4th jan 2017

Customs redeploys eight Buhari’s govt offering historic ACGs, 238 others Francis Ezem

Ali

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he Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali

(rtd.) has approved the redeployment of eight Assist Comptrollers General, ACGs, and other senior officers in the Service with immediate effect.

Details of the exercise

showed that a total of 246 officers were affected, comprising eight Assistant Comptrollers General and 238 Deputy Comptrollers of Customs.

support for the vulnerable –APC

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Senate set to probe Kaduna killings –Saraki Vol. 7 N0. 1495

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror Online @NationalMirror

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•CAN urges Buhari to declare January 8 National Mourning Day •Army moves in to quell attacks

George Oji And Ubong Ukpong

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enate President, Bukola Saraki, has assured that the Senate will upon resumption, look into the crises that have led to the wanton loss of lives and property in the Southern part of Kaduna State, in recent times.

The Senate President made this pledge while responding to a twit on his Twitter handle by an obviously aggrieved concerned Nigerian who wanted to know the response of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

We slept with victims before defrauding them –Suspects P.7

A view of the car park at the Central Business District, Marina after the New Year holiday in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: ATOLAGBE BABATUNDE/ BJO/NAN. (Inset) Workers resuming after the New Year holiday at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: DEBORAH BADA/BJO/NAN

Gambia: Ekweremadu cautions against military action P. 4

Speaker of Jigawa House of Assembly impeached

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OPC bigwigs in trouble over missing man

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Ex-Ondo Chief Judge OlateruOlagbegi is dead P.9

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Senate set to probe S/Kaduna killings –Saraki CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

National Assembly on the wanton killings and loss of properties by the people of Southern Kaduna yesterday.

The Twitter, Chimeze Okoro Ukoha had tweeted: “@Bukolasaraki About 800 Christians massacred in Kaduna and nobody is talking about that. VERY BAD,” the concerned Nigerian told Saraki.

In his response, Saraki said: “Once @NGRSenate resumes, this issue will be addressed to get a clearer picture of what the real situation is and find a lasting solution.”

Saraki went further by also tweeting: “Every Nigerian life matters, and @ ngrsenate will work to ensure that rule of law is always upheld as prescribed

by Nigerian Constitution.”

The killings in Southern

Kaduna have continued to generate reactions from various quarters, especially among the masses.

Many have questioned why the killings have continued despite the security measures put in place by the Kaduna State Government. A lot of Nigerians have also appealed to the Federal Government to nip the ugly trend in the bud.

Special Assistant on New Media to the Senate President, Bamikole Omishore, said in a statement that the Senate President was in touch with Senators from that state and constantly getting updates on developments even though the Senate is on recess.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s police boss, Ibrahim Idris, has disagreed with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the number of

people killed in the Southern Kaduna crises.

He said Nigerians have no other country than Nigeria, hence, “the need to do those things that would bring peace and unity to the country.”

Idris advised Nigerians to live in peace with one another in spite of religious and ethnic differences.

He commended officers and men of the force for their commitment to providing security to all Nigerians across the country.

Idris restated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to providing adequate security, without bias to any section of the country.

Meanwhile, CAN has asked Christians in the country and in the Diaspora to wear black clothes to mourn those killed in Southern Kaduna.

The ongoing silence

over the ongoing genocide in Kaduna in the last few weeks speaks volume over perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts,” Asake said in a statement.

“In view of the present predicament, the president of CAN has directed that Sunday, January 8, 2017, should be declared a national day of mourning by Christians, including those in the Diaspora.

“We are to pray fervently for our Southern Kaduna brothers and sisters who are victims of these wanton killings and also for the peace of our dear country, Nigeria.

“Therefore, all Christians are to dress in the mourning attire, black dresses, in all our church services on January 8, 2017.

“We are to pray that God, who delivered the Jews

from Haman, should deliver Christians from the Hamans in Nigeria.

“An injustice to one is an injustice to all.”

CAN pleaded with Nigerians to speak up against the “ethnic and religious cleansing to wake up the Nigerian security agencies from their deliberate slumber to carry out their responsibility.”

The association said Christians in Nigeria have been persecuted since 2009.

“Though the church in Nigeria, since 2009, has been subjected to a systematic genocide and persecution through the instrumentality of Boko Haram, leading to the killings of thousands of Christians and destruction of hundreds of churches, and over 50,000 houses, the current unprecedented onslaught against Christians by Islamic fundamentalists disguising as Fulani herdsmen has reached an alarming stage.

“While we commend President Buhari for waging war against Boko Haram, since his assumption of office, his silence over the ongoing genocide in the last few weeks speaks volume over perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.”

In a related development, the Nigerian Army yesterday, vowed that it would do everything possible within its mandate to quell the ongoing attacks on Southern Kaduna people by unknown armed men.

Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Brig-Gen Sani Usman, disclosed this at the monthly press briefing to review the Army’s training and operations activities in 2016 and its plans for 2017.

Usman said that the Army has already received directive to move into the area and troops have since been deployed there.

He said plans were at conclusion stage to establish a high ranked formation of the Nigerian Army in Southern Kaduna to take control of the operations in that area.

On exercises Crocodile Smile and Python Dance in the South-South and SouthEast, Usman said that they also helped in dealing with contemporary security challenges in those areas.

He added that the exercises also contributed to the hitch-free celebration recorded in those regions during the Yuletide.

The DAPR said that the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Buhari’s govt offering “historic” support for the vulnerable –APC Marcus Fatunmole Abuja

Fun seekers at the Millennium Park during the new year celebration in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Customs redeploys eight ACGs, 238 others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

A statement signed by the Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, for the Service’s Comptroller General, indicated that the exercise was in line with the efforts of the current management to strengthen the operations of the service and reposition it to meet the challenges of the New Year 2017.

The affected Comptrollers General include ACG Charles Edike, who was until now, the Zonal Coordinator in charge of Lagos Zone A, who now moves to the Customs headquarters,

Abuja as ACG in charge of Human Resource Development HRD while ACG Ahmed Mohammed formerly in charge of the HRD becomes Zonal Coordinator in charge of zone B. Similarly, ACG Aminu Dangaladima formerly in charge of Zone B moves to the Enforcement unit at the headquarters even as ACG Francis Dosumu moves from the Enforcement unit to Zone D. Also ACG Augustine Chidi, formerly of Zone D, moves to the Excise, Free Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives Ex,FTZ, & I I, while ACG Monday Abueh

formerly of the Ex,FTZ, & I I moves to Zone A to take over from ACG Edike while ACG Umar Sanusi moves from the headquarter to take over Zone C in Port Harcourt from ACG Abdulkadir Azerema who returns to the headquarters.

Among the 238 Deputy Comptrollers redeployed is the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Wale Adeniyi, who is now posted to Apapa Customs Area Command in Lagos.

He, however, charged all the affected officers and men of the Service to ensure maximum collection of revenue and strict

implementation of fiscal policy of Government.

Some stakeholders, who commented the minor cabinet shake-up, said it was to inject some fresh blood in some strategic units to enforce government fiscal policies and also boost the declining revenue profile of the service.

The Comptroller-General, who also commented on some of the new fiscal policies of Federal Government and operations of the Service, insisted that the ban on importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders remain in force.

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resident Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is making “historic and unprecedented” efforts to mitigate the sufferings of the poor in the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said Tuesday.

The party stated this while reacting to the commencement of payment of N5000 stipend to one million identified “poorest of the poor” in the nation by the federal government.

Its reaction was contained in a statement made available to National Mirror by its spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

APC said the action was part of fulfilment of the party’s promised “change” to people in the country.

The party said it ac-

knowledged that last year was tough for citizens in the country, and expressed optimism that the president was taking drastic measures to put the nation’s ailing economy on the right path, and consequently make life more comfortable for people in the country this year.

It however called on the nation’s citizens to offer more support to the government to enable it deliver more on its mandates.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) commends the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for fulfilling the promise the party made to Nigerians during the 2015 general election campaigns that safety nets will be provided to vulnerable Nigerians.

“The party notes that with the commencement of payment of N5000 to one million poor Nigerians through the Conditional CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

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Gambia: Ekweremadu cautions against military action

George Oji

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eputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has warned against any military action by the Community to force President Yahaya Jammeh out of office as President.

Ekweremadu who is the immediate Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Parliament said the application of force to get the President out of office could plunge the country into bloodletting and threaten the security and peace of the entire sub-region.

Jammeh was defeated by little known Adama Barrow in the presidential election conducted in The Gambia on December 1, 2016. After initially accepting the outcome of the election and promised a smooth transition of power, Jammeh was no renege on that promise one week after, saying that he was not satisfied with the result announced by the electoral body.

Ekweremadu, in a statement yesterday in Abuja regretted that West Africa had witnessed so many bloodbaths, including armed conflicts and human sufferings engendered by insurgency and terrorism and urged the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the international community to explore dialogue, while also allowing Gambian laws to take preeminence as a sovereign nation.

He canvassed against sanctions in line with the traditions and relevant

Protocols of ECOWAS, rather than any form of military actions, should dialogue and judicial options fail.

He said: “From Liberia to Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, among others, West Africa has seen so much bloodletting and political instability. Heavy destruction of lives and property has also been visited on the sub-region by insurgency and terrorism, which remain present danger to the peace and security of West Africa.

“Instructively, what normally started like child’s play often resulted in protracted, but avoidable political upheavals and fratricidal wars. This is why the people of West Africa, especially the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, must tread with utmost caution to ensure that the sub-region is not plunged into yet another needless bloodletting and humanitarian crisis over the Gambian political challenge.

“Importantly, we must all acknowledge the fact that Gambia is a sovereign state. If her Constitution and electoral laws allow for judicial role in resolving electoral disputes, then the Gambian constitutional courts must be allowed to count in resolving the political impasse.

“It could also amount to setting a bad and crisis-triggering precedence if the Gambian laws are preempted and her sovereignty breached. The subregion must uphold the rule of law for the sake of the peace, stability, and prosperity of Gambia. We

must take all necessary steps as a sub-region to steer the West African nation and indeed the entire Community away from any looming bloodshed and monumental destruction”.

Ekweremadu, however, commended ECOWAS

Heads of State and Government for their concern and commitment to resolving the political situation in Gambia.

“I am aware that several high level meetings have been held and several missions undertaken to the Gambia as a way

Cash Transfer scheme of the government, the Buhari administration has demonstrated its commitment to the party’s change manifestoes which is couched on true transformation.

“We recall that as part of its Social Investment Programme (SIP), the government has begun implementing three other major campaign promises of

the party designed to provide jobs and lift the most vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty. These include: the N-Power Volunteer Corps which will provide jobs to 500,000 young Nigerian graduates; the National Homegrown Feeding Programme which has commenced in selected states, and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), which provides soft loans ranging from

sort to military option”, he added.

Ekweremadu also charged the Gambian authorities to ensure the protection of the fundamental and political rights of the Gambians and the opposition to avoid escalation of the political crisis.

L-R: Joint Managing Director of Borini Promo and Company (Nigeria) Limited, Mr Gianfranco Albertazzi; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State, Mr. Godwin Eke, during inspection of ongoing rehabilitation of Lagos Ring Road Bridge abutment and approach ramp to the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTO: OKOYA OLATUNDE/BJO/NAN

Senate set to probe S/Kaduna killings –Saraki CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

2Brigade in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, had been moved to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with a new Division established in Rivers State.

On the victory recorded in the North East, the Nigerian Army said it would in 2017, consolidate on the gains recorded by troops in the fight against insurgency in that region.

President Muhammadu Buhari had during the Christmas period, announced the fall of “Camp Zairo,’’ the last stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa forest to the army.

According to Usman, “We will continue to accord high priority to training, regimentation and welfare of the troops.

Buhari’s govt offering “historic” support for the vulnerable –APC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

of finding solution to the problem. Importantly, our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, is now charged with the responsibility of driving the efforts and I wish him sufficient wisdom to address and resolve the political situation without any re-

N10,000 to 100,000 to artisans, traders, market women, among others.

“The APC views these achievements as historic and unprecedented in the history of Nigeria even as it assures Nigerians that the government is committed and working hard to make significant progress on the economy, and other sectoral areas.

“The party acknowledges that the past year was a tough one for Nigerians

occasioned by the economic recession but have confidence in the ability of President Buhari to design programmes and policies that will provide succour to the masses.

“We urge Nigerians to continue to support and pray for the President Buhari-led administration so that our dream of a more prosperous, secure and stable nation will be achieved,” the statement read.

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has directed that the next Nigerian Army Small Arms Competition (NASAC) 2017 be conducted in the Sambisa forest.

“Already, efforts are on by the Nigerian army engineers to open more routes and construct bridges into the once Boko Haram haven to facilitate access to the forest,.’’

He also disclosed that in 2016, the army promoted 17,000 soldiers to various ranks in 2016, including 9,000 soldiers deployed in operations to tackle the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

Usman said that during period, 184 Warrant Officers were elevated to Master Warrant Officers.

On the exercises and operations in the period under review, he listed them as exercises “Shirin Harbi, Harbin Kunama, Crocodile Smile and Python Dance ’’ and operations “Crack Down and Rescue Finale.’’

According to him, those

terrorists holed up in Sambisa forest were further defeated during the operation rescue finale which penetrated deep into sambisa forest and dislodged the sect members from their headquarters in Parisu and Camp Zairo.

Usman explained that exercises Shirin Harbi and Harbin Kunama, apart from improving troops’ proficiency and testing of equipment, addressed security challenges in Bauchi and Zamfara axis.

He said that under the two exercises, 9,865 cattle rustled by bandits at Dansadau forest in Zamfara were rescued and handed over to their owners.

“Many armed bandits and livestock rustlers were also arrested during the operation.

“It is believed that the menace of criminal gangs and bandits in the NorthCentral and North-West zones of the country would be reduced to the barest minimum due to such field training exercises,’’ he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday January 4, 2017

Speaker of Jigawa House of Assembly impeached

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igawa State House of Assembly members have impeached the speaker of the state Assembly, Idris Garba and replaced and elected Isa Idris as the new speaker. The clerk of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Hussaini Ali announced on Tuesday morning that he received an impeachment notice signed by 25 of the 30-member house, and which he read on the floor of the house. The clerk disclosed that members of the Assembly impeached the speaker due

to alleged high-handedness and abuse of power.

The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Garba announced that 25 of the 30-member assembly that endorsed the impeachment notice showed that a constitutional requirement of two-third majority needed to carry out the impeachment any of its erring principal officers had been met.

“With this development, I at this moment declare the seat of the Speaker vacant and a fresh election should be

conducted to elect the new speaker,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker read the impeachment notice on the floor of the house and confirmed the number of members that signed the notice by taking a voice vote.

Isa Idris of Gwaram constituency was promptly elected as the new speaker.

In his acceptance speech, the new Speaker promised to run an open door policy and solicited members support and cooperation.

Kaduna killings: Apostle Suleman blasts Buhari, El-Rufai

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adical cleric and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has broken his silence on the ongoing killings in Southern Kaduna and concluded that Nigeria was sliding into fascism and official terrorism. He warned President Muhammdu Buhari and his co-travellers to stop acts of divisiveness, marginalisation, exclusion and palpable hatred for Christians and the body of Christ.

“The lack of tolerance currently being witnessed was unprecedented in the history of the country.

Anybody who makes the church and Christians his target for destruction in 2017 will die! God will use them as scape goats”, he said.

According to him, the double standards being adopted by Buhari and the government of All Progressives Congress in handling state affairs, especially his silence on the genocide in Southern Kaduna, has continued to fuel mutual recrimina-

tions and mistrust among the diverse ethnic and religious groups in the country.

Suleman condemned what he referred to as crass abuse of power by the APC in the ongoing genocide in Southern Kaduna.

A statement by his Advisor (Public Communications), Mr. Phrank Shaibu, obtained in Abuja, said Suleman made threw the bombshell during the last edition of the monthly Miracle and Fire Night Service of the church for 2016 in its international Headquarters in Auchi, Edo State.

He said a close look at unfolding events reveals that some members of the cabal in the Presidency “who are notorious for their hatred for Christians are pushing the country to the precipice and are determined to start a war between Christians and Muslims – a war that will irreversibly mark the end of Nigeria.”

The cleric said he was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that time was “running out on Nigeria

because of the way President Buhari was piloting the affairs of the nation.”

He said, “The current destruction of churches and about 49,000 houses as well as the mindless onslaught against Christians in Southern Kaduna

by Islamic fundamentalists disguising as Fulani herdsmen in a well choreographed acts under the watch of Governor Nasir El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari, is completely unacceptable.

Suleman warned that if Nigeria must continue to exist as an indivisible entity, then the President must come out to assure Nigerians that his administration will desist from being used as a platform for such primitive persecution and mindless killings.

“Apart from the appointment of Service Chiefs and heads of Paramilitary organisations that is skewed in favour of the North and Muslims, even personal security and safety of key Christian figures who hold dissenting views are in danger”, he said.

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Photo News

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

L-R: Managing Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr.Lanre Kolade; General Manager, Saint Peter and Paul crèche, Nursery and Primary School, Ikate Elegushi Lagos, Barbara Pepoli; Finance Director, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr.Oluseyi Olanrewaju and a Parent, Mrs. Blessing Okwuokenyen, at the handover ceremony of a fully equipped library donated by Vodacom Business Nigeria to Saint Peter and Paul crèche, Nursery and Primary School, IkateElegushi in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Area coordinator Ifako Jaiye, Team Aplus, Toyin Bamitefa(fifth left); Assistant Matron, Old Peoples Home, Mrs. Sumbo Damels; General coordinators Team Aplus, Agege, Mr. Kolade Bushura; Ikeja, Modupe Jessica Bewaji; Kosofe, Mrs Funmi Filaoye; Ifelodun/Ajeromi, Adekunle Ojora; Area coordinator Ojo, Samuel Themandilli, during Team Aplus courtesy visit with Items to Old peoples home Yaba, Lagos recently.

PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Principal Public Officer, National Population Commission (NPC), Mrs Aishat Yakubu; Chief Statistician of NPC, Mr Ayodele George; State Director of the NPC, Mrs Olushola Oshideko at the Presentation birth certificate to the Mother of the new born baby, Mrs Aderonke Akande and her Husband, Mr Olumide Akande during the official visit of the NPC to Lagos-Island Maternity Hospital in Lagos.

PHOTO: OLOSUNDE SUPO/NAN

Ojora of Lagos, HRM Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire,(second left); Head of Administration, Apapa Local Government, Mr. Hunwi Solomon and Chairman Apapa, LG, Honourable Luqman Babatunde Alao, at the commissioning of Ijora road named after Oba Aromire in Lagos, recently.

PHOTO:WALE IGBINTADE

National News

Director in trouble over sale of power generator

Akindele Orimolade ABUJA

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director with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) is in deep trouble over the unauthorized removal and sale of the Commission’s 200KVA generating set.

Specifically, Mr. Thaddedus Fada Zyi, an Assistant Director, Administration and Supplies with the Commission had on 21st March, 2016 illegally removed a 200 KVA generating set in the Commission’s office and sold it for N850,000.00 Mr. Zyi who had perfected the sale by informing his immediate boss, a director, and the Commission’s Director General that he intended to use the proceeds from the sale to repair a100KVA generator, however, failed to receive written approval before and after the sale.

The transaction appeared to be perfect until the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), National Museums and Monuments

Coordinating branch blew the whistle and invited the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to halt the rot in the Commission.

The union’s intervention drew the attention of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who had been championing the administration’s war against graft and corruption.

The information ministry, through a letter dated 16th August,2016 and signed by Adebola O. KAYODE, Director, Human Resources Management on behalf of the Permanent Secretary conveyed the minister’s approval to place the officer, Mr. Zyi, an Assistant Director, on interdiction with immediate effect to allow full investigations into the circumstances of the sale.

The Director General of the Commission, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah, was also directed to immediately constitute a disciplinary committee which should include an officer in the ministry.

In his reply to a query dated 26th May, 2016, Zyi confirmed that he unilaterally sold the set to the high-

est bidder, determined by him, for N850,000.00 adding that the money was handed over to the Commission’s Cashier.

“I called the Commission’s Cashier and handed over the cash to him telling him that the money is for the purchase of materials needed for installation of the 100KVA generator anytime the Director General gives his approval. This underlies the fact that the

sale was in anticipatory approval,” he stressed.

He added that “I submit that I have not committed any offence that warrants further disciplinary action against me”.

But the disciplinary committee set up by the DG thought otherwise.

In a three- page report jointly signed by Mrs. Iretiola I. Kola-George, Chairman, and James Emmanuel, Secretary, the

committee noted that Zyi erred by violating laid down procedures on the disposal of Federal Government assets/properties as enshrined in the Financial Regulation Chapter 25,26,27 of Federal Government of Nigeria.

The committee said the director violated the rules on the Movement of Assets/Properties of the Federal Secretariat Complex(Ref. No. HCF/

SW/SS/391/vol.1/21 dated 9th April,2002).

“This action is tantamount to stealing and punishable under Section 030301(a)and 030402(11)of the Public Service Rule.”

In addition, the disciplinary committee observed that the date of sale as given by Zyi was contradictory to the date on the gate pass while the identity of the real buyer was suspect.

2017: Do not lose hope, Okonkwo urges Nigerians Saidat Alausa

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eneral Overseer, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has called on all Nigerian not to lose hope in-spite of the daunting socio-economic challenges facing the nation.

According to him, rather than lose hope every Nigerian should stand in prayers for the nation, “because prayers can change situations and circumstances, no matter

how complex they may look.”

This was contained in a New Year message signed by the cleric and made available to National Mirror.

“There is no doubt we have all gone through some very trying times this year especially with regards to our economy, but the grace of God has kept us intact as a nation.

I also salute the dogged resilience of Nigerians who are always ready to weather every storm that comes their way.

“We cannot afford to throw up our hands in

despair, so I encourage every Nigerian to continue to contribute his or her quota to the peace, prosperity and development of this great nation.

“The problem however with us as Nigerians, is that rather than deal with issues as they come, we tend to politicize them. In the developed nations of the world, they deal with issues holistically without ethnic or tribal sentiments. That is the reason why they seem to be on top of whatever comes their way.

“I urge our leaders not

to lose hope, but to rather take a cue from their counterparts in the developed world, by burying their political differences and tackle national issues with the urgency they deserve rather than politicize them.”

He used the opportunity to call on all Nigerians particularly Christians to continually pray for the nation and all political office holders for God’s grace and wisdom in steering the ship of the nation so that the nation would arrive at God’s ordained destiny for the nation.

Wednesday January 4, 2017 National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Crime Watch

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We slept with victims before defrauding them —Suspects Stories by Patience Ogbo

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wo men who allegedly specialise in defrauding women have been arrested by the police in Lagos.

The suspects identified as Haggai Duru, 16, and Festus Ajah, 26, were arrested in Imo State after they defrauded a business woman of N5.1 million in Lagos.

According to the police, the suspects allegedly belong to a syndicate operating in Imo and Lagos states and their modus operandi is luring women with promise of marriage but they end up defrauding them.

The police revealed that the suspects targeted a business woman and after sleeping with her , they lured her to the Sango area in Ogun State with promise that they have a factory there where she can buy goods at affordable prices. However, it was a ploy by the syndicate to defraud the woman, police sources said.

The police source said: “The suspects were arrested after they went to the Computer Village in Lagos and approached a woman that they have musical instruments for sale at affordable prices.

The woman went with them and they hypnotised her. They told her

that they have bank notes they want to change to dollars and the woman should bring money for the chemical. They gave her several account numbers. She paid N200,000 and paid them in instalments to the tune of N5.1 million.

They connived with the leader of the gang called Emeka. They were arrested after they went to bank to withdraw the money in Imo state”.

The suspect Ajah however stated that the business woman is his girlfriend.

He said “The business woman, Nkechi is my lover. She was not hypnotised. It was after I left her and went to Imo that she reported me to the police. She did business with my uncle Emeka . I don’t know how Emeka defrauded her.”. The suspects, Duru and Ajah

Police educate residents on recruiting domestic staff

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esidents in Lagos state have been advised to carry out proper profiling of any person they intend to recruit as domestic staff .

This advice was handed down by the Divisional Police Officer of the Victoria Island police station CSP Olusegun Ajomalaya during the award presentation to him by

This Moment Media in conjunction with William Russell Foundation USA. CSP Ajomalaya said it was imperative for residents to seek the services of the police before they recruit their staff as this will help fish out persons with criminal tendencies.

This advise is coming follow-

Intervention Squad in Ogun State based on intelligence led by the officer in charge of the Squad CSP Gbenga Megbope.

AIG Aderanti said the police recovered three Toyota Camry cars, and one Infinity Jeep adding that criminals have no hiding place in the Zone.

He said: “The Police men acted on a robust intelligence, intercepted the vehicles and arrested the criminals. Our new mantra is that criminals will be hunted and arrested . The era of

chasing them to other states is over. If you commit a crime in Ogun and Lagos states, you will be hunted, arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law”.

The suspects said greed led them into crime. One of the suspects, Adeyemi said ‘ I am from Benin Republic. I was arrested and sent to prison in Benin Republic for car snatching. I was arrested a second time when one of my friends called Muritala sent me to deliver a car to a receiver”.

ing the murder of one Miss Dayo Adeleke by her Cameronian cleaner in her home at Parkview estate over issues bordering on salary increment.

CSP Ajomalaya said ‘” There is the need for all hands to be on deck in checking crime. Staff profiling is part of the ways of checking domestic workers from

Police arrest ex-convict for car snatching P olicemen attached to the Zonal Intervention Squad Zone 2 Police command Onikan, Lagos, are investigating a Beninoise, one Shina Adeyemi and his alleged accomplice, one Victor Ene over allegation of armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.

Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of the Zone 2 Police Command Onikan Lagos Mr. Kayode Aderanti, said the suspects were arrested by policemen attached to the Zonal

The suspect, Adeyemi

committing crime against their employers. Residents are advised to involve the police before they employ their staff. This is to ensure that they do not employ people with criminal record. This is what we call preventive or proactive policing .The Commissioner of police Mr. Fatia Owoseni also visited banks and organisations to talk to them on the need to profile their staff. It is not when there is problem that you will come to the police. This award is dedicated to the officers and men of the station who are the foot soldiers. This award will spur us to do more for the community . It will boost our morale as our duty is to ensure that people sleep with their eyes closed” Prince Osuya Omotunde Aiyekooto the Editor of This Moment Media said. “ This award is aimed at recognising the policing strategy of CSP Ajomalaya in keeping Victoria Island peaceful.

Combat crime with agriculture –Nwogu tells govt

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Kelly Nwogu, flanked by Kelly Blind, left and Mrs Nwogu

or Nigeria to combat crime and other social vices in the New Year, a Lagos-based entrepreneur Dr. Kelly Nwogu has urged the government to engaged Nigerians in agriculture. Dr. Nwogu, Chairman of Livelihood Homes Ltd stated this during an interactive session with persons living with disability in the country on New Year Day.

“ The country is experiencing recession but if something urgent is not done, the recession will lead to depression, then to frustration. then to crime .The disable people in Nigeria according to record are over 23 million people in one country. 23 million people that is bigger than the population of some countries in this world. Therefore, I see it that if everyone should keep quiet the level of crime is increasing

daily. People who travel to the East this Christmas complained of arm robbery attack even yesterday; this will be terrible in the next few months if we don’t do anything about it.

“What I want to do is to get a place I can call a national place for agriculture for these people.

Agriculture is the way forward, if they start planting early this year, this is the first day of January 2017, by the time they start

planting this year, by August they should be harvesting depending on the crops.

“Let me show them how to do agriculture, let me help them to get the land, help them to get the crops, how to plant and help them to pay their workers on the farm until the point of harvest. By the time they do their first harvest they may not need me anymore then they can continue from there,” he stated.

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Editorial

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Wednesday January 4, 2017

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Onaiyekan on persisting leadership insensitivity

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he slow response of the Nigerian state to critical national issues can be quite distressing, indeed, exasperating to many.

It is, therefore, not surprising that Roman Catholic Cardinal and the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, at a public function lately in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, drew public attention to the recklessness and revelling going on in government circles even when the country is grinding in economic recession and hardship.

Onaiyekan said it was quite disturbing that most of the present senators who were once governors in their respective states still drew pensions as ex-governors and yet collect millions of naira as lawmakers, while a large percentage of Nigerians died daily because of abject poverty. National Assembly members, he said, “make laws appropriating huge allowances for themselves along with vehicles whose costs are in millions of naira and openly display insensitivity to the suffering of the people who voted them into office”.

The President, governors and National Assembly members should be sensitive

to the current economic recession by cutting down on ostentatious living, Onaiyekan insisted. He was no less peeved at the subsisting high cost of running government at both federal and state levels at a time when living for the common man had dropped to zero. The Cardinal canvassed a cut in the allowances and salaries of national and state lawmakers; as well as in the earnings of their counterparts in the executive arm of every tier of government.

In the news since April this year were reports that about 21 governors and deputy governors currently serving as senators or ministers and receiving pay in their capacity as lawmakers were still drawing billions of naira in pension payments and salaries from their states, even when millions of civil servants in their home states grapple with hunger and destitution without salaries for months unend. They, without conscience, draw the huge pensions, salaries and allowances regularly, whether or not their states had enough funds to service the gluttony; and without minding the grinding financial plight of their states and the widespread poverty ravaging the nation.

According to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the affected governors, while holding office, armtwisted or bribed their various Houses of Assembly into approving for them bogus and illegiti-

their tenure; and the vicious cycle continues. It is shocking worldwide cultivate that the relevant agencies that ought to wade in and crossgood followership by check the allegations against walking their talk the double earnings of former and living by example senators and ministers now in government have remained mate pay packages and property, docile since the matter came to like posh vehicles and houses in the public domain, despite the contravention of extant laws and fact that the Code of Conduct regulations by the Revenue Mofor public officers frowns at bilisation, Allocation and Fiscal such rip-off. Not amusing, too, Commission (RMAFC), the body is the fact that the economic constitutionally vested with the recession ravaging the land power to fix the salaries and aldoes not reflect in government lowances of public office holders. houses in Abuja and the states, As if that was not enough, from what the Cardinal has most of such leaders were acobserved. cused of carting away governYet the best of leaders worldment property or auctioning wide cultivate good followersame to themselves and their ship by walking their talk and cronies at ridiculous prices, living by example. For the especially when leaving office. umpteenth time, we remind the On the eve of the departure of incumbent government that no many governments in the counnation can survive the nature try, state or federal, public funds of barefaced leadership reckand property are looted with lessness, lip service to slashimpunity. Treasuries are emptied ing the cost of governance, in a matter of days if not hours; profligacy and, perhaps, quiet and newly appointed government looting, even under the strict functionaries are left without regime of President Muhamanything of substance to inherit. madu Buhari, for too long withOne report said “government out bearing the harsh consefurniture, including kitchen quences, part of which would utensils and mattresses”, are include prolonged economic parked away. The new people in suffocation, backwardness, government would then apply for embarrassing living standards, virtually everything they needed widespread unemployment and to work with - vehicles, furniture, crime, as well as the continued et cetera - afresh, which they too erosion of morals, among othwould later re-loot at the end of ers.

The best of leaders

ON THIS DAY January 4, 1989

January 4, 2001

Communist President of Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu, was overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife fled Bucharest with a helicopter as protesters erupted in cheers.

Ceauescu (January 26, 1918 – December 25, 1989) was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and the country’s second and last Communist leader.

Richard Reid attempted to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63. Richard Colvin Reid (born August 12, 1973), also known as the Shoe Bomber, is an Englishman who attempted to detonate explosives packed into the shoes he was wearing, while on American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. He was born to a father who was a career criminal.

January 4, 2010 The repeal of the ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell policy’, the 17-year-old policy aimed at homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, was signed to law by President Barack Obama. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ (DADT) was the official US policy on service by gays and lesbians in the military instituted by the ex-Bill Clinton administration on February 28, 1994. It took effect on December 21, 1993 following a Department of Defense Directive.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Glo backs effort to improve life in Lagos

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lobacom, leading telecommunications operator, says it will support the efforts of Lagos State Government to boost the profile of the state and improve the quality of life of the residents.

The company’s Coordinator, Business Enterprise Group, Folu Aderibigbe, made the pledge at the Grand Finale of One Lagos Fiesta (OLF), an end-of-the-year entertainment initiative of the Lagos State Government co-sponsored by Globacom.

Aderibigbe said the grandmasters of data was committed to the growth and development of the state as well as to the wellbeing of its customers.

He assured the audience that Globacom would continue to support projects that add value to people’s lives, and promised that the company would continue to invest in building the best telecommunications network in Nigeria and Africa.

He said the company was delighted to again be the exclusive telecom partner of the One Lagos Fiesta after sponsoring it in 2016, adding that “Globacom is a brand that promotes the active lifestyle

of fun and excitement.”

In his remarks at the event, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, stated that he believed 2017, which marks the 50th anniversary of the state, would offer boundless opportunities for true joy for all Lagos residents.

“Our vision remains the same: to create a smart mega city where business and creative opportunities abound; where physical and social amenities are world-class; and where lives and property are safe and secured,” the governor said.

The grand finale of the fiesta, which was held at the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, featured the climax of the talent hunt show tagged ‘Lagos Has Got Talent’. Youths who emerged from the five major cities of the state competed in dance, rap, comedy and drama.

Master Ogunlaja Ahmed a.k.a Mr. Dollar from Epe Division emerged the overall winner, while Blessing Akiote (Agege) and Flexible Twist emerged second and third respectively.

They were presented with fabulous prizes by Globacom and the State Government.

Malnutrition kills 2,300 children in Nigeria, ­—Experts Wole Adedeji ILORIN

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alnutrition has been said to continually claim lives of over 2,300 children in Nigeria on daily basis.

The Project Officer of the Civil Society Scalingup Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN Mr Ubah Nnaemeka made this known in Ilorin, Kwara State during a two-days Advocacy Skills and Strategic Training of Kwara State CS-SUNN coalition.

According to him, if nothing is done, the possibility are numbers of deaths would increase daily due to malnutrition.

Nnaemeka added that globally, out of a population of 7 billion, about 2 billion are suffering from micro nutrient malnutrition.

Said he, “out of 5 billion adult worldwide nearly 2 billion are overweight or obese with one in every 12 persons having type-2 diabetes,”.

The project officer cautioned that malnutrition

South West

Wednesday, March 4, 2017

had the is capable of impairing intelligence children from their childhood and by extension, threaten the the future of potential Nigerian leaders.

According to him, Nigeria presently accounts for 11 per cent of the total global malnutrition cases of children who died under five years with and another 37 per cent of global children stunted.

He also added that 18 per cent of these children were wasted and 29 per cent underweight adding that only 17 per cent of mothers in Nigeria breast-feed their children according to the National Demographic and Health Survey of 2013.

Nnaemeka said malnutrition included three indicators; i.e over nutrition, under nutrition and micro nutrient deficiency.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Dr Uthman Mubashir, CS-SUNN, Chairman, Local Working Group had said their organisation deals with nutrition of women and children in Nigeria.

New Oloba of Oba-Ile installed Boladale Bamigbola, OSOGBO.

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he newly installed Oloba of Oba Ile, a town in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba (Dr) Kunle Oyeyemi, has promised to use his experience and connections to work towards providing positive engagements for youth in

his domain.

This, the monarch said would reduce social vices among youthful populace in the town.

The royal father, who moved into seclusion, shortly after he was installed on January 1, while speaking with newsmen, also promised to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people of the town.

He expressed dissatis-

faction at the increasing rate of crime in the town, blaming it on the unemployment of the youths.

He however assured to give undivided attention to youth development and engage them in manner that would make them useful, rather than being nuisance to the society.

The United Statestrained Oba Oyeyemi, who was accompanied

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into place of royal seclusion, where he would spend 7 days, by many inhabitants of the town, also called for support to enable him implement his plans to bring development to the town.

He vowed to work together with other traditional rulers in the state and strengthen unity among the people of the town as well as the neighboring communities.

L-R: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging pleasantries with Chief Imam of Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasahun; Mufasir Osogbo, Sheikh Ma’ruf Isola; Mufasir Ikire, Sheihk Rasheed Maje and others, at the Inter-Religious Service for the new Year 2017 at office of the Governor, State Secretariat Osogbo, yesterday.

“Osunwon Omoluabi” begins February 1, says Aregbesola Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

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sun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday hinted that by 1st of February, this year, his government, would commence enforcement of the use of the standard measures and scales for all commercial transactions as part of efforts to make commerce attractive in the state.

This was just as the governor disclosed that the ability of his government to pay workers salaries for months of September, October, November and December in less than two weeks, was a huge relief.

Governor Aregbesola, who stated this when he led Muslim and Christian faithful at an interdenominational thanksgiving session at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo.

He said the use of standard measure tagged “Osunwon Omoluabi” launched in 2016 by his administration would be enforced as from February 1, noting that “whoever fails to use the new measure and scales will face the consequences.”

Speaking further, Governor Aregbesola, said a total of N14.2bn was paid out by his government in less than two weeks before the end of December 2016, saying with what befell the state before the close of 2015, it was gratifying that Osun bounced back in what can now be felt as relief from the hardship of past years.

The governor said it was in September 2014 that he had to call on workers to decide whether they wanted a staff reduction or payment of salaries according to available resources when the impact of the economic hardship in the country be-

gan to biter harder.

He said in July 2015, the new Federal Government which had been sworn in May, 2015, listened to some of the solutions to the national revenue crisis, adding that when the state got N34.9bn bailout loan in 2015, there were controversies on how to disburse the funds when some people insisted that the whole funds should be spent all at once.

“But I knew that with the magnitude of the economic crisis facing Nigeria, it would have been suicidal to expend the whole bailout loan at once without saving a portion of it which which eventually bailed us out till around February this year,” Aregbesola said.

The governor recalled that this was what made necessary, the constitution of the state’s Revenue Apportionment Committee headed by labour veteran Comrade Hassan Sunmonu

which he said made it possible for the state to pay salaries till February of 2016.

He said the arrival of the Paris Club deductions refunds which made N11.7bn available to the state has brought some relief, noting that the state would however need to intensify its efforts towards self-sustenance.

He added that “LAUTECH lecturers have insisted they would not cooperate with the government despite their knowledge of the economic conditions we face. We appeal to them to accept our fate at the moment for the sake of the students’ future.”

The Head of Service Mr. Sunday Owoeye, in his speech saluted the courage and commitment of the Osun workforce, saying revenue generation should be a major focus of the workers in the new year.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

North 10 Katsina to get boreholes worth N150m James Danjuma KATSINA

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L-R: Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Asabe Hamma; wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajia Hadiza Muhammed and mother of the first baby of the Year, Mrs Maryam Usman, during the commissioner visit to specialist Hospital in Bauchi on Monday.

Pilgrim: Katsina to set up committee on financial scam

James Danjuma KATSINA

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committee to investigate alleged financial misappropriation by some officials of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board is to be set up by the state government.

The committee is to look into alleged defrauding of intending pilgrims for the 2016 hajj operation, by officials of the board.

It was learnt that many of the pilgrims were short-changed dur-

ing forex exchange for their travelling allowances.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari, while receiving report of the 2016 hajj operation, said officials involved would be dealt to serve as deterrent to others.

Masari accused officials of the board for defrauding pilgrims through diversion of their travelling allowance into their private pockets.

He however commended the board for a successful 2016 hajj op-

eration, and that his administration would come up with a plan to ensure a hitch-free 2017 hajj operation.

Earlier, chairman of the state hajj committee, Salisu Ado, said some pilgrims, especially those from the rural areas were defrauded by officials of the board as a result of exchange of travelling currency.

Shinkafi said the committee suggested constitution of an administrative panel to investigate, probe and make recom-

mendation on major lapses in the 2016 hajj operation.

“We recommend for the setting up of a special hajj tribunal to handle hajj related offences,” he said.

He identified some of the problems encountered by the committee to include shortage of accommodation and inflation of unregistered pilgrims.

He said the state lost one of its pilgrims, Shamshudeen Yusuf, in Mecca, due to undisclosed illness.

pray fervently to God to avert the imminent tribulations of the end time which was the anger of Allah because of the behaviours of modern day religious leaders.

This is just as another cleric, Sheikh Buhari Musa counselled parents and guardians to monitor the religious activities and practices of their children and wards to ensure they do not go astray.

Citing various verses of the Holy Quran to buttress his points, Ala’aya warned that the bizarre happenings in the world today and in many cases strangely traceable to religious leaders were indications the end time was near.

He stressed that ‘‘the worst is yet to happen’’.

He particularly regretted the continued loss of value, moral decadence, lack of fear of Allah despite proliferation of places of worship and acts of criminality being perpetrated by religious and political leaders.

He decried a situation where human skulls were reportedly exhumed from graves for money making rituals.

The act, he said, were often traced to clerics.

The situation, he said, called for sober reflections and prayers.

“Unless muslim lead-

ers intensify prayers for Allah to save them from the calamity of the end time, many would be consumed in the unrepentant act of sins,” he warned.

Also Sheikh Musa, in his lecture, regretted that many practices alien to Islam were being introduced by some youths and called for caution.

He said Allah had spelt out ways of life for muslims in the Holy Quran which he advised must be strictly adhered to.

The cleric urged Muslims particularly the youths to have utmost respect and regard for their parents as mandated by Allah in the Holy Quran.

End time is near, clerics warn muslims Wole A dedeji ILORIN

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slamic clerics in Ilorin, Kwara State, have declared that end time is near because of strange antiGod happenings that now characterize the actions of leaders of religions.

The clerics, Sheikh Subur Ala’aya and Sheikh Buhari Musa spoke at the prayers for the late grandmother of the chairman of Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mallam Biodun Abdulkareemm, Hajia AiyisatAyoka Ajikobi According to them, people, especially muslim faithful should

leven local government areas in Katsina State are to benefit from the construction and repair of boreholes and hand pumps worth N150 million.

The project is to be carried out by Senator Umar Kurfi (APC, Katsina Central) as part of his constituency projects.

Kurfi, who spoke with newsmen yesterday, said N98 million would be used for construction of motorised boreholes in five selected council areas.

He said the remaining N52 million would be used for the repair of some 12,000 hand pumps in selected council areas.

He listed villages to benefit from the con-

struction of the boreholes to include, Doka, Banye, Yantumaki, Bichi, Shinkafi, Wakilin Yamma, and Yandaki.

Other benefiting villages include Radi Matsani, Gwakon Dutsi ruma and Tulluwa Madogara.

The lawnaker said his constituency office had also commenced repair of hand pumps in six local government areas.

He said the effort would help address shortage of water being faced by some communities in the rural areas.

He also said that his constituency office had distributed over 10,000 bags of fertiliser for dry season farming.

In addition, Kurfi said water pumping machines and seeds were provided to farmers in his constituency.

Non-payment of salaries: Workers shut National Library, Minna P riscil l a D en nis MINNA

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taff of the National Library in Minna, Niger State, retur ning from holiday break were yesterday barred from entering the office complex by protesting contract workers over unpaid salaries.

It was gathered that the contract workers embarked on such measure after their appeal on management of the library fell on deaf ears.

They are said to be owed 14 months salaries.

They closed the gates of the National Library in Minna early in the mor ning, thereby preventing staffs and other visitors from entering into the complex.

The head of the contract workers, Mallam Ibrahim Danlami, appealing to the National Librarian, Professor Lenrie Olatikunbo Aina, to look into their plight, urged him to direct the management of the Minna

branch of the National Library to settle their salaries.

According to him, “the strike action will continue until our salaries are paid and the gates of the library will remain shut against staff and visitors to the library.”

Danlami decried the nonchalant attitude of the management of the National Library in Minna on their plights, saying, “So far, no move has been made to assure us of when the salaries will be paid. Non-payment of salaries have made life difficult for us and their families.”

However, when contacted, the Head Librarian of the Minna branch of the National Library, Mr. Philemon Arya, refused to speak on the issue, directing our correspondent to call the head office in Abuja.

He explained that the contract workers should call the head office and lay their complaints instead of staging protest only in Minna.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South East

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

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No more writing of fake electoral results in Ebonyi – Onu

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Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu represented by Dr Acho Orabuchi (M) presenting a 500 KVA transformer donated to Umuduru Ezimba Ogbaeruru autonomous community in Orlu Local Government Area to community leaders, in Imo, yesterday.

PHOTO: IKECHUKWU IWEAJUNWA /BJO/NAN

Why I was removed from office –Ousted Abia Speaker

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usted Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike, said he was impeached because he chose to deploy available funds into projects and not consenting to sharing it among colleagues.

Azubuike spoke on Monday at a civic reception organised in his honour by his people under the auspices of Umunneato-Ngwa, a loose socio-cultural body.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group is comprised of the three sisterlocal government areas of Osisioma Ngwa, Isialangwa North and Isialangwa South of the state.

He told the crowd that he committed no impeachable offence but was removed because he did not accede to demands to share allocations to the House among the members.

Azubuike, who was highly revered by assembly workers for bringing his experience to bear on the House as a third-term legislator, listed the projects executed during his more than one-year tenure as Speaker.

According to him, the projects included the completion of an office complex building for the 24 legislators.

He said that the building started in 2007, but could not be completed by

his two predecessors.

Azubuike said other projects were the computerisation of the operations of the Assembly and development of a website for the House to enable members track its activities from within and outside the complex.

The ex-Speaker said that he also procured vehicles for the members and two buses for committee assignments.

“These monetary achievements were the challenges I had with the members because I did not agree the money should be put on the table to be shared among the members,” Azubuike said.

He also reeled out a number of constituency projects he executed in his Isialangwa North constituency, to include the grading of roads in the area and bursary award to 100 students.

The former Speaker said that he organised free medical services for people of the area as well as schools competitions, during which scholarships were awarded to the best students, among other projects.

Azubuike said that at the inception of the sixth assembly, his leadership articulated a road-map for 2015/2019 on how to drive development in the state.

According to him, whatever the present administration of Gover-

nor Okezie Ikpeazu had achieved from inception to date was as a result of the initiatives by the House under his leadership.

Besides, he said that since his emergence as Speaker, he gave support to the governor, against the background that it was the first time the Ngwa extraction produced a governor since the creation of Abia.

However, Azubuike expressed his readiness to continue to support the governor to ensure his success.

He also assured his people that he would continue to provide effective representation to the area in the House.

He said: “I am not going to take the back seat but I will take the front seat because I do not see anybody in the House that can do it better than I.” The ex-Speaker thanked the organisers of the event and elders of the area for the honour done to him.

Azubuike said that he had been consoled by their solidarity and kind words, which he hoped to cherish all his life.

Civil servants yet to resume work in Abia

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ivil servants in Umuahia are yet to return to work after the New Year public holiday declared by the Federal Government.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the state secretariat on Tuesday reports that activities were low with a few workers going in and out of the complex.

Most of the major roads linking the secretariat, which were usually busy during week days, and the car park, were scanty.

A civil servant who preferred anonymity told NAN that most of the workers who reported

for work left their offices before the official closing time.

He said that the nonpayment of salaries could be one of the factors responsible for the low turn-out of workers because most of them could have exhausted their money during the festive period.

Another civil servant who would also not want to be named attributed the low turn-out to the fact that many of the workers travelled to their various communities and were yet to return.

He expressed optimism that activities at the secretariat would pick up before the end of the week.

he Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the era of writing fake electoral results by some political parties in the state is over.

Onu, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said this at a New Year gathering organised for party faithful in the state in his Uburu country home in Ohaozara Local Government Area on Tuesday.

According to him, the APC would ensure that such practice by some political parties which guaranteed them electoral success would be checked permanently.

“I assure you that they are no longer in control of the instruments with which they write the fake results as we will station strong members in every polling unit in the state.

“The era of writing fake electoral results is permanently behind us because we are in total control in the country,” he said.

Onu warned party members against working for the state’s ruling party in disguise, noting that the APC had the capacity to occupy positions of trust in Ebonyi.

“We are occupying key positions in the country and there is no reason for us not to occupy the Ebonyi government in the next general elections.

“There is no reason for us to work for the ruling party in the state when we can be there ourselves and we cannot be the crying babies of the state.

“We can win every election in the state even the council polls as we are determined to drain the ruling party in the state,” he said.

He remarked that the APC at the national level perceives that the party was not strong in the south-east zone, and “I want us to deliver in future elections, to correct this notion”.

“Party faithful must be dedicated to its ongoing registration exercise to ensure we record outstanding success during the next general elections.

“The national secretariat would not take us serious if we don’t generate enough registration numbers and we have to achieve this feat for ourselves and children.

“We must accord our new entrants respect, welcome them with open hands as we are determined to give the state right leadership,” he said.

Onu called on the party’s stakeholders to make sacrifices, remain united without factions and contribute immensely to achieve all set goals.

Food security: Don ur ges est ablishment of farm settlements in LG As

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don, Prof. Simon Ugwu, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to establish farm settlements in council areas to boost food production.

Ugwu, a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka that establishment of the farms would facilitate food security and create employments.

“It is unfortunate that some vast arable acres of land are lying waste when there is acute food shortage.

“The high cost of food items in markets is an indication that quantity of food produced is insufficient for the country’s population.

“Establishment of farm settlements in every local government area will boost food production, provide employment opportunities and increase foreign exchange,” he said.

The lecturer urged the government to mechanise agriculture so as to make it attractive to the youth, who see it as dirty work meant only for old people in rural areas.

“Government should mechanise agriculture by buying tractors, diggers and other modern implements and equipment used in industrialised nations for massive agriculture.

“Graduates of agriculture should be employed by government on graduation to teach rural farmers on modern ways of farming.

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Business Features & Finance

Wednesday January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Managing Hepatitis in Nigeria Vivian Ihechu

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n April 2015, Mr. Udo Ajagha, a 35-year-old father of three, was admitted in one of the General Hospitals in Port-Harcourt, after having complained of fever, aches and occasional vomiting for about two weeks.

He was treated and discharged, but was re-admitted after a week, when the fever and headache persisted alongside the discolouration of his urine and stool.

Some tests were conducted and he was diagnosed of having viral hepatitis; hepatitis being an inflammation of the liver caused by a group of viruses.

The medical personnel commenced treatment for hepatitis but the sickness had far eaten into his system; Ajagha gave up the ghost after a fortnight in the hospital.

After his burial, his family struggled to get back to the normal routine of their lives, but tragedy struck again.

Ajagha’s immediate younger sister, who was also living in the same house with him, lost her life barely three months after her brother’s internment.

She had also been diagnosed of having hepatitis, shortly after the burial of her brother; her demise was, especially pathetic because she had died while giving birth.

Recently, a study identified viral hepatitis as the seventh leading cause of death and disability in the world, killing more people in a year than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria.

The study, released by the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 and published in the Lancet, said that viral hepatitis was the seventh leading cause of death worldwide, compared with 10th to 12th in 1990.

Based on data collected in 183 countries, the study found that deaths from infection, liver disease and cancer caused by viral hepatitis increased by nearly two thirds, from 890,000 in 1990 to 1.45 million in 2013.

In comparison, there were 1.3 million deaths from AIDS, 1.4 million from tuberculosis and 855,000 from malaria in 2013.

It notes that the enormous health loss attributable to viral hepatitis and the availability of effective vaccines and treatments suggested an important opportunity to improve public health.

For the first time, May this year saw the first ever World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, which sets a goal of eliminating the disease as a public health threat by 2030.

National governments’ delegates at the World Health Assembly signed up and committed to promote global action to prevent, diagnose, treat and eliminate viral hepatitis, and particularly focus on hepatitis B and C viruses, which cause the greatest burden worldwide.

This WHO’s new strategy calls for 90 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis B to know their status and for treatment coverage to reach 80 per cent of eligible patients by 2030.

But, in Nigeria, there has yet to be a concrete commitment and roadmap toward achieving this; however, experts still stress that awareness and screening for early detection were critical to realising this goal.

It is estimated that over 20 million Nigerians have hepatitis; it is a great concern that requires to be tackled urgently.

Prof. Innocent Ujah, Director General, National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), explained that viral hepatitis was remarkably neglected and not considered a public health problem by policy makers. ``Viral hepatitis is one of the most

infectious diseases in the world, a major public health problem, particularly in socially and economically deprived populations with usual occurrences in women and children. ``One of the viruses, Hepatitis B virus, which is endemic in Nigeria, is particularly a silent killer. ``As at 2015, about 20 million Nigerians are infected with hepatitis B and C which translates to one in every 12 Nigerians being infected with the deadly virus. ``This population that is infected with viral hepatitis are at increased risk of developing liver cirrhosis, which may progress to liver cancer and eventual death of the person.’’

Ujah says the disease should be taken seriously as the causes of hepatitis or cancer of the liver has gone beyond the thinking that it is as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol. ``Hepatitis should be taken seriously, it is one of the reasons responsible for cancer of the liver; it is a silent killer and 100 times more infectious than HIV. ``Creating awareness and free testing for hepatitis will contribute majorly to its reduction,’’ Ujah says.

Also, Dr. Rosemary Audu, Deputy Director, NIMR, says that ``viral hepatitis is caused majorly by Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). `` Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for half of all deaths globally from viral hepatitis, half of all deaths from liver cancer, and a third of all deaths from liver cirrhosis. ``However, Hepatitis D and E viruses also exist and cause infection to the liver; other causes of hepatitis include toxic substances such as alcohol and certain drugs, autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders. ``The WHO has identified the urgent need to prevent viral hepatitis, so, we have to enhance actions to prevent the infection and ensure that people who have been infected are diagnosed and offered treatment,’’ says Audu.

Dr. Olutoyin Asaolu, Senior Registrar in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), notes that ``there are some viruses that are specific to the liver which are called hepatitis viruses. ``There are five of them and they are the hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. ``Hepatitis B is one of the deadliest, quite asymptomatic until the effects, including liver cirrhosis, where the liver gets damaged and the function of the liver cannot be performed are seen. ``The effect can also include liver cancer which might be the manifestation in a person and that is why we are emphasising screening for Hepatitis B.’’ She says: ``We need the goodwill of the government, especially in the screening, management and awareness creation; it is of great concern because majority of Nigerians have this disease without even knowing it. ``Over 20 per cent of people in Nigeria have it presently which means that about two million Nigerians are infected with this disease; there are even some higher figures in some core areas. ``About 40 to 60 per cent of Nigerians have had this disease in the past, some even

say that 80 per cent may have had it, so, the government needs to intervene.’’

She identifies some challenges affecting the detection and management of Hepatitis B in Nigeria as multidimensional, adding that it involved the patient, hospital and the government. ``On the part of the patient, they have poor health seeking attitude which can be attributed to ignorance, lack of medical checks except they are sick, poverty, proximity and other factors. ``Government and health facility factors include inadequate facilities, unavailability of adequate qualified gastroenterologists, hepatologists and other personnel. ``There are also the dedication, electricity, remuneration, training and advocacy problems,’’ she adds.

Asaolu says that devastating effect of Hepatitis B necessitated the WHO to develop some guidelines to aid the management. ``It is because of the deadly effect of Hepatitis B that the WHO recently came out with some guidelines in its treatment and management, especially for developing countries. ``The major highlights of these guidelines include screening for everybody, early treatment and using of drugs that are cheap and affordable as the income of the people is low. ``So, basically, the WHO is trying to make sure that Hepatitis B is a public problem such that public health practitioners can actually accord its treatment priority. ``Treatment for Hepatitis B is expensive, we need the government to subsidise some drugs. ``The government also urgently needs to make policies that we will make people, adults and children, go for affordable screening and treatment,’’ says the Gastroenterologist.

On some of the causes of hepatitis, Dr. Emuobor Odeghe, a consultant physician and gastroenterologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), says: ``Depending on the type of hepatitis, it can be caused by consuming contaminated food or water. ``It can be sexually transmitted or spread via direct contact with the blood or secretion of an infected person. ``It could be caused by drugs, infections, herbs and alcohol. ``Major transmission routes of the diseases

‘ Hepatitis should be taken seriously… it is a silent killer and 100 times more infectious than HIV

’

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole also include mother to child transmission, unsafe injections, child-to-child through abrasions such as impetigo, scabies and infected insect bites. ``The use of contaminated instruments during procedures, drug sharing and homosexual activities are also ways of transmitting hepatitis.’’

Odeghe notes that those at high risk included health workers, partners and close contacts of people with hepatitis, men who have sex with men, dialysis patients and those that require blood transfusion.

She also reiterated the need to scale up on some prevention strategies against hepatitis. ``Strategies to prevent hepatitis should include screening for all pregnant women and immunisation of all neonates or newborns with the first dose of HBV vaccine within 12 hours of birth. `` Subsequent doses of HBV2 and HBV3 can be given as monovalent vaccine or given as polyvalent DPT1 and DPT2 within the first year of life. ``Routine childhood vaccination, catch-up vaccination for adolescents and vaccination of people at high risks should also part of the strategies’’.

Dr. Eberechukwu Anomneze, a gastroenterologist cum hepatologist, says: `` Many people are dying from hepatitis infections, while others are being infected with the virus. ``It is expected that something is done speedily about the prevalence; there should be intensified awareness on hepatitis. ``Opportunities to access routine screening should be available and the screenings should be affordable; if you go to the rural and semiurban. ``Also, the public health system and monitoring should be improved on’’.

•Culled from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Politics

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lawmaker representing Obokun Constituency in Osun state, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has described the commencement of the Federal Government Social Investment Programmes, which include Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), school feeding, soft loan for artisan, traders and market women through Government Enterprise and Empowerment and Npower as a catalyst for the economy.

Oyintiloye who made the submission during a chat with newsmen said 2017 holds enormous promise for Nigerians, saying not only that President is living up to its campaign promises but imple-

Thursday , October 3, 2013 4, - Page Wednesday , January 2017

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Nigeria@56: Reps and its Our leaders many troublesshould stop apportioning in 2016 14 blame -North

FG social investment programmes‘ll stimulate economy —Osun lawmaker menting policies that will have direct impact in the life of the common man and the most vulnerable.

While lauding the procedures for data collection and disbursement of the fund especially in the states, where the programmes had taken off, Oyintiloye said Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) – the platform that hosts and validates payments for all government’s social intervention programmes will boost the transpar-

ency of the process and openness of the Federal Government initiatives.

Describing the injection of such fund into the economy as a boost to the social life of the beneficiary communities, families, individuals and by extension the nation at large, the parliament

pointed that the initiative will have ripples effects on economic activities.

“These policies which will have multiplies effect on the life of millions household will improve purchasing power and boost exchange of commodities” Oyintiloye however

called for effective monitoring of the programmes in such a way that the goal to empower Nigerians and bring them out of economic doldrums will not be jeopardized.

He urged other states in the Federation that were yet to benefit from the programme to work

with stakeholders and build a time tested (Community Based Targeting, CBT) Social Register that will identify the most vulnerable and poorest Nigerians so that they can be included in subsequent phases of the implementations of the programmes.

Gbenga Daniel, a quintessential personality —Balogun

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he founder of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun who is also the Olori Omooba and Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ijebuland has described former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as a quintessential personality, his beloved ‘son’ and an integral part of the Balogun family.

Otunba Balogun stated this at the Annual Visitation Thanksgiving Service organised by Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ijebu Area held at the Otunba Tunwase Court Tuesday.

Speaking glowingly of Daniel as a good-nature personality, Otunba Balogun said the relationship between him and Daniel was like that of ‘father and son’.

“He is such a quintessential personality who I have known ever before he became the governor and the relationship is still waxing stronger till date.

He is my beloved ‘son’. I am always happy seeing him by my side at any occasion and I pray that God will continue to be with him in all his ways”.

Otunba Balogun, who glorified Almighty God for His mercies and abundant grace over the years prayed for a quick end to the current economic situation in the country as he urged the people to move closer to God expressing optimism that the nation will get over the recession period soonest.

Also speaking at the occasion, Otunba Gbenga Daniel noted that Otunba

Subomi Balogun is a great mentor and father-figure who inspired many with his selflessness, humility, simplicity and sincerity.

“We shall continue to thank God for his life and all the good things God has used him to do for the community and the country in general. We wish him more grace, good health and continued divine protection”.

From left; Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, founder of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun and his wife, Abimbola during the Annual Visitation Thanksgiving Service organised by CAN Ijebu Area held at Otunba Tunwase Court , Ijebu-Ode , Ogun State on Tuesday .

Group bemoans lawmakers’ stance on pecuniary benefits Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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Socio-political group, Deji Ogunbusuyi Foundation, has frowned at Nigerian legislators’ priority interest in amassing wealth to the detriment of their primary responsibility of lawmaking and responsible and responsive representation.

President of the Foundation, Mr. Deji Ogunbusuyi, who lamented that the lawmakers’ stance on pecuniary benefits had occasioned bad leadership and poor governance in the country, charged the electorate to owe it as duty “to vote for people that have the interest to serve based on their quality mind and value they place on interest and welfare of the people and society”.

Ogunbusuyi, a political scientist and university researcher, spoke at his Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State home town during the

inauguration of members of the Foundation, saying it was founded to advocate for the needy, community development, helping people achieve their dreams and as well be at the forefront of agitation for involvement of youths as strength of the nation in elective and selective positions in gov-

ernment.

On the occasion, he purchased Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms for 14 indigent intending undergraduates in his community and as well distributed notebooks to over 2000 primary and secondary schools pupils.

He said the Founda-

tion “is a stepping stone to create a better community that we can be proud of by bringing development projects to the communities and make them compete favourably with other urban areas”.

Ogunbusuyi, who is eyeing membership of the state House of Assembly, said: “I believe legisla-

ture should not remain on full-time basis. It should be made part-time whereby the lawmakers would have other things they are doing to sustain them. In this wise, they will get to adequately represent the people and use what they get for constituency project for the benefit of the people and mankind”.

Rep seeks closer executive, legislative ties in budget making Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

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ouse of Representatives member, Hon. Kehinde Agboola has canvassed closer ties between the executive and legislative arms of government in the budget making process.

Agboola hinged the stand- off between the Executive and the National Assembly over budgetary provisions, estimates and costs under President Muhammadu Buhari on the failure of the execu-

tive arm cum the MDAs to carry the lawmakers along in the budget making process.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP lawmaker representing Ikole/Oye Ekiti Federal Constituency in the National Assembly said the legislative arm would always resist being seen by the executive as a rubber stamp in the budget process but rather assert itself as the final arbiter in that wise.

Agboola who spoke at his Odo Oro hometown in the Ikole Council area of

Ekiti State while distributing empowerment items to his constituents, said: “There are House committees supervising the different MDAs; before the budget estimate is presented or even drafted, let the MDAs have interface with the relevant House Committees in the third quarter of the year to discuss and see to the provisions.

“By the time it is being debated in the House, it will be commuted to the Committee; if the Committee is already aware of the input, it won’t query

anything. But I will query what I am not aware of that you are bringing to me. I may feel one thing or the other is not necessary while another may be necessary,” he said.

Agboola, said he had decided to distribute to his constituents empowerment items including grinding machines, generating sets, motor bikes and laptop computers that could enable them set up small scale businesses or boost their sources of income during the festives

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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Reps and its many troubles in 2016

THE HOUSE OF REPS with

Ubong UKPONG

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or the House of Representatives, it is obvious that the year 2016 will remain a memorable one following the many storms that it had to weather to have a peaceful recess and successfully crossed over to 2017.

Although the House was bedevilled with troubles since its inception in June 2015, by the time it marked one year in June 2016, it was a bit stabilised, until the crises of budget frauds alleged by erstwhile Appropriation Committee Chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin, who is currently serving his suspension term, attempted to pull down the House.

Following the signing into law of the 2016 appropriation bill by President Muhammadu Buhari in May, the bubbles that surrounded the entire exercise was burst by Jibrin in July.

Jubrin felt cheated and insulted out of office by Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his “cabal” and therefore resolved not to keep quiet and let go unnoticed, so he started releasing his bombshells on budget padding and corrupt activities in the Green Chamber.

The suspended legislator accused the Speaker and others of corruption, financial impropriety and sundry sins, demanding their removal from office.

Barely 24 hours after his sack, Jibrin dusted confidential records, went public with what he had hitherto treated as official secrets, all with the mind of avenging his sack.

According to him in one of his releases titled : “Summary of the allegations”, he made serious and sensitive allegations that, “Speaker Dogara, Hon. Yusuff Lasun, Doguwa and Leo Ogor stole and distributed to themselves and few others N40 billion out of the N100billion allocated to the entire House.

“Speaker Dogara and the 3 others inserted about 20 billion naira of wasteful projects in the budget like the fraudulent 9 roads sandwiched into 4.

“Speaker Dogara tried to force me to admit over 30 billion naira of wasteful projects into the budget which I rejected and that caused serious crisis.

“Speaker Dogara tried to force me to use the name of NASS and insert another N20 billion worth of projects under the service wide votes which I rejected.

“Speaker Dogara and about 10 committee Chairs despite my protest inserted about 2000 projects worth 284 billion naira in the budget.

“Speaker Dogara diverted water project in the 2016 budget to his farm and PHCN reticulation free of charge.

“Speaker Dogara and the 3 others diverted to themselves the entire 20% inputs reserved for the entire House after the harmonization”, Jibrin had alleged.

Jibrin exposed corrupt activities in the House where he said “Speaker Dogara has not distributed the internal budget of the House to any member. “ He operates the budget in secrecy and no member has a copy”, he said.

He further said that , “Speaker Dogara has supervised the mismanagement of finances of the House through wasteful award of contracts on items already in members offices.

“Speaker Dogara introduced to members a fraudulent mortgage system in the House and proposed illegal deduction from members running costs.

“Speaker Dogara supervised the scandalous car purchase contract in the 7th Assembly where huge sums of money in bribe was alleged.

“Speaker Dogara was involved as Chairman House services in all cases of money laundering associated with the House since 2007.”

He accused other members including Herman Hembe who he said lived above his means and massive movement of billions of Naira in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT budget.

Umar Mohammed Bago was also accused of fraudulent activities and questionable source of funding in investigative hearing of NIMASA, where about 1000 companies were invited.

Mohammed Zakari, Chike Okafor, Dan Asuquo, Jagaba Adams and Haliru Jika,were all accused of movement of billions of Naira in 2016 budget.

Jibrin said Baballe Ila supervised with Speaker Dogara wasteful award of contracts and was the main actor

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Gbajabiamila in allegations of kick-backs, while Nkem Abonta embezzled, misused and misappropriated running cost.

He also went ahead to disclose the controversial allowances of lawmakers where he listed Principal officers of the House and the amounts they enjoyed since their coming to the House of Representatives, indicating that Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila collected N1.2billion since his inception in the House in 2003, while himself collected N650million since 2011.

The rundown of the list by Jibrin showed, “Speaker Yakubu Dogara has been in the House 2007-date 1.5 billion naira, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Sulaiman Lasun has been in the House 2011-date ,800 million.

“House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila has been in the House 2003-date, 1.2 billion naira, Deputy Leader, Umar Buba Jibril has been in the House 2003-date, 1.2 billion naira .

“Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa has been in the House 2007-date, 1.2 billion naira, Deputy Whip Pally Iriase has been in the House 2011-date, 700 million naira.

“Minority Leader, Leo Ogor has been in the House 2003-date 1.2billion naira, Deputy minority Leader, Chukwuka Onyema 2007-11 and 2015-date, 800million naira.

“Minority Whip, Yakubu Umar Barde has been in the House 2003-date, 1.2 billion naira (700 million was an error), Deputy Minority Whip, Binta Bello has been in the House 2011-date, 700 million naira.

“Abdulmumin Jibrin has been in the House 2011-date, 650 million naira”, he stated.

Jibrin, who started speaking on the controversial allowance, had disclosed that there were systems in place for the money to be retired but they were never retired.

Having enjoyed the funds which he said was product of fraudulent system, Jibrin is now claiming that, “I have never been comfortable with the money!”, and that he can account for how he spent it.

He has challenged that, “If any Principal Officer disputes my figure, he or she should not make a drama out of it but just simply tell the country how much he or she has collected, period!”, but rather than prove themselves on this matter, the leadership did everything possible to weather the storm and remain comfortably on their seats.

These allegations, even though were swept under the carpet, they delved a serious blow on the reputation of the lower chamber and its members and leadership, who are still living with the guilt and pains.

It is now believed that there is serious corruption going on in the House of Representatives, which even the lawmakers themselves know and are worried about ,with President Buhari also making moves to punish corruption in that arm.

One of the President’s strategies was starving the National Assembly of funds due to the alleged massive corruption complaints and also refusing to release funds for their constituencies projects, where the alleged financial frauds were embeded.

Jubrin

Lasun This was noticed sharply as most lawmakers were practically broke and were dodging visitors in their offices whom they felt would request financial help from them.

Most of them were obviously disenchanted in 2016 and were not attending plenaries or committee sittings, which were ran in epileptic manners, but were mostly interested in going on oversights.

The President’s actions also received a reprisal attack from the lawmakers, who worked in concert to frustrate his administration and ignoring him to run the country alone, if he could.

It was so that bills and reports were not considered, the President’s requests, like that of requests for foreign loan were frustrated and this rift was greatly responsible for the country’s massive economic recession, as never ever experienced before.

Of course, the President ran back to them seeking to work together and accepting to release a huge percentage of funds for their constituencies’ projects, which yielded some positive results in their relationship.

This action saw the lower House suspending their planned recess for one week to receive the President’s 2017 budget and staying very late in the chamber to consider vital reports and bills before taking the recess for the Christmas and new year season. The House is scheduled to resume next week.

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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

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Dcp Lizzie Ogugua Ekpendu: An excemplary care-giver adds another Year Tai Olusoccer

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n a brand new year, a virtuous woman and exemplary mother add another year on the amphitheater of life. Writing a tribute on her would naturally present some difficulty for the writer, just like the difficulty encountered by the six blind men of Hindustan, trying to describe an elephant. Each bling man, according to the famous fable, was asked to determine what an elephant looked like by feeling different parts of the giant animal.

According to a version of the story: the blind man who feels the leg says the elephant is like a pillar; the one who feels the tail says the elephant is like a rope; the one who feels the trunk says the elephant is like a tree branch; the one who feels the ear says the elephant is like a hand fan; the one who feels the belly says the elephant is like a wall; and the one who feels the tusk says the elephant is like a solid pipe.

And the King explains to them “All of you are right. The reason everyone of you is telling it differently is because each of you touched different parts of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all the features you mentioned”.

Arguably, DCP Lizzie Ogugua Ekpendu has grown to be an elephant typecasting her jointly with the passion and care she radiates in her chosen profession; a prison officer with human face. Many walk the paths of life merely as spectators. Their walk is often tentative, dragging on meaninglessly. But few take those ordinary steps and turn the scale of things in the existential psycho-drama for the common good. DCP Ekpendu Lizzie; the officer-in-charge of Lagos female Kirikiri prison chose quite early in life to be an active care-giver instead of being a docile observer of the swift currents of life.

Imagine the streak of light from a heart that shines forth and banishes darkness in an inmates’ consciousness behind steel bars. Imagine light so rare and brilliant remaining ever potent in the hearts of recipients even for those on death-row. Imagine a woman that is gloriously humane, diligent and good-natured, with the touch of a virtuoso, who turns the gale of tears of inmates and widows into springs of joy and hope for better dawns.

DCP Lizzie Ekpendu’s story is the stuff only heard of in movie scripts. Talk about enduring imageries of an analytical mind that sees the problems of Prison inmates and widows and strives to solve them at all cost. Talk about bowels of compassion for the downtrodden.

Talk about a humanitarian with a difference, whose painstaking and prayerful stead is simply to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged through a creative spirit that is boundless, selfless and restless.

These are the glimpses that curry the mythical significance of Deputy Controller of Prison, Ekpendu Ogugua Lizzie, one of Nigeria’s finest humanitarians and high-profile consciences of our time.

These are the reasons the scripts of her purpose-driven life are as fresh as morning dew.

Same reason the memories of her many humanitarian gestures will always enliven human hearts with their meaning as worthy of emulation. And because I am privileged as a witness of her brilliant career, family values and principled life, I cannot help but beam my searchlight on her peculiar persona and the underpinning philosophy that makes her such a rare breed.

DCP Ekpendu Lizzie’s prime motivation that translates to a winning streak as a firebrand humanitarian and as a leader in her own patch of the earth, specifically in the Prisons spheres, is impelled by the thread that kneads our common humanity as children of the Most High God, by

Most importantly she is an intellectually resourceful caregiver whose standards and dictates we are indivisible, and by whose grace and love we live.

This mindset borne of a sterner Christian orientation where love pervades without boundaries on daily basis, served to focus her energies in learning and mastering the art of care-giving which is synonymous with the exemplary life of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior.

The refining furnace through which her emergent personality was modeled was indeed the ‘Jesus lifestyle’, the whole practice of being like Jesus in all things; So Ekpendu’s ability to continually extend love to others comes seeded in a holistic package, which is a reflection of the qualities of God as the giver of divine love. Her selfless instincts and outcomes are natural consequences of this reality since God is the source of her inspiration.

Proclaiming God’s immanent love to humanity wherever practicable, answering the ‘divine call’ in the Prisons Service through humanitarian gestures and steering the reins of her great dream - which is to see the day the Prison will become ‘a home to the misguided’ - are the cornerstones of DCP Ekpendu Lizzie’s manifest destiny.

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness” is a worn-out cliche, but one befitting of DCP Ekpendu’s reformist tendencies in the Prisons Service.

She is exemplarily selfless, has great family values with strong support from her

husband and parents. Loved by her prison residents and highly respected by the low and mighty in Nigeria, Ekpendu Lizzie cares for over 400 widows in Benue State and beyond.

A workaholic extraordinaire, a practical Christian who has received several awards and recommendations for her philanthropy and still counting with the latest being an induction as a certificate of membership as Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Corporate Administrators, Fellow of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Criminology Administration and a special meritorious award to her with Fellowship of the Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators. Not ended, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) also awarded her outstanding leadership award whilst the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) All Africa Students Union (AASU) warms up for yet another landmark honour for her. The torrent is incredible!

She is a mother of three great boys but who works on time as a good planner and considers people first before herself. A trait that has endeared her to many is that she dines with Prison inmates to show love, and even celebrates their birthdays with lavish cakes bought with her money.

Most importantly, she is an intellectually resourceful care-giver with several university degrees in her kitty, tagged rightly by Kakaaki Magazine as the “Amazon of the Year 2016”. (An all-important edition of the magazine devoted to her is underway.) This is to wish her more glorious years of happiness in good health and more touching strides in the service of God for the benefit of humanity. Happy birthday.

Chief Tai Olusoccer is the Publisher of Kakaaki Magazine and writes from Abuja.

Now, the revolution Nigerians have been waiting for Sunny Igboanugo

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ne of the abiding arguments why people believe that politics and public service in Nigeria have failed is that many politicians and those in public office are not professionals. Even those with thriving businesses and professions, abandon them, on getting to high political offices.

It is for this reason that they do everything in their powers to remain in office. For the professional politicians, they commit the most heinous crimes even to the extent of killing people, apart from the normal bribery, electoral heists and general corruption of the system to win the next elections.

In fact, the country is replete with those who have been in power or its corridors for as long as anyone could remember still clutching their files searching to secure either political offices or board appointments even with all the evidence of age-induced infirmities written all over them. There are examples of those who actually went to the extent of selling valuable properties to raise money to induce and outright bribe those they believe could get them appointments.

Why? In Nigeria, people equate public office with arrival. It is never, to them, an opportunity to serve, but one that grants instant and boundless opportunities either to have full access to public coffers or position of influence towards getting in the dinner table to share the public cake without limits.

That is the reason for the sadness, bitterness and general sense of loss for them and

The type that turned Japan into an industrial giant those around them out of office, as opposed to the merrymaking and stupendous joy at the point of appointment. It is against this backdrop that the recent undertaking of Prof. Chinedu Nebo, must inspire and speak to a different paradigm, one that encourages life after public office. Nebo, was at the office of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, recently.

The former Minister of Power, was there to present, what could be the solution Nigerians have been waiting for to be liberated from decades of living in darkness figuratively and literally, due to lack of, or at best, epileptic power supply situation.

Some fundamentals instantly come to the fore here. First, having been a university teacher and two-time Vice Chancellor of two federal universities, before becoming Minister, he could be said to possess the credentials to look for the next job. At least, there are many in the corridors of power today who would likely listen to him, study those credentials and make his case at the highest echelon of power.

Indeed, being part of the last government, which lost power, he ought also to have been equipped with the right sentiment – the bitterness of losing power to become a virulent clog in the wheel of progress, were he the ordinary Nigerian.

But not Nebo. He did neither. Nor did he take the numerous international jobs waiting for him for the picking, as he peers would have done. Instead, he retired to the quietude of his original enclave – the research room, to apply his knowledge, which he had gathered and horned over the years in the classroom as scholar, teacher and high office holder.

The result is that today, Nigerian may soon shout Eureka! For that singular disposition, a regime of 24-hour uninterrupted supply is beckoning.

The result, according to him, is the Power Seed Web(PSW) system, a system he described as not only science and technology at its best, but one that is 15 to 20 years ahead of the world.

How it works: The PSW in a layman’s perspective, according to Nebe, is designed to use the same quantity of fuel, needed to generate a small capacity generator to generate 10 times or more what ordinarily was possible. For instance, using less than the amount of fuel needed to produce a 25kilowatts to generate 250kilowatts of power and with the possibility and potential of producing 1megawatts.

He added: “The implications are mindboggling. Number one, homes, businesses, industries, villages, agricultural clusters, manufacturing clusters, industrial clusters, schools, hospitals, campuses, you name it, can now get electricity at much less expenses.

Then, gone would be stories of burst-

ing and vandalising of gas pipelines that feed electricity turbines, vandalising transmission lines and stealing cables or vandalising transformers as have been the lot of the old system.

Besides, by the time the target consumers are cut off from the national grid, more power would be freed and the surplus used to service consumers still connected to the system.

The result – Nigerians will simply return to work. With that comes smoking chimneys resulting from rolling machines in the factories, restive youths off the streets, creative minds revving up, a thriving economy and ultimately, waking the Nigerian giant. How else is public service defined?

Onu described it as a futuristic vision, the type that turned Japan into an industrial giant, when they went for the option of developing smaller cars that consumed less fuel as opposed to the American cars known for huge consumption of gasoline.

Whatever comes from Nebo’s efforts, remains to be seen. But what is evident so far, is that public office is not the only way to contribute to public service or public good. That’s the message.

Igboanugo, a journalist, lives in Abuja

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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Politics

Wednesday, January 4, 2017 Friday, January 17, 2014

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Politicians’ conduct, our greatest challenge —INEC Community Mirror APC’ll soon disintegrate —Sanyaolu Rev. Adesina Sanyaolu is the Senior Pastor of Chapel of Holiness Evangelical International Aboru, Lagos. In this interview with journalists shortly after a marathon 72 hours prayers, he urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to ameliorate the sufferings and pains Nigerians are currently experiencing.

He also warned that the present economic situation in the country is capable of triggering a social revolution among other issues of national importance. Excerpts;

W

hat is your assessment of the present situation in the country, will you say that government has delivered on its electoral promises?

For me nothing has changed. You would recall that before this present APC-led federal government came on board, there were lots of expectations from Nigerians. During the campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari, the then APC candidate was regarded as a hero by many people.

Some Nigerians believe that as soon as Buhari assumed office the various socio-economic problems confronting Nigerians would come to an end.But today, what story do Nigerians have to tell?

What we have today are tales of disappointment: Buhari has not lived up to expectations.

Today many Nigerians are wallowing in hunger and poverty. Many have become disillusioned, losing hope and have become despondent.

I’m not a politician, but a man of God, so I’m talking reality; I’m talking with a liberal mind like those Biblical prophets in the olden times who always spoke out against bad leadership. I’m talking of great men of God like Prophets Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Jonah. These great men of God never kept quiet – they spoke out against bad leadership during their time and they were defenders of the people. I draw my inspiration from them, and for that reason, whenever the need arise to talk about government and governance, I will not hesitate to do so.

But what some Nigerians are saying is that Buhari inherited the present socio-economic crisis from the previous administration, and that we should give him time to put everything back in order.

That’s a lame excuse. What did Buhari’s party promised Nigerians, ‘change’, and the impression APC gave the entire nation was that it has the magic wand to fix those social ills. So why the excuses upon excuses being given by APC almost on a daily basis. Nigerians voted for APC to deliver dividends of de-

Rev. Chris Okotie, speaking on the state of the nation

49

When the come , come to come Any hope for Nigerians in 2017? everybody will sit God up inrevealed this Ministry. to me that in spite of

several efforts that will be made by the

federal government, economic recession HON MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM RESOURCES,ALIISON MADUEKE

will not go. It will continue in the new year, and naira will continue to depreciate against dollar.

The situation will be critical to the extent that some Nigerians will openly called for the sack or removal of the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele. CBN governor should be prayerful, otherwise he will be removed from office this year.

However, Nigerians should not panic, food will be in abundance in the new year and the prices will be cheaper. Federal government should take precautionary measures because flood will ravage some areas and in the process wash away some farmlands which may lead to food scarcity in certain areas.

Sanyaolu mocracy and not to be giving excuses.

What will be your advice to President Buhari now?

I believe that where there is a will, there will always be a way. The reality of the situation on the ground in Nigeria today is that people are hungry, Nigerians are getting more impoverished, President Buhari should not let some selfish advisers deceived him that all is well.

If those people that can give Buhari support to turn things around for the better are not in APC, the President as an elder-statesman should reach out to other Nigerians that can work with him to get positive results. Everything should not be about party affairs only, national interests should be considered as paramount first.

Nigerians are peace loving, and their needs are not beyond what government can provide. What Nigerians want is good governance that will ensure that there are abundant employment opportunities, abundant food, functioning infrastructural facilities.

But today everything is in a state of decay. Many are out of jobs as a result of epileptic power supply. We don’t have drugs in our hospitals, and the state of roads are nothing to write home about.

Desperate and frustrated Nigerians have now resorted to self-help to survive, and this is why you have an upsurge in crime. This is why you have kidnappers and armed robbers all over the place unleashing violence on hapless Nigerians.

Buhari should do the needful now, otherwise we are sitting on keg of gunpowder which can explode any time.

But some people are saying that kudos should be given to Buhari’s administration, especially on the war against corruption and insecurity, especially on Boko Haram What is so special about that? I have not seen anything spectacular that Buhari has done. Do you know that some

I see the APC disintegrating.

Some governors and other bigwigs elected on the party’s platform will exit the party and team up with others to form a new party. people have also observed that the war against corruption under Buhari is selective, or what do you say about a situation whereby it is mostly members of a particular political party that are being arraigned and charged to court. Are they telling us that APC members are saints?

The war against corruption should go round. It should not be selective and discriminatory.

On the issue of security especially the crushing of Boko Haram that is now being touted as one of the achievements of Buhari’s administration, Nigerians should not rejoice yet, while observing a 72 hours marathon prayers on the prayer mountain, God revealed to me that Boko Haram is not yet dead. It was divinely revealed to me that Boko Haram will take another deadly pattern which will lead to increase bloodshed and loss of lives especially in the first quarter of 2017.

There are reports of some people and interest groups coming together to form another mega party to challenge APC, what is your reaction to that?

Formation or emergence of another political association is inevitable. I see the APC disintegrating. Some governors and other bigwigs elected on the party’s platform will exit the party and team up with others to form a new party.

Federal government will not take kindly to it, and attempts will be made to arrest some people and frame them up on charges bordering on treason, but this will backfire. Government should be careful. It should be tolerant of opposing views. We are in a democracy, it should not be tempted to take some actions which will look anti-democratic.

What is your advice to members of the Nigerian political class?

My advice is very simple, they should remember that whatever position they are holding, they should not forget the electorate. They should remember that without the electorate, they can’t be where they are. They should always consider national interests first. They should not forget to deliver on their electoral promises. It is very unfortunate that it is in this clime that people see political office as an avenue to loot and not to serve.

It is a big shame that while an elected public office holder in Nigeria continue to live in opulence, people that elects him into office continue to wallow in abject poverty.

Some people have suggested that all elected public office holders should volunteer a cut in their salaries and allowances as a form of sacrifice in this period of economic recession when many workers are being owed salaries, what’s your view on that?

If our elected leaders are real and genuine patriots, do they need anybody to advise them to do such before they on their own should volunteer to do so.

Today how many Nigerians can afford three square meals a day, but yet our elected lawmakers and other public office holders are collecting jumbo pay.

Tell me, whose interests are these people serving, electorates’ interests or their own interests? Obviously they are serving their own personal interests and this is unpatriotic.

I believe we should even reduce salaries and allowances of public office holders. Taking this step will enable us to know those who truly want to serve the people.

16

National Mirror News www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Sunday, December 17, 2010

Sunday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

17

New Year: Osun parliament calls for celebration with optimism

O

sun State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Najeem Salaam wants Nigerians to embrace the new year with high sense of purpose, positive resolve and optimism.

The Assembly hinged its submissions on the de-

termination and signals from the efforts of government stressing that it has rekindled hope that the economic challenges facing the nation would be tackles in the New Year.

In the new year message of the assembly , signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy,

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Assembly noted that the efforts of the government has shown that there is commitment to bring succour to the country.

The parliament, which acknowledged the tenacity and perseverance of Nigerians in the face of economic recession, called on Nigerians to

support the government policies and programmes aimed at revamping the economy.

It also encouraged the people to approach the new year with positive outlook and can-do-spirit, saying, since the act of insurgency has been largely curtailed by the subjugation of Sambisa

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during a protest demanding reopening of the party’s National Secretariat and drumming support for the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: ERNEST OKORIE/BJO/NAN

Forest, the base of Boko Haram, the government would be able to concentrate more on how to tackle the economic challenges facing the country.

The parliament said, there is need for effective collaboration between the government and the people, which, it said, is imperative to overcome the nation’s pressing socio-economic challenges.

It urged Nigerians at the individual level to be more strategic, proactive, forward looking and look inward towards adding value to the National agenda.

According to the Assembly, the steps that have been taken so far by the present government at the national and state levels are strong indications that within a short term, Nigerian would start counting the achievements and progress recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the area of economy.

The Assembly also commended the state government under Governor Rauf Aregbesola for summoning the leadership courage to tackle the hard economic effects.

It said, the state government, with the support of the state House of Assembly has done remarkably well in addressing some of the burning issues to make lives more meaningful to the people in the face of recession.

“The state Assembly is delighted that notwithstanding the negative effects of the economic recession, the government efforts towards addressing the issues, has given hope’ “As Nigerians, we must therefore celebrate and approach the new year with strong determination and optimism that we will overcome our challenges as a nation sooner than later.

“To achieve this, it is very crucial for the government and the people to continue to work together to ensure total restoration of our economy and set it on the path of progress once more”, it said.

The Assembly then assured that it would continue to apply appropriate legislative mechanism that would boost economic growth and block the leakages in the state finances to make citizenry more comfortable.

Omoworare urges Buhari to reflate economy in 2017 Boladale Bamigbola OSOGBO

T

he Senator Representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide Omoworare has admonished President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to put in more effort to rescue the country from recession, provide more jobs, diversify production base of the country.

The federal parliamentarian in his goodwill message to mark New Year celebration, signed by his media aide, Tunde Dairo, admitted God’s mercies saw Nigeria through the economic and political turbulence of 2016.

He also urged workers and people of Osun state to continue supporting the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola in the new year.

Commending Nigerians, most especially workers for their sacrifices, perseverance and support for the APC gov-

ernment both at state and federal level, the lawmaker said: “As a progressive legislator and Chairman of Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, we assure Nigerians of qualitative legislative activities that will be people focused.

“It will be a great disservice if we fail to commend Nigerians for supporting the APC and standing by President Muhammadu Buhari as he pilots the affairs of the Nation through the economic storm. This goodwill investment and trust is unprecedented and highly commendable”.

On the activities of his committee for the New Year, Senator Omoworare said, “the time is now to run the bureaucracy and government according to the laid down laws and regulations that will ensure efficiency, transparency and ultimately provide good governance to the teeming masses of this great nation”.

He noted that the country is not lacking in leg-

islative framework to propel her development, but attributed challenges facing her to lack of respect for rules and extant Laws; and assured of the readiness of the Senate Legislative Compliance

Committee to proffer ways to overcome the anomaly.

He commended Governor Aregbesola for providing focused leadership with strong adherence to his electoral promises,

which he described as the basic tenet of a virtuous leader.

According to him, “Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola deserves more support from the people to drive Osun to its desired develop-

mental destination. The Governor made electoral promises and has toiled on daily basis not to betray his electoral covenant with the people regardless of the economic downturn.”

Maharaji flays NASS over plan to amend CCB act Kemi Olaitan

IBADAN

F

ounder of the One Love Family sect, Satguru Maharaji ji, has called on the Senate to put a stop to its plan to amend the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) act so as to protect the name of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

He made the call while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as part of activities to mark his 69th birthday anniversary.

He said for the red chamber to tamper with the CCB act when one of its members is facing tri-

al under the law will be nothing but an attempt to see members as above the law, stating that this will send a wrong signal about the nation’s sincerity in waging war against corruption.

Maharaji ji warned that should the Senate failed to obey the voice of reason, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) must as a necessity embark on a tour of the country to stop the amendments in the all the Houses of Assemblies, insisting that now is the time to show that things have changed in the country.

He said, “If they the NASS dares to amend same without due respect

to the integrity of those fingered, the NLC should start nationwide tour to block the proposed amendments at the 36 State Assemblies, in order to prove to the world that Nigeria is not a pariah state and now free from tribal, religious and ethnic bigotries which hitherto has been the vehicle for corrupt practices.”

On the constituency allowances given to National Assembly members, he called on President Muhammadu Buhari to empower the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to probe the constituency projects executed by the NASS members since 2007.

According to him, with each members of the National Assembly allegedly given N500million as constituency allowance, it is important for Nigerians to know how the money was spent in terms of the projects executed and when completed.

“The constituency projects by NASS members are nothing but an avenue to get money through the back door when we all know that it is the executive that is empowered by law to execute projects, the Presidency must give the EFCC the necessary power to request for detailed information on the constituency projects executed by the NASS members since year 2007”, he stated.

18

Interview

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

My aim is to make ESUT globally visible —VC

Prof. Luke Okechukwu Anike is a Professor of Geology, and an accomplished researcher, academician and administrator. He is the Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). In this interview with SAIDAT ALAUSA, he speaks on the road map towards the university attaining a global visibility, ESUT rating as the number one state university, issue on IGR and others. Excerpts:

E

SUT is rated as the number one state university in the country and the number 17 in the country, in the recent webo-metric survey rating of universities, how do you feel about this?

Well, we are happy as a university for such rating. It is good to stay at the top. What we are trying to do is to maintain the feat for such recognition.

In view of the above, what is your roadmap towards ensuring that the momentum is sustained?

From on-set I have promised that our university will take bold steps to ensure global visibility and excellent academic rating. We have also tried to build best practices and skills so that they will be strengthened and be more confident to carry out whatever functions that come their way. We have tried to build linkages and connections with Institutions around the world and we will continue to maintain such linkages.

In fact I will be signing an MOU with Anglo Ruskin University in the United Kingdom for staff and students exchange programmes and for collaboration and research which is one of our principal actions.

In addition to the collaboration and linkages with other universities and agencies, and as a way of enriching and enlarging its coast in terms of academic content capacity building and internalization, the university has successfully signed MoU with a number of foreign universities in areas of staff and student exchange, curriculum development and other areas of mutual benefit. Some of the institution includes Dolphin University Ireland, which was attracted by our dear governor, Right Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi when he visited UK, and many others.

We believe that any university that focuses on this will be able to meet the goals and aspirations.

In your convocation address, you listed some challenges, what steps are being taken to find solutions to them?

We as a university, we cannot say we have everything that we need to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves, especially with regards to funds and materials, for instance, laboratory materials and other important features and structures that the university requires. However, in terms of funding, it is pertinent to mention that the government of Enugu State has shown deep interest in allowing the university to function by providing subventions to the universities regularly.

So we get regular subventions from govern-

ment and we are very happy with our governor who believes in education and achieving excellence and he has maintained that by showing great interest and releasing funds to us as at when due.

We are also grateful to the 17 local governments in the state under the umbrella of ALGON. Local governments in the local Enugu state are also helping in funding the university and they regularly send subventions to the university. Even though, like Oliver Twist, we will want some more in order to carry out other activities. We now devised means of reaching out to our alumni as to well-meaning individuals and philanthropist in Nigeria and elsewhere.

We also look for funds through international organizations like UNESCO. We make proposals and sometimes we are lucky we get approvals. All these are sources in which we get our funds.

As I mentioned particularly, one of our recent doctoral degree awardees, Prince Arthur Eze has voluntarily agreed to invest the sum of N100 million every year for five years with an additional N50 million for street lighting of the university. I think that this will motivate other philanthropist and other well-meaning persons to invest on education because the gains of such investments to the community and the nation are unquantifiable. I should also state at this point that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund has assisted greatly in providing infrastructure within the university. In fact, some of the structures built by TETfund include lecture hall, laboratories and auditorium. We are very grateful to TETfund and the Federal Ministry of Education through the NEEDS assessment implementation committee. We are also grateful to the Central Bank of Nigeria for providing us with a central laboratory that is currently under construction.

We also have the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) which has provided an ICT laboratory for the university and it has been completed and put to use.

We are also grateful to our chancellor, Wakili Adamawa who has also mobilized his friends in the support of the university projects. It is important to note that where we are is the permanent site of the university and requires development. We look forward to other persons and corporate organizations, especially in the areas of housing so that we can accommodate our staff within the campus to boost mentoring and enhance their effectiveness towards the development of the

Anike students.

What is your take on the issue of university system and Nigeria socio-economic development?

The relationship is very close and important to ensure that there is a seamless relationship in this regard. The essence of the university is to proffer solutions to the societal issues. That is why the cardinal objectives of the university are community service. When problems arise, the universities take them up as challenges and look at all the options using knowledge and skills to find solutions. So you cannot separate the university system from the society. They must work together. So we want the government to challenge the universities by giving them more specific tasks towards finding solutions to particular problems in the country both socially and economically. With the right funding and motivation, we will be able to provide sustainable solutions to some of our contemporary problems in the country.

What is your take on universities picking cut off marks?

I believe that it is important that there is a statutory cut off mark so that every university will be operating at the same level.

If you begin to establish different standards, then there will be a problem of acceptability in future. University will begin to discriminate against the students.

Considering the prevailing economic recession in the country, what are your plans for IGR to keep the institution afloat?

IGR is always there even though universities are not commercial ventures to earn some money from their activities in order to support themselves. Even federal universities charge fees. Recession has a very critical impact on the universities because the universities are expensive to run and in a cash strapped economy, it becomes more difficult to be able to get the proper and quality materials we require to carry out the critical functions and to maintain the standards with other universities. That is why I said that government should challenge the universities more by asking them to carry out specific tasks geared towards solving particular problem.

What is the relationship between management and staff of the university?

The university management cherishes its teachers and programmes. It is very critical to us. We have been able to do this by presenting every information to the unions and other interested member of the university often. When you tell them the truth, everybody becomes aware of the situation on

ground in the university. There is nothing to hide. We maintain seamless information flow between management and staff and we call meetings often.

How have you been able to handle issues of regular payment of salary?

This administration believes in the humane person. We believe that the staff should get what is due to him or her. As a result, we put prize target to providing their emolument. When we pay them, we can then ask them to do their work. If you do not pay them, you do not expect them to do their work. We make every effort that is legitimate to ensure that they are paid. As long as we have the resources to do that, we pay them and ensure that they re-dedicate themselves each month in carrying out their functions.

What will you describe as your roadmaps towards positioning ESUT to what you want it to be?

We want ESUT to be globally competitive.

We want ESUT to be a university that people seek to come in and graduate from. In that line, we are ready and committed to hire the best staff and leadership, timely intervention for any crises, for information that will be valuable for staff and students. We emphasise research, we believe in that because it was established for the purpose of providing research. We should be able to carry out such mandate by emphasizing collaboration and linkages to solve contemporary problems. The university has a congenial relationship with its immediate community.

If any problem arises, we meet their leadership and explain to them. As a university, we cannot throw our borders open. We need to know who is in and out of the university. It is not a way to discriminate the university but a way of improving our security. We will be interested and happy if someone can help us to put a fence around the university so that the intrusion of any person around the university should not be a source of strife between the university and the community.

In the next four years, how do you want to see ESUT? I would like to see ESUT as having moved forward from what the situation is to another, where a large number of our staff and students are quartered within the university so that 24 hours every day, we will have communal activities within the university. I want to see ESUT to be a full community of its own. A large proportion of our staff leave the campus after work and in a university, there is no after work. This is the kind of global picture we want to have of ESUT.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Page

19 Stakeholders slam GenCos over 30% performance in 22 Q3, 2016

We maintain transparency, promote investments in ports’ regulations – Bello 20

CBN, Heritage Bank support aquaculture firm with N2bn loan25

Telecom services porting activities dip 11.12% ISAIAH ERHIAWARIEN

S

tatistics on porting activities across all mobile network operators for the third quarter of 2016 revealed that there was a decrease in the amount of porting activity, both relative to the second quarter of 2016 and the third quarter of 2015.

The porting activities refer to the transferal of subscribers to different network carriers.

Therefore, incoming porting activities refer to those subscribers that have joined a network, whilst outgoing porting activities refer to those whom have left.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics’, NBS’, report, there was a total of 55,558 incoming porters in the third quarter of 2016 This compares with a total of 61,574 in the second quarter, and 62,509 in the third quarter of 2015, decreases of 9.77 percent and 11.12 percent respectively.

The report further showed that in each case the decline was driven almost exclusively by Airtel, who recorded quarterly and yearly declines of 70.78 percent and 68.02 percent respectively.

It alos indicated that in each case the decline in the number

of incoming porters switching to Airtel was larger than the overall decline adding that “This was partly as a result of large increases in the number of incoming porters recorded by MTN, of 63.41 percent quarter on quarter and 105.64 percent year on year. Etisalat also recorded a large quarterly increase of 17.29 percent, and a yearly increase of 7.38percent. By contrast, Globa-

com recorded decreases, both quarterly (10.28%) and year on year (7.80percent).”

According to the NBS, as a result of these changes, Etisalat consolidated its position as the top destination for incoming porters, and accounted for 75.18 percent, compared to 57.83 percent in the previous quarter.

Airtel, Globacom and MTN accounted for 10.10 percent, 6.25

percent and 8.47 percent respectively in the third quarter of 2016.

The report further indicated that there were a total of 55,703 outgoing porters in the third quarter of 2016, a decrease of 7.71 percent relative to the 60,356 outgoing porters recorded in the previous quarter, and a decrease of 18.72 percent relative to the 68,534 recorded in the third quarter of 2015.

Med-View Airline Lagos- Abuja (Mon-Fri): 07.00, 08.50, 12.00, 16.30. Abuja- Lagos (Mon-Fri): 09.00, 14.00, 15.00, 18.30. Lagos-Yola (Mon-Fri): 8.50am. Yola-Lagos (Mon-Fri): 13.00. Lagos- PHC (Mon-Fri): 17.00. PHC-Lagos: 19.00. AbujaYola: 11.00. Yola-Abuja: 13.00.

Lagos-Abuja (Sat): 08.00, 08.50.

Abuja-Lagos (Sat): 10.00, 15.00.

Lagos-PHC (Sat): 17.00. PHC-Lagos (Sat): 19.00. Lagos-Yola (Sat): 08.50. Yola-Lagos (Sat): 13.00

Dana Air

L-R: Mr. Chinedu Makata, AGM, Corporate Banking Group Keystone Bank, Mr. Jeffrey Zhang Vice GM Hawtai Int’l Group, Enugu State Governor, His Excellency Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mr. Joseph Okechukwu, Chairman/CEO, EVAL, Mr. hafiz Bakare Executive Director, Keystone Bank during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the State House, Enugu, last Friday.

SON targets multi-billion naira investments in LPG cylinder business ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

T

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES

he Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has identified huge economic and job creation potential in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder manufacturing, promising to stimulate multi-billion dollar investments in the aspect of manufacturing in the country.

The organisation’s Director General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, noted that standardization was key to attracting foreign direct investment into the country and sustaining them by providing confidence and competitive edge to manufacturers’ products, quality assurances to consumers and meeting regulatory requirements seamlessly.

He stated that the pursuit of this objective informed his recent visits to some firms and organisations to preach the gos-

pel of standardisation and how it could help to improve their operations for greater competitiveness through strict adherence to standards requirements.

According to him, SON stringent procedure for the importation of LPG cylinders has encouraged increase in local production.

The certification of the locally produced cylinders through the mandatory conformity assessment (MANCAP) scheme would provide the necessary assurances to consumers, thus encouraging greater patronage. “There is stiff monitoring and regulation of cylinders to ensure safety and that consumers have value for their money”.

Aboloma stated that the increased patronage would lead to improved capacity utilisation and create more job opportunities for the teeming youths in line with the diversification agenda of the Federal Government.

He pointed out further that the LPG cylinder sector has huge potentials for job cre-

ation because of the production and ancillary chains, adding that it would also create easy access to cylinders, which would add greater value to the economy and promote a cleaner environment.

He disclosed that SON was going to call a stakeholders’ meeting with existing manufacturers, importers and prospective ones soon to ensure that the structure and production processes are put on the path of continual improvement through the diligent application of standards.

Aboloma reiterated the plans of his organisation to replicate the initiative in so many other sectors to encourage more foreign direct investment as according to him, domestic production would help the current administration’s change mantra, especially in achieving economic diversification from oil into agriculture and manufacturing, thus adding greater value to the lives of Nigerians.

Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abujaph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, UyoLagos: 3pm daily Weekends Lagos-Abuja: 7.02am, 9am, 3.30pm Abuja-Lagos: 9am, 2.20pm and 5.28pm Lagos -Phc: 11.07am Phc-Lagos: 1.05pm Phc-Abuja: 12.51pm Abuja-Phc: 10.50am Lagos-Uyo: 9.18am Uyo-LOS -3.03pm Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am Abuja-Uyo: 1.05pm

Aero Contractors Lag-Abj: 06.50, 13.30, 16.30, 19.45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.30 (Sun) 16.45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07.30, 13.00, 19.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat, 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 (Sun, 18.30 Sat) Lag-Benin: 07.45, 11.00, 15.30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12.30 (Sun 15.30 (Sat) Ben-Lag: 09.15, 12.30, 17.00 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 17.00 (Sat) 14.00 (Sun)Lag-Owe: 7.45am, 2pm daily

20

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We maintain transparency, promote

Nearly two years after its appointment as an economic regulator of the nation’s seaports, the Nigerian Shippers Council has said that idea of the port concession was a very good one but that the delay in the decision to appoint the industry’s regulator created a lot of gaps, which it is currently filling. Executive Secretary/CEO of the council, Barrister Hassan Bello, in this interview with FRANCIS EZEM, insists that the duty of the council is to protect investments and interest of providers and users of shipping services in order to make the nation’s ports more efficient and competitive. Excerpts.

The council is promoting the establishment of truck transit terminals. What is the motive behind this?

The Nigerian Shippers Council is concerned about investments. One of our functions as a regulator is to monitor investments to make sure that there is adequate infrastructural facility for services and one of the issues we have raised is that of indiscriminate parking of trucks and other articulated vehicles on the nation’s highways and even in some villages. This is inimical to modern transport system. We want our transport system to be modern, we want it to be adequate. So it is important that we have truck transit parks off the highways, where trucks can park on a reasonable number of times. It is a modern facility equipped with utilities such as hotels or hostels, garages, petrol stations, restaurants and clinics etc.

Are they supposed to be located in Lagos alone?

No. they should be located anywhere in the country where there is convergence of many vehicles not having any place to park. We have sensitised the representatives of the drivers of the trucks and tankers and they are very receptable to the idea and as a matter of fact, we have started work with the Kaduna State Government and the state government has advertised expression of interest in this very important infrastructure.

Also, recently, Shippers Council has been given the Right of Occupancy for a piece of land in Lokoja, Kogi State by the state government, which will help us carry out this business on a Public-Private Partnership basis. We are also going to make contacts with the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission ICRC, to see that these things are delivered on a public private partnership. We have also got a piece of land in Ogbulafor in Enugu State, where we have convergence of these trucks. We are working to see that we go through all the channels of Public Procurement, ICRC tests to see that investors come and develop these truck parks. We have also got unsolicited proposal from a company in Kaduna State for the Truck Transit Park along the Jibia-Niger border, which we think is good. We are also looking towards an Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Bank and the Infrastructure Bank so that we look at the various

financing options. It is important the various states realised how important these projects are because they are revenue enhancers. They would also reduce environmental degradation and they would also enhance the transport system in the country because they are modern transport infrastructure.

What effects would these have on the Inland Container Depots ICDs? As you already know, the ICD is another infrastructure the Shippers Council is promoting with private sector operators. About a month and a half ago, we designed another template to deliver these ICDs by next year, so they would star operating. We have a new draft agreement that we have given to the five concessionaires of the ICDs so that at least one or two of them will become operational by this year and on the 24th of November last year, the Minister of Transportation Hon. Rotimi Amaechi together with the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el Rufai would embark on an inspection visit to the dry port in Jos, which has reached an appreciable level of completion. We had to meet with the concessionaires of the ICDs, some of them are having some challenges, we will see that they surmount these problems. But even before that, they met with the Minister of Transportation, who has given them a new lease of life, who has also encouraged them to make sure that these important ports are completed.

But according to our new agreement, the council will not hesitate to revoke the license of any of these concessionaires, who abandoned the site. So we expect a lot of construction work, a lot of the conditions are being met by the concessionaires which are located in

Bello Isialangwa in Abia State, Ibadan, Oyo State, Jos in Plateau State Funtua in Katsina and also in Maiduguri in Borno State. So these are the sites.

One of the issues some of the concessionaires raised then was the issue of Certificate of Occupancy C of O. How can you address this challenge?

AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, THE ICD IS ANOTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THE SHIPPERS COUNCIL IS PROMOTING WITH PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATORS. ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, WE DESIGNED ANOTHER TEMPLATE TO DELIVER THESE ICDS BY NEXT YEAR, SO THEY WOULD STAR OPERATING. WE HAVE A NEW DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE GIVEN TO THE FIVE CONCESSIONAIRES OF THE ICDS SO THAT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO OF THEM WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL BY THIS YEAR

No we have got all the C of Os except for the ICD in Maiduguri for some security reasons but the governor was also very enthusiastic. But all others have been issued in the name of Nigerian Shippers Council and so we gave them leases on a Build and Operate basis.

The concessionaires were given two weeks to study the new agreement and report back. Have they done that?

No it is not two weeks yet. But we just needed to get their buy in. The agreement we are going to sign with them is done in collaboration with the ICRC. The initial agreement that was signed with ICDs was about 10 years ago and it was pre-ICRC and so there was no framework. It was a PPP thing them but is not too late to retrace our footstep.

Even without the new agreement, some of the dry ports have been showing zeal and commitment to build and operationalise their ports.

Looking at port regulation generally, Shippers Council has been on the stead

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Executive Discourse

investments in ports’ regulations – Bello for about two years now. What have been the challenges?

The challenges have been the lack of cooperation from some of the terminal operators. The court cases, which I am not at liberty to discuss as you know because they are still pending, constitute some of the challenges. But let me say this, the concessioning of the seaports to private operate operators is very good. However, there are gaps, one of which was the absence of a regulator.

The concession should have been completely done with the appointment of a regulator. The absence of a regulator at a time when the terminals were handed over to the private sector meant that there was no framework to supervise and see who is doing what and so there was no synergy. But the Nigerian Shippers Council is currently filling that gap. But it is challenging to have issues at the seaports. That does not mean we are not doing the work, we are but the court cases definitely constitute a hindrance, we have won the case but we would have loved to settle of court. But is also very important to point out that the Shippers Council is neutral, it is the mother of all both the providers and users of shipping services. All we are interested in is to sustain the profitability of the terminal operators. It is important to create a good working environment for the concessionaires. It is also important to consider the interest of the terminal operators in making profit and so many other things and so if given the chance, we will do that.

If you are going to make projections, where do you think Nigeria’s seaports would be in the next few years in terms of efficiency and competitiveness?

I think the nation’s seaports in the next few years would increase in their capacity and in their efficiency. You could see that most of the goods coming to our other competitors are destined for Nigeria and what we are going to do is to work hard to make sure that we capture the goods. Nigeria’s ports must improve on their efficiency, they must be competitive and that is one quarrel I have with terminals in Nigeria. If they are competitive; would they come under the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria STOAN, and that is a replication of what we had under the NPA. It is good for them to be competitive because when there is competition, we will have a perfect market. Competition will increase efficiency, reduce cost of operation just like what we have in the telecommunications. I will always pose it to them that I have not seen any one of them advertising their products. We cannot dispense with public monopoly and now have private monopoly. We must look at things critically and factually to find out what is militating against the growth of the maritime industry and the lack of competition is one of them.

While some people are complaining of terminals being monopolistic or having dominant positions, they too must also look at themselves and find out if they are in competition or is it a

I THINK THE NATION’S SEAPORTS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD INCREASE IN THEIR CAPACITY AND IN THEIR EFFICIENCY. YOU COULD SEE THAT MOST OF THE GOODS COMING TO OUR OTHER COMPETITORS ARE DESTINED FOR NIGERIA AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAPTURE THE GOODS. NIGERIA’S PORTS MUST IMPROVE ON THEIR EFFICIENCY, THEY MUST BE COMPETITIVE gang-up to increase prices etc. So it is at the development and I am sure the more goods come the more they will be competitive but for now, that is a very serious area we would have to look at.

But let me also use this opportunity to thank those terminal operators, who wanted to withdraw from the case.

Some of them actually withdrew, they opted for dialogue. I also thank those terminals that have cooperated with Shippers Council, the council is the centre of complaints about port issues and we have gone to terminals and shipping lines that have cooperated with us every day. Let me just mention the Grimaldi Group, which helps us in solving shippers problems and for that we are eternally grateful.

As a matter of fact, we are trying to organise a stakeholders’ night on the 28th of this month. All the people at the ports, the Nigeria Customs Service, NPA, NIMASA, off Dock terminals, consolidators, surveyors, ship brokers, chandeliers etc would come and we want to use that to show appreciation and still crave for synergy because all of us have one purpose but approach it in different ways so we need synergy.

and recommend it to the appropriate government agency. It is a modern traffic management, which will not only solve the gridlock in Apapa but also be applied to all the ports in Nigeria. It means a kind of system that would have trucks or vehicles going to the ports only when they are needed and it is electronic.

Is it a kind of call-up system?

Well, yes if you like you can call it that but it is a modern traffic management system and I think the NPA is in advanced stage in talks with the IFC on this matter I want to believe that these innovations on transport infrastructure are designed to promote and facilitate trade in the country. What do you think?

Trade facilitation is a strong point of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

Right from the time the Minister came, that has been the emphasis, to clear goods within 48-hours, and

Your additional job as a regulator must have increased your total overhead cost. How do you source this additional revenue?

The funds are little definitely, but we have to deploy them in the right places, so we are struggling to make maximum use of it. Sometimes it is not the amount of funds but what you use it for. So we have been very prudent and disciplined in the allocation and use of funds because what we use the funds is to sensitise stakeholders, promote investments in Nigeria and ensure that our transport infrastructure are modern, to ensure that these facilities are adequate and modern.

Still on transport infrastructure, there was this Traffic Management System to be funded by the International Finance Corporation IFC. What is the update on that?

It is a project of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA and it is still on course.

Shippers Council will look at projects

Bello

21

improve cargo clearance procedure.

The attainment of that ultimately is to have the national single window, which would have electronic processes and procedures and also honest and transparent. That is where we are going.

Next year, we will have to consolidate all the trade facilitation issues. We need to have efficient seaports; we have to have efficient clearing system there must be synergy between all the agencies operating at the ports so that nothing would be slowed down.

Transactions at the ports must be efficient and transparent and that is why the council is always advocating the automation of processes and procedures because once you automate them, there will be no human contact.

By so doing, revenue leakages are eliminated, corruption, delays are also eliminated. We are also promoting a platform that would enable us monitor from my office here for instance what is happening at the ports, especially during the clearing of containers.

We are going to see to the application of all these. The International Cargo Tracking Note ICTN is also being interrogated by the Ministry, which is also eager to iron out all issues so that it also becomes operational and once it is operational, it will be adding value to the transparency of the Nigerian port system. You will also recall that Shippers Council, among many other agencies including the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offence Commission ICPC, NPA and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA had drawn up the Standards Operating Procedure SOP, which is now automated so that everybody will know what it is doing at the ports. These procedures are in line with international standards so when they come together, they will make the nation’s seaports efficient.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

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NERC slams N66.6m fine on Afam, Eko DisCo

23

Appraising GEF-UNDP’s N/Delta community-based biodiversity restoration programme

24

CBN, Heritage Bank support aquaculture firm with N2bn loan 25

Stakeholders slam GenCos over 30% performance in Q3, 2016

Fashola

NNPC GMD, Baru

the third quarter.

Earlier last year, the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola boasted that Nigeria will be able to generate 12,000 megawatts of electricity.

The minister said in spite of the challenges, the country’s power sector still possessed the capacity to advance its power generation, transmission and distribution potentials through other energy supply sources.

“There are many perspectives to do this. The country has today the capacity to generate at least 12,000 MW. If we fix all what is not working in the industry, including building any new power plant, the country would be generating close to 12,000 MW,” he said.

According to the minister, meeting that target has been difficult because out of over 140 turbines, only about half has been able to get gas to work with.

The nation’s power generating capacity, he said, reached 5,000 MW before the recent spate of vandalism of gas pipelines, adding that the industry was already heading towards another milestone prior to the recent outages as a result of the blow up at the Chevron oil platform.

Fashola said the repairs of the pipelines would soon be completed to take the industry back to about 3000 MW capacity, adding that his ministry was looking at ways to bypass and evacuate condensates, so that more gas could be supplied and the industry able to generate up to about 3,800 MW.

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CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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takeholders in have rated power generating companies, GenCos, low following less than 30 per cent performance of all the privatised thermal power generating stations in the country in the third quarter of 2016 despite being managed by private investors Industry operators blamed the poor performance of the power generating stations on the recurrent vandalism of pipelines that supply gas to the facilities. Industry data revealed that the contributions of the privatised thermal plants to the national electricity grid in July, August and September were 27.42 per cent, 28.25 per cent

and 29.22 per cent, respectively.

Their combined average electricity delivery to the grid in the third quarter of this year was 28.29 per cent, regardless of the fact that they were being managed by private entities since their official handing over to investors in November 2013. A further analysis of the industry showed that the hydro power generating stations contributed more to the country’s electricity grid in the period under review, as they supplied 34.25 per cent of the electricity.

The National Integrated Power Plants contributed 13.42 per cent of electricity to the grid during the three-month period, while the independent power producers supplied 24.05 per cent of electricity in

NNPC restates interest in Brass, OK LNG UDEME AKPAN

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has expressed its commitment to carry on with its twin gas projects, Brass LNG and OK LNG. The Corporation said the two projects were high priority gas ventures which promise to boost revenue to the Federal Government.

Speaking during a visit by the management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, said monetization of natural gas was a cardinal mandate of the corporation.

“We are still committed, as NNPC, to monetizing our natural gas. We have the

Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) which is at the moment monetizing about four billion standard cubic feet of gas on a daily basis (4 billion scf/d). We also have plans for Olokola LNG as well as Brass LNG. “We have a little challenge with market windows for these projects which we are reviewing on a monthly basis. Once the appropriate market window opens up, we will quickly get more shareholders to join us for the projects,” Dr Baru explained.”

He said a meeting of Brass LNG stakeholders has been scheduled for early next year to see the way forward for the project.

The GMD further disclosed that apart from the LNG projects, NNPC was also working on gas monetization through aggressive enhancement of domestic gas

supply for power generation and industrial use.

On the alleged scarcity of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) which is purportedly responsible for the hardship being experienced in the aviation sector, Dr Baru clarified that NNPC had taken steps to ensure adequate supply of the product with the importation of over 45 million litres, adding that the challenge had more to do with the inability of airlines to pay for the product upon the introduction of a cash-and-carry policy by marketers on account of the huge amount they were being owed by the airlines.

Dr Baru also lauded the management of NTA for its factual reportage of the corporation’s activities.

He urged the NTA to help in enlighten-

ing the public on the dangers of pipeline vandalism whose long-term impact on the environment far outweigh whatever short-term gain the perpetrators may be seeking.

Speaking earlier, the DG of NTA, Malam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, stated that the visit was a continuation of the Authority’s resolve to liaise constantly with other government agencies they collaborate with regularly and with whom they share the objective of furthering the interest of the country.

“The NNPC and NTA have come a long way. Our relationship has continued to wax stronger and stronger and it is my desire to ensure that during my stint as DG of NTA we take this relationship to a greater height,” the DG has said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

23

NERC slams N66.6m fine on Afam, Eko DisCo CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

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he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has slammed a fine of N66.6 million on Afam Power and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) for not submitting two years audited financial reports It would be recalled that NERC, early this month, fined the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) N47.6 million for a similar offence.

A statement by the Acting Chairman, NERC, Dr. Anthony Akah, yesterday said Directive 162 of NERC found Afam Power in breach of its licensing terms and other operating conditions when it failed to file an audited financial report for 2014. Afam was slammed with N18.5 million for the breach, it said.

For Eko DisCo, Directive 163 stipulates that it pays N48 million for the late submission of its 2013 report and non-submission of its 2014 report.

Both directives signed by Dr. Akah and the General Manager, Legal, Licensing and Environment, Mrs Olufunke Dinneh, expected the companies to pay their fines within two weeks beginning from December 9, 2016 when they were signed.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has slammed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) N47, 670,000 fine for failure

L-R: Wale Akinrinde, Group Head, Propositions and Products, Sterling Bank Plc;, Asisat Oshoala, Arsenal Ladies striker and Henry Bassey, Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank Plc during a courtesy visit by Oshoala to Sterling Bank last weekend.

to submit its 2013 and 2014 audited financial statements.

The Commission had given the fine in a document with reference number NERC/ Directive/160 was co-signed by the acting Chairman, Dr. Anthony Akah, and General Manager, Legal, Licensing and Enforcement, Mrs. Olufunke Dinneh.

It stated that TCN has up to two weeks to pay the fine beginning from December 2, 2016 when the Directive was signed. The fine attracts five per cent interest daily after the due date.

Providing justification for the sanction, NERC said that TCN for failure to submit

audited financial report has violated “Section 63 (1) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 that stipulates “A licensee shall comply with the provisions of its license, regulations, codes and other requirements issued by NERC from time to time.”

Other infractions as contained in Directive 160 include, Condition 4 and 5 of TCN’s Transmission Licence. Condition 4 stipulates that “Licensee shall furnish to the Commission information, in such a manner and at such times as the Commission may require” at the time and format as may be required by the Commission to perform its regulatory functions.

We need cooperation to achieve oil market stability – Barkindo UDEME AKPAN

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he Organisation of petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC has called for the cooperation of stakeholders in order to realize stability in the volatile global market.

The Secretary General of the organisation, Dr. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, said the experience of 2016 has shown us that the importance of cooperation and dialogue between all oil industry stakeholders has never been greater.

Barkindo disclosed that it all points to the need to continually enhance dialogue and cooperation, with innovative thinking, collaboration and swift action between stakeholders, where and when appropriate.

He indicated that this necessitated the evolving dialogues with the European Union, China, India, Russia, other non-OPEC producers, the International Energy Agency, the International Energy Forum, the International Monetary Fund, the G-20, and others.

According to him, in the context of this vision, OPEC sees benefits in exploring and initiating an energy dialogue with the US.

“We believe this engagement is vitally important to all. The US is currently the number one liquids producer at around 13.6 million barrels a day, the number one consumer, at just over 20 million barrels a day, the number one importer of liquids at about 9.6 million barrels a day, and the number three exporter of liquids, at around 4.6 million barrels a day.

This landmark decision by OPEC, as well as the pledge made by a number of nonOPEC producers at a joint ministeriallevel meeting in Vienna on December 10,

underlines a shared and deep resolve to return much needed stability to the market, and the industry, as a whole.

“Through a shared vision, among both OPEC and non-OPEC producers, collaborative and reasoned action was taken to address the prevailing market realities. It was a commitment to all oil industry stakeholders, as well as one to the broader global community through the restoration of oil market stability and the potential positives of this for the global economy.

Court jails two vandals on BEDC network in Delta State

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fforts at curtailing the activities of electricity vandals in Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) network has again yielded results as two persons, Friday Tega and Tega Ajaino were on Tuesday sentenced to 3 years 9 months and 2 years imprisonment respectively with hard labour.

The accused according to a statement from BEDC, were convicted by a Magistrate Court, Koko near Sapele area of Delta state for vandalizing a BEDC 33KVA line.

The, accused who were convicted without any option of fine, were arrested and detained on Monday 19th, December at Koko Divisional Police Station for committing the crime after cutting the wire of a tower in Presco Palm oil plantation situated in Koko town.

They were reported to have cut the 50mm earthing wire for grounding channel iron on 33kva line, in addition to 12 towers also vandalized by the criminals before they were arrested. These vandals were caught by the customers and com-

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

53.22

-0.50

-0.93%

11:35 AM

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

56.28

-0.54

-0.95%

11:35 AM

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

40,480.00

-130.00

-0.32%

12/31/2016

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

3.33

-0.39

-10.58%

11:35 AM

Source: Bloomberg as at January 3, 2017

munity members in the area.

While under detention at the Koko Police Station, one of the convicted vandals, Friday Tega attempted escape by breaking the toilet ceiling but was re-arrested after a search that lasted about an hour.

They were arraigned before the Koko Magistrate Court on 2 counts of conspiracy and stealing for both of the vandals, while the second accused Friday Tega who attempted escape was tried on another 2 counts for attempted escape and malicious damage to property.

According to the magistrate, all terms were however to run concurrently at Sapele prisons where they will serve their jail terms.

The activities of vandals on electricity distribution network continued to be a major act negatively affecting power service delivery to customers.

BEDC has commended the vigilance and commitment of those who helped in arresting the vandals as well the swift way the police and the court has dealt with the issue.

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Environment & Wildlife

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Appraising GEF-UNDP’s N/Delta community-based biodiversity restoration programme Over 60 years of oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta have had negative impacts on human and biodiversity in the region. In this report, OLUFEMI ADEOSUN examines the impacts of GEF-UNDP community-driven biodiversity restoration programme in the oil-rich region.

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he coastal oil producing states of the Niger Delta is characterized by high biological diversity, abundant natural resources The oil-rich Niger Delta region is expected to be a blessing not only to the people of the area, but also to the entire nation who relies on the Godgiven resources for socio-economic development. The coastal region, in the pre-oil era, was characterized by high biological diversity and abundant natural resources.

However, over six decades of various anthropogenic activities associated with oil production in the area have conscripted the people to a life of poverty due to the destruction means of livelihood, endangered the health of the people through inhalation of toxic air and wrecked untold harm on the environment leading to the loss of biodiversity-flora(plants) and fauna(animal species).

It was in a bid to remediate and restore back the coastal region to its natural state that the Global Environment Fund(GEF) and the United Nations Development Fund(UNDP) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria are implementing the five-year Niger Delta Biodiversity Programme with a strong bent on community participation in management and ownership of nature-endowed biological resources.

The biodiversity pilot project, which is being implemented in four states in the region namely, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Bayelsa ,is aimed motivating government into mainstreaming biodiversity management tools in the region as well as prodding oil and gas companies and communities to take action on the issue of biodiversity conservation.

A fact-finding visit to some of the sites where the NDBP is being implemented underlined the bottom of the pyramid approach upon which it is built as the benefitting communities expressed so much enthusiasm and the determination to own the project.

Some of the sites visited during the weeklong media tour include, Community Forest of Ikot Uso Akpan Itam, Itu, Eket Forest Conservation, Georgie Environmental Construction regeneration project, all in Akwa Ibom State, Mogho Community in Ogoniland where the mangrove impacted by oil spill is being regenerated through tree planting and River Ethiope at Umuaja, Delta State. However, due to alleged security volatility, the team could not visit the sites in Bayelsa State.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment

National Coordinator GEF-UNDP programme, Dr. Mathew Dore

THE BIODIVERSITY PILOT PROJECT, WHICH IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN FOUR STATES IN THE REGION NAMELY, RIVERS, AKWA IBOM, DELTA AND BAYELSA, IS AIMED MOTIVATING GOVERNMENT INTO MAINSTREAMING BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT TOOLS IN THE REGION AS WELL AS PRODDING OIL AND GAS COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES TO TAKE ACTION ON THE ISSUE OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION Our first point of call was the forest of Ikot Uso Akpan Itam, in Akwa Ibom State where the village head, chief Asuquo Simon, gave the historical background of the forest, its spiritual significance to the people, even as he expressed the determination to preserve it.

According to him, members of the community have high regards for a specie of monkeys known as ‘Sclater’s Guenon that are found in the forest, adding that they have formed a bond which make them live together.

He said it it is forbidden to kill the animals, which he described as ‘sacred’.

In his words,”These animals are sacred to us; we eat and dine together.

In this community, it is a taboo to kill the animals. During the early hours of the day, they come to the riverside to eat and play. Our people who are mostly agrarian do not feel bad that the monkeys feed on their crops because they view them as part of them.

“We call the Monkeys the ‘First Daughter’ of Itam- Awa Itam. The Monkeys give us pride; they make us bold to tell people in the world that we are the only community that owns

everything because our Monkeys stay on top of every animal on the ground.

Monkeys that are seen in surrounding communities are from our community and at the end of the day, they usually return to their home in our forest where they are safe.

“This is the only community that conserves the plants – the trees, fruits that these Monkeys eat. We thank the UNDP that gave us money to plant these trees- we have done it and the fruit trees grow very well and very soon the Monkeys will start eating the fruits.”

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien, underscored the need to give more political exposure to the community with a view to turning the forest to a tourist centre to earn revenue for the state.

“We need to look at this with more seriousness in terms of giving political exposure of the community. If we package it properly we should be able to drive investment in the area.

While commending GEF-UNDP for the success of the NDBP, he assured

the media team that the state would do everything possible to encourage the community, particularly at a time many specie of monkeys are endangered.

Reacting on the news that all the ministries in the state have been given revenue target, Essien insisted that such would not be done at the expense of environmental protection, adding that the state would not do anything to compromise the integrity of the forest.

At Emu community of Delta State where crocodiles are being referred to as ‘our mother’, by the community members, a chief in council in the Emu Kingdom, chief Anthony Ehyabuegu gave an annotated overview of the relevance of the crocodiles to the people.

According to them, it is the belief of the villagers that the animals are capable of wading off evil from Emu kingdom. He noted that the community appreciated the efforts of UNDP in helping to sensitise the people and in offering to take it to other level.

Also visited is the sacred groove of River Ethiope in Umuaja which is adjudged the cleanest in the world. The representative of the chief priest, Mr. Onochia stated that the community neither permits unauthorized entrance into the groove nor approve the destruction of the environment.

“It is our dream that the whole world will take this groove as a heritage centre where people would visit for relaxation besides its spiritual essence,” he said.

Some of the activities of UNDP through the NDBP include replanting of trees to protect the water body, construction of concrete walkways at the source of the River to pave way for easy access into the groove and sensitization of the local community on the essence of the preservation of the tourist site.

While giving a brief summary of the project to cap up the tour, the National Coordinator GEF-UNDP programme, Dr. Mathew Dore, stated that it was launched to help address issues of the environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity occasioned by the long years of oil exploration and exploitation in the region.

Dr. Dore further noted that although the programme may not be able to address some of the identified issues, it would, nonetheless, help to ginger the government as well as oil and gas companies operating in the coastal states to take positive action in protecting the ecosystem as well as the remaining biodiversity resources.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

25

CBN, Heritage Bank support aquaculture firm with N2bn loan Udo Onyeka

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n a bid to further support the real sector and unlock the nation’s food potential, Heritage Bank Plc in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has provided N2 billion long term facility under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, CACS, to Triton Aqua Africa Limited TAAL known as Triton Farm accessed the CACS through Heritage Bank, which is used to set up aquaculture businesses; nursery/ hatchery for the production of fingerlings and brood stock in Ikeja and earthen ponds for catfish and tilapia in Asejire, Iwo and Gambari towns in Oyo State.

The Company’s strategy is to embrace backward integration through production of fish locally and reduce its importation of frozen fish and as well to assist small scale farms by producing quality breed fingerlings.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator, Heineken Lokpobiri, during a tour at Triton Farms commended the firm, while stating that the CBN and Heritage Banks’ financial support to the company’s achievement is very fundamental as investment in food security is probably the most profitable ven-

ture anyone could think of.

He, however said that Nigeria had a deficit of over 2million metric tonnes of poultry produce, and over three million metric tonnes deficit in fish farming products, adding that the agro-production deficits show huge investment potential in the sector.

The minister further stressed on banks to finance more of Agricultural projects than trading, oil and gas etc., as the future is highly dependent on Agriculture.

The Group Head, Agric Finance of Heritage Bank, Olugbenga Awe, said that that partnership between the bank and Triton Farm local production would conserve scarce foreign exchange and enhance food security.

“Nigeria’s current demand capacity for fish is estimated at 2.7million metric tons and the country currently produces 800,000 metric tons. Triton is now producing 25,000 metric tons and with them on board, about 25,000 metric tons capacity will be added to our current production, the company’s projection is to reach 100,000 metric tons in 5years,” he said.

According to him, the bank sees agriculture as one of its heritage that can empower individuals and communities in terms of creating

Airtel gives N10m to Hot Red promo winner

…presents prizes to other winners Isaiah Erhiawrien

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irtel Nigeria has given out the sum of N10 million to a traffic warder, Oluwasegun Adesanya, in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area in Lagos, in its on-going RedHot promo.

Adesanya, civil servant, was the biggest winner of the week as he danced home with N10 million in the on-going consumer promotion, after picking his cheque at a colourful prize presentation, where the second batch winners were rewarded.

The event was attended by officials of the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, Nigerian Communications Commission,NCC and TCQ & A, leading systems and process audit firm.

An elated Adesanya said: “God has answered my prayers through Airtel Nigeria. I prayed every day for a miracle, and God has answered my prayers through this amazing promo.

“As a matter of fact, I was so happy after receiving the news from Airtel that I had won N10 million. I called my wife, children,

older brothers and his family, to inform them and I declared a party instantly, asking everyone to make their orders.

“Indeed, this is a special moment for me – it is amazing and a wonderful time for me and I thank Airtel very much.”

Other winners in the promo include, an iron fabricator based in Ogba, Lagos state Mr. Olawumi Olaosebikan, who emerged winner in the N1million category.

Another N1million winner, Mrs Chinwe Okpanumee, says Airtel has written her name in gold.

Speaking during the event, Head, Lagos Zone, Consumer Protection Council, Joshua Ngada said, “Airtel Nigeria is an example of a good corporate citizen and this promotion has followed the laid down process set by our organisation. Red Hot Promo has proven its credibility through the prize presentation ceremony.”

Airtel will give away N200million in cash prizes in the Red Hot promo while over 360,000 customers will win different prizes in this year’s edition, making it the biggest ever, since the launch of the Red Hot promo four years ago.

wealth from the soil and through the entire value –chain using value addition and industrialization.

“We have supported large cor-

porates such as Triton in expanding their capacity and boosting import substitution, we have also supported exporters that export

commodities or processed goods which ultimately conserve scare FX and enhance our balance of trade.”, he added.

L-R: Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) MD/CEO, Umaru Ibrahim presenting NDIC Souvenir to Media Trust Director, Umar S. Abdullahi during a courtesy call on the MD/CEO at the Corporation’s Head Office in Abuja.

Skye Bank bags CBN’s anti-electronic fraud award

S

kye Bank Plc, has emerged “The Most Committed Watch Listing Bank in Nigeria” out of four corporate awards presented at the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) Annual Dinner and Awards’ event held in Lagos recently.

This award was based on an industry-wide survey administered

by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in conjunction with NIBBS. The award, which is in recognition of efforts of the Banking industry in the fight against electronic fraud is presented to the institution “with the most efficient and robust system for tracking all forms of electronic fraud and arresting perpetrators for prosecution”.

The challenge of securing the Nigerian Payments System will

always be a daunting task as with the ease of payment, comes greater adoption, and with increased adoption, the lure of cybercriminals who seek to convert either digital asset or resources or both to their own, becomes even greater.

Speaking at the event which held in Lagos, the NeFF Chairman, the Director, Banking and Payment System in CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, explained that “an effective fight against fraud is not without robust awareness program; not only for members of the public, but also for staff of organizations that operate within the Payment Space.”

He further stressed the importance of starting the awareness program in 2017, “as this would help the industry reduce cost of fraud through increased vigilance

and detection abilities”, he said.

On the credibility of the process that led to the emergence of Skye Bank as the winner of the award, “the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with NIBBS carried out a survey to rate the performance of all Banks in the fight against electronic fraud. According to him, most Banks, in their response, acknowledged Skye Bank as the most committed bank when it comes to tracking fraud and arresting perpetrators”.

Skye Bank runs its core banking ICT applications on one of the most advanced, and highly secured and scalable technology software, adjudged by cyber practitioners as consistent with what obtains with other financial giants in most advanced economies of the world.

Peacock UK receives 2016 Outstanding Performance award …as firm also rewards trade partners OLUSEGUN KOIKI

P

eacock Travels and Tours Limited United Kingdom, a subsidiary of Nigeria’s Peacock Group, has been rewarded with the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award at the Carrier Preferred Partner Award organised in United Kingdom.

The company was among three nominations for the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award, in recognition of exceptional support and performance in 2016.

A statement by the company

quoted the Manager, Mr. Leon Shaier, who received the award on behalf of the company, as expressing delight at the recognition by the organisers.

Shaier, noted that the award which was a process of rigorous independent screening by the organisers, was based on meeting several criteria including volume of ticket sales and business.

He said: “I was delighted that we were nominated, but then to be announced as winner was such a thrill. A wonderful evening that I will never forget. I am happy Pea-

cock won ahead of the other contestants in the nomination.

Also, commenting on the award, the Executive Chairman, Peacock Group, Segun Phillips, said he was delighted to receive the award.

He dedicated the award to the staff of the company in the UK and other units of the travel company in South Africa and Nigeria, adding that the award would futher encourages the company to raise the bar of service in the travel company and would always make sure that its customers got the best and are satisfied its services.

26

Capital Market

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Naira stabilises at N490 to dollar Tola Akinmutimi

T

he national currency, the Naira, yesterday stabilised at N490 to a dollar at the parallel market.

This is against speculations that the Naira would depreciate to N500 to a dollar by the end of December 2016 by market analysts Available market trading trends also showed that the Naira exchanged atN585 and N505 to the Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively at the close of business.

At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the dollar exchanged at N399 to the dollar at the CBN-controlled rate, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N598 and N510, respectively.

However, trading at the interbank market showed that the national currency closed at N305 in exchange for the dollar.

Commenting on the latest exchange rates in the market , President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (AB-

CON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said that the one billion dollars backlog of forex cleared by the CBN was far less than the monthly forex demand in the country.

“The $1b inflow is far less than what the economy consumes. The entire FX market is over 20 billion dollars monthly.

Some market traders attributed to the not-tooimpressive performance of the Naira at the markets to forex scarcity.

In spite of the lingering

shortfall, the Naira has remained within N490 exchnage rate range to the dollar since the commencement of business this year.

“The cleared backlog of the CBN are funds that came through the FMDQ OTC foreign investment that came into the economy over time and the CBN has no option than to redeem it, to close the increasing gap of investors’ confidence,’’ Gwadabe Market indicators Gainersand andLosers Losers Gainers StartDate Date02/01/2017 02/01/2017through throughEnd Date03/01/2017 03/01/2017 said.

Start Date All-Share IndexEnd 26,616.89 points Print Date 03/01/2017 Print Date 03/01/2017

Vitafoam’s boss explains new focus, 2016 dividend payment Tola Akinmutimi

D

espite the tough operating environment characterized by high cost of production and low purchasing power of consumers, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc’s management has unfolded new strategic focus for optimum operations of the company under recession and assured the shareholders of payment of dividend for the 2016 financial year.

Besides, the mattresses and a range of home comfort materials manufacturing company has pledged to sustain its corporate culture of innovative products at competitive prices

for enhanced shareholder value.

In his preliminary review of the last year’s operations of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria, Vitafoam’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, explained that it was a very tough period as the most difficult problem was how to make realistic business decision in the face of continuous uncertainty in view of insecurity, exchange rate, interest rate, devaluation of the Naira and insecurity of lives and property.

Adeniyi, who noted that the company’s board and management had learnt

how to operate profitably under recession, assured the shareholders of dividend after the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) early this year.

He commended the shareholders for their support and understanding in the year under review.

“Our shareholders are our pride. We have an obligation to work very hard to ensure that they are rewarded. We have consistently paid dividend. We shall pay dividend for 2016 despite the recession.

“We have always sustained our culture of shareholder value and we shall continue to appreciate our shareholders’ advice on

how to move the company forward. It has been difficult to plan under recession. But we have mastered the terrain. We can now do better planning.

Our strategic focus is now to plan by the day. We plan as they come. At least we can now forecast some variables. This is helping us,” Adeniyi added.

Commenting on the manufacturing sector, the industrialist noted that companies that imported most of their raw materials had challenges with the exchange rate and non-availability of foreing currencies due to improper alignment of fiscal and monetary policies.

Johnson Okanlawon

T

he major stock market index fell 0.96 percent to 26,616 points, dragged down by losses in banking, petroleum and breweries.

The overall market sentiment was impacted by corporate earnings outlook, but it recorded a higher trading volume compared to pre-holiday

forward, we are of the view that the market will continue to see more of speculative trading.

The Ecobank Transnational Incorporation and chocolate maker Cadbury posted the biggest losses, 4.95 percent each. Energy company Oando followed at 4.89 percent.

Other big declines included Nigerian Breweries, which was down 4.05 per-

….as Conoil, Ecobank, others emerge exchange’s high cap stocks

C

onoil, Ecobank and Dangote Flour Mills have emerged highly capitalized stocks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

This is coming on the heel of review of the NSE30, and the seven sectoral indices of the Exchange, which are selected based on their market capitalization.

These indices are, NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Banking, NSE Insurance,

NSE Industrial, NSE Oil & Gas, NSE Pension and the NSE Lotus Islamic Indices.

A statement by the exchange indicated that the indices were normally reviewed bi-annually (June and December) except for NSE Pension index that is reviewed once in the year (December).

According to the NSEt, the review process will see the entry of some major companies and the exit of

others from the various indices. .

It added that the NSE-30 and NSE Industrial Indices are modified market capitalization index with the numbers of included stocks fixed at 30 and 10, respectively.

Other incoming stocks are, Okomu Oil Palm Plcand Presco Plc, while Sterling Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc exist the highly capitilised stocks.

Market capitalisation 9.16trn Gainersfor forEquities Equities Gainers

S/N S/N 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13

Symbol Symbol UAC-PROP UAC-PROP STANBIC STANBIC WAPIC WAPIC FIDSON FIDSON UNITYBNK UNITYBNK UCAP UCAP DIAMONDBNK DIAMONDBNK WEMABANK WEMABANK FBNH FBNH MANSARD MANSARD VITAFOAM VITAFOAM CHAMPION CHAMPION UACN UACN

2016-12-30 2017-01-03 2016-12-30 2017-01-03 Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) 2.62 2.75 2.62 2.75 15.00 15.69 15.00 15.69 0.50 0.52 0.50 0.52 1.28 1.33 1.28 1.33 0.55 0.57 0.55 0.57 2.73 2.81 2.73 2.81 0.88 0.90 0.88 0.90 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.55 3.35 3.40 3.35 3.40 1.67 1.69 1.67 1.69 2.40 2.42 2.40 2.42 2.45 2.47 2.45 2.47 16.81 16.90 16.81 16.90

Gain(N) Gain(N) 0.13 0.13 0.74 0.74 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.08 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.09 0.09

% Change % Change 4.96 4.96 4.95 4.95 4.00 4.00 3.91 3.91 3.64 3.64 2.93 2.93 2.27 2.27 1.85 1.85 1.49 1.49 1.20 1.20 0.83 0.83 0.82 0.82 0.54 0.54

Loss(N) Loss(N) -0.25 -0.25 -0.51

% Change % Change -5.00

Losers for Equities Losers for Equities

S/N Symbol S/N1 Symbol CCNN 1 2 CCNN ETI 2 3 ETI CADBURY

34 45 56 67 78 89

CADBURY OANDO OANDO AIICO

AIICO AFRIPRUD AFRIPRUD OMOSAVBNK OMOSAVBNK BETAGLAS BETAGLAS NB

910 NB STERLNBANK 1011 STERLNBANK GUARANTY 1112 GUARANTY FLOURMILL 1213 FLOURMILL ZENITHBANK FIDELITYBK 1314 ZENITHBANK UBA 1415 FIDELITYBK ACCESS 1516 UBA

Stocks dip 0.96% on bearish trading trend volume.

Offer position outweighed bid position supported by the 2.38 points decline in banking sector as investors’ reduced exposure to the sector.

The banking sector wasn’t the only weak spot as most heavily-weighted sectors also registered losses. While there are no incentives for investors to take on new risks, going

Source: NSE

FO 1617 ACCESS UBN 1718 FO

2016-12-30 2017-01-03 2016-12-30 2017-01-03 Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) Closing Price(N) 5.00 Closing Price(N) 4.75

5.00 10.28 10.28 10.29 10.29 4.70

4.75 9.77 9.77 9.78 9.78 4.47 4.47 0.60

4.70 0.63 0.63 3.05

0.60 2.91 2.91 0.84

3.05 0.88 0.88 30.32

-0.51 -0.51 -0.51 -0.23 -0.23 -0.03 -0.03 -0.14 -0.14 -0.04 -0.04 -1.32

-5.00 -4.96 -4.96 -4.96

-4.96 -4.89 -4.89 -4.76 -4.76 -4.59 -4.59 -4.55

30.32 147.99 147.99 0.76

0.84 29.00 29.00 142.00 142.00 0.73

0.76 24.70 24.70 18.49

0.73 24.00 24.00 18.00

-0.03 -0.70 -0.70 -0.49

18.49 14.75

18.00 14.40

-0.49 -0.35

-2.83 -2.65 -2.65 -2.37

0.84 14.75 4.50 0.84

0.83 14.40 4.45 0.83

-0.01 -0.35 -0.05 -0.01

-1.19 -2.37 -1.11 -1.19

5.87 4.50 84.43 5.87 5.50 84.43

5.81 4.45 84.22 5.81 5.49 84.22

-0.06 -0.05 -0.21 -0.06

-1.02 -1.11 -0.25 -1.02

-0.01 -0.21

-0.18 -0.25

-1.32 -5.99 -5.99 -0.03

-4.55 -4.35 -4.35 -4.05 -4.05 -3.95 -3.95 -2.83

FX FUTURES OPEN CONTRACTS UBN 5.50 AS AT JANUARY 5.49 3, 2017 (4:30PM) -0.01 -0.18 cent; Sterling Bank, which 18 OTC Contract Tenor Settlement Value of Open Current Rate Contract fell 3.95 percent; and Guar(Month) Date Contracts ($’mm) ($/₦) 187.80 1 NGUS JAN 25 2017 25-Jan-2017 303.00 anty Trust Bank, down by 193.58 2 NGUS FEB 22 2017 22-Feb-2017 300.00 238.32 3 NGUS MAR 22 2017 22-Mar-2017 297.00 2.83 percent.

Page 1 of Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © APR 26 2017 812.56 4 NGUS 26-Apr-2017 294.00 The naira lost around a 170.80 5 Exchange NGUS 24-May-2017 Page 291.00 1 of Published by The Nigerian Stock © MAY 24 2017 553.56 6 NGUS JUN 21 2017 21-Jun-2017 288.00 third of its official value 485.31 7 NGUS JUL 19 2017 19-Jul-2017 285.00 277.81 8 NGUS AUG 16 2017 16-Aug-2017 against the dollar in 2016 282.00 302.22 9 NGUS SEP 20 2017 20-Sep-2017 279.00 and the stock market de163.17 10 NGUS OCT 25 2017 25-Oct-2017 276.00 145.62 11 NGUS NOV 29 2017 29-Nov-2017 272.00 clined 6.17 percent over 132.60 12 NGUS DEC 27 2017 27-Dec-2017 274.00 the same period, reflecting 3663.35 Total a slump in the economy.

Termination of Trading Trading shall cease at 2:00PM eight (8) calendar days before the expiry date of each respective Contract. i.e. the Tuesday preceding the week the contract expires.

Rate (%) Inflation

17.61

MPR

14

Crude oil price

$53.72

Exchange

Rates (N)

WAUA

407.5198

USD

304.5

EURO

316.3146

CFA

0.4793

YEN

2.5751

SWISS FRANC

295.5737

POUNDS STERLING

374.1087

SDR

409.3394

NITTY Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

1M

15.6441

-1.18

2M

16.4119

-0.84

3M

16.640

-0.85

NITTY as @ December 30, 2016

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

10.0417

1M

17.7188

3M

18.5586

6M

22.2088 NIBOR as @ December 30, 2016NIBOR FAQs

3

3

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

Arts Lounge

MMEE signs five acts

28

Carnival Calabar: Why Nigerian Navy withdrew

28

Tackling Nigeria’s online piracy in 2017 New media platforms offer greater advantages for the creative industry; but there are challenges for content creators. What is the way forward this new year?

NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

P

rojections say world Internet users may have exceeded two billion, going by a recent survey made available by a leading Internet data bank,www.internetworldstat.com. This is expected to engender a digital revolution the world may not have witnessed nor anticipated. While the technology companies are getting set for this eventuality with gizmos that avail data in real time and on the move, it becomes pertinent that the real owners of the data evolve ways of protecting the works they have put on the Internet. Bulk of these content providers, who range from book authors, to musicians to film producers, visual artists and photographers, according to stakeholders will face a very stiff challenge in this regards, as the new frontier begins this exponential outburst.

A book publisher, Ben Osagie, of Heritage Books toldArts Lounge that the new dawn will offer a lot of advantages for book authors and publishers, because the platform for distribution would have limitless borders, but that the industry should also brace up for intellectual rights violations that would come with it.

“While the platform for distribution will be limitless the new challenge would definitely be how to protect the rights of the content owners. I foresee e-books leaving this paper format behind and assuming the digital format, which would be downloaded as e-books or e-magazines. Perhaps as we move on, the platform for collection of royalties due to the author would improve, but what would happen in the event that someone pays to download the material and uses it for things other than what the materials

Cybercafe were initially authorized for?”

The music industry is not left alone in this impending fear. As CDs are fast giving way to downloadable music, the industry would also be confronted with the challenge of fashioning a fool-proof way of protecting their works in the face of this emerging music market driven by the Internet. This concern has left stakeholders in the music industry with no option but to fashion ways of staying afloat as this new storm begins.

Obviously, Nigerian artistes need Intellectual Property experts now more than before.

According an Intellectual Property lawyer, Edwin Umeajah, every artiste who wants to go into any dealings should first consult intellectual property lawyers who would explain the limits of his rights within the framework of the agreement he is entering into with any portal. This is necessary, considering the loose nature of the internet.

“It is neither here nor there for now. Enabling laws to enforce that are yet to be firmly rooted in the country, owing to some issues.

When it takes a trans-continental posture, it becomes more difficult to enforce even. In Nigeria, the case between Ayo Bankole a musician and the Ecobank is one of the most popular in this regard.

The musician’s composition was used for the phone answering service of the bank, and he threatened to go to court, making the bank to go into agreement

with him on the limits of their usage about his works. Every artiste in this age needs to cultivate the culture of getting lawyers to draft their agreement when they want to enter into any dealings.

For book authors, the same thing applies, because the digital age makes their works more accessible to readers many readers in far-flung vicinities”.

But the various collecting societies, still advise content owners in the digital age that the best option is to enlist with a collecting society, which would do all negotiations on their behalf. In Nigeria, the Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, which has been championing the cause of the rights of most musical artistries told Arts Lounge that while the issue of copyrights infringement cannot be completely eliminated, artistes or content providers can do themselves a lot more good by finding a way of enlisting with only the authorised collecting society existing in the country.

“Yes, it is true that we are living in a world that is becoming borderless, as a result of technology, which leaves so much burden in the area of protecting one’s rights, I have to note here that achieving a fool-proof way

of protecting the rights of artiste is not absolute, but the artiste can do himself so much good by registering with a collecting society.

Once the authorized society has the mandate of the artiste, bulk of the violations would be minimized especially at the corporate or commercial levels”, says Tony Okoroji, the chief executive officer of COSON. The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation, ARIPO, working to protect the rights of African artistes also believes that enlistment in copyright protection society remains a veritable tool in the quest to protect one’s rights now.

While it has been established that it may be difficult erasing infringements on rights in the digital age, what options are there left for artistes whose contents have been violated?

Mike Umeajah, Intellectual Property lawyer says the best option remain seeking redress in court. “Like I said before when it is established, the artiste should seek redress in court, because it is only a court of law that has the power to enforce it. Copyright infringement cases in Nigeria usually do not go beyond the appeal court, which goes to show the

Achieving a fool-proof way of protecting the rights of artiste is

not absolute, but the artiste can do himself so much good by registering with a collecting society

kind of seriousness they attach to it. Once it is decided at that level, the victim gets full compensation”.

However, Jochen Schaefer, a German lawyer of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods and Industry, WFSGI, offers a new vista in the latest edition of the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO, bulletin.

According to him, ‘Trademark law, like other areas of intellectual property (IP) law, is governed by principles of territoriality. In the online environment, however, where it is relatively easy to maintain an anonymous identity, using “offshore” Internet service providers (ISPs) or servers, for example, infringers can dodge legal action initiated by courts or administrative bodies in the countries in which they have a virtual presence and in which they generate profits. The difficulties associated with successfully pursuing online IP infringers using a conventional legal approach are further compounded by a lack of uniformity in the legal landscape. While there is a degree of harmonisation of the laws and regulations governing IP rights and their enforcement, these are not unified. Varying laws and practices in different jurisdictions make it difficult to navigate the legal landscape, fuelling legal uncertainty about outcomes.

Against this backdrop, some commentators have cast the law as a lame duck limping behind dynamic new commercial and technological developments in the real world. Claiming damages from infringers in the borderless digital environment can prove extremely difficult.

While the courts and competent administrative authorities play a key role in stopping illegal use of brands online, the importance for right holders to secure the underlying facts and accompanying evidence cannot be overstated. If a company is to win its day in court, it is critical that emphasis be placed on gathering this information prior to and during litigation and particularly for interim relief proceedings.”

With enabling laws in this regard may be lacking in Nigeria, this ought to constitute a new focal point for stakeholders in the art industry, if the ‘art must pay’.

Arts Lounge

28

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

FAR AND NEAR

Carnival Calabar: Why Nigerian Navy withdrew OBAJI AKPET

T

he Nigerian Navy are currently at loggerhead with the Carnival Calabar and have withdrawn their participation from the annual street party citing security as the reason for their withdrawal, our reporter has learnt from impeccable sources in the commission.

But Navy’s reasons for withdrawal from this year’s carnival may have far more other undertones kept from public eyes.

In addition to their withdrawal, it was gathered that the Nigerian Navy dispatched some of its men and abducted Mr. Francis Ekpo, the spokesman for Carnival Commission, who was said to be kept under detention for a day before the commission ran around to settle for his release. It was a mean situation, our medium learnt.

1st carnival calabar Our reporter gathered further that the reason the Carnival Commission’s spokesman was detained was in a bid for the Navy to recover back the funds they expended on the carnival, but our reporter could not, as at press time ascertain the exact sum.

But Ekpo is said to since have been released the minute cash spent on the car-

nival by the Nigerian Navy was refunded. The force were thorough in their demand, as not, even a coin was left back.

All efforts to reach the Commander Ayi, Public Relations Officer of Cross River Command to get his take proved abortive as his phone line was switched off.

On his part, the Special Assistant to Cross River Governor on State Events and Online Media, Mr. Mathias Amgbah, who appeared not to be privy to the incident, wondered why the Nigerian Navy that is supposed to be in charge of security will withdraw from the carnival citing security as a reason.

‘StarTimes is promoting cultural integration’ OLUWASANMI FEMI

W

ith about 2000 Nigerians gainfully employed in an initiative to dub some foreign productions into some of Nigeria’s indigenous languages, the management of pay TV provider, StarTimes, has allayed the fears of Nigerian producers that it may erode the nation’s cultural heritage, pointing out that it would rather foster cultural integration.

Some indigenous film-makers, see the plan to dub Chinese films and air it in the country as a threat to the indigenous arm of the Nigerian film industry, its culture and economy in general.

A statement signed by the company’s Head, Public Relations, Isreal Bolaji, explained it thus: “The world has become a

global village mention a few, which which continare dubbed in English ues to shrink and other popular lanexponentially guages of the world. due to sustained Cultural integration advancement in is a continuous phetechnology. The nomenon that dates implication of back to when man this is that culwas first created. Boltural communiAt StarTimes event lywood movies and cations too have some Chinese contents to align with the are subtitled. But some current trend. In reality, cultural intermin- of the fans of these contents who are howgling is even growing faster than the rate of ever slow readers rightly feel short-changed. global integration.

Hence the urgent need to dub voices in their “This is clearly evident in Yoruba mov- preferred language. This has no intention to ies being subtitled in English, Indian mov- suppress any culture here. ies with English, French, Arabic or Swahili “In fact, rather than cultural erosion, subtitles, Mexican, Philippines,’ Koreans, what we have is an harmonious cultural Chinese, Japanese, Indian series, just to integration and better entertainment for

At Miss Umu Anioma pageant ISIGUZO DESTINY

F

ormer Miss Oshimili North, Miss Sandra Nkemakonam Obi has been crowned as 2016 Miss Umu Anioma Beauty Queen after a keen contest with other nine contestants at Orchids Hotels in Asaba, Delta State.

Miss Obi emerged top after all the contestants were drilled during the Miss Umu Anioma Beauty Pageant which is a part of the events of the 2016 Umu Anioma World Convention.

The first runner up was Miss Ndokwa West, Dumebi Vanessa Ufeli while second runner up was Miss Ndoni, Joyce Ifeanyi Iweka.

The ten young queens were drilled in four major areas in order to be selected as the Beauty Pageant Winner, including:

At Miss Anioma pageant

traditional outfit, platform competition (catwalk), photogenic, evening gown and interview session.

Speaking shortly after the contest, convener of the Umu Anioma Beauty Pageant, Prince Emmanuel Ohai said that first prize winner attracts N100, 000: 00; second prize, N50, 000:00 and third prize, N25, 000:00.

viewers. Just why anybody or culture will raise dust or feel threatened beats us as the proposed plans to air foreign films in indigenous languages is definitely creating more jobs for many Nigerian translators and voice over artistes, extending audience reach and appeal, enriching entertainment variety for viewers and translating to higher revenues for Nigeria. To be more specific, the project currently has over 2000 Nigerians gainfully employed and working in over 10 studios, with all productions done right here in Nigeria and by Nigerians.”

The Future Awards Africa 2016

ident- elect of The Republic of Ghana, Dr. Nana Akufo-Addo.

The biggest prize ensational singer Yemi of the night went to Alade, Adenrele SonarNigeria’s youngest Somkele Iyamah Idhalama, iwo and 19 others who Future Awards Winner commissioner, Mark have distinguished themselves Okoye, who heads the in their various fields have been honEconomic Planning and Budget Developoured by Africa’s most prestigious youth ment Team in Anambra State. awards, The Future Awards Africa 2016 .

Okoye brings tenure as a senior member The Future Awards Africa in its 11th had of the investment banking division at Afrthe key players shaping the future in the 105 invest (West Africa) Limited where he was nominees identified across 21 categories. instrumental in executing numerous capital The event which held at the Federal Palraising and financial advisory transactions ace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, was attended by Nigeria’s political, cultural, media to his new position, leaving an illustrious investment banking career, to join the Anamand entertainment elite.

The keynote speech was given by the Pres- bra State Economic Think-Tank.

LEONARD OKACHIE

S

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Meet Sheviytane of Dats Music IFECHI OKOH

G

radually, his romance with music has finallybecome a reality for talented Shehu Yakubu massively addressed as Sheviytane, de rap moral.

It all started in 2006 when he lost his father and had to relocate to Lagos.

Here according to him, “the musician in me began to show gradually in a funny manner. It does mostly when sweeping, washing my uncle’s car or doing something else.”

As an intelligent young man, he started to document some of his compositions at a point in time, to ensure that he didn’t forget the lyrics.

For years, the lyrics fermented well.

So, it was easy for Sheviytane to touch them up for acceptability.

Interestingly, the right time came when the MD/C.E.O of ‘Dats Music’, Gibson Darry watched his performance and was satisfied with his brand of music, rendition and performance which lead to signing him on last weekend in a short, but titillating ceremony.

The highly elated veteran broadcaster turned businessman, Darry maintained during the occasion that the arrival of this young man on the beats scene, is bound to change the game.

Yakubu

MMEE signs five acts Oseyiza Oogbodo

M

usic Made Easy Empire has signed on five new acts, Edefe Louis, a.k.a El Kaline, an R&B and reggae dancehall artiste who hails from Delta State; Michael Gowon, a.k.a.

Kaywiz, also a reggae act from same state; Terrific, an Afropop act who hails from Ogun State; Raymond Frances Alfred, a.k.a Rayplus, an hiphop artist from Ghana; and Sugar Bee. The new acts have released an MMEE All Star EP album that features various other artistes.

Founder of the label, Agbashomore Victor Ovie, a real estate investor and transporter, declared that his passion for music informed his decision to invest in a record label, hoping that with time, his acts would have been groomed into versatile and prolific artistes.

MMEE acts with their boss

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Features

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Dogara: An embodiment of moral rectitude Turaki A. Hassan

F

orty nine years ago, a humble child was born in the back waters of what is today north eastern Nigeria. That child, against all odds is today one of Nigeria’s shinning stars, a beacon of hope, icon of transparency and progressive leader- Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who by the special grace of God occupies the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives- The people’s chamber.

Dogara, a determined go-getter, an embodiment of moral rectitude; epitome of humility and repository of knowledge is a child of destiny.

Coming from a very humble background, breed in the rural community of Tafawa-Balewa, Bauchi state, northeastern Nigeria, Dogara, is leaving to the expectations of the people.

Here is a man who after excelling in university was sought after and offered automatic lucrative jobs in multinational oil companies but declined because he strongly believes that there is more to life than money and rather opted to practice law with all the attendant consequences and uncertainties which permeates our society.

Propelled and motivated by the urge and the desire to help and offer selfless service to mankind; he took his destiny into his hands knowing that men are the masters of their fate.

That singular decision, not to be lured by lucre; even in a society whose values are measured in how much material possession one garners, tells volumes about his inner man, thoughts, traits, personality, thoughts and the selfless character of Dogara.

His incorruptible character came to bear in the 6th Assembly, while serving as chairman of the Customs and Excise committee, he rejected a $5 million bribe offered in a desperate move to thwart investigation in the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service by some inept, corrupt and unpatriotic contractors and their collaborators within the service then.

Again, in the wake of his defection from the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), N500 million and an automatic return ticket was offered to him; only if he returns to the PDP, yet he declined the offer and moved on.

The ability and courage to resist a mouth-watering and tempting offers of that nature and magnitude; not because he had gathered enough but for the fear of God and the love of country is what defines the personae and character of Dogara as a patriotic and incorruptible leader.

He believes and practices politics of give and take, consensus building and compromise-accommodating both friends and foes-putting aside that which is personal for the collective interests of the Nigerian people.

The Speaker strongly believes in dialogue, negotiation and consensus building, which are the cardinal pillars of his leadership.

His quality of being peaceful and one who strongly believes in building bridges of friendship and love across the divides

Dogara has in no small way, helped in bringing the desired stability in the House He has continued to enjoy enormous support and loyalty from his colleagues, who acknowledge his transparency and open-door policy.

No wonder, the House in just one and half years has achieved many firsts and surpassed records sets by all previous assemblies put together. In 18 months of its tenure, the House has passed into law about 150 bills some of which have either been signed into law or are awaiting Senate’s concurrence.

Prominent among these is the North East Development Commission Establishment bill, the bill he conceived, personally sponsored and galvanised support from his colleagues in both chambers.

The Speaker also empanelled a highpowered committee of renown and erudite scholars and legal luminaries to clean up Nigeria’s statues books from 1900 to date which turned in hundreds of bills that are going through the legislative mills in the House. In total, about 800 bills and almost 1000 motions were introduced in just one and half years.

Not only that, the Speaker embarked upon visitations to Internally Displaced Persons’ camps across the country, providing succor and giving them messages of hope that although weeping may last in the night, joy cometh in the morning because according to him, the worst that can happen to a people is to lose hope.

In one such visit to an IDP camp in Edo state, Dogara broke down in tears after seeing a crowd of over 2000 young children aged 3 to 18, orphaned by Boko Haram insurgency and offered to pay for WEAC and NECO examination fees of those finishing secondary school.

Thus, he continued his push for the convocation of international donor conference to rebuild the north east apart from monthly financial contribution by all MPs from the region which he is spearheading.

Instructively, for the first time in the legislative history of Nigeria since independence, the House under Dogara, introduced Sectoral Debates last May where ministers appeared before the lawmakers and told Nigerians about the Federal government’s economic and social policies aimed at diversifying and revamping the economy and putting the country back to the path of growth, development and economic prosperity.

Similarly, he has been leading campaigns for the deepening of the Nigerian capital market and even made history as the first presiding officer of the National Assembly to visit the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos where he sounded the closing gong where he assured investors that the House will pass legislation that will ease business, attract foreign direct investment and create jobs for the teaming millions of our youths.

Talking about youths, the speaker is also at the forefront of campaign to pass the #NotTooYoungToRun bill aimed at reducing the minimum age required by law to stand for elections in Nigeria.

Already, the bill has since scaled second reading.

Also for the first time, over 100 students from over 100 public and private Nigerian Universities on the invitation of the Speaker converged on Abuja- the National Assembly in specific where he interacted with them for two days. Gave them insight to the running and activities of the parliament and answered their questions- a similar meeting is in the offing for Polytechnic students which is unprecedented.

Additionally, the Speaker continued to mediate between the Federal government and the young resident doctors with marathon meetings spanning through weeks and months which resulted in calling off the strike and averted future industrial actions.

His interventionist meetings with the Nigerian Labour Congress helped in

29

averting a major national industrial action early in the year following removal of fuel subsidies.

On the political front, the House under Dogara, is stable and at peace with itselfbusy discharging its roles and responsibilities to the electorate, thanks to his political sagacity and leadership prowess.

It is also his belief that the Executive and the Legislature must not fight or be engaged in a supremacy battle before they can work to move the nation forward.

Dogara believes that justice is needed in building a civil society and that for societies to grow, leaders must understand the workings of justice which is necessary in any democracy for equality to thrive.

At every opportunity, he emphasises that the primary interest of leaders at all levels should be the people and not their ego or power tussle. He would insist that the bickering and animosity that characterised the relationship between the two arms of government in the past should never be allowed to rear its head again under the change administration of the APC because this government, which came on the promises of change, cannot afford to fail the people.

This has earned him commendations from many quarters including the All Progressives Governors Forum chairman, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state who while addressing a team of visiting federal MPs in Owerri recently fsaid: “I commend the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara for the patriotic role he played towards reconciling the National Assembly with the Presidency.”

His honesty, patriotism, sterling leadership qualities and political sagacity are being recognised, commended thus earning him awards and honours.

In March this year, Dogara was honoured by the Royal Commonwealth Society for leading the House to pass an unprecedented 130 bills in one legislative sitting which they acknowledged is no small feat. “We looked at the feat, it is an all-inclusive kind of governance for Nigerian people and he deserved that recognition and that is why the Commonwealth gave him that recognition.”

The Speaker also received the Zik Leadership Award for Public Service 2015, Leadership Newspapers Group Politician of the Year 2015 and has just been named the Sun Newspaper Group Political Icon of the Year 2016.

What more can one say about such an unassuming personality, master tactician, progressive, vibrant politician, erudite scholar of high repute, lawyer per excellence and one who has achieved these feats and greatness through hard work, honesty, and fear of God as is required of leaders in these trying times in Nigeria.

It was Josiah Gilbert Holland who aptly cried unto God to give us men as like this. “Men with Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands. Men whom the lust of office does not kill. Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy.

Men who possess opinions and a will.

Men who have honor....”

30

Business Features & Finance

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Giving succour through Remi Babalola Red Cross Hospital

W

hile it is not in doubt that Nigeria as a country has enormous potentials in terms of human resources and other spheres to take the lead if not in the whole world but at least in Africa, its health indicators do not rank among the best. Indeed, skilled medical workers who ought to help salvage the situation have been brain-drained to countries on whose priorities the health of their citizens come first.

Various statistics by different agencies within and outside the country have painted gloomy outlook concerning the country’s health sector.

For instance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its 2015 report on the country put life expectancy at 53 years for male and 56 years for female. Also, 357 male citizens and 325 females out of every 1, 000 Nigerians have a very high probability of dying between ages 15 and 60.

Similarly, the total government expenditure on health per capital is put at $217 (N70, 525 at N325 exchange rate of naira to a USD). While the WHO stipulates 1:600 as the standard doctorcitizens ratio, Nigeria boasts only of 35, 000 doctors who are working in the country, a figure that shows that a doctor services approximately 5, 143 Nigerians.

The danger from the above is that the provision of healthcare services has become a major challenge in the country, while the citizens, particularly the poor, continue to sing songs of lamentation. But the question that readily comes to mind is: Should the lamentation endure while the unsavoury situation continues to take its toll on the health of the citizens?.

However, Dr. Remi Babalola, who was Minister of State for Finance between July 2007 and August 2010, believes rather than lamenting, public-spirited Nigerians ought to come on board to provide meaningful interventions in the area of healthcare services to complement what government is doing in the health sector. It was this disposition that informed the birth of a well-equipped private medical facility named, Remi Babalola Red Cross Medical Centre located in Gbagi area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Babalola, as a member of then Federal Executive Council, was appointed a volunteer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in 2008 by a delegation of the society led by its former president and present governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. The purpose of the appointment was for him to deploy his social influence to mobilise support for the establishment of a first-class medical facility devoted to providing for the healthcare needs of less-endowed Nigerians.

Before his ministerial appointment and engagement by the Red Cross, Babalola had been reaching out to the needy through his non-governmental organisation named, Remi Babalola Initiative (RBI) in the areas of education, health and poverty reduction. And moved by the need to save lives, the former minister, in 2009, swiftly used the RBI platform to mobilise funds for the establishment of the medical facility in partnership with the Red Cross and other well-meaning Nigerians. Thus, on November 17, 2012, the facility was inaugurated by a former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

The construction of the hospital was done solely by First Bank of Nigeria as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the influence of Babalola, who served as an Executive Director of the bank before his ministerial appointment. The hospital sits on a relatively expansive land provided by the Oyo State government during the immediate past administration and boasts of a modern theatre ward, medical laboratory and multiple patient wards.

The centre was purposely sited along Ibadan-Ife

Dr Babalola Highway and a few metres to the well-known Gbagi market as well as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) motor park.

The choice of the location is in tandem with the initial conception that the facility would serve as a clinic where accident causalities can get first aid medical intervention and also give lowincome earners access quality medicare.

A visit to the four year-old facility has helped to reveal what has kept it going. An orthopedic surgeon from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Abraham Anejukwo, who is the consultant in charge of the centre, while speaking disclosed how it has been since clinical activities began in the hospital in December 2012.

He said, “At the commencement of activities, it was discovered that beside road accident, there were some clinical conditions that need to be cared for among the people living in the community where the facility is located. So, it was decided that the scope of clinical services be expanded. Initially, we started with general patient/trauma care, but immunisation facility, physiotherapy and dental services have since been added and of course there is a laboratory and a pharmacy in the centre.

“The patient turn out is tremendous. At a point, the UCH medical personnel manning the centre were complaining because the load they get is more than what they get in a clinic of that size in UCH. Now that things have stabilised, we get at least 80 new patients every day and there was a time it went up to about 120. In four years, over 20,000 people have received quality and subsidised medicare at the centre on a not-for-profit basis. The centre provides quality and affordable healthcare services to the people.

Patients that don’t want to go to UCH go to Remi Babalola Medical Centre because they get the standard of UCH at the centre and without the bureaucracy and the delays [in government hospitals]. The patients don’t pay for their case notes, registration or consultation, which is a lot of relief for the people in the community when you consider their status as artisans with very low income. The drugs at the centre are sold at cheaper prices than market prices and for laboratory services, it is half the price at the centre.

“When we started, we thought we would only cater for low income people. But we get to see patients from all social classes, upper and middle class people, of course predominantly more of people from low income group from Adegbayi, Gbagi, Egbeda, Old Ife Road and many more.

The funny thing is that apart from these areas which are close to the centre, we have patients coming from as far as Apata and Bodija. I asked

them how they knew about the centre and they said people mentioned it to them and they were told it is UCH standard and that everything is done fast. We see bankers and others coming too”.

Anejukwo, who advocated the replication of such intervention not only across the state but all over the country, said tertiary health institutions were being burdened with medical conditions that ordinarily should be handled by primary and secondary health institutions rather than complicated health conditions for which they were set up. He then traced this to a dysfunction of the primary healthcare system in the country.

“Simple medical conditions should be managed at centres like the one set up by Dr. Babalola which is a little bit above primary healthcare facility because there are specialists from UCH who run the place and the facilities there are more than what you get in a typical primary healthcare centre. I have told Dr. Babalola personally that he should not give up, even if this partnership with the Red Cross is challenged. A lot of people have benefitted tremendously from the initiative. Even if public-spirited Nigerians don’t want to set up centres like he did, they can adopt those already in existence and work to make them functional and accessible to the masses”, he said. The initiator of the centre, Dr. Babalola, while speaking on how the fouryear journey has been, said, “It has been a very good journey. It made me realise that the best and the most beautiful things in the world are things that touch the heart. When we started it, we were not sure how much impact it was going to have. If you go to UCH website today, you will see that it is only PPP they have on their website and it has been described by the UCH as a landmark in terms of partnership.”

“So, I am very impressed about the role the centre has played in reducing the dilapidation in healthcare provision, especially in that area of Ibadan. The interesting thing is not just the number of patients it has attended to but the way that it has been expanded in terms of medical facilities far beyond a clinic for emergency intervention, but which later went beyond that.

Initially we thought the Red Cross Society was going to be able to anchor it, but we discovered that they didn’t have any structure in place and that was why I had to appeal to the UCH to support us. UCH has been so wonderful and extremely supportive. I was in Ibadan one day and the market women swarmed around me praying for us. They told us all the ailments that they used to think came as a result of spiritual attack from colleagues got treated at the centre.

They didn’t know the diseases were curable.

Money can’t buy this. So, it has been really very rewarding in terms of humanitarian service”, he added.

Speaking on the role of the Red Cross in the tripartite partnership, the former minister said, “to be honest with you, that is the reason why we are going to hand over to Red Cross by the end of the year. When I got involved, I raised the money and I thought Red Cross had the platform and the structure to handle it. But after I had raised the money, I realised that Red Cross didn’t have structure to handle it. They said they were going to look for volunteer doctors and personnel to do it. But we realised that was not going to work. So, instead of allowing it to fail, we changed the modality and made it a tripartite arrangement by involving the UCH. Now that we have operated it for four years successfully and Red Cross has seen how it is run, we are going to hand over to them to take over from where we stopped. I have even suggested that they should remove my name from the hospital. Periodically, we gave account to people who supported us highlighting inflows, outflows and patients attended to. The tripartite agreement is going to be extinguished and I am not sure the UCH will be involved. It is now left for the Red Cross to see whether they will sign a new agreement with the UCH or not”.

On whether it was the economic recession that informed the handing over to the Red Cross, Babalola said, “certainly NOT”. According to him, the centre had been self-financing from commencement as the funds raised were placed with banks like endowments and it is only the accrued interest that was used to fund the centre. He gave the assurance that it would continue in perpetuity.

A nursing mother who patronises the hospital, Mrs. Funmi Alebiosu, said the initiative was the best thing that had happened in the community in the last four years, stating that many people could have died from avoidable deaths under the blade of quacks that had flooded the heath sector because of the acute shortage of skilled personnel.

“There is the case of a woman who had suffered misdiagnosis at the hands of a local doctor.

It was when the woman was brought to Remi Babalola Hospital that it was revealed that she would have died if her relatives had not brought her to the hospital. We are grateful to Dr. Babalola for this lofty initiative and urge other rich Nigerians to emulate his example,” she said.

An official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Abuja Unit, Gbagi, Alhaji Wasiu Shittu, on his part, spoke about how beneficial the hospital has been to members of the union and the public at large. He said: “A lot of people in the community have benefitted tremendously from the hospital. People from Gbagi, Alakia, Adegbayi, and Isebo come to the hospital. I have their card which I got free of charge and I know many of our members who also have the cards. We receive treatment from the hospital every month for free. To see the doctor is free, no consultation fee is charged. The only thing we pay for is drugs and we get them for half the price. If the ailment is malaria, we get free malaria drugs at no cost. And the speed with which the personnel attend to patients is very commendable. What Remi Babalola has done for the community is unquantifiable. May Allah continue to bless him.

“There are many government primary healthcare centres around, but what distinguishes the hospital from others and what makes it the choice of many is that it is at the same level with the UCH in terms of quality healthcare.”

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KUTI: Formerly known and addressed as MISS KUTI RASHEDAT OLORUNJUWONLO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLANREWAJU OJERINDE RASHEDAT OLORUNJUWONLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MR. OJO BUSUYI now want to be known and addressed as MR. OLAMIDE BUSUYI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE GRACIOUS LORD FAMILY MINISTRY

2. THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN AND AMERICAN BLACK HEROES DAILY LEADERSHIP OF NIGERIA. 3. DANCE WORLD CUP FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA.

NO, 4, Alhaji Adejuwan Street, Crown Estate, Off Martins B/Stop, Akute, Ogun State.

The above named Church, Leadership Organization and Dance Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of the Corporate and Allied Matters Act 1. of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HIS GRACIOUS (AMB) PROPHET THANKGOD ONOSABORTOSOSE OKODUWA - Founder/President/Overseer 2. BARRISTER MARK OKPIAFOH ERIOFOLOH - Executive Secretary 3. BRO. EMMANUEL OKODUWA - Executive-Treasurer/Cultural and Community Welfare.

4. SIS. (MRS.) STELLA CHUKWUEMEKA OLUKU - Evangelist/Community Mobilizer.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GRACIOUS LORD FAMILY MINISTRY 1. To teach the people knowledge of God full of acceptable words, Laws of the land with wisdom and understanding truth, peace and the fear of God. 2. To reconcile people back to God and to work with Ambassadors of the Lord in Nigeria and to all Nations.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN AND AMERICAN BLACK HEROES DAILY LEADERSHIP OF NIGERIA. 2. To bring together Heroes of Africa and African-American in Nigeria, Africa, America and Organized Annual Leadership Forum Lectures, Award to strengthen, Propel Daily Community Leadership, Peace and Unity in Africa, African-American and in all black Communities in the world.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF DANCE WORLD CUP FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA. 3. To bring together the Nigeria dance spectrum under one umbrella shielding all forms of dance in the world, The Council International Dance (CID) recognised by UNESCO. To strengthen regulation and present Nigerian dances at National and International competitions.

4. To setup Educational Institutions that will enhance Educational Learning; Teaching, Skill, Leadership in Nigeria, Africa and daily lectures of the young generation and for the advancement of Gospel of reconciliation in Nigeria, Africa, AfricanAmerican and the world at large.

Any objection to this registration, appointment of these trustees should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission; Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: MARK OKPIAFOH ERIOFOLOH, ESQ.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS ODIGURE HILDA AIZEHINOMO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DUWEI HILDA AIZEHIOMO. All former documents remain valid; Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS DAVID RAMOTA RACHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JAMESDOUGLAS RAMOTA RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as IBIADE ISAAC IMOH, Now wish to be known and address as IMOH MONDAY. All former documents remain valid. STANBIC IBTC BANK, FCMB BANK and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as ADETAYO ADEYINKA MICHAEL, with a date of birth of 20/10/1973 now wishes to be known as ADEYINKA ADETAYO and my correct date of birth is 20/10/1980.

All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

RAPHAEL: Formerly known and addressed as RAPHAEL HELEN IYANMANU now wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTOPHER HELEN IYANMANU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as PETER OLUWARANTI ESTHER, now wish to be known and addressed as ADETUNJI OLUWARANTI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as ALAYO CHRISTIANA ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINJOLE ABIODUN ESTHER. All former documents remain valid; Keystone Bank Plc, BVN desk of Fidelity Bank Plc, general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as AMUSAN KHADIJAH MOJISOLA is the same person known as AMUSAN SHARAFADEEN KHADIJAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as SANUSI IBRAHEEM OMOTAYO ARESA now wish to be called and known as ABRAHAM OMOTAYO SANUSI. All former documents bearing the above names remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS. OTANBALA-OGUNLANA YEMISI BANKOLE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ONIFADE YEMISI BANKOLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THERESA OPENE FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. ABUJA UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DANIEL OPENE 2. IJEOMA OPENE 3. RALCHUKWU EZEANI 4. NNEKA OPENE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To provide education for deserving but Indigent youths 2) To provide social amenities such as water and health care facilities for communities.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed: Solicitor 08024543281

32

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Special education teachers: Their passion, challenges, rewards TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE in this report captures the mood and impacts of special education teachers towards securing a future for their students despite the numerous challenges confronting them.

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t a time when many teachers in the country go into the profession as a last resort following their failure to secure job in professions considered to be lucrative such as oil and gas, banking, ICT, some still willingly venture into the profession and specifically to teach students with special needs. They believe that nothing and not even the poor remuneration and conditions of service plaguing the profession, among numerous other challenges can discourage them.

One of such teachers today is Mr. Imoh Essien, who teaches Physical Education and Computer Studies at the Special Education Centre for Exceptional Children, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Another one is Salahudeen Mustaflahudeen, Head of unit at the Roman Catholic Mission Primary School (all inclusive), Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State as well as Dr. Adeleke Owoade, the Chairman of National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET), Lagos State chapter, among a few others.

Essien for example, has a strong passion for teaching. He ventured into the profession just as he bagged a first degree in Basic Science and Health Education from the University of Uyo 16 years ago.

And he spent only four years as a classroom teacher in a regular school when he voluntarily asked his employer, Akwa Ibom State Government to redeploy him to his present school where he has spent 12 years.

Salahudeen and Owoade on their part specifically went to College of Education (Special), Oyo, Oyo State where they were trained as special teachers. And since they had graduated from the college about 20 years ago and later went for further training, they don’t do any other job, other than teaching.

However, Essien who had equally done advanced studies in special education locally and overseas decided to teach students with special needs to help them, according to him, attaining their educational and other goals in life, more so, that Akwa Ibom State Government is yearning for more competent hands to teach vulnerable children.

“And it has been a wonderful experience ever since,” he told National Mirror.

However, the trio-Essien, Salahudeen and Owoade- have in their schools, stu-

Students displayed their self-made products during the World Disabilities Day dents with all manner of health challenges learning together with their ‘ablebodied’ counterparts. They include the visually, hearing and speaking impaired, mentally retarded and those suffering from Down syndrome and mobility challenges, among others.

They however pointed to one fact and that is to say their students are special breeds who require great skills from them to be able to absorb the normal learning that is often taken for granted in children without disability.

They reasoned that coping with these children effectively together in one classroom in this part of the world where basic facilities and infrastructures to support learning are grossly inadequate required that they need to combine normal teaching skills with several other skills and attributes.

They explained that some of their stu-

dents, particularly the mentally retarded ones are very difficult to educate because many of them, irrespective of age, could learn, for instance, the first five letters, 1-5, or alphabets, A-E for several weeks before they are able to understand anything.

This is as a result of the fact that many of them have poor auditory memory, low tolerance level, poor coordination, poor concept of time, weak self-esteem and are easily distracted and provoked.

To teach them therefore present some distinctive challenges. Not only will the students demand more of teachers’ time, energy and patience, so, too, will they require specialised instructional strategies in a structured environment that supports and enhances their individual learning potential.

“And we provide some of these instructional materials and create good environment by ourselves. We even have to go

He is the best Nigeria’s secondary school teacher and one of the few millionaires at

that level of education in the country today.

He walked into stardom recently following his participation in the 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year Award competition organised and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc on the platform of its charitable arm-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund

beyond academic and extra-curriculum activities by attending to those who still cannot eat or empty their bowels unaided. So, we come to class everyday with the mind that anything can happen including students defecating or urinating on the body,” both Owoade and Salahudeen told National Mirror separately. “So, we must have to accept and threat them the way they are and be able to carry them along and give them hope for a better tomorrow.

No discrimination of whatsoever in our activities.”

According to the 2006 Nigeria Population Census, the country has about 1.3 million children with disabilities.

This figure represents 39 per cent of the total 3.3 million persons living with disabilities in the country.

Interestingly, schools for children with disabilities operate the same curriculum with the regular schools. Inclusive schools like that of Essien, Salahudeen and Owoade which have both the ‘ablebodied’ children and those with disabilities together are not exempted.

“That is why our experience is not and can never be the same with our counterparts in regular schools as their students do almost everything by themselves and require less attention,” they argued.

They said they teach each student and attend to them according to their individual capability to assimilate and that students like mentally handicapped who cannot cope with serious mental work would still have to be trained on non-academic works like sewing, shoe and bead Continued on Page 36

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Education Today

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

33

Ex- C`River governor blames parents for education woes

Controversies trails Kogi Students’ Union election as 2 presidents emerge

Richard Ndoma

Wale Ibrahim

Calabar

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he immediate past Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke has indicted parents and guardians over what he called falling standard and poor quality of education offered to pupils and students in the primary and post primary institutions in the country.

He urged the society to hold them responsible, alleging that they are the ones aiding and abetting exam malpractice for their children.

Imoke made the observation during the 2016 award of scholarship to 30 indigent but intelligent students by The Bridge Leadership Foundation in the post primary schools in Cross River State.

He is the founder of the foundation and he spoke on “The role of education in building sustainable communities.”

Imoke however urged parents who are culprits of the allegation to desist from the practice and rather inculcate good moral values that can help the children contribute meaningfully to the national development.

“I will rather prefer a child to repeat four to five times WASCCE and pass well that to cut corner and become un-employable after school,” he stressed.

The former governor also condemned parents and guardians who are placing too much emphasis on sending their children to expensive and flashy schools even when the standard of teaching in those schools is lower than what is obtainable in public schools.

“I went to a public school and so also many of us including those who mark WASSCE. We trekked long distances to get to school and yet we were able to excel in school and in life,” he stressed.

Earlier, the moderators of the event, Temitope Ogunyi and Yinka Ogunde advocated for a good regulatory framework to improve on the quality of education for the youths.

PZ begins 2017 Chemistry challenge among students

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s part of its commitment to sociio-economic and educational development in the country, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has announced the commencement of its Chemistry Challenge for the 2016/2017 academic session.

The company organises the science quiz competition on the platform of its charitable arm - PZ Cussons Foundation- for students in senior secondary schools in Lagos State. It an annual event and this year with the theme “Be a winner,” is fourth in the series.

The competition, according to the organizers, is designed to stimulate and inspire the learning of chemistry among senior secondary school students, raise their level of reasoning and demonstrate the relevance of chemistry in the society.

The Corporate Affairs Director of the company, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti said in a statement, that the competition had really spurred the interest of many students in the learning of chemistry in a competitively fun way.

She noted that the contest had been for students alone, but this year’s edition would have teachers participating.

The reason for this, the director explained, was a realisation that the success of a student is tied to the commitment and dedication of his teachers.

“We will also for the first time produce six finalists to fight for four available awards while the edition will also promote girl-child education as we encourage schools to register at least one female candidate as participant.”

She said participating students would have to be registered by their schools and then come to designated exam centers with due signed forms.

She said overall winner would go home with N700, 000, a laptop and certificate while his or her teacher and school would be rewarded with N100, 000 cash and 100,000 worth of laboratory equipment respectively and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd runner-ups will also be rewarded accordingly.

Lokoja

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ontroversies have continued to trail the election of National Association of Kogi State Students, NAKOSS with many of the aspirants boycotting the election, alleging government interference.

National Mirror gathered that one election was allegedly conducted and supervised by government agents at the state stadium where Usman Ahmed from Lokoja Local Government Area of the state and 400 Level, Economics Student of Kogi State University, Anyigba emerged president, while other group also conducted parallel election at another venue to elect their own executive.

It was learnt that this situation started when some stakeholders of NAKOSS zoned the position of the President to Western Senatorial District and particularly to Lokoja/Koto to avoid too much tension, which has been a negative characteristic of the convention years before.

But the zoning arrangement was said to have been hijacked by the government agents who allegedly picked Ahmed for president single handedly, a decision which did not go down well with other aspirants.

However, one of the presidential aspirants, Idris Girinya has called for the cancelation of both elections which he described as Kangaroo, stating that the election of Ahmed contravenes both the electoral act and constitution of the student body.

Girinya who spoke through the DG of his campaign organisation, Abdullahi Ismaila said aside contravening the electoral act, the supposedly elected candidate who is in the last semester of his educa-

tion carrier was not qualified to contest in the first instance.

Meanwhile, Usman Ahmed has denied that the election was supervised by government agent, saying that a loser will always lay claim to one thing or the other to justify his or her failures.

He stated that if he was not popular candidate, he wouldn’t have won the election, calling all losers to join hands with him to build vibrant students’ union government.

L-R: Head, Department of Accounting, Babcock University, Ogun State; Professor Rufus Akintoye; Former Dean, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu; Dean of Social and Management Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Patrick Oladele, at the 2016/2017 first semester seminar presentation by doctoral students of the Department of Accounting, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, recently.

Mountain Top University not for profit making, Olukoya insists No hiding place for Tunbosun Ogundare

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he visitor to Mountain Top University, MTU, Prayer City, Ibafo, Pastor Daniel Olukoya has again declared that the university was not established to generate profit but to be part of agents that will rescue Nigeria and by extension Africa from the socio-economic woes betiding the continent for long.

He stated this at the second matriculation ceremony of the university held at the temporary site of the institution within the Prayer City premises on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway last week.

The erudite scientist and former ViceChancellor of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Prof Tolu Odugbemi delivered the distinguished series lecture on “Fundamental issues in running a new university in Nigeria” at the event.

MTU is a faith-based university established by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM and commenced operation last year.

However, Pastor Olukoya who is the General Overseer of the mission and molecular biologist by training emphasised that the university would was out to educate and train new Nigerians that would in turn bring about the required positive change in all spheres of life and to also carry out solution-based researches and community charity activities.

He said that was the reason the university instituted a scholarship foundation to

source for funds to sponsor as many indigents but brilliant students as possible on yearly basis and also distribute tablet (electronic mobile learning device) to every student of the school free of charge.

He however explained that, though, the university charged tuition fees, it was affordable to enable many students who want quality education to benefit from.

While promising that the university would not deviate from these vision and mission by making all necessary human and capital resources as well as infrastructures required of a first-rated citadel of learning available, Olukoya who was represented by the Assistant General Overseer of the mission, Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahan urged the newly admitted students to face their studies and observe all rules and regulations guiding their conduct.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi said apart from the fact that all the 20 courses being run by the university’s two colleges-Basic and Applied Sciences as well as Humanities, Management and Social Sciences were fully accredited by the nation’s university regulatory agency-National Universities Commission, the university could also boast of world-class academic and hostel environment.

He said all the students who must also undergo entrepreneurial and vocational skills acquisition training irrespective of courses of study and time frame were being prepared to be academically and morally sound and as global citizens.

Some of the principal officers and students of Mountain Top University, Ogun State during the 2nd matriculation ceremony held recently.

cultists in Kwara —Gov Wole Adedeji Ilorin

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overnor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has read a riot act to cult members in the state saying, harsh jail term awaits anyone caught.

There have been, in recent times, rising cases of cultism in the state particularly in Ilorin, the state capital leading to killings of innocent people in the state.

He was speaking at the 23rd combined convocation of the Kwara State Polytechnic where he was the visitor and an ex-student.

Apparently furious, Governor Ahmed said “My administration has zero tolerance to cultism and we are very serious about it. Anybody caught indulging in the act of cultism or any related acts risks a minimum of ten years in jail.

At the convocation, a total number of 48,761 were graduated covering eight consecutive sets that had finished their both National and Higher National Diplomas; ND/HND programmes between 2008 and 2016.

Governor Ahmed as an alumnus of the institution said he got a kind of sound knowledge and trainings from the polytechnic that prepared him to attain heights in life including becoming the number one citizen of the state.

He urged the institution’s graduates to follow suit by making sure that passing through the polytechnic did not only impart academic knowledge in them but also prepare them to be responsible citizens.

Earlier, the Rector of the polytechnic, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu chronicled the laudable growth of the institution in the past seven years that he had been at its helm of affairs including physical facelift, accreditation of academic programmes and commercial initiatives fetching the institution revenues which he had become a fiscal bailout for them at this austere time.

WorldNews

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, January 4, 2017 -

Page 34

Trump to North Korea: Anti-American missiles won’t happen Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

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Senegal’s Parliament in session

WORLD BULLETIN Baghdad’s car bomb claims dozens

Corruption: Nguema on trial in France In-coming US President Donald Trump

by even the strongest enemy,” Jong-un said.

North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests over the last year, raising fears that it has made significant nuclear advances.

But it has never successfully test-fired long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Experts estimate it might take less than five years. UN resolu-

tions call for an end to the country’s nuclear and missile tests.

But they believe the options are limited.

The most likely counter-measures would be infecting computers with disruptive viruses, and perhaps the assassination of key scientists, something difficult to do for many reasons.

According to Professor Siegfried Hecker of Stanford Univer-

sity in California in a speech in September, North Korea’s ability to field a missile fitted with a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the US is still a long way off, perhaps five to 10 years, although he expressed worries that North Korea’s technological ability could increase the likelihood of the spread of nuclear weapons to “non-state actors” or “terrorists”.

Diaspora Senegalese to get parliament seats enegalese people living abroad will be able to run for office in their home country for the first time in July’s elections, after MPs voted yesterday to increase the number of seats in parliament.

The National Assembly will add 15 seats for members of the country’s diaspora, bringing the total to 165.

There are hundreds of thousands of Senegalese expatriates who support families back home with remittances.

The new MPs will have to return to Senegal to serve their fiveyear terms.

Meanwhile, the opposition has

–Outgoing US President, Barack Obama

Reports yesterday said an ISIS car bomb killed 24 people in a busy square in Baghdad’s sprawling Sadr City district and the militants cut a key road north from the capital to Mosul, their last major stronghold in the country.

The reports said the ultra-hardline Sunni group had targeted a gathering of Shi’ite Muslims, whom it considered apostates. Sixty-seven people were wounded in the blast.

U.S.-backed Iraqi forces are currently fighting to push Islamic State from the northern city of Mosul, but are facing fierce resistance. The group has lost most of the territory it seized in a blitz across northern and western Iraq in 2014.

The recapture of Mosul would probably spell the end for its self-styled caliphate, but the militants would still be capable of fighting a guerrilla-style insurgency in Iraq, and plotting or inspiring attacks on the West.

U

S President-elect Donald Trump yesterday dismissed North Korea’s claim to be developing missiles capable of striking America.

In a tweet, Trump derided the claim by North Korea’s Kim Jongun that preparations were in the final stage, saying: “It won’t happen.”

It was not clear if Trump was expressing doubts about North Korea’s nuclear capabilities Trump also berated China for failing to help rein in its ally North Korea.

“China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally onesided trade, but won’t help with North Korea. Nice!” he tweeted.

A spokesman for China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry however said Beijing’s efforts on Korean peninsula de-nuclearisation were “perfectly obvious”.

“China has proactively participated in UN discussions and jointly passed several resolutions,” the spokesman pointed out.

In a televised New Year message on Sunday, the North Korean leader said his country was close to testing long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

“We are now a military power of the East that cannot be touched

“America is not the project of any one person.

Because the single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.’”

criticised the move, describing it as a waste of money.

“This measure is absurd,” an MP from the main opposition Democractic Part of Senegal (PDS), Amar Sarr, said yesterday.

Across French-speaking West Africa, expatriates are often given a say on national politics through the foreign ministry, but rarely through direct parliamentary representation.

Opposition MPs unsuccessfully argued for keeping the size of the National Assembly at its current level of 150 MPs. They have said they will appeal the bill at the Constitutional Court.

Envoys ducks Brexit talks, resigns

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ritain’s Ambassador to the European Union, Ivan Rogers, has resigned just months before Brexit negotiations are due to begin, according to reports yesterday.

Before he quit, Rogers was due to lead the UK’s negotiations to leave the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK will begin the formal process of doing so by the end of March.

News of the resignation comes weeks after the EU’s Chief Brexit Negotiator, Michel Barnier, warned Britain that it may only have 18 months to strike an exit deal from the bloc.

Barnier said the process

would need to be completed

by October 2018 to allow for ratification by the 27 remaining member states within the two-year time scale prescribed by EU rules.

“Should the UK notify the council by the end of March 2017, as Prime Minister Theresa May said she would, it is safe to say negotiations could start a few weeks later and an Article 50 agreement be reached by October 2018,” he said.

Barnier warned the time available to conclude a deal would be short. “All in all, there will be less than 18 months to negotiate.”

Rogers, who had been in

his post since November 2013, reportedly told ministers in October that a new free trade agreement with the EU could take 10 years to negotiate. The Prime Minister’s office said that did not reflect the government’s view.

Britain’s Ambassador to the EU, Ivan Rogers

Equatorial Guinea’s flamboyant Vice President, Teodorin Obiang Nguema, has gone trial in absentia in France on charges of corruption after he failed to stop the landmark case.

Nguema is accused of buying a mansion and sports cars in France with a fortune amassed from oil-rich Equatorial Guinea’s public funds.

A lawyer for Obiang, who is also the president’s son, denies he is a “big-time bandit”.

The trial is the first since France started investigating African leaders accused of illegally acquiring wealth.

It comes after a nearly decadelong campaign by anti-corruption groups demanding that France act against leaders suspected of stashing their “ill-gotten gains” in Europe.

Obiang’s six-storey Paris villa, estimated to be worth more than $100m (£80m), is located on Avenue Foch, in one the most prestigious neighbourhoods of the French capital.

Spain nabs Moroccan traffickers Police have detained two Moroccans who tried to smuggle migrants into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, two hidden in a car and one in a suitcase.

When police checked a car on Monday one person was found hidden in the dashboard and another in the hollowed-out back seat.

The man and woman, thought to be Guineans, received first aid as they had had little air to breathe.

Separately, a young African man was found hidden in a woman’s suitcase.

That incident happened on December 30 and the man, believed to be from Gabon, required urgent medical attention.

A 22-year-old Moroccan woman had tried to smuggle him into Ceuta, but customs officers ordered her to open the case, which was tied to a trolley.

Education Today

36

Continued from Page 32

Continued from Page

making, painting, wood works and many other vocational jobs.

We also have to teach them morals and civic education, teach them to respect constituted authorities, the views of others and be God fearing in their activities.

“So getting them to learn all these is not easy, not like when you are training their able-bodied counterparts,” they further argued.

In addition to these challenges, the teachers say they still have to contend with the regular problems associated with government- owned schools such as overcrowded classrooms, decay infrastructures, overwork, insufficient teaching aids, poor environment, erratic power and water supply as well as lack of school bus to convey the students to school and to outside engagements.

Essien for example told National Mirror that each classroom in his school has an average of 100 students which is more than double of the UNESCO’s 40 students per class recommendation standard. The situation in Salahudeen and Owoade schools are no different. A classroom with the least population in Lagos schools has up to 80 students according to them.

Even at this year’s World Disabilities Day organised by the Lagos State Government, National Mirror’s investigations revealed that it was the parents who funded the students’ trip to and from the venue of the event- LTV premises in Ikeja, even though, the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule at the event claimed that the state government took the issue of special students very seriously.

The teachers therefore are convinced that their jobs demand extra efforts and commitment to be able to do it effectively.

Even at that and for believing that they deserve special and better rating and treatment in terms of emoluments, allowances and welfare package from their employersgovernments- against their counterparts who are teaching children without disability, they declared that yet, they were not allowed themselves to be discouraged by these challenges.

They told our correspondent that apart from the fact that the job serves as their means of livelihood, seeing their students

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Special education teachers

Special education teachers in a match past during the World Disabilities Day becoming useful in life gives them joy and satisfaction.

“Our mandate is to see that nobody, on the condition of ill health, is useless in life and therefore it becomes a thing of joy for us seeing our products doing well in life,” the trio said, separately. “And that is where we draw our strength from.”

They pointed out that some of the students particularly those with visual, hearing and physical impairments sometimes get up to university education and become professionals in their chosen fields including music, journalism and law.

“This kind of thing is a big achievement to us and we always give God the glory for that,” Owoade, NASET boss, added.

And National Mirror’s investigations have however revealed this as basic fact in the country with many physically challenged persons contributing meaningfully to socio-political economy.

Items such as local fabric Adire, neck

Riot: FCE (T) Gombe expels 29 students Williams Attah Gombe

T

wenty nine students of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe have been expelled from the school after being found wanting in the violent protest that took place last June in the college over shortage of water in the hostels.

The college Provost, Dr. Adamu Gimba Abbas disclosed this in a press statement,

saying 11 others were also suspended for one academic session (2016/2017).

He explained that the school took the action as recommended by the Expanded Management Committee constituted to investigate the violent protest where public and private property were said to have been destroyed.

The provost noted that the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu signed the expulsion order but did not name the affected students.

Army General tasks teachers on talent hunt among pupils Francis Suberu

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irector of Nigeria Army Archives, Brigadier General David Bosman has tasked teachers in primary and secondary schools on the need to be keen in identifying young talents amongst the pupils in their care.

He spoke at Jextoban Secondary School, Ibafo, Ogun State during the school’s interhouse sport competition of the school recently.

Bosman who was the chairman of the sport competition challenged teachers especially sports tutors to always watch out for talents among pupils that participate in interhouse schools competitions.

He said it was high time teachers began

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to scout for talents through sport activities, adding that they should not see sports meet as annual ritual that must be performed but a forum where talents that will represent the country can be identified.

The army general also praised the effort of Jextoban school authorities for placing high premium on sporting activities disclosed the use of academics only as a means of performance assessment of schools and their pupils should be discouraged, he said, sporting activities should also be used to assess overall performance of schools and their pupils, he commended Jextoban to towing that path.

While speaking at the event, the Principal of the Lagos arm of the school, Mr. E. A. Adegoke went memory lane, stressing how sporting activities were used to communicate and control kingdoms.

beads, wall frames, among others displayed at the LTV during the Lagos organised World Disabilities Day were products of these students.

Essien particularly said “I don’t allow any challenge no matter how big to discourage me or kill my vision. I know am doing what I love to do best. I am in my own greener pasture and well convinced that there is no other job that can give me satisfaction and fulfillment like the one I am doing and I will do it as long as my health permits.”

Now, Essien is not only reaping his dedication, commitment and diligence to work.

He is the best Nigeria’s secondary school teacher and one of the few multi-millionaires at that level of education in the country at the moment. He walked into stardom recently following his participation in this year’s Matina Teacher of the Year Award competition organised and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc on the platform of its charitable arm- Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.

It is an annual competition, which enters its second edition this year and opens to all teachers in both public and private secondary schools in the country. But only professionals who have been certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, the nation’s teachers regulatory body, as professionals, are eligible for participation.

Essien defeated Mohammed Binta Lawan, an English teacher, from Borno State, who was the first runner-up last year to second position, and Ogwu Patrick from Government Day Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State to third and hundreds of others who contested nationwide to clinch the position.

Surprisingly, both Salahudeen and Owoade despite in Lagos were ignorance of the competition let alone participated.

However, the aim of the competition, according to the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mr Nicolas Vervelde, is to encourage healthy rivalry among teachers and celebrate and reward those who are outstanding as a way of boosting the nation’s education and economy .

Interestingly, Essien’s project which passed through several elimination stages alongside others was adjudged the best at the end.

The Chairman of the independent panel of judges, who assessed all the entries, Professor Pat Utomi, openly confirmed this

Imoh Essien with his trophy assertion at the award ceremony in Lagos in October with the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, among other big stakeholders in education, in attendance.

According to him, Essien’s teaching methodologies and resources and their huge impact on his students are superb, conforming to the world best practices.

And for the effort, Essien has not only succeeded the winner of the maiden edition of the competition, a 36-year-old Roseline Obi, from the Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, but was also rewarded with N1 million in addition to half a million naira he received alongside 23 others as a state champion. That was not all. He is also entitled to N1 million yearly for the next five years and will equally enjoy all-expenses paid overseas training programme while his school will get a block of six classrooms for producing him.

Essien is now a shining star. Just like his predecessor, he is now being invited from across the country as a guest speaker at conferences and workshops involving persons with disabilities.

For example, to commemorate the last World Disabilities Day, the Catholic Mission of Ascension Falomo, Lagos brought him all the way from Uyo to Lagos to deliver a lecture on how well to integrate persons with disabilities in the society and especially in schools.

“The organiser paid for my return air ticket, accommodation in a five stars hotel in Ikoyi and feeding for the three days I have been around,” Essien told our correspondent who had scheduled an interview with him at the Lagos Airport shortly before he was airborne back to Uyo on December 5.

Despite all these however, they still believe that the government and the society can do more to better their lots as special teachers and that of their students based on their importance to the national development.

And they particularly called on various state governments, especially Lagos and Akwa Ibom to reintroduce, into the system, the special allowances and welfare package that special education teachers were been enjoyed until 2011 when they were stopped by the governments of that time.

They believe doing so will further motivate them and others to do better and encourage more hands to join the profession.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Mikel nears Valencia switch

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37

Sport

FIFA has no reason to suspect there has been misuse of funds that FIFA has provided to the Sierra Leone Football Association – FIFA

38

W/Cup qualifier:

Amuneke wants Zamalek job

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Cameroon can’t stop Super Eagles – Rohr

Ifeanyi Eduzor

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uper Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has dismissed fears in some quarters that the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are capable of stopping Nigeria from qualifying for Russia 2018 World Cup. He gave the assurance yesterday during an interactive section with the media during which time he unveiled his programme for 2017 noting that both the present crop of Super Eagles players are better than their Cameroonians, Algerian and Zambian counterparts.

“I’m very optimistic that Nigeria will qualify for the world cup in 2018.

We’ve started well; beating Zambia for the first time in their home ground and winning an important victory against Algeria in Uyo. “We are now looking forward to our next match against Cameroon which I hope we will win in Uyo. It is true that a lot of people are express-

ing concern about the Cameroonian match but when you look at their performance so far, you will discover that we have things going for us.

“My players are progressing with every game. Cameroon on the other hand could not win in Zambia and Yaoundé which will make the game interesting. Although it will be a very difficult match considering the rivalry existing between the two countries but at the end of the day, we will grab the three points at stake.

“I am also going to be in Gabon during AFCON 2017 as a pundit for a French television station and it will also enable me to spy on our World Cup rivals Cameroon which will be of immense help to my team”, noted the former Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon handler.

The Franco- German tactician stated that he is aware of some deficiencies in his side with an assurance that he is working hard to ensure that he introduce new players that will block the loopholes.

I’m quite aware that there are some areas of concern in the team and that is why I have been monitoring some players with the hope of inviting then to beef up the team before our next two world cup qualifiers in August and September.

On his plans to give home based player’s opportunity in the Super Eagles, the former Sports Director of Eintracht Frankfurt explained that his assistants are monitoring players in the Local League and can recommend any good player to be invited to the national camp.

Comparing his job as the Super Eagles handler with his stint in Niger and Gabon, Rohr stated that in the two countries, he was working with players who were not attached to any club while Nigeria boosts of talented players plying their trade in some of the best leagues in the world which he describes as an added advantage.

To ensure that the team is kept busy before Nigeria resumes its

qualification campaign, he revealed that a number of friendly games have been lined up for the Super Eagles before taking on Cameroon in Uyo in August. The friendlies include Senegal in March and a yet to named opponent in June. It is also expected that the early kick off of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers in 2017 will also add action to the preparation of the Super Eagles.

Rohr saying he is in Nigeria to ‘make history’, used the occasion to warn that no player should assume he has permanent shirt in his team, stressing that he will always go for those players who are playing regularly for their teams.

“I know that some players can have some problems which will make them not to play regularly. But I hope that before the end of the transfer window, some of them will get clubs where they will be playing regularly to enable us access their fitness level and performance”, he concluded.

ormer Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke has thrown his hat into the ring for the position of head coach at Zamalek Football Club of Egypt.

Amuneke spent time with Zamalek during his playing days winning two Egyptian league titles.

It seems the former Golden Eaglets head coach wants to return to Egypt and continue his romance with the former Caf Champions League winners.

Zamalek are reportedly on the lookout for a new coach after the disappointing 0-2 home loss to bitter rivals Al Ahly in the Egyptian league last week.

Zamalek president Mortada Mansour has confirmed that Amuneke is one of the several coaches who has applied for the Zamalek job.

Amuneke, who holds a European coaching badge, led Nigeria’s U-17 national side to win the Fifa 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile.

He was also an assistant to Samson Siasia during the double-header against Egypt during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Amuneke played 27 times for Nigeria, scoring nine goals.

Amuneke

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Sports

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

West Ham to appeal Feghouli’s red card

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est Ham is appealing against the red card shown to Sofiane Feghouli during Monday’s defeat by Manchester United.

The midfielder was sent off by referee Mike Dean for a challenge on Red Devils defender Phil Jones 15 minutes into a match the Hammers lost 2-0.

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic said Jones “made a meal” of the tackle from the Algeria international.

Feghouli, 27, is the fifth player to be dismissed by Dean in the Premier League this season.

Should a three-match ban be upheld, he would miss Friday’s FA Cup third-round home tie against Manchester City, as well as Premier League games with Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.

Mikel nears Valencia switch

S Feghouli

Draxler completes Paris St-Germain move

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ermany forward Julian Draxler has joined Paris StGermain from Wolfsburg on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

The French champions confirmed the signing yesterday after the two clubs agreed a deal on 24 December for a reported 42m euros.

Draxler, 23, started his career at Schalke and was part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning team.

“I will do everything to help PSG win new trophies and continue to grow internationally,” he said.

“I’m going to discover a new country, a new league, and I’m very proud to take this new step at a club which has become a benchmark in Europe and has signed a lot of great players in recent years.”

Draxler, who moved to Wolfsburg in 2015, was said to be a target for Arsenal.

Draxler

uper Eagles captain, Mikel John Obi has agreed a deal in principle to join Valencia from English club, Chelsea according several sections of the Spanish and English media.

If the midfielder eventually puts pen to paper for the Spanish club, it will bring to an end, a 10-year spell in west London.

The move however hinges on the future of West Ham striker Simone Zaza.

Valencia must now make a big decision as Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions mean that they will not be able to afford to sign both Mikel and top target Zaza simultaneously this month.

Italian international Zaza has been a complete flop with West Ham since arriving on loan from Juventus in the summer, and was all set to move to Valencia this month at the request of head coach Cesare Prandelli.

But after the former Italy boss

I’m not expecting FIFA Prize –Zidane

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eal Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says it would be “perfectly reasonable” for him not to win the FIFA Best Men’s Coach award for 2016.

The former France international has won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup during a remarkably successful first year in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Zidane is in the running for the FIFA prize along with Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri and Portugal coach Fernando Santos, and he believes either of those two more experienced men would be

Zidane

worthy winners.

Asked if he would be surprised not to win, he told a news conference: “No, of course not. I think it would be perfectly reasonable for someone else to win it.

“I’ve only just arrived, this is all new. I have to keep working and show an awful lot more and that would be perfectly reasonable to me.”

Zidane insists he still has a huge amount to improve upon as he looks to follow his legendary playing career with a long and successful time on the touchline.

quit this week after issuing an ultimatum over five new January signings that he coveted, the Zaza deal is now on ice as club owner Peter Lim and sporting director Pitarch decide on where to focus their re-

BOT ratifies supporters’ club election Ifeanyi Eduzor

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oard of Trustees of Nigeria Football Supporters Club has ratified the December 10, 2016 election which produced Rev. Samuel Ikpea as the new national chairman of the club.

The BOT stated that it took the decision in fulfillment of the constitution of the club as well as to give the necessary mandate and legal backing to the new executive to enable them start work immediately even as it declared the purported parallel election held by the erstwhile acting national chairman of the club Vincent Okumagba in Abuja as not only illegal but misplaced.

Chairman of the BOT and President General of the Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo while charging the newly elected executives to carry out their duties diligently, noted that the election was delayed because of the reconciliation committee set up by the NFF which in its reports appealed to the club to lift the expul-

Clement confirmed as Swansea boss

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aul Clement has been confirmed as head coach of Swansea City. The 44-year-old becomes the Swans’ third boss of the season after joining from Bayern Munich, where he was assistant to Carlo Ancelotti.

Clement agreed a two-and-a-halfyear deal to replace Bob Bradley, who had been in charge since Francesco Guidolin’s departure in October.

The former Derby County manager takes over with Swansea bottom of the Premier League. Last season

sources.

Mikel, who boasts 78 caps in international football, has found himself frozen out by new Blues boss Antonio Conte as league-leading Chelsea evolved their style under the Italian coach.

he was in charge of Championship side Derby but was sacked by the club in February 2016 after a run of seven league games without a win.

Nigel Gibbs has been appointed assistant coach with Karl Halabi named head of physical performance, with both arriving from Tottenham Hotspur.

Bradley was sacked following a spell of seven defeats in 11 games, and Clement emerged as the frontrunner to replace the American.

sion placed on the erstwhile acting national chairman for anti-party activities which the club accepted but was surprised that the same football house under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick encouraged Okumagba to organise an illegal election in Abuja . “We want Nigerians to note that it is Amaju Pinnick that is causing our problem by encouraging some dissidents led by Okumagba to organise an illegal election in Abuja even when he was aware that we organised our election in Lagos which was monitored by eminent Nigerians.

“If Pinnick does not want to support the club like previous NFF Presidents, he should steer clear of the club and not involve in clandestine activities to destroy what we have laboured over the years to build”, he stated.

He advised Pinnick who was described the election of factional President of NFF, Chris Giwa as illegal to stop supporting illegality.

President of the Elders Forum, Elder, Isaac Ukpebor, noted that Okumagba has never been the national chairman of the club and will never be because of his antecedents, stressing that he cannot be trusted.

National Chairman of the club Rev. Samuel Ikpea explained that Okumagba stopped being acting chairman immediately his executive was dissolved and an electoral committee inaugurated noting that he never collected form to contest election and wondered who voted for him in the Abuja kangaroo election.

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Sports

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

British investors set to re-position Nigerian League

Rising tennis star Barakat Quadri in action

Ifeanyi Eduzor

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United Kingdom based Sports Entertainment company, Aurola Limited in collaboration with its Nigerian partners, Arabella 21st Century Limited have concluded arrangement to invest about 1.5 billion dollars in the next 20 years in Nigerian football aimed at revolutionizing the country’s league.

Disclosing this to the media, Chief Executive Officer of Arabella, Otumba Femi Carena stated that the plan when implemented will see premier league clubs in the country run professionally with little or no government funding as is the case in Europe.

According to him, the investors had already received guarantees from the Federal Government through the Minister of Youth and Sports and MoU signed as part of the initial arrangement.

He explained that the whole idea was to discourage government from putting money in football and make Nigerian football move forward even as he assured that both the NFF and LMC will benefit immensely from the deal.

Carena,announced that as part of preparations for the take off the scheme, an international Football conference will be held in the country from 8-9March,2017 to be addressed by officials of English Premier League ,NBA and Nigerian Stock Exchange’; saying that World football legend, Pele has accepted to attend the seminar.

Representatives of the investors, Babatunde Aina noted that they are not coming to change the league but to make it move forward positing that they became interested in investing in the country because Arabella developed a methodology which they believe can work.

Director of the company who also doubles as President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr.Rafiu Ladipo advised Nigerians to appreciate the investors as well as explore the opportunity for the development of the country’s football.

Ifeanyi Eduzor

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eam Nigeria yesterday began camping in Ekiti for the 2017 ITF/CAT Africa Junior Championship West and Central Zonal Qualifiers billed to hold in Lome, Togo from January 10th – 21st. Nigeria hosted the championship in Abuja in 2016 and topped the medals’ table.

The week-long camping holding at the Old Trade Fair Complex in Ado- Ekiti which is being bankrolled

by Nigeria Tennis Federation 1st Vice-President; Yemi Owoseni will see 24 players jostle for the 13 slots available to team Nigeria.

Junior tennis sensation, Oyinlo-

mo Barakat Quadri is highlighting Team Nigeria’s quest for another memorable outing at the 15-nation championship. Coming on the heels of her great contribution in Team Ofikwu’s triumph in the recentlyconcluded NCC Tennis League, the 13-year-old, who had a phenomenal scorecard in 2016, looks set to continue her impressive run in the tournament after winning the 14&under in Abuja last year.

Among the players in camp are Marylove Edwards, Michael Osewa, Toyin Asogba, Venus Ubiebi, Ayoola Michael Ayoola, Venus Ubiebi, Saminu Abubakar and Sani Musa while Iye Onoja, Omolade Bamidele, Taiwo Olufemi, Kehinde Olufemi and Favour Moses are making their

national team camp experience.

“The atmosphere is great and the facilities here in Ekiti are of high quality and it will help the players to a very good outing in Togo. Ekiti has played host to their camping for various international assignments in the past and we believe that the effect of the hospitality and ambience they will experience here will help them to a successful campaign in the AJC,” Owoseni, the Ekiti State Tennis boss enthused.

Nigeria has won the CAT/ITF Zone II championship in the last four years and from all indications, the team looks good for another triumphant outing at the championship which serves as the qualifier for the main AJC billed for South Africa in March.

Koto/ Karfe emerge winner of Ajanah basketball tourney

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eam Kogi/Koto Karfe has emerged winners of the 9th edition of the Justice Nasir Ajanah Inter-Local Government Area Basketball Championship after beating Team Okene 31-29 at the

NFSC wants Pinnick to steer clear of club

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Professor Johnbull seeks support for local clubs

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AJC Tennis: Team Nigeria opens camp in Ekiti

igeria Football Supporters trol of NFF, “he stated.

Club has made a clarion call The statement appealed to the to the Federal government to Federal Government, the Sports warn the President of Nigeria Foot- Ministry and members of the NFF ball Federation, Amaju Pinnick, to to call Pinnick to order, adding that steer clear of its internal affairs. he should concentrate on how to In a press release signed by the move Nigerian football forward.

Public Relations Officer of the club, “Let’s Pinnick face the issues Afeez Balogun, he accused Pinnick concerning Nigerian football. We of interfering with the affairs of the recall the unfortunate case between club. him and Chris Giwa, which bothers “We have observed that for some on the issue of legality. I want to adtime now, Amaju Pinnick, has been vise him to stop speaking from both encouraging the expelled former sides of the mouth and not give creacting national chairman of the dence to the illegal actions of club, Vincent Okumagba, to Okumagba, “he noted. destabilize the club, “BaBalogun expressed logun said. the commitment “I want to inform of the club to the Amaju Pinnick and development of his co-travelers Nigerian football that this club is as it continue to well over 61 years work in tandem old and it is also with the NFF, a duly registered in view of its reand globally recognowned position nized non-governas the 12th player mental organization. of the national We are independent teams.

Balogun and not under the con-

outdoor court of the Okene Club, in Okene, Kogi State.

The winners came from behind to win the trophy after trailing in all the quarters before the Most Valuable Player of the championship, Azolibe Chijioke stole the show to dunk the winning points when both teams were tied on 29 points with 10 seconds to go.

Not even the combination of last season MVP David Edward and Gombe Bulls’ lbeabuchi Agu whose three pointers in the first quarter gave ‘Team Okene’ a 15-3 points lead before Team Kogi bounced back to tie in the second quarter could save the Okene boys.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijjani Umar, hailed the improvement of the

Justice Ajanah presenting trophy to the captain of the winning team

championship while calling on the government of Kogi State to improve in its commitment to the development of the game and facilities in the state.

“This championship is in its ninth year and it keeps improving yearly, hence our commitment to this laudable course. I am happy with his level of consistency and commitment and urge the Kogi State government to do more in the area of basketball development.

Justice Ajanah who announced a donation of N1 million by the Kogi State Government said he was happy with the caliber of players that participated in this year’s edition stating that the governor’s donation is a step to show that the state is already involved in basketball development.

39

he fad by Nigerian football fans to support foreign teams, especially European clubs to the detriment of local ones has come to the fore in episode 10, season 2 of Professor Johnbull, the TV drama series sponsored by the grand master of data, Globacom.

It is no more news that Nigerian football lovers, especially the youths have carried their fanaticism for the game too far by openly engaging in fisticuffs that occasionally leads to loss of life, simply because one club in Europe defeated another in a league or continental match.

In some cases, such support leads to quarrels between husband and wife, even among siblings. Yet, while most of these football fanatics could not boast of any deep knowledge of the captains of Rangers, Kano Pillars, or Eyimba football clubs they were an encyclopedia of sort on Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Yet, in the past, Nigerian football reigned supreme and Nigerians were deeply knowledgeable about the country’s football stars and clubs.

Why have we abandoned our own football clubs and warmly embraced foreign teams? Must we fight or kill because one European club defeated another?

Must we steal, or dupe to get money to engage in football betting? All these and many more questions will be answered in this episode.

The new episode of the sitcom wholly sponsored by Globacom is tagged Our Team.

Globacom said it produced it to address the consequences of extinguishing the names of our local football clubs from our memories, as well as tackle the fast growing trend of football betting among Nigerians, Our Team is scheduled to air on Tuesday at 8.30 p.m. on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and NTA on Star Times, with a repeat broadcast on the same stations on Friday at 8.30 p.m.

It will feature such regulars as Kanayo O. Kanayo who acted Professor Johnbull, Jn. Pope Odonwodo, who played Churchill, the son of Professor Johnbull; Martins Nebo (Abednego); Funky Mallam as Mai Doya; Bimbo Akintola (Ufoma); Yomi Fash-Lanso (Olaniyi); Ime Bishop (Etuk), the philanderer of the sitcom, Stephen Odimgbe (Flash) and of course Ogus Baba (Samson), the smart guy, among others.

ail@

WORLD RECORD

Biggest bubblegum bubble Vol. 06

No. 1495

N150

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

The current record in bubblegum bubble is held by Chad Fell (USA), who blew with a diameter of 50.8 cm (20 in)-without using his hands to steady or stretch the bubble-at the Double Springs High School, Winston County, Alabama, USA, on April 24 2004.

Economic recession, depression and euphoria of New Year

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he year 2016 will go down in history as one of the most difficult years for Nigerians. It was a year when the nation’s economy passed through severe turbulent waters that nearly sink the whole nation. in 2016, inflation rate shrank at 17.1%, the GDP contracted by 2.06% and the economy by 0.36%. Oil price crashed to less than $50 per barrel while production output tumbled over 400,000 barrels due to militancy activities in Niger Delta region.

Oil production plummeted to 1.69 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2016, down from 2.11 million barrel per day in the first quarter, with oil – based GDP contracting by 17.5% in quarter two compared to 1.9% in the first quarter. Naira was at a record low of #480 per dollar in the black market, as dollar exchanged for 365.25 in the interbank market.

The nation’s groaning unemployment sit-

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our Chelsea fans accused of aggravated violence against a black man on the Paris Metro have been given suspended one-year sentences by a French court.

Joshua Parsons, 22, and James Fairbairn, 25, had denied their actions of February 2015 were racist in nature.

Their co-accused, fellow Chelsea

Guest Columnist

Tayo

Ogunbiyi

uation also grew worse. Unofficial data puts the unemployment figure at about 20% (about 30million), but this number still did not include about 40million other Nigerian youths captured in a recent World Bank statistics. By implication, it means that if Nigeria’s population is 140 million, then 50% of Nigerians are unemployed, or worse still, at least 71% of Nigerian youths are unemployed. This is particularly disturbing and counterproductive because at least 70% of the population of this country is youth. According to reports, in 2016, the unemployed in the labour force increased by 1,158,700 persons, resulting in an increase in the national unemployment rate to 13.3% in Q2 2016 from 12.1 in 2016, 10.4% in 2015 from 9.9% in Q3 2015 and from 8.2% in Q2 2015.

Workers in both the public and private sectors were worst hit by the troubling economic situation. In order to make ends meet, some firms opted to downsize, thus complicating the already bad unemployment situation. For those who work in the public sector, the situation is a bit different. Though, they have the sheer luxury of keeping their jobs, it is only a few of them that can boast of receiving their wages as at when due. Except for Lagos State and a few others, most States in the country owe their workers outstanding salaries that run into months. The whole distressing episode is reinforced by the counsel of a particular State Governor in the South Eastern region of the country that public workers in his State could actually skip work twice or thrice a week to embrace subsistence farming in order to escape the excruciating claws of hunger. One obvious consequence of the ranging economic recession in the country is depression. Medically, depression is a mood

It is only when we collectively embrace sacrificial change that we could boldly hope that the

New

Year would usher in our desired change disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things that the victim is ordinarily usually passionate about.

It is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression and it affects how the victim feels, thinks and behaves. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems which include finding it difficult to embark on daily activities. It can also lead to marital troubles as depression victims find it very hard adjusting to family values and ethics.

Indeed, coping with the stress of family life cause more difficulties to victims of depression who often want to be left alone. Perhaps, the worst of it all fallouts of depression is the feeling that life isn’t worth living which eventually makes depression victim contemplates suicide.

From all indications, the nation’s tough economic situation has increased the number of citizens who run the risk of experiencing the agonizing incident of clinical depression. According to reports, the rate of marital break ups has increased while matrimonial violence occasioned by economic woes has equally multiplied significantly. Indeed, there has been incidence of husband killing wife and vice versa. There have been reports of

men absconding from home for weeks in order to escape growing economic responsibilities at home. Therefore, we now have more women who are over burdened with excruciating domestic pressures. Cases of pronounced mental health condition have also unsurprisingly increased. Along major cities in the country, you are likely to come across clean and beautifully dressed compatriots who talk and walk alone, actually without any destination in mind. This, to medical workers is a vital sign of depression induced insanity, which if not quickly attended to could lead to serious psychiatric condition.

Ironically, in the midst of all these uncertainties and stress comes the exciting hope of a better New Year. Not that there is any concrete rationale for the euphoria about the New Year. It is a natural feeling that does not need to be subjected to any empirical analysis. Here, the belief is that New Year would naturally bring with it good tidings. That is the nature of hope. Hope is hope. No more, no less.

However, one is of the view that for hope not to be mere hallucination, it must be anchored on more solid platforms. For instance, it is generally believed that the world is subjected to the authority of the Almighty God whom many anchor their hope, faith and trust in. This is good enough, especially if the one anchoring his hope on the Almighty has sufficient capacity to understand the nature and ways of God. Nevertheless, as good as placing one’s hope in God is, for hope to transcend the stage of expectation and move into the realm of reality, necessity places it on man to play key roles in speeding up the process of divine intervention.

The truth is that we would continue to live in the realm of delusion until we make bold to collectively change our ways as a people. For our hope not to be dashed this New Year, we need to embrace new ways of doing things. We need to stop cutting corners. We need to stop living in lies, deception and hypocrisy. It is only when we collectively embrace sacrificial change that we could boldly hope that the New Year would usher in our desired change.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

Sport Extra Chelsea fans get suspended sentence over racism attack fans Richard Barklie, a 52-year-old former policeman, and William Simpson, 27, from Surrey were tried in absentia.

They were also ordered to pay the victim 10,000 euros in compensation.

Souleymane Sylla was targeted at Richelieu-Drouot station as football fans made their way to a Champions

League match between Paris Saint Germain and Chelsea.

The hearing at the Palais de Justice saw a video recorded by a passenger of fans pushing him off the Metro train.

Supporters can be heard chanting “we are racist, we are racist and that’s

the way we like it”.

The AFP agency reported that after giving evidence Parsons apologised to Sylla, a Frenchman of Mauritanian origin, but denied there was any racist aspect to what had happened.

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