Assembly to approve, the has observed that these Mega party promoters wasting their time, says Lasun do all we can as a House to Majority Leader informed ensure the speedy passage The PUNCH that several institutions have derailed Femi Makinde, Osogbo in crisis contrary to what parties had history before from their statutory people were saying. the APC was consummated. of the budget without members still expressed sacrificing due diligence, to reservations. responsibilities, thereby running he Deputy Speaker He, however, admitted So, the APC is new in name use the language we are too He said lawmakers programmes that are antithetical Tof the House of that the party had some but it is populated by older Representatives, Mr. misunderstandings. familiar with. would, however, have to to their mandates. politicians who have been “In other words, we will place the interest of the “The government notes the Lasun Yussuff, has advised Yussuff stated that the around for long. politicians, who are APC could not have won not sacrifice thoroughness country above all other unfortunate situation where “But anybody is forming on the altar of speed. considerations in deciding Universities of Agriculture planning to float a mega the governorship elections a mega party now or call party, to displace the ruling in Edo and Ondo states “The budget was laid whether to approve the loan offer programmes in Law, it any party, I don’t think a day before the National or not. management courses such All Progressives Congress to if the party was truly they will have that ability have a rethink. in crisis, stating that the Assembly went on its annual “As for the $30bn loan, as Accounting, Banking to muzzle anybody out Christmas vacation; so, though there are many concerns and Finance, Business The Deputy Speaker, misunderstanding in the of the system. We know who represents Osogbo/ APC would be sorted out proper work cannot start expressed by several legislators, Administration, among ourselves.” until resumption. I believe the interest of Nigeria others. Olorunda/Orolu/Irepodun soon. Although the Deputy “This is an opportunity will remain paramount in our “As if that was not Federal Constituency at the He said, “Whoever is Speaker is said to be lower legislative chamber, trying to divide the APC in to call on the executive as I decision as to whether or enough, some institutions preparing to contest the have always done, to present not legislative approval is said forming a mega political a manner that will suggest governorship election in change the nomenclature party was a waste of time that another bigger party the budget way before the granted,” Gbajabiamila of some of the courses to in 2018, he end of the fiscal year, which stated. because such party would can come and win election was evasive when asked to read, for instance, banking not be able to wrest power is just deceiving himself. I ordinarily is December 31. The Senate had rejected confirm the news. “However, we must bear the loan outright, while the engineering, accounting from the ruling APC. am a politician, I have been Speaking on the foreign technology, among other Speaking with journalists in politics for the past 33 in mind that the budget House restrained itself from exchange crisis facing the names. This is an aberration in Osogbo on Friday after years; I know what it takes year now runs till the end listing it for debate, having and should be stopped with donating tractors worth to build a party and I know nation, Yussuff said there was of March for the expiration been rejected by the Senate. immediate effect.” about N60m to the Osun that political parties don’t nothing anybody could do to of the 2016 budget; so, there The 2017 budget, According to him, JAMB State chapter of the All just spring up overnight. stop this until Nigeria was able is still a long lifeline for the tagged ‘budget of economic has not commenced the Farmers Association of “The APC is made up of to produce locally at least passage of the 2017 budget.” recovery and growth’, is 20 sales of the 2017 UTME Nigeria, the lawmaker said the ACN, CPC ANPP and 70 per cent of food items The spokesman for the per cent higher than the application documents. the ruling party was not a little bit of APGA. Those consumed by its citizens. House, Mr. Abdulrazak N6.06tn budgeted for 2016. 12 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 news Fishermen lament head of Tuesday’s visit Aby Vice-President Yemi invasion of foreign Osinbajo to Gbaramatu Soldiers arrest ex-militant leader, trawlers in N’Delta Kingdom in Warri South-West Simon Utebor, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Delta State, tension on Sunday others ahead of Osinbajo’s visit enveloped the Niger Delta Ovie Okpare, Warri military vans were also seen on his home before arresting with the responsibility of ishermen in the Niger Saturday and Sunday patrolling him and seven others, whose working with security agencies Delta have decried the region over alleged arrest and F invasion of some ex-militant Gbaramatu Kingdom where flashpoints in the state. identities were not known as to ensure peace in the state. encroachment of foreign fishing the embattled ex-militant Sources close to Smith told of the time of filing this report. The Commander, NNS trawlers into the Nigerian leaders’ homes in the state by soldiers. leader, Chief Government our correspondent on Sunday It was further learnt that Delta, Commodore Joseph territorial waters and the region. Ekpemupolo, popularly known that operatives of the Joint Task some other ex-agitators were Dzunve, when contacted on They, therefore, called on Our correspondent reliably learnt that scores as Tompolo, hails from. Force, code-named: Operation also arrested on Saturday by the telephone on Sunday, the Nigerian Navy to come to Osinbajo’s visit is for the Delta Safe, invaded the ex- the military and were held confirmed that several persons their rescue by warding off the of ex-militants, including a top ex-militant leader, Mr. purpose of holding talks with militant leader’s home at Esiso at the Warri Naval Base of were arrested and were being intruding vessels. leaders of Gbaramatu, which Estate along Effurun/Sapele the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta held at the Naval Base Warri. The Coordinator of the Bounanawei Smith, alias King of the Forest, were arrested had become a hub of militants’ Road in Effurun, Uvwie Local awaiting to be moved to the He declined to give details of Artisan Fishermen Association in a fresh crackdown in activities in recent times. Government Area in the late Defence Headquarters in the arrest. of Nigeria, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, what sources said were not Security, ahead of the visit, hours of Saturday. Abuja. The spokesman for the IYC, expressed the concern in an unconnected with renewed has been beefed up both on land The ex-militant leader was Smith was only recently Mr. Eric Omare, confirmed the interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa hostilities and fresh threat by and in the sea, as gunboats and said to be holding a meeting appointed by Governor Ifeanyi arrest of the ex-militants in a State capital, on Sunday. the Niger Delta Avengers to military personnel, dispatched with some members of the Ijaw Okowa as a member of the statement issued on Sunday He alleged that the foreign attack oil facilities. to strategic locations in Warri Youth Council when the soldiers state’s Land and Waterways in Warri, describing the arrest trawlers usually fished along the Osinbajo is scheduled to visit South-West were seen, while allegedly forcefully broke into Security Committee, charged as primitive and capable of coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean, fuelling restiveness in the which was reserved for the local region. fishermen. The statement read in part, He noted that the activities of “The Ijaw Youth Council states the foreign trawlers ran contrary that the Federal Government is to international maritime laws, inciting crisis in the Niger Delta saying the encroachment posed by the continued invasion, a serious economic threat to arrest and detention of Niger Nigeria. Deltans, especially ex-agitators, According to Ayadi, without any justifiable reason. international convention set The latest of such invasion aside five nautical miles from and arrest is the commando- the coastline into the Atlantic style arrest of ex-agitator, for the indigenous fishermen. Bounanawei Smith, alias King He said industrial fishing was of the Forest. restricted to the deep sea, while “Mr. Bounanawei was only the local fishermen were arrested in his guest house by allowed to carry out fishing military men while hosting activities close to the shorelines. some Ijaw Youth Council Ayadi alleged that the trawlers members. They invaded and were destroying their fishing ransacked the whole of his implements. guest house and some of the He stated, “The operation IYC members who were with of these big double-decked him narrowly escaped death trawlers is affecting us badly. when the military officers shot They switch off their lights in sporadically into his apartment. the night and when we run into “The IYC condemn this naked, them, our boats capsize. primitive and unwarranted “If the activities of the trawlers display of force. It is on record are not checked, they will • L-R: Zonal Commanding Officer, RS2 Federal Road Safety Corps Headquarters, Lagos, Assistant Corps Marshal, that Mr. Bounanawei had since deplete the fish stock along accepted amnesty and had the coastlines, because they Mr. Shehu Zaki; newly promoted Deputy Corps Commander, Mr. Dare Ogunjobi; and his wife, Morenike, during the decoration of Ogunjobi in Lagos...on Friday. Photo: Goke Famadewa been very active in maintaining kill fishes of all sizes, including peace and security in the Niger fingerlings. Delta especially in Delta State.” “The trawlers are a big obstacle The IYC recalled that the to fishing near the shores. They PDP defectors are ‘food is ready’ politicians – Ex-minister invasion, arrest and detention are fishing recklessly and their Tony Okafor, Awka Chidoka said, “We have lost steadfast and committed to the franchise given to APGA by us of Niger Deltans by the military nets sweep the ocean floor, something bigger than this party as according to him “the has expired, so, we will take had become a norm in the damage our own nets and carry former Aviation Minister, as Ndigbo. We lost the war future is bright.” over the government house region. them away.” AChief Osita Chidoka, on and moved on. Why should He reminded his audience of that rightly belongs to us. “On January 1, 2017, while Sunday condemned the attitude we now lose a presidential the role played by a former Vice- “In 2019, we shall change the entire world was celebrating Delta APC of some members of the Peoples election and suddenly become President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the change (the APC) and the New Year, military officers Ovie Okpare, Warri Democratic Party who had beggars, gallivanting from in the formation of the PDP, take back the seat of power in invaded Gbaraun community, defected to other political one political party to another describing as Abuja. Nigeria will always be Southern Ijaw Local he Delta State chapter of the parties in Anambra State. seeking for survival? This is not the ancestral home of the party. better under the PDP. Government Area of Bayelsa TAll Progressives Congress He said their act was the character of the Igbo, this is He said, “In 2018, we shall “The PDP represents free State, shot into the community, has denied the allegation that condemnable because their not our style. take back the Anambra State enterprise; the PDP represents arrested a youth leader, Kalami it received N13.5m from the only reason for defecting “We are known for our Government House. APGA freedom to the people, the PDP Inakemeduo, under the guise Minister of State for Petroleum, was because the PDP lost the resilience, we are known for is a franchise of the PDP in represents buoyant economy, that he is a militant and he Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to run the presidential election last year. our resourcefulness, the Igbo Anambra State; the franchisor, the PDP represents joy and is being detained up till this activities of the party during Chidoka described such are focused.” a former governor of the state, happiness on the faces of all moment. the last Christmas celebration people as lacking in character, He enjoined the PDP Mr. , is now with and sundry, irrespective of “This is in addition to several in the state. principle and ideology. members in the area to remain us in the PDP; therefore, the their tribe or creed.” other Ijaw youths languishing The Chairman of the party, He said, “I call them ‘food in military detention such Prophet Jones Erue, stated is ready’ politicians. They lack Edo creates e-platform to collect revenue as Aboy Muturu, Ezekiel this on Sunday during a press character, they lack principle, he Governor, forward names of contractors Speaking to newsmen after Daniel, Victor Odogu (the IYC conference held in Effurun, and they lack ideology. They are TMr. Godwin Obaseki, initially contracted as revenue the meeting, the Chairman of spokesman, Abuja chapter) while reacting to an allegation saboteurs.” has set up a modality for the collectors to the government the Edo State Internal Revenue and several others. These levelled against it by the recently Chidoka stated this at his employment of 10,000 persons house to commence the job Service, Chief Oseni Elamah, persons have been in the DSS suspended state secretary of the Obosi country home in Idemili in the first phase of his 200,000 creation scheme. said the concerned contractors and military detention for more party, Mr. Chidi Okonji. North Local Government job promise, which he made The state government, in a were those previously selected than eight months without trial Okonji, who is now being Area of Anambra State while during his campaigns. statement on Sunday, added to collect revenue on behalf of and no reason has been given hunted by operatives of the receiving Obosi PDP town ward Obaseki added that his that the submission of the the local governments. for their arrest,” the statement Delta State Police Command executive members who paid administration would establish contractors’ names was in Elema said the concerned added. for allegedly falsifying the him a courtesy visit. electronic platforms, including furtherance of government’s contractors were also required The IYC, in the statement, signature of the party chairman He noted that inconsistency Point of Service or revenue commitment to streamline tax to supply the names of their demanded immediate release to collect N600, 000 from the was the bane of a solid career scratch cards, for the purpose collection in the state. members of staff, take phone of all ex-militants arrested by Governor -led in politics. of collecting revenue for the The statement said the numbers and passport the security agents including PDP government, accused the The ex-minister said for government. decision followed Obaseki’s photographs. Smith, Aboy Muturu, Ezekiel state chairman of collecting the PDP, losing a presidential Obaseki said he had directed meeting with stakeholders “This is with a view to capturing Daniel, Victor Odogu, Kalami N13.5m from Kachikwu in the election was not like losing a heads of local government on Friday at the Government their details in our employment Inakemeduo and other Ijaws name of the party. war. administrations in the state to House. database,” he explained. in detention across the country. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 13 news Herdsmen kill four policemen, five others in Adamawa, Kaduna Godwin Isenyo, Dilli urged the state three of our gallant MOPOL Muhammad Bindow, and Saturday to interface with Mourning Day ordered by Kayode Idowu and government to fish out the while two are missing. condemned the attack, which the different communities in the Christian Association of Hindi Livinus culprits, especially “the “We have constituted a occurred less than 24 hours the area, a clash could occur so Nigeria over the unabated herdsmen who carried out high-powered search team and after a government delegation soon thereafter.” killings of law abiding ulani herdsmen, on the atrocious acts.” by the special grace of God, we on peace-building mission He assured residents of the citizens of Nigeria in FSaturday, attacked The lawmaker, who are going to recover our men. visited the area. government’s resolve to restore Southern Kaduna, and the Kwahine, Gidan dadi and said five other persons, who “On the side of the civilians, The governor, in a statement peace to the affected areas and forceful taking over of their Karalahi villages in the sustained serious injuries, two bodies have so far been by the Commissioner for protect the lives of every citizen. land, I wish to sadly inform Demsa Local Government had been taken to the state recovered.” Information and Strategy, Bindow applauded the you again, that two persons Area of , specialist hospital, observed The spokesman said the Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, gallantry of the police in were killed yesterday (on killing four policemen and that there was more behind police had succeeded in killing directed security agencies confronting the attackers and three villagers. the attacks. scores of the militias who were to deploy more personnel urged them not to relent until Saturday) by the same Also, a Senator from the “If it is about the cows, however able to escape with in the area. normalcy was fully restored. marauding Fulani terrorists. Southern Kaduna Senatorial they had been compensated. their dead colleagues. Bindow described the Laah alleged that two “I have been reliably District, Danjuma Laah, So, why then the attacks after Abubakar said more attack as unfortunate and persons were killed while informed that after the on Sunday, said despite compensation had been paid?” mobile policemen and sad, especially coming after another two men, who terrorists retreated to their the presence of troops, he stated. military personnel from the recent peace and confidence he identified as Ephraim well known camp behind suspected Fulani herdsmen It was learnt that the state 23rd Armoured Brigade, building efforts. Ezekiel(19) and Joshua Ladi Pasakori community at the attacked Tsonje village, government had, after a peace Jalo Cantonment, had been He said, “The governor (41), were declared missing foot of Kagoro mountain, parley with the herdsmen who near Kagoro in the Kaura deployed in the area to restore feels highly disturbed that after the Kaduna attack. a few kilometres away, two lost 47 cows to the villagers, LGA of the normalcy. after he had sent delegation on Laah said, “Today, as other persons have also been offered the aggrieved herdsmen The state Governor, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday we observed the National declared missing.” on Saturday and killed two N4.7m compensation. persons. It was gathered that the Tsonje is in the crisis- killed policemen were among Scores killed as B’Haram attacks troops in Yobe ridden Southern Kaduna. those drafted to secure Olaleye Aluko, Abuja escaped into the forest. military sources, a colonel, casualty figure on the side of The Adamawa State Although the 27 Task who was also a doctor, and Kwayine, Gidan Dadi and yet-to-be-ascertained Boko Haram, but some dead Police Command on Sunday Karlahi communities after Force Brigade’s spokesman, four soldiers were killed by the bodies are seen scattered in confirmed the killings in Anumber of soldiers were Lt. George Okupe, said the terrorists, who also lost some clashes that followed the said to have been killed the bush,” the source added. the state but claimed that killing of 47 cows in the area. attack was successfully of their members during the The spokesperson, after Boko Haram insurgents repelled by the troops, he gunfire. only three riot policemen The command’s 7 Division, Borno State, were killed while two were attacked an Army brigade in did not confirm casualties A source said two soldiers Public Relations Officer, Buni Yadi, Damaturu, Yobe Colonel Mustapha Anka, missing. on the part of the soldiers. had also been rushed to the Othman Abubakar, who State, on Saturday evening. could not be reached for Lumsambani Dilli, He said, “Buni Yadi hospital for treatment. confirmed the development Our correspondent learnt came under attack at about He said soldiers trailed comments as his line rang a member representing to newsmen in Yola, said that the attack, which was 6.15pm. Things are under some of the fleeing insurgents out several times as of press Demsa community in the four rifles, belonging to on the 27 Brigade, occurred control. Casualty figures of and recovered some AK-47 time. state House of Assembly, the policemen, were also around 6pm, during which Boko Haram terrorists yet rifles from them. Also when contacted, however, said he was reliably missing. there was a fierce exchange of to be confirmed, but none “The Boko Haram members the Director, Army Public informed by his constituents Abubakar, a gunfire. for now, likewise on own came from the eastern area of Relations, Brig.Gen. Sani that three villagers and Superintendent of Police, It was gathered that several forces. However, details will Buni Yadi in large numbers Usman, did not return calls four policemen died in the said, “Fulani militia attacked of the Boko Haram members be relayed to you soon.” and launched an attack on to his mobile on Sunday as attacks. the three villages and we lost were shot dead, while others However, according to us. We do not know the of press time. 14 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 news Those killing people for religion are insane, says Osinbajo Olaleye Aluko, Abuja military that I joined never political office holders recognised tribe or religion, and Nigerians to shun he Vice-President, we fought side by side. We corruption in their TProf. Yemi Osinbajo, must never be deceived by daily lives and embrace said on Sunday that people those who kill in the name righteousness. who killed others in the of religion. Anyone who “The kingdom of name of religion in the kills another, and says God God is around us, and country were insane. is great, is insane. He does Jesus asked us to seek Osinbajo, who spoke not understand what he is first that kingdom. We at the 2017 Armed saying.’ must acknowledge God’s Forces Remembrance “Today, we celebrate supreme power in our lives Day Celebration Service our fallen heroes. We do and do His will. I see hope in Abuja, said President so with the wisdom of the in Nigeria and our country Muhammadu Buhari scriptures. The battles will start to do the right had always asserted that they fought against are things,” he added. Nigerians should not be the battles to ensure that Meanwhile, the Catholic deceived by those who good prevails over evil in Archbishop of Jos, Most claimed to kill in the name Nigeria. Rev Ignatius Kaigama, of religion. “Many of our soldiers has condemned the The VP, who praised died in the North-East. recent killings in some the armed forces for their At some point, this evil communities in Southern strides in the North-East, ideology of the Boko Kaduna. urged Nigerians not to Haram had taken over 14 Kaigama, who is the forget the labour of their Local Government Areas President, Catholic Bishops heroes. in this country, before the Conference of Nigeria, said Osinbajo quoted from 2 military engaged them and this in an article titled, ”The Timothy. 2:3-4 in the Holy won. Sacredness of Life Versus Bible, said the military “Soldiers occupy a the Slaughter of Innocent would bring back sanity to special place in the gospel Nigerian Citizens Today.” Southern Kaduna. of Jesus Christ. The The article was made He said, “We remember military profession is the available to the News our departed military only profession to which Agency of Nigeria on heroes. Against the Boko the saints are compared.” Sunday in Jos. Haram, they stood side The Prelate, Methodist The cleric, who by side and fought the Church, Dr. Emeka expressed worry over the insurgents. The President Uche, in his sermon on wanton destruction of lives said and I quote, ‘The the occasion, urged the and property in Southern Kaduna, added that Nigeria had gone through difficult Ex-Niger governor, Kure, dies at 60 moments lately, hence in Enyioha Opara, Minna The late Abdulkhadir dire need of total peace. Kure was a member of the He said the attacks IGER State was Senator and counter attacks in Nthrown into confusion faction of the PDP. Southern Kaduna would on Sunday following the A devastated state rather aggravate Nigeria’s announcement of the Chairman of the PDP, challenges and further death of former governor Alhaji Tanko Beji, impoverish the poor Abdulkadir Kure. described Kure’s demise masses. Kure was said to have as “sad,” adding that “we The cleric said that no died in Germany on Sunday cannot query God.” one had the right to take afternoon where he was Beji said the late the life of another person at flown to three weeks ago for governor had contributed will, unless God, the creator medical attention. immensely to the socio and giver of life. According to family -political development of He added, ”…It is a pity sources, the former Niger State and Nigeria as that the younger generation governor was taken to a whole in Nigeria is growing with Germany for kidney- He added, “He has left an unfortunate impression related sickness. an indelible mark on the that life is very cheap The Chief Press sand of times ,may his soul and can be taken away by Secretary to the former rest in peace.” anyone or group.” Governor, Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi, confirmed this Chieftaincy: Olubadan-in-Council to our correspondent in a telephone interview. warns against violence Abdullahi said Olufemi Atoyebi, brother, Alhaji Moshood arrangement was already Ibadan Akere as the Mogaji Akere being made by the family Compound in Orita-Merin to bring the remains of he Olubadan-in- area of Ibadan. the former governor to the Council on Sunday Several people were country for burial. T warned that violent act injured during the protest. Born on February over chieftaincy tussle in 26, 1956, the late Kure A statement signed by the state would no longer is survived by his wife, the Olubadan’s Director Senator Zaynab Kure, six be overlooked. of Media and Publicity, children – four boys and The Olubadan of Ibadan Adeola Oloko, said after an two girls. land, Oba Saliu Adetunji emergency meeting of the He was the Director of recently installed 12 council, it was decided that Engineering Services in the new Mogajis in the city, henceforth, anyone found Federal Capital Territory charging them to ensure guilty of causing a riot or violent protest because of before joining politics. that security and peace chieftaincy tussle would be The late Kure was a reigned in their various sanctioned. The statement foundation member of the communities. Among the said the council described Peoples Democratic Party Mogajis was Chief Muritala the reported shootout and became the state two- Babalola, who is now the term governor between during the protest as an Baale of Ido area in Ibadan. 1999 and 2007. act of disobedience to the However, there was After leaving office as authority of the Olubadan, governor, Kure became a violent protest after adding that it was also an member of the Board of Wasiu Akere disagreed insult on the king and his Trustees of the PDP. with the installation of his representatives.” MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 15 16 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 17 Advert7 PC/Public/Production/Monday/Monday 9-1-2017

18 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 19 20 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 LETTERS Letters meant for this page should not be more than 150 words long, and e-mailed to: lagospunch@ punchng.com Such letters must contain writer’s full names (not initials) and address, and be typed editorial double-space. Writers may no longer New public universities are unnecessary send letters in paper format. NCE again, the Federal Government has concluded detailed an underwhelming personnel deficiency. It noted N400m vehicles Oplans to establish at least two new universities in 2017. that only 43 per cent of lecturers had PhDs, with 57 per Both are specialised institutions, according to the ministers cent having lower qualifications. This makes teaching and for ex-leaders involved. The Nigerian Maritime University is expected to learning less productive. ot a few Nigerians raised the alarm at the commence operations next September, while the Information But nothing has changed. It might even be worse. The Ndiscovery that a whopping sum of N400m was and Communication Technology University will be launched report confirmed that just seven universities had up to budgeted for the purchase of vehicles for the nation’s in March. Similarly, the Ogun State Government is working 60 per cent of lecturers with PhDs; some had fewer than former heads of government and their deputies in on “the necessary details” to upgrade the Moshood Abiola five professors. At the time the report was prepared, the 2017. This came just a few weeks after the Edo State Polytechnic to a university of technology and establish another Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil, House of Assembly approved a severance package polytechnic in Ipokia, a town in the West Senatorial District of established in 2000, graduated students with just one of over N300m for the immediate past governor of the state. These proposals are wide of the mark. professor, and 25 PhD holders on its teaching staff. Biodun the state, Adams Oshiomhole, and his deputy which Currently, there are 152 universities in the country, most Ogunyemi, the ASUU President, estimates that we need to was also considered to be outrageous by Nigerians. of them in a shambles. Forty of them belong to the Federal attract 100,000 more lecturers to strengthen the system. Government; 44 to state governments; and 68 to private Also, while some public universities find it hard to Apart from the fact that N400m is quite a huge organisations. Combined, 20 of the 84 public universities are accommodate applicants, the private institutions find it amount of money, the average Nigerian cannot specialised. They include the ones for technology in Owerri, very difficult to attract up to 2,000 students, apparently help but wonder how the government believes that Minna and Akure; there are others for agriculture in Abeokuta, because of their costly tuition. There is a sense of déjà adding to the already exotic fleet of cars of our ex- Makurdi and Umudike. Some are for the military, the police, vu about the new projects. During his five-year tenure, heads of state should be its next priority given the petroleum industry and education. Goodluck Jonathan established 12 new universities, for prevailing economic recession in the country. But take a tour of some of these universities and you will which he gave a ridiculous seed money of N1 billion to each This is also coming at a time when the Federal see how not to run a university. Due to poor infrastructure, of them. Why then will the current administration embark Government seems to be showing applying austerity inconsistent funding, restrictive rules, lack of research and on another misadventure? measures on Nigerians. With slashes in salaries, brain drain, Nigerian universities are not globally competitive. Standard universities are not cheap to run. Most world- hunting of “ghost” workers and investigations of Their ruinous state reflects in the latest global biometrics class universities boast a high concentration of talented former top government officials, the government ranking of universities. The University of Ibadan, founded teachers, researchers and students, sizable budgets and a wants to be taken seriously. However, its body in 1948, ranks a distant 1,366 in the world (19 in Africa). The combination of freedom, autonomy and leadership. They language sometimes seems to speak otherwise, one Covenant University, Ota, owned by the Living Faith Ministries, thrive in an environment that fosters competitiveness, of which is the planned purchase of these vehicles. is next to UI on 1,723 (25 in Africa) and the Obafemi Awolowo unrestrained scientific enquiry, critical thinking, Nigerians are understandably angry by the University, Ile-Ife, follows in 2,038 (32 in Africa). UI was the innovation and creativity, according to a Forbes magazine decision to purchase these vehicles for the ex- only Nigerian university to make the Times Higher Education report, What makes a university great? It is argued that presidents for a number of reasons: first, the list by ranking 978 globally. for most universities, the largest chunk of their income vehicles would be purchased for former heads of Public universities are overcrowded and hobbled by meagre is dedicated to staff salaries and benefits (such as child state, some of whom have been accused by this funding and incessant industrial actions. This is so because care, health insurance and pensions). Also, a large chunk same government of having destroyed the economy the government signs MoUs with the Academic Staff Union of of spending is voted for research projects undertaken by and left the country almost bankrupt. What else is Universities and neglects the implementation of such pacts. academics and graduate students. Another large chunk the definition of double standards? Second, this In protesting the anomaly, ASUU embarked on a six-month of university budgets goes towards physical maintenance is coming about a year after the former National strike in 2013 that disrupted the academic calendar in public - including building repair and refurbishment, and Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was arrested universities. investment in campus facilities such as libraries and sports for allegedly squandering money meant for the Uncertainty is rife in our public universities. A four-year centres. Any university that cannot meet these goals is course can take six years to complete. Last November, nothing but a glorified secondary school. procurement of arms to fight insurgency. The ASUU embarked on a one-week “warning” strike to alert the Abuja is biting off more than it can chew, just as it is former NSA allegedly bought bulletproof cars worth government to the fact that it had breached the 2009 MoU that playing cheap politics with tertiary education. University $300,000 for some of these ex-heads of state. Not was renegotiated in 2012 and 2013. The Federal Government education is not about quantity, but about quality or long after, these same former leaders are to get had bought peace after consenting to fund tertiary education standards. Simply, the new schools will compound the replacement for their recently acquired cars. with N1.3 trillion in the six years to 2018. As usual, it reneged. complex issues plaguing the system. The Minister of Third and sadly enough, Nigeria does not produce In 2013, it released only N98.89 billion out of N200 billion Education, Adamu Adamu, and his Communications any of these vehicles to be purchased and neither approved. Now, the arrears total N495 billion, according to counterpart, Adebayo Shittu, should cancel the projects. does it produce their parts. Not even the tiniest bolt. ASUU. The government, which approved earned allowances of Rather, the education minister should devise a plan to Yet, we are asked to “Buy Naija to grow the naira”. N92.8 billion in 2009 for lecturers, has paid only N30 billion. expand the capacities in the current universities to admit The government even if it wants to protect the Some state universities are on their knees as state governments and train students. It should work out a system to train interest of the ruling class could at least be sensitive have drastically cut down on their funding. lecturers through non-expensive graduate loan schemes, to the cry of Nigerians who are facing tougher The problems of Nigeria’s university system are structural. while the Federal Government should fulfil its financial economic times or could have even decided to The dearth of qualified teachers has been well-documented. obligations to its institutions. This will strengthen them patronise Made in Nigeria or locally assembled The 2012 Needs Assessment report prepared by the government and make them economically and globally relevant. vehicles which could save the jobs of some Nigerians who are working in the assembly plants. Worse still, importing cars has been made tougher for the ordinary Nigerian businessman. But then, the present government is not entirely to blame. Nigerians share a part of this blame. According to Nigerian laws, our leaders are entitled to three cars that would be changed every four years, paid medical treatment which is to be undertaken “overseas”, and are entitled to 30 days paid vacation in any part of the world. Being a Nigerian leader is probably one of the most lucrative jobs in the world. We watch as our country is messed up by our leaders and afterwards pay them for leaving the country worse than they met it. Yet, we can’t find our voice to challenge these unjust laws. Now rather than reject these vehicles since they already have exotic cars in their fleet, our ex-leaders who always sound like they mean well for the country and go about giving speeches or writing books on how to make the country better would quietly accept them and add them to a long list of carbon emitting and environment polluting instruments. Borrowing a line from public commentator, Japheth Omojuwa, “Nigeria has a long way to go, the problem is we haven’t even started the journey yet. One of the steps we can take in starting this journey is a major change in our system and laws. Hopefully, we would find solutions to our problems.” •Sarat Temitayo Alabidun is a graduate of Applied Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto my news.com MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 21 NGR. M. A. EAdeyemi, S. B. Rectify irregular Glo services 2016 in review Hassan, 5th Avenue, FIONG Spatts, for N300.We’re hopeful O Close, FESTAC Globacom data occasioned as the network is almost Day, January1, 2017, for ECalabar, Cross River 2017 will be better than the Town, Lagos, by bad network around 5th non-existent or keeps instance, we received State, +2348135086407: previous years. We want +2349096103: to 7th Avenue, FESTAC fluctuating endlessly. close to 50 videos from To some, 2016 was a our leaders to prove to us We write to protest Town in Lagos State. We We reported to the Glo our friends but none could year of untold hardship, that they are capable to the poor reception of are being shortchanged Customer Service Centre at open even till now. They what with inflation staring steer this nation out of the the last Lagos Trade Fair kept rolling endlessly the government at the face predicament the previous where we were directed to and our data plan Stop this criminal amnesty Glo FESTAC Town Office. helplessly. But to others, it governments put us over 16 subscriptions are being OCHUKWU It is certain that the At Glo Festac Service deducted for services not was a year mixed with joy years ago. We hope for the better in TOnuorah, Aguda, Nigerian state is gradually Centre, it was confirmed rendered. and insufficiency because Surulere, Lagos failing. It pays now to take that the company had a Please, let the company the naira lost the value to 2017 only if all hands are on deck. Instead of prices of State, akarta2002@ to crime in Nigeria because technical challenge around rectify the fault so that satisfy their needs. yahoo.com, you will be “settled” if you 5th-7th Avenue and that we can have value for our Many Nigerians witnessed goods to go down, they go up at a spiral rate. Nobody +2347088047069: faint not. Efforts must it was being addressed. money. the festive period with no cares. The entire business It is sad and pathetic be made to put an end to However, on New Year money in their pockets. of governance seems like that vices such as this perception because it Traders watched the market not all that glitters is gold. kidnapping, rape, cultism, will spell doom for us as a Improving the agricultural sector demand force of the people Hopes are dashed and the herdsmen killings, cattle people. NAHOLO groundnut oil has now been at its lowest ebbs. It was boat floats like no captain rustling and gangsterism Women who are EJosephine the choice of the people like Nigeria was heading in it till the next election are now the order of the unfortunate to be victims Ikorodu, Lagos State, which is also expensive but down the cliff for a headlong when probably many more day in Nigeria. Some will not only be derobed, enaholojosephine@ not up to the price of palm collision on the rocks at the tales of good promises state governors now grant but must be raped also; gmail.com, oil. Local farmers are no bottom and no one seemed will be made for the most amnesty to criminal gangs. this is totally unacceptable 08180313946 longer encouraged to go to care whether we perished vulnerable as they called us States like Katsina, Benue, by all. For many years now, into farming. or not. to believe. Rivers, Imo and Kano have Any such criminal act oil has been the backbone I want to bring to the granted amnesty to such must be dealt with, so that Much did happen in We want the hunger in of Nigeria’s economy, but notice of the agriculture criminal groups and even we can save our future as a the land to fade away before where has it taken us to? minister, Mr.Audu Ogbeh, 2016. Many have gone. A Lagos State Government is people living in a modern the next election. Everyone seems to have and the President of bottle of kerosene now sells now considering such. world. forgotten the good things African Development Bank, Readers’ text messages ... Send your text to 08055923429 that agriculture performed Dr. Akinwumi Adesina Please indicate your full name and contact address. N5,000 is a farcical empowerment empower them is a farce. during the First Republic in that these problems OSA OSAWAYE, How much can N5,000 Nigeria. can be solved if peasant Ilesa, Osun State, Lagos anti-kidnapping law N in the Nigeria of today Concerning the rate at farmers are provided with +2348029418091: empower an individual? which palm oil has become incentives. RIYO Peters, 2055 serious menace in Nigeria Empowering people Perhaps, it can empower too expensive for people We are gradually moving Bode Wasimi, involves helping them to A which is preventing foreign the citizen to transport to purchase, owing to the to dry season which is the Bashorun, Ibadan, Oyo develop and expand their investors from coming to himself to and from the fact that palm trees are best time to plant palm God-given potential via the State,+2348056854: invest. collection centres. on the verge of extinction, trees. This is to commend Sometime ago, the wife provision of an enabling environment, quality the Lagos State House of of the Central Bank of education, high morality, Assembly for passing into Nigeria was kidnapped and law making all forms of and undiluted culture. the kidnappers demanded The government, at all kidnapping punishable by N100m ransom. Only God levels, is duty-bound to death. The state governor, knows how much was ensure that all citizens Akinwunmi Ambode, finally coughed up before are given equal freedom, should quickly assent to the woman was released in resource control and the law without further opportunities. Those who can afford delay. In a country where I’m sure other states like to surround themselves about one per cent of the the southern states such with many police are population controls about as Oyo, Ogun, Osun, and exempt from such a scary 99 per cent of the nation’s Kwara and northern states experience but those of us resources, it is bound to and Abuja would join in who can’t afford such, this have a lot of dissatisfied enacting the same law, law will help us. and frustrated citizens, resulting in massive which will stop those who Once again, the Lagos disempowerment. State assembly should be have turned kidnapping The payment of N5,000 into a flourishing commended for rising to by the Federal Government business. It has become a the occasion. to vulnerable citizens to 22 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 viewpoint

developed economy. Thus, buying made in Nigerian goods and services is a win-win for everyone in the economy. Buy Made-in-Nigeria campaign A good part of the inflationary spiral in Nigeria stems from to earn a decent and living wage or income; access to basics goods and services denominated in foreign currency coming including education, health, housing and food increases economic into the country at a time the naira is fast losing value. A product Eze Onyekpere coming into the country at a time one United States dollar [email protected]; 08127235995 participation and reduces inequality in the system. Also, the standard of living of the average Nigerian will likely increase exchanged for less than N200 will definitely double its price now through meaningful participation in economic life. A good part of that the same currency is about N400. This will not necessarily HE buy Made-in-Nigeria campaign championed by the the local production of goods and services is in the informal sector be so for goods and services with a heavy dose of local content in leadership of the executive and legislative arms of the Federal T including the poor and not so rich, whose critical contribution to terms of raw materials and other inputs. Thus, patronising made Government is a step in the right direction. It is a welcome the economy has not been fully recognized. This is very cognisable in Nigeria goods and services will in the medium term, reduce development particularly now that the country is faced with in the agriculture, crafts, shoes, dresses, etc. subsectors of the inflationary spiral as imported inflation will be curtailed. a lot of economic challenges which demand urgent action for our economy. Thus, the campaign provides an opportunity to It is therefore within this context that it is posited that resolutions. The challenges include high unemployment, low formalise the informal sector, provide access to credit to small and government’s economic policies and campaigns are best capacity utilisation in industries, soaring double digit inflation, medium scale producers and create opportunities for enhanced implemented through the annual budget in the policy, plan and increased inequality and poverty, lowered standards of living and economic growth. budget continuum. One is therefore taken aback by provisions in depleted foreign reserves as well as scarcity of foreign exchange We have witnessed a situation in the last 18 months where the the 2017 federal budget estimates that run contrary to the tenets of to import goods and services. pressure on our foreign reserves has outpaced our ability to earn this campaign. A few examples are imperative. In the State House, The campaign deserves the support of every reasonable and foreign currency. In essence, we are no longer in a position to there are provisions for purchase of 3 nos 16-seater Hiace Buses discerning Nigerian because it is in our collective interest that pay for goods and services which we took for granted a couple of (phased replacement) in the sum of N43.2m; purchase of 3 nos it succeeds. It is clear that this campaign was motivated by our years ago. The ensuing scarcity of foreign exchange has reduced Toyota SUVs for N100.8m; purchase of 3 nos 33-seater Coaster battered economy which can no longer sustain our unthinking the value of the naira which is our national currency to the Buses (phased replacement) for N54m. Again, in the Bureau and unreasonable lifestyles. Even though the economic recession extent that it has lost not less than 100 per cent of its original of Public Enterprises, there is a provision for purchase of two impacted negatively on the average Nigerian, it will be a blessing Toyota Corola vehicles for project monitoring. These provisions in disguise if it leads us to the utilisation and harnessing of value. Factories that depend on foreign raw materials and inputs have either closed down or reduced their production due to the raise the poser; how can a government that is championing the the advantages and opportunities of the buy Made-in-Nigeria patronage of Made in Nigeria be the one to specifically request inability to source foreign exchange. This has led to job losses, campaign. particular foreign brands. This is the kind of conduct that lays increased poverty for the retrenched or workers who are owed The likely benefits that will accrue from the success of the the foundation for policy failure. When Nigerians witness mere several arrears of salaries. It has also diminished the profitability campaign are legion. Understanding these benefits and discussing lip-service to a particular policy, you can be sure that the policy profitability of the companies leading to reduced income which them in an empirical manner will facilitate governmental, private will fail. Beyond the Made-in-Nigeria campaign, it is faulty would have been the subject of corporate taxation. In essence, it sector and civil societal action in support of the campaign. For under the Public Procurement Act for an agency to state the Nigerian-made goods or services procured and used, existing has reduced the revenue available to government from personal specific brand and model it requires in the budget. This will limit jobs in the economy are protected and new jobs will likely be income and corporate taxation respectively. competition as the agency, once the budget is approved, sees itself created, especially when the demand for the products exceeds the But there is an alternative which is to buy goods and services under obligation to buy a particular brand. Essentially, there are existing capacity of the producers. Increased capacity utilization made in Nigeria and with a high local content instead of waiting other vehicle brands that can serve the same purpose including or expansion of production and services will require more hands for the very costly foreign options. With reduced demand for Made-in-Nigeria ones and there is no proof that the purpose will which reduces the army of the Nigerian unemployed. In other foreign goods and services and greater demand for local ones, we be better served by the brands named in the budget estimates. words, business agents and producers of goods and services will reduce the pressure on the foreign reserves and over time, This practice is procurement rigging and it is totally unacceptable require patronage to continue to be in business. Every foreign improve the value of the naira as the demand for foreign exchange under our law. product bought or imported is a vote for jobs in the foreign lands attunes to the reality of the improved production in Nigeria. Government through the MDAs, as the largest buyer of goods of origin of the products, goods or services. It appears that the This leads to increased retention capacity of Nigerian capital in and services in the economy should lead by example and ensure majority of Nigerians, across all political, religious, ethnic or other Nigeria. The idea that most capital expenditure in the public and patronage of Nigerian made goods and services, not only in the divides are agreed that we need to grow jobs in the economy. private sectors end up dissipated as an outflow, out of the country automobile industry but across board. With more Nigerians in jobs through patronage of Made-in- cannot encourage economic growth and development. Rather, •Follow me on Twitter @censoj Nigeria goods and services, inequality will be reduced. Ability it will guarantee in perpetuity our status as a backwater under For an integrated transport system potholes dotting the route. This explains the high number of to be fully developed, utilised and inhabited industrial zone. Obo Effanga accidents recorded there including the one that killed a federal That of Kaduna is worse. Located in a place called Rigasa, it is [email protected] minister, James Ocholi, and his family members. The route many kilometres away from the Kaduna city centre. The road has also of late been known for crimes such as kidnapping and to the terminal is terrible. You have to snake through rough NTERESTING times are ahead for air travellers in Abuja. abduction. roads and slum settlements with humans, vehicles (cars, trucks, IWe are about to feel the downside of the failure to establish Now, as part of the plans for going to Kaduna, the road wheelbarrows, tricycles, motorcycles, bicycles) and livestock an integration in the conceptualisation and implementation of between both cities is being fixed. In other words, the concern struggling for right of way. Little wonder that I had to pay so different transport projects and infrastructure. From March 8, of high level usage of the road will finally lead to repairs, more much from my hotel to the terminal for a trip that lasted about the Federal Government plans to shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe so when many more VIPs will find themselves on that route on a 40 minutes, just like the trip from Idu station to my destination International Airport, Abuja for six weeks to enable it carry our regular basis. This begs the question whether our taking action in Gwarinpa lasted about 25 minutes but I had to pay much total re-construction on the badly damaged airport runway. to promote development is tied to the interest of the elite, rather more than I would for a trip of that distance within the city. In According to news report, the Minister of State for Aviation, than of all citizens, especially the populace. the end, my excitement to travel by regular rail service between Mr. Hadi Sirika, said the repairs would last six months but it I find it interesting that this discussion is going on now. But Kaduna and Abuja paid off and it cost me “just” N6,600. But the is only six weeks of that period that would lead to disruption. we must equally use this opportunity to address the need for sad part of it was that only N600 of that sum went to the rail During this period, Abuja flights would be diverted to Kaduna our country to think in terms of integrated development rather service, while the cab drivers shared the N6,000. How about airport which is at least two hours by road northerly of Abuja. than work in silos. A clear indication of the lack of integrated that for efficiency? But the plan is already drawing flaks from different development in the country is found in the transport sector. Is The immediate surroundings of the two terminals have yet stakeholders, including the airline operators who said the repairs it not strange that in 2017 Nigeria, the discussions about re- to benefit from proper landscape and concrete finishing. So, the should be carried out between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m while flight routing flights from the country’s capital city does not include few vehicles they can cater for, for now, have to make use of the operations could take place during the day. They claim that the complementary services of rail transport? Yet, only last dusty surroundings. At the Idu, Abuja end of the trip, we had to Gatwick Airport in the UK, which like Abuja airport has only year, the country proudly and flamboyantly celebrated the physically carry our luggage up the steps, across the platforms, one runway, did not shut down when repairs were carried out inauguration of its first ever rail service out of its capital city, down on the other side and truck it out to the earthen and dusty on its runway, even though Gatwick has more than 10 times Abuja. Where does the train service from Abuja go to? Kaduna! ground where a handful of cabs waited. the volume of air traffic that the Abuja airport has. So, why is it not so easy to link the rail service to the Security is almost non-existent at both ends. I saw a handful Government is however proposing that after flights land at evacuation of Abuja-bound air travellers when they arrive in of “security personnel” at the top of the steps, a few meters to the Kaduna airport, the passengers would be “transported in Kaduna where their flights would be diverted to? That is exactly the ticketing point and entrance into the terminal building in secure buses from Kaduna to Abuja”. That certainly does not the point we miss in integrated development. It is indeed a big Rigasa, Kaduna. Two of them had hand-held “scanners” to scan address passengers’ commute from Abuja to catch the flights shame that the passengers cannot, for now, rely on the Abuja- our luggage and of course they made a clumsy work of asking in Kaduna. Kaduna rail service for an optimal travel experience. This is passengers to open their luggage out there in the open under There is no doubt that this move would increase the cost of because the rail service between both cities is anything but the sun. That amounted to mere routine though, as everyone travels to and fro Abuja, not only financially but also in terms satisfactory and I can say so authoritatively, having experienced got in with whatever they came with. In fact, my bag was not of time. It will also increase the volume of business in Kaduna it as recently as less than a month ago. scrutinised beyond the first layer of clothes. So, I might as well Airport and Kaduna State. I see some conferences otherwise The train service between both cities is comfortable and have carried arms and ammunition underneath and get away billed for Abuja being taken to Kaduna instead. It is little wonder refreshing no doubt. It compares to what you would find in with it. therefore that the Kaduna State Government is excited and many cities across the world. It is not a speed train and does My experience and the Federal Government plans show warmly receiving the news. It is equally understandable why not pretend to be one. So, it takes at least two hours and 40 that we do not yet operate in an integrated manner. How did Niger State is subtly suggesting that the airport in their state minutes total commute time; about the duration it takes to the design of the rail line leave out the connection to the city capital, Minna, should also be considered as an alternative to travel by road. That is longer than any flight time between two centre and the airport in both cities? This may explain why Abuja. Even , whose cargo airport is still under airports in Nigeria. However, the snag is that the Abuja-Kaduna there are only two trips in a day as the volume of commuters its early stages of construction, is already seeing dreams and rail service was not designed and completed with a broader is still low, apparently considering the cost of traveling to the visions of a future where theirs would be a natural alternative thinking of geography and economics put into it. For starters, terminals. The government needs to extend the rail lines to meet to Abuja airport. the final terminals at both ends are located far away from human the population or make it easier for the population to access the The first worry when it comes to diversion of Abuja-bound settlement. The terminals being tucked away from “civilization” terminals. And for the rail lines yet to be delivered, we must link flights is the inland commute. The road link between Abuja and means they are limited to access. them to airports, seaports and industrial centres. Kaduna is not the best of roads, with several rough patches and In Abuja, the station is in Idu, deep in the middle of the yet • Follow me on Twitter: @obobef MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 23

INSURANCE HOME & PRopERTY financial E Union urges FG Nigeria has to pay pension a long way to ID arrears go in physical planning

iNS – George punch Pg. 32 Pg. 33 Financial market watch for the week ended 6th of January, 2017 Unremitted N450bn: FG issues new Local economy news According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, the country’s external reserves appreciated to $26.20bn as of January 4, 2017, up from guideline for calculating surplus $25.80bn recorded on December 30, 2016. The foreign exchange he Federal Government, in To prevent further revenue leakage through non- reserves had risen to over four-month high of $25.70bn on December Ta bid to check the high level 28, up from $25.40bn on December 23. of under-remittance of funds remittance of its agencies’ operating surpluses, the The accretion witnessed in the foreign reserves has been as a by revenue-collection agencies, result of the gradual increase in oil prices and production output. has issued fresh guidelines for Federal Government has come up with a template that it Meanwhile, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index the computation of operating believes will solve the problem, IFEANYI ONUBA writes stood at 52 points in December 2016, indicating an expansion in surpluses. the manufacturing sector during the review period. The index had The new guideline that will recorded declines in the preceding 11 months. A further breakdown guide the preparation of the showed that production level, new orders, and raw material agencies’ financial statements inventories expanded from contraction; employment level declined for the next three years covering slower; but supplier delivery time worsened in December 2016 up to 2019 is contained in a Equity market listed securities on NSE circular signed by the Minister The equities market recovered from a three-day losing streak to close the week on a promising note. However, the NSE All-Share of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. Index and market capitalisation depreciated significantly by 2.32 The circular, with reference per cent (week-on-week) to close at 26,251.39 points and N9.032tn, number FMF/HMF/2016/1/2, respectively. With this, the NSE ASI posted a year-to-date return was obtained by our of -2.32 per cent. correspondent in Abuja on A turnover of 4.319 billion shares worth N7.376bn in 9,330 Friday. deals were traded in last week by investors in contrast to a total of It was addressed to top 405.939 million shares valued at N3.724bn that exchanged hands government officials such as the in the previous week in 14,861 deals. Chief of Staff to the President, We expect a mix of bargain hunting and profit-taking activities all ministers, Secretary to the by investors in this new week. Government of the Federation, NASD unlisted securities National Security Adviser, Governor of the Central Bank The NASD OTC market trended south at the end of the week, • President Muhammadu Buhari • Adeosun surrendering rally experienced in the last three week. Consequently, of Nigeria and all service chiefs. the Unlisted Securities Index and market capitalisation shed 1.24 per Others are the Chairman of revenue-generating agencies revenue-collection agencies given to parent ministries cent to close the week at 618.55 points and N418.59bn, respectively. the Federal Inland Revenue of the Federal Government shall prepare and submit their without prior approval. Money market Service, all federal permanent must prepare and submit to schedule estimates of revenue There were also findings that The interbank market was relatively liquid during the week as secretaries, Clerk of the her office estimates of revenue and expenditure for the next the agencies had poor book the OBB and Overnight rates hovered around the 8.00 per cent and National Assembly, Auditor and expenditure as well as their three financial years not later keeping, failed to reconcile 9.00 per cent mark. The total inflow for the week stood at N29.80bn, General for the Federation, annual budgets for the next than the end of the second accounts and had in existence which outweighed the outflow of N20.99bn. all vice chancellors of federal three years. quarter of every year. irreconcilable differences. In the absence of any maturities and auctions in the coming universities, all directors of In addition, the guideline “Following the need to Some of these agencies, week, we expect money market rates to hover around current levels. finance and internal audit and stipulated that the operating ensure strict compliance with according to Adeosun, lack fixed Treasury bills market all directors-general. surplus derived from the the statutory requirements, asset registers and inadequate The Treasury bills market was relatively active during the week The circular, according to preparation of the financial therefore, the directors of finance internal audit processes with as yields trended south at the end of the week. findings, has also been sent statement in line with the and accounts of all Federal weak internal controls. Bond market report for the week-ended January 6, 2017 to the chief executives of all International Public Sector Government corporations, There were also the issue In the just concluded week, Treasury bills worth N125.845bn the agencies mandated by the Accounting Standards accrual revenue-collection agencies of failure to submit audited matured via the primary market viz: 91-day bills worth N28bn, government under the Fiscal basis of accounting must be and those added to the Act are to financial statements; payroll 182-day bills worth N42bn and 364-day bills worth N55.845bn. Responsibility Act, 2007 to submitted to the minister’s send to the Minister of Finance fraud and exaggeration of This was more than offset by the Treasury bills’ auctions during the generate and remit revenue into office. the information required above payroll costs; overpayment week totalling N223.635bn via the primary market viz: 91-day bills the Consolidated Revenue Fund In preparing the estimates in respect of their 2017 budget. of staff salaries and abuse worth N35bn, 182-day bills worth N22bn, and 364-day bills worth account. of the revenue and expenditure Adeosun had lamented that of personnel grants; and N115.845bn; and via the secondary market viz: 184-day bills worth Some of these agencies are of these agencies, the minister, while the Fiscal Responsibility unapproved monetisation of N20.992bn and 352-day bills worth N29.798bn. Marginal rates on the Central Bank of Nigeria, through the guideline, stated Act, 2007 was designed to medical and other allowances. the 91-day, 182-day and 364-day bills were stable at 14 per cent, Securities and Exchange Commenting on the 17.50 per cent and 18.68 per cent, respectively that the financial statement provide guidelines and controls Commission, Nigeria Shippers’ must provide details of all the to elicit greater accountability development, the Acting Barring any reversal in the prevailing market sentiments, we Council, Nigeria Export Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility expect yields to hover around current levels in the coming week. projected internally generated and transparency in fiscal Promotion Council, Nigeria Civil Commission, Mr. Victor Bonds market revenue, personnel and operations, the actual Aviation Authority, National Muruako said the template The bonds market was relatively active as yields headed north overhead costs derived from compliance by revenue- Pension Commission, Bureau would help the government across all maturities. Consequently, the 20-year, 10.00 per cent the national budget, and all aids generating agencies had been for Public Enterprises and the FGN July 2030 debt; 10-year, 16.39 per cent FGN January 2022 and grants from domestic and poor. stop the level of abuse of the Nigerian Communications debt; seven-year, 16.00 per cent FGN June 2019 debt depreciated foreign development partners. This, according to her, has Fiscal Responsibility Act by its Commission. by N2.12, N1.00 and N0.76, respectively; their corresponding The financial statement must resulted in revenue leakages as agencies. Thirty-three revenue yields rose to 16.13 per cent (from 15.60 per cent), 16.24 per cent also provide details of any other confirmed by the audit findings Muruako explained that most (from 15.81 per cent) and 16.17 per cent (from 15.80 per cent), generating agencies had been inflow to fund the operations conducted by the Finance of the agencies preferred not to respectively. However, the five-year, 15.10 per cent FGN April 2017 indicted by the government for of such agencies, projected ministry, which revealed the obey the law and as such were debt appreciated by N0.16, while its yield fell to 14.38 per cent (from not remitting a total sum of net inflow from current under-remittance of N450bn using all forms of accounting 14.94 per cent). N450bn into the CRF account. activities, amount payable as into the treasury. techniques to short-change the We expect a mix of bargain hunting and profit-taking activities The development made operating surplus, and projected The minister gave the government. at the bond market. President Muhammadu Buhari utilisation of capital allocation infractions committed by For instance, he lamented Exchange rates - Naira/USD to issue an executive order for showing the affected projects. the agencies to include non- that some of the chief executives During the week, the naira steadied against the greenback at the the funds to be recovered and Adeosun stated in the remittance and under-remittance of the agencies in their bid to interbank market but weakened against the dollar at the alternative measures put in place to guide guideline that a review team of operating surpluses due to the avoid remittance would go as markets. against under-remittance in would engage each agency Consolidated Revenue Fund; far as submitting two financial During the week, the CBN sold a total of $6m at an average rate the future. to finalise their estimates of operating without approved statements to the government. of $1 to N304.50. In the new guideline titled: revenue and expenditure. budgets; overstating of budgets He added that in the In the current week, we expect the local currency to hover ‘Preparation of estimates of The guideline read in part, and spending above budgeted last seven years alone, the around current levels as the increasing reserves trigger confidence revenue and expenditure by “Pursuant to part IV, section 21 amounts; and under-reporting government had lost over N1tn on the ability of the apex bank to intervene more aggressively at the corporations, revenue collections of the FRA 2007 (as amended). of revenues. to non-remittance of operating interbank market. agencies’, the finance minister The Minister of Finance hereby The minister said the audit surpluses by its agencies, • Dr. Bernard Ilori warned that there would be calls for strict compliance report, also revealed that while about N380bn had CEO, Mutual Alliance Investment & Securities Limited severe sanctions for violators of with the provisions of the payments were made without been forcefully recovered and [email protected] the new template. Act, which requires, among invoices and payment receipts; remitted to the Consolidated 09030004477 (SMS/WhatsApp only) She said, henceforth, all the others, that corporations and while loans and grants were Revenue Fund by the FRC. 24 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 Advert7 PC/Public/Production/Monday/Monday 9-1-2017

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 25 26 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 business economy& Lagos-Ibadan road: Illegal structures in Mowe, Ibafo to go Maureen Ihua- Sagamu to Ojota section of the Another source in the demolished and there will be activities on the road during Ojota? They need to speed up Maduenyi road being handled by Julius ministry said the space on no compensation,” the source the dry season were below the work.” Berger Plc. both sides of federal highways, added. expectation. Another construction OLLOWING the “They have been asked up to 45.72 metres, should be Construction experts He said, “They have only expert, who spoke on the reconstruction of the F to move and very soon the clear of obstructions, but that had lamented that the pace done a little aspect of the condition of anonymity, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, ministry will move everybody illegal developments such of work on the Sagamu to road from where they stopped said Julius Berger had been indications have emerged that and demolish those shanties as markets had taken up the Ojota end of the road, which during the last administration. concentrating on bridges the Federal Government plans and other illegal structures. right of way, thereby making is about 43.6 kilometres, The areas where they instead of the troubled spots to demolish illegal structures The Federal Government construction in the areas had been slow compared to have worked are basically where motorists spend in Mowe, Ibafo and other paid compensation during difficult. the Sagamu to Ojo town in undeveloped and now they are hours before getting to their smaller communities along the construction of the Lagos- “There is supposed to be Ibadan, which is about 86 just approaching the built-up respective destinations. the road. Ibadan Expressway and a 45.72 metres space from kilometres and being handled areas. Sources at the ministry, Sources at the Federal no permanent structure is the centre of the road but the by Reynolds Construction “If they spent such a long however, said the project Ministry of Works told our supposed to be on the right areas are completely built up, Company. time at the normal areas, contractors were working with correspondent that the of way, but Nigerians are so, when the construction A regular user of the road, how long will it take to finish the agreed programme and communities had contributed totally indiscipline,” one of the project gets to those points, who is also a construction the densely populated areas, every part of the road would to the slow pace of work on the sources said. which is very soon, they will be expert, Gbenga Awelewa, said which are from Mowe/Ibafo to be reconstructed. FG, oil firms optimistic about increased crude production ’Femi Asu with agency at a Western oil company. report Nigerian oil output, which HE Federal Government had recovered sharply in Tand oil firms have October from a 30-year low expressed optimism that of around 1.4 million bpd crude production in the in May, suffered a setback country will increase this year after another attack on the as efforts to stem militancy in Trans-Forcados pipeline on the Niger Delta and introduce November 2 impacted the a new funding structure for transportation of the crude joint venture assets gain and shut-in the popular traction. Forcados grade. Nigeria, which had been “With oil prices boosted exempted from the deal by by the OPEC and non-OPEC the Organisation of Petroleum production cut, we companies Exporting Countries to cut are encouraged to invest next output from January, hoped year but only if the Nigerian to pull its economy out of government can achieve a recession on the back of the win-win situation with the upswing in global crude prices militants in the Niger Delta,” and restore oil production to the Managing Director, at least 2.2 million barrels per Britannia-U, Uju Ifejika, said. day, President Muhammadu A recovery in Nigeria’s •L-R: Country Manager, SGS International Accreditation Firms, Mr. Emmanuel Oyebode; Managing Director, Buhari said in early December. oil production is premised SGS, Mr. Andrew Hunter; Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Aboloma; and Director, not only on solving the Negotiations with militants Laboratory Services, SON, Mrs. Nike Owoyele, at the presentation of textile equipment to SON operational office in Delta militancy, but also in the Niger Delta to end Lagos...recently. Photo: SON attacks on oil facilities are on the country’s successful also progressing and a new negotiations of years of funding scheme for upstream debts owed to its partners on Govt installs more wind shear alert systems at airports counterpart funding for oil ventures with foreign partners Okechukwu Nnodim, Meteorological Agency has today (Sunday) is the 13th one. at the Port Harcourt airport ventures, and introduction was recently agreed. Abuja shown that this phenomenon “So, the successful while attempting to land on of new funding mechanism For now, the country is prevalent in every part of installation of the LLWAS December 10, 2005. to drive investment in the continues to suffer from the HE Federal Government Nigeria. at 13 airports in the country “Another accident that upstream sector. oil price downturn as oil Thas increased the number “Reports from the AIB by NIMET is, therefore, was also not unconnected Nigeria negotiated $1.7bn accounts for about 90 per of Low Level Wind Shear Alert have also indicated that some in consonance with the to wind shear was the off the $6.8bn in unpaid bills cent of its foreign exchange systems at Nigerian airports of the unfortunate air crashes aviation safety policy of this ADC aircraft crash while over the last four years owed earnings and about 80 per in a bid to avert air crashes in Nigeria have been linked administration.” attempting to take-off from its partners including Shell, caused by abrupt winds. cent of the government’s total in one way or the other to According to NIMET, the Abuja airport. A total of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total Wind shear is one of the revenue. wind shear. The installation wind shear was first noted in 96 fatalities were recorded,” and Eni, to exit the cash call most hazardous weather “The government is sure of the LLWAS at airports Nigeria on June 24, 1956 when the agency said. arrangement. incidents to aircraft and it that the target to raise oil in Nigeria is, therefore, a an aircraft taking off from It further noted that The nation was eyeing occurs when the speed and/or production to 2.2 million right step towards achieving the Kano airport flew into a countries all over the additional output of between direction of the wind changes bpd or even more next year and sustaining safety in the thunderstorm microburst with world were averting this 300,000 bpd and 700,000 abruptly. is realisable,” Femi Adesina, Nigerian airspace.” its associated wind shear and phenomenon by installing bpd from onshore and shallow The LLWAS is a ground- presidential spokesman told Sirika added, “As of crashed with 32 fatalities. the LLWAS at airports, as the fields operated jointly with based system used to detect S&P Global Platts. November 2016, NIMET had It stated that other instrument gives early warning foreign partners over the next wind shear and associated “The peace deal with installed the LLWAS at 12 prominent incidents/ signs to pilots to enable them two years as a result of the weather phenomena, such militants to ensure zero airports across the country accidents involving wind take proactive action and thus financing deal, the spokesman as microbursts, close to an disruption is in progress, and the Katsina airport’s shear included the Sosoliso averting danger resulting from for the Nigerian National airport, especially along though slow, but I can assure LLWAS being inaugurated aircraft, which crash-landed wind shear. you that with a show of Petroleum Corporation, Ndu the runway corridors. This faith, the peace deal will be Ughamadu, said. information can then be NNPC commissions audit of refineries consummated in no time,” “The Nigerian petroleum passed, in real-time, to Adesina said. sector, which has recorded low warn pilots and aerodrome Okechukwu Nnodim, Group Managing Director that we are changing a little Oil companies believe investment in recent years, will personnel. Abuja of the corporation, Dr. bit; we are focusing on the the return of peace in the soon experience an upbeat in The Minister of State for Maikanti Baru, at the NNPC process licensors to come restive Niger Delta region is a flurry of activities following Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, HE processes and headquarters in Abuja. and audit our processes key to the execution of the the cash-call exit agreement who announced the increase Tprocessing units of Baru, in a statement and they have already projects needed to increase between the NNPC and its Joint in the number of the LLWAS Nigeria’s three refineries in issued on Sunday, explained started auditing most of our production. Venture partners,” he said. installed at the airports, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and that the NNPC was keen process units in the various Just as the government “The agreement will explained on Sunday that wind Warri are currently being on ending products’ refineries. needs higher oil production stabilise and also increase shear was prevalent in every audited by licensors. importation in a few years “We hope that if we do for more revenue, companies upstream production over part of Nigeria and could cause According to the Nigerian and that a concrete plan all these systematically, we need the peace and security in time. The repayment of havoc at airports if there was National Petroleum was on ground to achieve should be able to get about the Niger Delta to be able to the arrears in a sustainable nothing to alert pilots about it. Corporation, the exercise is this. 60 per cent level of capacity He said, “Wind shear is move in and repair damaged manner is a key enabler to part of measures to reduce He said, “We are utilisation by the end of this particularly dangerous during assets, especially in onshore additional investment in the products’ importation putting together various year or at worst by the first take-off and landing when the and shallow waters, and even upstream sector in Nigeria,” by boosting the capacity programmes to ensure that quarter of 2018, and get to aircraft is at low altitude. A plan new projects. the Chairman, Oil Producers utilisation of the refineries we achieve at least 60 per 80 per cent by the end of recent study jointly carried out “Once this is achieved, Trade Section of the Lagos to 60 per cent by the end of cent local refining by the 2018 so, that we can locally by the Accident Investigation production can even reach 2.3 Chamber of Commerce and this year. end of this year. It is the be able to supply half of our Bureau and the Nigerian million bpd,” said one official Industry, Clay Neff, said. This was disclosed by the procedure or methodology PMS requirements.” MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 27 28 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 marketcapital NSE daily activity summary (equities) 06/01/2017

At a Glance Volume: 602.047 million Index: 26,495.04 Value: N1.204bn Mkt cap: N9.116tn Deals: 2,150 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 29 capital market Analysts predict bullish outlook for equities, fixed income Stanley Opara on bonds.” Cement Plc. sustained the bullish trend the sidelines. markets traded mostly The Nigerian equity At the week close, the ASI throughout the week amid To this end, analysts higher in the first trading a pital market analysts market started the year on clinched its first gain of the a Primary Market Auction, at Meristem Securities week of the year amid Csay the equities and fixed negative footing with the year, amid extended gains where the CBN sold N35bn, Limited, in its weekly holiday-thinned trading and income markets are likely NSE ASI down 2.32 per cent across banking stocks and N23bn, and N135bn report, maintained, “Given a barrage of data releases. to see a relative bullish amid light trade volumes. waning negative sentiment (offered: N28bn, N42bn and investors’ apathy towards Whilst most major markets response this week. After opening in negative in other key sectors. N55bn) across the 91DTM, the equities market in 2016, were shut last Monday for The equities market territory, the market The fixed income market 182DTM and 364DTM bills coupled with the dearth the New Year’s holiday, the closed last week on a positive maintained its bearish opened the year on a mixed at respective stop rates of of positive news inflows South Korean bourse traded note after recording declines momentum as all key sectors note. At last week’s open, 14 per cent, 17.50 per cent amidst unfavourable mixed amid better-than- in the first three days of the continually closed in the red. the Central Bank of Nigeria and 18.69 per cent (effective economic fundamentals, we expected trade data and as week (aside from Monday, However, on Thursday, auctioned N51bn (offered: yield: 14.51 per cent, 19.17 do not anticipate a revamp investors continued to track which was a national the financial services sector N50bn) across the 184 day- per cent and 22.97 per cent). in market performance in events on the political scene. holiday). logged the first positive close to-maturity and 352DTM However, the bond the near term. On the other hand, the At last week’s close, the of the key sectors following bills. Despite the liquidity market traded bearish “However, we anticipate European markets closed Nigerian Stock Exchange gains across select tier-one mop up, the treasury bill throughout the week with some position taking in the first trading week of the All-Share Index rode on banks. Despite this, the yields declined – supported yields advancing by 97 fundamentally justified year higher on the back of the improving appeal for market still closed lower as by buoyant demand across basis points overall as the stocks currently trading upbeat 2016 Manufacturing banking stocks to close the ASI performance was the space, analysts said. wait for the bond auction below their intrinsic values.” Purchasing Managers’ Index positive. skewed by a loss in Dangote The treasury bills market calendar kept investors on Meanwhile, global data. “With the appeal still quite decent, coupled with waning bearish sentiment across other sectors, we expect the index to open higher in the week ahead,” analysts at Vetiva Capital Management said in the firm’s week-end market report. For the fixed income market, the analysts said, “At the start of this week, we expect buoyant demand to further drive bullish trading in the Treasury bills space amid continued muted trading sentiment UAE markets rise in early trade nited Arab Emirates Ustock markets rose in early trade on Sunday, boosted by local retail investors’ buying stocks priced below one dirham, while most other Gulf bourses moved little. Dubai’s index climbed 1.3 per cent to 3,675 points in the first 90 minutes, testing technical resistance at the mid-December peak of 3,659 points. Nine of the 10 most heavily traded stocks rose and six of them were priced below one dirham. Two of them were insurance firms, with Dubai Islamic Insurance jumping 8.3 per cent and Islamic Arab Insurance adding 6.5 per cent, according to Reuters. For the past couple of weeks, some traders have been speculating there may be mergers in the insurance industry following last year’s news of a big Abu Dhabi banking merger. Abu Dhabi’s index climbed 0.6 per cent in a broad-based rise, with Abu Dhabi National Bank gaining 2.3 per cent. Elsewhere, local investors were less positive. Qatar’s index edged down 0.1 per cent as Mesaieed Petrochemical , the most heavily traded stock, slipped 1.8 per cent. Gulf Warehousing fell 1.2 per cent despite recommending an annual cash dividend of 1.60 riyals per share, up slightly from 1.50 riyals in the previous year. It said net profit climbed 11 per cent last year. 30 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 money Non-performing loan ratio crashes to 13.4% Oyetunji Abioye with December 2015, exceeding recovery in the second half of last year. 2.2 per cent to 4.1 per cent. to the highest level in more agency report the prudential limit of 5.0 the year would bring relief to The picture is not as rosy Capital levels also than a decade, with President per cent, the CBN Financial the banks. for the rest of the industry decreased. The sector’s capital Muhammadu Buhari S economic recession Stability Report for the first “Across the entire industry, as lower crude prices and adequacy ratio fell to 14.7 per planning to boost spending Acontinues to weigh on half of last year revealed. you’ll see an uptick in non- foreign-currency shortages cent in June from 16.1 per cent this year by 20 per cent to the banking sector, non- Specifically, the NPLs performing loan ratios,” cause the economy to in December 2015. revive growth. performing loans ratio in the in the period under review Bloomberg quoted Wigwe as contract. For big banks, which the The Access Bank GMD banking industry has crashed grew by 158 per cent from saying in a report on Friday. Wigwe said the lender CBN classified as having said the lender had managed further above the Central N649.63bn at end-December “We are better than most,” was targeting companies that more than N1tn of assets, the to get into an “extremely Bank of Nigeria’s five per cent 2015, to N1.679tn at end- the Access Bank GMD added. sourced their raw materials ratio fell to 15.65 per cent, still liquid” position by raising threshold. June 2016, the CBN report Access Bank, the country’s locally for loans to reduce the above the requirement of 15 N35bn in the last quarter The NPLs ratio fell to 13.4 showed. fourth-largest bank by assets, risk of unpaid debt. per cent. of 2016 by tapping a per cent in September 2016, The Group Managing expects that its NPLs will First Bank of Nigeria According to Wigwe, N100bn commercial bond up 11.7 per cent recorded in Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. climb to “slightly below” three Limited, the country’s biggest conditions in the economy programme. June 2016, according to a Herbert Wigwe, predicted per cent of total loans by the lender by assets, stood out should start improving in “We will continue to Bloomberg report. that the level of troubled end of this year, compared among the largest banks with the second half of the year if raise until we can get to that The industry-wide NPLs loans would continue to with 2.1 per cent for the nine an NPL ratio of 22.8 per cent monetary and fiscal measures programme limit; some of ratio had hit 5.3 per cent in climb before an economic months through September at the end of September last take hold. it may mature, which we year. The CBN left its will repay, then raise again,” Inflation rate may hit 20% in first quarter —Experts Zenith Bank Plc, United benchmark interest rate Wigwe said. Oyetunji Abioye In the same vein, the sharply to N425/$. These Bank for Africa Plc and unchanged at a record 14 per “The whole idea is that Managing Director, Financial projections are based on the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc had cent in November as it seeks we must always have that CONOMIC and financial Derivatives Company assumption that the market the NPL ratios ranging from to contain inflation that rose liquidity buffer,” he added. Eexperts have said that the Limited, Mr. Bismarck will be reformed and that Payments chief ousted as private equity seeks rapid growth country’s inflation rate may Rewane, said if the CBN sanity will return to what strategy said. rise further to 20 per cent reviewed its foreign exchange is now essentially a foreign HE chief executive of as Bain Capital and Advent, Network International, two private equity groups, are “It’s like having a good during the first quarter of this policies to enable the market exchange asylum.” T football player on the field year from the current 18.4 to function effectively, the To escape from what one of the largest payment reported to be close to buying groups in Africa and the Concardis, a German payment but suddenly [Cristiano] per cent. gap between the official and he described as forex trap, Middle East, has been ousted, group, for about €700m. Ronaldo becomes available,” They, however, said the parallel market rates of the Rewane stressed the need for as competition intensifies Trivedi was appointed the person said, in reference inflation rate was expected naira would become smaller. the authorities to understand among private equity groups chief of Network to Haslam’s appointment. to reduce significantly as He said, “Forex policies the importance of a properly to boost their presence in the International in the summer A spokeswoman for the fiscal and monetary usually complement trade functioning market. global payments sector. of 2012, with a mandate to Network International said, authorities would begin to and investment policies. The He said, “The CBN will “Bhairav continues in his Bhairav Trivedi was told expand the business. implement certain policies to Nigerian government will in need to eliminate or phase current role until Simon’s he would be replaced as chief However, he is now being arrival, expected towards better the economy. 2017 strive towards greater out regulations that stifle executive, just days after a replaced by Simon Haslam, The experts made this coordination of these policies, market activity, create a sense [the] end [of] January. regional magazine featured who runs payments processor “Bhairav will work known in investment notes and will move from its of two-way risk in the market, an extensive interview with Elavon. Haslam is regarded as detailing their outlook for current bias for a command reduce its market-making closely with Simon during Trivedi outlining his views on a heavyweight in the industry the transition period before this year on Sunday. economy monetary policy role and stop indirect or the industry, Financial Times and someone who can help An economic analyst at towards a mixed economy. overt rate determination, and he takes up his new role reported. the company expand further, as adviser to Network Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kunle “I believe that with oil increase market information The development comes a person familiar with the International’s board.” Ezun, wrote, “Inflation is prices at $55 per barrel on the sources and uses of likely to accelerate towards and production back up to foreign exchange. 20 per cent by the end of Q1 2mbpd, the naira will slip “There must be liquidity, 17, driven by fiscal expansion, in the interbank markets to transparency and openness, energy cost and high FX cost N350-N380/$. It will fall and the CBN as a regulator caused by the over 30 per at the parallel market to must be firm in dealing with cent naira devaluation in N520/$ before recovering market infractions.” 2016.” “Slow but steady rise Ecobank optimistic about growth in liquidity arising from HE Managing Director, Speaking at a programme projected government TEcobank Nigeria, Mr. tagged ‘market storm’, spending in 2017 will add Charles Kie, says the pan- the Head, Consumer to the pressure on the naira African lender is expected to Distribution, Ecobank owing to higher import post stronger growth records Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Kuponiyi, demand; this will stoke as the bank’s strategies was quoted as telling inflation.” continue to deliver results. members of the public that Speaking further, he “With our bank-wide the exercise, held at different said tight monetary policy, transformation efforts parts of the country, was higher borrowing and higher especially electronic payment meant to create awareness inflation rate would continue solutions and strategy on the benefits of its global to put pressure on domestic designed to boost long-term digital payment platforms. interest rates. productivity of our core According to him, the new He said, “Exchange rate business, we are confident digital platform is also in uncertainties will persist due these efforts will position us line with the Central Bank of to sustained low oil prices, for strong growth over the Nigeria’s cashless policy and lower FX reserves, and robust next years,” he said. financial inclusion goals. import demand; we expect a The bank quoted Kie as Kuponiyi said, “I am managed interbank exchange saying this on the heels of the impressed with the level of rate of 305.50/dollar and a launch of Ecobank Mobile App acceptance of this digital parallel market rate of 495/ and Masterpass QR recently. payment system since it dollar in 2017. He said, “The app uniquely was launched in October. “The naira will remain leverages the power of digital Merchants in different parts under pressure largely due to deliver real convenience to of the country have already to a structural imbalance customers. It gives Ecobank started using it. This product between the dollar supply the scale and capacity to will bring more people to and demand, which will be achieve its 100 million the banking system and reflected in proliferated FX customer ambition in a revolutionise the nation’s market and rates.” profitable and sustainable way. economy within the shortest According to the expert, “With a mere click or time possible.” there will be high but two on the Ecobank Mobile He further explained that declining banking sector App, customers can open a customers would also be able liquidity as structural new digital account with no to pay for goods and services imbalance between the paper references. Ecobank using Ecobank Masterpass dollar supply and demand Masterpass QR makes QR, thereby reducing the continues to weigh on the electronic payments safe, need to carry cash or bank economy. simple and smart. It improves payment cards. On key risks to the customer experience with He noted that the lender outlook, Ezun said a fall in a clean front-end design would use its network to give oil prices would add pressure and a built-in sophisticated customers access to more on external reserves, fuelling and secure supporting choices with a larger range of more pressure on the naira. technology.” products and services. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 31 money Naira drops to 493 as dollar demand rises Oyetunji Abioye market continues to stoke new year. imbalances,” United Capital The naira has been under HE naira fell further had said in a research note severe and continuous Tagainst the United to clients on Tuesday. pressure as the scarcity of States dollar at the parallel The local currency also the US currency continues market on Friday to 493, closed flat at 490/dollar last to create ripples in the from 490 on Thursday as Wednesday and Thursday financial markets and increased dollar demand at the parallel market, economy. weighed on the market. before recording loss on The CBN had about two Forex traders said the Friday. weeks ago sold about $1bn local unit plummeted Economic and financial on the forward market to following an increased experts have expressed clear a backlog of dollar demand for the dollar divergent views over the obligations in selected and other hard currencies outlook of the naira this sectors. by parents seeking to year. Traders said the CBN pay school fees of wards The naira beat analysts’ told banks to prioritise studying overseas. expectation and closed the airlines, manufacturing The naira had closed flat year 2016 at 490 against firms, petroleum products against the dollar at the the dollar at the parallel importers and agriculture, official interbank window market. the sectors worst hit by and at the parallel foreign Due to the persistent the dollar shortage, in the exchange market last pressure on the naira, auction. Tuesday, the first official currency and financial The CBN has struggled trading day of the year. analysts had predicted that to support the naira as the It closed at 305 to a dollar the local currency would hit country’s external reserves at the official window, the 500/dollar on or before the continue to fall. same rate it closed on the last working day of 2016, while the local currency closed at 490/dollar on the black market. The naira had similarly closed at 490/dollar on Friday, the last official trading day of 2016. “In the week ahead, we expect pressure on the naira to linger, especially at the parallel market, as unmet demand from the official 32 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 insurance Union urges FG to pay pension arrears Stories: Nike Popoola 18 months of 33 per cent should take place without any arrears left to be cleared. further delay as this shall put he Nigeria Union of You may wish to know that a stop to numerous problems TPensioners has appealed the actual percentage due to being faced by pensioners to the Federal Government pensioners is 53.4 per cent such as payment to ghost to pay the December 2016 but was unjustifiably slashed pensioners, non inclusion pensions to its members. to 33 per cent.” of genuine retirees on the In a statement signed The union chairman payroll, short payment and by the Chairman, NUP appealed to the Federal many others. (Federal Branch) Lagos, Government to revisit the “We humbly hope that the Dele Joseph, the union also 20.4 per cent balance. Federal Government under urged the government to pay He said, “We want to President Muhammadu the arrears of 53.4 per cent appeal that the general Buhari will see to the increase in their pensions, verification of federal yearnings of the senior which was slashed to 33 per pensioners in Lagos State citizens of this country.” cent. He observed that some NAICOM returns Glanvill banks had released the payment of December Enthoven’s licence pensions while majority of he National Insurance satisfying the aspirations of the banks had not done so. TCommission has stakeholders,” it stated. “The NUP (Federal reinstated the operational The firm noted that its branch) in Lagos wishes licence of Glanvill Enthoven, Managing Director, Supo to appeal to the Federal a firm of incorporated Falana, brought his 25 years Government to please release insurance brokers. of professional experience the December 2016 pensions According to a statement in top-class rated insurance to pensioners,” he said. from Glanvill, with this institutions including He wondered why funds development, the company Goldlink Insurance Plc and were released in piece meal is authorised to operate Law Union & Rock Insurance and sought to know if it was general insurance, life and where he was the chief the body responsible for pensions business as well technical and business officer. disbursing the funds that was as reinsurance brokerage Falana is a proactive not doing the needful. services. seasoned insurance Joseph complained that The statement said the executive versed in delivering the anomaly had become company had been a member appropriate technical a monthly occurrence, of Nigerian Council of operations, marketing adding that the haphazard Registered Insurance Brokers solutions aligned with payment of pensions was not with a good reputation for corporate strategy and justifiable. high level professionalism. business goals, according to He said, “Imagine the It added that it maintained the statement. harrowing experience a professional indemnity cost He obtained the Higher these senior citizens passed of N750m and owned by National Diploma in through during Christmas the five states in the South- Insurance with distinction and the New Year when West, including Lagos State from the Lagos State they could not receive their (Odua Investment Company Polytechnic and Master in legitimate earnings.” Limited). Business Administration from The chairman said the “Established in 1957, over the University of Ado Ekiti. government should urgently the years, it has become A fellow of the Chartered take action to improve the a leader in the provision Insurance Institute of Nigeria, living conditions of Nigerian of highly efficient and Falana had attended several retirees. innovative insurance broking insurance trainings, seminars He said, “We equally want and related services through a and conferences both locally to draw the attention of the well-motivated and proactive and internationally, the Federal Government to the professional workforce while statement added. NCRIB seeks more relevance for insurance brokers igerian Council of to the performance of the this clime during economic NRegistered Insurance previous year, he recounted downturn. Brokers has said the council the initial challenges of He noted that many will continue to make ensuring good representation individuals and even insurance brokers relevant to of the council on the corporate institutions still the insuring public. committee that worked for ignorantly held the views The President, NCRIB, the Insurance Act. that insurance should be Mr. Kayode Okunoren, Even though it was consigned to the rung of stated this at a brokers’ event challenging, he said the necessities list, which he in Lagos. council tried to ensure described as ill-informed. He said, “The council is that brokers were not Okunoren stressed not taking the protection of shortchanged in the proposed that insurance should be its members with levity and law when eventually enacted. a major consideration this is the reason behind the Okunoren said the during recession, given the conception of the corporate council was also challenged difficulty or reduction of visibility project, which was on several fronts with some replacement capability in unanimously endorsed at the regulatory legislation that the event of a loss. 2016 annual general meeting threatened the membership He said professionals of the council in Abuja. strength of the council, but should know this fact and “The project is to present added that it was able to take it as a marketing the broking profession in its work through such ingenious campaign to reaffirm the proper light to the insured platforms as the help desk belief of clients in insurance and the general public.” to reduce or stave off those at difficult times. He said that the task of challenges. “The times we are in highlighting who the brokers Looking at the recession, call for creativity and were and the value they which had adversely high ethical adherence by rendered could not be done affected the business of professionals to stay afloat; for them by any other body or members, he said it was a we must continually seek persons. known fact that insurance for ways to add value to our While making reference generally tended to suffer in clients,” he said. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 33 homes & property Nigeria has a long way to go in physical planning – George Mrs. Catherine Kehinde George is the a nuisance; it depends on how they are relating with other residents. For instance, Makoko has been a slum for a very first female professional town planner long time, and I don’t think they are disturbing anybody. A lot of studies have been carried out on Makoko, it is an in Nigeria and Africa. In this interview interesting place; I have been there several times. It is a with MAUREEN IHUA-MADUENYI, community built on steel and the streets are connected through these steels. They are not streets that cars will ride she says the government needs to through but that connect its residences and that makes it increase funding and monitoring of an interesting settlement. I don’t think anyone will want to destroy it intentionally. planning projects so that there will be So, I think it is always better to make the slums better for better organisation of the society the residents to live in rather than have a total demolition; but if there is total demolition, there must be a reason. I HAT is your assessment of the planning think there are cogent reasons. Wprofession in Nigeria? You just wrote a book, ‘Urbanisation and the We still have a long way to go in planning because it is Lagos Mega City’, what inspired you to do this? not all about development control and approval of building I first got interested in urbanisation when I was a lecturer plans. It is all encompassing and involves the maintenance of at the Yaba College of Technology. I wrote my first paper the environment to make it sustainable. It involves planning on Lagos metropolis in 1996, it was a book I presented at the development and also the implementation of the plans, a conference of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners in as well as monitoring. So, planning is a cycle, which should Benin City in the same year. I became interested in the rapid not be broken; it is supposed to be continuous and there development of Lagos State; it wasn’t a mega city then, it should be citizen participation, meaning that everyone must was just a metropolis and later on, I became the Chairman of the Lagos State urban Forum in the early 2000 and later be involved in planning. Everyone should be interested in •George what is going on in the environment and how to make it I wrote a paper on urbanisation in Lagos in 2009, and it was sustainable. Lagos over the weekend or in the evening when the traders later published as a book; and then, this recent publication, What are the major challenges that have created are done with trading, you will find them littered. The idea which has yet to be launched. of littering the streets depends on individuals; if everyone this slow growth and how can the government and So it has been an interest that has spanned since 1996 till decides not to litter the streets, the city will be cleaner. I other stakeholders make it better? now, and my late boss, Joseph Awogbemi, also encouraged think it is important that some habits are dispensed with, I think the government is appreciating physical planning me along the line of urbanisation studies, because he was such as dropping refuse into drains or potholes, those are more because they have seen that in developed countries, very interested in it. I just thought it very interesting and slum habits and this can be done by educating the people, planning helps them to grow. So, our government at the fascinating the way Lagos is growing. I have lived here for having stakeholders’ meetings and programmes on radio local, state and federal levels are giving better priority to almost 50 years and have seen the city grow; I have seen the and television. changes in the people’s habit and the landscape as well as the planning but more needs to be done, because I think it is Experts are of the opinion that slum development cityscape. And so many things have changed over the years. very important for every plan to be properly funded. That is is as a result of the rural-urban migration and that What effect will you like this book to have on the in the case of implementation, because no matter how good the government can curtail this by developing the Lagos society and the Nigerian society at large? a plan is, if it is not adequately funded and implemented, it rural areas. What is your take on this? I think this book should be in every family because it is a is of no use; and it should be implemented in good time. If That is one of the planning policies, sometimes called very good reference book. In my research, I found that data you have a plan that you have implemented and it doesn’t decentralisation, and is aimed at attracting people from was not easily available in the country. When I was a student take off for the next 20 years, for instance, squatters will the densely populated parts of the cities to the fringes. It in Australia in 1972, at the University of Melbourne, all we settle on the site and then you will have slum development. has been an old policy of planning but apart from that, it is needed as students were available. But even now, here in So, priority should be given more to planning projects, important to create road access to these areas. For instance, this country, as a consultant if you have a project to work funding and monitoring. Government needs to increase most of the food-producing communities in the country do on, the basic data is not available, you have to source for it funding and monitoring of projects so that there will be not have access to cities to sell their products and when the and this costs a lot of money. better organisation of our spaces and activities. As an produce gets bad because of storage problems, the prices of When I was working on this book, I did a lot of research observer of the environment, Lagos is doing a good job foodstuff go up. and most of the projects I worked on before featured in the because it is a heavily populated state, but despite that, there I think it is very important to have good access roads book. So I believe that it is a book that will be useful even for is a need to provide the basic infrastructure for the residents to link the villages to the cities; if there is enough to do in town planning students in the polytechnics and universities of the state. Other states are coming behind. the villages, the villagers won’t rush to the cities. Another as well as allied professions. It is also good for the foreign Talking about Lagos, considering the population reason is that most people who come from the rural to the mission; anyone coming into the country should have a copy explosion and many slum developments that are urban areas are young people in search of jobs; all they want and anyone leaving should have one as a souvenir, because coming up as a result of this, how successful do you is a place to lay their heads and because they don’t have I believe that we should make other countries realise that think the mega city project will be? money, they pay a pittance. This also contributes to slum Nigerians are good people, they can work for a living and The mega city status can be attained by means of a development. And when they settle down, they tend to have are honest. I want to prove a point that it is possible to population of 10 million people and also basic infrastructure large numbers of families. work and earn a living from the work you do; if you do it and facilities that are in that settlement. So, we have Last year, the Lagos State Government began conscientiously, it will come out right. already surpassed the population, but the basic facilities to massive evacuation of waterfront settlers. Are Where do you see the future of physical planning support it is what we don’t have yet. I will say that earlier there better planning ways such as relocating them in Nigeria? on, say about 40 years ago, we had a lot of acquisition by instead of outright demolition of the settlements? It is going to get brighter; we just need to have more people the Western Region Government in areas such as Ikeja, I think it is quite possible to have them live in the on the job. We have a lot of planners who should be employed Ijeshatedo, Ketu and Oregun. But for a long time, they were communities, but as decent and honest citizens. If they live but are not. I think that it is important to absorb them so not used for the purpose they were meant for. So, in Ketu for within the communities and there is a problem of crime, that the profession will grow and its completeness will be instance, people started settling down on the land, the area misbehaviour or insecurity; then, it becomes a problem. total. If for every single unit, we have proper equipment and speedily developed. Ijeshatedo was also not developed by the There is no where they don’t have slums in the world even manpower then, the whole system will work properly. Here, government for a very long time and was later developed by in well-developed cities. People who live in slums are not government is the main employer unlike in other countries private holdings. happy to be there, they live there because of circumstances. where the private sector also employs. What is very important in discouraging the formation There was a programme we had in Lagos in the early I am a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute of of slums is for the government to use its acquired land 2000, I was the Chairman of the Lagos State Urban Forum Britain and we have so much private sector employment for immediately. That is where implementation and funding and the programme was actually for building of slums and planners compared to what we have in Nigeria. There are come in as very important criteria for successful planning. not for total demolition. But to make the settlements better, small and big firms but all of them are busy doing what they What should be done about the slum settlements government should provide water, improve road access, give do and that is because they are law abiding. Here, we like to that have already developed as a result of delayed them drains and make sure that their sanitary system is cut corners, people don’t want to follow rules and regulations. implementation of planning projects? improved. That is an upgrading system, which is still possible So, when the people we are planning for are lawless, then we It starts with you and me, because slums are not just the today if the people there do not constitute a nuisance. have a confused and chaotic environment and they still come buildings but the environment. If you visit the streets of If you have them on the waterfront, they can constitute back to complain but they have contributed to the confusion. Advert7 PC/Public/Production/Monday/Monday 9-1-2017

34 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 35 propertyhomes & Govt alone can’t provide affordable housing – Cooperative society Maureen Ihua- Cooperative Society, Mr. 107-unit housing estate in Maduenyi Adebayo Adeleye, has said Tigbo-Ilu, Ogun State, said that cooperative societies in that doing so would lead he acting President of the country should not leave to an unrealistic housing Tthe Lagos University the housing needs of their future. Teaching Hospital and members to the government. “In Nigeria as a whole, the Medical School of Adeleye, who spoke at we are short of housing the University of Lagos the cooperative society’s schemes and we cannot ‘Overseas investors boosted central leave it for the government alone to take it up and that London office market after Brexit’ is why we deem it fit that our entral London’s office 2016, the biggest market share cooperative should come to Cinvestment market has on record. the aid of our members,” seen a strong 2016 with total In the City market, he said. turnover expected to reach overseas investors have He added that the society more than £16.8bn, some 20 accounted for a noteworthy decided to allocate fully built per cent ahead of the long 85 per cent of activity since two and three-bedroom flats term average, World Property the EU referendum, with 54 rather than just plots of Journal reports. per cent carried out by Asian land, which might remain The research from real purchasers, with a number undeveloped for years. estate firm Savills also of new entrants including According to him, shows that the 2016 total is Asian Growth Properties cooperative societies need likely to be only 15 per cent and Kingboard Chemical to put in place flexible down on 2015, one of the Holdings. payment schemes for their strongest years on record, with Savills says of the total members’ housing plans. overseas investors having been turnover for 2016, some He noted that this could particularly active. £8.1bn is expected to transact be spread across an agreed Currency changes caused in the West End market number of years, adding that by the vote in June to leave the while a total of £8.7bn will be every cooperative society European Union encourage invested in the city. must remain committed to investment from overseas “Central London’s office the development needs of with Asian buyers, followed investment market has been the members. by those from Europe, driving on the world stage more than While commending the the market. ever in the second half of 2016 efforts of the traditional The firm reports that Asian and total turnover reflects the rulers in the community, investors deployed £4.5bn ongoing appetite for, what he called on the Ogun State into the central London real continues to be regarded as, Government to provide estate market up to the end a global gateway city,” said good roads and pipe borne of November, accounting for Stephen Down, head of central water as these were major one third of total turnover for London investment at Savills. challenges in the area. 36 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 propertyhomes & Body set to increase borehole drilling cost Maureen Ale said the association financial sustainability and that is expected to provide Ihua-Maduenyi had strengthened its task efficient usage. access to safe drinking force, which was set up He added, “It is water. he Association of to monitor and supervise important that Nigerians He said, “The TWater Well Drillers and drilling activities in the become price wise and not Federal Ministry of Rig-owners Practitioners country as well as help in be deceived with low pricing Water Resources, with has said the prices of the regulation of borehole of borehole projects. the assistance of many borehole drilling will soon through standardisation, “Many boreholes stakeholders, including the rise due to the high naira- licensing, accreditation, drilled in Nigeria by Standards Organisation of dollar exchange rate as training and enforcement of non-professionals have Nigeria, has put up a code foreign exchange is being code of practice on anyone contaminated our most of practice for borehole used to procure equipment interested in drilling precious underground drilling in Nigeria and and materials. boreholes. resources, thus resulting in the document remains The National President, Ale stated that the illness for many innocent the valid guiding code for AWDROP, Mr. Michael Ale, justification for the increase Nigerians.” drilling companies in the said the development would in borehole materials’ He also advised that country. in turn reduce haphazard prices but decrease in the Federal Government “The AWDROP drilling of boreholes in the costing of borehole by should immediately invest accepted the adoption country. respective clients was for in water quality survey of the implementation involving testing of wells of the code for drilling Economic performance and boreholes as an companies, thus setting to dictate property markets incentive to Nigerians who standards for their had embarked on water operations. he Asia Pacific region taxes for foreign buyers projects for themselves. “The implementation Thas seen huge variation introduced in a number of “Failure to coordinate of the code of practice for when it comes to residential states. the activities of borehole all borehole operators is property in 2016 and In much of Southeast drilling in Nigeria through important for sustainable looking ahead to 2017 Asia and India, the non-implementation of quality water provision experts predict economic story continued to be regulatory instrument in Nigeria. There is performance and policy one of slow or sluggish encouraged uncoordinated the need to partner all will have the biggest effects, performance, the report pricing and use of stakeholders involved in Propertywire.com report. says, and in the case of substandard materials drilling practices to imbibe Overall China dominated Southeast Asia, a mixture to the disadvantage of the culture and practice the headlines with of cooling measures and unsuspecting and ill- of good design and safety residential markets in tier-1 disappointing economic informed customers,” he during operations.” said. and tier-2 cities continuing performance continued Ale also commended to see extremely strong to make for weak the Minister of Water price growth, to such an performance in much of Resources, Suleiman extent that policy makers Singapore and Malaysia. Adamu, and his team on stepped in yet again with Indonesia and Thailand, the inauguration of the measures to cool off the two of the region’s past PEWASH, an instrument markets, according to an star performers, saw analysis from international a slowdown in activity real estate firm Knight and in India the market Frank. continued to be slow in Policymakers were also many of the major cities making their impact felt with weak sentiment in other markets such as continuing to make Hong Kong which saw a trading difficult. further rise in stamp duty The wider economic in an attempt to slow a environment, and market that has continued policymakers’ actions to defy expectations, while will have the most impact in Australia strong price going into 2017, the report performance led to further explained. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 37 propertyhomes & Firm to invest N15bn in real estate sector Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja construction activities mid the Federal Capital Territory next year. It is our hope that Administration was losing he Managing Director/ the project will not only huge revenue as a result of its TChief Executive Officer, generate employment, but lack of attention to the built AIBEN Investments and equally deplete the huge sector, other states such as Property Limited, Mr. Andy housing deficit facing the Lagos were generating huge Elerewe, has unveiled the country.” revenue through efficient land company’s plan to invest a He said despite the planned administration system. total sum $30m (N15bn) in investment, the company was Elerewe added, “We hope the Nigerian real estate sector. not immune to the challenges that the FCTA will create a Elerewe stated this on facing the housing sector. system that will encourage Friday during the inauguration “The system is severely genuine and credible of the company’s corporate hindered by the difficulty of developers, and provide headquarters in Abuja. assessing land for housing access to land without having He explained that the development, government’s to buy land allocations at amount would be invested inability to provide primary exorbitant amounts from the within a three-year period, infrastructure services, and open market. starting from next year in its banks’ inability to provide “This, by extension, will Baltimore Garden City Estate funding to developers,” he significantly reduce the high located in Lagos. stated. cost of finished buildings in He said through the He lamented that while Abuja.” investment, the company would be able to create lots Homes becoming less of jobs in the real estate affordable in the US sector as well as reduce the ouses are becoming based on the percentage of level of housing deficit in the less affordable in the average wages needed to make country, which is estimated at H United States with the latest monthly house payments on a 17 million units. figures showing that in the final median priced home with a 30 He added that the project quarter of 2016 29 per cent year fixed rate and a three per would consist of 250 luxury were less affordable than their cent down payment, including buildings, a five star hotel and historic affordability averages. property taxes and insurance. recreational facilities, among According to Propertywire. An index of 100 indicates others. com, this was up from 24 market affordability on par Elerewe, who is also the per cent of markets in the with historical norms while Publicity Secretary of the Real previous quarter and up from above 100 indicates more Estate Developers Association 13 per cent a year ago to the affordable than historic norms of Nigeria, Abuja chapter, highest share since the third and below 100 indicates less said, “The AIBEN Group and quarter of 2009 when 47 affordable than historic norms. its partners, both foreign and per cent of markets were less Nationally the affordability local, hope to invest N15bn in affordable than their historic index in the fourth quarter the project within a period of affordability averages. was 103, down from 108 in 36 months. The home affordability the previous quarter and down “Though off-plan index from real estate data from 116 a year ago to the lowest sales of the buildings are firm ATTOM Data Solutions level since the fourth quarter of currently ongoing, we hope analyses median home prices 2008 when the national home to commence full scale and makes calculations affordability index was 102. 38 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 propertyhomes & Mechanical engineering body to promote local content Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi solutions to identifiable selected based on originality to the final round from the 10 teams will benefit from the cross-sector collaborations in problems in agriculture, power of ideas, innovativeness, cost institutions participating in the experience of the NIMechE the future. We hope to establish he Nigerian Institution of supply, renewable energy and effectiveness, commercial competition. supervisors as they develop a strong relationship with TMechanical Engineers has automation. viability and resourcefulness. “The winners will be a funded prototype of their other sectors of the economy unveiled an initiative geared “This, we believe, will result Akingbagbohun added, measured based on the innovations. These innovations like manufacturing, marketing towards the promotion of local in job creation, enterprise “The NIMechE, working closely NIMechE compliance, will be presented to the public and agriculture, and leverage content development among creation and the promotion with the Nigerian Society of affordability and on the NIMechE Innovation on the solutions proffered for engineering students. of our national development. Engineers, has assembled a accessibility, scalability, Day later in April this year. deployment all over the nation. The Chairman, Lagos The challenge will potentially team of eminent engineering empathy, innovation and “This challenge, which is By this challenge, we envisage a Chapter, NIMechE, Mrs. address issues of capacity professionals who will review differentiation, technical the first of its kind in Nigeria, renewed relationship between Funmi Akingbagbohun, building in engineering as well entries and determine the feasibility, sustainability and will set the standard for more professionals and a sense of said the initiative known as as strengthening of engineering best three entries to proceed team capabilities. Selected competitions, discoveries and shared objectives.” the ‘NIMechE Innovation practice, cooperation and Challenge 2017’, would involvement in the growth of potentially address issues the nation.” World’s top 24 retirement destinations revealed of capacity building in According to her, the nternationalLiving. Index. InternationalLiving.com taxes, real estate prices, visa engineering as well as selected institutions will form Icom’s 2017 Global Retirement The key aim of the index is editors rely on the informed requirements, costs of specific strengthening of the practice, Index, has reaveled the world’s to help retirees find locations judgment and real-world medical procedures, and much cooperation and involvement three student teams each to tackle one of the four outlined top 24 retirement destinations where their dollar would go experience of the magazine’s more are all incorporated into in the growth of the nation. in 2017 and Mexico gets top further and where they can get contributors and editors in Index rankings. challenges of agriculture, “At a time where as a nation, marks as the best place to retire the best bargain in terms of real the field as well as additional When the scores in all 10 we are shifting our focus power supply, renewable based on cost of living, retiree estate, cost of living, and overall in-country expats, people who individual categories are added inwardly through the adoption energy and automation, which benefits, climate, healthcare, quality of life. have made the move and have up, a total score is established of local alternatives and the can potentially create jobs and and more. The index also assesses first-hand experience. for each country which yields promotion of local solutions to promote development in the This year’s Index ranked the the quality of a country’s They provide detailed the list of the overall best our challenges, the NIMechE country. top 24 retirement destinations healthcare and infrastructure, data and insights into the countries in the world for Lagos is pleased to announce a She added that entries in the world in 10 categories, the proficiency in English of particular areas in which they retirement. ground breaking effort in that would be accepted from all including buying and renting the local population, the size live. InternationalLiving.com In InternationalLiving. direction,” she said. mechanical engineering property; benefits and of existing expat communities, editors believe this information, com’s 2017 Global Retirement According to her, the body students who must be discounts; visas and residence; how healthy the lifestyle is, how concentrating on the relatively Index, the world’s top 10 will, through the support of registered as student cost of living; fitting in; easy it is to gain residence, and small number of places in each retirement destinations are the Royal Academy of Science members of the NIMechE entertainment and amenities; more. country where expats actually Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Africa Catalyst 16/17 Award in the 2016/2017 academic healthcare; healthy lifestyle; In an ongoing effort live, is more useful than Costa Rica, Colombia, Malaysia, Grant, sponsor the initiative. session, must be individuals infrastructure; and climate. to make each Index “macro” data averaged over an Spain, Nicaragua, Portugal and Akingbagbohun said, “This or a team of not more than For the past 26 years, more comprehensive, entire country. Malta competition is targeted at two persons with a letter of InternationalLiving.com has InternationalLiving.com That being said, as Mexico, the winner of the students in the mechanical identification from their Heads used an extensive network editors compiled the insights of much available hard data as International Living 2017 engineering departments of Department upon request, of editors, correspondents, more experts than ever before, possible goes into analysis Global Retirement Index has in 10 tertiary institutions and must provide a detailed contributors, and contacts making the 2017 index the most of each destination on the been a constant presence in the across Lagos State. Through description and drawing of an based around the world to detailed created to date. Index. Climate data, on-the- Index. For the past 14 years, it this challenge, we intend original idea in recycling. amass the information, data, By design, the rankings in ground surveys of current has consistently ranked in the to support the discovery She said 30 entries and and insights used to prepare the Annual Global Retirement pricing for groceries and day- top 10 retirement destinations of original ideas and local three winners would be the Annual Global Retirement Index are largely subjective. to-day expenditures, local on the planet. MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 39 information technology Many Nigerian firms can’t afford ICT products – Nmonwu The Regional Director, Sage West do for them. How can you pitch for a business in Badagry and your office is in Victoria Island? And you want to Africa, Magnus Nmonwu, speaks to commute to Victoria Island to process the documents; then make order and the delivery. For instance, with OZIOMA UBABUKOH on why small Sage smart technology in your palms, right from the businesses in Nigeria will not grow if entry to enterprise level solution, you do not need to be at the office to use them. As long as you have Internet, they continue to use pirated software, you can stay in Badagry there, place an order, check your among other issues inventory level, and even initiate delivery of the product, then raise the invoice and print it. At this point, you can he influx of pirated software is on the rise in now close the deal and pursue other ones on your way TNigeria; what are the risks? back to Victoria Island. The reality is that in our environment, we cannot So, we create opportunities for customers and completely eradicate software piracy, but what we are hoping businesses to do what they know how to do best. Sage to achieve is to minimise it. tries to be the core solution to make businesses successful. When people use software that is not authorised, chances Our entry-level solution is web-based and easy to are that your system can easily be hacked leading to data use. Recently, we partnered a bank to reach out to the loss. Even when there are changes in legislation, you do not SMEs in Alaba International Market (Lagos), Enugu and get the necessary updates. In addition, if you have problem several other places. The aim has been the introduction today that requires legal intervention, you will not know of software to businesses. Also in Ghana, we have written •Nmonwu whom to sue. Nigerians travel a lot and when they buy articles concerning the elections, advising that whoever would take over should have two things: Create policies over the shelve software and bring it into the country, it programme and other relevant platforms, and the focus has and enabling environment to spur on businesses in Ghana. certainly operates for a while, but it is not meant for this been ‘The opportunities are out there but our people perish Secondly, the government needs solutions to ensure environment. Nigerian software is designed for Nigerian for lack of knowledge’. That Biblical quotation translates to accountability in state affairs. users. It is tailored for our environment. the business environment today. If there is any software, you How does Sage reach out to the SMEs and other How best do you think small businesses can grow need to empower your business and enforce efficiency, why companies? using locally-made software? not go for it. Therefore, people waste man-hours, energy Sage is actually doing a lot in the Small and Medium I have been to Fidelity Bank’s Small Medium Enterprise and resources on simple things that technology can easily Enterprises space. Sage is the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and human resource systems. Our Poor infrastructure, bane of ICT growth, say experts heritage points to the fact that Sage started as a small Ozioma Ubabukoh $240m. Officer of MainOne, Funke continued improvement business too. The founders – a couple – started the “With most of the Opeke, in 2016 said that of broadband services in business way back in Newcastle and it has transcended to xperts have said international capacity still the company had also built West Africa. having 14,000 employees operating in 23 countries. We Epoor infrastructure is stranded at the coast where and operated a Tier III data These investments, it was believe strongly that small businesses power world-leading the bane of Information the cable lands, the company centre, “which today hosts gathered, were particularly economies and there is no effort that any government puts and Communications has continued to invest leading global content and targeted at achieving in place with regard to process, infrastructure or skill Technology development in enabling infrastructure e-commerce platforms in the National Broadband acquisition that is a waste. in the country and to deepen broadband Nigeria.” Plan by building its fibre Sage has a solution meant for the SMEs segment in the a leading cause of penetration in Nigeria.” According to her, beyond network in Lagos. market. It is the cheapest account solution anywhere in deficiencies in the quality The expert, who is also an the shores of Nigeria, “This plan will have the world. In Nigeria, it sells for as low as N4,000. In the of telecommunications industry analyst, also said, MainOne is growing the company deploy over recent ICAN conference in Abuja (Nigeria), where over its distribution network 1,200 kilometres of fibre services from broadband “Despite the challenging 4,000 chartered accountants converged, the event was penetration to reliability of economic environment in in Ghana, leveraging a in Lagos to connect all co-sponsored by Sage while Sage One accounting was mobile network services. the country, the company new metro fibre network local government areas, all the solution pitched at the event. You do not need to be According to them, this has invested in a next deployed by Google to boost commercial areas, schools an accountant or requiring any Information Technology infrastructure deficit is generation Internet network, Internet access in Ghana. and ministries, agencies preventing many Nigerians in addition to its earlier She said, “The company and departments (of infrastructure to use it; all you need is a device and from gaining affordable and investment in submarine recently extended its government),” Opeke said. connectivity. Second, I do not agree that the only challenge reliable access to the ICT cable infrastructure, submarine network to “In addition, the of businesses is finance. Finance is key; but that is not services. evolving to be the leading Cameroon where it is company recently secured the basic. These challenges provider of Internet transit supporting improved the right to 5.4Ghz There are certain businesses doing very well today, but notwithstanding, they said services out of West Africa Internet penetration in microwave licences for started without much financing. The major problem with some indigenous companies over the last six years.” partnership with Cameroon the entire South-West businesses is knowledge, in the sense that some SMEs do were striving to deepen the He added, “MainOne has telecoms. Today, MainOne and Rivers State; licensed not even know how many people owe them. ICT infrastructure to enable equally deployed hundreds currently provides best-in- spectrum, which enables What do you think will be the areas of focus in Nigeria to deliver better of kilometres of metro class services to customers it to connect more 2017 for software companies? quality of service at lower terrestrial fibre optics in nine countries in the West customers to the Internet Cloud is one; this is because we have found out some prices. network so far. It has plans African region. and to continue to grow its companies lack the financial capacity to get into an IT One of the IT experts, to deploy over a thousand “The company continues existing business. environment, which requires servers and a team of IT Udom Bassey, said, “One of additional kilometres in to make great strides as “The company has also personnel to help them drive the infrastructure. Cloud these companies that have Lagos, aimed at elevating a worthy ambassador of strategically acquired affords small businesses the opportunity to run the IT proved its mark through the entire mega city into quality and excellence in property within the management tool seamlessly. investments in quality an innovation hub, a feat it the region and is strongly Flowergate scheme in Ogun With Sage cloud solutions, they will remain updated; infrastructure facilities to has already achieved in the positioning the Nigerian State to build a second data they do not have to fear about legislations that necessitate close the digital divide is Yaba metropolis of Lagos business brand favourably in centre. That facility will change. So, one of the things we are doing in terms MainOne. As a start-up where its 30kilometres/ the global ICT and business provide diversity for the of innovation is that we are working on software for company in 2010, the firm fibre optic cluster network community.” growing volume of content accounting, but not necessarily for accountants only. in the Lekki data centre, defied the odds by deploying has carved out the Yabacon Recently, the company Like the Sage X3, you do necessarily need to have Valley, supporting also expressed its intention as well as serve the new West Africa’s first private prerequisite training to use it. The user interface and submarine cable, connecting homegrown innovation and to invest over $100m in the industrial cluster forming the language are in simplified form. The flow chat allows Nigeria and Ghana to the entrepreneurship in Lagos.” next five years as a sign within that axis of Ogun easier navigation. rest of the world at a cost of The Chief Executive of its commitment to the State,” she added. 40 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 41 42 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 43 Advert7 PC/Public/Production/Monday/Monday 9-1-2017

44 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 45 sports Ezeji announces retirement Idris Adesina “I am grateful to everyone who contributed to the REMIER League legend, success of this match. I never PVictor Ezeji, announced knew I would be this much his retirement from football appreciated and honoured. I on Saturday after a testimonial also appreciate everyone that game in Port Harcourt. contributed to my successful The match, which career in football,” he said. featured ex-internationals “I am also grateful to Mutiu Adepoju and Austin God and the Rivers State Eguavoen, as well as the Government for helping to chairman of the League make this ream become a Management Company, reality. Playing for 20 years Shehu Dikko, was played to in one league is not an easy honour the former player, who task and I believe that this will spent more than 20 years in inspire other young players to the domestic league. keep the flag flying. The match was between “The local league is Team NPFL and Team Ezeji witnessing more development ended 2-1 with Dikko and and I hope it can only get Ezeji scoring for the winners better.” while Rivers State legislator, Ezeji played for two-time Kelechi Nworgu, grabbed the African champions, Enyimba consolation for the opponents. – winning one of the titles with Ezeji told our them. He also played for the correspondent that the match defunct Sharks and Dolphins was a dream come true for of Port Harcourt, Sunshine him. Stars and Heartland. AJC qualifiers: Igbinovia makes squad HIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD scheduled to hold in Lome, TWilson Igbinovia has Togo, from January 11 to 21. sealed his place in the squad Other players who will be to represent Nigeria at the in the 15-nation tournament •Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas (left) with Peterborough’s Andrew Hughes during their FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge 2017 ITF/CAT African Junior alongside the quartet of in London …on Sunday. Chelsea won 4-1. Photo: AFP Championship Zonal Qualifiers Oyinlomo Quadri, Marylove Edward, Michael Osewa and David Dariwaye, who were named earlier at the camping Leicester boss salutes unbelievable Ndidi in Ekiti sponsored by NTF 1st Festus Abu in his team’s 2-1 win encounter. is starting to understand their FA Cup win over vice-president Yemi Owoseni , over Everton in the FA Holding midfielder English football better. Everton when they face are Matthew Abamu, Michael EICESTER City Cup at Goodison Park, Ndidi arrived at the King “I’m very pleased with Chelsea next weekend. Ayoola, Saminu Abubakar, Lmanager Claudio Liverpool, on Saturday. Power Stadium from our performance. We He said, “It was a Tosin Asogba, Omolade Ranieri has praised the Ndidi’ s Super Eagles Belgian club Genk on wanted to win and we good match. Of course, Aderemi, Omolayo Bamidele impact of new signing teammate January 5 on a five-and-a- wanted to go through in at the beginning Everton and Rebecca Peters. “It has been a very good Wilfred Ndidi as the also earned the plaudits half-year deal reportedly the FA Cup, which is an pushed a lot and wanted preparation for us; Ekiti has Nigerian made a fine from the Italian manager worth £15m. important competition. to score a goal. But I Then (we wanted to was very pleased with been an ideal place as there start to life in England for grabbing a brace in the Former Chelsea and was no distraction. The courts Inter Milan boss Ranieri, progress) even more our performance, before and hotel are just a minute Zaha shines on I’Coast debut who led Leicester to a because we lost to Everton and after the (Everton) walk. The atmosphere is just shock title win last season, at home, so we wanted goal. When we conceded, perfect for us to have a great RYSTAL Palace Twenty-year-old Zaha admits he was blown revenge.” everybody wanted to react outing in Lome,” Nigeria Cwinger Wilfried Zaha was born in Ivory Coast away by the 20-year-old’s Meanwhile, Ranieri has immediately, we put them coach Mohammed Ubale stressed the importance under pressure and we said after the team rounded provided the decisive but has two England caps showing on his debut. of his team building on scored two good goals.’’ off training on Sunday. cross on his Ivory Coast having played against “Ndidi had just two debut as the African Sweden in November training sessions with us Ronaldo, Messi battle for FIFA award champions beat Sweden 2-1 2012 and Scotland the but played with fantastic in an Africa Cup of Nations following year. personality,” the 65-year- RISTIANO Ronaldo, Championship, seeing him warm-up match on Sunday, As both were friendly old, whose side are in CLionel Messi and edge out Barcelona rival BBC Sport reports. matches, he was danger of relegation, told Antoine Griezmann are Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Griezmann in the Ballon The former England permitted to commit his the club’s official website. hoping to be crowned The d’Or running. international, who international future to his “He recovered a lot Best in Monday’s rebranded The duo finished second switched his allegiance country of birth. of balls and played FIFA awards, Skysports and third respectively, and to The Elephants ahead The Ivorians have been well. For a 20-year-old reports. of their Nations Cup preparing for the Nations On the 25th anniversary will now rival Ronaldo for to make his first game The Best FIFA Men’s Player defence, came off the Cup in the United Arab against Everton, it’s of honouring football’s top performers – and having 2016 crown. bench in Abu Dhabi to Emirates. unbelievable.” provide the perfect cross They will be heading to split with France Football Monday’s ceremony will Ranieri expressed also see the FIFA FIFPro for Giovanni Sio who Gabon on Thursday and magazine – the governing •Ronaldo his delight with Musa’s World11 announced, with headed home a winner. will play their opening body has introduced The and Borussia Dortmund’s goals at Goodison Park, Leicester’s and An own-goal from Group C game on January Best FIFA Football Awards. bellowed out ‘You’ll Never saying he was glad the Real Madrid forward Gareth Wilfried Kanon had put 16 against Togo. The inaugural edition Walk Alone’ ahead of April’s 24-year Nigeria winger of the awards will be held Bale the only British players Sweden ahead, with In other friendly Europa League tie at Anfield. had started to repay the in Zurich’s TPC studios on on the 55-strong shortlist. Yao Serge Nguessan internationals this The chorus of solidarity, faith he (Ranieri) has Monday, when Ronaldo Foxes manager Claudio equalising on the stroke weekend, Algeria were 3-1 a day before the 27th shown in him since the will be hoping to add to Ranieri is shortlisted for anniversary of the of half-time. winners over Mauritania; player arrived at Leicester last month’s Ballon d’Or the managerial crown, along Hillsborough disaster, is Burkina Faso beat Mali FA Cup from Russian powerhouse triumph in recognition of with Portugal’s Fernando a candidate along with 2-1; Uganda defeated Spurs 2 Villa 0 CSKA Moscow. his fine 2016. Santos and Real Madrid ADO Den Haag, whose Slovakia 3-1 and Egypt Boro 3 S’Wednesday 0 The former Juventus The Portuguese superstar boss Zinedine Zidane. supporters threw soft toys Chelsea 4 Peterborough 1 recorded a rare victory manager said, “Musa was helped Real Madrid to Liverpool could be for Feyenoord fans to donate Liverpool 0 Plymouth 0 over North African rivals excellent. I’ve watched Champions League glory and recognised in the new FIFA to charity, and the Icelandic Cardiff 1 Fulham 2 Tunisia, winning 1-0. him recently and think he Portugal to the European Fan Award after their fans support at Euro 2016. 46 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 sports Boufal out of Gabon 2017 ‘China move EY midfielder Sofiane will be announced later.” will help Mikel’ KBoufal pulled out of Boufal, who joined Morocco’s squad for the Africa Southampton from Lille last Idris Adesina Cup of Nations on Sunday summer, was seen as a crucial because of injury, joining part of the Moroccan squad ORMER Super Eagles influential playmaker Younes after Belhanda suffered a Fmidfielder, Friday Ekpo, has said Mikel Obi’s move from Belhanda on the sidelines, fractured toe just before Chelsea to Tianjin TEDA in the AFP reports. Christmas which ruled him Southampton star Boufal, Chinese Super League for a out for up to six weeks. reported £140,000 a week will 23, had been at a training Morocco, whose only camp in the United Arab help the Eagles captain and the triumph in the Cup of Nations national team. Emirates, where Morocco came in 1976, are in Group C were preparing for a friendly Mikel left the English Premier for the tournament that begins League for China on Friday after on Monday against Finland. in Gabon on January 14. “Sofiane Boufal left the enduring a torrid first half of They will open their the season under new Chelsea camp in Al-Ain this morning campaign against DR Congo after the confirmation of his coach, Antonio Conte. on January 16 before also injury and his inability to take The player did not feature in facing Togo and the Ivory part in the African Cup,” said a any match for the London club Coast. statement from the Moroccan since his return from the 2016 Football Federation, which Morocco are also without Rio Olympics, where he led Nigeria to win bronze. did not provide details of the Watford’s Noureddine “The move was not only for injury. Amrabat and Oussama the money. It was for him to “He will be replaced by Tannane of Saint-Etienne enjoy more playing time, which another player, whose name due to injury. I believe is a plus for the Eagles,” Ekpo said. Zimbabwe players leave Harare “His place in the Eagles is not IMBABWE’S national The players have rejected under any threat because he will Zfootball team left Harare an offer of 950 euros for be playing regularly in China. for Cameroon on Sunday appearance fees and want “He is about the biggest name ahead of their trip to Gabon nearly 5,000 euros instead. at the club and he will be able for the Africa Cup of Nations They also want daily allowances to influence his game as he will following a row with Zimbabwe to be increased from 47 to incorporate all the things he had Football Association officials 140 euros for players based in learnt at Chelsea into the style of over allowances and bonuses. Zimbabwe and from 94 to 474 his new coach. The players refused to euros for foreign-based players. “If he had stuck to Chelsea, it board a flight on Saturday for The move, on the eve of a would have been very dangerous Cameroon where they will play tournament for which Zimbabwe because a captain who doesn’t a friendly on Tuesday before has not qualified since 2006, play for his club and comes continuing to Gabon where is likely to divide opinion. to the national team will not they will feature in Group B Zimbabwe’s economy has been be respected by the younger in Franceville with Algeria, wrecked by hyperinflation. players.” Tunisia and Senegal. President Robert Mugabe’s He added, “The popularity of “We had a fruitful government has been accused the Chinese League is a gradual meeting and the players and of corruption and overseeing thing and it won’t be long administration reached an the collapse of a once booming before people start to watch it amicable solution,” ZIFA agricultural industry. • Serbia’s returning a shot at the ATP Qatar Open in . Photo: AFP worldwide.” spokesman Xolisani Gwesela told AFP. On Friday, players sat in Zidane has been clever with Ronaldo – Lizarazu hotel corridors and refused EAL Madrid coach in the world soon after had to perform well on the his feet. to attend a farewell dinner pitch to get his team-mates “From the outside, I find at which the country’s RZinedine Zidane has succeeding Carlo Ancelotti to up their game,” said the his way of communicating vice-president Emmerson learned from the mistakes at the Santiago Bernabeu in of Rafael Benitez in June 2015. ex-Bayern Munich full- incredible. He’s clear and Mnangagwa was guest of very much at ease with the honour. deciding how to handle Having made a bad back. media and you can tell he “ZIFA totally condemns the Cristiano Ronaldo, start, the former Valencia “He didn’t need to be very has the support of every behaviour portrayed by the according to Bixente and Liverpool boss then communicative because he team and their desire to hold Lizarazu, Omnisport reportedly struggled to communicated so well with player.” the nation at ransom in their reports. win the full support of the quest to earn money that this Benitez missed an Portugal captain and was Dimitrov rules Brisbane tennis economy cannot sustain,” the opportunity to single out dismissed in January last ULGARIA’s Grigor knew he would eventually get association said. • Zidane Ronaldo as the best player year. BDimitrov won his first the rewards for the hard work Benitez’s replacement title in over two years when he he was doing off court. Physical inactivity responsible for 1.9m deaths —Expert Zidane appears to have been upset world number five Kei “I think that was kind of Nishikori in three sets to win an emotional win for me, but pharmacist at the University of Ilorin NAN reports that Aremu led hundreds far shrewder in managing his the on at the same time, it wasn’t Teaching Hospital Lanre Alege says of well-wishers, friends and associates in prized asset, while guiding A Sunday, AFP reports. unexpected,” he said. physical inactivity is responsible for an the 1.5 kilometre walk and jogging exercise. Madrid to Champions In an enthralling final “I think I have put in the estimated 1.9 million deaths worldwide, the A charity cycling exercise from Ibrahim League glory last season. between two evenly matched work. I think I have learnt News Agency of Nigeria reports. Taiwo Road through Balogun Fulani Road “I can … see how clever he’s opponents, Dimitrov claimed Alege, who was quoting World Health to Sobi Specialist Hospital also held. been with Cristiano Ronaldo, a lot. the Roy Emerson Trophy 6-2, “I have set myself quite high Organisation statistics, said this on Sunday NAN also reports that Aremu donated unlike Rafael Benitez, who 2-6, 6-3, his fourth singles title goals for the first six months, in Ilorin while delivering a lecture as part of N250, 000 to Kwara cycling coach, Oba criticised him when he on the ATP Tour. and one of them was actually a keep fit exercise. Obalowu, who had an accident last year arrived,” Lizarazu told the Dimitrov was ranked as high to win a tournament,” he The exercise, which was part of the and was being treated at the tertiary health FIFA website when asked as eighth in the world in 2014 activities marking the 56th birthday of a institution. about the impact made by his and was nicknamed “Baby added. “And it happened during labour leader Issa Aremu took place at the The labour leader, who prayed for former France team-mate in Fed” because of his similar the first week of the year.” Kwara Stadium Complex. Obalowu’s quick recovery, commended the Spanish capital. playing style to Swiss great The 25-year-old revealed NAN reports that Aremu is the Secretary- the Kwara government for its support to “That’s not the kind of . later he had relaxed ahead of General of the National Union of Textile the coach. thing you do with your best Injury problems and poor his matches with late-night Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria. Also commending those who participated player who gets you 50 goals form saw him slump during in his birthday programme, he dedicated visits to a Brisbane video game Alege also said over 60 per cent of the a season.” 2015 and the first half of 2016, world’s population was not physically active the exercise, including the book he arcade. Lizarazu has been when he plummeted to 40th enough to gain health benefits. launched, to the memory of his late wife, in the world. But he recovered “Since I have been here, surprised by the ease with He recommended regular exercise for at Hamdalat, who died a year ago. towards the end of last year and every night I’ve been going to which Zidane gets his point least three to five times in a week, advising, He urged governments at all levels to entered the season-opening the arcades for an hour and a however, that regular exercise should be invest in sports development in view of across on the sidelines, tournament ranked 17. half,” he laughed. stopped if any pain, dizziness or fainting the benefits. having led by example during The Brisbane win will see “It’s given me tremendous developed. Aremu also urged the Federal his glittering playing career. him climb to 15 when the joy. You know, it’s something Alege also advised that those with high Government to implement all sports “I think he’s revealed rankings are released Monday. so childish (but) every time I blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, development programmes while new talents that he didn’t Dimitrov insisted he had not was going to bed, I was, like, bronchitis, joint pains and arthritis should prioritising the welfare of players and necessarily have to use when felt under pressure because of ‘Wow, that feels so good’. It’s see their doctor before exercising themselves. athletes. he was a player, or he just his rankings slide and said he just something so small.” MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 47 sports Murray targets Australian Open glory ndy Murray dismissed the Briton’s first defeat in 29 after the defeat in Doha the year, and I did good ask for beginning of final in Melbourne. Athe idea that his competitive matches. on Saturday. here,” he said. “My body the season,” he told “I hope we are going to defeat by arch-rival Novak But Murray said it would “I don’t think feels all right just now, so reporters. play against each other. Djokovic in the Qatar Open mean little when he soon that changes. It’s that’s positive. “Playing five matches We make each other work will have any impact on begins his latest attempt disappointing to lose for “Still think there are in this tournament and hard and improve and his attempts to win the to win in Melbourne where sure. I have a chance to things I can do better. then three hours against continuously work on our Australian Open for the first he has agonisingly lost five win the Australian Open You know, I wasn’t that the number one of the games and ourselves. We time, AFP reports. finals. still.” clinical on break points world, biggest rival, and strive to get better, both The world number one “I still think I have Murray lost Melbourne this week, which maybe winning in a thrilling of us.” lost 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to the Serb a chance of winning the finals in 2010, 2011, 2013, that comes with playing a marathon match is With six titles already, in an early season classic, Australian Open,” he said 2015 and 2016, four of few more matches.” something that definitely if Djokovic manages to those to Djokovic. Djokovic, who has won can serve as a positive win again in Melbourne Adeseun emerges Despite defeat in Doha, the Australian Open five incentive for what’s this year he will go down Murray said he had gained times in the last six years, coming up in Australia.” in history as the player OTrafford club boss plenty from the week-long said Doha had provided The world number two who has won the most he Group Managing development of the club.The tournament. perfect preparation for also said that he expects Australian Opens. TDirector of UAC Board of Trustees attended “I think physically it Melbourne. further battles with The Australian Open Mr. Remi Adeseun has the meeting. was a good test to start “Best scenario I could Murray, possibly in the begins on January 16. replaced Mr. Larry Ettah as Chairman of the OTrafford Squash Club Ikoyi, Lagos. Ettah, who completed his two-year tenure, decided not to seek reelection during the club’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday. Adeseun, a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, is the Executive Chairman of Rodot Nigeria Limited and also the Chairman of HEWS Foundation. Mr. Taye Ige was elected the vice-chairman of the club while Mr. Cyril Ayemere emerged as its Secretary. Mr. Biyi Mabadeje was elected the Captain of the club with Mr. Yomi Adeyemi its Treasurer and Mr. Ademola Olusunmade the Publicity Secretary. In his acceptance speech, Adeseun commended the last exco and promised to work towards the Torino reject Arsenal bid rsl ena have had a Abid rejected for Torino striker Andrea Belotti, the Italian club’s sporting director has claimed, Soccernet reports. Belotti, 23, has scored 13 goals and set up three more in Serie A this season and recently signed a new deal with Torino until 2021. That contract is said to contain a €100m release clause, but AS reports the Gunners’ offer to be €65m. “Yes, we received the offer but it didn’t reflect the true value of the player” Gianluca Petrachi told Sky Sport. “In any case, he’s not going anywhere for the moment. We’ll see what happens in the future but we intend on keeping Belotti. “The (club) president included this significant buy-out clause. I think he’s worth more than they have offered.” Ronaldo, Messi battle for FIFA award P. 45 MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017 www.punchng.com •Murray Economy: The floodgates have been breached also largely dependent on raw material imports, all import bills will Henry Boyo invariably also rise by about 50 per cent if N300=$1. Additionally, the industrial sector’s already disenabling production cost burden [email protected] 08052201997 Economic Renaissance by will unfortunately, become compounded with another 50 per cent price increase for the diesel and gas required to power their plants. HE naira exchange rate was officially devalued by about 50 Indeed, the only immediate apparent advantage of the present Worse still, with inflation approaching 20 per cent and increasing per cent last year, in deference to the presumed intelligent devaluation is an increase in government revenue, from the extra T production cost, the bloated working capital, consequently required advice of financial experts who insisted that the much higher black N100 that will be printed for every dollar earned from crude to sustain businesses will unfortunately also attract well over 20 per market rate was a true reflection of the real value of the currency. oil, notwithstanding the inflationary impact of such monetary cent rate of interest to ultimately make Nigeria’s industrial output Regrettably, the distortional and oppressive impact of devaluation expansion in a market where surplus naira is already an existing less competitive against import substitutes. on our already ailing economy and beleaguered citizens was clearly challenge to the CBN’S effort to battle inflation. Nonetheless, the Labour agitation for wage increase will also become strident to not well-thought out before adoption. Consequently, we may have expected revenue shortfall from lower crude prices should be further threaten already ailing businesses. The predictable outcome been stampeded to sacrifice a pound of flesh for no tangible benefit. significantly compensated by the 50 per cent increase in naira will be serial retrenchments and business closures, with serious Alarmingly, despite the horrendous social agony instigated by allocations for each dollar implications for our economic and social security, while faith- the June 2016 devaluation, the experts in whom we reposed so shared. In effect, this cash based organisations may again become beneficiaries of increasingly much faith in remain unperturbed and have suggested that further bounty should significantly vacant factory/warehouse spaces. Nonetheless, retirement will also devaluation will again become necessary, because last year’s reduce or possibly eliminate become a nightmare for wage earners whose pension contributions devaluation was apparently unduly delayed. the over N2tn 2016 budget will depreciate by more than 50 per cent. Sadly, pension earners Indeed, if the naira is further devalued to match the present deficit. However, the may become near destitute if inflation exceeds the current 16 per almost N500=$1 parallel market rate, the gift of prophecy will be subsequent revenue excess cent, especially if petrol also sells for N300/litre without subsidy unnecessary to advise that the parallel market rate will approach created by devaluation, may and electricity tariff inevitably also spikes by over 50 per cent, or even exceed N1000=U$1 by December 2017. The article still be shared in addition to titled, “Economy: The floodgates have been breached”, was first because of the magnitude of devaluation. the proceeds from previously Furthermore, investment values in the stock market will published on this page on June 20, 2016; a summary of this article budgeted loans to fund the follows hereafter. Please read on. depreciate from over $45bn when $1 exchanges below N200 to less deficit, without enacting than $25bn with N300=$1 exchange rate. Indeed, the value of our “The Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to float the naira in a fresh supplementary response to the dollar demand and supply, in such austere times, homes and all naira denominated assets, including the cash in your Appropriation Bill to account pocket and savings accounts have all now lost up to 50 per cent of will probably be ultimately remembered as another policy shift for this expenditure. the previous dollar value, while the oppressive burden of paying which breached the gates and unleashed devastating floods that Incidentally, in order to outstanding import bills, and other dollar denominated loans may swept away any flickering hope of economic diversification or restrain the inflation rate, send such debtors to early graves. Frankly speaking, our collective credible inclusive growth. The serial devaluation inspired by the fuelled by the increased IMF’s Structural Adjustment Programme in 1986, was another expenditure, the CBN may net worth has now been cut in half, with just a stroke of the pen, but such event that disenabled our economy, traumatised our people ironically be propelled to it is unlikely that the speculated inflow of foreign exchange, from and challenged our traditional value system in many ways. increase its debt burden with further borrowing to sterilise part of portfolio investors, will ever approach $20bn as speculated before Conversely, the IMF and other reputable international and the naira surplus. Ultimately, the commercial banks, specifically, will this devaluation. local experts had actually encouraged the belief that Nigeria’s earn close to N500bn annually from the high interest paid by the However, since the CBN’s devaluation policy is fixated on economy will be enriched if we embraced SAP! Regrettably, 30 CBN to remove such ‘troublesome’ excess funds from the market. dollar demand and supply, and obviously denies the pivotal role of years later, the same IMF and its cohorts have again commended Indeed, such fiscal rascality has prevailed since 1999, when systemic naira surplus, as the prime cause of devaluation, further our government for swallowing the bitter pill of 50 per cent naira revenue expectations were usually deliberately understated, with naira devaluation will become inevitable, and the economy will devaluation, which, as usual, they claim to be the strategic path to inappropriately low crude oil price benchmarks, to contrive fake sadly unravel. Invariably, if the surplus naira syndrome remains economic recovery. budget deficits, which were subsequently approved and processed untamed, a naira exchange rate beyond N500-$1 will be possible Ironically, President Muhammadu Buhari who stoutly as public debt, despite the suspiciously high double digit interest this year. Incidentally, the N1, 000 currency note is now valued just resisted devaluation between 1983 and 1985, and later also rates, which were clearly inappropriate for such sovereign loans. over $3 in the official market. Surely, the naira will never command made naira exchange rate parity, a campaign promise in 2015, Indeed, if more realistic crude benchmarks had predicated the public confidence as a safe store of value and will continue to slide, has unexpectedly capitulated to the odious demand for more same budgets, such oppressive, additional government loans so long as the CBN continues to auction the dollar for higher naira naira devaluation, despite the contrary historical evidence of the would have been happily avoided; conversely, the culture of fiscal bids, in a market already plagued with excess naira supply.” unfulfilled expectations of a benevolent impact of this policy. irresponsibility is further magnified with the increased allocations President Buhari’s volte face is intriguing, particularly after his from the excess revenue consolidated from the higher than the e-mail:[email protected] public admission that his economic experts always talked above budgeted benchmark for crude oil prices. Feedback by text? Send SMS of not more than 100 his head and never truly convinced him that devaluation would Hereafter, we will assess the direct impact of the present 50 words (not abbreviations, please) to 08055923429 favour our economy. per cent naira devaluation on critical factors such as inflation, with your full name and address. Invariably, as the devastating impact of the present 50 per productivity, employment and public confidence in holding the cent naira devaluation paralyses industries and businesses, more naira as a store of value. Salvo Nigerian youths will still be propelled to join the desert caravan Inexplicably, the additional revenue from naira devaluation will to North Africa en route Europe, choralled in suicidal bath tubs to ultimately provide little succour for the economy, as it will further “No country develops on prophecies but on cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of job opportunities, which fuel inflation and reduce the purchasing power of all incomes and statistics, facts and data based on research offer reasonable living wages. consumer demand. Furthermore, since local industries are still and planning. If our leaders stop paying Expression attention to such people, these self-styled prophets will lose market and audience and will likely find better jobs to do” – Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo admonishing Nigerian leaders Ethical Complaints? •We, Punch Nigeria Limited, do not demand or accept gifts or gratification to publish articles or photographs, neither do our journalists. Therefore, we implore you not to offer any to our journalists. In the event that a PUNCH journalist demands such, please send your complaint(s) to [email protected] or 08168214977. PUNCH Advert lines Every day Head Office Abuja Office Tel: 08116759808 Millennium Builders Plaza, 09085020325, Block A, 1st Floor, 09080655213 Rear Wing 251, Opebi Office Herbert Macaulay Way, Opebi Road, Ikeja, ,55 Cadastral Zone, Opposite .Lagos NNPC Towers CBD, Abuja. Tel: 09053631548, Tel: 09085020332 09085020328 •Entertainers at Community Road, Ago Palace Way in Lagos… on Sunday. 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