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N34bn fraud: Court orders immediate arrest of Tompolo

...ex-militant snubs summons Wale Igbintade

Tompolo

Vol. 5 N0. 1287

ustice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday ordered the imme-

diate arrest of a former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo. The court ordered Tom-

EFCC slams 7-count charge on Metuh, PDP spokesperson

polo’s arrest following his refusal to appear in court over allegation of money laundering and stealing of over N34bn belonging Continued on Page 2>>

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Metuh

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Buhari’s SSA smuggled fake 2016 budget to Senate –Saraki ...senators vow to treat only authentic document ...summons Emefiele over declining naira value

George Oji and Ubong Ukpong

he last may not have been heard on the reported missing of 2016 Appropriation bill presented to the joint sitting of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 22, last year. Continued on Page 2>>

We’re under military siege in Rivers –Wike Parents of abducted Chibok girls demanding whereabouts of their children during a protest with Bring-Back-Our-Girls group in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

...We’ll sustain operation –Army

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Buhari’s SSA smuggled fake 2016 budget to Senate –Saraki CONTINUED FROM Page 1

In the midst of the bulk passing game, Senate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday publicly accused the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang of printing and circulating among senators, another version of the Appropriation bill, different from the authentic one presented by the President. Saraki made the revelation while summarising the outcome of the closed door meeting, which deliberated on the report of the committee set up to probe the circumstances surrounding the alleged missing of the budget. Following the reported missing of the appropriation bill, the Senate upon resumption on Tuesday, conveyed a closed meeting where the issue was deliberated upon extensively. The lawmakers resolved at the end of the meeting to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the alleged missing of the document. Consequently, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition was mandated to undertake the probe. The Senate, upon resumption yesterday, went into another closed door meeting, which lasted for close to two hours to deliberate on the report of the ad hoc committee. Announcing the outcome of the closed door meeting, Saraki said: “Our finding is that Senator Eta Inang, the Senior Special Assistant to the National Assembly Matters (Senate) printed copies on the 2016 appropriation bill and brought to the Senate. “We have discovered that what he brought is different from the version presented by Mr. President. We have resolved to consider only the version presented by Mr. President as soon as we receive the soft copy of the original document from the executive.” Our correspondent gathered that the closed door meeting was a very heated session, especially on how to proceed with the matter. While many All Progressives Congress, APC, senators favoured a more amicable settlement of the matter, their Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterparts preferred an open approach, so as not to allow the presidency to make a scale goat of the Senate on the matter. At the end of the day,

Former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi (middle), being assisted by one of his counsel, at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, after arraignment by EFCC for alleged fraud and money laundering, in Lagos, yesterday. the senators resolved to lay the issue bare to the public in order to exonerate them from any form of complicity. Briefing newsmen at the end of yesterday’s plenary session, Senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi said: “The report about a missing budget is not true. We don’t have a budget that is missing. But you recalled that the Senate president did inform Nigerians that there is an issue that a committee was asked to investigate. “The investigation by the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, has been submitted in the executive session. It was a decision we took at the last executive session. “Our findings are these: That Mr. President did lay the budget before the joint session of the National Assembly and thereafter, the Senate went on recess and upon resumption, copies of the document were produced by Senator Ita Enang, who is the SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) and the copies were submitted to Senate and House of Representatives. “What we found out is that the document submitted by Senator Ita Enang, upon our resumption, has some differences, discrepancies with what was originally laid by Mr. President in the joint sitting of the National Assembly. “However, the Senate in defence of its own integrity, honour, will not work with what has not been laid on

the floor of the National Assembly. We are constitutionally mandated and duty bound to consider only that budget that had been so laid by Mr. President. “Right now, for reproduction, we are awaiting the soft copy of the originally submitted budget so that the National Assembly can reproduce the copy itself. That is the only time we can have confidence in the document we want to work with. “The budget submitted by the president is not missing, we already have copies of it but what we are saying is that for us to reproduce for our members, it is easier, based on the quantum of document that has to be produced, that we get the soft copy of that

original version so that we can reproduce it. “By next week, we want to go down to business; senators had picked dates to speak during the three days set aside for debate on the 2016 budget. “The Senate leadership was mandated to speak with all those concerned with the document, that was why the Senate President was in touch with Mr. President.” Abdullahi refused to speak on the claims by the House of Representatives that it had its own original version of the document. “I am not in the position to say the differences between the document submitted by the president and the one brought by Ita Enang. The committee that in-

vestigated the issue did not include that in their report. “As at the time the Senate President promised to make copies available to senators today (Thursday), he was working on the assumption that what was brought by the executive were copies of the original copies submitted by Mr. President, but based on the outcry, it was discovered that they are another version different from what the president gave us,” he said. Efforts to get the side of Inang on the matter were unsuccessful as the SSA, who initially agreed to speak with newsmen later changed his mind at the last minute. Our correspondent further gathered that the

senators were very angry and have vowed to take punitive sanctions against Inang should the President fail to punish him appropriately at the end of one week. The Senate also yesterday passed a resolution summoning the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele to appear before it to explain the causes and solution to the free fall of the Naira against other major currencies of the world. Emefiele is to appear before the Senate next week Tuesday. This resolution followed a motion raised by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who complained about the drastic fall in the value of the Naira in the past week.

N34bn fraud: Court orders immediate arrest of Tompolo CONTINUED FROM Page 1

to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. All the accused persons, including a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, were present in court with the exception of Tompolo, whose absence stalled their arraignment. Other defendants that appeared in court are; Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimiri Electrical Limited and Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh respectively.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had filed a 40-count charge of money laundering, conspiracy, stealing and diversion of funds against them. The suspects allegedly diverted N34bn, which accrued from the Public Private Partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist Limited for personal use. Shortly after the case was called, EFCC lead counsel, Festus Keyamo urged the court to issue bench warrant on Tompolo, adding that he had consistently shunned several invitations by EFCC. Keyamo informed the

court that instead of coming to honour the invitation, Tompolo in an advertorial threatened to unleash war on the country and acted like a “war lord.” But, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, lawyer to Akpobolokemi (2nd defendant) urged the court to exercise restraint and give Tompolo more time to appear in court. But, Justice Buba in his ruling issued a bench warrant on Tompolo and ordered the police to produce him in court by all means. Justice Buba is his short ruling held that “when a defendant has refused to come to court, the proper thing is to serve him with a court summons to appear.

“When he appears, that is the end of the matter, the allegation would be read to him. But, if he failed to appear in obedience to the summons, the other process to compel his attendance is by way of arrest. “The processes that led to the substituted service on Tompolo are before the court by way of affidavit evidence. There is also an affidavit showing that the first defendant was served as ordered by the court. “In the circumstances, the court is in a position to exercise its discretion to order for the arrest of Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo to compel his attendance to answer the Continued on Page 5>>

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L-R: Chairman, Fawehinmi Annual Lecture/Symposium Committee, Bar. Olumide Fusika; Chairman, NBA Ikeja, Bar. Yinka Farounbi and Deputy Editor-in-Cheif, Nigeria Weekly Law Reports, Bar. Ayo Olanrewaju, at a news conference on the 12th Fawehinmi Annual Lecture/ Symposium, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Peter Hoddinott; Chairman, Mr Bolaji Balogun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi and a director of the company, Alhaji Bayo Jimoh; during a meeting with the minister in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; CEO, Financial Derivatives Company, Mr Bismack Rewane; convener and Founder, Business Eye Magazine, Mrs Ibim Sementari and Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, Dr Abiodun Akinkunmi, during the Business Eye Magazine Round Table Discussion on Nigerian Economy in 2016 in Lagos. PHOTO ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

L-R Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet 4G LTE, David Venn; Amb Patrick Dele Cole and Chairman Intercontinental Distillers Ltd, Dr. Ishmael Igbani, during the commissioning of Spectranet office and commercial launch of Spectranet Brand in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

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NSE unveils plans on 2016 budget deficit financing …puts domestic debt profile at $54bn Johnson Okanlawon

hief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, yesterday said the capital market would be prepared to help in funding the projected deficit in federal budget 2016, estimated at N2.22trn, representing about 2.16 per cent of the nation’s GDP. President Muhammadu Buhari had, while laying the Appropriation Bill before the joint session of the two chambers of the National Assembly, projected that the deficit will be financed by a combination of domestic borrowing of N984bn and foreign borrowing of N900bn, to-

talling N1.84trn. Giving this hint yesterday during his media briefing on the Nigerian capital market outlook for 2016, Onyema also puts current total domestic debt at $54bn, while foreign debt is $10bn. He explained that as part of the collaborative steps being undertaken with other relevant agencies, NSE had engaged the Debt Management Office, DMO, on how to finance the deficit, saying that major part of the difference between actual revenue accruals and expenditure gaps will be locally financed. While reflecting on the recent bearish trend in the equities segment

of the Exchange, which in the past few days had led to a loss of about N1.2trn by investors, the investment expert noted that trend in the domestic bourse was not peculiar as the Nigerian economy cannot be isolated from global downturn. He said that he would be “worried if the index is growing up in our market. The benchmark index is reflecting what is going on”, noting that the downturn from 2015, has already continued into the New Year and that it is anticipated that 2016 will be a challenging year for the capital market and the domestic economy. The NSE boss said: “We intend to continue

our collaborative efforts with the new administration and other private sector players to create a framework for financing the nation’s infrastructure and capital requirements. Additionally, we plan to work with the Federal Government to ensure that the appropriate message is conveyed to the investor community.” He explained further that the current state of the market created both challenges and opportunities for investors, noting that taking a portfolio approach to investing provides the best risk adjusted alternative for participating in the capital market. In view of the development, Onyema said the capital market authorities would ensure “that the NSE provided a rep-

ertoire of products that will allow investors to create well diversified portfolios of uncorrelated asset classes.” He stressed that capital market had lost $30bn (or N5.910trn), following dwindling global oil prices, adding that the nation’s capital market is not operating in isolation as 60 per cent foreign investors dominate the market. Speaking further, the NSE boss confirmed that the flagship All Share Index declined by 17.4 per cent in 2015, closing the year at 28,642 points after starting the year relatively flat. He attributed the decline to a combination of factors, including political risk, currency volatility, and uncertainty in global crude oil prices.

Onyema noted that the Banking Index was the worst hit during the year under review, plunging by 23.6 per cent, followed closely by the NSE 30 Index and NSE Main Board Index, (both down 17.6 per cent); all NSE market indices performed poorly, relative to their 2014 performance, except for NSE Industrial Index which saw an uptick of 1.3 per cent. According to him, the market for new equity listings was flat for the year, with only four new equity listings, one on the Main Board, and three Equity Traded Funds (ETFs), adding that in contrast, five companies were delisted in 2015, bringing the number of listed companies and number of listed equities to 184 and 190, respectively.

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EFCC slams 7-count charge on Metuh, PDP spokesperson •He was insincere in handling party affairs –Deputy Doosuur Iwambe and Williams Attah

conomic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday filed a 7-count criminal charge bordering on corruption against the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The charge, which was filed yesterday, has not been assigned to any judge. The charge indicated that Metuh in November 2014 obtained N400m through Destra Investment Ltd. from the office of the then National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) on behalf of the PDP for campaign activities. He was accused of converting part of the money to $1m and diverted it for his personal use, while N21.7m was transferred to another chieftain of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih. The charge reads in part: “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investment Limited on or about the 24th November, 2014 in Abuja took possession of the sum of N400m paid into the account of Destra Investment Limited with Diamond Bank Plc, Account No: 0040437573 from the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria without contract award when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd), the then National Security Adviser (To Wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”. “That you, Olisa Metuh and Destra Investments Limited on or about the 24th November, 2014 in Abuja, did retain the sum

of N400m on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party of its campaign activities by concealing the said sum in your account with Diamond Bank Plc, when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), the then National Security Adviser, (to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption), and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act.” Metuh, on his own, also yesterday filed a suit before another Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order for his release from the custody of EFCC. Metuh through his lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, in the suit for the enforcement of his fundamental rights told the court that his continuous detention by the anti-graft agency amounts to violation of his fundamental rights and urged the court to order EFCC to release him or charge him to court. At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that the commission has a valid court order to detain the PDP spokesman over corruption related crimes. Jacobs told the court that EFCC was only served with Metuh’s enforcement of his fundamental rights suit on Wednesday and that he needed time within which to respond. He added that the law permits the anti-graft agency to detain a suspect, having obtained a court order to that effect. Jacobs explained further that under the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, EFCC has powers to hold a suspect in line with a court order. He said: “It is arrant nonsense for anybody or group to say that the suspect is being detained illegally for political reasons. “EFCC is established

by law and as such, cannot take the laws into its own hand. The truth is that there is a valid and subsisting court order that permitted the detention of the man.” On his part, Adedipe complained that his client was being held illegally by EFCC because of the failure to arraign him in court within the time stipulated by law. He asked the court to compel EFCC to either release his client on administrative bail or charge him to court as required by law. Justice Okon Abang adjourned till January 20, 2016 for hearing of the substantive suit and said

the court will not entertain frivolous interlocutory applications that would delay proceedings in the matter. It would be recalled that operatives of EFCC arrested Metuh at his Abuja on January 5, for allegedly collecting N1.4bn from the $2.1bn arms funds diverted to several politicians by Dasuki. Meanwhile, Deputy Publicity Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo has accused Metuh of insincerity in handling party affairs. According to him, Chief Metuh destabilised the party which, resulted in the resignation of nine officers.

He told our correspondent in an exclusive interview that the embattled Metuh did not carry people along and was very unfriendly to people he was working with. On the involvement of Metuh and others in the arms deal scandal, Jalo absolved the PDP and said former President Goodluck Jonathan was concerned about returning peace to the NorthEast, which informed the reason why he approved a lot of money for the execution of the war against terrorism. He said: “Even so, PDP as a party will be blamed, which is a normal thing in politics, but now, dark-

ness has come to light. Those who have been taking this money, it is now the PDP Publicity Secretary, my Oga that has been arrested by EFCC, while I am going about freely. “He has denied me a single kobo to perform my work as his assistant. I don’t know anything that is happening in the publicity department of the PDP. About nine officers resigned last two weeks because of Olisa Metuh. What type of rubbish is this where you as a leader don’t carry people along and you are not sincere, insulting everybody and you are not even friendly with your deputy.”

L-R: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha al-Hassan; Minister of Defence, Gen. Mohammed Dan-Ali; President Muhammadu Buhari and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, during the President’s meeting with members of the Bring-Back-Our-Girls, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

N34bn fraud: Court orders immediate arrest of Tompolo CONTINUED FROM Page 2

allegation before the court under section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015 and it is thereby ordered that the warrant of arrest of Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo shall be issued forthwith,” Justice Buba held. The presiding judge ordered other accused present to return to where they came from (either from EFCC custody or from their respective homes) and adjourned the matter till February 8 for mention. Shortly after the ruling, counsel to the 7th and 8th defendant, Emeka Okpoko informed the court that his client had been in EFCC custody for two days and sought clarification on whether they should be

given administrative bail. EFCC had in the Motion Exparte asked the court to compel Tompolo to appear in court having been alleged to have committed the offence in the charge. The court also granted the request of EFCC to serve Tompolo through substituted means by pasting the court summon in a conspicuous part of his home, located at No 1, Chief Agbanu DDPA Extension, Warri Delta State. Some of the allegations levels against the accused are: “That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, in 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to

commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sums of N601,516.13 (Six hundred and one thousand, five hundred and sixteen naira, thirteen kobo), and $1,766,428.62 (One million, seven hundred and sixty-six thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight dollars, sixty-two cents), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money “That you, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Patrick Akpobolokemi, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, in 2012, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence, to wit: Conversion

of the sums of N601,516.13 (Six hundred and one thousand, five hundred and sixteen naira, thirteen kobo), and $1,766,428.62 (One million, seven hundred and sixty-six thousand, four hundred and twenty-eight dollars, sixty-two cents), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.” The alleged offences are contrary to Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

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Buhari orders probe into abduction of Chibok girls Rotimi Fadeyi Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved investigation into the abduction of 219 girls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. According to a statement issued yesterday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the panel to investigate the incident, which happened on April 14, 2014, will soon be named by National Security Adviser, NSA, General Babagana Munguno. According to the statement, the investigation would seek to, among other things, unravel the remote and immediate circumstances leading the kidnap of the girls by Boko Haram terrorists as well other events, actions and inactions that followed the incident. Speaking at a meeting attended by some parents of the abducted girls, representatives of the Chibok community and members of the Bring-Back-OurGirls movement at the Conference Hall of the State House, Buhari said he remained fully committed to his pledge to do all within his powers to save the girls. The president assured parents of the Chibok girls that he has been doing his best and would continue to do everything possible to rescue them and re-unite them with their families. “I assure you that I go to bed and wake up every day with the Chibok girls on my mind. “The unfortunate incident happened before this government came into being. “What have we done since we assumed office? We re-organised the military, removed all the Service Chiefs and ordered the succeeding Service Chiefs to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency. “In spite of the terrible economic condition we found ourselves in, we tried to get some resources to give to the military to reorganize, equip, retrain, deploy more troops and move more forcefully

against Boko Haram. “And you all know the progress we have made. When we came in, Boko Haram was in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. Boko Haram has now been reduced to areas around Lake Chad. “Securing the Chibok girls is my responsibility. The Service Chiefs and heads of our security agencies will tell you that in spite of the dire financial straits that we found the country in, I continue to do my best to support their efforts in that regard.

L-R: Assistant Commissioner of Police (OPERATIONS), Lagos Command, Mr Oluwole Edgal; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative (WACI), Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni, and Assistant Commissioner (ADMINISTRATION), Mrs Folasade Adams, during the visit of the Commissioner to WACI, in Lagos yesterday.

IGP orders psychological test on officers bearing firearms •Police to spend N8bn to recruit 10,000 cops

George Opara Abuja

nspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered that all police officers bearing firearms in the performance of official duties be subjected to psychological test and evaluation, to ensure they are mentally and emotionally fit to perform their duties. Arase noted that the exercise was aimed at eliminating cases of irregularities in handling of weapons by policemen, as well as protecting the public whom the police has the constitutional duty to serve, and not to continue killing innocent and lawabiding citizens. He disclosed that the main purpose of this exercise was to offer mental health recommendations that can help restore an officer to job fitness and deploy such policeman to appropriate section he or she is fit to work. He directed all police medical doctors across the nation to conduct psychological test on all policemen bearing firearms in their respective commands, every three months, noting that if any police officer has a psychological condition or impairment unattended, it will impact negatively on the overall performance of the Nigeria Police Force.

Meanwhile, Chairman Police Service Commission, Mike Mbama Okiro, has put the financial cost implications for the 2016 recruitment exercise of 10,000 young Nigerians at N8 billion. Okiro stated that the expenditure would cover advertisement, technical resources, overhead, renovation of training institutions, feeding, allowances and salaries, teaching aids, arms and ammunition (for shooting range), teaching allowance and monitoring and evaluation. This revelation was made yesterday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs where the Minister of Interior, Chairman Police Service Commission and Inspector-General of Police were invited over the nagging problems of insecurity in the country. Critical issues discussed were extra-judicial killings, kidnapping, recruitment of more police personnel, and improvement of police welfare and the need to bridge the gap in policing across the country. Committee Chairman, Halliru Dauda Jika, said the public hearing was billed to find solution to the nebulous security situation prevailing in the country and to provide a legislative platform to

strengthen the existing security services and network aimed at curbing heinous crimes in our society. However, IGP, Minister of Interior and Okiro were conspicuously absent, but sent representatives. Dan Azumi Job Doma, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Finance and Administration

said the IG was away on official duty to the North East with the Interior Minister to strategise on how to take full control of the areas recovered from the insurgents. On extra-judicial killings, the DIG said any police officer found to have been involved in any extrajudicial killings would be dealt with in respect to the rules of the police and that many police officers found

guilty of the crime were languishing in different prisons across the country. But Doma said the unresolved extra-judicial killings involving the Apo six and the murder of Chief Bola Ige were already in court with other similar cases and so restrained himself to comment further, saying it would amount to subjudice to engage in detailed discussions on them.

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N5,000 stipend not for all unemployed —FG Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

inister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has said no country in the world can afford to pay stipend to her citizens to be indolent, saying Nigeria will not be different while giving the N5,000 stipend for unemployed people by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. Ngige also revealed that while some people will get N5,000 under cash conversion scheme, some will get N10,000, while others may get more than N15,000 while in training. The minister told newsmen at APC national secretariat in Abuja yesterday that those that would be given such stipend will go through different trainings, and later get employed by either the state or Federal Government. “We also have the programme on the commission cash transfer. Though even you, the press, has said it, we won’t pay N5,000 for people to be indolent. No country in the world would pay people to go home and sleep and collect cash, so Nigeria will not be an exception. “We will pay some people N5,000, we will pay some N10,000, and even for people in teacher conversion scheme, we will pay more than N10,000,

N15,000 as stipend, while in training. And after training, they will be employed by state governments and the Federal Government in different institutions. It is not a programme we shall run alone, the state governments are going to buy into it, they are going to synchronise with us, we are going to do it in synergy.’’ While revealing that the present administration has some poverty-alleviating and employment generating programmes, he added that those programmes “will span through Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and my place (Ministry of Labour). Agriculture, because we have some agricultural universities, we will convert some people to teach the relevant agricultural science.” On skills acquisition scheme by the Buhari-led government, Ngige said: “The ministry has specialist skills acquisition centres; we have seven like that in the ministry under the commissioner of skills or directorate for skills. “The NDE has over 120 centres scattered all over the country, we also have those that have been built by state government and we want to capture all of these into that scheme and then get the people

trained as bricklayers, POP designers, builders, welders, electronics repairers, vehicle repairers, automobile carpentry, painting and fabrication of all sorts. “We would teach people, give them certification, because many people do not know that Ministry of Labour is the only place that can certify tradesmen. These skills acquisition centres are in grades; we have grade A, Grade B, Grade C, D and E certifica-

tions. They all still exist. “So we want to get back our youths, capture them, teach them to use their hands, and when they use their hands, they can earn money by employing themselves. If you get a bricklayer or a painter today, you cannot pay less than N5,000 for a daily job. And if somebody is able to work 20 days in a month for N5,000, he already has N100,000. But the story is a sad one today, that is, Togolese, Ghanaians, peo-

ple from Benin Republic, Niger Republic, they all come here to do all these skilled jobs for us. “Eighty percent of workers in that specialised category in construction sites all over Nigeria, be it Abuja, Lagos or Onitsha, come from outside (our shores), and we don’t know that little drops of water form an ocean. The naira they are paid is repatriated to their country and all of them will come at the end of the day to put

pressure on naira in the foreign exchange market. “So, we have decided that we have to train our youths, let them use their hands to fend for themselves. We will also want to advance some of them into entrepreneurship. If you are very good, we can open a place for you and give you money through the Bank of Industry and SMEDAN and then you move to the next stage where a number of youths will work with you.”

L-R: Director, National and Military Strategy, AVM Jack Yusuf; Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Adm. Samuel Alade and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, after the lecture on Economic Dimensions of National Security, at the National Defence College, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Lassa fever kills Port Harcourt-based medical doctor

Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

medical doctor with Rivers Stateowned Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Livy Jamala, has died after contracting Lassa fever from patients being treated for the virus at the hospital. Jamala’s death brings to three those who have died from the disease in the state. Chairman of Rivers State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Furo Green, confirmed the death of Jamala at a news conference in Port Harcourt to notify the public on the three-day

warning strike embarked on by medical doctors in public hospitals and primary healthcare facilities to protest the spate of kidnapping of medical doctors in the state. Green, who stated that 50 per cent of those inflicted by the dreaded virus in most cases lose their lives, lamented that “medical doctors, who have direct contact with such patients are usually those who primarily become victims of such contagious diseases.” He confirmed that Jamala, who works at the Disease Control Unit at BMSH, had contacted the virus while treating patients inflicted with Lassa

fever at the state government-owned facility. The NMA chairman disclosed that officials of the World Health Organisation, WHO, in the state, have visited the hospital to assess the situation. Green added that the deceased has been buried in accordance with WHO protocols for victims of contagious diseases. Director of Public Health Services, Dr. Unana Onyekwere, stated that the state government will soon embark on the fumigation of densely populated areas in the state to curb the spread of Lassa fever.

It would be recalled that a nursing mother and her two-week-old baby had died from Lassa fever in Port Harcourt, a week ago. The two doctors who were abducted within 24 hours by unknown gunmen are Isaac Opurum and Ib Aprioku, a female. The NMA disclosed that armed gunmen kidnapped 21 medical doctors in 2015. Opurum, who is the Director, Community House Services, Rivers State Primary Health Board, was abducted on Monday at about 3am at his residence in Rumulumeni area, around St. John, Port Harcourt. His colleague, Aprioku,

who works with the stateowned Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, BMSH, was kidnapped on Sunday at Aeroplane Drive in Abuloma area of Port Harcourt, on her way to church in company of her children. Though, the hospital where the dead victims (mother and child) were admitted for treatment before they passed on was not disclosed by government officials, the Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr. Theophilous Odagine, said over 60 people have been placed under surveillance. He stated that those placed under surveillance include “over 12 staff of

the primary health care centre who managed and attended to the woman and the baby as well as about 50 people who had secondary contact with the deceased during the naming of the child.”

Prof.-Adewole

South West

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Aregbesola highlights community ownership of schools BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

sun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has said one of the best strategies to maintain sustainable and functional education institutions is to make host communities take up ownership in the respective communities. He said education remains the only legacy that can make a society to function properly. He made this known during the inauguration of 14,000-member Community Based School Management Committee, CBSMC, in Osogbo on Thursday. Members are to work as management committee in elementary schools; management board in middle schools and management council in high schools. The committee members were drawn from 30 local government councils and one area office. Aregbesola said after providing all the things needed in the sector, next in this line is the welding together of all these into an organic whole, by putting in place an effective management system. He stated that the best management approach is a community based one, adding that this is a global practice. According to him, those imbued with the right sense of ownership are in the best position to drive an organisation or possess it for it to be successful.

He said; “Education is critical to every society because it is an area where any society cannot afford to fail. “First, it is through education that every society renews itself by socialising its new members into its past; for them to be able to properly grasp the present; and secure the future. It is through education that the intellect is cultivated, character is built and an individual becomes adjusted to society. “Education is also the primary instrument of development. The knowledge that drives development is introduced to every pupil through systematised learning. “While there have been geniuses and outstanding individuals who affected our world positively through creativity and innovation without acquiring formal education, the making of our world as it is today is the product of knowledge acquired though education in the sciences, technology, engineering, arts, entertainment and so on.” Aregbesola said the trend in the world today is that education has been digitalised, knowledgebased and competitive; adding that one cannot, but conclude that the future belongs to those who have very good education. He noted that government is bringing in the community because it wants them to have ownership of the schools since the community is the stakeholder in education.

Scene of a tanker accident at Toyota bus stop, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

N3bn judgement debt: Firm levies execution on Osogbo Skye Bank BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

ensed atmosphere yesterday gripped Skye Bank, Osogbo branches of Osun State, following execution of three judgements delivered by Court of Appeal, Akure, in matters instituted by Tuns Holdings against the bank. As early as 9am, court officials, armed policemen and staffers of Tuns Holdings stormed the four branches of the bank located in Fagbewesa, Alekuwodo, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital pay point and Gbongan road, all within Osogbo metropolis, and took possession of items met in the premises. Customers and bank officials, who were in the

APC group lauds Buhari on anti-graft war FRANCIS SUBERU

ll Progressives Congress, APC, Anti-Corruption Volunteer group yesterday staged a solidarity rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja, urging the president to continue the ongoing fight against corruption in the country. The group numbering about 40, urged the president to step up the anticorruption fight against those who looted the na-

tion’s resources. The group, which armed itself with placards and banners with messages such as “stop corruption in the judiciary; probe $20 billion missing in NNPC”, among others, said they are on the same page with the president. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Adeola Adegbite said the group was supporting the president because it was necessary for thorough investigation. In a statement signed by the convener of the protest, Daniel Akinlami, the group said, “we believe in your sincerity of

purpose and your dedication in redeeming Nigeria and restoring hope to our land.” In another development, some protesters under the aegis of coalition of civil society groups in protest yesterday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to press on President Muhammadu Buhari to discontinue his purported disobedience to court orders and rule of law. The protesters who were about 20 in number armed themselves with placards bearing varied inscriptions.

premises before the court officials and policemen arrived, were prevented from leaving, while banking operations were halted. At Gbongan road branch of the bank, the bank’s generating set was disconnected and a Toyota Camry car was impounded by court officials. Also at Fagbewesa branch, a Honda Accord marked Lagos KTU 373 AY, belonging to the Regional Manager of the bank, was impounded. Three Osun State High Court judges, Justices Oyejide Falola, A. O. Ogunlade and A. Aderibigbe, presided over the matter and gave similar judgments, awarding cost against the respondent. Justice Falola on November 20, 2015, awarded N2.473 billion in favour of the claimant (Tuns Farms), N150 million as general damages, while Justice Ogunlade awarded N421, 384,000 and N25 million damages against the defendant (Skye Bank). According to documents obtained by National Mirror, the issues leading to litigation between the parties was sequel to an agreement the bank entered into with Tuns Farm in 2005, when it offered the firm a credit facility of N414 million to develop a property in Abuja, which was projected to fetch Tuns Holdings a net income of N1.152 billion. But Skye Bank, it was learnt, did not fully com-

ply with the terms of the credit facility when it released only N150 million, a development the claimant said frustrated the project, caused damages and huge loss of investment. In one of the last judgment delivered on the matter, dated January 12, 2016, copies of which were made available to newsmen, the court consented to seizure of “any money, bank notes, cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes, bonds or securities for money, found within the Osogbo Judicial Division of the bank.” Counsel to the claimant, Chief Duro Adeyele (SAN), while addressing newsmen on what led to enforcement of the judgement, said three appeals were filed before the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, by Skye Bank, having failed at Osogbo High Court. He noted that the Court of Appeal affirmed the earlier judgements of the High Court in the three cases, which led to the action of the claimant to enforce the judgement. Adeyele further explained that the court order ceding properties of the bank to Tuns Holding may be extended to other branches of Skye Bank even outside Osun State until over N3 billion damages awarded is recouped. “If whatever we are able to realise in branches of Skye Bank in Osun State is not in quantum to what we want, we will go

further to other states,” Adeyele said. He noted that the judgement had been delivered on the three cases since last year and the court order should have been obeyed within 7 days after the judgements, saying the defendant, however, failed to comply. Though he admitted that the three judgements had been appealed against and now pending before the Supreme Court, he however, insisted that appeal does not constitute stay of execution in the matter. Reacting to the sealing, Skye Bank said the bank has filed stay of execution against the judgement. It added that the claim by claimant’s counsel that stay of execution had not been filed on the matter was “mischievous”, saying the party had even responded to the processes it filed before Akure Court of Appeal. Speaking through its Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, in Osogbo, the bank said it was going to the court to challenge the action of the claimant because of the telling effects such had on the banking operations and loses it recorded. Skye Bank noted that the right of execution the claimant relied upon to disrupt its operations must be investigated to “check future reoccurrence of such brigandage,” Bolarinwa concluded.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, January 15, 2016

Bizmen file N520m libel suit against lawyer, newspaper WALE IGBINTADE

wo businessmen, Ola Rosiji and Anil Ahluwalia, have filed a N520 million libel suit against Lagos-based lawyer, Chief Chris Okunowo, over alleged malicious publication in a national newspaper. The claimants alleged that they had been defamed by a publication titled, ‘$8.8bn Fraud: Lawyer Faults Briton’s Extradition Plan’ published on page 12 of the Punch Newspapers of June 2, 2015. The claimants in suit number LD/ ADR/276/2015, are claiming damages in the sum of N500 million and N20 million as legal cost for alleged libelous publications against Okunowo and the newspaper. Besides, the claimants are asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, servants or privies from further publishing the offending article. They claimed the contents of the publication was sponsored and calculated to disparage their image, integrity and busi-

ness. The claimants stated that sometime in 2007, they promoted and formed Green Fuels Limited, GFL, as a joint venture among them (Rosiji, Ahluwalia), Comcraft Group and Mr. Deepak Khinani (a Briton and former director of GFL). They stated that on October 9, 2007, GFL was incorporated with an authorised share capital of N10 million divided into N10 million ordinary shares of N1 each. The claimants said they were the initial subscribers of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of GFL and that they both equally held 1,250,000 units of shares. They were also members of the Board of Directors. However, Mr. Deepak Khilnani ran dayto-day affairs of GFL. “Mr. Khilnani also had interests in several companies within and outside Nigeria including Industrial Energy (African) Limited (hereafter “IEAL”; formerly known as Green Fuels Holding), Gentec Energy Plc and CNG Technologies (CNGT). The companies were major business partners to GFL and supplied machineries valued at over $ 14,202,780 over the course of four years.’’

Association of Dementia Friends for launch

badan will on Thursday, 28th January, 2016, host a large number of Dementia Friends’ enthusiasts from Nigeria and abroad, who are coming to witness the launch of Dementia Friends, a world-wide organisation that protects the interest and promotes the welfare of people suffering from dementia. A release by coordinator of the group, Kikelomo Laniyonu Edwards, said Nigeria would be the third country to launch

Association of Dementia Friends, an initiative of the Alzheimer Society. The organisation had earlier been launched in Canada and Mauritius. She said Dementia Friends of Nigeria would be modeled after the United Kingdom’s, adding that the launch would give Nigeria an opportunity and privilege to run programmes of the organisation with the attendant benefits of enlightenment and education that would accrue to the people.

A cross section of the Community Based School Management Committee by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to oversee school activities in Osun State, during the inauguration at Government Technical College, Osogbo, yesterday.

‘Lagos 114 roads project’ll boost grassroots development’ FRANCIS SUBERU

onference of Executive Secretaries of Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State on Thursday commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for commencing construction of 114 inner roads across the state, saying the project will boost grassroots development. Some of the Conference 57 members, who spoke at the flag-off of the roads construction in the council areas, said the development was an eloquent proof of Ambode’s passion to take Lagos to the next level. According to them, the benefits of the project to the socio-economic landscape would be of massive proportion, and as such

the governor deserves to be commended and encouraged to continually give his best to the people. Chairman of Conference 57, Kolade Alabi, said the governor, by the project, has kept faith with a statement he made some time ago that ‘‘the greatest achievements one can ever have is to truly serve the people.’’ While stressing that the project was unprecedented in the history of the state, Alabi, who is also Executive Secretary of Bariga LCDA, said it was clear that Ambode was leaving no stone unturned in meeting his set goals. He said, “You see, it is not a surprise that within seven months of assumption of office, Governor Ambode has positively touched all sectors such as health, education, se-

IBADAN

rominent Nigerians yesterday thronged the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTCEH), Ogbomoso,

for the 50th memorial anniversary of former Premier of Western region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola. Dignitaries on the occasion included Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, for-

more than what we are witnessing now. “I think what we need to do as a people is to support the governor in his quest to develop and turn Lagos into a real megacity,” Seriki said. The construction of 114 inner roads, two in each of the 57 LGAs and LCDAs is an initiative of the Ambode administration. The project, which is fully funded by the state government, would be completed in six months at a cost of N17.5 billion. The project is designed to accommodate streetlights, walkways and drainages in all 114 roads, which were selected by the relevant stakeholders such as Community Development Associations and others, and implemented by the 57 councils.

Ooni makes case for women in war zones BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

oni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, yesterday

called for special attention for women in war-ravaged areas, and the need to respect women’s rights. Receiving executives of Nigeria Association of

Ajimobi, Aregbesola, Akinjide, others celebrate Akintola KEMI OLAITAN

curity and so on. I like to fully align with the Governor’s school of thought which has indeed been our guiding principles even at the local level. “I can only plead for the support of the people because of a truth, the 114road project is just a tip of the iceberg as the governor’s best is yet to come.” Executive Secretary of Epe Local Government, Ahmed Ayinde Seriki, was proud to be associated with a man whose vision and passion for transformation of the state is exemplary. “The project is part of the developmental agenda for the state and I am glad that the governor is keeping faith with the promises made to the people during his campaign. In just seven months, he has done a lot and there are still plans to do much

mer Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Richard Akinjide, former Oyo State governor, Alao Akala; Dr Saka Balogun, and other political top-notchers. Ajimobi in his tribute described the late premier as an unsung hero, who con-

tributed immensely to the development of old Western region and Nigeria. He, however, blamed the family for monopolising him instead of allowing Nigerians to celebrate him, urging all Nigerians to celebrate him.

Women Journalists, NAWOJ, ‘B’ zone, led by its National President, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, during a courtesy visit to his palace, the monarch emphasised that women are the major casualties of war. He recalled the post-war impact of the Ife-Modakeke war, especially the effect on women and children, and pledged to partner women journalists to ensure the rights of women are respected throughout the country. Describing himself as an

intercessor and grand royal patron of women journalists, the monarch stated that through the House of Oduduwa Trust Fund approved by Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, issues on women and youths in Ile-Ife would be looked into. In her speech, President of NAWOJ, ‘B’ zone, Mrs Omowole, commended Oba Ogunwusi’s peaceful disposition and passion for the development of Ile-Ife and youths in particular.

South East

Umahi better than some APC governors —SGF …condemns Biafra movement Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

ecretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr Babachir David Lawal, yesterday said Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is better than some APC governors. The SGF spoke in Abakaliki during commissioning and inspection of some projects built by the Umahi administration. Lawal in his one day working visit to Ebonyi State, inspected two dual carriageway flyovers at the African Trans-Sahara Highway currently under construction and commissioned the Governors’ Lodge named after the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu. He said Umahi recorded huge feats within a short time despite the present economic realities in the country, adding that he (Umahi) had set a standard for both federal and other state gov-

ernments to emulate. “Well, I cannot in all honesty understand how these works have been achieved within this short time and indeed in the climate of dire economic shortages of government. “I am impressed that you were able to do these works within the cost you mentioned. I can in all honesty tell you that the work is far beyond the cost. Now, this is a standard for other states and the Federal Government to emulate,” he said. He noted that Umahi is one of the few persons who believe that meager resources could be used to achieve much if we remove greed, which breeds corruption. He commended Ebonyi people for choosing Umahi, adding that the presidency was fully in support of the governor’s developmental strides as the present federal government was not interested in which party any governor belonged but whether or not such administration was doing a wonderful job for their people.

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ndigbo don’t need Biafra –Archbishop Chukwuma …asks Buhari to pardon pro-Biafra agitators

Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

rchbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to forgive Igbo youths who embarked on pro-Biafra protests. Chukwuma, who is also Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, described the recent pro-Biafra protests as “misguided, misdirected and against the general interest of Ndigbo.”

In a chat with journalists in Enugu yesterday, he maintained that investigations showed that few selfish persons from Igboland, both at home and in the Diaspora, were sponsoring the protests to achieve their personal motive and not necessarily to realise Biafra. He said, “Agitation is nothing bad, but the Biafra agitation is misguided. We plead with the Federal Government not to see it as rebellion; on unity of Nigeria we stand, to keep Nigeria one is a task for everyone.

“Biafra agitation is not our priority now; all we ask for is equity and justice.” He added, “Inasmuch as President Buhari might say we did not vote for him, our people in APC supported him. It is not enough to say that he appointed ministers from Igboland; it does not translate to infrastructural development. He should show mercy and forgive the shortcomings of our youths who are engaging in these protests.’’ On the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the cleric

urged the President to release him unconditionally in obedience to court orders. He said: “We are ready as church leaders to direct Kanu on the proper thing to do. He has not committed any act of felony; such charge is unacceptable. He has not imported arms. “We plead with Mr. President to obey the court order so that the international community can have respect for our country. Government should forgive Kanu and the recent agitations for Biafra,” he said.

PDP, APC can’t contest Anambra senatorial seat —APGA Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

ll Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has described the plan by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, to field fresh candidates in the court-ordered senatorial election re-run in Anambra Central District as illegal. The Court of Appeal judgment sitting in Enugu not only nullified the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife of PDP but disqualified her from participating in the re-run. Similarly, for APC, its candidate in the senatorial election, Senator Chris Ngige, has said he would rather continue with his job as Minister than participate in the re-run election, thus leaving the stage for APGA’s candidate, Victor Umeh. Addressing journalists on Thursday in his office, National Chairman of APGA, Victor Oye, said it would amount to an illegality for the Independent National Electoral Commis-

sion, INEC, to allow PDP and APC to field fresh candidates in the re-run election in Anambra Senatorial district. Oye said, “I want to make it very clear that once court orders a re-run, it is only the dramatis personae in the election cancelled that should participate in the same re-run. Nobody else should be involved or go contrary to this. It will amount to illegality and it is not recognised by the law. “I want to make it very clear today that in Anambra central senatorial district, APGA candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, is in the forefront of becoming the first senator of the party in Anambra State.” He said the party was surprised that a lot of kites had flown all over the place, especially on whether Mrs. Ekwunife should contest the forthcoming re-run or not. “I want us to understand that the judgement of the Supreme Court on several cases have outlawed her participation in the senatorial election re-run.”

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha (right), being decorated by state Chairman of Nigerian Legion, retired Lt.-Col. Damian Okafor, with the Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem, in Owerri, on Wednesday. PHOTO: NAN

Okorocha swears in 13 commissioners, others Chris Njoku OWERRI

overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State yesterday swore in 13 commissioners, 27 Transition committee chairmen and an Economic Adviser. The swearing-in of commissioners followed their screening and clearance by the House of Assembly. The commissioners are Law Eberuo (Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Planning), Ngozi Njoku (Health, Women Affairs & Social De-

velopment), Getrude Oduka (Education, Science and Environment), M.O. Nlemadim (Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice), Chidi Ibeh (Information, Youth & Sports), Udo Agoha (Agric & Natural Resources), and Dr. Vitalis Ajumba (International Resources & Pension Matters). Others are Obinna Mbata (Finance), Emma Ibediro (Local Government & Rural Development), Ifeanyi Araraume, Jnr. (Commerce, Land and Tourism), Innocent Eke (Community government, Culture &

Traditional Affairs), Rodney Ajaelu (Public Safety & Public Utilities), Josephine Udoji (Works & Transport). Chief Ikechukwu Njoku was also sworn-in as Chief Economic Adviser to the governor. Swearing-in the new commissioners, Governor Okorocha said the former commissioners did very well in sustaining the noble ideals of the Rescue Mission Government in the state, but were dropped because of other considerations that have nothing to do with failure, and urged the new

appointees to work hard to justify their appointments. The governor, who described the new commissioners as the bridge between the old and the new generation politicians in the state, also told them to take credit for the things they have done, and not for what others had done. He urged them to enhance development in the state. On behalf of the new appointees, Commissioner for Information, Chief Chidi Ibeh pledged to work hard to justify their appointments.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Thursday, January 15, 2016

We’re under military siege in Rivers –Wike …we’ll sustain operation –Army declares

Dennis Naku

Port Harcourt

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, cried out yesterday, saying three local government areas in the state are under military siege.

He also said the recent series of co-ordinated attacks in communities are coming ahead of the State and National Assembly rerun elections in the state. Wike in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Electronic Me-

dia, Simeon Nwakaudu, further alleged that the politically motivated attacks have left in their trail deaths, blood, destruction and open intimidation.” The governor said the attacks by soldiers and policemen took place in

Gokana, Asari-Toru and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas, respectively. The statement reads; “One recurring decimal in these three deadly invasions is the fact that one Major Mustapha features

A Cross-section of lawyers at the valedictory ceremony in honour of the Chief Judge of Rivers, Justice Daisy Okocha, in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Dickson gets Certificate of Return …expresses optimism about one man, one vote Osahon Julius Yenagoa

inner of the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, incumbent Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, yesterday, received his Certificate of Return as governor-elect for his second term in office from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. At an elaborate ceremony in INEC’s office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, an elated Dickson received his Certificate of Return from the supervising National Commissioner, South-South, Mr. Mustapha Leki, amidst cheers from his supporters and aides. The event was attended by Dickson, his wife, Rachel, his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.), Acting State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff, top government officials, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Baritor Kpagih, among others. Governor Dickson af-

ter collecting his certificate commended INEC, security operatives and all stakeholders for seeing to the success of the elections in the state. An excited Dickson, who sang praise songs to the admiration of all present, said his victory at the just-concluded governorship election did not come easy and dedicated it to God and the people of Bayelsa State, saying without whom, the victory would not have been achieved. He told Bayelsans that what they had done had saved democracy in Nigeria, saying that their overwhelming support made a statement that Nigeria could not afford to be a one party state. He expressed optimism that the concept of one man, one vote, would flourish in Nigeria and Bayelsa State. Presenting the Certificate of Return to Dickson and his deputy, Leki said the instrument was handed over to them following their victories at the governorship election.

He said the presentation was carried out in conformity with Section 68 (1) and Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act.

Leki restated the importance of card reader in the advancement of elections in the country, saying the technology was one of the greatest innovations in the nation’s electoral process.

in all of them. Major Mustapha, a Pro-APC military officer, was the Rivers State APC star witness during the hearing of election petitions in Abuja. “At Asari-Toru LGA on 6th January, 2016, Major Mustapha and his team of dare-devil soldiers and mobile policemen invaded the residences of the caretaker council chairman, Ambassador Soboma Jackrich, destroying his homes and valuables before killing about five youths. “They also abducted 50 youths and women, who were taken to Port Harcourt. “The same scenario played out in Bua Yeghe in Gokana Local Government Area, where Major Mustapha and his illegal politically motivated squad attacked the home of Chief Solomon Ndigbara, a former Niger Delta agitator. They burnt his home before abducting his wife and 70 other youths. The Major Mustapha illegal squad also attacked the home of Chief Ndigbara in Port Harcourt, damaging the facility. “On 13th January, 2016, the soldiers and mobile policemen were at ONELGA where they unleashed mayhem on lives and property. The residents of the area are still counting their losses,” it said. The statement alleged

that wherever ‘Mustapha’ and his team of security operatives struck, they were accompanied by known APC thugs. It further said that no amount of intimidation will make the APC to become popular in the state, saying, “Rivers people are enjoying good governance and first class performance under Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. They have therefore, committed themselves to the PDP. The statement called on Nigerians to take note of what it termed ‘unprecedented violence’ being visited on innocent Rivers people by the military and the police under the ungodly guidance of the Rivers State APC. “The National Human Rights Commission is also invited to play its role at this critical time. The affected local government areas have on their own conducted media tours of the invaded communities. The civil society is in the know of the illegal invasions of the unarmed communities. “Rivers State is PDP with Governor Wike as the people-ordained leader with the magic wand of delivery being enjoyed by the state. No amount of military/police intimidation can promote APC in the state,” it said.

Bayelsa ratifies 2016 fiscal estimate

…sets up committee on Lassa fever Osahon Julius Yenagoa

ayelsa State Executive Council has approved the 2016 fiscal estimate tagged, “Budget of Transition,” with emphasis on the completion of ongoing developmental projects in the three senatorial districts. A press statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, also stated that the 15-man emergency response team that was constituted during Ebola outbreak in the country has been put on alert in case of any possible outbreak of Lassa fever in the state. The governor said priority attention would be given to the tower and four

star hotels as well as the development of tourism, agriculture and industrialisation. Speaking with journalists alongside other members of the State Executive Council in Yenagoa, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Ambrose Akierite, said this was one of the major resolutions taken at the 55th Executive Council meeting. According to him, the budget proposal would focus on completion of ongoing projects that would generate revenue for the state, adding that the Executive Council’s decision not to embark on new capital projects was informed by the economic realities of sliding crude oil prices, which has negatively impacted on the national economy.

Speaking on the same issue, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Duate Iyabi, said the 2016 fiscal year would be targeted at completing the cargo airport, before the middle of next year. Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Esueme Dan-Kikile, added that the 2016 budget proposal would also focus on community development initiatives, particularly in boosting government’s drive on rural electrification tagged, ‘Operation Light Up Bayelsa’. In his presentation, Commissioner for Environment, Iniruo Wills, said the council decided to overhaul the waste management system and develop a multipronged approach to make waste disposal more viable. According to him, gov-

ernment will also build a waste recycling plant and embark on measures to ensure that the state’s waste disposal system becomes self-sustaining in order to relieve government of the financial burden. Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayebatonye Owei, said council deliberated on the current outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country. He said the 15-man emergency response team that was constituted during the Ebola outbreak in the country has been put on alert, in case of any possible outbreak of Lassa fever in the state. Identifying symptoms of Lassa fever to include coughing, bleeding and body weakness, Dr. Owei said the disease is being transmitted through rats.

North

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Terrorists now hide bombs in fruits –DHQ Ubong Ukpong Abuja

efence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday warned that Boko Haram terrorists now hide bombs in fruits and vegetables. In a statement through Director of Defence Information, DDI, Brig-Gen Rabe Abubakar, DHQ said terrorists have

resorted to masquerading as fruit and vegetable vendors wheeling Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, as groceries into crowded areas. “The terrorists now hide IEDs under vegetable wares in carts and wheelbarrows and move to crowded places where they detonate them for maximum casualties. “The recent terrorists attack in the North East

is a case in point. Having been effectively dislodged and decimated, the Boko Haram terror group has begun systematic isolated attacks mainly on soft targets in their des-

peration to remain relevant,” DHQ stated. It advised the general public to constantly be alert to this latest terrorist tactics and to report promptly any suspicious

persons or objects to the nearest security agency. “While commending the general public and the media for their continuous support so far, all citizens are once again

reminded that security is everybody’s concern. Therefore, they should join hands with the security agencies to eliminate the remnant of the terrorists,” it said.

Group threatens war over hijab ban Wole Adedeji Ilorin

n Islamic group in Ilorin, Kwara State, has threatened a religious war if the issue of hijab (Muslim veil) wearing is not handled cautiously by the Federal Government. The group, Muslim Media Watch Group, MMWG, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said they observed with dismay how some Muslims were made to remove their veils before being allowed into public places. Sounding furious, Abdullahi described certain people as ‘unpatriotic Nigerians’ who he said relied on the comment of President Muhammadu Buhari during his Presidential Media Chat recently that hijab might be banned if females still use the cover to unleash terror in the North East. He stated: “There were reports of some soldiers stripping women of their hijab in Lagos, denial of Muslim nurses and patients at Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, the right to dress modestly and in an Islamic manner. “In Ibadan, there were reports also of the National Identity Card Management Commission, NIMC, Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan forcing Muslim women wanting to register to remove their hijab before they could be allowed into their office.’’ Expressing his displeasure, he stated: “Religious crisis looms in Nigeria if the government watches helplessly when a group of charlatans attempt to force our Muslim women to remove their veil to satisfy their own immoral mode of

dressing. “MMWG warns that any form of molestation of any Muslim woman with hijab anywhere in this country, will henceforth attract commensurate reaction that would surprise the perpetrators. It appears some unpatriotic elements in the society want to use the issue of hijab to precipitate fresh religious crisis in Nigeria.”

Chairman, Board of Trustees, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr Babangida Aliyu (left), with Chairman, National Executve Council, Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the demise of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, in Kaduna, yesterday.

1966 coup should not be repeated –Sanusi

A za Msue Kaduna

mir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday in Kaduna State said there were signs in the country of the 1966 military coup that claimed the lives of Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and other national leaders at the time. In his message during the 50th commemoration of the death of the Sardauna, who was killed in a military coup on Jan-

uary 1, 1966, Sanusi said Nigerians have gone beyond a repeat 1966 coup, adding: “Today, history is being repeated. Though it is important that we keep history, we must not allow it to repeat itself.” The emir called on Nigerians, who are allegedly fomenting violence and disunity of the country to desist, saying, “People must not add salt to injury.” The emir noted that every section of the country had at one time tasted power and produced bad or good leader. “And therefore, we must move on as one country because we cannot fail to

learn from the past. “We cannot get back to religious and ethnic divides. We are calling for tolerance, peace, but we will not be allowed to be disrespected,” Sanusi added. The special guest of honour at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari, said the nation’s leaders at all levels must emulate the incorruptible virtues of Sardauna to move the country to greater height. Buhari, who was represented by Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said the fact that Ahmadu Bello lived and died as a poor man indicates that

the Premier was committed to the development of the North and unity of the country. Also, Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, called on northerners to stop hiding under the shadow of Sarduana, but to work and behave like him to move the region forward. The Sultan noted that there were lots of problems, particularly massive unemployment among the youth, bedevilling the north, and called on the 19 northern governors to address the challenge as soon as possible. Accepting to address the massive unemployment among youths in the

I’ll involve royal fathers in crime-fighting –Kwara CP Wole Adedeji Ilorin

ew Police Commissioner in Kwara State, Sam Okaula, has said he plans to engage traditional rulers in the battle against crime in the state. Specifically, he said he planned to implement an “intelligence-based and “community-based” po-

licing in tandem with the catch-word of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, in policing Nigeria. In his maiden meeting with the press on Thursday, CP Okaula said his intelligence-based policy would rely much on intelligence gathering, particularly from the media and members of the community that would involve traditional rulers

and community leaders in all towns and villages across the state. The CP sounded a note of warning to criminals in Kwara State, pointing out that he would bring to bear his experience from a special background in the national intelligence squad and as head of Special-Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, in Lagos. “I want to sound this

note of warning that criminals are no longer safe in the command. They should begin to have second thoughts now,” he declared. Also, Okaula said he had come to tell his officers and men that the era of corruption in the police was over, and promised to create zero atmosphere for policemen who derive pleasure in collecting bribes in the state.

region, the 19 governors, who spoke through Governor El-Rufai, said they were in agreement with what the Sultan and Emir had said about northern problems, and promised to look into them. In his address, entitled: ‘The North, 50 Years After Sir Ahmadu Bello,’ Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule lamented at problems in the north, saying they were because values left behind by Sardauna and his colleagues were thrown overboard. Ambassador Sule said: “North was not like this, we were our brothers’ keepers; we are no longer our brothers’ keepers, and things have gone astray. “We used to respect our elders and the constituted authority, but today the respect is no longer there. Today, there is chaos in politics, immorality in the society. We need leaders, not rulers. “If we follow the philosophy of Sardauna, Nigeria will be better for it. However, I can see light at the end of the tunnel for a better Nigeria under the present leadership. Nigeria will overcome its problems.”

Friday, January 15, 2016

Employment will reduce level of crime in Abia —Otti

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Politics

14/15

Aza Msue

eadership of Kaduna State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC has been summoned by Kaduna State Police Command over the suspension of Senator representing Central zone, Shehu Sani. The Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Salisu Tanko Wusono, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday said the party satisfied the police’s request regarding Sani’s suspension. The statement said: “On Wednesday, we got invitation from the police following our reaffirmation of Senator Shehu Sani’s suspension after the so-called reconciliation he spearheaded. As leaders of a disciplined party and law-abiding citizens, we honored the invitation and the police were satisfied with our presentation. “We told the police that, the 11-month suspension stands and was done in line with the party’s constitution. There is no single in-

Police summon Kaduna APC over Sani’s suspension dividual no matter his or her status that is above the party. The 11-month suspension stands and it was done in accordance with our constitution and powers vested in the leadership.” The embattled senator, who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District, had complained to the police, the party’s insistence of his suspension after intervention of the Deputy National Chairman (NorthWest), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir. Meanwhile, Kaduna State Acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Shuabu Idris, has written to the party’s national Chairman, Chief John Odigie -Oyegunto call North West National Vice Chairman, Inuwa Abdulkadir to order over his provocative statements against state officials. In a letter dated 12th

Anambra senatorial poll: Forum rally support for Ikeazor

he South-West Consultative Forum, APC Youth Vanguard and Ndigbo Youth Council have throw their weight behind former Women Leader of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor in her ambition to represent Anambra Central Senatorial District in the senate. In a release issued and signed by the President of South West Consultative Forum, Hon. Osinowo Ibrahim in Abuja yesterday, the groups said they are endorsing Ikeazor as the one to carry the APC flag in the rescheduled Anambra Central senatorial election due to hold soon . Osinowo said the groups are also calling on APC leaders in the South East including the Minister for Labour, Senator Chris Ngige to support Ikeazor who they described as a

woman of substance and a credible mind saying she has the international trust to transform Anambra Central Senatorial District and provided it with good representation in the 8th Senate. The group urged Hon. Uche Ekwunife who recently defected to the APC and is eyeing the same slot to go back to her party, the PDP to re-contest the rescheduled senatorial election. “We need to remind Ekwunife of her statement during the last presidential campaign when he called President Muhammadu Buhari a failure and called APC a party of thugs. We wish to state that leaders of Ndigbo have endorsed the change mantra of the APC and leadership of President Buhari and Barrister Ikeazor will bring the needed change to Anambra Central and south east at large”, Osinowo said.

January,2016,which was signed by State APC Acting Chairman, Alhaji Shuabu

Idris, and addressed to APC national chairman he said the party’s North West Vice

Chairman held a meeting with an illegal group and declared Senator Shehu Sani’s

suspension, done in line with the constitution of the party illegal and void.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (centre) receiving his certificate of return, shortly after winning the State re-run Governorship election from the INEC National Commissioner, South-South, Dr. Mustapha Lekky (left) at the INEC State Office in Yenagoa, while the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Rachael Dickson (right) looks on.

APGA urges FG to tighten nuzzle of corrupt practices

he National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance , APGA, Dr. Victor Ikechukwu Oye, yesterday urged the Federal Government to tighten the nuzzle of corrupt practices in the country saying this was the reason why Nigeria is lagging behind economically in the global world. Oye while speaking in Abuja further said that the situation remains this way because the past administrations didn’t do what is necessary to advance the cause of democracy and sus-

tain the economic stability in the country. He also urged the federal government to find a way round the economic difficulty in the country. He further added: “We are ready to collaborate with the government where necessary to ensure that the projection of our democracy are realised, we are saddened by the present economic situation in the country that have led to sufferings by our people. Oye also cautioned the FG to be careful with the statement made about terrorism in the North east adding that terrorism is

a global crime and the government needs to network. “ We can’t fight alone, we need to ensure that internally there is justice, internally there is equity , internally there is social environment so that companies and inter ministerial departments can produce jobs for unemployed youths . “Our youths roam the streets and engaged in the activities that have dented the image of this country. The economic architecture can’t guarantee enough jobs in the

Missing budget: Rights group demands thorough investigation Ebere Ndukwu

entre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ, a Nigerian human rights group has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to tell Nigerians the whereabouts of the 2016 Fiscal Budget recently submitted to the National Assembly, saying that there should be thorough investigation on the remote cause

of the missing budget. The group gave 48 hours ultimatum to the authority concerned to return the original hard and soft copies of the 2016 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly last December for proper deliberation. The group which made this call in a statement issued and signed by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman alleged that the President must

have submitted an empty box to the National Assembly during the recent presentation of the Budget to the lawmakers at the National Assembly complex. Comrade Sulaiman said, “It was unbelievable for the document to be missing in the National Assembly that is charged with the responsibility of making the 2016 Budget into law before expenditure in the current fiscal year.”

The rights activist noted that it was a shame on the part of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for not being able to track their purported “Budget of Change” before disappearance from the National Assembly, describing the act of conspiracy as barbaric, illegal, unlawful, ungodly, anti-masses, aberration, anathema and abomination which was a crime against humanity.

Politics

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Employment will reduce

On the 31st of December, 2015, Dr. Alex Otti, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA was declared the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary election in Abia State by the Court of Appeal which sat in Owerri, Imo State. With the declaration, the reign of Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was terminated. In an interaction with journalists in Lagos, Otti spoke on, among other issues, his chances of winning again at the Supreme Court where Ikpeazu is already challenging the verdict of the Appeal Court. SAKIBU OLOKOJOBI reports. Excerpts: The judgement of the Appeal Court declaring you the winner of the 2015 Abia State governorship election has been criticized by some lawyers while there was a protest on the streets. What is your reaction to these? Let me correct the impression that the judgement has been criticized by senior lawyers. That is not true. Yes, there have been some hatchet men who were recruited by the present government of Abia State to go on rampage. They started by organising people to protest on the streets and you would recall that that was 48 hours after the judgement. The judgement was greeted with spontaneous jubilation across the length and breadth of Abia State. If you were in Abia like I was, there was tumultuous celebration of that judgement and it is understood why there would be that celebration because Abia State indigenes and those who live in Abia State voted for me. I received a lot of text messages and e-mails, and one thing that underscored those messages was “we know who we voted for.” Everybody knows that I won that election. So, people were very happy with the verdict, but as an after-thought, 48 hours later, the PDP government held meetings and later decided that they were going to protest the judgement and there was no less a person to lead that protest than the former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara. I do not want to talk much about him, but the only thing that I can say is that we know that senior citizens should live in a way that people will like to emulate them. Understandably he was securing his source of livelihood. So, it was an arranged protest. I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that Abia people voted for me and they are looking forward to the time I will take over the leadership of that state and begin to develop the state like I promised them. What is your expectation from the Supreme Court, considering that the tribunal gave the victory to Ikpeazu before that was upturned by the Appeal Court? I do not see that the Supreme Court will not uphold the judgement of the Appeal Court because it was a well-grounded judgement that they gave. The major issues

are very clear. If you go by the registered voters, there were about 1.3 million registered voters in Abia State from 17 local governments. PDP knew they were not going to win that election. So, all they did was to isolate three local governments that they used to perpetrate fraud - Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North. On the day of the election, they removed the original result sheets for ward and local government collation for the three local governments and they packed them in Government House; we have this on good authority. All what they did was that on the day of the election, they ensured that there was maximum violence in the three local governments. What they did was wait for the collation to start. At the 14th local government, I was leading with about 60,500 votes and they quickly filled those original result sheets that they had taken from INEC in collusion with corrupt INEC officials and forced them into the collation centres. So, that was exactly what happened. Those results from Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North were fake results written in Government House with the active connivance of the former governor, Theodore Orji, and all the PDP people and forced them into the collation centre. The returning officer, with all the complaints that there were no elections in all those places, he quickly announced that he was cancelling those local governments. PDP with its impunity, led by Theodore Orji and Olisa Metuh, who is now in detention, stormed the collation centre in a brazen manner, took the returning officer upstairs with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, stayed with them for about 45 minutes with a retinue of policemen and all kinds of people; they intimidated them. By the time the men came back, they were panicky and the returning officer grabbed the microphone and reversed himself. He now collated those result that he had earlier cancelled. The question is: Did this people win election? They did not! And when you don’t win an election, the right thing to do is to concede to the man that won election instead of using all kinds of tactics. Having done that, they continued and collated the results and declared them winner. Then, I went to court and at the lower tribunal, the judges misun-

Otti derstood the case and gave a judgement in their favour. I pressed on. We didn’t call people to the streets; we have more people than PDP in Abia State. People wanted to protest and I told them nobody should protest because the case was already at the court. We moved to the Court of Appeal where we got judgement in our favour. The PDP criticised the composition of the Appeal Court judges in your case. They said it was largely made up of members from the Lagos axis and you, being a Lagos based man, may be favoured. What is your reaction? I saw the petition that they wrote and it came barely 24 hours before the panel sat and quite frankly, I don’t know what to react. I don’t know how panels are set up. I understand it is the president of the Court of Appeal that sets up panels; may be when you see her, you should ask her. The reality is that the Court of Appeal is the Court of Appeal. If you followed a case that Governor Wike filed that went up to the Supreme Court, I believe when that case was decided, the Supreme Court said, Court of Appeal is Court of Appeal, ir-

There have been threats to my life, but

I don’t

have any fear

I’m a child of God

because

respective of where you sit. So, if they decide to sit in Abuja or Port Harcourt or anywhere, that is the prerogative of the Court of Appeal. My reaction would be that PDP, unfortunately, is not in a position to determine the membership of the panel of the Court of Appeal, neither was I in a position to do that. I know the chairman of the panel does not come from Lagos except if they have just transferred her to Lagos. The last time I checked, she was the presiding judge in Benue division in Makurdi. So, I don’t know what they are talking about. But they know that the mandate they are exercising is stolen and they will like to hold on to anything to make a point or case.

I am sure they found out that they would not be able to do the wrong thing with the panel. In fact, when I read the petition, what came to my mind was that (that petition came the Saturday or Sunday before the Monday they sat) some of these cases, if you don’t handle them expeditiously, may expire. Within 60 days, if the matter is not decided, that is it. Just like the Supreme Court matter now – From 31 of December, you just count 60 days. Whatever happens, is going to be the end. I think it may be a ploy to get the case expire without the Court of Appeal looking at it (because it would mean disbanding the panel and setting up another one). The judges said they were justices of the Court of Appeal and they were going to hear it, that it was not for them to decide the membership of the panel or for me. Has there been any threat to your life? There have been threats to my life, but I don’t have any fear because I’m a child of God and my Bible says, touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm. There have been attempts to eliminate me and those attempts have failed and they will continue to fail. I’m

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Friday, January 15, 2016

level of crime in Abia —Otti

sure you must have known about the one that happened in Abuja. I was in the place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday morning, God told me to relocate to another town and I left. Thursday night, over ten men stormed my residence, killed my mobile policeman and turned the place upside-down. It was God that took me away and He will continue to protect me.

Some have argued that this is not the best of time to be a governor, considering the state of the economy. What is then driving your aspiration for the position? This is the time for uncommon people to come into governance – people who have things to deliver. It is not going to be a tea party, and I know that. I have come to face the challenge. I was reading the newspaper the other day and somebody said she was supporting me because I can read the Balance Sheet. People who can’t read the balance sheet should not even aspire to lead a state or hold any position of leadership because this is a challenging time. It is time for creative people who have something to offer; people who know what to do without necessarily going to Abuja cap in hand for allocations only to bring it back and share it among loyalists. I am aware of the enormous challenges. It took about eight months for the consultant that I hired to do a study of Abia State to complete work. When the result came, I was shocked at the level of rot and the infrastructural decay; the lack of direction that had been the lot of the state in the last 16 years. Hospitals are in terrible shape; there are no roads; Aba is gone completely; Umuahia is a glorified village. This is the time for those who have something to offer to come in. If you had read a little bit about me, you will know that I thrive under a circumstance like this. I’m blessed to make something out of nothing. Yes, I do know how bad it is, and I do also understand where oil price is today and how the federal allocation has gone down. I also do know that our people are very creative people; all that they require from government is the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive. Once you are able to give them good roads, you are able to give them water, you are able to give them electricity, you provide security for them, you give good hospital, you ensure that quality and quantity of educational facilities are in top shape, then the place will do well. It is no longer a tea party. What would be your area of focus if you eventually win? I’ve just itemized it. There is absolutely nothing on ground; even Government House does not exist. So, it is a bad situation and I would like to invite people to visit Abia State; there is nothing. You need to see the condition under which people live in the state. All the things that I’ve just talked about are the things that I will have to tackle. Youths

Otti are basically, to a large extent, unemployed because the few industries that used to be in Abia and Umuaha have all left. There were governments at the time and they were watching. As they moved away, they moved away with your internally generated revenue; they moved away with the employment they were generating; they moved away with the contribution they were making to the economy because people didn’t know what to do. People who came to power were not prepared for leadership. Today, to qualify for a local government chairman in Abia State, you must be a thug; you must be willing to remove your shirt and fight on the streets; you must be willing to win election by all means, including killing people. So, those are the things we need to exterminate. That is why I make bold to tell you that Abia people were very happy with my entrance into the race and they voted for me. Abia State was at a time the den of kidnappers and that was one of the reasons some of the companies relocated. I want you to let us into your blueprint on security and power. Also, you just said the governors in the past did not really do well. Do you intend probing them to account for the allocation they got? You are very right. Majority of the companies relocated because of insecurity. The problem of insecurity needs to be tackled from the root. A lot of people who get involved in criminal activities could be re-orientated, particularly, if

they have skills, if they have where to channel their energy; most importantly if you have jobs for them. So, job creating is key to eradicating insecurity. Unfortunately, it is a vicious circle reinforcing each other. By the time you have insecurity, it leads to more insecurity, more people get involved and because of that insecurity, the companies that operate will relocate and unemployment becomes the order of the day. Unemployment will now give rise to the reserved army that will be used to reinforce insecurity. So, you need to break that chain at some point. What we need to do in the first place is to ensure that people are able to get something to do. Think of somebody who has a 9to 5 jobs. By the time he comes back, he is tired and goes to rest and looks forward to the next morning to go back to work. He is also sure that his source of livelihood is guaranteed. That population that you have taken off the street and given a source of livelihood will not be available for crime and criminality. The second thing is also to ensure that government goes into programmes, including agriculture, micro, small and medium scale enterprises and all those kinds of things that will get people to be self-employed. And of course, there is a little percentage of people who are criminals by their nature. You will now deploy the power of the state to fight them. So, you need to remove those ones that are circumstantial criminals out of the bucket and the people that are left; you fight them. You will rather exterminate them or they relocate. What would you say about your plan for power? Yes, talking about power…. Power is a major one. Fortunately or unfortunately, there are two power plants in Abia State. I believe that when I come in, I will be able to put more life into them. There is a blueprint as to what to do. You talked about previous governments and probing. Everybody should be accountable. I may not call it probe, but if there is evidence that somebody made away with money that does not belong to him, he will have to be called upon to give account, just as it is happening at the centre. I also believe that that is one of the reasons why the so called elites are fighting me, because they know it can no longer be business as usual; the stipends that some of them used to collect, they won’t collect any longer. Some of them had, before the election came to me to say, there is this blood tonic (that is what they call it) that the previous government used to give to them that I should confirm that I would still be giving them. My response was that I wouldn’t do that. The days that you were sharing the collective patrimony of Abia people are over. So, I will not call it probe, but I will ensure that government monies they were frittered away are recovered into the coffers. It will be a veritable source. People who had taken our collective money away need to return them. Quite frankly, they can start returning them now before I come.

Bayelsa poll not in conformity with international standard — Observers Osahon Julius YENAGOA

oalition of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Accredited Observer Groups, yesterday condemned the violence and electoral malpractices that pervaded the just-concluded Bayelsa State Governorship poll of 5th and 6th December,2015 and 9th January, 2016, saying the exercise did not conform to internationally acceptable standards. The verdict was contained in a 10-point communique issued on

Thursday in Yenagoa. Leader of the coalition and Director-General, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, Gabriel Nwambu, who read the communiqué, said the Bayelsa governorship poll was marred by monumental violence before and during the exercise. He said the people of the state were disenfranchised by acts of bloodletting, thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes and kidnapping of INEC personnel across the state. “The INEC ensured timely arrival of voting

materials in the upland areas with some noted delays in most of the riverine (area) which was precipitated by hijacking of electoral materials including hostage-taking of electoral officials in the 5 and 6 December 2015 election which violates clearly fundamental principles of democratic rule in line with global best practices of transparent, free, fair and credible process of election. “This election was characterised by massive thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes as well as pre-election violence and

election-related violence especially in Nembe-Bassambiri Ward 1, Unit 022, Ward 6, Units 004, 005, 013 and Ward 9, Units 002 and 015. “Materials for Constituency 2, Southern Ijaw, was snatched by thugs and taken to unknown destination. “In Ukubie and Azuzuama communities of Southern Ijaw, no electoral materials were seen. The people were disenfranchised. “In Brass Local Government Area, material meant for Cape Formosa Area made up of Egweama, Beletiama and

Liama were snatched to unknown destination. “Minibie in Akassa area of Brass was not left out in the ballot box snatching. Electorate in Units 2,4,13 and 15 were also deprived of voting due to massive violence and ballot box snatching. “Materials for Nembe Wards 6 and 9 were also hijacked”, Nwambu said. The coalition however commended INEC for a job well-done and absolved it of any blame in the massive violence that tainted the Bayelsa exercise, stressing that the commission was saddled with the man-

agement of election and not the enforcement of the law. “We as a Coalition of INEC Accredited Observer Groups hereby adjudge that although the process was characterised by massive violence, thuggery, ballot box snatching, it must be noted that the INEC is an electoral management body and NOT a security/law enforcement agency. “Consequently, the entire process as demonstrated by INEC was transparent, free, fair and credible”, the coalition stated.

Editorial

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, CFR PUBLISHER

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR OBIORA IFOH ACTING ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF

Demolition of Owonifari Market, Oshodi R eports said thousands of traders wept and gnashed their teeth following the Wednesday, January 6 demolition by the Lagos State Government of the Owonifari Main Market in Oshodi, one of the busiest and notorious spots in the heart of Lagos metropolis. Many traders claimed they lost goods worth billions of naira to the bulldozers and debris. They claimed the state government breached a subsisting court injunction against the demolition; and threatened to go to court to seek for N20billion compensation as redress for their goods purportedly destroyed. An intriguing dimension was also added to the saga by Igbo traders in the market, who claimed the demolition was targeted at them as political pay-back. They supported the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s general elections. The state government, at a recent inter-ministerial media briefing, however, denied destroying the goods of the traders. The Commissioner for information, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the intention was not to destroy properties or to make life inconvenient for them; while the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, stated that the night before the demolition, all the occupants had moved to a new market - the Ultra Modern

Isopakodowo Market, Bolade, also in Oshodi - where traders from Owonifari Market were asked to relocate to - except one that called from the East to say he went to bury his late mother. “For that one, we had to evacuate his properties and they are safe with us”, Adejare said. The new market is said to be having a stall capacity of over 600 shops and kee clamps that can bring the total number of traders the market can take to 1000. The government was also said to have agreed to subsidize payment for the shops by giv¬ing them out at a generous monthly rent of N5,000 each to the traders. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Nkechi Chukwueke, a lawyer of Igbo extraction that served as Special Assistant on Women Ethnic Group Mobilisation/Empowerment to former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, also told newsmen that the demolition was not targeted at any particular tribe; and that the traders were given long enough notice to relocate, but to no avail. Mr. Ayorinde indicated that the issue of relocating the traders was on the front burner for roughly a decade. “… There has been back-and-forth engagement between the state government and the leadership of the mar-

THE STATE

GOVERNMENT…

SHOULD STRIVE WITH POISE TO DOUSE ALL ANIMOSITIES AND

GRUDGES BEING NURSED BY THE VICTIMS OF THE EXERCISE ket. But in the last three years, the leadership of the market has refused to relocate”, he said. The aim of the government, he says, is to ensure that the area housing the demolished market “conforms with the type of image that we want Lagos to be, which is to return sanity to the place, to beautify the market, to construct a world class bus terminus around that place and to ensure that people who use that place on daily basis – commuters, traders, everybody, enjoy what it means to go to a market in a mega city”. The complain of the traders prior to the demolition, however, was that whereas the Owonifari Market accommodated about 5000 traders, the new one has slots for just 600, excluding the kee clamps. Besides, they lament their common experience, where new or reconstructed markets are priced out of the reach of the original occupants, leading to the

ON THIS DAY January 15, 1970 Nigerian Civil War: After a 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria, Biafra surrendered. The Nigerian Civil War (July 6, 1967 – January 15, 1970) was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession of the southeastern provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed Republic of Biafra. The conflict was the result of economic, ethnic, cultural and religious tensions among the various peoples of Nigeria.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

January 15, 2009 United States’ Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York. However, all passengers and crew members survived. US Airways Flight 1549 was an Airbus A320-200, registered N106US, operating a US Airways scheduled domestic commercial passenger flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Washington.

hijack of such markets by fresh, money bag-traders that have links with people in government. Therefore, while government’s desire to make Oshodi wear a new look is a welcome development, it should not discountenance these fears of the traders, as well as their phobia to move to a new location that is not as central as the Owonifari Market. More importantly, perhaps, the government should demonstrate untainted sincerity and transparency in the monthly rent and the allocation process. Since the accommodation capacity of the new market is smaller than the space in the demolished one, the scramble for shops cannot be ruled out; and corrupt officials may raise the rent above N5000 per month through the back door to frustrate traders from the old market that do have sufficient funds. This the Lagos State Government should guard against. It may also be imperative for the government to search for another location to accommodate the excess number that may not find a place at all at the new market at the end of the day. Since the state government said the demolition was meant to usher in development and redefine Oshodi, it should strive with poise to douse all animosities and grudges being nursed by the victims of the exercise.

x January 15, 2013 A train carrying Egyptian Army recruits derailed near Giza, Greater Cairo, killing 19 people and injuring 120 others. The army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces; and is the largest army in both the Middle East and Africa. It numbers around 468,500 personnel, with about 1,000,000 reservists, all totalling 1,468,500; and was established during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha (1805-1849).

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, January 15, 2016

Resolving the nation’s insurgency predicament Counter-terrorism Tips With

Ethelbert Oney ethelbertoney@zissltd.com, 08029929121 (sms only)

igeria has arrayed a broad range of counterterrorism efforts to keep her safe from Boko Haram. Our investments in such efforts have prevented catastrophic attacks and reasonably degraded BH’s core leadership. But as we look around the world, we continue to see terrorist attacks and acts of violent extremism from a more diffuse and decentralized set of threats. The threat of BH globally highlights that while military action, border security, intelligence collection, and police work are critical parts of a comprehensive counterterrorism approach, they alone are insufficient. The innocent times of the past parents and grandparents relished to talk about have ceased to exist, as insecurity, uncertainty, fear and alarmism pervade our clime. With the countless number of attacks on innocent citizens, one can never be sure of safety anywhere. These ugly situations have prompted national, regional and international concerns to strengthen security and form alliances in order to fight Boko Haram sect with a global reach. We can borrow ideas from some of the

successful counterterrorism programmes of some democratic nations. We could take solace from France’s footsteps in building public support for its counterterrorism strategies. We should not continue to follow the George Bush hawkish style of counterterrorism by denying suspects access to court and having a network of secret prisons etc. If treated as yet another resource, public support can be a valuable asset to the government, especially from a counterterrorism point of view. In lieu of the previous recommendation, the Federal Government could opt to increase the spending on public diplomacy in order to enhance our global image. From statistics, Nigeria spends on public diplomacy less than one quarter of what it spends on defence. Projecting a positive image to the world is vital because true representation of Nigeria efforts to eliminate BH and not Muslim ideologies, would make it difficult to induce hatred and negativity in potential terrorists. In another development, the use of criminal justice system; dispersion strategy Spain applied to ensure that prisoners were unable to communicate with each other and their families by detaining them in distant prisons, rendered substantial success. If we can put similar policies into effect to isolate suspected BH members from their communities, it would deter their efforts to continue plotting devious attacks from detention as has always been the case. Because it is one thing to have terrorist sus-

AN IDEOLOGICAL OR INTELLIGENCE WAR CAN NEVER BE WON WITH GUNS pects in prison and another to control their operations whilst in detention. We may have to look into the approach of introducing religious rehabilitation groups, not just for the sake of it or maybe to prove to the international community that we are doing something, but for its uniqueness in dealing with Muslims without hurting their sentiments. Trying to understand BH’s mindset and providing psychological and emotional support to the families of the detainees is an investment with long-term benefits for the country. This programme has already caught the attention of some counterterrorism experts, scholars and academicians, who pointed out its usefulness in understanding terrorist mindset. To succeed here, we must be willing to think like BH to a large extent. The legitimizing of violence by terrorists through theological and religious arguments can never be justified. We need to deliberately harness theological counter-arguments to understand the mindset of the sect’s leadership. We may have to actively enlist moderate clerics to help get insight into their mindsets and then to use the information so gathered to construct very effective in-

Informed consent in medical ethics ADEKEYE VICTOR IFEDAYO

atient Autonomy Births Informed Consent, Usually The End Product Of The Right Of A Patient To Choose His Preferred Medical Treatment. In Medical Ethics This Principle Obligates Medical Practitioners To Expressly Inform Patients Of Their Treatment Options, Associated Risks, And Benefits Of Each Medical Procedure To Be Adhered To, So As To Guide/Support Them In Making A Decision. In Guiding Them, Medical Practitioners Should Avoid Influencing Or Interfering With The Patients’ Free Will And Power To Make Any Decision. It Is Germane To Note That Informed Consent Is Not The Mere Completion Of The Hospital Informed Consent Form As Applicable In Most Hospitals; Informed Consent Requires The Explanation Of Each Medical Procedure To Be Admitted To Such Patient At Each Stage And As The Treatment Of The Patient Progresses. A Pre-Signed Informed Consent Form In Medical Malpractice Case Is Born Out Of Defect In Obtaining Consent Of Patients. Informed Consent Requires A Full And Complete Disclosure Of The Medical Treatment, The Steps, The Risks, The Alternatives And Reasonable Expectation Of The Treatment. Medical Practitioner Should Deter From Using Tough Medical Terms When Explaining To A Patient, It Is Important That They Come Down To The Lowest Possible Level In Explaining To Patients So As To Aid/Ease The Patient’s Decision Making Effort. Before The Right Of Informed Consent Can Be Exercised, There Are Certain Factors That

INFORMED CONSENT IS NOT THE MERE COMPLETION OF THE HOSPITAL INFORMED CONSENT FORM AS APPLICABLE IN MOST HOSPITALS Must Be Present. These Factors Include The Capacity To Consent, Full Disclosure Of Relevant Information, Patient’s Comprehension And Voluntary Decision. The Capacity To Consent Preaches That A Patient Giving Consent Must Be One Without Any Legal Disability, Such As Insanity And Youthful Age. Full Disclosure Obligates Medical Practitioners To Disclose In Full Details Of Such Treatment To The Patient. These Details Include The Risks, The Procedures, The Benefits, The Alternatives Of Such Medical Treatment And Any Other Expedient Information Needed In Helping The Patient Decide. The Medical Practitioner Is Also Duty Bound To Alert The Patient Of His Right To Decline Such Medical Treatment. Another Important Factor Is Patient Comprehension. For A Patient To Adequately Make A Decision, He/She Must Have Understood The Medical Practice And The Need For It; Medical Practitioners Are To Carefully Explain These Treatment In Layman Language So That Patient Can Comprehend And Make Accurate Decisions; Patients Should Be Allowed To Ask Questions. Finally, The Most Vital Factor Is Voluntary Decision; It Is Expedient That Medical Practitioners Allow Patients To

Make Decisions To Take Any Medical Treatment Independently Without Any Interference Or Undue Influence From The Medical Practitioner Or Any Staff Of The Hospital. It Is Also Ethically Wrong To Induce A Close Relation To Influence The Patient’s Decision Making; The Making Of This Decision Must Exclusively Be That Of The Patient. These Factors Are Pertinent In Obtaining Accurate Consent. Informed Consent Is Pinned On The Right Of An Individual Adult With Sound Mind To Determine The Treatment To Be Administered To His/Her Body. Informed Consent Like Patient Autonomy Has The Human Right And Constitutional Backing Of The Right To Human Dignity Enshrined In Chapter Iv Of The Constitution Of Federal Republic Of Nigeria. Despite The Expediency Of This Principle To Medical Practice Coupled With Its Constitutional Backing, It Is Unfortunate That Most Medical Practitioners Do Not Adhere To It. Nigerian Hospitals Have Been Soiled With The “Your-Doctor-Knows-Best” Sentiments, And This Has Played A Major Role In Frustrating The Application Of Informed Consent In This Hospital. In A Recent Research Carried Out By Osime Et All At The University Of Benin, Results Shows That Only Four Percent Of The Patients’ Consent Were Obtained Before The Medical Treatment Was Administered On Them. Despite The Constitutional Backing Of Informed Consent, There Are Still Exceptions To This Principle As There Are Situations Where It Is Ethically Acceptable To Dispense With This Principle And Administer Medical Treatments To Patients Without Their Consent. Circumstances Such As Emergency, Life/ Death Situations, When Patients Are Unable

formation and psychological operations against the sect. Although, a reasonable amount of counterterrorism experts do not completely believe in rehabilitating terrorists, there are definitely advantages for sending renowned and respected Muslim figures to attempt to rectify their misconstrued concept of religion. I believe this strategy is worth a try, even if on an experimental basis. Preventing radicalisation and recruitment by curbing hate speech and literature should be encouraged. The use of loudspeakers in the mosques to preach peace and love should be part of the responsibilities the clerics should carry. Even if anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regimes are reformed, little can be done so long as we fail to suppress this violent-extremist group and their affiliates through the use of diplomacy. An ideological or intelligence war can never be won with guns. Past deployment of this strategy ended in fiasco until new strategies were put into action. We can still come off the BH menace by trying any of the above-mentioned strategies. Those that die while performing their constitutional duties for their country are someone else’s sons, husbands, brothers, in-laws, sisters and mothers. If the raging insurgency is conclusively resolved by applying a successful strategy other than an offensive one, peace will surely come and the Boko Haram threats will become history like in other countries referenced above.

To Make A Decision As Regards The Treatment, Whereas Delay Might Cause Permanent Damage Or Lead To The End Of Such Patient’s Life. It Will Be Ethically Wrong And A Breach Of The Medical Ethics Of Beneficence If Such The Patient Is Refused Treatment Based On The Inability To Give Consent. In This Situation, The Medical Practitioner Guided By The Beneficence Duty Chooses The Best Mode Of Treatment For The Patient. Other Exceptions Include Voluntary Waiver, Young Age And Unavailability Of Next Of Kin. With These Exceptions, Medical Practitioners Must Administer Treatment To The Patient Even With The Absence Of Informed Consent As Long As It Is For The Benefit Of The Patient. A Patient Who Suffers The Breach Of The Informed Consent Can File An Action For Tort And Recover Damages. He Can Also File As An Infringement Of Fundamental Human Rights Action In Nigerian Courts. Medical Malpractice Complaint Can Also Be Filed Before The Medical And Dental Disciplinary Tribunal. The Acceptance Of Informed Consent Is Owed To Human Rights Principle That Gives Each Person The Right To His Or Her Body And Procedures To Be Administered To It During Treatment. Adekeye Is A Lagos-Based Medical Law Practitioner Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Friday, January 15, 2016

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On MOSOP’s ultimatum to FG

T For Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas

f representation of a people is a yardstick for assessing performance, then Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas fits such quintessential leader. This is because of the fact that in less than seven months in the House of Representatives as the member representing Ganye, Toungo, Jada, and Mayo-Belwa Federal Constituency, he has proved to even the undiscerning minds that he is a sincere person entrusted with the sacred mandate of his people. Hon. Namdas has so far committed himself to the delivering of the dividends of democracy to his people. Within a spate of seven months in the House, he has assiduously made a great impact in the wellbeing of people of his constituency. Hon. Namdas also extended similar gestures to the people of Nada and Mayo-Belwa. For the rural farmers in these communities he has distributed agricultural inputs, including fertilizers to ease their problems of poor harvest. He has so far done remarkably well for his constituents, who stood in the scorching sun to cast their votes for him during the last general elections. I am rest assured that during the lifespan of his first term in office, more dividends of democracy would have reached the people of his constituency. Usman Santuraki, Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola (08032333546)

he situation in Ogoni is very pathetic. Pains, anger, frustration, sicknesses, malnutrition and poverty are dominant with no signs of relief. The memories of statesponsored persecution live with us and successive governments continue to prosecute the agenda of hatred against the Ogoni. The people have been underestimated, considered to be small and weak, and adjudged incapable of any negative impact on the economy. This contemplation has empowered our tormentors to unleash the most inhuman treatment on the Ogoni. In a supposed federation of 36

Letters to the Editor

rights, Ogoni leaders in 1990 came up with a historic document, The Ogoni Bill of Rights, which spells out their demands on the Nigerian federation. Nigeria did nothing to address the issues and a series of protests from the Ogoni were to follow. The protests were targeted at Shell’s racist business practices in Ogoni. Shell’s usual response was to invite the Nigerian security forces whose ruthlessness left the Ogoni with an unending pain. Thousands killed, women rapped, children killed and abused, thousands imprisoned and living conditions only get worse. Ogoni had been battered by a government that

Okpa Sellers waiting for buyers at the new Peace motor park in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Curbing NURTW’s menace in Ogbomosho

ith the pragmatic steps taken by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to curb the excesses of the members of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state, steps that have actually succeeded in putting an end

Ikpeazu’s ouster good for Abians

he last December annulment of the election victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State should make many people of the state happy, because obviously the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 2015 governorship election and the party’s stalwarts connived to rob the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the said election, Mr Alex Otti, of his victory. Governor Ikpeazu has stated his resolve to take the case to the Supreme Court. I dare say it is his constitutional right to do

states, the Ogoni do not have a state of their own. The right to self determination enjoyed by the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria is denied the Ogoni. The revenue generated from Ogoni is more than those of 20 states in Nigeria, yet the Ogoni, a distinct people with unique language and culture, are not allowed to determine their future in their own state. Ogoni is not cared for, is denied everything enjoyed by the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria and subjected to the most inhuman conditions that assure them of no future. Death is for Nigeria, the sure end of the Ogoni. In seeking to reclaim their

so. He is free to do as he feels, but I doubt if this would change anything. I, however, appeal to Abians to keep calm and be law abiding until the highest court in the land rules on the case. All I know is that the time has come when godfathers, godmothers, godsons and goddaughters and the intelligentsia class in the state should be stripped of the unmerited privileges of using their status to rape the state, thus denying Abia the needed development. Gorodon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia, Abia State

to violence, arson, killing and restlessness that characterized the activities of the road transport union in the past, many believe that the NURTW members have turned a new leaf. However, the killing of a produce merchant, Azeez Suleman Bada, at Sekoni Junction, Ogbomoso on January 04, 2016 by some members of this union showed that it is not yet uhuru. Eye witness accounts of the incident have that the NURTW members, in a Mazda Saloon car with the inscription Jagunmolu Asa of Yorubaland on its plate number, had hit a boy at Osupa Elemu Junction of the town and did not stop. Azeez Suleman Bada, who was said to be riding a motorcycle and witnessed the incident, pursued the car and informed the occupants of their action. The occupants of the car, who were said to be wearing some black magic rings in their fingers, alight-

ed and slapped Bada. Instantaneously, Bada’s tongue was said to begin to sprout out. He was said to have died before any assistance could come his way. It was reported that the police arrested some suspects; but the fear of many is that once politicians come into the matter, it would be swept under the carpet. This piece is, therefore, to call on the authorities to strive to get justice for Bada and his dependants, who include an aged mother, wife and many children. My appeal is appeal goes to Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to see to it that the killers of Bada are brought to book so as to serve as deterrence to others. Unless this is done, the killing spree will continue. Comrade John Talabi, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

should have protected them. The climax was the November 10, 1995 hanging of nine of our leaders including Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Rev. John Kpuinen, Ken Saro-Wia and six others. Convicted by their conscience, the Nigerian government ordered an environmental audit of Ogoniland and on August 4, 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) released the audit report on Ogoni environment. The UNEP report represented the first major success for the Ogoni as a scientific study by an independent body justifying the complaints of environmental damage leveled against Shell Petroleum Company. Shell had operated in Ogoni for over 50 years and left nothing other than a completely devastated land. The U.N report said the pollution of Ogoniland would take 30 years to cleanup. Prior to this report, Shell had persistently claimed innocence of any wrongdoing in Ogoni. Over four years later, the Nigerian government is yet to implement the report. The non-implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland points to the fact that the Nigerian government is indeed committed to the systematic destruction of Ogoni. The government has taken over 30 billion dollars worth of oil between 1958 and 1990 and has left oil spills to damage the area without any positive response. The 30 day ultimatum issued by MOSOP on January 4, 2016 in Bori, calling for urgent action to implement the Ogoni environmental audit report or face series of mass action has come at the right time. MOSOP has spoken the minds of the Ogoni people. A people with no other alternative than to match against genocide and confront a seemingly insensitive Nigerian government. Ogonis cannot wait to see everyone die before they move to save and secure their future. We have a responsibility to stop the genocide! With two refineries, two seaports and two power plants in Ogoniland, I am sure the government cannot risk an “occupy campaign” from Ogoni. Ogonis will consider occupying the oil and gas free zone, seaports and refineries endlessly until we are heard. We will come out with our food stuffs, cloths and take over these territories to force the Nigerian government to act now. The time to act is now. The Nigerian government has to address the Ogoni problem, beginning with the cleanup of the environment. Fegalo Nsuke is Publicity Secretary, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)

Send your letters The Editor reserves thethe right letters or or mails mailsto toPMB PMB10001, 10001,Ikoyi, Ikoyi,or orour our Email: Email:mirrorlagos@yahoo.com mirrorlagos@yahoo.comand andinfo@nationalmirroronline.net info@nationalmirroronline.netoror08056180209, 08054103275,07033375481 07033375481(SMS (SMSonly). only). The Editor reserves right to to edit and reject letters photographs. Psuedonyms may used, must clearly marked such. edit and reject letters or or photographs. Psuedonyms may bebe used, butbut must bebe clearly marked asas such.

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National Theatre: Stakeholders rue privatisation plans Isiguzo Destiny

WEEKEND STARTERS

‘Beyond Blood’ premieres in Lagos

enowned television producer and filmmaker, Greg Odutayo has announced that his latest work, Beyond Blood will premiere at Silverbird Cinema, Victoria Island, Lagos today, January 15, 2016. The movie, according to him chronicles the ills in our society and the world at large. This include Human Trafficking, Prostitution, Drug addiction, AIDS, Homosexuality, gangs and a culture that legitimises tyranny and injustice especially of women trapped in the vagrancies of culture and tradition. Beyond Blood was shot in four languages: English, Pidgin, French and Yoruba languages with Beyond Blood subtitles. It was shot in Lagos, Nigeria and London, UK. Besides Kehinde Bankole who played Moji, it also starred Bimbo Manuel, Caroline King, Joseph Benjamin, and Francis Onwochei amongst others.

Theatre to its pride of place and make it more user friendly. We will also ensure that the management engages with stakeholders in order to increase the patronage of the various facilities at the complex”. No matter the promises, it seems Nigerians are not disposed to anything that will change the status of the National Theatre from public facility to a private facility. Privatisation is a term that Nigerians have difficulty to terms with because of the experiences they’ve had with different Nigerian institutions that have been privatised.

African acts on Soundcity Festival

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hands of the private. This will kill art and limit expression because as a public monument, the place is where artistes can easily access monetarily. Government can leave it the way it is and even invest in the theatre”. Lai Mohammed argued that “It is totally unacceptable that fun-seeking individuals who throng the National Theatre for relaxation during festive periods or at any time will become the victims of attacks by hoodlums. We will work with the security agencies, especially the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to upgrade security at the National Theatre. It is also important for the management of the complex to ensure that its perimeter is better secured to ward off hoodlums. We will restore the National

t is called the SoundCity Urban Blast Festival. This year’s version is beyond the musical performances as they are putting together a festival that will show every inch to the world. With every of the biggest African acts billed to share a single stage on the day, this is set to be the biggest event this year. The event is at the new Landmark venue, Oniru Lagos Nigeria.

P.20. 21

main within that confined and not yield to the temptation of Jack and his many trades. Is the National Theatre to be converted to a shopping mall as proposed by previous government or the hotel business as proposed by you is the hallmark of this engagement?” A theatre practitioner who begged for anonymity said that for him, Lai Mohammed has worsened the issue. He based his skepticism on the fact that every private institution is geared towards profit making especially when it is not a non-profit organisation. According to him, “privatisation or any partnership with the private spells danger for art and culture because some of these artistes may not afford the prices attached to the use of the facility especially when it is in the

Critics

National Theatre inset Lai Mohammed

Inside FCT

P.28. 29

Arty News

he fear over the sale of the National Theatre may have gone with the winds with the statement of the Minister of Information and Culture that the national cultural edifice is not for sale. But there are lingering doubts in what most stakeholders call the commercialisation of a historical and national monument which over the years has been a symbol of art and culture in Nigeria. It will be recalled that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed obliterated the rumour that the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Aminu Diko and others were in an unclear arrangement over the sale of National Theatre. The statement of the culture minister who admitted that the National Theatre will be commercialised attracted the anger of many Nigerians who are of the view that there should be no form of commercialization attached to the place while others argued that the place is a place of artistic expression and shouldn’t be left in the hands of the private who will limit artistic participation with unaffordable price tags. The minister said, “But we are not averse to a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) arrangement that will add value to the iconic (National Theatre) complex”. Reacting to the issue, Olatunbosun Taofeek, Public Relation Officer, South of Association of Nigerian Authors was disenchanted over the confusion the issue has generated. Taofeek who is also a playwright lamented that “we cannot be taken to the butcher for dress making and yet someone keeps telling us we are going for sewing. The National Theatre is made for arts and let every moves re-

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Friday , January 15, 2016

Flavour

Art Man

VOL. 4 No. 827

Artman In The House

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Challenges in gospel music Chuks Chidube is one of Nigeria’s finest gospel artistes. With over 31 years experience in the music industry, his hit track, This kind God, sold millions of copies round the world. In this exclusive interview with VICTOR UDOH and ISIGUZO DESTINY, he speaks on his new album, ‘I don Come Again. ’Excerpts:

Chidube

hat have been your major challenges in your 31 years in the music industry? It has been 31 years of holding tight unto God, 31 years of pursuing one’s calling, and 31 years of striving in a discouraging industry. Most times, you find just few Christian marketers, with even the so-called believers compromising. The secular world say they prefer a song that doesn’t have too much of Jesus in it and more of an inspirational song. For me however, the most important thing is the marketers accepting your work, investing in it before they start hearing it. I was in the music industry for about six years before I came out with my first album. It was tough at the beginning, but it is getting better now. Are there things gospel music artistes are doing to promote gospel music in the country? The impact gospel music is making now can be likened to a scenario where God is pull-

ing man to himself. There is something in every man that desires God though unbelievers are rebelling against their maker. However, gospel music is gaining grounds because much more people are accepting the importance of God in their daily lives. So the gospel industry has gone higher, its vocal delivery is equally soaring, as is its marketing too. So it’s all about God increasing our chances and circle of influence too, and people are being drawn to him and accepting him like never before. Did you have any inkling that your career in music

since your first album in 1989? I am not simply into only music; I do up to nine different things. I am or have been a marriage counsellor, motivational speaker, Christian comedian, song leader, marketer, author, and I also run a studio, whichever is needed. I never waited for music to take care of my bills, though music is the major work I do. How was your growing up? My parents had so much influence on my life; as at 1974 I was already playing in the band in primary school. I discovered my musical talent at an early stage in life, but I never knew it would take centre stage as it is doing in my life. I gave my life to Jesus even before I left my parents’ house. Compare our music industry 20 years ago to the present? The quality was very poor though the acceptance is higher now. When I told my people in 1989 that I wanted to do gospel music, they told me I was on my own. That was the year I recorded my first album. Though would be a hit? I was into business then, they This kind God was my 16th al- said should I lose my money it bum, the first was in 1989. This would be my own headache bekind God came out 20 years lat- cause musicians then were seen er and in two weeks had become as people that aren’t serious. an international hit. I believe But today the story is differthat God wants to show that he ent as musicians can celebrate can lead anybody. their whole life on securing a If I have slept on the floor for hit track that can bring millions two years and if I had once rid- in a pay check. So, music today den Okada, then I believe there surpasses what we had 20 years is nothing too difficult for him ago; indeed, they are millions of to do. It is all about God and I try to obey him always. He has shown himself in many ways, and the story has never been the same. What have you been doing

My parents had so much influence on my life; as at 1974 I was already playing in the band in primary

school.

I discovered my musical talent at an early stage in life, but I never knew it would take centre stage as it is doing in my

life.

I gave my life to Jesus even before I left my parents’ house.

Members of his band

miles apart. What is your comment on repackaging or popularising the song? I heard the song in Cameroun, repackaged it and sang it in Nigeria. I am however still searching for the main person that wrote the song because I want to settle him for the song. Can you give us some insight on your type of person? I am a private person and do not like making much noise. I like being me. I don’t belong to cliques, because I like to be open to everyone. You can describe me as someone who is down to earth; I don’t like bragging or showing off. I like to be me and I am. You have performed in The Experience several times, can you share your experience there with us? There is exposure to a worldwide ministry, even as we have the privilege of sharing the stage with foreign gospel singers. Nigeria has amazing artistes, and this makes me to work harder sharing stage with such great artistes. Who do you look up to in the music industry? There is no one. I learn from the young and the old too, I tap from different gospel singers. I can’t count them all. Any comment on your new album? My new album is titled, I don come again. My original style is actually highlife but ever since we came into the industry I started doing other types of songs. However, my original thing is highlife.

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Artman In The House

Friday, January 15, 2016

industry –Chidube

I am trusting God that my new album will surpassThis kind God, which is why I am doing a lot of publicity. The posters are everywhere and the Tshirts too. I am in touch with the marketers and the DJs are doing their best to push it out. I believe it will be a blessing to people. Do you see yourself doing any music with secular artists? I can sing to bless them but I don’t see myself doing collaboration with them because light and darkness has nothing in common, though some people do. But I really love them and some are even my friends but I can’t do collabo with them. How do you relate all these with your family? My immediate families are in support of what I do unlike before, because success has no enemy. I see myself devoting 75 percent of my time to music and the rest to marriage counselling or even 50/50. There seems to be a lot of broken relationships and homes in the entertainment industry, what is the major cause of broken homes? It is because we have not allowed God to be the head of the home; it is because we do not allow God to determine what happens in the home. Most homes do not to give their lives to Christ and if a home is not based on bible principles, it cannot pass God’s test because Jesus must be the head of the home before it becomes successful as God wants it. When Jesus is in the family, the man will play his role as the husband and the woman plays hers as the wife. Some person put their profession and ministry before their spouses; after Jesus the most important person in my life is my wife. Some people give more

With Oby Ezekwsili

attention to their careers than their wives. A pastor said in one church I visited that anyone that comes between him and his ministry work should die. How best would you advise young ones to search for their spouse? The bible says seek first the kingdom of God and every other thing shall be added unto you. God is the one that builds relationships, so if you follow God he will definitely lead you to your spouse. Also make yourself the best man or woman before your partner comes. Pastor Munroe says you should work out the spouse you want. Are you seeing the change being clamoured for in Nigeria especially in the entertainment industry? I am yet to see it but I am still praying for the administration. Personally, I think they are too slow because we ought to have started feeling the impact of governance by now: we need a better country and they should fix our refineries so that

With some of his mentors in the ministry

fuel won’t be an issue anymore in. Power supply is still very low, and the cost of telephone calls is still very high. We need things to change. If you are to advise the government, what would you say? They should focus on making people’s lives better. We should enjoy dividends of democracy: enjoy the electricity we pay for. In fact, we are expecting 100 percent uninterrupted power supply. Also, education should be made available, healthcare should be made available, and the unemployed who are ready to work but cannot should be paid monthly stipends because it will reduce crime. Also, housing should be available, even as the government should be people-oriented. What is the most remarkable day of your life? The day I got born again and also the day I got married. I got born again on April 15, 1984 and wedded in April 1998. What has been your pas-

On a foreign tour with colleagues

sion? My passion has really been to make people smile or be happy. I have tried to achieve these through singing, dancing, radio broadcasts or TV presentation, though some of them has manifested. By God’s grace, Praise Channel will be a brand of either TV station or a radio station and we are taking it stepby-step as God leads. What is the philosophy that guides you? In all things I give thanks to God and wait for my turn and I don’t let tomorrow’s headache bother me today. That is what makes me look younger than my age. In life’s challenges, never stop the greater you as this would help you overcome whatever challenges you are bound to face. What is your advice to upcoming musicians looking up to you? I would advise them to work hard. They should be the best they can and leave the rest to

God. They must also be ready to work hard and push their brands, keep practising something new and exploring greater things. Make sure you are called because if you are not called, it is going to be a fruitless effort. Live holy and wait on God’s time. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? I believe my brand would have gone higher because I am trying to push through internet sales and so on. It’s not too good that up to 50 percent of those who know my songs don’t know me, and I am trying to win more souls into the body of Christ. Again, I am fulfilled and I like what I am doing. Hold unto God because the man you are seeing right now considered suicide twice though I wasn’t born again then, but God helped me back. The frustration was too much. I know what I have in me; but to God be the glory, as I can say he has been faithful.

My passion has really been to make people smile or be happy. I have tried to achieve these through singing, dancing, radio broadcasts or TV presentation

THEATRE

Critics

Turi Dee

had seen Wakaa a couple of days earlier, however I was moved to see the internationally acclaimed play again not only because I had a colleague in it (she was amazing by the way) but because of the relevance and significance it holds for us as a nation and people. Kakadu the Musical shares the story of a famous Lagos nightclub in the sixties, the music and the distinctive social life that follows the recently independent Nigeria. It also chronicles the postwar effects of the Nigerian Civil War on Lagos and its inhabitants. Running for the 12th time since inception in 2013, Kakadu the Musical introduced a brand new cast, to the over 40Man cast which initially had the likes of Kemi-Lala Akindoju, Nobert Young and Tina Mba. The main connection from the old cast was Benneth Ogbeiwi. The crop of new cast members which includes Joseph Okoro as Emeka, Damilare Kuku as Bisi, Enyi Prisca as Hassana, Nini Mbonu as Amonia and David Ogbor as Dapo, all of whom put up a stellar performance and gave their characters the necessary twist needed

Book

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bring on ‘Kakadu’

As 2016 was ushered in with all the hopes and aspirations of Nigerian. The theatre scene was alive with the musicals amongst all musicals. Kakadu!

to pull off the fact that they actually lived in the era when in actual fact, the oldest person among them was probably born in 1981. Emeka was energetic, well composed and carried himself pretty well for a skinny guy. His use of the stage was quite commendable and impressive. I was also impressed by the acting prowess of Amonia played Nini Mbonu. Though not new to stage, she had a presence that was hard to miss or pass. Her singing was pretty good, but nothing compares to the singing of Benneth Ogbeiwi, as I am in awe every time he opens his mouth. The Civil Engineering graduate, who also doubled as the Music Director for the production since inception, brought the stage to life with his singing, his expressions and his moves as he performed effortlessly to song after song. With a well-written script, which made use of music to tell the story (hence it’s a musical) featuring a mix of songs from the sixties and seventies from both Nigerian and foreign musicians was well coordinated and brought back my nostalgia moments. The script also gave a good historical background to those of us born after the civil war and explained the silent rift that exist between certain cultural groups (not naming names). Kudos goes to the directors

for managing both cast, stage and crew cause as I sat in the VIP booth which was pretty close to the stage, it was quite obvious that the Agip Stage is too small for Kakadu the Musical. While the play seemed to go on for a bit with some scenes not adding to the

plot in any way, I whole heartily commend one of the sponsors MTN Foundation for throwing their weight behind two major stage musicals during the yuletide season and contributing to the growth of the theatre industry in Nigeria.

two religions preach monotheistic belief. “The book makes it very evident that as believers, we must continue to pray the Lord will grant our Muslim brethren who are sincere in their worship of God the knowledge and understanding that Jesus Christ is not only a prophet as acknowledged in the Qu’ran, but He is the Son of God and the saviour of a corrupted creation. “The book will no doubt serve as a bridge between Christians and Muslims genuinely interested in the pursuit of truth. I provides answers to some of the grey areas between the two religions. I therefore strongly endorse and recommend this book to both serious Christians and Muslims.” Also endorsing it, Evangelist Professor Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, MFR, the popular juju musician who is now a man of God and General Overseer, Decross Gospel Mission, said, “It’s an established fact that knowl-

edge is light, knowledge is power. Knowledge is light while ignorance is darkness. “Islamic religion and its followers are very close to us, yet many of us, especially Christians, know nothing about Islam. We have lived, stayed, wined and dined, argued for and against Islam for decades, yet we are mostly ignorant when it comes to the understanding and knowledge of the teachings and ways of life it preaches. “This book has however been written to explain in clear language some of the critical things Christians need to know about Islam. The intention of the author is singular. It is to deepen the understanding of Christians on why some Muslims

A case for religious tolerance

The Islam Christians Must Know is the latest book by the prolific author, Nureni Aderemi Alabi. Oseyiza Oogbodo

Friday, January 15, 2016

t’s a must-read book, and it’s very first selling point is its title. Is there any Christian or Muslim out there who would come across a book with such a title as this, and his, her interest would not be piqued? Definitely not. If the title is captivating, the content is even more so, as Alabi does not beat about the bush in conveying his message in ninety pages made up of six chapters that thoroughly dissect why Christians must know about Islam in order to be able to understand Muslims, the way they think, why they behave the way they do, and what they desire. Reviewing it, Pastor Oluwafemi Martins, Director, Communication and Development, West Africa Theological Seminary, Ipaja, Lagos State, said, “Its makes one realize the need to con-

tinue to labour diligently to inform both Muslims and Christians on the need to live together in harmony as the

The intention of the author is singular. It is to deepen the understanding of

Christians on why some Muslims act violently in the propagation and defence of their faith.

Friday, January 15, 2016 21 5 Rabi Al-Thani, 1437A.H

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Call to Worship

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

TMC inaugurates Imams

‘Promote inter-religious harmony’

… Urges Ambode to approve Hijab in public schools Sekinah lawal

t was a roll-call of who is who in the Ummah as The Muslim Congress, TMC, recently inaugurated 37 Imams at the TMC Dawah Centre in Ijeshatedo-Lagos State. Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ably represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, commended the congress for its efforts at repositioning the Ummah and cautioned security men against mo-

lesting innocent Muslim women in Hijab. As men of high pedigree were inaugurated as Imams of TMC at the weekend, the Amir of TMC and one of the Imams, Dr. Luqman AbdurRaheem, urged the Lagos State Governor to run a truly inclusive government by allowing Muslim females in public schools to use hijab on top of their school uniforms. He assured Lagos Muslims of Ambode’s administration readiness to give all religions freedom of expression and practice

within the law. “This administration respects and recognises all religious leaders. Lagos has not ban Hijab because banning of Hijab is not the solution to bombings. We can use bomb detectors in public gatherings and use other intelligence gathering methods of prevention.” He condemned the idea of some security agents taking laws into their hands as two unidentified soldiers on Friday forcefully removed the veil popularly referred to as Niqab of a Muslim woman at Meiran Area of Lagos.

It will be recalled that this is happening few weeks to the comment that Federal Government may ban Hijab if bombings continue. “The Federal government has not banned hijab and we are warning all security operatives to desist from all acts that can lead to religious tension.” Also speaking, the Chairman of the Congress Imams and a certified management consultant, Imam Abdullah Shuaib called on the Imams to be ready for the task ahead and be ready to give guidance in all areas of human endeavour.

L-R: Shaykh Abdul-Fatah Thani; Shaykh AbdurRahman Ahmad; Ustaz Najeemdeen Jimoh; the Amir of TMC, Dr. Luqman AbdurRaheem, representative of WAMY’s El-Sham Shamy; Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef and Shaykh AbdulHafeez Abou during the inauguration of The Muslim Congress’ Imams in Lagos recently.

Calling security officials to order on Hijab, our pride 24

Healthy Corner: Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 24

r Saheed Timehin, the Co-Chairman (Muslim) of the Nigeria InterReligious Council, Lagos State Chapter has urged religious leaders to promote love and unity among the various religious groups in the country. Timehin stated this in a lecture titled: “From Convergence to Divergence: Muslims and the Search for Identity”, which he delivered at the Bi-Monthly lecture of Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community (BEEMC) in Ibadan recently. He said that love and peaceful co-existence among human beings had been ordained by God and was what a cleric must preach. “Love, patience, endurance, and righteousness are the various virtues to be embraced in a society irrespective of religious affiliations. “The Holy Prophet Muhammad taught us to love, help, and be good to our neighbours irrespective of their beliefs. “He taught us to love our neighbours, assist them in times of need, share with them our wealth, condole with them in their moments of grief, and to celebrate their successes and achievements,” he said. “There was a time some Christians visited the Prophet and asked to be shown a place where they could worship. The Prophet offered his Mosque to them to worship. This is an exemplary show of love and leadership.”

Zakat Is 2.5% Of Your Total Wealth, Known As Nisab. After Having Fulfilled All obligations, pay your

Financial sacrifice and Waqf-eJadid 25

zakat

Call to Worship

5 Rabi Al-Thani 1437A.H. Friday, January 15, 2016

Calling security officials to order on Hijab, our pride Y es, Hijab is our pride because we are glad to obey the almighty Creator of all creations. For it is written in the glorious Qur’an that: “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and adornments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their

beauty except to their husbands, their fathers... (Qur’an 24:30-31). Nobody and I mean nobody can take away our Allah’s given rights in the name of fighting terrorism as there are better ways of doing that like through intelligence gathering and use of CCTV, metal detectors among others. Some lawless security officers recently removed the veil of some Muslim women in Lagos. For instance, two soldiers in Meiran, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos removed a woman’s veil, claiming

Healthy Corner with

Dr. Yahaya

Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

olycystic Ovary Syndrome affects a woman’s period , fertility, appearance and long term health condition. It affects 2 to 26 women in every 100 women. Polycystic ovaries are larger than normal ovaries with double the number of follicles - the fluid spaces in the ovaries which release eggs during ovulation. The fact that one has polycystic ovaries does not mean one has polycystic ovary syndrome.

Patients with Polycystic Ovary have the following symptoms and polycystic ovaries: 1. No menses at all or infrequent menses 2. Excess facial hair or hair in unusual areas of the woman’s body like a woman growing beard, moustache, hair on the legs and chest called hirsutism. 3. Patients may be overweight, have oily skin, Acne, difficulty in getting pregnant and Depression. Symptoms may be mild or severe and it is a cause of infertility. When a woman has a family member who suffers from PCOS, there is high risk of developing the disease. Patient with PCOS has a higher level of the hormone testosterone than normal. This is hormone that is produced in small quantity by the ovaries. Insulin is another hormone that is responsible from moving sugar from the blood into the cell. Patients with PCOS has difficulty in

responding to Insulin, hence sugar accumulates in the blood. In order to control the blood sugar, the body responds by increasing insulin production. High level of Insulin results in Overweight, higher level of testosterone, irregular menses and infertility.

Diagnosis of PCOS is made by: 1. Infrequent menses or no menses 2. Increase in facial or body hair 3. High level of testosterone in the blood 4. Polycystic ovaries on Ultrasound

Long term health Implication of PCOS Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Mellitus: 1 woman out of 10 women with PCOS may end up with Diabetes Mellitus and uncontrolled or poorly controlled Diabetes Mellitus may cause damage to internal organs. The risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus is increased if one has PCOS, is Over 40 years, has a family with Diabetes Mellitus, develops Diabetes Mellitus during Pregnancy and obese. Diabetes Mellitus is treated with Change of lifestyle, diet, exercise, tablets or injections. PCOS may be associated with High Blood Pressure and this may be related to Insulin Resistant and Overweight. High Blood pressure if not well controlled may result in heart problems and stroke.

that its use had been banned. According to an eyewitness, the soldiers allegedly alighted from their vehicle on sighting a woman dressed in veil and started harassing her. One of them, she claimed, forcefully removed the veil from the woman’s head and warned her never to use it in public again. After removing the veil, one of the soldiers was reported to have said: “This thing is not allowed in our country again. You can use it in your house.” And they both walked back to their vehicle

PCOS in a woman with a fewer than three menses in a year may result in thickening of the lining of the wombs hence cancer of the womb. The lining of the womb can be protected with progesterone hormone. PCOS may cause depression, snoring or day time drowsiness; it does not increase the chance of ovarian or breast cancer. The long term health risks of PCOS can be reduced by Healthy eating habits: taking fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereals, brown rice, lean meat, fish and chicken, reduced sugar, salt intake, moderate alcohol intake, and regular breakfast. Exercise should be 50 minutes, three times a week. Body Mass Index should be kept between 19 and 25kg per metre square. Overweight patient needs to lose weight and maintain the reduced weight. Reduction of small amount of weight may reduce the risk of Insulin resistance, Diabetes Mellitus, heart problem and cancer of the womb. This may also regularize menses and increase the chances of getting pregnant, control acne, excessive hair growth and increase the mood. Blood Pressure should be checked every two weeks, Blood Sugar once a year, Cholesterol check is equally important. Ultrasound Scan may be required and treatment to induce menses in patients who have missed period for more than 4 months or those who have irregular menses. Counselling will be needed by those with Psychological problems. There is no cure for PCOS. It can only be managed with Medical treatment and modification of lifestyle. Lifestyle modification alone, if strictly adhered, has been shown to be effective without medication. Dr. G. L Yahaya is a Reproductive Physician and Medical Director Continental Specialists Clinic. Phone numbers: 08075004277, 07081312295.

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THE PLATFORM with

Sekinah Lawal t: 08055102994 e: sakinah207@yahoo.com

The President has the duty to protect the rights and liberties of all the citizens with the veil saying it took the intervention of passersby and sympathisers for the woman to get her veil back. Our amiable leader and his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, should call all these overzealous security officers and parastatals to order in order not to cause unnecessary religious uprising. Hijab is a symbol of modesty. The President has the duty to protect the rights and liberties of all the citizens bearing in mind cases of attacks on Muslim women wearing Hijab in public places and government parastatals. These assaults are becoming unbearable for many law-abiding

Muslim citizens of this nation. Why do we like taking Muslims for granted in many things? These terrorists have used other outfits such as suits and security uniforms which have not been banned. And we have not seen or heard of cases of harassment of those wearing them. We cannot be violating others’ right because of the excesses of some people. We will keep up our prayers for an end to the Boko Haram palaver but our dear President must clear the air on his earlier statement regarding likely Hijab ban if bombing continues and punish anybody found molesting Muslim women in Hijab.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule represented by Hajia Fatimah Oyefeso (second left) flanked by other dignitaries during the inauguration of The Muslim Congress’ Imams in Lagos recently.

Other dignitaries at the event.

Sadr, Lajnal Immallihi of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Basirat Dikko (second right) and others, at the 1st Jalsa Tarbiyya Coca-Cola Circuit at Ido Local Government in Ibadan-Oyo State.

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Call to Worship

Friday, January 15, 2016 21 5 Rabi Al-Thani, 1437A.H

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya Sheikh Jamiu Tirmidhi; other guests, Ustadh AbdulGaniyy Sadiq Atitebi; Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf; Barr. Musbaudeen Oyefeso of The Companion and Alhaji Kamaldin Akintunde of NACOMYO, during the inauguration of The Muslim Congress’ Imams in Lagos recently.

Financial sacrifice and Waqf-e-Jadid

cial giving. This scheme was initiated to support tarbiyyat and tabligh efforts in rural and far-off areas of Pakistan but was later extended to the rest of the world. It still has specific objectives and certain areas/regions are designated to benefit from it. As such only specific countries and regions are funded by contributions raised by Waqfe Jadid. Generally it is African countries and rural areas in India where Waqfe Jadid is funding many projects. With the grace of God the 58th year of Waqfe Jadid concluded on 31 December 2015 and the contributions made during the year stand at £ 6, 891,155 which is an increase of £682,000 from last year. Pakistan tops the list of contributing countries. A third of the contributions received by Waqfe Jadid is spent in the countries where it is collected. One portion of the remaining two is spent in Qadian and the rest of India and the remainder in African and some other countries. In the last year 19 mosques were built in India funded by Waqfe Jadid as well as 23 mission houses. Expenses of Jalsa Gah in Qadian and other projects were also met. Two mosques and two temporary sheds were built in Nepal which is administered by Indian Jama’at. Special focus is given to building of mosques and mission houses with Waqfe Jadid contributions. Expenses of mu’alims (religious teachers) are also met by this scheme. For example there are over one thousand mu’alims in India and in 26 African countries as well the number of mu’alims is over one thousand. 130 new mosques and 82 mission houses were built in the last year in African countries. Extensive Tarbiyyat classes for new Ahmadis are held in African countries. Last year over 2000 such classes were arranged and numerous refresher courses were held in which one hundred thousand new Ahmadis participated.

Hon. AbdurRafiu Baruwa, Chairman, Transition Committee, Ijebu-Ode LGA (second from left) presenting the key of a tricycle to Mr. AbdulWahab Tirmidhi with Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, CEO, ZSF (left) and Mallam Ma’aruf Ahmed, Operations Manager, ZSF (right) admiring the gesture at the Zakat distribution in Ogun State, recently.

t was revealed to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace): ‘There is no God but Me, so take Me alone as your Guardian.’ [Tadhkirah, p. 626] Here God assured the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he did not have to turn to anyone else, that God alone would make everything work for him, He alone would be the Guardian and He alone would provide all the resources. God reassured that He alone had the power to make good everything and that indeed He would do so. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that God has stated through this revelation that He alone was the Guardian and the Promised Messiah should not even consider anyone else’s involvement in his work. The Promised Messiah said every member of the Jama’at should be mindful of this revelation in that God is not dependent on any help, service or sacrifice. He has established this community and He Himself will make it work. Whatever way any member is able to serve the Jama’at should be considered as Divine grace. People of the Jama’at at the time understood this and were prepared for every sacrifice for the fulfilment of the mission demonstrating high ideals of financial giving. They did not consider the sacrifices they made any kind of favour, rather they were grateful to God for enabling them to make the sacrifices. This spirits lives on today. This revelation also indicates to the Khilafat that followed the Promised Messiah that owing to the spirit of man’s devotion to God, help should only be sought from God. Today we continue to experience Divine help and grace. God places the significance of financial giving in Ahmadi hearts and they demonstrate extraordinary models of the same. There are various financial schemes in the Jama’at one of which is Waqfe Jadid. Waqfe Jadid has expanded greatly and shows some amazing examples of finan-

Alhaji Fasasi Shatolu, retired principal Muslim College, Ijebu Ode and currently, Chairman! Hassan Taiwo Memorial Mosque, Ijebu-Ode presenting a cheque of one hundred thousand Naija (N100,000) to AbdulWasiu Solahudeen, for GSM business venture.

L-R: Missionary-in-Charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria, Maulvi AbdulKhalique Nayyar; Amir, Dr. Mashhud Adenrele Fashola; General Secretary, Alhaji Abbas Iromini and Sadr. Majlis Ansarullah, Alhaji Babatunde Odukoya, at the 1st Jalsa Tarbiyya Coca-Cola Circuit at Ido Local Government in Ibadan-Oyo State.

Sheikh Imran Eleha and Sheikh Mashuud Ramadhan, during the inauguration of The Muslim Congress’ Imams in Lagos recently.

Cross section of some of the new Imams.

Dr. Balqees Atobatele (right), Medical Officer at Epe General Hospital presenting a deep freezer to Marufah Adeoti for economic empowerment.

Arty News

Friday, January 15, 2016

Akachi Ezeigbo retires from UNILAG Isiguzo Destiny

past winner of the coveted NLNG Literary award, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo formally retired as a lecturer at the University of Lagos amidst accolades and testimonies of her positive impacts on her colleagues and students. In a recent send forth ceremony organised by the Department of English, University of Lagos, encomiums were poured on the talented writer with poetry and song performances from her colleagues and students with Karen Aribisala, a Commonnwealth Short Story Prize winner thrilling the audience with her performances. Speaking on the event that was graced by many dignitaries, the Dean of Faculty of Arts who acknowledged the impact of Akachi Ezeigbo and her colleague Prof A Eruvbetine a literary critic noted that

iuh

the duo are a blessing to Nigerian literary world and asked other lecturers

to emulate their benevolence and discipline. In the same vein, the acting HOD of the department of English and an Associate Professor of English, Austin Nwagbara thanked Akachi and Eruvbetine for their contributions to humanity and stressed that the department will miss them. While giving her vote of thanks, Akachi Ezeigbo noted that she is not retiring but only retiring from the Department of English, University of Lagos. She thanked all those who graced the occasion and expressed her gratitude for the love the department showed her. On his part, Professor A Eruvbetine also thanked the guests and enjoined the department to always live as brothers and sisters. The highlight of the event was a farewell musical rendition given by the multi talented creative writer and critic, Professor Karen KingAribisala.

Nicki Minaj plans wedding in 2016? T

he curvaceous rapper is now asking her fans to choose if she should marry Mill (real name Robert Williams) in a church or on a beach. Admirers of the saucy ‘Anaconda’ rap act will surely be wondering whether the question she posed on Twitter on Sunday, December 27 means she will be tying the knot with the uncommonly handsome rapper very soon… in 2016? However it seems it won’t take long before the polls close on her vote, as so far, 25,000 of her 20.3 million strong legion of followers have made their feelings clear. And given how marriage is supposed to be a lifelong commitment, or at least a few years in the world of showbiz, the 33-yearold will surely want to take her time before making any hasty decisions on her wed-

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Timi Dakolo and Love Is…The Musical

&B artiste Timi Dakolo will be at the top of the bill on Friday 5 February at the third edition of “Love Is…The Musical” holding at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Telling a musical story of three female characters – a poet, a professional dancer and a businesswoman – who are on a journey in search of love, the show follows their journey of discovery as they attempt to answer the question “What is Love?” Preceded by an art exhibition entitled “Love Becomes Art” at 6pm, the night will also witness comedy sets from comedians Gordons, Igos and Emma Oh Ma God as well as performances by Yinka Davies and dance group Ijodi. Completing the night’s A-list lineup are Efe Paul The Poet and The Poet Donna. In the mind of event Producer, Clementine Vervelde, “Love Is…The Musical” is set to be the richest and most nuanced in the series thus far. In her words, “The idea behind this edition of Love Is…The Musical is to take the exploration of the theme of love to a new elemental level that resonates with everyone at a very deep part of their soul. The reference to a journey or a quest or a search of love is one that the audience will understand and connect with. At the end of the day, those in attendance will go home having watched more than just a show, but having enriched their personal experience and understanding of what love is.” Created and directed by Ice Nweke, “Love Is…The Musical” features a 40-member cast and crew and it is produced by Ixtreme and Limitless Mind Africa.

Kiza: Dubai’s pan-African culture hub

iza, Dubai’s first dining Nigerian-owned African restaurant and lounge opened its doors to their new flagship venue in Dubai’s financial district; Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC in October 2015. Kiza welcomes people in Dubai to taste and experience the rich and diverse cuisine that Africa has to offer as well providing premium entertainment for its guests through its events, resident Afro-jazz band and DJ’s. The elegantly furnished dining area

offers a culinary journey through the regions of Africa, with a pan-African menu that serves traditional dishes from the 4 regions of the continent. Seating up to 154 people, the restaurant is not only popular within the African community in Dubai, but is also a choice destination for Africans who wish to celebrate their special occasions. The relaxing cigar lounge offers a wide selection of international premium cigars, whiskeys, cognacs and wines. For guests looking for a more intimate setting, there are two private dining rooms which can each be configured for 12 diners or as a large private dining area for

larger parties of up to 25 diners. This same private dining room has a projector screen and can serve as a meeting room for corporate gatherings. The new Kiza venue features an external facade with engaging displays of African art, this provides a platform for Art exhibitions where African artisans can display their craft. Once inside the venue, the lounge, stage, LED screen and VIP seating areas provide the perfect set up for intimate entertainment and events. The popularity of the Kiza brand comes from their vision to be market leaders in celebrating and promoting the African culture on a global level.

Stephanie Linus savours motherhood

onths after her successful delivery, super star actress and filmmaker, Stephanie Okereke is still savouring motherhood. The leading entertainer and producer of wave making Dry, who recently welcomed a cute baby boy in the US, is still enjoying the gains and joys of mother-

hood. ‘’And she is getting all the support and love from her dotting hubby, Linus, the boss of Del York International.’’ Mother and child are doing immensely well, as the couple looks forward to rolling out the red carpets for a historic first birthday of the new prince in their lives.

Film

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 15, 2016

A festival for unity, love

Critics

Scenes at one Lagos fiesta

For pessimists believing Lagos has eternally lost its glare as the melting pot of cultures and unity, something creative and innovative is here. It is called the One Lagos Fiesta… Ngozi Emedolibe

tories of the ‘olden days’ Lagos abound. It was a metropolis riddled with so much fun, and security, where most ethnic groups co-habited with one another in unlimited conviviality. Then, one ethnic group’s music was melody to act violently in the propagation and defence of their faith. It’s primarily written for the body of Christ but it’ll also help members of the Islamic body. “The author was a Muslim by birth. He’s not a novice, but very well enlightened on Islam. He was a bonafide Muslim before he met Jesus Christ. He was a student of the Qu’ran before he became a student of the Bible. He invested his time and treasure to raise his family in the Islamic way, and after his conversion, he devoted his time to further study and research on Islam so he definitely knows what he’s talking about in this book.” And in his own review, Reverend Doctor Julius Odofin, Senior Minister, ECWA Church, said, “In this book, Alabi has provided sufficient and well researched materials for any curious mind who desires peace, unity and love for our Muslim friends to read and examine their conscience if truly they desire the salvation of all. “The comparative analysis of the writings of the Holy Bible and the Holy Qu’ran is very informative, educative and challenging enough to see the need for mutual respect for the faith of the Muslim’s One God which Christians affirm with passion. Both seek to worship the ultimate and sovereign God. I have no hesitation in recommending this masterpiece to the reading public.” h

the others. Dialects were spoken interchangeably with eager ness to lear n something new. Delicacies and fashion trends also cut across. Perhaps, long years of misrule in Nigeria, orchestrated economic realities that eroded these values, facilitating mutual mistrust. The situation has not been helped by greedy politicians who are always willing to latch on tribal sentiments to further divide the populace for their own selfish gains. Yes, there appears to be rust on the wheel of unity. But the good news is that something is being done to regain lost grounds, especially in Lagos. Aptly called ‘One Lagos Fiesta’, it is a platfor m that has shown its potential to unite the residents of Lagos not only across tribal lines but across class. With the popularity gained by the Lagos Countdown, ostensibly hosted by the immediate past administration in Lagos, everyone would have thought that there was nothing more to add in ter ms of end-year gatherings in the state. But One Lagos Fiesta has proven people with such mindset wrong. While the Lagos Countdown (good on its own) attracted people to only one venue, the One Love Fiesta is decentralised to transfer a sense of belonging to residents of the state who live in far-flung locations, where ordinarily, such activities could be accessed via TVs and newspapers. This appears to be in line with one of the campaign promises of the present gover nor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode to make sure that no part of Lagos is left behind in his gover nment. It must have been enchanting seeing residents of Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Agege feel the impact of their gover nor through the arts. This multi-venue approach to disseminating creativity as exemplified by the One Lagos Fiesta obviously had its advantages in ter ms of economic spin-offs. Aside the artistes- big and small- who were

Oba Akiolu and Governor Ambode were some of the personalities at the fiesta

paid for perfor ming at the venues, it was also an opportunity for the artisans to ear n incomes. This happened through the numerous drivers who conveyed the fun seekers to the various venues, the technical hands who helped with the stage, lighting and sound; and also the vendors who provided food and drinks at the various centres. As the entertainment capital of Africa, such an event as One Lagos Fiesta hosted in the state would have been found wanting if it lacked the A list entertainers who have made the country proud at the global level. But they were all there, to offer what they have got alongside the upcoming artistes, who expectedly would be headlining the shows of the future. With names like 2Face Idibia, Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, Wizkid, Gbenga Adeyinka, AY, Don Jazzy, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks, Olamide, Iyanya, Dammy Krane, Darey, Zaina, Tony Tetuila, Sasha, Oritsefemi, there could not have been any doubt that the fun would be unlimited. It also availed the platfor m for some Nollywood stars to interact with the audience they have been thrilling all these years. The musical event, which began on December 27 and ended on New

Year’s eve, held simultaneously in 5 cities across Lagos. It attracted not only artistes and fun-seekers but the major stakeholders in Lagos including Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the cultural custodian of Lagos. The first edition of the event has come and gone, but it is pertinent for gover nment to seek broader partnership from the private sector to help in enlarging this laudable platfor m, which will also give branding mileage to the corporate bodies. This would obviously be enhanced by letting the media play its role in deepening this concept which will for many years stand Lagos apart. In the same vein, commendation needs to be accorded the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Lagos, Hon. Foli Coker, whose office facilitated the One Lagos Fiesta. It is most insightful to tap into the potency of music, which in the present day Nigeria, employs uniting lyrics that mix most Nigerian languages. One can only hope that the commissioner would consolidate on the success so far recorded in order to stimulate such initiatives in the other states of Nigeria. This is pertinent in view of the huge potential in ter ms of tourism, especially now that oil revenues are somersaulting.

Commendation needs to be accorded the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Foli Coker, whose office facilitated the One Lagos Fiesta. It is most insightful to tap into the potency of music, which in the present day Nigeria, employs uniting

Inside FCT

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Roasted yam, preferred menu of Abuja executives T he most common root crop in Nigeria is yam. Cultivated mainly in the central states of Benue and Nasarawa, and transported to various parts of the country, yam has grown in popularity to become the most preferred staple food for all Nigerians. For residents of Abuja, the most preferred form of preparing yam for consumption is roasting. This is evident in the various “roasted yam joints” in the city. Investigations by Inside FCT revealed that despite the existence of various restaurants and eateries spread across the Federal Capital Territory, roasted yam which is usually prepared and served with fresh pepper sauce has become an accepted staple lunch for all and sundry within the city. Speaking to our reporter, Mr Mike Ugwu, a civil servant at the popular Old Secretariat in Area 1, said he preferred eating roasted yam because it brings back the feeling of his days in the village. “I love to eat roasted yam because it makes me feel like I’m still in the village. Usually, when you go to the farm in the village, especially at this period that the new yam is not yet out, we do roast yam in the afternoon to eat with palm oil after which we continue with our farm work” he said. Similarly, Barrister Anthony Eromonsele, a resident of Kubwa, one of the satellite towns in the FCT said it he loves

Roasted plantain and yam

taking roasted yam because of the hard back. “As an indigene of Edo state, it traditional of me to eat roasted yam. Asides its unique taste and flavour, one of the reasons why i particularly love roasted yam is the special feeling that comes with eating the hard back which you cannot get when the yam is cooked or fried. ” he said. A hair stylist, Michael Yaaya, who

Heavy traffic returns to FCT roads Rotimi Fadeyi

uring the Yuletide period in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , most of the roads in the city were practically empty. However, with the Yuletide period over, many people who travelled out of the city are back and the traffic has increased as commercial activities are in full swing. In Kubwa, a suburb area of Abuja, traffic situation has become chaotic compared to the situation during the Yuletide period when there was few vehicles on the roads. The situation is also the same in the Central Business Area (CBD) of the city and other satellite towns like Lugbe, Nyanyan, Karu and Maraba, Kuje, Dutse. Another reason for increase in traffic on FCT roads was also as a result of

availability of fuel at filling stations in the city. Many motorist can now afford to put their vehicles on the road. This was not the situation during the Yuletide period when fuel scarcity persisted and many people had to pack their vehicles at home and only few people who could afford to buy fuel at very high price from fuel hawkers were able to put their vehicles on the road. The increase in traffic on the roads is an indication that life and normalcy have returned to the FCT where Aso Rock, the seat of power of the President and the Federal Government is located. Many residents of the city told InsideFCT that they are happy to start the journey of a New Year which promises to be prosperous. After all, the festive period afforded them the relief from the usual stress which characterizes city life, especially in Nigeria where the battle for survival is tough.

stays in Apo, said he loves to eat roasted yam because of its relatively cheap cost compared to eating other foods in the restaurant. He also said the ingredients used in preparing the sauce are another motivating factor for him. “You cannot compare the cost of eating in the restaurant with this one. With one hundred and fifty Naira (N150), you will eat and be satisfied. Most of these so called restaurant foods are prepared us-

FCT residents

Joel Ajayi

ing spices that gives it an appealing colour but when you eat it, you will regret. But with roasted yam, you are sure of what you are eating because of the ingredients are fresh, natural and nutritional” On how lucrative the business of roasting yam for sale is, Mrs Gloria Udemba who has been in the business for almost three years said she sells between 7-13 tubers of medium sized yam daily and makes a net profit of at least One thousand five hundred Naira daily. “The business is very good. I roast at least 7tubers of yam everyday and sometimes, up to 13tubers depending on the turnout of customers. My profit is not stable; sometimes I make One thousand five hundred Naira or more. With the money I make from this business, I have been able to help my husband who is a mason in the payment of our children’s school fees and general up-keep of the house” she said in Pidgin English. Similarly, Mrs Amaka Paul told our reporter that since she started the business of roasting yam for sale almost a year ago, her family no longer go to bed hungry. “Before I started this business, I usually don’t have money to even buy food that my family members will eat; most times, we sleep on empty stomach. But since I started this business, we now eat good food, three times daily. The business has really assisted me” she added.

iven virtual analysis of chain of events in the nation’s capital in the past few years, it is right to say that year 2016 came with a multitude of fortune and glittering hope for residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and indeed all Nigerians. The reasons for this assumption are not far-fetched. First, unlike the previous year where anxiety soared over the state of the nation’s security– especially in Abuja where EMAB plaza, Kuje market, police station and Nyanya park were attacked leaving tales of woes and fears of eventualities; The just-concluded Yuletide celebration came amidst improved security, thus, signaling a safer atmosphere and possible triumph as federal government effort to incapacitate Boko Haram in the country was gradually yielding result. Secondly, the early presentation of N6.081trillion 2016 budget, the first ever biggest budget in the history of the country before the end of the year in the last four years indicated possible improved governance in the year. In addition, the ongoing aggressive

fight against corruption in the public service which has dealt a serious blow to the economy of the nation by the present government is regarded as a welcome development. Not only that, heavy presence of security personnel in Abuja often send a cautionary message to trouble-makers, criminals and terrorists, a situation which gives residents a sense of safety. These are some of the features that distinguish the city whose ambience is ever enthralling. Whereas, the last Yuletide may have been hitch-free celebration, the socioeconomic situation in the country did not portray good omen for larger part of the residents to believe in a more fulfilling 2016. However, residents of the FCT expressed different opinion on the situation in the country, their expectations and hope for a better country. For Joshua Odeyemi, who lives in New Lugbe, a suburb of FCT, along Airport road told Inside-FCT how the socioeconomic situation, austerity amongst

But, it does not make anyone happy that after 365 days, one finds it hard to point to any meaningful achievement. Life is becoming harder by the day. Many who want to see their relatives at home don’t have the money Traffic on Doma Abuja road

to travel

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Inside FCT

Friday, January 15, 2016

Business activities resume as residents return from Yuletide break Joel Ajayi

t is no longer news that the daily hustling and bustling in Abuja which was at its lowest ebb during the Christmas and New Year celebrations has come back alive and at a frenzy state. It was observed that normal activities resumed in the city two weeks after the yuletide period as many major markets, shopping malls, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) amongst others are now witnessing increase in activities as many civil servants resumed work. The FCT literally became a closedmarket during the Yuletide period and many of its residents traveled to their various states to celebrate with their families where festivities are believed to be best celebrated and enjoyed. At the Old Federal Secretariat in Area 1 that comprised of many MDA’s, Inside FCT observed that some workers were in their respective offices treating files while others were attending to visitors. The situation was not different at the Federal Secretariat Central Area as workers similarly reported in their various offices at the As work resumes fully in Abuja city, some residents in the city told Inside-FCT how they enjoyed the Yuletide period. A staff of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation NTDC, who simply

Business activities resume in Abuja

gave his name as Tinuola said “work has resumed and we are at work. It was a long break. Everyone is at his duty post trying to make up for the holiday.”

As for Ogechi Okorondu, who reside in Utako/Jabi area of the FCT, one should thank God for his mercies to be alive to witness another Yuletide.

When Inside-FCT visited Sheriff Plaza, a popular area in Wuse 2, business activities was at its peak which was a clear indication that activities have resumed fully for the year.

express optimism of prosperous 2016 other factors in Abuja indeed Nigeria, conditioned his family’s preparation for the 2015 Yuletide and New Year celebrations. He said: “I am not happy with so many things in this country. Except for the fact that our age is increasing every year as citizens of this country, many of us become poorer as years roll by. I will continue to thank God for being

Abuja city gate

alive, there is no doubt about that we need to thank our maker. “But, it does not make anyone happy that after 365 days, one finds it hard to point to any meaningful achievement. Life is becoming harder by the day. Many who want to see their relatives at home don’t have the money to travel. Those who travels barely have anything to show people at home as products of

their efforts in the city” Meanwhile, as Council Poll in the FCT holds on March 7, residents of the city said they want to witness free, fair and credible election. They expressed optimism that 2016 would bring about God’s blessings in the country, provided the ruler and ruled tread on the right path.

She said, “I thank Almighty God for granting me journey mercies to and from my community in Imo state “In fact, the last Christmas and New Year celebrations were some of the most successful events in my village since I was born and It was a very good experience because I travelled home to see my family and loved ones and we all had nice time together during the period”, “Although there were a lot of challenges in the state such as inadequate power supply and bad roads, I can’t still compare the fun I had in the village with what I could have got if I were in Abuja. It was a great moment for me at home.”, she added. When Inside-FCT visited Sheriff Plaza, a popular area in Wuse 2, business activities was at its peak which was a clear indication that activities have resumed fully for the year. According to Shaeed a.k.a Oyinbo, who is into the business of selling fairly used and new phones told Inside-FCT that; “last week was bad market for us here but I can tell you that since the beginning of this week buyers has been trooping in to buy and sell.” ‘Home will forever remain home’ these were the words of Victoria Ettefia, a food vendor at UTC market Area 10, Abuja who said she got more than desired in the village. Her words: “We thank God for His grace towards us; we are alive today. So many things happened when I was travelling home. I saw a lot of accidents on the road due to bad state of the roads. A popular Wuse-market foodstuff trader, Abubakar Athairru, told InsideFCT that he was grateful to Almighty Allah for keeping his family and himself. “Although the country is not smiling at the common man, austerity, insecurity, basic amenities are not available, youth empowerment is left behind, improved standard of living is nowhere to be found yet, I thank God for making me unite with my family peacefully and celebrating with them”, he said. Investigations by Inside-FCT clearly showed that socio-economic activities have fully returned to the city, especially, for the private sector, eateries, shopping malls, and small scale businesses.

Capital Market

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 15, 2016

Stock exchange daily equities summary Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016

Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056

Equities as at January 14, 2016 Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016 Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

1st Tier Securities on Board EQTY Sector Activity Summary Company name AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016 AGRICULTURE Totals Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals

1st Tier Securities

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 6 5 11

Current Price 32.64 33.00

Quantity Traded 34,060 57,200 91,260

Value Traded 1,005,740.60 1,887,600.00 2,893,340.60

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 1.16

Quantity Traded 1,241,068 1,241,068

Value Traded 1,380,011.26 1,380,011.26

1,332,328

4,273,351.86

Current Price 0.61 1.04 18.05

Quantity Traded 110,000 5,807,179 1,052,532 6,969,711

Value Traded 67,100.00 6,040,216.16 19,001,346.60 25,108,662.76

6,969,711

25,108,662.76

Quantity Traded 87,192 87,192

Value Traded 3,493,921.90 3,493,921.90

Page Quantity Traded 607,147 607,147

12 1 of Value Traded 3,070,932.90 3,070,932.90

Quantity Traded 476 476

Value Traded 4,760.00 4,760.00

694,815

6,569,614.80

Symbol AGLEVENT Daily Summary TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 6 (Equities) 46 22 74 74

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 42.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 5.10

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 10.00

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Activity Summary on Board NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. EQTY Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

ICT IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. ASHAKA CEM PLC Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016 BERGER PAINTS PLC Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals

Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016

Food Products--Diversified Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables ActivityVITAFOAM SummaryNIG onPLC. Board EQTY Household Durables Totals CONSUMER GOODS Personal/Household Products Beverages--Non-Alcoholic P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Personal/Household Products Totals Food Products DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC MILLSStock NIG. Exchange PLC. Published by FLOUR The Nigerian © HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC TIGER BRANDED CONSUMER GOODS PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Quantity Traded 2,598 2,598

Value Traded 1,299.00 1,299.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 15 11 212 239

Current Price 3.38 113.99 15.70 92.33

Quantity Traded 1,000 68,396 725,223 7,840,386 8,635,005

Value Traded 3,220.00 7,796,460.04 11,370,543.60 723,948,213.15 743,118,436.79

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 175.00

Quantity Traded 56 Page 56

Value Traded 9,682.40 12 2 of 9,682.40

Symbol DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON TIGERBRANDS

No. of Deals 9 18 9 23 42 101

Current Price 5.98 19.76 1.80 6.33 0.83

Quantity Traded 41,338 110,260 187,500 1,500,772 4,672,645 6,512,515

Value Traded 235,213.22 2,070,682.80 335,925.00 9,502,684.76 3,896,231.98 16,040,737.76

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 11 17 28

Current Price 14.72 779.00

Quantity Traded 95,750 7,194 102,944

Value Traded 1,409,440.00 5,323,919.70 6,733,359.70

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 5.24

Quantity Traded 233,072 233,072

Value Traded 1,160,698.56 1,160,698.56

Symbol Symbol PZ 7UP UNILEVER

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 38 20.08 774,699 1 175.00 56 7 43.25 4,463 1 56 45 779,162

Value Traded Value Traded 15,556,194.52 9,682.40 175,260.52 9,682.40 15,731,455.04

Symbol DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON TIGERBRANDS

No. of Deals 9 18 9 23 42 101

Current Price 5.98 19.76 1.80 6.33 0.83

Quantity Traded 41,338 110,260Page 187,500 1,500,772 4,672,645 6,512,515

Value Traded 235,213.22 12 32,070,682.80 of 335,925.00 9,502,684.76 3,896,231.98 16,040,737.76

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 11 17 28

Current Price 14.72 779.00

Quantity Traded 95,750 7,194 102,944

Value Traded 1,409,440.00 5,323,919.70 6,733,359.70

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 5.24

Quantity Traded 233,072 233,072

Value Traded 1,160,698.56 1,160,698.56

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 774,699 4,463 779,162

Value Traded 15,556,194.52 175,260.52 15,731,455.04

16,265,352

782,795,669.25

Symbol VITAFOAM

Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016 Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016

P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.EQTY Activity Summary on Board Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Activity Summary on Board EQTY Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. CONSUMER GOODS DIAMOND BANKTotals PLC CONSUMER GOODS ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. Banking SKYE BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC. STERLINGBANK BANKPLC PLC. DIAMOND UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED UNION BANK NIG.PLC. FIDELITY BANK PLC UNITY BANKTRUST PLC BANK PLC. GUARANTY WEMABANK BANKPLC PLC. SKYE Banking Totals STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Daily Summary as of Carriers, 14/01/2016 Insurance Brokers and Services UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Printed 14/01/2016 AIICO14:32:56.056 INSURANCE UNITY BANK PLC PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC WEMA BANK PLC. LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. Banking Totals LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE Activity Summary on Board EQTY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICES LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Brokers Exchange © Services Insurance Carriers, and AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Brokers Exchange © Services Totals Insurance Carriers, and

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UNITED CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

PZ UNILEVER

Daily Summary (Equities)

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

20.08 43.25

425

Page Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY Symbol SKYEBANK ACCESS STERLNBANK DIAMONDBNK UBA ETI UBN FIDELITYBK UNITYBNK GUARANTY WEMABANK SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA Symbol UBN AIICO UNITYBNK CONTINSURE WEMABANK LASACO LAWUNION

No. of Deals 55 37 425 7 65 336 No. of Deals 35 55 372 198 7 18 65 22 336 34 35 809 2 198 No. of Deals 18 229 349 8094 1

Current Price 4.16 1.90 16.15 1.35 14.81 Current Price 1.09 4.16 1.79 1.90 2.59 16.15 5.47 1.35 0.68 14.81 1.00 1.09

9 9 4 1 No. of Deals 2 5 4 5 39

0.86 0.92 0.50 0.64 Current Price 2.55 0.64 0.50 0.50

No. of Deals 34 21 22 1 10 40 128

Current Price 2.21 4.25 1.24 0.50 14.25 1.14

1.79 2.59 Current Price 5.47 0.86 0.68 0.92 1.00 0.50 0.64

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price AIICO CONTINSURE LASACO LAWUNION Symbol MANSARD NEM NIGERINS WAPIC

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UCAP

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

38 7 45

976

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 2 2 9 5 2

Current Price 0.50 2.70 28.50 1.00 0.86

Quantity Traded 2,271,102 12,630,145 16,265,352 9,562 13,959,728 42,513,578 Quantity Traded 4,268,291 2,271,102 21,000 12,630,145 23,535,089 9,562 105,250 13,959,728 1,549,075 42,513,578 1,717,924 4,268,291 102,580,744 21,000 23,535,089 Quantity105,250 Traded 650,000 1,549,075 1,206,000 1,717,924 56,500 102,580,744 50,000

OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO Daily Summary as of PLC 14/01/2016 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056

Exploration and Production Daily Summary as of PETROLEUM 14/01/2016 DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD SEPLAT Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Exploration and Production Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

SERVICES Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Apparel Retailers Totals OIL AND GAS Courier/Freight/Delivery Exploration and Production RED STAR EXPRESS PLC SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Exploration and Production Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Hotels/Lodging Apparel Retailers Totals IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Printing/Publishing TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. ACADEMY PRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals LEARN AFRICA PLC

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016 Board Totals PrintedEQTY 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 CONSUMER GOODS Food Products Activity Summary on Board PREMIUM MCNICHOLS PLC FoodSummary Products Totals Activity on Board ASeM FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking CONSUMER CONSUMER GOODS GOODS Totals ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Activity FoodSummary Products on Board PREMIUM Banking Totals MCNICHOLS PLC ASeM Board Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Food OtherProducts FinancialTotals Institutions Banking FBN HOLDINGS PLC ZENITHGOODS INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC CONSUMER Totals Other Financial Institutions Totals Banking Totals

4,150 821,000 2,519,524 40,129 Page 5,347,303

10,084.50 528,450.00 1,259,762.00 20,064.50 12 4 3,548,251.00 of

113,999,857

763,436,917.70

Quantity Traded 140,907 20,100 873,806 90,000 40,000

Value Traded 70,453.50 51,657.00 24,864,479.78 87,100.00 32,800.00

AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC SERVICES SERVICES Totals Transport-Related Services Daily Summary as ofTotals 14/01/2016 AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC EQTY NIGERIAN Board Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Transport-Related Services Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals ASeM Board Totals Other Financial Institutions FBN HOLDINGS INDUSTRIAL GOODSPLC Published by The Financial Nigerian Stock Exchange © Other Institutions Totals Building Materials Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Building Materials Published by The NigerianCEMENT Stock Exchange © DANGOTE PLC

PREMIUM Totals BuildingBoard Materials Totals

Symbol AFRPAINTS ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN WAPCO

Equity Activity Totals Exchange Traded Fund Name

Exchange Traded Fund LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF Name Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NEWGOLDTraded EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Fund VETIVA BANKING ETF Name VETIVA CONSUMER GOODS LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF ETF VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Published byVETIVA The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Value Traded 25,106,490.28

1,164,813

25,106,490.28

Quantity Traded 2,517 2,517

Value Traded 4,052.37 4,052.37

2,517

4,052.37

No. of Deals 1 8 7 25 7 17 65 (Equities)

Current Price 2.59 26.50 10.00 37.60 9.60 91.31

Quantity Traded 248 38,960 69,550 287,395 45,500 34,907 476,560

Value Traded 612.56 981,012.80 630,387.00 10,772,826.84 414,960.00 3,028,182.25 15,827,981.45

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 1.45

Quantity Traded 111,740 111,740

Value Traded 162,429.80 162,429.80

Symbol VANLEER

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 9.83

Quantity Traded 1,400 Page 1,400

Daily Summary

Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 3.79

Value Traded 13,110.30 of 12 13,110.30

589,700

16,003,521.55

Quantity Traded 8,032 8,032

Value Traded 31,887.04 31,887.04

8,032

31,887.04

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 50 50

Current Price 4.19

Quantity Traded 724,885 724,885

Value Traded 3,043,208.15 3,043,208.15

Symbol CONOIL

No. of Deals 3 3 16 10 13 45

Current Price 24.74 1.53 330.00 145.00 150.00

Quantity Traded 2,608 252,000 15,100 104,658 139,405 513,771

Value Traded 61,314.08 385,560.00 4,733,850.00 15,148,262.46 20,887,520.28 41,216,506.82

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 176.96

Quantity Traded 13,415 13,415 Page

Value Traded 2,378,666.50 12 7 2,378,666.50 of

ETERNA Daily Summary (Equities) FO MOBIL TOTAL

Symbol SEPLAT

105

Daily Summary (Equities)

1,252,071

46,638,381.47

Symbol LENNARDS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 3.00

Quantity Traded 16,100 16,100

Value Traded 45,885.00 45,885.00

Symbol Symbol REDSTAREX SEPLAT TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals No. of Deals 4 10 6 10 10

Current Price Current Price 4.00 176.96 1.10

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 95,000 13,415 63,299 13,415 158,299

Value Traded Value Traded 362,060.00 2,378,666.50 69,628.90 2,378,666.50 431,688.90

1,252,071 Quantity Traded 60,000 60,000 Quantity Traded

46,638,381.47 Value Traded 30,000.00 30,000.00 Value Traded

16,100 Quantity Traded 16,100 1,131,207 1,131,207 Quantity Traded

45,885.00 Value Traded 45,885.00 3,385,801.74 3,385,801.74 Value Traded

95,000 Quantity Traded 63,299 1,000 158,299 30,000

362,060.00 Value Traded 69,628.90 530.00 431,688.90 24,900.00 Value Traded 8 of 12 30,000.00 30,000.00

105 No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals

Symbol CILEASING Symbol LENNARDS Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

4 No. of Deals 4 10 10 No. of Deals

Symbol REDSTAREX Symbol TRANSEXPR ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA

4 No. of Deals 6 1 10 2

Current Price 0.50 Current Price 3.00 Current Price 3.10 Current Price 4.00 Current Price 1.10 0.55 0.87

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 60,000 60,000

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 3.10

Quantity Traded 1,131,207 1,131,207

Value Traded 3,385,801.74 3,385,801.74

No. of Deals 1 2 No. of Deals (Equities) No. of Deals 3 10 12 No. of Deals

Current Price 0.55 0.87 Current Price Current Price 3.42

Quantity Traded 1,000 30,000 Quantity Traded Quantity Traded Page 31,000 36,614 37,214 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 530.00 24,900.00 Value Traded Value Traded 8 25,430.00 of 12 119,221.64 120,421.64 Value Traded

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA Symbol Daily Summary Symbol NAHCO Symbol AIRSERVICE Symbol NAHCO

2 40 No. of Deals 10 1,766 12

Current Price 2.10 Current Price 3.42

Daily Summary (Equities)

600 1,433,820

1,200.00 4,039,227.28

Quantity Traded 36,614 143,713,016 37,214

Value Traded 119,221.64 1,674,007,776.36 120,421.64

1,433,820

4,039,227.28

Daily Summary (Equities)

143,713,016

1,674,007,776.36

Quantity Traded 4,950 4,950

Value Traded 5,841.00 5,841.00

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 1 4,950 392 10.45 42,227,500 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 392 42,227,500 1 1.19 4,950 4,950 1 1 Current Price Quantity Traded 4,950 No. of Deals No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 375 3.61 76,449,300 3921 10.45 42,227,500 4,950 375 76,449,300 392 42,227,500

Value Traded 5,841.00 441,347,614.73 Value Traded 441,347,614.73 5,841.00 5,841.00 Value5,841.00 Traded Value Traded 276,130,105.16 441,347,614.73 5,841.00 276,130,105.16 441,347,614.73

767 118,676,800 4,950 No. of Deals1 Current Price Quantity Traded 375 3.61 76,449,300 Page 375 76,449,300 Page No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 45 138.18 128,219 767 118,676,800 45 128,219

717,477,719.89 Value5,841.00 Traded 276,130,105.16 12 9 of 276,130,105.16 10Value of Traded 12 17,721,521.42 717,477,719.89 17,721,521.42

1,766

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price MCNICHOLS

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ZENITHBANK Symbol MCNICHOLS

Symbol Symbol FBNH ZENITHBANK

Symbol FBNH Symbol DANGCEM

Symbol DANGCEM

1 1

1.19

45 No. of Deals Current Price 45 138.18 812 45

INDUSTRIAL Activity Totals Totals DailyEquity Summary as ofGOODS 14/01/2016 Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056

PREMIUM Board Totals

Current Price 1.69

Value of Shares(N)

Quantity Traded 1,164,813

SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 567,000.00 1,102,640.00 28,250.00 32,000.00 4 Value of Traded12

OIL AND GAS Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. SERVICES Employment Solutions Totals Apparel Retailers

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016 Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Printing/Publishing Activity Summary on Board EQTY Activity Summary on Board EQTY ACADEMY PRESS PLC. SERVICES LEARN AFRICA PLC SERVICES Printing/Publishing Transport-Related Services Published by The Nigerian StockTotals Exchange © Printing/Publishing NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Totals Activity Summary onServices Board EQTY Transport-Related Services

Value Traded 665,523.78 4,628,654.20 1,593,818.32 7,500.00 677,297.88 3,777,514.48 11,350,308.66

No. of Deals 1 1

OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 9,448,860.32 23,997,325.50 782,795,669.25 150,014.16 17,368,901.67 629,677,339.60 Value Traded 4,652,437.19 9,448,860.32 35,910.00 23,997,325.50 59,891,194.60 150,014.16 547,300.00 17,368,901.67 1,055,321.00 629,677,339.60 1,713,754.00 4,652,437.19 748,538,358.04 35,910.00 59,891,194.60 Value Traded 547,300.00 567,000.00 1,055,321.00 1,102,640.00 1,713,754.00 28,250.00 748,538,358.04 32,000.00

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum OIL AND GASand Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Employment Solutions Daily Summary of 14/01/2016 Published by Theas Nigerian Stock Exchange © Daily Summary of 14/01/2016 C &as I LEASING PLC. Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Printed 14/01/2016 14:32:56.056 Employment Solutions Totals

Quantity Traded 300,021 1,114,092 1,280,443 15,000 50,022 3,312,232 6,071,810

Symbol TRIPPLEG

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Quantity Traded 650,000 1,206,000 56,500 50,000 Page Quantity Traded

Page

Electronic and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers GREIF NIGERIA PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Packaging/Containers Totals ©

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Current Price 0.50

Daily Summary (Equities)

Electronic and Electrical Products

Activity Summary CUTIX PLC. on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded

Current Price

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Quotation(N) No. of Deals 20

ICT Totals

Symbol DUNLOP

CHAMPION Daily Summary (Equities)

No Of Deals Symbol

HEALTHCARE Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts Daily Summary as of 14/01/2016

Summary on Board EQTY Sector Activity Company name

Daily Summary (Equities)

128,219 Quantity Traded Page 128,219

45 2,579

Daily Summary (ETP) Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol LOTUSHAL15

128,219 262,522,985

17,721,521.42 2,409,212,858.67

812

118,805,019

735,199,241.31

2,579

262,522,985

2,409,212,858.67

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 8.62

Daily Summary (ETP) No. of Deals Current Price Symbol NEWGOLD VETBANK Symbol VETGOODS LOTUSHAL15 VETGRIF30 VETINDETF

118,805,019 128,219

17,721,521.42 Value Traded 12 10 of 17,721,521.42 735,199,241.31 17,721,521.42

2,100.00

No. of Deals1 11 1 1 8

2.22 Current Price 6.14 8.62 10.98 19.03

Quantity Traded 10

Value Traded 86.20

Quantity Traded Page 290

Value Traded 11 of 12 608,965.00 222.00 Value Traded 614.00 86.20 109.80 12 11 of 1,903.00

100 Quantity Traded 100 10 10 Page 100 610

611,900.00

ETF Board Totals

610

611,900.00

ETP Activity Totals

610

611,900.00

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arty News

Friday, January 15, 2016

What informed the project Goodwill Ultimate Talent Show, GUTS? I donated a plot of land to the less privileged in Nigeria, and because I am not used to taking money from people, organisations or government, I began to crack my head on how best to achieve this dream of helping the less privileged. First and foremost, this is Habiba’s dream to build a school for the less privileged and not anybody’s dream. Since it is my dream, it means I believe in it most. Why then should I be going round asking people to give me their money to build the school? So I came up with this idea to do a talent show that will showcase raw and undiscovered talents and shoot them limelight, which is a lot of help for these talents also. Through this talent show to be branding products and selling them, the profit that we will be making out of that, I will put it unto the plot to build the school since it is my personal dream. So you see, we will be killing two birds with one stone; we will be showcasing undiscovered talents and giving meaning to the lives of many youths, and we will also be building a school for the less privileged. The products we will be selling will be wrist watches, phone covers, feel n win scratch cards which you can buy for 300 Naira and win stuffs like Toyota Corolla 2014 model, iPad, laptops, iPhones, biros, recharge cards T/shirt, Face caps etc. For the reality talent hunt you will download the form and pay 3000 Naira only either online or into Goodwill Ultimate a Talent show account at FCMB account number 3361861014, or First Bank account number - 2027527706. For the star prize is, 3 million and a movie role for the first prize, second prize is 1.5 million Naira plus a movie role and the third prize is 500 thousand Naira, plus a movie role. Who are the judges and how did you select them? I personally don’t know any of the judges. I have never met anyone of them. My former project coordinator knows them and has worked with them in the past and he suggested we pick them based on yardsticks of old breed, new breed, fashion and comedy. We have in the matured side -Zack Oji, on the comedy side -Francis Odega, on the fashion part we took Oge Okoye and on the new breed side, we took Amanda Ebeye. For host of the show, we chose Tchidi Chikere, I learnt he is a foremost, popular and very talented director in Nollywood; shooting movies of his own. I only goggled and did background checks on each of them and I was satisfied with my findings so I accepted them. They have signed a contract to be with us and we will soon be on air. We want to start promotional jingles first week of January and we want to give two months for people to do the registration- buy our scratch cards and all procedures. We want to shoot the programme proper live on air by last week of February or first week of March 2016 in Abuja Gods willing Is there a specific reason why you decided to host the show in Abuja? I picked Abuja because I am here and I want to see what is going on, I want to see to it that what we are giving back to the society is exciting and entertaining, worth their money. Basically, I settled for

27 31

GUTS will shape TV industry in Nigeria –Habibat Abubakar

Hajiya Habibat Abubakar, the founder Elderly and the Poor, a Non-Governmental Organisation, will soon to roll out a charity TV show, the Goodwill Ultimate Talent Show. She talks extensively about the project in this interview with REGINA OTOKPA. Excerpts: projects for the site? In addition to the school, we are also going to build a home for the elderly. It will be a 40 bed home for the elderly, we actually want to start with that since we are just starting, we want to start with something we can afford whether the public helps us or through the ways that I used to help myself in my programmes, at least, let me do what I know I can afford to do. We also plan to build a vocational/ craft center in the same compound where we will be bringing in lecturers to teach vocational courses, by so doing we will be generating little funds to help us run the school. The school is going to be a subsidised school for the less privileged, so money will not be flowing in from the school, it is the vocational centre that will be generating some of the funds to run the school. The training and vocational/ craft centre will train people on hair dressing, barbing, make up, computer literacy, sewing, cabinet making and carpentry, wiring, and many other skills. How prepared are the officials particularly the judges?

Habibat

Abuja so that I will easily be on ground to monitor all. I am giving back to the society what they deserve and I want to see that we are shooting right, what is going on air is right , every other person that is there is right. That way we will prevent any from coming up with the contestants or the public. You made mention of a piece of land earlier, where is it located and what is the size? The land is located at Lugbe Abuja, it is 5 hectares that is the size of seven football fields. That is where we intend to build the Nigerian first school for the less privileged in Nigeria. Within this project, everything that one is contributing is towards making history.

The school will be the first of its kind in Nigeria. A reality show for charity has never been done in the entire world, this is the first reality talent show for charity, think about it, we are empowering people, we are also helping amateur talents that are coming to stardom with a starting point of three million Naira and a movie role, the second 1.5 million Naira plus a movie role and the third 500 thousand Naira plus a movie role. Isn’t it simply amazing?! Our Scratch cards can be bought online or through our App for android phones and blackberry’s or in all Habib Yoghurt nationwide and many stores to be found on our website. Aside the school, do you have other

We have in the matured side -Zack Oji, on the comedy side -Francis Odega, on the fashion part, we took Oge Okoye and on the new breed side, we took Amanda Ebeye. For host of the show, we chose Tchidi Chikere

All the judges are passionate about this programme and are ready to give in their 100% to this programme for their fans and giving back to their country Nigeria for free and against all odds. We know it won’t be easy, we know we have many challenges to surmount and win. But we are set and we are determined and win we must against all odds, be they technical, professional or people who do not believe or share our dreams or people who will be kill joys or malicious. We can do this and we will do it. Have you received any financial support so far from any quarters? It is worthy of note that I am kick starting this project with my own money, without anybody’s kobo, I deserve a pat on the back from the public and well-meaning Nigerians. It is in dreaming that we achieve and every great achievement begins with a dream. I have dreamed and I have put my money in my dream, this to me is the most laudable and praise worthy part, to believe in one’s worthy dream for the good of others and financially support it.

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Mixed reactions trail Lagos’ termination of NURTW BRT agreement The decision by the Lagos State Government a few days ago which terminated the franchise it issued to the National Union of Road Transport Workers to operate a Bus Rapid Transit scheme between Mile 12 and CMS corridor of the state has continued to generate mixed reactions. While many hailed the decision as a good move to revamp the fading glory of the BRT system, others are carpeting the government for pushing thousands of people back into the labour market. Adejuwon Osunnuyi writes.

To avert any revolt by the workers, stern looking policemen were stationed at the BRT main park at Ketu. As early as 5 am, while the buses were safely parked, scores of the staff who had come to resume work were turned back by the security personnel. Before now, Lagos residents had expressed reservations based on bad shape of many of BRT buses, which they said have continued to remind them of the ‘molues’ in the state. Speaking on the on the development, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the government decided to terminate the franchise agreement because of non-compliance with operational plans stipulated in the franchise by the First BRT Cooperative (FBC), owned by the NURTW. He said, “The termination of the franchise agreement with the operator is sequel to breaches of the BRT Service Level Agreement (SLA) it signed with the state government. We have been talking with FBC for years to ensure the SLA was adhered to, all to no avail. “Though the SLA requires a one-month notice prior to its termination, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, custodian of the agreement, gave a three-month notice, which the operator failed to honour.” He added that the govern-

ment’s decision had been communicated to the operator, saying the FBC lacked the ability to offer good public transport services to commuters on the BRT corridor. “This has led to incessant complaints by members of the public over poor services provided by the operator and the deployment of vehicles not safe for use. “The failure of the FBC to comply with the terms of the franchise agreement has led to passengers experiencing poor service quality typified by extensive waiting time and having to endure use of dilapidated and unsafe buses,” he added. The commissioner said that the breaches, which the operator had indulged in and failed to remedy despite being notified of them, had made the state government to decide to order the operator out of the corridor in the interest of the public. Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the NURTW state Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede pleaded with the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to prevail on LAMATA to rescind its decision as the action could lead to the loss of jobs for 1,000 workers involved in the BRT operation. In a letter addressed to the

‘

THE

BRT bus being pushed

governor, the NURTW said the union would find it difficult to fulfill a N1.6bn loan agreement it entered into with Ecobank in 2014 to facilitate the purchase of 100 buses for the scheme. It read in part, “Sir, we are pleading for your understanding on this situation. We are ready to work with other operators on that corridor for the benefit of Lagos commuters.” It would be recalled that while the old BRT busses are now off the roads, the 434 new fully air conditioned BRT buses flagged off by the state governor last year November have taken full charge of the Ikorodu to CMS corridor. The governor, who also flagged off a direct BRT line from Ikorodu to CMS on the Island, had said he was optimistic that the initiative would bring comfort and convenience to commuters in the state. The governor, who said that the 22 km BRT corridor in the state has moved over 250 million passengers in the last seven years, said the extension is meant to solve the inadequacies noticed on the Mile 12 to

TERMINATION OF THE FRANCHISE

AGREEMENT WITH THE OPERATOR IS

BRT SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT (SLA) IT SIGNED WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH FBC FOR YEARS TO ENSURE THE SLA WAS ADHERED TO, ALL TO NO AVAIL SEQUEL TO BREACHES OF THE

‘

ast week, the Lagos State Government took a firm decision to terminate the franchise it issued to the National Union of Road Transport Workers to operate a Bus Rapid Transit scheme between Mile 12 and CMS corridor of the state.

CMS corridor. “This government is committed to improving on the road transport network, the water transportation system, the public transport infrastructure and most importantly attract the needed investment to fund our Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), which is already being implemented.” “The strategic transport master plan is a 30-year plan that will deliver to us a truly world class integrated public transport system with Six Rail Lines, One Mono-Rail, 14 BRT corridors, Three Cable Car Corridors and 26 developed Water Routes. As part of this vision, we are working towards commencing operation of the first phase of the Blue Line Rail Project in the next 12 months so that Lagosians will start to feel the benefits of a world-class rail system”, he said. For many Lagosians who use the BRT buses as means of transportation, the decision to stop the old buses is definitely in the right direction. A respondent, who simply gave his name as Austin said, “The governor acted on the safety and interest of the public. Lagos is a metropolitan state and in most cases, the first stop of many international perception of Nigeria. As such, utilities and other activities should be at reasonable operational level beside, creating some comfort and other enabling environments to all Lagosians. The contract should be awarded to someone else,

who can deliver the required services to the public. For Tobi Amosu, who resides in Shomolu, “I used to enjoy the BRT, especially when they were now. I remember like four or so years ago, I saw people taking pictures while inside the bus or at the bus stops. It was a big deal then. It’s something you could say proudly. Not now o! BRT has become molue. You’ll see people standing at the entrance. At the bus stop, some people will be running after the bus as if that’s the last bus. It is very pathetic. The buses now even look bad, even ordinary danfo looks cleaner and well maintained. The only thing is that it is cheaper, but that standing with someone almost climbing on your back into you is what I don’t like at all.” Also speaking in the same vein, Michael Nwokike said, “I live in Ogudu, but work at Maryland and I have to leave quite early in the morning. Before, I take the BRT along Ikorodu road because traffic doesn’t delay it and it is cheap. But after some time I noticed that the buses started decaying. I saw one while heading back from work tilting to one side. It was bent to one side, like one of those vans used for carrying goods. It is very sad. Our maintenance culture has always been the problem but I believe with the seriousness the Ambode government has exhibited, our public transportation would not be the same again

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, January 15, 2016

Chinese, Nigerian firms plan auto workshop

Chinese state-owned automotive manufacturing company, FAW Group, in collaboration with its Nigerian distributor, Perfection Motor Company Limited, has concluded plans to unveil an ultra-modern showroom and workshop to deliver truck solutions and after-sales backup to haulage and construction companies in the country. FAW Group is a global leader in the vehicle manufacturing industry with a 60-year history of innovation. Founded in 1953, FAW employs 120,000

people around the world and sells products in over 70 countries. As China’s state-owned automotive corporation, the company’s total assets are valued at 244.575 billion Yuan RMB. FAW is a diversified maker of quality light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks, automobiles, municipal buses and luxury tourist coaches, custom bus chassis, and mini-vehicles with total sales in excess of 18 million vehicles worldwide. The showroom and workshop are located on Ikeja Industrial Area. Perfection Motor Company Limited, with headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, is a subsidiary of the Lee Group with interests in

different sectors of the economy and a track record of delivering quality goods and services. Speaking in Lagos, the General Manager of the company, Mr. Adrian Fourie, said that the showroom and workshop were well designed to meet the taste of truck customers, even as his company is working on a network to serve customers in all parts of the country. He added that the company has a stock of spare parts to meet the demands of customers. Fourie, who has over 20 years experience in the auto industry, said that his company already has in stock three different models of the FAW brand-the J6 tractor head, J5 tractor head and the J5 tipper.

Nadal unveils Kia’s newest X-Car at Australian Open 2016

ennis superstar and Kia global brand ambassador Rafael Nadal lifted the cover off of Kia’s latest ‘X-Car’ today in Melbourne, Australia during the official VIK handover ceremony for the Australian Open 2016. The one-of-a-kind Sportage CUV was created in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox and modelled after the popular X-Men character Mystique. Boasting a unique design with special textured ‘tone-ontone’ matte and gloss blue paint finish, racing wheels and tires along with red and yellow bodywork highlights, the Kia X-Car and Rafael Nadal combine powers in an online video released ahead of this year’s Australian Open. The Sportage-based Kia X-Car is the company’s second show car project in collaboration with Fox, following the Wolverine-in-

spired Sorento that was shown at the Australian Open 2015. The ceremony also featured the handover of 110 official courtesy vehicles to the Australian Open Organizing Committee. The fleet will be driven by approximately 225 specially trained volunteer drivers and cover more than 300,000 kilometers to transport players, officials, event staff, fans, VIPs and media representatives throughout the duration of the tournament.

Tennis Australia CEO, Craig Tiley, said, “Kia makes an incredible contribution to the running of the Australian Open and I’m again very pleased to accept the key to the 100-plus fleet of Kia courtesy vehicles. The sight of the Kia cars ferrying players, officials, media and this year for the first time, fans, around Melbourne, adds significantly to the tangible excitement and buzz the event brings to the city of Melbourne.”

Hyundai’s iX35 SUV thrills youths at ‘Headies’ Annual Music Fiesta

n line with Hyundai Motors global youth development programmes, Hyundai Motors Nigeria (HMN) in collaboration with HipHop World has presented prized Hyundai iX35 sport utility vehicle (SUV) to Marvin Records Reekado Banks, winner of the ‘Next Rated’ commemorative plaque at the just ended 2015 ‘Headies’ Awards. The 22-year-old University of Lagos History and Strategic Study graduate, Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon popularly called Reekado Banks outshined rival nominees Kiss Daniel, Cynthia Morgan, Korede Bello and Lil’ Kesh to emerge winner in the ‘Next Rated’ category of the contest. Next Rated category spotlights probable outstanding ar-

tiste and is arguably the most coveted grouping in the nine year old musical show with past winners like international music sensation Asa; Wande Coal, Omawunmi, Wizkid, Davido, Sean Tizzle and Patoranking. Stallion Hyundai Motors Nigeria has since 2011 underwrite the Next Rated category of Headies’ Awards, a seeming adaptation of the prestigious Grammy Awards, where local outstanding and upcoming artistes in the year are honoured. In his post award remarks, Hyundai Motors Nigeria head of sales and marketing Jatin Nadkarni said: “Hyundai is delighted to be associated with Headies’ entertainment’ talent hunt initiative which has consistently celebrated local music icons with recourse to the con-

sequence of music being one of the most effective media of communication and the best way to reach out to the world most potent population.” “We intend to continue to use this platform to raise the profile of evolving arts that are fast becoming an attribute for sociocultural emancipation,” Mr. Nadkarni noted. Also remarking that the sponsorship was in harmony with Headies, HMN sales and marketing helmsman said the musical show could subsequently rid the streets of drifters. Mr. Nadkarni added that Hyundai vehicles are stylish, sleek and sporty with dynamic curves that could best be likened to contemporary youth transformation and their socio-cultural philosophy.

megacrown1@yahoo.com 08025237926

Kia Telluride concept makes world debut at Detroit Auto Show

limpsing a future that is grounded in reality but not bound by the present, Kia Motors today unveiled a cutting-edge vision for a full-size SUV at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The Telluride, a striking three-row, seven-passenger, luxury SUV concept features a modern and upright shape, muscular stance, and state-ofthe-art technology to care for its occupants. Purely conceptual, the Kia Telluride is based on an existing platform and reveals the brand’s interest in potentially offering a premium SUV positioned above the current hot-selling Sorento. “The Kia Telluride makes an aesthetic statement for the Kia brand as a bold, all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of advanced technology, focusing particular attention on the experience and comfort of second-row occupants,” said Tom Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center America (KDCA). “Longer, wider and taller than the recently redesigned Sorento CUV, Telluride allows us to envision what a full-size seven-passenger SUV from Kia could look like.” Telluride’s front doors and rear-hinged back doors swing open 90 degrees in opposing directions, creating an expansive and inviting portal into the panoramic interior space and revealing a technological showcase. Four beautiful blackleather captain’s seats appear to float within the spacious cabin in front of a folded thirdrow bench. The large cabin allows the middle seats to recline nearly flat and include large fold-away footrests for sublime comfort. All four seats include a series of precise diamond-cut openings in the seatback, each embedded with Smart Sensors to capture a passenger’s vital health information. Once obtained, these vitals are displayed on the interior door panel screens, which then

Kia Telluride

systematically synchronize with a Light Emitted Rejuvenation (LER) system. The LER system utilizes a massive, wing-shaped LED panel mounted beneath the oversized sunroof that displays a pattern of therapeutic light to treat desynchronosis (jetlag) and improve the passengers’ energy levels. Another unique technology introduced in Telluride is Swipe Command – a thin, touch-sensitive, interactive band mounted to the second row center console – which allows rear-seat passengers to quickly scroll and select desired media by simply swiping their hand. The selected media is then played either through the seven-speaker premium Harman Kardon® audio system, or via a set of portable Harman Kardon® headphones that wirelessly charge when stowed in the console. Up front, a compartment in the center stack allows for wireless cell phone charging, and Kia’s first use of 3D-printed components add a distinct, modern design element to the dashboard, door panels, and steering wheel. Telluride’s interior and exterior were penned at the brand’s California-based studio, Kia Design Center America (KDCA). Finished in Dark Pyrite green paint, the tall stance is amplified by the overall size of the vehicle. At 70.9-inches tall, 79.1-inches wide and 196.9-inches long, Telluride is 4.4-inches taller, 4.7-inches wider, and a sizable 9.5-inches longer than the current Sorento. Underpinning the Telluride is a modified Sorento chassis with a wheelbase stretched 11.9 inches to 121.3 inches, giving Telluride a dominating presence. It’s modern and muscular appearance is accentuated by flared fenders stretching around massive 22-inch five-spoke wheels wrapped in Hankook® Ventus ST 275/45R22 tires.

People In The Mirror

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Head of Lagos Operation, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Joe Bankole (l), Welcoming Lagos State President, Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Mr Samuel Akingbehin, during his visit to NAN office In Lagos.

L-R: Executive Director And Chief Investment Officer, Africa Finance Corporation (Afc), Mr Oliver Tunde Andrews; General Counsel Of Afc, Dr Adesegun Akinâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Olugbade, And President, Andrew Alli, during a courtesy call on the Vice President By Afc Executives At The Presidential Villa In Abuja yesterday.

L-R; Pastor James Ejiga, celebrant Miss Bridget Eigbike, and Evangelist Mrs. Precious Ejiga, cutting the cake during the birthday ceremony of Bridget Eigbike, held at Soul Rescue International Gospel Church, Agege, Lagos

Chancellor/Founder Chrisland University, High Chief Dr (Mrs) Winifred Awosika (first left) with some members of the Board of Trustees during the dedication service at Ogun State recently.

L-R: Deputy Director of INEC, Mrs Rose Oriaron; Country representative, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Mr Udo Jude; Rep. Raphael Igbokwe (IMO), and Rep. Emmanuel Agboola (EKITI), during the Media Launch of the Young Legislators Accountability Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Branded T-Shirts, in Abuja.

L-R: Director-General, Security and Exchange Commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo; General Manager Operations SEC, Dr. Joe Mekiliuwa and a market man, Mr Chidi Charles, during a sensitisation awareness on E-Dividend Registration by SEC in Abuja. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Chairman Of Rogal Resources Nigeria, Malam Usman Abdulkadiri (L), Presenting A Souvenir To The Chairman, Nigeria Union Of Journalist, Kaduna State Council, Alhaji Garba Muhammed, During A Courtesy Visit In Kaduna.

L-R: Wife of the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Hajia Fatmah Nuhu Gidado; wife of the Governor, Hajia Hadiza Abubakar; Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Nuhu Gidado, and Chairman, Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, Ladan Dalhatu, during the Commissioning of Comrade Sule Shehuwa Secretariat of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, in Bauchi.

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Maritime

Counting inconsistent policy costs on Nigeria Customs’ revenue drive

The sharp decline in the revenue generated by the Nigeria Customs Service to N903 billion for the 2015 fiscal year as against the over N1 trillion collected in the previous year did not come to many stakeholders as a surprise. This is given the inconsistent fiscal and monetary policies of the government, especially since the second quarter of last year, which have adversely affected import volumes into the country, reports FRANCIS EZEM

t is a fact that even as an import-dependent nation, Nigeria lacks a clearly defined import policy regime. The recent shortfall of about N400billion in Nigeria Customs Service’s import revenue collection in 2015 fiscal year may have impressed it on government authorities that it is high time that government started implementing concise and consistent monetary and fiscal policies. The service had raked in a total of N903 billion in the year as against the over N1 trillion collected in the comparative period of 2014. This represents a N240 billion shortfall when compared with a target of N954 billion set for it by the Federal Ministry of Finance at the beginning of the 2015 fiscal year. Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hammed Ali rtd who spoke in Abuja last week while decorating the newly constituted management team of the service had blamed this revenue shortfall on the new Foreign Exchange Pol-

icy of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, which placed restrictions on the importation of 41 items. The Customs CG had while reacting to the revenue shortfall argued that if the N240 billion shortfalls was added to what was collected within the period, the service would have surpassed its revenue target for the year. But maritime experts are of the strong view that the dwindling import revenue might take a worsening dimension in 2016, especially given the current realities in the country occasioned by the declining value of the naira against other international currencies especially the dollar. As at the last Wednesday, the nai-

ra exchanged for N300 to a dollar at the black market, notwithstanding the decision of the CBN to lift the ban placed on commercial Banks from collecting dollar deposits. Managing Director of Port Passages, Mr. Michael Nwokafor, predicts a further sharp decline in the revenue of the service especially for the 2016 fiscal year. According to him, apart from the declining value of the naira, the CBN policy, which excludes 41 import items from the eligibility list for accessing foreign exchange at N196 to the dollar at the official market, has led to a reduction in the volume of imported goods into the country by over 50 per cent. “There is every indication that the volume of goods imported into the country might still record a sharp decline on account of the CBN’s foreign exchange restriction policy, which also implies that the Customs revenue would plunge further in 2016”, he warned. “It is a simple logic, when the naira exchange rate is high, importers would be cautious and so import lower volumes, especially given the volatility of the Nigerian business environment and so this would negatively affect the ability of the Customs to meet it’s revenue targets for 2016”, he also argued.

The country has the longest list of items on its import prohibition list. This rather ugly development fuels smuggling. This is more so especially given the numerous porous borders and more than 200 other unapproved routes, through which these prohibited items flood the nation’s markets almost unchecked

He argued that apart from the CBN’s policy, the dwindling value of the naira against other international currencies such as the dollar has helped to worsen the situation. Investigations showed that for the better part of last year, the naira exchange rate was an average of N245 to a dollar, which now exchanges for an average of N280 to a dollar, an indication that the import volumes might further decline. Some stakeholders have expressed fears that the situation might even be more precarious in 2016 fiscal year with the continued decline in the price of crude oil in the international market, which currently stands at about $32 per barrel against the $38 per barrel benchmark for the 2016 budget. It was against this background that the Federal Government in the 2016 projected that non-oil revenues were expected to contribute N820 billion. Apart from all these new cases of policy summersaults, Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary policies are synonymous with such inconsistencies, which negatively affects every sector of the economy be it manufacturing, industry, etc. For instance, the country has the longest list of items on its import prohibition list. This rather ugly development fuels smuggling. This is more so especially given the numerous porous borders and more than 200 other unapproved routes, through which these prohibited items flood the nation’s markets almost unchecked. Little wonder that with over 170 million population, Nigeria

ordinarily should take charge of the entire Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS’ economy, Nigeria has yet to take full advantage of the large market she ought to control through the right monetary and fiscal policies. This is unlike neighbouring African countries such as Republic of Benin, Togo and even Ghana, which though have very little market size but have over the years taken control of the international trade business with the aid of the right fiscal policies. For instance, though more than 65 per cent of goods imported into the ECOWAS region from Europe, Asia and the United States of America end up in Nigeria, less than 20 per cent of such goods come through Nigeria’s seaports due to these inconsistencies and policy summersaults. These three neighbouring West African Countries have taken undue advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme ETLS even President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents MDLCA, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, while commenting on this trend, noted that time has come for Nigeria to identify her areas o comparative economic advantage, which would determine her fiscal and monetary policies. While listing policies such as the rice, automotive policy and the ban placed on the importation of poultry products, argued that these policies have yet to achieve their desired objectives and thus the need for strengthening or a review.

Business Maritime

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gridlock: Over 7,000 trucks queue at Apapa Ports daily STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

here are strong indications that the gridlock associated with the nation’s seaports, especially in the Lagos Ports Complex and Tin Can Island Ports both in Apapa, Lagos, axis, may linger for a long time,

given the number of trucks that ply the roads daily. A top official of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, told National Mirror that more than 7,000 trucks access the two major seaports in the area to either to pick, drop or scout for business.

According to the source, a study put together by the council also show that out of the 7, 000 trucks that come to the ports daily, only about 1, 700 of them have genuine business of pick or drop loaded import and export consignments or drop empty containers used in delivering

Apapa gridlock

Larger LNG-powered boxships underway, says expert He says that using LNG as fuel

utting emissions in a world already experiencing climate change has been one of the key topics last year as world powers met in Paris to talk measures aimed at curbing global warming of more than 2°C. Even though shipping has been left out of the Paris Agreement, there is a mounting pressure on the industry players to shift to more environmentally-friendly solutions. Adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as marine fuel has been one of the most common solutions for ship owners, and 2015 has seen numerous industry-firsts and industry records, such as the largest LNG-powered containership. Vice President of Global Gas Solutions, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Mr. Patrick Janssens , says that LNG as a marine fuel has a central role in reducing the overall CO2 emissions inventory from shipping, and it will become increasingly attractive as shipping and its regulators work to further reduce the industry’s contribution to climate change. According to him, the area that, if not unexplored, certainly is not fully exploited, is the main fleet of bulk carriers and tankers. “ABS has classed LNG Ready

product tankers and is collaborating on an LNG Ready bulk carrier design, but these are the sectors that have yet to fully embrace the concept. The reasons are numerous: the low bunker price, the number of sailing days spent within an Emission Control Area (ECA), the availability of low sulphur fuel and alternative compliance options”, he said Janssens also says that in addition, the tramp trading patterns of many bulk carriers and tankers increase the challenge of sourcing LNG fuel in multiple locations. But just as with containerships, it seems likely that more and more owners will consider this option in the future.

is not new – LNG carriers have used boil-off gas from cargo as fuel since the launch of the first LNG carrier entered service in 1964; so the technical challenges are generally well known and understood. “What is new in applying LNG as fuel to cargo ships is to understand how the arrangement of the cargo tanks, fueling system and main engine impact cargo capacity and ship operations. For LNG bunkering vessels, the process is closer to existing principles, but in both cases, a critical challenge is ensuring crew training and competence that reflect the differences between conventional fuel and LNG as fuel”, he also said.

some goods. The source also disclosed that part of the report of the study also indicate that with an increase in the volume of consignments in the nearest future in response to increase in demand and change in consumption pattern, this trend might worsen, as the number of the trucks might more than double. This, it was further gathered suggests that if urgent measures were not put in place to curb this trend, the gridlock experienced in the past years, especially in 2015 might be a child’s play compared with what might happen in the nearest future. The source also hinted that the study suggests that in the long run, the introduction of a call-up system for the truckers remains the most viable option to control the influx of trucks that have no immediate business at the ports. It was also gathered that about 5,600 truckers, who have no business at the ports throng the area daily looking for cargo, as it might take them more than five days to secure contracts to lift consignments, a development that worsens the traffic situations in the area. The source argued that though the idea of rehabilitating and expanding the port access roads was a good one, the gridlock might not disappear completely if the 7,000 trucks were all allowed to throng the area on daily basis.

Greece seeks better offer on Piraeus Port deal

iraeus Port China’s port operator, Cosco Group (Hong Kong) Limited has been confirmed as the sole bidder for Greek Piraeus Port Authority SA, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund informed. The binding financial of-

Corruption allegation: EFCC may prosecute former Customs CG

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has said that the former Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko may face arrest and possible prosecution on his return from his foreign trip. Operatives of the anti-graft agency had invaded the Abuja residence of the former Customs boss but discovered that he was not within the premises. A source at the EFCC hinted

that the agency has not given up on its resolve to track down the former Customs CG to an some undisclosed issues that occurred during his five-year stewardship at the service. It was gathered that the decision of the anti-graft agency to commence a search for the Katsina-born former Customs officer might not be unconnected with the myriads of petitions against to the commission. The source also hinted that

In addition to introducing a call-up system for the truckers, experts have also advised the Federal Government to compel all the multinational shipping companies operating in the country to establish their private empty container holding bays for their containers. These stakeholders have argued that empty containers constitute a large chunk of these 5, 600 containers that do not have immediate businesses at the ports, as they are made to remain on the queue waiting to be called in to drop their empty containers. The stakeholders have also called for quick action on the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing port access roads in order to pix the several failed portions of the roads, which lead to laden containers falling off the trucks, through which many Nigerians have died. Apart from the poor state of some of the trucks, another problem associated with the Apapa gridlock is the activities of the security and traffic agencies’ operatives such as the Federal Road Safety Commission FRSC, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, Police and the Nigerian Ports Authority security officers. It has been revealed that these security and traffic operatives collect money from these truckers, who have no immediate business at the ports to remain on the queue while looking for haulage contracts.

it had become expedient to invite the former CG to answer to some of the allegations against him while in office. A group had before now petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC, over alleged under-hand business by the former CG while in office. The ICPC, which then confirmed it received such petition, however did not act on it for undisclosed reasons.

fer for the sale of a 67 per cent shareholding in Piraeus Port was unsealed yesterday, the fund said. “According to the terms of the process, the Fund requested the submission of an improved financial offer to be assessed at a subsequent meeting of the Board scheduled to be held in the coming week,” the fund adds. The bidding process closed on December 21, 2015. The tender process for the sale of 67% of the shares of the Piraeus Port Authority was launched in March 2014, but the stake has since been downsized to 51 per cent. It is expected that the sale value of the 51 percent stake could reach about USD 179 million. The selected winner has the option to purchase additional 16 percent stake over five years, however first it has to invest around EUR 300 million in port development.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, January 15, 2016

World Bank commits $12.6bn to ICT devt globally in 10 years CHIDI UGWU, ABUJA

he World Bank Group has invested a total US$12.6 billion in ICTs in the last 10 years the World Development Report released in Washington yesterday has disclosed. The report indicated that while the internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies were spreading rapidly throughout the developing world, the anticipated digital dividends of higher growth, more jobs, and better public services had fallen short of expectations, and 60 percent of the world’s population remains excluded from the ever-expanding digital economy. The report stated: “Digital technologies can transform our economies, societies and public institutions, but these changes are neither assured nor automatic. Countries that are investing in both digital technology and its analog complements will reap significant dividends, while others are likely to fall behind. “Technology without a strong foundation risks creating divergent economic fortunes, higher inequality and an intrusive state. Over the last decade, the World Bank Group has invested a total US$12.6 billion in ICTs” Authored by Co-Directors,

Deepak Mishra and Uwe Deichmann and team, the new ‘World Development Report 2016: Digital Dividends,’ noted that the benefits of rapid digital expansion have been skewed towards the wealthy, skilled, and influential around the world, who are better positioned to take advantage of the new technologies. In addition, though the number of internet users worldwide has more than tripled since 2005, four billion people still lack access to the internet. In his remarks, Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, noted that “digital technologies are transforming the worlds of business, work, and government. “We must continue to connect everyone and leave no one behind because the cost of lost opportunities is enormous. But for digital dividends to be widely shared among all parts of society, countries also need to improve their business climate, invest in people’s education and health, and promote good governance.” Although there are many individual success stories, the effect of technology on global productivity, expansion of opportunity for the poor and middle class, and the spread of accountable governance has so far been less than expected. Digital technologies are spread-

Chinese firm plans auto assembly plant in Calabar Isaac Asabor

Chinese truck manufacturing company, SINO Truck, is set to establish an auto assembly plant in Calabar, Cross River State. The plan was disclosed by the company’s Head of African Division, John Wang, during a courtesy call to the state governor, Ben Ayade, at his office. Wang assured that upon the setting up of the assembly plant that the establishments of service centres would commence all over the state to enhance efficient after-sales and customer care delivery for its range of products in the country. He noted that the peaceful investment climate in the state was one of the motivating factors that led to the establishment of the assembly plant in Calabar. Wang said: “SINO Truck is a state-owned company and the number one heavy duty truck manufacturing company in China with over 56 years ex-

perience, and a good record in truck manufacturing and assembly”. In his response, Governor Ayade urged the company to expedite actions for the auto plant to commence operations as all the enabling infrastructural environment have been put in place. The governor expressed optimism on the viability of the project as both the investors and the local economy would benefit from such investment relationship.

ing rapidly, but digital dividends – growth, jobs and services – have lagged behind. Kaushik Basu, World Bank Chief Economist, noted that “the digital revolution is transforming the world, aiding information flows, and facilitating the rise of developing nations that are able to take advantage of these new opportunities,” saying that “it is an amazing transformation that today 40 percent of the world’s population is connected by the in-

ternet. While these achievements are to be celebrated, this is also occasion to be mindful that we do not create a new underclass. “With nearly 20 percent of the world’s population unable to read and write, the spread of digital technologies alone is unlikely to spell the end of the global knowledge divide.” The report stated further that digital technologies can promote inclusion, efficiency, and innovation. More than forty percent of

L-R, Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Bukar Kyari; Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Hon Zakawanu Garuba, the Commission’s Director General, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo during E-Dividend Registration Sensitization Town Hall meeting in Abuja yesterday

Aregbesola blames business plans’ failures on lack of strategy Boladale Bamigbola, Osogbo

sun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has blamed lack of strategy for failure of many business plans. The Governor said this when the management of fountain University, Osogbo, paid him a courtesy call in Government House. Aregbesola, who warned

against encroachment the legitimately acquired land of the institution, said had the right strategy been adopted, the squabbles matters relating to the land was causing at the moment would not have arisen. He however warned against unlawful act by those encroaching on the land belonging to the university, saying all avenues to ensure that the matter is amicably

JP Morgan profits beat forecasts

S banking giant, JP Morgan Chase, has reported b e t t e r- t h a n - e x p e c t e d fourth quarter profits thanks to lower legal expenses and better cost control. Net income rose to $5.43bn (£3.76bn) in the three months to the end of December against $4.93bn a year earlier. The bank cut costs by 7.4% to $14.26bn in the quarter. Legal expenses fell by almost 50% to $644m from $1.1bn.

adults in East Africa pay their utility bills using a mobile phone, while noting that ther are eight million entrepreneurs in China— one third of them women—who use an e-commerce platform to sell goods nationally and export to 120 countries. According to the World Bank Group, India has provided unique digital identification to nearly one billion people in five years, and increased access and reduced corruption in public services.

Salaries fell 2.4% to $6.69bn as the bank shed around 7,000 staff to 234,598, from 241,359 a year earlier. US banks have faced a tough year as a result of falling oil prices and worries about slowing growth in China. Those concerns have led to weakness in credit markets, discouraging investors from making big bets. Legal charges and the costs of meeting stricter capital requirements have also added to the costs

of banks. Total net revenue rose about 1% to $23.75bn, beating analysts’ forecasts. “We had a good quarter as 2015 came to a close,” chief executive Jamie Dimon said in a statement. “The businesses generated strong loan growth and credit quality, except for some stress in energy. The consumer business continues to gather deposits, outpacing the industry,” he added.

resolved would be explore. The governor then urged the university authorities to be peaceful in handling subsequent cases of encroachment, maintaining that the issue would be looked into. Earlier in his remarks, chairman of the newly-inaugurated Governing Council of the university, Prof. Isiaka Oloyede, emphasized the need for the governor to intervene in the land matter to avoid crisis between the institution and the people that are laying claims on the land. The former University of Ilorin vice chancellor, said about 28 residential houses have been built on the university’s land. Inaugurating the 3rd Governing Council of the university shortly after the visit, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the institution, Mr. Waheed Yinka Adeola, urged the council to protect the schools territory against further encroachment.

Business News

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NCDMB to intensify local content implementation in oil industry UDEME AKPAN

he Nigerian Content Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has concluded plans to promote local content in the nation’s oil and gas industry as oil prices continue to drop in the global market. The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe indicated that adequate

strategies, including engagements with the International Oil Companies, IOCs, had been developed in order to promote local content in the industry. He explained that as country enter 2016 and so long as the price of oil remains low, the Board’s challenge will be to device strategies that will accommodate local content and at the same time ensure viability and

profitability of new projects, adding that his team will continue to engage the IOC’s and partner with them in the renewed drive. The NCDMB boss clarified further: “The Board will continue implementation of its Capacity Development Initiatives (CDIs), to create a robust local supply chain that will meet the human and material require-

L–R: Head, Corporate Services Division, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr. Bola Adeeko; Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chief Executive Officer, NSE Mr. Oscar N. Onyema OON;Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, Mr. Ade Bajomo, and Ms. Tinuade Awe during the NSE 2015 Market Recap and 2016 Outlook at the Exchange, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

ASUS, Coscharis launch ZenFone mobile phones in Nigeria Johnson Okanlawon

digital enterprise company, ASUS, has entered into a partnership with Coscharis Technologies for the distribution of its newly launched ZenFone mobile phone models across Nigeria. The phone models which include ZenFone Selfie, ZenFone Laser 5.5, ZenFone Go 5.0, and ZenFone C 4.5, come with comprehensive camera solutions supported by PixelMaster technology and ZenUI software. A statement by the company quoted the Nigeria Country Product Manager, ASUS, Simplice Zaongo, as saying that the company is excited to bring latest ZenFone models to the Nigerian market. According to him, the brand new innovations are each an empowering luxury that strikes the perfect balance of beauty, functionality and performance, and especially offers Nigerian consumers a comprehensive camera experience via both hardware and software. He explained that the entrance of the ZenFone Selfie into the Nigerian market specially marks the berthing of this flagship product into English speaking Africa. “And, we are excited that this

partnership with Coscharis Technologies will ensure that smartphone users across Nigeria have ready access to ASUS’ innovative technology wherever they are and whatever their category of need,” he added. The Managing Director, Coscharis Technologies, Emomine Mukoro, noted that the company was proud to be associated with ASUS, a world leader in the new digital era. He said: “In line with our commitment to always be in the forefront of innovative pursuits that will change the landscape for the

deployment of ICT technologies in Nigeria, Coscharis Technolgies is proud to partner ASUS in the distribution of the ZenFone family of smartphones in Nigeria. “ASUS is globally recognized for its innovative and high quality products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office. We share the same passions at Coscharis Technologies and trust that the coming together of these two great companies will herald a new era in Nigeria’s smartphone experience.”

ments of the industry within acceptable cost, schedule and without compromising safety, environment and quality.” “Manufacturing and infrastructure development: We are implementing several initiatives to domicile manufacturing activities, to achieve in-country value addition,” he added. He maintained that the board will stimulate local Pipemill manufacturing from 100,000Mt/ annum in 2010 to 270,000Mt/annum while also noting that effort to develop Polaku Pipemill and the efforts of 3rd party investors will be aggressively pursued in 2016, to achieve 600,000Mt/ annum local capacity by 2017 (compared to annual demand estimate of 800,000Mt/annum). Kentebe explained that the Board will work towards establishing oil and gas parks to support service providers interested in manufacturing activities, adding that the Board has acquired suitable land in three (3) statesImo, Bayelsa and Cross River states; and have commenced training of SMEs for the scheme.

Arik Air introduces new wine selection for long haul routes Olusegun Koiki

rik Air, said it had chosen to source all onboard wines from South Africa-based Wildekrans Wine Estate. The spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Adebanji, stated that each of Arik’s long haul services; New York, London and Johannesburg would have a ‘From Our Cellar’ wine menu card in Premier Business Class that would be offered with food menu. The boutique vineyard Adebanji hinted is located in Cape Town and would supply the airline’s Premier Class and Economy Class wines, adding that the

Renault shares plunge on factory raids by police

hares in French carmaker Renault plunged 20%, before recovering to trade 10% lower, after police raids on the company’s facilities. The firm confirmed the raids took place last week and said investigators wanted to check equipment at its factories. Investors feared Renault was embroiled in cheating emissions tests, something Volkswagen admitted last year. However, Renault stressed that tests have shown “no evidence” of devices designed to cheat emissions tests. Renault’s comments were

backed up by French Energy minister Segolene Royal who said government tests had not uncovered software designed to cheat emissions tests. According to Renault the fraud investigators were looking at the way Renault uses exhaust emissions technology, and it was co-operating fully with the probe. The statement said that investigators “decided to carry out additional on-site and material investigations, in order to definitively confirm the first findings resulting from the analysis of the independent

According to him, when fully established, the oil and gas parks will serve as hubs for equipment manufacturing and services, community entrepreneurs will be engaged and fully integrated into the oil and gas supply chain while thousands of jobs will be created directly and indirectly. He also hinted that the NCDMB had started to promote the local manufacture of LPG cylinders in response to the policy thrust of Government to encourage use of cooking gas just as it had also identified prospective investors. Kentebe pointed out that in partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI), the Board will provide funding support to these investors in the drive towards raising local manufacturing capacity from 400,000 units to two million units per annum by 2017. The Executive Secretary said the initiatives were targeted at closing skill gaps, create employment opportunities, and develop entrepreneurs and domicile training and research activities in-country.

technical commission”. Investigators “went to the headquarters, the Renault Technical Centre in Lardy and the Technocentre in Guyancourt,” Renault said. News of the searches first came from the CGT Renault union. It said the raids targeted the engine control units and that they were likely to be “linked to the consequences of the Volkswagen rigged-engines affair”. The union also said police officers took the personal computers of several directors.

Wildekrans Wine Estate is just an hour away from Cape Town city centre. He noted Arik Air was pleased to be supporting local wine producers. According to him, the new wine selection would be progressively introduced to all domestic and regional Business Class services (those departing after 10am) during the course of the next few months. He clarified: “Split between the two travel classes, the Economy drinks choices will include Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot while Business Class passengers will have a selection of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc Merlot and the sparkling Method Cap Classique Chenin. Additionally, the airline will continue to carry Champagne in Premier Business Class on all long haul services.” Commenting on the new onboard service, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Arik Air, Dr. Michael Arumemi-Ikhide said that the airline was constantly aiming to ensure its customers received the very best services, which are always of the highest standards. He explained that with the introduction of its new premium local wines, the airline would continue to develop its on-board experience, which reflects its commitment to quality.

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

FG launches agric mechanisation scheme

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Wednesday flagged-off the second phase of the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise, AEHE, under the Mechanisation Intervention Programme, MIP, in Ilorin, Kwara State. The Minister, who commended the achievements of former agric minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, now President of the African Development Bank, AfDB, noted that he laid a good foundation for reforming the sector. He however said that much was left to be achieved, as the agricultural sector has suffered neglect for over 30 years of oil discovery. Ogbeh considered it unthinkable and counterproductive, to think of developing agriculture in Nigeria by continuing to distribute hoes, machetes, axes and ordinary and low yielding seeds to farmers, saying that capitalism practice in agricultural sector would soon be democratized, adding that the new government is committed to achieving an all-inclusive growth. He lamented that low level of mechanisation undermined the ability of the farmers to expand cultivated areas, perform timely farm operations and achieve economies of scale in increasing food production. He pointed out that FAO estimated that in SubSaharan Africa, including Nigeria, only one per cent of farm power is provided by mechanical means, less than 10 per cent from draught animals and 89 per cent from human labour. According to him, the total number of tractors in the country has been estimated at about 35,000, over 50 per cent of which have broken down due to the nature of the farm lands, lack of sustainable products’ sales, service and poor maintenance culture. The event in Ilorin was the flag-off of high powered 110hp to 200hp precision farming tractors and other 295 tractors, various harvest and post-harvest equipment required to set up additional 60 AEHE centres. The Minister explained that through the 60 AEHE centres, government create 2,000 direct jobs created for youths; 100,000 hectares of mechanised land; and 500,000 metric tons of food added to national production, amongst other benefits. While charging the Service Provider Operators, SPOs, to reciprocate government’s efforts in setting up the Agricultural

Equipment Hiring Centres by rendering affordable services to Nigerian farmers, he promised that Nigeria’s local farm technologies would be given attention to boost local fabricators’ business. Ogbeh assured that the first-ever local farm technology fabricators fair would be held in February/March 2016 to enable them identify local farm technology and companies that need to be promoted and commercialized, while partnering with ready foreign equipment manufacturers to develop farm technology. The acting Executive Director of NCAM, Dr. Muyideen Kasali, said that the

physical presence of the Honourable Minister for the flag-off underscored the importance of agricultural mechanisation and equipment hiring service. He noted that NCAM had broad mandate to mechanise Nigeria’s agriculture, and that the mandate of NCAM is peculiar as the only agency of this nature in Nigeria. He said that NCAM has the largest single pool of agricultural engineers in Nigeria and Africa, South of Sahara. The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Kwara State chapter, Mr. Olawale Ajibola, urged that the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, GES,

L-R: Second Vice President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Adedapo Adekoje; Acting President, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe; Director, Global Business Development, Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), United Kingdom, Mr. Kevin Moore; Registrar and Chief Executive, CIS, Mr. Adedeji Ajadi and Senior Country Representative, CISI, Dr. John Osuoha during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CISI and CIS in Lagos yesterday.

Agric pivotal to Buhari’s change agenda –NSUBEB chief

he Executive Chairman, Nassarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Mallam Abdulkarim Mohammed, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make agriculture the centerpiece of his Change Agenda, in the interest of the collective prosperity of all Nigerians. Mohammed gave the advice in Lafia when he visited the State Ministry of Agri-

culture as part of his advocacy tour of agricultural institutions and stakeholders in the state. He said that agriculture remained a key sector that could transform the Nigerian economy and have direct bearing on the lives of its citizens, most of whom depend on farming and other forms of agricultural practice for survival. The NSUBEB boss chided past administrations, both at the state and federal levels, for lacking in the vision and well-articu-

received a group of advocates from the Africa/ Middle East Progressive Initiative led by the Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees, Alhaji Muazu Idris Hadejia in his office. Ogbeh, who said that the present administration was aware of the pains and yearning of young people in the country informed that the government was working assiduously to roll out measures and programmes that would alleviate their sufferings. Earlier in his remarks, the President/ Founder of the Africa/ Middle East Pro-

gressive Initiative, Omotola oshifeso said the purpose of their visit was to explore areas of cooperation with the ministry and explained that his organization is an international non –governmental organization to promote peace, education and development of Africa and Middle East. He commended the Labour Intensive Family Enterprise programme “LIFE” of the Minister and also expressed the readiness of his organisation to partner with the ministry in propagating the hope message of government to the grassroots.

ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

Minister raises youths’ hope through agric incentives ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

he Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has again promised the unemployed youths as well as the rural dwellers of government support to ease their worries through agricultural programmes and incentives. He called on stakeholders to partner with the ministry in carrying out the message of hope to the rural dwellers. The Minister made this known when he

should not be allowed to die a natural death. He encouraged that it should be revisited and given better improvement to encourage more value chains into the fold and increase the quantity of inputs and extension to other value chains, such as groundnut, soya beans, vegetables, amongst others. Vice chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote, who was a major investor in the AEHE scheme, stressed his commitment to the success of the programme. Earlier, the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, pledged the support of his state for the mechanisation programme of the federal government.

lated policies to turn agriculture into the economic mainstay of the nation, with its attendant positive consequences. He called on President Buhari to see the dwindling oil revenue as a blessing and take advantage of the window of opportunity it has created to revive the agricultural sector, which he said would create wealth, ensure food security, create jobs and arrest capital flight through importation of agro-allied goods and services. While calling for a more dynamic approach to national development through renewed commitment to agriculture, Mallam Mohammed criticized the traditional instruments and institutions of government for overseeing the demise of pragmatic ideas, and called for a total overhaul of the system if it must yield the desired results. The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Lawee Yusuf, said that Nassarawa state had made sufficient budgetary provision to enable it key into President Buhari’s agricultural agenda. He regretted that in the past, farmers in the state were not able to access agricultural loans and other grants, a situation which has hampered the growth of the sector.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, January 15, 2016

Equities decline by 3.44% as stocks’ dump persists Johnson Okanlawon

rading in equities continued on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors dumped their holdings. All Share Index shed 3.44 per cent to close at 24,239.98 points, compared to the decline of 3.58 per cent recorded the preceding day, leaving its year-to-date negative return at 15.37 per cent. Market Capitalisation lost N302 billion to close at N8.336 trillion, compared to N8.633 trillion it closed the preceding day. Market breadth closed negative as five gainers were recorded against 31 losers, though an

improved performance when compared with previous day outlook of three gainers against 34 losers. Market turnover closed negative as volume declined by 28.90 per cent against 65.37 per cent upsurge recorded in on Wednesday. Ikeja Hotel Plc led the five quoted companies on the gainers table as its share price appreciated by 4.73 per cent or 14 kobo to close at N3.10 kobo per share. Honeywell Flour Mills Plc followed closely with 4.65 per cent increase as it added N0.08 kobo to N1.72 kobo per share it opened the day trade with. Fidelity Bank Plc, the only

quoted company under the Banking Index that added to its share value, closed at N1.35 kobo having gained N0.05 to its share price. A.G. Leventis Nigeria Plc also joined the gainers league as it closed at 61 kobo per share as against 59 kobo it traded, while Custodian and Allied Plc had 1.19 per cent appreciation of stock value to close at N4.25 kobo incontrast to N4.20 per share it started the day trade. On the flip side, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Ltd took the lead as it depreciated by 9.75 per cent having shed N19.11 kobo off the N196.07 kobo per share it

traded. Oando Plc also followed suit with 9.64 peer cent or 45 kobo decrease to close at N4.19 kobo per share. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc lost N1.58 kobo or 9.64 per cent from its share price leaving it at N14.81 kobo, while First Bank of Nigeria Holding Plc followed closely with 9.52 per cent loss to close at N3.61 kobo as against N3.99 kobo per share. First City Monument Bank Plc’s share price also declined by 8.82 per cent of 12 kobo, closing at N1.24 kobo. Investors traded a total of 262,522,985 shares worth N2.4 billion in 2,579 deals.

tors to go and register. We have agreed with all the stakeholders that for the first 90 days the registration is going to be free. After 90 days, anyone that wants to register will pay N100” “Once the e-dividend is in place the issue of stale warrant will be of the past, the issue of traveling from one place to another to deposit the warrant will be a thing of the past; the issue of change of address will also be eliminated. “The issue of unclaimed dividend which according to our records is in excess of N80billion will also be a thing of the past. These unclaimed dividends came about from dividends of small stakeholders like you and me and we need to ensure that they are claimed. Gwarzo explained that

once the registration process is over, the next phase will be to look into claims by investors who have dividends that are less than 12 years old. “Once we are able to get through with the registration process, those dividends that are less than 12 years, once the registrars can certify that the people are the owners, they should be able to pay them. “Once we get through with the e-dividend thing, we will be able to deal with other issues in the market. The entire market has commenced Direct Cash Settlement from this month. The era when shares will be sold and the proceeds will be given to the broker who will them pay the client is over. What is obtainable now is that once the shares of an individual are sold, the proceed is paid directly into his band account. With

Indonesia cuts rates for first time since February

ndonesia’s central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate to 7.25% from 7.5% in an attempt to give its struggling economy a boost. It is the first time that the bank has cut interest rates since February last year. Low inflation and weak fourth quarter economic growth numbers were some of the reasons cited for the cut. The bank’s decision was announced as deadly bombs and gunfire attacks rocked the country’s capital, Jakarta.. Earlier this week, analysts were divided on whether or not Bank Indonesia (BI) would make a move. The country has been been facing its slowest pace of growth since 2009 and a weakening currency.

However, they said the bank had clearly given priority to boosting the economy over worries that a looser policy would push the currency down further. The rupiah depreciated by some 10% in 2015 and has since fallen a further 0.7% this year. Gundy Cahyadi, an economist with DBS in Singapore, said the bank could follow up with another rate cut this quarter - depending on the stability of the rupiah. “Certainly, this is not a done-deal, given how BI will still focus on maintaining rupiah stability in the market, amidst the lingering uncertainties in global markets.” Capital Economics’ Daniel

Martin said: “Looking ahead, with the economy growing at its weakest pace since the global financial crisis and inflation set to remain low, further loosening looks likely.” However, he added that BI was likely to take a fairly cautious approach. “Over the past year, BI has been paying at least as much attention to the rupiah as it has to the strength of the economy. “Cutting rates too aggressively could cause the current account deficit to widen again, which would increase the rupiah’s vulnerability to an external shock.” In December last year, the US Federal Reserve raised its interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point - its first in-

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.98 Market indicators All-Share Index 24,239.98 points Market capitalisation 8.34trn

E-dividend ‘ll curb market infractions – SEC DG

he Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Mounir Gwarzo has described the e-dividend platform as a game changer in the market that will ensure that infractions are reduced to the barest minimum. Gwarzo spoke yesterday in Abuja at a Town Hall Meeting to sensitize the investing public on the e-dividend registration currently going on all over the country. The Director General expressed satisfaction with the level of success recorded so far with the enlightenment programme and urged investors to take advantage of the service and visit their registrars or banks to register. “We have all agreed that this is the way to go it is now left for the inves-

Source: NSE

Stock Updates

this once the client has authorized the broker and provided all his details, the proceeds will be paid into the client’s account. “The era of proceeds not being remitted for shares sold will be a thing of the past. The e-dividend platform with the use of BVN is what will give us that. Once we register for e-dividend, we will also benefit from the Direct Cash Settlement. Another advantage of the e-dividend is that it will provide a very robust KYC to the operator. “It is because of lack of KYC that we find a lot of infractions in this market. With the BVN platform which the e-dividend is leveraging on, the KYC will now be very robust. People will not be able to use all sorts of identifications to claim what does not belong to them” the SEC boss added.

crease since 2006. (Source – bbc. com) Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

IKEJAHOTEL

2.96

3.10

0.14

4.73

HONYFLOUR

1.72

1.80

0.08

4.65

FIDELITYBK

1.30

1.35

0.05

3.85

AGLEVENT

0.59

0.61

0.02

3.39

CUSTODYINS

4.20

4.25

0.05

1.19

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

SEPLAT

196.07

176.96

-19.11

-9.75

OANDO

4.64

4.19

-0.45

-9.70

GUARANTY

16.39

14.81

-1.58

-9.64

FBNH

3.99

3.61

-0.38

-9.52

FCMB

1.36

1.24

-0.12

-8.82

TRANSCORP

1.14

1.04

-0.10

-8.77

UNITYBNK

0.74

0.68

-0.06

-8.11

UBA

2.79

2.59

-0.20

-7.17

DANGCEM

145.45

138.18

-7.27

-5.00

DIAMONDBNK

2.00

1.90

-0.10

-5.00

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.28

105.37

10.48

106.37

9.67

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.46

110.76

12.09

111.76

11.76

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.08

108.83

12.69

109.83

12.39

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.04

114.19

12.93

115.19

12.71

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.16

107.64

12.66

108.64

12.47

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.52 81.62

12.82

82.62

12.64

Closing Market Prices of January 14, 2016

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

14-Apr-16

4.19

4.23

WAUA

270

USD

196.98

14-Jul-16

7.02

7.27

EURO

214

05-Jan-17

8.00

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

1.4583

POUNDS STERLING

293

7.8657

9.0270

SDR

273

10.7099

NIBOR

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bello laments poor financial state of govt Priscilla Dennis MINNA

iger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has bemoaned the declining financial situation of the state, saying that currently, the future looks bleak. Lamenting the situation in Minna during the launch of Armed Forces emblem and appeal fund, Bello hinged the development on dwindling revenue to the state that has dropped to more than 60 per cent. For this reason, he revealed that his administration was currently being forced to reduce its spending. According to him, “our revenue has declined to more than 60 per cent and the future is not looking

North

Friday, January 15, 2016

bright for us at all.” He urged commissioners manning various ministries to be prudent in spending by making sure that only projects that are meaningful to the people were accorded top priority. “I have told my commissioners that we have to be prudent in our spending, we have to re-organise our spending and utilize every kobo in the right direction,” he stated. While commending the military for winning the war against terrorism and division of the country, the governor called on the Federal Government to look into issues concerning pension and gratuity in order to ease the hardship faced by members of the armed forces.

FG, W’Bank responsible for 13% reduction in road crashes –FRSC C orps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has attributed success of the commission to reduce road traffic crashes in 2015 by 12.99 per cent to Federal Government and the World Bank’s robust support. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Bisi Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy, FRSC, on Thursday in Abuja. The statement indicated that Oyeyemi said this at a conference on Global Road Safety Facility in Washington, U.S.A. in a paper pre-

sented at the conference. ``Because of increased support in 2015, total fatality reduced to 5,044 from 5,991 in 2014, while total road traffic crashes, RTC, reduced to 9,031 compared to 10,380 in 2014, which amounts to 12.99 per cent RTC reduction,” it said. The statement added that 5,044 lives were lost to road crashes in 2015 though, which was 15.88 per cent reduction on the 5,996 lives, in 2014. The statement further said human injuries as a result of road crashes reduced from 32,063 in 2014 to 27,782 in 2015, which amounts to

13.35 per cent reduction. It said there was a paradigm shift in FRSC service delivery, noting that Federal Government’s firm support towards the realisation of the commission’s mandate went a long way in the success recorded in 2015. The timely intervention of the World Bank, especially at six critical corridors in the country since 2013, he said, was of immense help to the commission. The critical corridors where the World Bank’s interventions were deployed include Abuja-KadunaZaria-Kano; Benin-Ifon-

Akure-Ilesha and MokwaBida-Lambata-Suleja. Others are Jos-BauchiGombe corridor, EnuguAbakaliki- Ikom-Mfum and Abuja metropolis. “The World Bank supported operation of FRSC with seven units of 70-tonnes capacity heavy duty tow-trucks for removal of major road obstructions. The statement also said the commission would not be deterred by the enormity of its task of regulating movement of 12.76 million registered vehicles (motor vehicles and motorcycles) plying 204,000km road network in the country.

Insurgency: Gaidam tasks FG on reconstruction of facilities Inusa Ndahi DAMATURU

obe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently commence the reconstruction of facilities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in the troubled North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. The governor stated this on Thursday when Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), called on him at Government House, Damaturu, the state capital. Gaidam, who praised the role of various paramilitary organisations in the fight against insurgency, also appealed for special intervention in the welfare of officers and men of the various services. He revealed that the state has over 160,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, of which 27,000 are squatting in official and self-set camps within Damaturu and environs. “I would like to make a special appeal for special intervention towards rehabilitation of the facilities and welfare of officers and men of the various services. “Yobe is one of the states most ravaged by the humanitarian crisis resulting from the insurgency, as we

have over 160,000 internally displaced persons out of which about 27,000 are squatting in official and self-set camps within Damaturu and nearby villages,” the governor said. Gaidam also called on the minister to consider the recruitment of more Yobe indigenes into the various paramilitary formations in view of the gross under representation of the state in the services. The Minister in his response said he was in the state with heads of the para-military formations “as part of Federal Government’s effort towards establishing civil authority at the areas liberated by security forces in the ongoing war against insurgency.” He added that at the end of the visit to all the destroyed places, and various IDP camps, among others, the ministry will take a better stand on the resettlement of IDPs under a well-thought out security arrangement that would give residents long lasting protection. The minister was accompanied by Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Controller General of Prisons and Immigration as well as Commander General of the Nigerian Civil Defence, among other top officials of the ministry.

L-R; General Manager, Corprate Affair, Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN), Hon Yakubu Dati; Captain, IBB Golf Club, Abuja, Mr Hamid Abbo; Captain, Rayfield Golf Club 1913, Jos, Mr Dagwom Howlshe and Captain of Laminga Golf Club, Prof Nuhu Dakum, during the 2015 Plateau State Governor’s Cup at Laminga Golf Club, Jos.

Katsina students protest non-payment of WAEC fees James Danjuma KATSINA

ozens of secondary school students yesterday staged peaceful demonstration in the streets of Katsina State metropolis over non-payment of their WAEC and NECO fees by the state government. The state government had in past years been paying both NECO and WAEC fees for its students, which ran into hundreds of millions of naira. But Governor Aminu Bello Masari’s administration decided to partially stop the payment as most beneficiaries of the gesture in the past didn’t score the needed five credits to

qualify for admission into tertiary institutions. Last year, less than five per cent of the students that sat for NECO and WAEC examinations made five credits and above. The dismal performance was repeated in the past years, despite the government spending huge amount of money on the students. To stem the tide of mass failure, the current administration in the state came up with mock examination for its final-year students, where those that scored minimum credits get their WAEC and NECO fees paid. But the last mock examinations saw a massive failure in which of the 46,000 students that sat for it, only

10 per cent or 4,600 made three credits and above. The state government reasoned that rather than squander limited resources on the students, such monies should be channeled to other important economic needs. The protesting students, who wanted the policy reversed, also complained of impartiality meted to them during the mock examination. The students, who converged on the heart of the state capital, moved to Government House where they were received by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dikko Radah. They came from four secondary schools, including Katsina College, Govern-

ment Day Secondary School, Yandaka, Government College, Katsina, and Government Pilot College. Speaking on behalf of others, one of the students, Kabir Hassan, called on the state government to review the mock examination as there were irregularities during the last exercise. Hassan said many of the students in public schools came from poor homes, and that outside government help, it would be difficult for them to pay the WAEC and NECO fees. Responding, Chief of Staff, Dikko Raddah, said stoppage of the mock examination followed massive failure of students in the last NECO and WAEC examinations.

Friday, January 15, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as Chizoba Onuoha, now wishes to be known and addressed as Lilian Chizoba Mathew.. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as SAFIYA MOHAMMED, now wishes to be known and addressed as SAFIYA AHMED. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly called and known as Miss Salami Suliyat Omobolanle now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Yekeen Suliyat Omobolanle. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ODUEWU ADEMOLA ADEKUNLE, now wish to be known and addressed as ILORI ADEMOLA SIKIRU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and called as Miss Oriade Adenike Deborah now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Adenike Deborah Opanubi. All former documents remain valid, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), School teacher for person with special Needs Osogbo and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certified that Mr Bamikefa Emmanuel is the same one person as Mr Bankefa Oluwaremi Emmanuel, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Mr Bankefa Oluwaremi Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Omotunde Ojofeitimi Temitope now wish to be known and called as Mrs Saliu Omotunde . All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME ELISHA: I formerly known and addressed as ELISHA DAVID.Now wish to be known and addressed as ELISHA CLEMENT.All former documents remain valid.Diamond Bank PLC and the general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that I Suliamon Halimot Adetutu is the same person known and addressed as Sulaimon Halimot Adetutu. All former documents remain valid. WAEC and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Badmos Azeezat Abeni now wish to be known and addressed as Badmos Azeezat Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Osibadejo Olumuyiwa Samuel is the same person known and addressed as Osibadejo Oluwamuyiwa Olumide. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adekunte Adeola Oluyombo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akangbe Adeola Oluyombo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Bello Modupe Rasidat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayodele Modupe Rasidat. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and General public take note

ABDULLAHI: FORMERLY known and addressed as IBRAHIM ABDULLAHI NOW wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM ALIYU. All former documents remain valid, General public should please take note.

NKECHI : FORMERLY known and addressed as EZENWA NKECHI OBIOMA NOW wish to be known and addressed as AGBO MARIA ELEOJO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SEAN: FORMERLY known and addressed as SEAN JUDE NOW wish to be known and addressed as JUDE AYUBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

TURA: FORMERLY known and addressed as TURA ADA ONYEKA NOW wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING A ONYEKA . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that ALONGE FEMI MONDAY is the same person as NATHANIEL FEMI GODWIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

JUSTINA: FORMERLY known and addressed as JUSTINA OGECHI AMAJIOYI NOW wish to be known and addressed as JUSTINA OGECHI CHINYELU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

RUFAI: I formerly known and addressed as RUFAI OLAJIDE TAJUDEEN ,now wish to be known and addressed as ETTI GIWA MUDASIRU. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

HARISON: FORMERLY known and addressed as HARISON LABI NOW wish to be known and addressed as ANTHONY NICHOLAS LABI . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as AGBI MORENIKE MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBI MORENIKEJI MARY NIKE. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, MUSEDEEN YUSUF ALABI is the one and same person as JIBOSO KEHINDE CHRISTOPHER now wish to be known and addressed as MUSEDEEN YUSUF ALABI.All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank,Diamond Bank and general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Sobande Titilope Bukola now wish to be known and addressed as Sobande Titilope Ruth. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as Mr Soyemi Oluyomi now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Siluade Oluyomi Kolawole. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known and addressed as MISS. TOLULOPE PATRICIA OLUYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. TOLULOPE OLUYEMI-ALADE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public should please take note.

Formerly known and called as Miss Odediran Omolara Abolaji now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Oduwole Omolara Abolaji. All former documents remain valid,general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME OMOTAYO: I formerly known and addressed as ONUKAKIMA DANIEL OMOTAYO.Now wish to be known and addressed as OMOTAYO DANIEL. All former documents remain valid.Law enforcement agencies,First Bank PLC and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as Affiong Inyan Udoh, now wishes to be known and addressed as Victoria Inyang Udoh. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Dorcas Oladayo Eleshiloye, now wishes to be known and addressed as Dorcas Oladayo Eleshinloye. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note. Formerly known and addressed as OLUOKUN MUYIWA RAPHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUOKUN ADEMUYIWA PELUMI. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and General public take note

Formerly Known and addressed as MISS OGUNDE IDOWU TEMITAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BALOGUN IDOWU TEMITAYO. All former documents remain valid. Ogun Sports Council and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as Azi Theresa Tessy Dumebi, now wishes to be known and addressed as Awunor Theresa Tessy Dumebi. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and address as Chukwuemeka-Duru Lilian Onyinyechi now wish to be known and address as Chukwuemeka Lilian Onyinyechi. All formal documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

MICHAEL: FORMERLY known and addressed as MICHAEL AUGUSTINA NOW wish to be known and addressed as AMADI AGUSTINA UJU . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and address as Joseph Joel Gabont now wish to be known and address as Olatunde Adebimpe Mutairu. All formal documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Kolade Olakunle Bamidele, now wish to be known and addressed as Dele Bamidele. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and address as Florence Aduke Aransiola now wish to be known and address as Rasheedat Raheem Aduke. All formal documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ALIYU KUDIRAT OMOBOLANLE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEYEYE KUDIRAT OMOBOLANLE. All former documents remain valid; National Youths Service Corp (NYSC), general public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AKINPELU AKINWALE SAMSON, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINWALE SAMSON AKINPELUMI. All former documents remain valid, management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, general public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Mr Sodunke Kareem Adewole now wishes to be known and addressed as Mr Sodunke Kareem Olakunle, All former document remain valid. General Public take note

Formerly known and addressed as AKINTOLA SHERIFAT TITILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AZEKE GOODNESS TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Esther Chide, now wish to be known and addressed as Mbadedoo Atsa. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AIGBOKHAI EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as EVBOUAN EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that am the same person as David Bose Felicial, Bose Senami David and David Bose Senami Felicia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUPAKO: Formerly known and addressed as OLUPAKO IDRIS OLAYINKA now wish to be known and addressed as :BELLO FATAI ADESINA .All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as JULIET FRIDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as JULIET OSEMEDE henceforth. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME AKPABIO: I, formerly known and addressed as ETOP PEACE AKPABIO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ETOP EMEM PEACE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AMINU: I, formerly known and addressed as AMINU MUHAMMED, now wish to be known, called and addressed as HUSSEINI SALIFU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

OLAJIDE: I, formerly known and addressed as BABATUNDE OLUWAGBENGA OLAJIDE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLUWAGBENGA BABATUNDE OGUNYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME TAJUDEEN: I, formerly known and addressed as TAJUDEEN OJO ABIB, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALAMU TAJUDEEN ABEEB. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS ADEPOJU OLAWUNMI CHRISTIANA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS AFOLABI OLAWUNMI CHRISTIANA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Risikat Adejoke Funmilayo Ayoka Ojikutu Williams, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Funmilayo Adejoke Ayoka Bello. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MUHAMMED: I, formerly known and addressed as OCHENI AGBALI MUHAMMED, now wish to be known, called and addressed as HUSSAIN MUHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to inform the general public that I am MS. TITILOLA OLAYEMI JOHNSON also known as MRS. TITILOLA OLAYEMI ADEKUNLE. Therefore the above names refer to the same person. All other documents remain valid. EcoBank please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AYENIGBARA: I, formerly known and addressed as JULIANA AYENIGBARA TITILAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AYEGBUSI JULIANA TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

BROOK OF LIFE FOR THE VULNERABLE INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ameh Bala 3. Aniefiok Jimmy Ukobo 5. Jethro Joshua 7. Samaila Musa

2. Alfred Artuhur Damun 4. Catherine Stephen Bala 6. Halima Inshi 8. Magdalene Oyinze Bala

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1. To provide care and support to the orphans and vulnerable children, Widows and youths 2. To provide educational support to orphans and less privilege children 3. To provide counseling to individuals and groups Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. SIGNED: Ameh Bala

OHWOKEVWO: I, formerly known and addressed as BLESSING FRIDAY OHWOKEVWO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BLESSING OVEIN OHWOKEVWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EDEKOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MRS. ROSELINE EDEKOR, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MISS ROSELINE ESENE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

YAKUBU: I, formerly known and addressed as YAKUBU MASHOOD RAMOTU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as YAKUBU MASHOOD FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

YEWA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ILARO P.M. B 14, ILARO, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

AUCTION ! AUCTION. ! ! AUCTION ! ! ! This is to inform the General public that, Auctioning of Unserviceable Vehicles and plants will take place at Local government Secretariat Ilaro. LIST OF ITEMS ARE : Nissan Venette bus, Scania (low bed), Toyota Hiace buses Aluma, Rovers 6205, Honda Accord, Toyota Carina E, Nissan Blue bird, Nissan Primera 2.0,Legacy Subaru, Rover 600,and Nissan Primera car CONDITION OF SALES : 1) The highest bidder shall be the Purchaser 2) Payment is Strictly by Cash 3) Purchases Must be backed with Yewa South local Government Council and Auctioneer Receipts 4) Removal of Vehicles Purchased is two Working days after Payment. DATE OF INSPECTION : Friday, 15th of January to Tuesday, 19th of January, 2016 DATE OF SALES : Wednesday, 20th of January, 2016 VENUE : Yewa South Local Government Secretariat, Ilaro ,Ogun State. TIME : 11.00am Prompt. For Further information Please Contact Auctioneer No 08094663239

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Odiase Faith Eruemolo now wants to be addressed as Oyedoyin Faith Eruemolo. All former documents remain valid. GT bank, UBA and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IBRAHIM: Formerly known and addressed as IBRAHIM KEHINDE SARATU. now wish to be known and addressed as OBALE KEHINDE SARATU. .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly known and addressed as Mr . Adeyemi Oluwaremilekun NOW wish to be known and addressed as Mr.Adeyemi Aderemi Daniel. Former documents remain valid,general public note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss BARISI IPUE now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs BARISI BARIMENE BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid, general public should take note

I formerly known and addressed as Miss SIYANI EZRA DOGO now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ELISHA SIYANI MANGUT. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME OBIORA: I, formerly known and addressed as IFEDIORA OBIORA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OBIORA IEEANYI GODWIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

JIMOH: I, formerly known and addressed as GBENGA TUNBOSUN JIMOH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLADAPO GBENGA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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CHANGE OF NAME

OKONKWO : formerly known as Okonkwo Somtochukwu Mary now wish to be known and address as Nwachukwu Somtochukwu Mary. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

VICTORIS: I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS VICTORIA ONYEAHALA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND AS ILOWELUMUO VICTORIA OKWUDILI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Taiye Taiye Omokehinde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taiye Riabive. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as John Komi, now wish to be known and addressed as Atigala John. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ronke Bisola Yusuf, now wish to be known and addressed Mrs Bisola Motunrayo Bilikis Bashorun. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

This is to confirm to the general public that I, OLAOLUWA ARINOLA TAIWO also known as OLAOLUWA TAIWO OLAIDE. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Mrs. Awosika Taiwo Oyekunbi Now Miss. Akinwande Taiwo Oyekunbi all former documents remain valid, Ogun state water corporation and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formely Saidu Yinusa Mohammed now to be known as Yinusa Maigari Saidu all former documents remain valid General public note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Otesile Seun now to be known as mrs Kehinde Seun all former documents remain valid General public note

CHANGE OF NAME Fomerly Miss Oke Abosede now mrs Junaid Abosede Afolasade all former documents remain valid First Bank PLC and General public note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Lilian Chizoba Onuoha, now wish to be known and addressed as Lilian Chizoba Mathew. All former documents remain valid General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Affiong Inyan Udoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Victoria Inyang Udoh.. All former documents remain valid General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Azi Theresa Tessy Dumebi, now wish to be known and addressed as Awunor Theresa Tessy Dumebi. All former documents remain valid General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Oguntula Oluwafunmilayo Rachael now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Gbabijo Oluwafunmilayo Rachael all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Muhammed Olanrewaju Lateef now which to be known and addressed as Muhammed Olanrewaju Hamzat Lateef all former documents remain valid and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

JOHN: FORMERLY known and addressed as OGBODO IFEANYI NOW wish to be known and addressed as IFEANYI OGBODO JOHN. All former documents remain valid, General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MBANUGO: I, formerly known and addressed as MBANUGO TOSA, now wish to be known and addressed as SOMTOCHUKWU MACDUHU MACDUHU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

UGWUANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWUANI MARYROSE CHIKODILI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIBUZO-ENE CHIKODILI MARYROSE. All former documents remain valid. ESCET and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that GENEVIEVE MATHIAS and JANEVINE OBIEZE refers to one and same person but now wish to be known and addressed as MRS JANEVINE NWANNEKA MATHIAS. Any of my documents bearing both names still remain valid. Banks and general public please take note

Friday, January 15, 2016

Formerly known and addressed as miss Anobanile Olashile Omolayo now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Otuyemi Olashile Omolayo all former documents remain valid and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certify that Onyekwuru Prince Alexander is one and same person as Onyekwum Prince Alex, Onyekwuru Alexander Prin. And now which to be known and addressed as Onyekwuru Prince Alexander all former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IWUOHA: FORMERLY known and addressed as AGINAM UCHE NOW wish to be known and addressed as AGINAM UCHE IWUOHA. All former documents remain valid. FIRST BANK PLC and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

HAROLDJAMES: I, formerly known and addressed as HAROLDJAMES OLUCHUKWU UZOAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OPARAOCHA OLUCHUKWU UZOAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ANI: I, formerly known and addressed as ANI CHUKWUDI, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIANDEH CHUKWUDI MARTINS. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as AMBROSE OKOYE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OKOLIE JUSTIN UGONNA. All former document remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as EZEAJJ JOY .C. OBIAGERI, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUEMEKA JOY NWAEDE. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Nwafor Friday Chinedu, now wish to be known and addressed as Nwankwo Friday Chinedu. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Joseph AGOUNOU, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSEPH AGUNU. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly miss Olojede Busola Elizabeth now mrs Sowemimo Busola Eliizabeth all former documents remain valid General public note CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that ADEYEMI JANET ATINUKE OREDEIN and OREDEIN ATINUKE JANET refers to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank and the. general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as kuku mojisola Adetoun. Now wish to be known and addressed as Akinyemi Mojisola Adetoun. All former documents remain valid General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Opeyemi Aruna Adesanya Abikan Gbolahan Oluwaseun now which to be known and addressed as Opeyemi Aruna Oriwo all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AMAKA: I, formerly known and addressed as AMAKA FRANCISCA ONYIGBUO, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYIGBUO FRANCISCA NWANNEAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME GREAT: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS GREAT AZUBIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIJIELO DORIS . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME OGUNYE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNYE CHINEDUM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OSAKWE CHINEDUM. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME RUFINA: I, formerly known and addressed as RUFINA PETER, now wish to be known and addressed as IRIELE RUFINA PETER. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fayemi Tolulope Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Olaitan Tolulope Oluwatoyin All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Ibebuike Daniel Ikechukwu,Ibebuike Tevin Osinachi,Ibebuike Alvin Munachiso,Ibebuike Danielle Urenna now wish to be addressed as Ariwaodo Daniel Ikechukwu,Ariwaodo Tevin Osinachi,Ariwaodo Alvin Munachiso,Ariwaodo Danielle Urenna.All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UCHENDU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss UCHENDU CYNTHIA CHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ILIYA CYNTHIA CHINYERE. All former documents still valid, general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Faith Uzoamaka Ndubuisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. faith Uzoamaka Dimgba. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly MR. OLORUNSOMO FRANCIS WALE. Now wish to be addressed as MR. OLAJUYIGBE FRANCIS WALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Moses Terna suyomly, now wish to be known and addressed as Iorgirim Tertsea Moses. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AWE: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. AWE ADESOLA ABINBOLA. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. AWELEWA ADESOLA ABINBOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Diwa Prince Charles, now wish to be known and addressed as Diwa Godfrey Muapa. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Judith Happiness Ekata, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onakinor Judith Happiness. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm to the general public that I, Gloria Aleb and Glory Rafael is the same person as one now Gloria Aleb. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Iro.Omo Funke Mariam, now wish to be known and addressed as Ashogbon Oluwagbebemi Christiana. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly MISS ALIMI YUSUF ADUNNI SIKIRAT now MISS YUSUF BUKOLA ADUNNI. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Federal Ministry Of Education and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly OKAFOR DESMOND OBINNA now DESMOND OKAFOR CHUKWUEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank and general public take note.

Formerly Austin Nero now wish to be called and addressed as UGOH CHARLES AUSTIN . All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc, Eco Bank Plc, Access Bank plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Nwogu Josephine Chinonye now to be addressed as Ariwaodo Josephine Chinonye. All former documents remain valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Eze Sochima philip now to be addressed as Eze Sochima Leonard. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Ojo Modupe Audilia now to be addressed as Mrs Akinola Modupe Audilia.All former documents remain valid general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Ikpeoha Chikezie now to be addressed as Ikpeoha Nwaokoma Chibuike.All former documents remain valid general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as BALOGUN BODE ATANDA, now wish to be known and addressed as ALABI KAREEM OLABODE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, OLADOYIN FELIX ADEJUWON is the same and one person as OLADOYIN OLUWASEUN GABRIEL. That, I now want to be called and addressed as OLADOYIN FELIX ADEJUWON. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank, Unity Bank, Union Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Adenike Oyebola Akinyemi now which to be known and addressed as Adenike Oyebola Adeyemi all former documents remain valid Post Graduate school U.I, LAUTECH Teaching hospital Osogbo and general public take note .

CHANGE OF NAME

OKAFOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR NNEKA CHIEMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UFOCHUKWU NNEKA CHIEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OZOMMADU : I, formerly known and addressed as OZOMMADU BENEDETH, now wish to be known and addressed as MADU UGBONWAMU BENEDETH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AGWAMNI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGWAMNI BLESSING CHINENYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ASIEGBU BLESSING CHINENYE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CORRECTION OF NAME ALOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ALOR STELLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FIDELIS STELLA NGWU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss AMINAT ABIOLA OLAOTAN, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. AMINAT ABIOLA OLATOYE-OLAOTAN. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Chineme Chinweike Francis, now wish to be known and addressed as Chineme Stanilaus Chinweike. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OGONBIEY ENRY, now wish to be known and addressed as CADJA GERMAIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as CHIKEZIE CHUKWUNYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as PROMISE IHEMEDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OJO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss OJO OLAYEMI GBEMISOLA, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. OMODARA OLAYEMI GBEMISOLA. All former documents remain valid. Samchase Nigeria Limited general public should please take note.

I, DAVID EZE NDINOJUO is the same and one person as PAUL DAVID NWABUEZE. That, I now want to be called and addressed as PAUL DAVID NWABUEZE. All former documents remain valid. ECO Bank, Enterprise Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Tijani Tawakalitu Kikelomo now which to be known and addressed as Mrs Subair Tawakalitu Kikelomo all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Mr Joseph Ikechukwu Amos now which to be known and addressed as Mr Ayogu Ikechukwu Amos all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

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AJUMOKO: Formerly known and addressed as AJUMOKO KEHINDE MISTURA December 30th 1980, now wish to be known and addressed as ACHI KEHINDE ABIOLA December 30th 1983 . All former documents remain valid. general public should please take note

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SHAKIRAT: Formerly known and addressed as SHAKIRAT JUMOKE QUADIRL now wish to be known and addressed as SHAKIRAT JUMOKE ARAROMI. . All former documents remain valid. general public should please take note.

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ALEKE: I, formerly known and addressed as ALEKE RITA IFUNANYA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWALEKE GIFT IFUNANYA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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IKPEZIE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IKPEZIE IFEOMA NNEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGBUANYA NNEKA IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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MOHAMMED : Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED AJIBOLA SHEHU, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI SHEHU MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. general public should please take note.

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ABDULRASAQ: Formerly known and addressed as ABDULRASAQ KAREEM AKEEM now wish to be known and adressed as ABDULRASAQ OLATUNJI KAREEM All former documents remain valid general public should please take note.

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ANENE : I, formerly known and addressed as ANENE CHIKAODILI LINDA, now wish to be known and addressed as ANENE CHIKAODILI FAVOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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KAMA: I, formerly known as, MISS. KAMA MIRIAM CHINWENDU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ABONYI MIRIAM CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari commends Yayi’s decision to leave power after 10 years

Rotimi Fadeyi

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commended President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic for his decision to leave power in March at the end of his second tenure of five years. Buhari gave the commendation after he hosted Yayi at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Speaking during a joint press briefing after a closed-door meeting with the Benin Republic President, Buhari said he was happy that Yayi had made an undertaken to respect the constitution of his country and prepare his party to produce a candidate that he would support in the presidential election.

Buhari described Yayi as leader with a very large heart, stressing that he did so many things for his country in terms of improving security and developing its economy. He expressed apprecia-

kwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has canvassed greater participation in Foreign Direct Investment between the state government, people of Jamaica and the Republic of Belgium to facilitate economic and bilateral cooperation. Governor Emmanuel solicited the participation during a courtesy visit to him by the Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Ann Scott, accomCHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as NDUBUISI OLUCHI now wish to be known and addressed as OKENWA OLUCHI MICHELLE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

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IJEOMAH: I, formerly known as MISS. JOY EZINNE IJEOMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JOY EZINNE ONYENMERI. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

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Formerly Miss Giwa, Raliat Odunayo, now wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Silvaope, Raliat Odunayo .previous documents remain valid, LASG, financial institutions and the general public should please note.

I Formerly known and addressed as ADEYEMI GBEKELOLU, now wish to be known and address as ADEYEMI IDAYAT OLUWADUNMININU. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm to the general public that I, OLAOLUWA ARINOLA TAIWO also known as OLAOLUWA TAIWO OLAIDE. All documents remain valid. The General Public should please take note.

EZENDIOKWELU : Formerly known and addressed as EZENDIOKWELU NONSO now wish to be known and addressed as EZENDIOKWELU ONYEKA.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Republic, stressing that this would enhance security and boost the economy of both countries. He commended Benin Republic for voluntarily contributing troops to check the menace of insurgency across mem-

ber countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. Buhari also assured Yayi of the support of Nigeria to ensure smooth transition during after the general elections in Benin Republic.

Responding, Yayi said he had useful bilateral discussion with Buhari, stressing that he was in Nigeria to bid farewell as he would soon leave office in March at the end of his tenure.

Jamaica High Commissioner visits Akwa Ibom

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ELIZABETH NGOZI OKOH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ELIZABETH NGOZI ANYANWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. SHAKIRAT: This is to inform the general public that my date of birth was wrongly written as 16TH DAY OF APRIL 1981 instead of 16TH DAY OF APRIL 1980 in my voters card, henceforth my correct date of birth is 16TH DAY OF APRIL 1980.

tion to Yayi for his consistency in identifying with Nigeria and ensuring good neighbourliness between the two countries. Buhari assured Yayi that Nigeria was interested in being a good neighbour to Benin

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EDE: Formerly known and addressed as EDE OKECHUKWU ROBINSON now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL OKECHUKWU EMMANUEL.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

AWOFUSI: Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Awofusi Olabisi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Awofusi Olabisi Oluwatoyin All former documents remain valid. National Orthopedic Hospital Igbobi and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ISAAC: Formerly known and addressed as ISAAC FARUQ now wish to be known and addressed as YAHAYA MOHAMMED FARUQ.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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OMOTUNDE: Formerly known and addressed as OMOTUNDE DIMEJI TOLULOPE now wish to be known and addressed as OMOTUNDE OLADIMEJI SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as CHIGOZIE MARK .now wishes to be known and addressed as CHIGOZIE OKAFOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ARTHUR DORA now wish to be known and addressed as ADJEI DORA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AGUEBOR E. ELIZABETH MASTER ANTWI OSEI HEWITT JUNIOR MISS AGUEBOR WHITNEY ANTWI now want to be known and addressed as MISS ELIZABETH ROBERT MASTER HEWITT ROBERT MISS WHITNEY ROBERT . All former documents remain valid. General public take Note.

panied by some Belgium diplomats at Government House, Uyo. The governor stated that economic opportunities abound in the coastal communities, particularly at the beaches, the ongoing deep seaports and the sporting facilities, which would boost tourism exchange between Akwa Ibom and the respective countries. He maintained that the age-long brotherly identity existing between the peoCHANGE OF NAME

ple of Akwa Ibom, Jamaica and Belgium would help in building cultural ties in music, cuisine and particularly commended the interest of the two counties in promoting the humanitarian legacies of the Legendary Mary Slessor in Akwa Ibom State. He remarked that his administration has already immortalized the late Slessor by naming streets and celebrating her role in the abolition of the killing of twins, adding that the corCHANGE OF NAME

dial relationship would be maintained. Earlier, the Jamaica High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ann Scott noted that the hospitality nature of the people of Akwa Ibom has been appreciated across states, saying that the visit was her first time of coming to Akwa Ibom. She acknowledged that Jamaicans are proud people of African descent stating that several features identify Jamaica, Belgium and Akwa Ibom and menCHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known, called and addressed as AISOSA EHIGIAMUSOE now wish to be known, called and addressed as AISOSA OBE WEALTH. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Salami Sarah Emoshiokamhe, now which to be known, called , and addressed as MRS.UMORU SARAH EMOSHIOKAMHE .all former documents remain valid general public please take note.

AGU: I, formerly known as MISS. AGU ONYINYECHI. M, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NNAMCHI BLESSING ONYINYECHI. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OGUNWALE OYENIKE ANN, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEFILA MORENIKE OYENIKE ANN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I Formerly known and addressed as Amode Kafayat Omobolanle, now wish to be known and address as Usman Kafayat Omobolanle. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MUSTAPHA AISAMI with Date. of. birth 25.01.1984. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as MUSTAPHA MUHAMMAD and Date. of. birth is 29.01.1984. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note

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I Formerly known and addressed as MRS FELICIA OLUFUNMILAYO ODUNSANYA, now wish to be known and address as MRS FELICIA OLUFUNMILAYO ADAMSOM. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

FORMERLY MISS USMAN SIMIAT TEMITOPE NOW MRS OKUNOLA SIMIAT TEMITOPE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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Formerly known and addressed as ASHODE OLUWABUNMI, ASHODE is my GRANDFATHER’S name. Now wish to be known and addressed as ABAYOMI GRACE BUNMI, ABAYOMI is my own FATHER’S name. UBA/general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, SOLIU ALIYU AJIYOBIOJO, is the same and one person known as SALIU ALIU. All former documents bearing the above names are mine and valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME LAWAL: Formerly known and addressed as LAWAL MOMODU now wish to be known and addressed as SANI LAWAL MOMODU. .All former documents remain valid. General public take note CORRECTION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MUSTAPHA MOHAMMED, now wish to be known and addressed as SALUSI MUHAMMED ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ogeh margaret Bola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Jagun Margaret Bola. All former documents remain valid General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME NGBENOIYA: formerly known and addressed as MISS NGBENOIYA JOHN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SAMSON QUEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ASOGBA: This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly spelt as MATHEW ASAOUGBA Instead of ASOGBA MATHEW. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as ASOGBA MATHEW MAKANJUOLA..All former documents remain valid. Banks and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME WAHAB: Formerly known and addressed as WAHAB AYUBA now wish to be known and addressed as WAHAB YUSUF All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as LAWAL FAIDATU OLUFUNMIKE now wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL FAIDATU OLUFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME NKECHINYERE: This is to confirm that Isaac NkeChinyere Edith and Edith Nkechi Egwuom refer to one and same person. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Edith Nkechi Egwuom All former documents remain valid

CHANGE OF NAME /DATE OF BIRTH

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tioned the beautiful scenery, Culture, humanitarian services as well as food products as areas where the Countries share in similarities. She commended Nigerians love for reggae music which she said is rooted in Jamaica stressing that African heritage abound in her home country and expressed optimism that the cultural exchange through foreign direct investment would build African heritage and promote tourism. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Okoro Onyenma Favour, now wish to be known , called and addressed as Eze Onyenma Favour. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note

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I formerly known and addressed as Ugwu Nwnjoku Godgift, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ugwu Michael Chinyere. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note

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GATTAH: I; formerly known and addressed as GATTAH SHERITA ZUWERIETU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NDUDIM SHERITA ZUWERIETU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MissObijama Ozioma Florence no‎w wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Expensive Ozioma Florence. All former documents remain valid general public take note

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Mr. Wilson Moses Ifeachor Okwudiba now wish to be addressed as Mr. Wilson Moses Okwudiba, all former documents remain valid, the public should please take note.

Formerly known as Ruth Akulo Uzoma now to be addressed as Ruth Akulo Brown. All former documents remain valid general public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ajileye Abigail Emilola, now wish to be known and addressed as Omoyeni Abigail Emilola. All former documents remain valid.General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME ADETUTU : Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADETUTU ADEKITIN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADETUTU ADAMS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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DIOBI: Formerly known and addressed as DIOBI CHINWEOKE FAITH now wish to be known and addressed as AHMADU CHINWEOKE FAITH.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME ELLIOT: Formerly known and addressed as: ELLIOT RHOMARO BIBA now wish to be known and addressed as : ELLIOT BIBAJE All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

JOSEPHINE: Formerly known and addressed as JOSEPHINE CHIBUZOR IHIONU now wish to be known and addressed as . JOSEPHINE CHIBUZO OBIANOZIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GONTOR: Formerly known and addressed as GONTOR DECHI KWAKSHI now wish to be known and addressed as JAMES SHITTA DECHI.. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

PAUL: THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT PAUL OLUWATOBI IYEWUNMI IS THE SAME AND ONE PERSON AS OKEDAIRO OLUWATOBI SENAPON. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS BEARING THE ABOVE NAMES ARE MINE AND REMAIN VALID.THE GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

AYINDE: THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT AYINDE ISIAKA SEMIU IS THE SAME AND ONE PERSON AS ISIAKA AYINDE AS IT IS WRITTEN IN SOME OF MY DOCUMENTS .ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS BEARING THE TWO NAMES ARE MINE AND REMAIN VALID..GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Friday, January 15, 2016

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Being a decathlete is like having ten girlfriends. You have to love them all, and you can’t afford losing one

We’ll reward athletes, win more laurels 46 –Dalung

–Daley Thompson

Ikechukwu Ibenegbu

CHAN

Eagles

fly out to Rwanda

…Ibenegbu promises undivided attention

Everest Onyewuchi with agency report

uper Eagles B Team will fly out of Johannesburg, South Africa, this morning for Rwanda ahead of this year’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) that kicks-off in Kigali tomorrow. The Nigeria team that has been camping in Pretoria since January 2 will depart 8am local time and officials said yesterday, that flying time to Kigali is estimated to be three hours. The played two friendly matches against Angola (1-1), and defeated Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 ahead of their opening match against the Mena of Niger Republic next Monday. Tunisia and Guinea are also in their first round group. Nigeria finished third in the last CHAN played in 2014 in South Africa.

football showpiece in Kigali. “Right now I’m not thinking of any other thing else than the coming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kigali, Rwanda. Thereafter I can now give other things including my club’s future some attentions. “So I’m not thinking of Warri

Wolves, league or any other thing at the moment but the CHAN,” he told supersports.com. The veteran Sandy Eagles player added, “I want to give my all to the team to ensure we do not miss the podium dance when the CHAN curtain falls on February 7.

He maintained that if such a decision was made, government Abuja would not hesitate to make it pubinister of Youth and lic. According to the minister, “If Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, yesterday dis- it is scrapped, I will announce it; missed the rumour making the once it is scrapped.” He added, “I will come and adrounds in a section of the media that the National Sports Commis- dress it that there would be cup of sion (NSC), has been scrapped by the tea on the tables for everybody and the question will not be standPresident Muhammadu Buhari. Dalung denied that the NSC ing like this. And I would tell you had been disbanded while an- why we scrapped it. “But since it has not been swering questions from journalist done, we will not speculate. But I in Abuja.

think this is originating from the misconception of what becomes of the Commission under the merger of Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. “Of course, Mr. President has recently merged the National Planning Commission with National Budget Office, but in our own case, a committee has been set up. The committee has made the recommendation and once the recommendation is approved, we shall call the press and brief them.”

Already Nigeria’s attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu, has said he is wholly focused at the forthcoming CHAN in Kigali, Rwanda. Ibenegbu said other matters, including his club’s future career will be given undivided attention after the side are done with the

NSC has not been scrapped yet –Minister

Joel Ajayi

“We came close to winning the title the last time in South Africa, but ended up with a bronze so we want to win the title for the first time for Nigeria. “Our preparations both at home and South Africa have been excellent we hope to take the winning mentality to Kigali.” Bartholomew Ikechukwu ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu is the oldest Nigeria star in Rwanda as he will be 30 next month, while Ifeanyi Matthew is the youngest as he will celebrate his 19th birthday two days after the team’s opening match against Niger. Ibenegbu has jersey No 12, Matthew will wear No 8 and top striker Tunde Adeniji has No 9. Sunshine Stars midfielder, Paul Onobi, will wear jersey No 10 when the Eagles begin battle with skipper Chima Akas sporting shirt No 3.

Sports

Friday, January 15, 2016

Real Sapphire Academy is giving life to youths –Peters

onourable Minister, Olympics is fast approaching, what does the preparation of Nigeria look like? It will not be correct for anybody to say preparations are not ongoing. Olympics is a four-year event and preparations have been on for the past four years, but what is critical now is that we are in final phase of preparations where we need to mop-up, re-strategise, test our strength and know our capacity to contain the challenges ahead of us. The preparations are ongoing, but these preparations are not displayed like shoes in the market for anybody to buy and by the grace of God, Nigeria shall perform well in Rio. Many federations’ presidents and board members complain bitterly that funding has been the cog in their wheel, what is your take on that? Well, the funding of sporting events is not exclusively government’s responsibility; it involves almost everybody that is in the sector. But the economic reality all over the world and fall in oil price globally has seriously affected the economy. So, everything has also been affected, but for us as a government, we consider that funding is very critical and we are doing everything possible within our best to make Nigeria harvest more successes in sports nationally and internationally. In the last Olympic held in London in 2012, Nigeria did not win a single medal. Is that no result adding pressure to the National Sports Commission as we approach Rio 2016? Well, asking me to account for something when I was not there is definition of injustice. This type of question would have gone to those who mismanaged our fortune in the last outing. However, we have some lessons to learn from their behaviour and the lesson now is that they were ill-prepared and so they embarrassed the nation, the giant of Africa who went there and failed woefully. From that experience, we have learnt what the lapses were and improved on them and I think that Nigeria in Rio will do far, far better than it’s expected. Some of the federations going to the Olympics are enmeshed in internal crises; taekwondo, football just to mention a few. Is this not going to affect the Commission’s preparations?

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ngozi Emedolibe

W Dalung

We’ll reward athletes, win more laurels –Dalung Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, last week in Abuja, addressed journalists on Nigeria’s preparations for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, crises in some federations and rewards for outstanding players and teams. JOEL AJAYI was there and presents these excerpts: It is in human existence that you have these types of differences and if not managed properly, may go a long way to disrupt the progress of such human race. But let me say this today, the problem in the federations as far as I am concerned is the display of immaturity and over exaggeration of interest. If it’s not, imagine, we have a very serious issue ahead of us as a country which is Olympics, to me every other federation that is patriotic should be able to lie-low all their differences and work for the victory of Nigeria first, not their personal interest of becoming president or becoming secretary or leader of the federation. Times without number as a minister, I have appealed to all the federations who are on war path that in the interest of this country, they should come together and let us work for the victory of Nigeria in Rio. When we come back from Rio, they could roll out the entire amoured tank they have, and wage whatever war against themselves and by that time I will be grand commander and I will be going round to appeal to them and beg them and anyone that we cannot settle, and then we will take appropriate decision that will help them. But now, we are going for the Olympics and they are busy instigating confusion among themselves. I think

the best they are trying to tell us is that, they want Nigeria to fail. I think it’s unpatriotic for anybody at this time to be fighting to remove or to replace a leader on the eve of going to Olympics. There are some issues about rewards for players who had made Nigeria proud in international competitions. This has been subject matter since you took over as minister. When is this government going to officially reward the teams? The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has graciously approved 21st of January 2016 as a day when all those athletes who had made this country proud from 1985 that had not been given attention will be assembled here in Abuja and the government will show its appreciation to them. Don’t forget the first team that won the Under-16 World Cup 30 years ago under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari but shortly after he received them, he was overthrown and since then no attention was given to them. But immediately he was elected, the first injustice he raised alarm and drew the attention of Nigerians, is the issue of U-16. To God be the glory, we have assembled their names and from the entire team we only lost one

person. May his soul rest in perfect peace; the coaching crew are all alive and they will all assemble on the 21st January when the President will unveil what he has as reward for making the country proud. And indeed the Federal Government has also approved a comprehensive package for all the athletes and the package is not limited to football, but to scrabble, basketball, and all athletes that had made the country proud. By the grace of God 21st January, 2016 they will all be duly rewarded. How much recommendation did you make to Mr. President on the rewards? The recommendations are subject to the approval of Mr. President and since it’s a package, it cannot be unveil until that day. The day you were sworn in as a Minister of Youth and Sports, the Nigeria U-17 team in Chile won the FIFA trophy and laurels have been won since. Home-based Super Eagles are in Rwanda for the CHAN that will kickoff in matter of days from now. Any message for them? Well, we expect them to maintain the tempo of the victories since we came on board. We want them to remain calm and focused. I will be in Rwanda myself to do solidarity with them and to encourage them and I believe that with hard work and patriotism which we have been preaching to them all these while, they shall come home victorious.

hen it comes to helping Nigerian youths who are talented in soccer realise their dreams, one name is beginning to ring a bell. He is Frank Peters: the man behind Real Sapphire Football Academy. Peters tells National Mirror, “I am an international businessman. My specialty is property. I build and manage properties both locally and internationally. However, what gives me the greatest joy at the moment is the youth academy that I have built, which is known as Real Sapphire Football Academy, which is now giving the life of Nigerian youths a meaning.” He continues, “Going by the condition of our country in particular and the world in general, the fate of the youths globally is looking bleak each passing day and because of that, I asked myself, ‘what can I do to be of help to the youths in particular and humanity in general?’ So I told myself that I must start something that would be giving the youths an assured future. “I see a football academy as a way of engaging the youths positively and successfully. Most of the popular footballers in the world today, Lionel Messi, Iniesta and others are products of football academies.”

Peters

A few weeks ago, Real Sapphire Football Academy assembled young footballers from all parts of the country for a tournament which had some foreign scouts, and Peters believes the process was a huge success. “Our last tournament which held at Epe area of Lagos, was a huge success. About 20 foreign scouts from many big teams in Europe came there to search for budding talent and they were amazed by the quality of talent showcased at the tournament. “The tournament featured youth academies from 12 states in the country. The foreign scouts said from what they saw at the tournament, Nigeria would continue to dominate FIFA age-group football for a very long time if the youths could be properly managed. The tournament holds twice yearly as it has become avenue for scouts to come look for young talent and we have a way of discovering and showcasing them at the tournament.” One may be wondering what happens to the talented youths after they are discovered. Peters answers, “We don’t allow them to be exploited. We make sure that in signing contracts that money is not put first but the teams that have facilities to enhance their careers. We always insist that they should go to teams that would develop their career instead of killing it.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AAG Fallout: Eight Nigerian athletes banned for doping Joel Ajayi Abuja

inister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, yesterday confirmed that eight Nigerian athletes that competed at the All Africa Games (AAG) tested positive to banned drugs They have been banned for four to eight years. Dalung disclosed this yesterday while answering questions from journalists in Abuja, shortly after holding a meeting with the NOC Executives. The athletes involved are: Deborah Odeyemi, Chinazom Amadi, Samson Idiata (Atheletics); Sunday Ezeh (Para athlet-

ics); Thomas Kure (Para lifting); Patience Opuene and Ebi James Igbadiwei (Wrestling). He said, “About five medals have been indicted and tested positive and that take us to why we are meeting here because we want to intensify advocacy on the issue of anti-doping “This doping has to do with nutrition of an athlete. It is very important to do more advocacy on sport, so when we get to Rio, we will not have these instances again.” Meanwhile, Chairman of the Anti-Doping Committee, Col. Hamakin, has been saddled with the responsibility of making sure such incidents do not occur at the next Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

Moses resumes training at Hammers

Moses

igeria international, Victor Moses, is thrilled to be back in training for his English Premier League side, West Ham United, after injury laid him off for more than a month. The forward suffered a hamstring injury on December 5 while in action against Manchester United and he, therefore, last-

ed just 37 minutes in that game. “Great training session with the lads today (yesterday), happy to be back,” Victor Moses tweeted. The Chelsea loanee has played 10 games for The Hammers this season with a goal to his credit. He has played for Crystal Palace, Wigan Athletic, Liverpool and Stoke City.

‘Wolfsburg close in on Osimhen’

AF Youth Player of the Year and FIFA U-17 World Cup hotshot ,Victor Osimhen, is expected to complete his transfer to German Bundesliga side, Wolfsburg, this month, his representatives disclosed to african-

Osimhen

Sports

Friday, January 15, 2016

football.com. “Everything is on course. People should disregard the speculations about the player’s future because this month he will sign for Wolfsburg,” said one of Osimhen’s representatives. “Some of the stories are sponsored by those who have lost out on transferring the player. They are expected.” Osimhen from Ultimate Strikers Academy of Lagos has already dismissed speculations linking him with a move to English Premier League side, Arsenal. He has already visited Wolfsburg and his handlers have given their word to the German club. “My destination is Wolfsburg. It will be a great platform for me to take my career to the next level,” he said.

MANDATE

THE

Sylvester Ikuejamoye

mopheys13@gmail.com 0805-407-1194 (SMS only)

Unmask the masquerade T hat Nigeria is blessed with unimaginable talent in all aspects of human endeavour is not in doubt. It has also become a source of concern to most patriots that the country has not effectively harnessed its potential. Nigeria is known to be excellent in paper work. We are globally recognized as experts in painting a fabulous organogram and perfect diagram of attractive road-maps for major projects, including that of sports development. The irony, however, is the repeated inability to make maximum use of the great advantage inherent in the massive potential the country is blessed with. Year-in-year out, it has been the same old story. Motion without movement with nauseating reasons being advanced for our colossal but avoidable stagnation. Those trusted with power and responsibility betrayed the country and the people. Every white elephant without benefit for the common man but for their pockets has always been the target for the marauders. They are experts in deceit and proficient in manipulation. They have special ways of creating hurdles and obstacles when is is apparent they are not likely to have their ways. They are everywhere, within and without. These are the masquerades that are tying down the growth and the development of Nigeria that must be unmasked if the country is to make the necessary progress. In sports, the Honourable Minister must be ready to step on toes to effectively make the required changes in a unique progression. Just like he was commended here last week for the visit to the National Stadium in Lagos, such visit should be routinely made to other sports facility across the country. It should not just be visit without corresponding impact, otherwise it would not be different from other visits by his predecessors. Part of the corresponding impact in my view is that funds meant for sporting infrastructural maintenance and development are judiciously utilized for the benefit of the budding talent wasting away at the grass root level for lack of facilities for

training. And anyone found to be incompetent or not on the same page for the new dawn should be made to give way. Identified obstacles and barriers should be dismantled. I had previously advised the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung to consider the possibility of calling a stakeholders’ conference to holistically address the perennial downturn in the sports fortunes of the country. This will be an avenue for all sports federations to pres-

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e n t their score cards since the inauguration of the boards in 2013. The boards are the engine rooms and the platform for the growth and development of sports in any country. Federations should be made to perform its statutory roles without unnecessary inhibition. Any board that has not demonstrated the required capacity to make a meaningful impact in its area of jurisdiction and in line with the road-map made available to all boards at the point of inauguration in 2013 should be made to explain the reason for failure. After thorough analysis of our preparations after Nigeria’s woeful outing at the London 2012 Olympic Games, I have for more than two years consistently asking the National Sports Commission to monitor the programmes of the various boards with a view to determining their performing index. Some boards are just not performing owing to so many reasons that only the supervising agency could handle. It just didn’t add up to put boards in place without monitoring their performance.

Membership of various boards of sports federations has been an issue. The character and competence of members were largely thrown overboard with political consideration and personal affinity as major criteria. People who ordinarily should be supporters or fans outside board membership found their ways into the board just because of political affiliation or the imaginary “high heaven connections”. Experience has shown that it has not been working since its introduction in 2005 where governors and chief executives of government agencies were conscripted into board leaderships of some of the federations. By all objective statistical lay-out, it has been largely counterproductive. I took this up with the former sports minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, whom I met with early last month in London. Abdullahi said although the idea was not a bad one, some of those appointed by government were largely recommended by the core civil servants working at the National Sports Commission. He admitted that he was misinformed over the sporting credentials of some of the government nominees into some of the boards. I also took him up on some of the laudable ideas he introduced with particular reference to athletes’ welfare as well as board performance routine score card. The rest may be in future submission here. Dalung should be bold enough to unmask those who are barriers to our collective resolve for unhindered growth and development in the sports sector. He should unmask those who are the impediment to the welfare of athletes and coaches. He should unmask those who serve as obstacles to the maintenance of facilities and other sports infrastructures. He should also unmask the manipulators. This road remains one of the surest ways of redeeming our dwindling sports glory as a nation. Dalung should unmask the masquerade, now. Hard but the bitter truth Looting billions of naira, our commonwealth, and starching it away in foreign land is nothing but unimaginable insanity. More so, that millions of Nigerians are jobless, while steady power supply, good road and portable water are hard to come by. Certainly, no human being in his right senses would subject his fellow country men and women to this high level of hardship and show no sign sobriety. The town criers behind them should also be examined. Hard But The Bitter Truth. Until next week Friday, stay out of trouble and God bless Nigeria.

WORLD RECORD

Largest solar oven cooking class

Vol. 05 No. 1287

Friday, January 15, 2016

N150

The largest solar oven cooking class consisted of 3,639 participants, achieved by Keshav Srushti (India) in Mumbai, India on 04 January 2014.

‘We sold our baby to start business’

igerians have, in recent decades, become unbelievably thick-skinned and used to shocking events, including all manner of crimes. Their country’s descent into entrenched lawlessness and moral degeneracy appears irreversible, perhaps until that day when the entire citizenry would resolutely resolve to cast away their care for extreme materialism; and reflect with all honesty on the fate and state of the nation; and its true relationship with the Creator of the universe. For now, however, Nigeria has grown in absurdities that she rightly deserves the unflattering award of a ‘country where anything goes’. Last weekend, one read Folake Sokoya’s piece on child trafficking in ‘Newswatch Times’, in which she related a report from Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Lagos, concerning one female, self-acclaimed Evangelist Chinwendu Okeke, who superintends a church in Alayi, Bende Local

ith a fifth world player of the year award safely tucked away in the trophy cabinet, Lionel Messi can set his sights on one of the next milestones in his remarkable career: reaching 500 goals for club and country. The Barcelona and Argentina striker can add to his jaw

FRIDAY WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) Government Area, Abia State, accused of using her church as cover to run a child trafficking ring. One Pastor Sunday Uwakwe, who worked with Evangelist Okeke until the deal went sour, leaked the secret to NOPRIN. According to the information Folake got from NOPRIN, Evangelist Okeke allegedly approached Pastor Uwakwe to join the child trafficking syndicate. Uwakwe’s role definition was given as impregnating young girls Evangelist Okeke would procure; and when the girls give birth, they would sell the babies and share the proceeds. Pastor Uwakwe said he turned down the offer, following which Evangelist Okeke got infuriated and purportedly framed an allegation against him, leading to his arrest by officers of the Abia State Police Command. Uwakwe said the police did not act on his story that Evangelist Okeke was neck deep into child trafficking, but collected money from both parties and pulled the rug on the matter. Helpless and down with fury, Pastor Uwakwe sought solace in NOPRIN, where he spilled the beans recently; and NOPRIN’s hierarchs have exhumed the matter from where the police literally buried it. What a remiss on the part of the Nigeria Police Force! A national daily (not National Mirror), in August last year, did an extensive report on illegal baby production factories in the country, with focus on the South East states. Of the five states in that geopolitical axis, namely: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo,

THE POLICE CANNOT AFFORD TO TRIFLE WITH THIS STRANGE DIMENSION TO CHILD TRAFFICKING only Ebonyi had a clean bill, but not without records of incessant teenage pregnancies, dumping of newly-born babies in gutters and road sides; as well as rape. These, nonetheless, are vices common to virtually all parts of the country. Three years earlier (2013), the Abia State Government demolished a fivestorey building housing Ezuma Hospital at No. 101 Okigwe Road, Aba, which the owner, one Dr. Ezuma, allegedly used to harbour pregnant teenage girls and unlawfully adopted babies. He also operated another branch in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The demolition ran simultaneously with police raid on yet another baby factory hidden in a private hospital in the Ogbor Hill area, also in Aba. There was still another one veiled as Nma Charity/Maternity Rehabilitation Centre in Umukpeyi Village in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state as well. From similar hideouts in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, scores of girls that had given birth to ‘commercial babies’ or were nursing various stages of pregnancy had been rescued by the police. But instead of abating, the abominable

trade has persisted, with some heartless and irresponsible parents turning themselves into baby factories and producing kids for sale; and citing financial difficulties, among other reasons, for the depravity and illegality. A good example was the August last year sale of two-year-old Chukwunonyerum Samuel for the sum of N350,000 by his desperate father, One Mr. Kanayo, said to be a 29-year-old painter/part time actor from Imo state. The title of this piece: ‘We sold our baby to start business’, captures yet another case reported by a national daily (not National Mirror) eight days ago. Without any trace of remorse, according to reports, the man in the eye of the storm, one Mr. Okwuchukwu Ibekwe (30), confessed to the police that he sold his five-month-old son, Chidera, in agreement with his wife, for N500,000 to a lady identified simply as Chinelo, who is based in Anambra State. “It was an agreement between my wife and I… My wife and I decided to sell the baby and use the money we make from it to start a business so as to better our lives. We also planned to have another baby to replace Chidera… What my wife and I were going through was unbearable… Chinelo gave me N250,000 and my wife N150,000. It was my wife that took the baby to Chinelo in Ihiala, Anambra State”, he said. The secret, however, leaked when Ibekwe’s wife reported to the Iba Police Post in Lagos that he sold their baby, leading to the arrest of the erring husband. Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the suspect would be arraigned in court soon, and that the police have intensified efforts to nab Chinelo. When parents, to whom their innocent kids entrust their mortal safety, upbringing and welfare, betray society’s high trust by selling off their children, then should a nation be alarmed indeed at its moral degeneration. The police cannot afford to trifle with this strange dimension to child trafficking. They should speedily arraign and rigorously prosecute the culprits; and arrange safe, foster care for little Chidera.

Sport Extra

Messi targets 500 career goals against Bilbao - dropping tally of 479 in 609 official games -- 430 for Barca and 49 for his national team in Sunday’s La Liga match at home to Athletic Bilbao. The 28-year-old from Rosario, who picked up the FIFA Ballon d’Or last Monday, is

looking close to his best following a two-month injury layoff late last year and netted a hat-trick when second-placed Barca crushed Granada 4-0 at the Nou Camp last weekend in their most recent outing in Spain’s top flight.

He has nine goals in 13 La Liga games this season, six behind leading marksmen and Barca team mates Neymar and Luis Suarez, who have 15 in 16 and 17 appearances respectively. “He looks in very good

shape and he is fundamental for us,” Barca coach, Luis Enrique, said after Messi set up Munir el Haddadi to open the scoring in Wednesday’s King’s Cup triumph at Espanyol, which secured the holders’ place in the last eight.

Messi

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