₦airaland Forum

I Suspended Gwarzo for Threatening to Blackmail Me—Adeosun
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/08/i-suspended-gwarzo-threatening-blackmail-adeosun/

By Dipo Olowookere
The fight against corruption is no doubt a global one and efforts are being made to ensure the menace is defeated or at best curbed to the barest minimum.
Since the inception of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, he has devoted much of his time to go after corrupt officials.

However, his government has sought the assistance of international community in giving corruption a hard fight.

According to the World Bank, over $20 billion is stolen annually by corrupt officials from African, Asian, South American and European countries.

As the world marks the International Anti-corruption Day on Saturday, December 9, 2017, the United States said it was glad to co-host the December 4-6 inaugural Global Forum on Asset Recovery (GFAR) with the United Kingdom, as a demonstration of its continued commitment to preventing and combatting corruption globally.

The US said the over $20 billion lost to corruption should have been used for sustainable development of these countries for essential services such as schools, hospitals, and roads. Rather than lining the pockets of corrupt officials, these funds should help grow economies and improve the well-being of the people of these countries.

To help prevent and combat kleptocracy, US assistance helps strengthen transparency and accountability within government institutions.

Since fiscal year (FY) 2016, the Department of State and US Agency for International Development (USAID) have dedicated more than $115 million annually to a wide range of foreign assistance efforts to counter corruption, including capacity building of foreign governments to create stronger laws and more effective institutions; investigate, prosecute, and secure convictions for corruption offenses; and put in place measures to prevent corruption, foster oversight, and promote government integrity and transparency.

US support of global efforts to recover stolen assets and ensure corrupt actors cannot benefit from their ill-gotten gains is an important part of this work.

The United States contributed $1 million to the World Bank and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) to organize GFAR and provide technical assistance to support country-level capacity building and coordination on asset recovery cases. GFAR provides a platform to enable the four focus countries: Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Ukraine, to make tangible progress on significant asset recovery cases in connection with financial centers and other jurisdictions.

In addition to co-hosting GFAR, the United States has provided significant technical assistance to the four focus countries to strengthen anticorruption and asset recovery efforts. Several bilateral and regional multi-year programs, including support for the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and UNCAC mentors and for the Global Focal Points Network supported by INTERPOL and StAR, have bolstered anticorruption mechanisms necessary to recover stolen assets, helping to ensure countries continue progress achieved through participation in GFAR.

Nigeria

Since FY 2013, the U.S. government has provided foreign assistance to increase the Nigerian government’s capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption and financial crime cases, including asset forfeiture and anti-money laundering. Programs also seek to bolster Nigerian civil society’s capacity to ensure transparency and accountability in government.

Over the past three years, the United States has funded a project with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to mentor officials investigating and prosecuting money laundering crimes, including on asset forfeiture and counter financing of terrorism, in addition to providing technical assistance to the Nigerian judiciary. We will continue to work with the EFCC to further strengthen EFCC institutional development.

The U.S. government funds the Open Government Partnership’s (OGP) Support Unit through a joint grant between the Department of State and USAID to work with civil society and governments to develop commitments aimed at countering corruption and promoting transparency. The United States also funded a project which led to the drafting of Nigeria’s OGP National Action Plan through collaboration with EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and several civil society organizations.

U.S. foreign assistance also supported outreach efforts through infographics and social media on corruption-related issues, making public data from Nigerian anti-corruption agencies more accessible, and training Nigerian journalists on best investigative journalism practices.

Sri Lanka

Since FY 2016, the U.S. government has provided foreign assistance for anti-corruption efforts in Sri Lanka to improve the functioning of Sri Lanka’s legal system and civil society, and to enhance good governance.

Programs include the provision of a Resident Legal Advisor to provide anti-corruption and asset recovery training, and support to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption.

Tunisia

Since FY 2013, the U.S. government has provided foreign assistance for anti-corruption efforts in Tunisia, including strengthening rule of law and Tunisia’s law enforcement sector. Technical assistance programs improved public financial management; capacity building through the Open Government Partnership (OGP) helped Tunisia’s government and civil society to establish the necessary tools to bolster transparency and accountability in the public sector.

The Department of State is funding a grant to increase the capacity of the Tunisian Financial Judicial Police, the body responsible for prosecuting complex financial corruption cases.

Ukraine

Since FY 2013, the U.S. government has enhanced Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts by strengthening Ukraine’s legal system, law enforcement investigations, civil society, and customs enforcement.

U.S. foreign assistance contributed to Ukraine’s seizure of roughly $1.3 billion in cash, with the discovery of more than $3.24 billion in stolen public funds. U.S. law enforcement professionals are embedded in Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to help build anti-corruption and asset recovery capacity and strengthen Ukraine’s overall anticorruption efforts. U.S. support has contributed to 333 criminal proceedings, 207 notices of suspicion, and the finalization of 108 indictments in cases related to corruption. Ongoing programming will continue to build on these achievements.

The United States also provides funding through a Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund, which works with civil society organizations to collect, analyze, and publicly disseminate energy-related information; works with the legislature, media, and civil society to promote transparency; promotes the accounting of quasi-fiscal activities within the budget; creates an energy sector discussion platform; and supports sub-grants to local civil society groups to promote transparency at city or local levels.

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/07/nigeria-others-lose-20b-yearly-corrupt-officials-world-bank/

Overnight Rate, T-Bills Yields Fall on Absence of OMO Auction
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/07/overnight-rate-t-bills-yields-fall-absence-omo-auction/

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Trading of shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended again on a positive note on Wednesday.

This was as a result of the continuous gains recorded by equities traded at the stock market, indicating renewed confidence investors have in the local bourse.

At the close of business in the midweek trading, the equity market appreciated by 1.51 percent, leaving the year-to-date return to push further to 45.40 percent.

The number of price gainers increased again today with the market closing with 40 appreciating stocks and 13 depreciating equities.

Okomu Oil topped the gainers’ log, appreciating by N2.78k to close at N70 per share, and was followed by Nigerian Breweries, which rose by N2.40k to finish at N140.40k per share.

Flour Mills of Nigeria increased by N1.60k to settle at N34.70k per share, Unilever gained N1.45k to end at N44.40k per share, while NASCON grew by N1.38k to close at N17.12k per share.

At the other end, GlaxoSmithKline emerged the day’s biggest loser, shedding N1.14k to close at N21.66k per share.

It was followed by Julius Berger, which went down by N1 to finish at N27 per share, and PZ Cussons, which depreciated by 89k to close at N22.1k per share.

Red Star Express lost 13k to settle at N4.91k per share, while United Capital also declined by 13k to end at N3.47k per share.

Business Post reports that the Nigerian stock market hit another record high today with the All-Share Index (ASI) rising above the 39,000 mark.

The index increased on Wednesday by 580.87 absolute points to settle at 39,075.30 absolute points, while the market capitalisation garnered N202.3 billion to close at N113.6 trillion.

Though the volume stocks transacted by investors increased on Wednesday, the value slightly depreciated.

At the close of trading activities today, a total of 703.7 million shares worth N7.3 billion were traded in 6,125 deals, against 522.4 million shares sold yesterday in 5,150 deals valued at N7.5 billion.

Custodian and Allied further closed the day at the most transacted stock in terms of volume, selling a total of 131.8 million units worth N494.4 million. This transaction was carried out in 25 trades with the price closing the same way it traded yesterday, N3.75k per share.

UBA exchanged a total of 92.5 million shares today worth N986.7 million, while FBN Holdings traded 86.5 million shares valued at N732 million.

Zenith Bank sold 71.2 million shares for N1.8 billion, while Transcorp transacted 46.5 million shares valued at N69.6 million.

Going by past trends, the investors might begin to take profit from tomorrow, plunging the market to a fall.

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/06/rising-stock-value-pushes-nse-index-39000-mark-investors-gain-n202b/

BREAKING: SEC Begins Forensic Audit of Oando December 6
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/breaking-sec-begins-forensic-audit-oando-december-6/

Senate Backs Forensic Audit of Oando
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/senate-backs-forensic-audit-oando/

Reps Adopt 2018-2020 MTEF Document, Raise Oil Price to $47
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/reps-adopt-2018-2020-mtef-document-raise-oil-price-47/

$60m Buyout: Shareholders Want Forensic Audit of 7Up
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/60m-buyout-shareholders-want-forensic-audit-7up/

Bitcoin Price to Hit $20,000 Soon Before Receding—Expert
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/bitcoin-price-hit-20000-soon-receding-expert/

Average T-Bills Yields Drop as CBN Suspends OMO Auction
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/average-t-bills-yields-drop-cbn-suspends-omo-auction/

CACOL Defends Corruption Petition Against Suspended SEC DG
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/cacol-defends-corruption-petition-suspended-sec-dg/

Oando Shareholders Beg Buhari to Sack Adeosun
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/05/oando-shareholders-beg-buhari-to-sack-adeosun/

Last FGN Savings Bond for 2017 Begins Today
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/last-fgn-savings-bond-2017-begins-today/

N32.23b Treasury Bills Mature this Week
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/n32-23b-treasury-bills-mature-week/

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Some Nigerians, especially stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market, have expressed their displeasure with the alleged role of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, in the suspension of the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Mounir Gwarzo, last week.

A report also last week by Premium Times, a reputable online news firm in Nigeria, suggested that the Minister suspended Mr Gwarzo before he failed to stop a forensic audit of Oando Plc.

Oando, one of the biggest indigenous oil firms in Nigeria, was suspended by SEC and stopped from trading its shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

This was after a panel it set up found out that Oando violated some capital market rules.

It was reported that before Mr Gwarzo’s suspension, he had a meeting with the Minister and was allegedly told to choose between continuing with the forensic audit or lose his job.

And since the DG was suspended last week, many commentators have expressed mixed reactions.

On Monday morning, some stakeholders and Nigerians, took to Twitter to launch a campaign asking the Minister of Finance to resign.

They accused the former Commission for Finance in Ogun State of shielding Oando from facing the full wrath of the law.

The aggrieved stakeholders said, “(Kemi Adeosun) Remaining in office means she will use every available means to protect Oando. Forensic audit cannot be conducted without interference with Kemi Adeosun still in office. Now we know the powerful people aiding corruption in the land.”

They appealed to the “Senate and the House of Representatives and the committee in charge of capital market should rise up to this issue,” noting that “it is a real slap to both Nigeria system at large.

“If the interest of a person should jeopardize the interest of the world, because Oando has shareholders not only in Nigeria.”

Though the Federal Government announced an Acting DG for SEC, Mr Abdul Zubair, observers believe “clearly the forensic audit cannot be conducted without interference anymore. Even if it is conducted, it's been tailored from the outset to short-change shareholders. Kemi Adeosun cannot be trusted,” insisting “#KemiAdeosunMustGo.”

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/oando-crisis-nigerians-launch-kemi-adeosun-must-go-campaign/

Oando Crisis: Nigerians Launch ‘Kemi Adeosun Must Go’ Campaign
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/oando-crisis-nigerians-launch-kemi-adeosun-must-go-campaign/

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Mr Abdul Zubair has been announced by the Federal Government as the Acting Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Mr Zubair’s appointment followed the suspension of the Acting DG of the capital market regulatory agency, Mr Muniur Gwarzo, by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, last week.

Mr Gwarzo was accused of paying a severance package of N104 million to himself after his appointment as DG of the commission in 2015. He was further alleged to have awarded contracts from the commission to companies belonging to his associates.

A statement issued by SEC on Sunday by Mrs Efe Ebelo of SEC’s Corporate Communications Unit disclosed that the appointment of Mr Zubair takes immediate effect.

She said the appointee was made to fill the vacant position so as to boost confidence of investors in the capital market.

According to her, SEC would continue to ensure the stability of the Nigerian capital market and sustain the all-time high level of investors’ confidence.

Until his appointment, Mr Zubair was the director in charge of External Relations in the commission.

He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received B.Sc. Economics, MBA, M.Sc. and PhD Business Administration degrees.

He also holds a PGD (Mathematics & Computer Science) and a PGD (Education) from other universities and has over 25-year cognate experience in the financial industry and the academia.

SEC, which is awaiting outcome of the probe by the Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the allegations of the suspended Mr Gwarzo, noted that it would not allow the operational independence of SEC to be compromised at any point.

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/fg-appoints-abdul-zubair-acting-sec-dg/

FG Appoints Abdul Zubair as Acting SEC DG
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/fg-appoints-abdul-zubair-acting-sec-dg/

N131.65b Rights Issue in Best Interest of Shareholders—Lafarge Africa CEO
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/n131-65b-rights-issue-best-interest-shareholders-lafarge-africa-ceo/

Stanbic IBTC Retains AAA National Fitch Ratings
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/04/stanbic-ibtc-retains-aaa-national-fitch-ratings/

By Dipo Olowookere

The manufacturing industry in Nigeria has continued to show growth in the past months as the country’s economy continue to grow after officially moving out of recession in the second quarter of this year.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of the sector, according to data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recorded another growth in the month of November 2017.

The manufacturing PMI stood at 55.9 index points indicating expansion in the sector for the eight consecutive months.

Business Post gathered that 12 of the 16 subsectors reported growth in the review month in the following order: petroleum & coal products; printing & related support activities; computer & electronic products; textile, apparel, leather and footwear; and plastics & rubber products.

Others are food, beverage & tobacco products; non-metallic mineral products; chemical & pharmaceutical products; furniture & related products; paper products; cement and primary metal.

The electrical equipment sector remained unchanged, while the appliances & components; fabricated metal products and transportation equipment sectors contracted in the review month.

At 59.3 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the eighth consecutive month in November 2017.

The index indicated an increase in production in the current month, when compared to its level in the preceding month.

Ten of the 16 manufacturing subsectors recorded increase in production level, 4 remained unchanged, while the remaining 2 recorded declines in production during the review month.

Also, the composite PMI for the non-manufacturing sector stood at 57.6 points in November 2017, indicating growth in the Non-manufacturing PMI for the seventh consecutive month.

Fifteen of the 18 non-manufacturing subsectors recorded growth in the following order: agriculture; public administration; utilities; health care & social assistance; finance & insurance; educational services; water supply, sewage & waste management; transportation & warehousing; repair, maintenance/washing of motor vehicles…; arts, entertainment & recreation; information & communication; wholesale trade; real estate, rental & leasing; accommodation & food services and electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning supply.

The management of companies; construction and professional, scientific, & technical services sub sectors recorded contraction in the review period.

At 59.4 points, the business activity index grew for the eighth consecutive month, indication growth in business activity in November 2017.

It was observed that the index grew at a faster rate, when compared to its level in the previous month.

Fifteen subsectors recorded growth in business activity, while 3 declined in the review month.

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/01/nigeria-manufacturing-pmi-hits-55-9-points-november/

NASD OTC Introduces ‘Blue’ Securities
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/01/nasd-otc-introduces-blue-securities/

T-Bills Yields Flat at 17.78% as CBN Makes No Sale of OMO Bills
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/01/t-bills-yields-flat-at-17-78-as-cbn-makes-no-sale-of-omo-bills/

By Dipo Olowookere

It was a four-day trading week as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Friday, December 1, 2017, as a public holiday to mark Eid-el-Maulud celebration.

Meanwhile, a total turnover of 14.257 billion shares worth N35.056 billion in 17,379 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 2.182 billion shares valued at N22.795 billion that exchanged hands last week in 17,019 deals.

The Conglomerates Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 11.396 billion shares valued at N14.534 billion traded in 890 deals; thus contributing 79.94% and 41.46% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Financial Services Industry followed with 2.484 billion shares worth N9.797 billion in 9,205 deals, while the third place was occupied by Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 164.156 million shares worth N8.127 million in 4,405 deals.

Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, Wapic Insurance Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 12.998 billion shares worth N15.494 billion in 1,813 deals, contributing 91.17% and 44.20% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 1.55% and 1.58% to close the week at 37,944.60 and N13.215 trillion respectively.

Similarly, all other indices finished higher during the week with the exception of the NSE ASeM Index that closed flat.

During the week, 39 equities appreciated in price, higher than 36 of the previous week, while 23 equities depreciated in price, lower than 24 equities of the previous week, and 109 equities remained unchanged, lower than 111 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Also traded during the week were a total of 1,090 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N14,708.50 executed in 10 deals, compared with a total of 127 units valued at N13,837.30 that was transacted last week in 5 deals, and a total of 21,670 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N23.125 million traded this week in 17 deals, compared with a total of 9,024 units valued at N9.485 million transacted last week in 15 deals.

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/12/01/investors-trade-14-3b-shares-worth-n35b-4-days-gain-n12b/

REVEALED: How FG Suspended SEC DG for Insisting on Forensic Audit of Oando
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/11/30/fg-suspended-sec-dg-insisting-forensic-audit-oando/

By Dipo Olowookere

Date just released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that a total of N149.45 billion was generated in the third quarter of 2017 from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by states in Nigeria.

From the figure released on Thursday, November 30, 2017, Lagos emerged the highest IGR generating state, contributing N73.8 billion to the amount.

It was followed by Ogun State, which generated N16.9 billion as IGR during the period under review, while Delta State added N13 billion to the N149.45 billion generated by the states in Q3 of 2017.

However, the least IGR generating states are Yobe, which raked N1.12 billion as IGR in months; Zamfara, which generated N1.28 billion in Q3 2017; and Ekiti, which earned N1.34 billion in the period under review.

However, according to the stats office, N473.08 billion was generated as IGR by the states in Q3 2017 Year-to-Date (YtD).

This excludes Rivers, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, Kano,Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Gombe, Edo, Borno, Bauchi, Adamawa, Abia Ebonyi and Anambra States, which have not yet reported their IGR figures for Q3 2017.

A shortfall of N334.84 billion was recorded as at Q3 2017 when compared with the full year 2016 and Q3 2017 YTD IGR figures of all states.

States like Bayelsa, Benue, Ekiti, Enugu and Jigawa have already surpassed their total 2016 IGR figures as of Q3 2017.

The full year 2016 state IGR figure of N807.92 billion excludes Anambra, Ebonyi and Rivers states who are yet to report on details for either one or all of the last 3 years.

As at half year 2017, total revenue generated by states was put at N396.92 billion as against N392.06 billion. This represents an average growth of 1.24 percent.

About 25 States are doing better with IGR by Q2 2017 compared to Q2 2016 and this excludes Rivers, Ebonyi and Anambra who have not yet reported IGR details for Q2 2017 and who have not reported details for either one of all of the last 3 years.

The net FAAC allocation in half year 2017 (N744.4 billion) was 187 percent higher than IGR for same period in Q2 2017 (N396.9 billion) excluding IGR for Anambra, Rivers and Ebonyi states.

If the FAAC for these 3 states are removed without IGR records, then net FAAC allocation by Q2 2017 (N664.8 billion) was 165 percent higher than total IGR for states with records by Q2 2017.

The total revenue available to states was put at N1.05 trillion and this excludes IGR information for Rivers, Anambra and Ebonyi States.

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/11/30/nigerian-states-generate-n149-5b-igr-q3-2017/

FG Suspends SEC DG Mounir Gwarzo, Two Others
https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/11/30/fg-suspends-sec-dg-mounir-gwarzo-two-others/

By Dipo Olowookere

Ethiopian Airlines is regarded by many as pride of Africa because of its growth and successes in the aviation industry.

However, those things that have made the airline operator a darling of many are at risk because of some elements working with the company.

In fact, those who have experienced these horrible incidents have now had to ask if Ethiopian Airlines is now breeding thieves.

Here is an account of a top Nigerian journalist, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, with Ethiopian Airlines some days ago:

In life, never say never. Nothing, really, is finite. On Tuesday November 14, I was discussing with a very senior journalist about why opinion writing space should be strictly devoted to public matters, how the columnist should focus on public issues rather than himself, how, after writing every piece, I deliberately re-read to rephrase all expressions bearing the First Person Singular Pronoun “I”.

That conversation held during an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Abuja to Johannesburg via Addis Ababa; little did I know that the return trip would be laced with an incident that would make me break this rule. What would you do if you were wronged and the offender looked you in the eye and said there was nothing you could do about it? Use all possible avenues to seek retribution!

WHEN ‘SECURITY GUARDS’ ARE THE THIEVES

The return Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET911 arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja — via Flight ET 858 from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa — around noon on Monday November 20. Tired after a journey — counting from the hotel — that lasted 18 hours, I dragged my checked-in luggage straight home. Next morning when I opened it, I discovered that my expensive Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR camera had been stolen. The thief stole the camera and left the pouch, battery and manual for me! Straightaway, I embarked on some Formula One driving to the Abuja Airport and promptly located the Ethiopian Airlines office. I still haven’t got over the nightmare that followed.

When I told the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) official in that office that I needed to speak with an Ethiopian Airlines official to complain about my stolen property, his reply was curt: “They are at the tarmac; go there if you want to see them.” By the time I started reminding him that I couldn’t be allowed anywhere near the tarmac since I wasn’t travelling, it was his back I was seeing, hands on the door, ready to abandon me in that office.

Luckily — no, unluckily, — a tall, dark and well-built Ethiopian Airlines official walked in just as the NAHCO official was exiting. When I narrated to him how I discovered that my property had been stolen, and my decision to lodge a formal complaint about it, he muttered some imperceptible words and said he had work to do. Before I could say Jack Robinson, Mr Ethiopian Airlines Official was on his way out as well, leaving the door ajar and me inside. Never ever had I seen such blithe insouciance by a service renderer to a customer. At that point, I remembered the words of a NAHCO official in Lagos whom I phoned the moment I discovered the theft. “Theft of travellers’ belongings is common at Nigerian airports; the airlines know about it, and NAHCO officials are a big part of it,” he had said. “Once they see it in the scanner that there are valuables in your checked-in luggage, they find a way to pilfer it. However, if you mount serious pressure on them, they will bring out your property.”

At that point, I became agitated and opted to launch a one-man protest. Within five minutes of my creating a scene at the airport lobby, a second NAHCO official fished out a complaint form, and it was handed over to me by the first NAHCO official. I was shocked to see this first NAHCO official calmly ask me questions about my travel and fill the answers on a separate form of his.

Then there was trouble. I filled the form and was already leaving when I realised I had no proof of ever filing a complaint. I asked to make a photocopy but the official said it was impossible. Then I asked to take shots of the form with my phone; this angered him. As I was taking a shot of it, he looked sternly at me and said: “You’re just stressing yourself. You see all these things you’re doing, filling form and snapping photos, nothing will come out of it. And there is nothing you can do about it!” That was after the Ethiopian Airlines staff had told me: “We’re just trying to help you.”

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES’ LONG-RUNNING HISTORY OF LUGGAGE THEFT

I was so distraught by the airport experience that I put up a Facebook post to vent my frustrations. Within 24 hours, five victims of property theft by Ethiopian Airlines showed up. The reaction from the airline has been the same: make them fill complaint forms, then cover the matter up. The examples are all similar. Apparently, Ethiopian Airlines has been stealing from its customers for years and getting away with it.

Seun Oduloye arrived Lagos on June 6, 2017, via an Ethiopian Airlines flight that connected Nigeria from Dublin via Addis Ababa, to the discovery that an entire luggage had vanished. In that big bag were, among others, three pairs of suit, 13 pieces of shoes, perfumes, wristwatches, ladies’ handbags, dresses and packs of chocolate. In the six months that have followed, what Ethiopian Airlines has done is to dribble her like Lionel Messi from one office to another. The airline also failed to reply all three letters from her lawyer.

In December 2014, when Temitayo Odusolu travelled from Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), to Douala, Cameroon, with Asky Airlines, and then flew Ethiopian Airlines from Douala to Addis Ababa and also the same airline to Lagos, one of her three bags went missing. In that bag were close to 10 books, clothes, camera, and an expensive cloth gift from Ecobank CAR. In a few days, it will be exactly three years since the incident occurred; and despite filling a claims form and following up with different Ethiopian Airlines officials for many months, Odusolu has received neither a formal apology nor compensation from the airline.

On December 17, 2016, Oluwaseun Adepoju arrived Lagos from Hong Kong on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to the discovery that his bag had been opened and baby wears removed from it. Thinking that he encouraged the thieves by trusting Ethiopian Airlines enough not to padlock his bags, Adepoju decided to start padlocking his bags from then on.

However, when he flew Ethiopian Airlines (Flight No ET 901) again on November 5, 2017, from Hong Kong to Lagos, having been collected from a Cathay Pacific plane arriving Hong Kong from South Korea, the thieves struck again. He had two brown bags — one big, the other medium-size — both locked with a mini blue-coloured code. The code locks were forced out of the zipper handles, while the trolley handle of the small bag was forced out beyond repairs. Three shirts were missing from a stack of nine new shirts arranged in a white mall gift cellophane in the big luggage.

On July 17, 2017, a Nigerian who asked not to be named — because it was a business trip and his company policy forbids talking to the media — connected Nairobi via an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa. Upon landing, he discovered that his locked checked-in bag had been broken, and $750 stolen from it. He promptly lodged a complaint, but six months after Ethiopian Airlines has not refunded the money to him.

THE DAMAGE, THE DEMAND

Incidentally, as I was complaining at the Abuja airport, aviation stakeholders were holding an ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF) meeting in Abuja, where five obstacles slowing down aviation and air transport in Africa were listed as: safety, market access, high fares and costs, infrastructure, and availability of finance. A sixth needs to be added: poor customer service. And for all the government’s noise about ease of doing business, nobody wants to travel to a country where checked-in luggage is unsafe or where, due to human errors/failings, theft or damage to luggage cannot be punished and the victim compensated.

This is a public call to the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to pay more attention to widespread customer dissatisfaction with the aviation industry. It is not just the manner of delay and cancellation of flights that is worrisome, it is the I-don’t-give-a-hoot attitude to passengers. In 2015, I lodged a complaint with the NCAA over a premeditated six-hour postponement of a trip, without even a text notification, by Aero Airlines. Maybe tomorrow, after more than two years, someone at NCAA will call just to acknowledge it!

Finally, this is a public appeal to Ethiopian Airlines to return my stolen property, and also compensate Seun Oduloye, Temitayo Odusolu, Oluwaseun Adepoju and the anonymous passenger for their stolen items/luggage. It is not enough for my matter to be treated; all four others must be compensated.

‘Fisayo Soyombo is Editor of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and tweets @fisayosoyombo

https://www.businesspost.ng/2017/11/29/ethiopian-airlines-breeding-thieves-victims-narrate-horrible-ordeal/

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