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Nigerians to pay arrears on electricity consumed –NERC

Vandalism: Military to take over maintenance, security of NNPC properties

…says tariff now N23 per kilowatt

CHIDI UGWU, KEMI OLAITAN AND JAMES ABRAHAM Amadi

Vol. 5 N0. 1196

espite sustained complaints by electricity consumers nationwide against spurious monthly billings by

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

electricity Distribution Companies (Discos), Nigerians would still pay more on electricity consumed since CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

National Mirror Online

P.4

Kachikwu

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PDP govs blast Buhari ...say nation sliding into dictatorship OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, on Tuesday, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, blasted the All Progressives Congress, APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that the nation was sliding into dictatorship under his leadership. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Again, Obasanjo, Buhari in secret meeting P.6 ADVERT HOTLINES

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President Muhammadu Buhari (left), with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during the latter’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

FG to reduce Nigeria’s foreign missions

Police to arrest unauthorised users of siren nationwide P.6

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…threatens sanction against ex-govt officials with diplomatic passports

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How Nigeria can attract foreign investors –US envoy

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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PDP govs blast Buhari, say nation sliding into dictatorship CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The governors’ who spoke against the backdrop of the recent alleged invasion of Akwa Ibom State Government House by agents of the Depart-

ment of State Security, DSS, condemned in strong terms, the alleged action, calling on human right groups and the international community to call the APC government to

order. Arising from a two-hour meeting of the forum held in the inner chamber of Bayelsa State Governor, the PDP governors led by their chairman and Gov-

ernor of Ondo State, Mr. Olusegun Mimiko, said the invasion was against the spirit, ethos, values and fundamental tenets of democratic norms and tradition, moreso with the

existence of a duly elected and sworn in governor of the state. He said, “We insist that the trend must stop henceforth. No democracy survives without a

L-R: US Asst Secretary of State, Ambassador Charles Rivkin; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, during SME Financing Conference 2015 in Abuja, yesterday.

Nigerians to pay arrears on electricity consumed –NERC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

July 1 this year. Indications about the arrears of payment emerged yesterday at a consultation meeting with the stakeholders in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) - generation companies, distribution companies and consumers’ forum at Abuja. Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, hinted that the suspended Multi Year Tariff Order 2, MYTO 2, which was to become effective from July 1 but was kept in abeyance as a result of transition in government, would be unlocked and consumers would pay the arrears. Noting that currently the average tariff has dipped from N26 to N23per kilowatt based on market forces, the industry regulator said even with the development, consumers would pay higher for electricity in the months ahead. Amadi, who corroborated his disclosure on the current tariff in the market with the R2 Abuja customers who now pay N14, said when the MYTO finally

commences, they might pay up to N19 per kilowatt if the new tariff is approved. According to him, the new tariff would take effect retroactively from July this year. He said: “The good news is that the average tariff has come down from N26 to N23. That is the good news. For us, if it goes up, we say it goes up. If it goes down, we say it goes down.” Amadi however recalled that the tariff, which should have taken effect from July but was frozen in June would now be unlocked based on the stability in the market. According to him, the Discos would present their different proposed tariffs to the commission which it would in turn present to the Presidency for approval. Commenting on how the new tariff would look like, the chairman said, “By January last year R2 customers were supposed to pay N19 in Abuja. They are paying N14. Today with the analysis, instead of N18, it should be N19. There is a reduction. But it doesn’t mean that at the end of the day they will

still be paying that N18.” The four factors that the commission considers in tariff review are gas prices, exchange rate, inflationary rate and generation capacity. In her presentation, Principal Manager, Market Competition and Rates, Aisha Mahmud, noted that the commission obtained the data for the computation of the Bi-Annual Minor Review from the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria. According to her, inflation rate from the apex bank as at 30th April, 2015 was 8.3 per cent. She added that the MultiYear Tariff Order 2 had an assumption of 13 per cent inflation rate but after the 2014 minor review, the inflation rate was reviewed down to 7.8 per cent. On exchange rate, the CBN website, she said, showed an exchange rate of N197 to $1 as at 30th April, 2015. But the proposal took an exchange rate premium of 197+1 per cent. The commission in the proposal observed that price had increased from $2.50

from $1.50 and gas transportation of $.80. Mahmud said that there was now an average peak daily generation capacity of 3,832MW while average energy sent out is 3,404MW. In all, the commission said that following the increase in energy generation, the electricity distribution companies were now generating more revenue thereby necessitating a slash in the tariff from N26 to N23 per kilowatt consumed. In Oyo State, Electricity consumers in Ibadan, the state capital and other states under the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, yesterday warned the distribution company, against further increment of electricity tariff and other charges. The consumers who expressed their disappointment over the abnormal electricity charges, gave the warning in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a stakeholders meeting organised by the IBEDC. The complaints of the customers who preached against indiscriminate charges on their meters

and outrageous bills from the distribution company, forced the IBEDC to hurriedly bring the meeting to an end. One of the customers and Baale of Ekotedo, Chief Taiwo Ayodinde, warned the distribution company which he said was performing below the expectations of the people against further increment to avoid crises in the sector and outrage among the aggrieved populace. Another customer who preferred anonymity, while speaking with journalists, said “I don’t know the reason for this meeting. What have they achieved? The company did not achieve anything in this meeting, they just organised it for formality sake because they have been compelled to do it. You can see that people are not happy with the company, some of these distribution companies are not doing well, if it is possible for the government to reverse the selling of the PHCN to these companies, it is better to do that fast.” Efforts to speak with the representatives of the comCONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

viable opposition in any part of the world and we must also remember to remind the APC that they are the real beneficiaries of the liberal democratic ethos of the PDP. “We once more advise the DSS to preoccupy itself with the task of ensuring internal security and desist from daily harassing and intimidating members of the opposition. “We implore the international community, the civil society organisations and human rights activists to call the All Progressives Party-led federal government to order and to insist that it respects the well entrenched democratic tradition. “We all have a duty to prevent what looks to us like a steady slide of this country into dictatorship.” Mimiko said the PDP governors were worried, alarmed and shocked by such desecration, noting that it was an assault on democracy. He said situation like what happened in Akwa Ibom spelt doom and posed serious danger to the country’s fledgling democracy and rued that action was one of the continuous attempts by the APC-controlled government to stifle the opposition. Of the 13 PDP governors in the country, only two governors and four deputy governors were present at the meeting which included Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the host, Seriake Dickson, while the deputies that represented their governors were those of Delta, Kingsley Otuaro; Abia, Chris Akomas; Ebonyi, Kelechi Igwe and Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi. Governors of Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Benue, Ekiti and Taraba states did not turn up for the meeting. They also did not send any representatives. However, it was learnt that most of the governors were not present because of their intention to attend Dickson’s formal declaration for second term later scheduled for same day.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Photo News

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

L-R: President, Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Lucia Quachey; Managing Director, ICO Conferences and Event Ltd, Irene Ochem; former Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank, Obiageli Ezekwesili, and Founder, Leap Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli, during Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Managing Director, Heritage Banking Company Ltd, Mr Ifie Sekibo; Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Ms. Sally Mbanefo; President/Chairman of the Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Otunba Debola Osibogun and Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, during the 9th Annual Banking and Financial Conference of CIBN in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Rotimi OSASONA

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L-R: Trade Account Manager Nigeria, British Airways, Juliet Ihaibe; winners of British Airways Front Line Staff Incentive Promo, Folashade Malik, Donald Ullah, Olubunmi Kasali, and Trade Account Manager Nigeria, British Airways, Bodunrin Olowolagba, during the presentation of prizes to winners in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Director, Training and Development, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Princess Jumai Idonije; Director-General of NCWD, Lady Onyeka Onwenu and Director, Information Technology Centre, NCWD, Mr Manny Emecheta, during a news conference on Technology and Entrepreneurship Training for Nigerian Women in Abuja, yesterday.

National News

Nigeria spends N2.7trn on power infrastructure ...Senate seeks audited reports

George Oji ABUJA

ederal Government has expended N2.7trn on the power sector from 1999 till date. The amount comprises monies appropriated and cash backed for the sector during the period in addition to $8.34bn spent on National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, from excess crude accounts funds. The money was used to grow power generation from 1,750megawatts in 1999 to 4,600megawatts currently. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, made this disclosure yesterday during his presentation before the Senate’s Ad- Hoc Committee on Power, which opened public hearing on the sector. Igali explained that out of N1.565trn appropriated for the sector during the period under review, N948bn was re-

leased, in addition to N155bn also injected into the sector in form of subsidy under the Multi Year Tariff Order, MYTO, to cushion the shortfall of funding, which when added to $8.34bn spent on NIPP projects, gives a total of N2.7trn. Igali painted a very poor state of the sector during military rule. He said: “Power sector investment before the advent of democratic governance in 1999, was static, which shouldn’t be so at all. No new

power plants between 1991 and 1999; no new transmission line between 1989 and 1999 etc. “The very bad trend that gave successive governments from 1999 till date, sleepless nights to reverse, which they eventually did up to the privatisation of the sector in November 2013.” According to him, the slight improvement being experienced in power supply now across the country was due to the privatisation of generation and distribution

components of the sector in November 2013, one of which is the Ugheli Power Plants, which is currently generating 640mw. He assured Nigerians that with the incidences of vandalism of gas pipelines gone, and gradual increase in power generation, electricity supply to every states of the federation will continually improve. Besides Igali, Chief executives of the various power companies also made similar submissions as regards

GMD of the Corporation, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, made the disclosure yesterday, when he visited the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in Abuja. A statement through the Director of Defence Information, DDI, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said the NNPC boss had already disclosed to the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Gabriel Olonisa-

kin, his request to President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter. Kachikwu was said to have requested that the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers in particular, be allowed to partner the Corporation in maintaining its pipelines and securing its properties. The visit, he said was part of the efforts to work out modalities under the CDS’ su-

monies injected into their various units for generation and distribution during the period under review. In their remarks, Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Kyari (APC Borno North) and other members, punctured their various submissions for lack of audited reports. Kyari, in particular said , the committee was not only out to know the total monies expended on the sector during the period under review, but also how the monies

were spent in terms of probity, accountability, transparency and due process. He therefore demanded for the full audit report of the ministry of power and the agencies under it before the proper public hearing begins. Meanwhile, the committee will today meet with the Power Distribution Companies of Nigeria and National Electricity Regulatory Commission for another round of interactive session.

Vandalism: Military to secure NNPC properties

Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

lans are underway for the military to take over the maintenance and security of oil pipelines and other properties of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Group Managing Director,

pervision to have the military protect the NNPC’s equipment and assets. He pointed out that NNPC was evolving a holistic attitude aimed at making sure that the best manpower was used. He revealed that crude oil theft last year was in excess of 250,000 barrels daily, which was basically 1/5 of the entire national produc-

tion. Responding, the CDS assured that the Armed Forces would interface with the Corporation to ensure that all its problems were given optimum attention. Gen. Olonisakin noted that already the Nigerian Navy had put up a lot of initiatives at ensuring that the issue of pipeline vandalism, piracy and oil theft are addressed.

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

FG to reduce Nigeria’s foreign missions ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that his administration would undertake a review of Nigerian foreign missions to determine those that are essential. Buhari said that a Presidential Committee would soon be established to carry out the review. Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement issued yesterday said Buhari disclosed this after being briefed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bulus Lolo. The President stated the review would determine the number of essential missions Nigeria needs to maintain abroad so that appropriate standards and quality could be maintained. The President explained that there was no point for the country to operate missions all over the world “with dilapidated facilities and demoralised staff ” when the need for some of the missions was questionable. “Let’s keep only what we can manage. We can’t afford much for now. There’s

no point in pretending,” Buhari told Lolo and other officials of the ministry. The president also demanded for the record of former government officials and other persons still using diplomatic and official passports illegally, saying that his administration would take necessary action against them. “Something has to be done so that we can get back our respectability as a country. Some people carry official passports and get involved in all sorts of negative acts. We need to do something about it,” the President said. The Federal Government had last month ordered the immediate withdrawal of diplomatic and official passports from unauthorised persons. In his own remarks, Lolo told Buhari that the challenges facing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs included the absence of a Foreign Service Commission, poor funding of foreign missions, policy inconsistencies and training deficiencies, among others. The permanent secretary, while speaking with State House Correspondents after the visit supported the call by the president to prune the foreign mission.

He also expressed the need to review the country’s foreign policy, even as he said that the last time such was done was 29 years ago. He said:“I underline the fact that the activities of the ministries and largely outside the country is 75 per cent outside the country and 25 per cent domestic that even though we do 25 per cent of our work at home, foreign policy derives from domestic policy,

there is a close nexus between country’s domestic and foreign policy. “Our activities are handled by our missions abroad because the Ministry’s functions cover relations of country’s formulations and management of Nigeria’s foreign policy, getting and managing relations with other countries and all of these now crystallise into what opportunities there are and challenges.

“In the course of the briefing, I took Mr. President through the structure of the Ministry, mentioned the parastatals that are supervised by the Ministry, talked about the personnel of the Ministry and you know the bulk of them have the ambition of becoming ambassadors and we also talked about the state of our embassies abroad. “All of these in the context of what Nigeria as-

pires to be at home, in the sub-region, in the continent and around the globe. “Mr. President asked the Ministry to be realistic in terms of our representation abroad. We have 119 Missions. He asked the questions whether we need to have that number or we rationalise based on our capacity. Right now, the economy is looking down. We are trying to revive and revamp. It is a matter of time.”

L-R: Former Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Prof. Ahmed Dan Fulani; former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof. Ahmed Alkali and Director- General, Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI), Dr. Lanre Adebayo, during an official visit to PDI office in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Troops capture insurgents’ hard drug suppliers UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

roops in the ongoing offensive in the North East, yesterday, inter-

cepted and captured suppliers of hard drugs and other stimulants to Boko Haram insurgents. A statement through the

Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, in Abuja, said the suspects were arrested by troops of the 3 Division,

Nigerians to pay arrears on electricity consumed –NERC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

pany to make clarifications on the grievances of the consumers and the importance of the meeting on the consumers and the company proved abortive. In a related development, electricity consumers in Plateau State yesterday met in Jos, to fine-tune ways of improving services in the state and other areas. The forum was called at the instance of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) which provides electricity to four states of Plateau, Benue, Bauchi and Gombe. Executive Director of JED, Marketing and Investment, Mr. Verr Jırbo, told

the gathering that for the states to continue to enjoy improved services there was the need for the existing tariff regime to be reviewed to enable the company meets up with its obligations. He explained that the current economic realities which pushed up the cost of service materials, including gas and the steady deprecation of the naira against the dollar were hindering their operations and effectiveness, hence the need to review the existing electricity tariff to enable them continue in business. He said: “When we started operation about 21 months ago, it was N156 to a dollar, but now, the exchange rate

has changed. Gas which we need for our services is on the high side. We may not continue to deliver services if the situation remains like this,” the director said. But most of the customers who spoke at the forum resisted the planned tariff review. They maintained that although the company had improved on its services lately, it was not enough to warrant any upward review of the current tariff regime. Some of the problems which they insisted must be addressed by the company include outrageous bills, problem of prepared meter, erratic power supply, poor response to customers’ complaints among others.

Nigerian Army between Depchi and Geidam, Geidam Local Government Area in Yobe State. Usman said the arrested persons were also engaged in the supply of fuel in addition to hard drugs such as Cannabis (Indian Hemp), Chlorofone substance (AKA Madaran suck and die) and Tramol, amongst others. “You will recall that sometimes ago we reported that ironically most of the Boko Haram terrorists captured by Nigerian military cannot read the Holy Qur’an, some

of them cannot even recite the first chapter- Suratuh AlFatiha and yet they claimed they wanted to establish an ‘Islamic State’. “When the Nigerian military captured their bases and training camps, they never found Qur’an or other Islamic books, what were mostly found were ammunitions, local charms, condoms and all sort of drugs, including sex enhancing ones in their enclaves. “The arrest of these drug suppliers has reinforced that fact, more so as they have been making very useful

statements,” the DAPR said. He said the Army would continue to do its best in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country in order to make Nigeria safe and secure. However, Usman stated that it required a continuous support and cooperation of the public. He said the Army would welcome and appreciate information that could lead to the arrest and pre-empting the Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal elements in the society.

Frozen Poultry: Customs destroy 1,583 cartons, vow to cripple smuggling

estern Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday vowed to keep up the fight against smuggling of frozen poultry products, especially around Yekeme, near Badagry, Lagos State. Controller in charge of the command, Yusuf Umar, said this while destroying

1,583 cartons of smuggled poultry products in Lagos. He said the command had seized and destroyed 6,668 cartons of poultry products from July 7 to date when ‘Operation Hawk Descend’ was launched to fight the smuggling of the products. Umar said customs would work to ensure that revenue leakages were plugged, just

as it would work to protect the nation’s economy through its services. He warned that smugglers must stop forthwith or be ready to face the wrath of the law. “Those who engage in this act of smuggling poultry products should desist, henceforth, because there is no hiding place for them as far as we are concerned.”

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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Again, Buhari, Obasanjo in closed-door meeting Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday met behind closeddoor at the Presidential Villa. Details of the meeting that lasted over an hour inside the President’s office were not disclosed. Emerging from the meeting, Obasanjo declined to speak with State House Correspondents on the purpose of his visit. It would be recalled that early last month, Buhari had met Obasanjo and former President Goodluck Jonathan in quick succession at his official residence. Jonathan, it was gathered, was the first to meet Buhari while Obasanjo later met him the next day. Police to arrest unauthourised users of siren nationwide Nigeria Police in Abuja yesterday said it would arrest any person not listed in the categories of persons authourised to use siren in the country. It would be recalled

that the Federal Government had in 2012 listed categories of persons entitled to use siren. They are the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, their deputies, governors and service chiefs. Others are the Inspector-General of Police, General Officers Commanding, Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, DIGs, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, AIGs, as well as Commissioners of Police. Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the police would rely on the government circular on use of siren. “We will still go by the Federal government circular in implementing the directive,” Kolawole said. She said that the rate at which siren was being used in the country had reduced drastically because of the efforts of the police. Kolawole warned that the police would not hesitate to arrest any unauthourised persons found using the siren.

L-R: Customer Segment Manager, First Bank, Mr. Alex Okafor; Representative of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mrs. Chioma Okoye; Head, Mobile Money Financial Business, Globacom, Mr. Esaie Diei; First Bank Representative, Mrs. Nnenna Igbani and Country Head, Ecobank Mobile, Mr. Adeyinka Shorungbe, during the commercial roll-out of Glo Xchange Mobile Money agents in Lagos, yesterday.

How Nigeria can attract foreign investors –Envoy George Oji ABUJA

nited States Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Matters, Charles Rivkin, has said for Nigeria to attract more foreign investments, it must endeavour to create a business-friendly environment that welcomes outside investment, safeguards intellectual property rights and does not rely on trade barriers.

with agency report

igeria will be phased out of JP Morgan’s Government Bond Index by the end of October, the bank said told Reuters yesterday, after warning that currency controls were making bond market transactions too complex to meet its rules. The index added Nigeria’s 2014, 2019, 2022 and 2024 bonds, giving it a weight of 1.8 per cent in the index. When the naira, was weakened by the global plunge in oil prices, the country first used its currency reserves to try to stabilise it, then resorted to market controls as pressure persisted. The JP Morgan index has around $210 billion in assets under management

less they can be turned into bankable assets through effective intellectual property rights protections. The envoy disclosed that the U.S. government is encouraging the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt policies that welcome foreign firms, protect their intellectual property, and allow firms the freedom to use their supply chains as they see fit.

TENDER NOTICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS

CBN faults report

Johnson Okanlawon

country has much more to offer the world than oil and gas and is capable of competing in the global marketplace. According to him, given the creativity and intellectual ability and accomplishments of Nigerians in literature, film, music, software development, clothing design, and many other areas, it is clear Nigeria has resources, but it will never be able to fully develop those resources un-

In addition, Nigeria must deliberately create investor-friendly poli-

Nigeria to be phased out of JP Morgan’s bond index October benchmarked to it. That benchmarking supports investor demand for the bonds in the index. JP Morgan’s decision to phase Nigeria out of its index, which many investors track, marks the conclusion of a process initiated in January. Some bonds will be removed by the end of September and the rest by the end of October, JP Morgan said. Earlier, it had said that to stay in the index, Nigeria would have to restore liquidity to its currency market in a way that allowed foreign investors tracking the index to conduct transactions with minimal hurdles. Reacting to the removal, the Federal Government said it disagree with the premise and conclusions upon which the decision rests. A statement signed

cies and reforms that will make the country an attractive place to do business. The envoy stated this yesterday at the opening of a USA small and medium enterprise financing conference, which was put together by the Nigeria-America Chamber of Commerce at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. Rivkin expressed willingness of US companies to invest in Nigeria and its people, noting that the

by the CBN’s Director of Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, said it is obvious that doing so would lead to an indeterminate depreciation of the Naira. “With dwindling oil prices, we believe that an orderbased two-way market best serves Nigeria’s interest at the moment. “While we would continue to ensure that there is liquidity and transparency in the market, we would like to note that the market for FGN Bonds remains strong and active due primarily to the strength and diversity of the domestic investor base. For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government sees Nigeria and the interest of Nigerians as paramount. It will therefore only continue to take economic

decisions

that

will impact positively in the lives of all Nigerians.”

Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91 and 182-day tenors amounting to N26,300,337,000 and N50,278,042,000, respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, September, 17, 2015. All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN S4 WEB INTERFACE between 9.00a.m and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, September, 16, 2015. Each bid must be in multiple of N1, 000 subject to a minimum of N10, 000. Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non – Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, September, 16, 2015. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid. Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, September, 17, 2015, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00am on Thursday, September, 17, 2015. The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury Bills. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Lagos allays fears on influx of suspected terrorists

…talks tough on street trading, traffic law enforcement

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, allayed the fear of possible terrorists’ attack, even as he urged residents to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses. The governor also assured that law enforcement agencies in the state will intensify enforcement against street trading and Road Traffic Law. The governor presided over the monthly Security Council Meeting at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, with all security chiefs in attendance. Briefing Government House Correspondents after the meeting, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the meeting discussed various issues bothering on street trading, robbery in traffic, influx of elements being taken as Boko Haram and some other issues, with a way of finding lasting solution. “The meeting looked holistically at what transpired in the state in the past one month with a view to finding lasting solution. For instance, we discussed issues on street trading, robbery in traffic, influx of elements being taken as Boko Haram noticed in the metropolis in the past few days,” Owoseni said. The police commissioner also assured that the section of the Traffic Law as it relate to restriction of movement of trailers and articulated vehicles between the hours of 6a.m. to 9p.m. will be enforced in a manner that will not impede commercial activities in the state. He however said that Section 2(1) of the law exempts trucks conveying petroleum products and passenger vehicles. He said the meeting has resolved to ensure they enforce the laws against street trading, most especially truck drivers complying with the existing laws. “We shall ensure we enforce the law, most especially with the truck drivers complying with the extant laws and also ensure that extant laws on street trading is en-

forced, with regards to that, we looked at human element in enforcing the law”, he said. He said aside from enforcements, the council has also decided to embark upon sensitisation and public enlightenment as a strategy to dissuade members of the public from patronising street traders. Owoseni also enumerated strategies being put in place to prevent armed groups from infiltrating

the state. He said” “It is important that we do not allow any form of armed groups to come into the

state before reacting. “This is why we have put in place proactive measures such as constant raids on dark spots

and criminal hide outs as well as random checks at entry points into the state.” He however urged

all law abiding citizens to continue to go about their legitimate business without fear of molestation.

with a charge to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the job. The governor, who spoke during commissioning of the campaign office and inauguration of members of the organisation at Yenizue-Gene in Yenagoa, assured them of

his support. He added that they were campaign directors in their different localities, just as he said members were carefully selected based on their pedigree and consultation with leaders and elders of the party,.

Describing them as political juggernauts and tested tacticians, the governor emphasised on the task ahead, stressing that the government was not playing with the campaign, as it is about the integrity and dignity of the state.

Dickson inaugurates 13-man campaign committee Osahon Julius YENAGOA

head of December 5th gubernatorial poll in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson has inaugurated a 13-member Restoration Campaign Organisation,

South West

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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‘Lafogido Ruling House won’t concede Ooni’s stool’

afogido Ruling House of Ile-Ife in Osun State has debunked rumour that it has conceded its claim to the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife to the Giesi Ruling House or any other house whatsoever. A statement issued by Head of the ruling house, Sooko Walomo Adeleke Adewoyin, said the Lafogido Ruling House

“does not intend to, and will never concede its right” to any other ruling house. It added that contrary to the rumours making the rounds, the only authentic chieftaincy declaration of the Ooni of Ife chieftaincy title is that gazzetted in 1957, stressing that no other could serve as reference on the chieftaincy stool.

“A chieftaincy declaration is like the Constitution of a country which guides the conduct of the people and cannot be wished away. The hallucinations from some quarters that it is the turn of Giesi Ruling House to produce the next Ooni of Ife is like the noise of a crowded market which nobody must listen to,” the release stated.

Adewoyin’s statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the order of rotation in the 1957 gazzette is listed in the following manner: (1) Osinkola (2) Giesi (3) Ogboru and (4) Lafogido. “It was the turn of Giesi Ruling House to produce the Ooni of Ife in 1980 upon the demise of Oba Adesoji Aderemi who was from Osinkola

Ruling House. But Giesi Ruling House, for reasons best known to them, conceded the stool to Ogboru Ruling House. The position of the law is very clear on this and that is, that they have to wait for their turn again.” The statement said the Lafogido Ruling House was eminently qualified with prominent sons for the vacant stool. It listed 16 of such qualified princes from its ruling house to include Oluwole Eludoyin, Adetayo Oladele, Prof. Charles Adesanmi,

Prof. Adeyemi Adebisi, Ade Adefioye, Ajibade Olowoporoku, Aderotimi Adefioye and Aderemi Adekunle Okikiade. Others are Adediran Okikiade, Adedamola Layade, Adeleke Adefaranye, Adeposi Odunle, Adesanya Adefisan, Adekunle Abioye, Ademakinwa Solomon and Ahmed Aderoju Adewoyin. According to the statement, Lafogido is fully prepared to fill the vacant stool “and this is not negotiable.”

Ogun appoints 3 new magistrates FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

L-R: Commander, Air Force Base Ikeja, Air Commodore Lere Osanyintolu; Commander 9 Mechanized Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Mohammed Sabo; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Director, State Security Services, Mr. Adekunle Ajaraku, after the State Security Council meeting at Lagos House, yesterday.

Herdsmen/farmers’ clashes: Northern leader sues for peace KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

hairman, Arewa Chiefs in Southern Nigeria and Seriki Hausa in Shasha, Oyo State, Haruna Katsina Maiyasin, has sued for peaceful co-existence between herdsmen and farmers in the region. He made the appeal yesterday during a meeting with Hausa leaders in the 17 southern states of the country, at his palace in Ibadan, the state capital. The appeal is sequel to series of clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Oyo North senatorial district which has forced the state House of Assembly to inaugurate a committee to douse the tension. He urged the Fulani herdsmen to maintain peace, respect their neighbours, and respect laws and government’s orders to engender peace

in the state. According to him, observing the laws of the land and respect for the host community will prevent escalation of violence or conflict, stressing that the region must not allow the terrible situation witnessed in the North to rear its ugly head in southern Nigeria. The Serikin Shasha, who is the chairman of Arewa chiefs across the 17 Southern states of the country, called on the Fulani/Bororo herdsmen to maintain peace, obey the government and hold peaceful meetings, as well as settle their rift with farmers. He enjoined the Fulani leaders not to cover anyone found to be a terrorist and kidnapper, saying all enemies of peaceful co-existence must the exposed. He also called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute any Fulani

man found drinking at any beer parlour, stating that it was not in the culture and tradition of Fulani to drink in beer parlour. He then urged Nige-

rians to assist the nation and President Muhammadu Buhari with prayers, likewise provide him with meaningful ideas to succeed in his endeavours.

gun State government has appointed three additional magistrates in a bid to hasten the administration of justice in the state. The state Chief Judge, Olatokunbo Olopade, who swore in the new appointees at a ceremony in her office, explained that appointments of the new magistrates was the outcome of a painstaking recruitment of new hands to complement efforts of the already existing formidable team of magistrates and jurists in the state. She further stated that the appointment of the new magistrates was aimed at reinforcing the state’s magistracy in order to bring quick and fair justice closer to people of the state.

UBEC lauds Osun’s educational programmes BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

xecutive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr. Dikko Suleiman, yesterday lauded the Osun government’s execution of educational programmes. Suleiman, who spoke at the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of plastic desks and chairs to public schools in Osun by the Federal Government and UBEC at the Local Authority Government Middle School in Ayetoro, Osogbo, noted that the facilities in public schools in the state were comparable to those found in advanced countries. The UBEC boss, who was

represented by his deputy, Dr. Yakubu Gambo, stated that the choice of Osun for the flag-off ceremony by the Federal Government was borne out of the desire to reward hard work and dedication to delivery of democratic dividends to the electorate by Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He added that the homegrown school feeding programme in Osun is one programme that has endeared the state to the Federal Government, saying Osun is the only state in the country that is diligently feeding its pupils. The UBEC boss called on all state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to urgently access

their matching grants with UBEC which currently stands at above N58 billion by making available their counterpart funds to their SUBEB. According to him, “The quality of the structures and infrastructure that the governor has put in place in Osun can compete with any in developed countries, even equal that of the United States. “The home-grown school feeding programme, OMeal in Osun State is one programme that has endeared His Excellency to us because he is the only governor in the country that is doing it religiously despite the capital intensive nature of programme.

The new appointees are Sotayo Sotunde Seni, Orekoya Ibunkun Oluwa and Olusanya Oluseyi. The CJ noted that the judiciary under her close supervision frowns at actions that could bring disrepute to the judiciary in particular and the state in general, adding that she would not condone any acts of misconduct such as negligence of duty, truancy and favouritism. She charged the appointees to always uphold the ethics of the profession in the course of discharging their statutory responsibilities to the society and make self-discipline their watchword. She enjoined the appointees to engage in thorough research before writing judgments, exhibit respect to the Bar and litigants, as well as caution and control their temper when provoked. She further disclosed that the new magistrates would be attached to Chief Magistrate for one month tutelage, while they are expected to start court sitting on October 12. Presenting the new appointees, the Chief Registrar, Mr. Olusola Oloyede, described the occasion as very unique as the state’s Judicial Service Commission, JSC, found the three distinguished lawyers worthy of appointment as magistrates, both in learning and character. An appointee, Seni, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, promised that the new magistrates would discharge their duties without fear or favour.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Ekiti may scrap free education ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

L-R: (Front row) State Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, Prince Felix Awofisayo; Deputy Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Dr. Yakubu Gambo; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, during the national flag-off ceremony of tables and chairs to be distributed to 36 states and FCT SUBEBs in Nigeria by the Federal Government, at L.A Government Middle School, Ayetoro, Osogbo, yesterday.

Orangun rejects Owa as Osun Obaship chairman BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

risis may be brewing within the ranks of Osun State Council of Obas as the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, yesterday rejected the acting chairmanship of Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran. Oyedotun said as the first son of Oduduwa, Orangun, takes precedence over the Owa of Ijesaland and described Aromolaran’s claim as acting chairman as “mischievous” and an attempt to “subvert historical fact.”

Addressing a press conference that was attended by the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Ibironke, Elerin of Erin Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba AbdulRasheed Olabomi in his palace, Oyedotun said only Osun government could appoint an acting chairman after the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the former chairman. According to him, declaration of self as an acting chairman in an advertorial placed to condole with the people of Ile-Ife on the demise of

Sijuwade in some newspapers by Aromolaran on behalf of Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers, was illegal. He also faulted the reference to Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers in the advertorial, saying the statutory name of the Council is Osun State Council of Obas. “While the late Oba Sijuwade was the Permanent Chairman and the position was officially proclaimed by government, the arrogation of the position of Acting Chairman on the Owa Obokun by himself is to say the least illegal.

“Historically, the position of Orangun of Ila is well known in the hierarchy of Oduduwa’s children throughout Yorubaland, both in and outside Nigeria. By Yoruba culture, ascension to any position of authority is purely a matter of tradition. “The press briefing is to inform all Nigerians, especially the government of the State of Osun that the Owa Obokun does not take precedence over Orangun of Ila. Rather, the Owa Obokun concocted, bastardised, orchestrated and made attempt at subverting facts,” Oyedotun stated.

ndications emerged yesterday that the free education enjoyed at primary and secondary school levels in Ekiti State may be scrapped. This is as stakeholders in the state’s education sector yesterday resolved that funding of education should no longer be the burden of government alone, saying they must participate. The stakeholders, who spoke at a one-day Ekiti Education Summit 2015 tagged ‘Restoring the Lost Glory of Education,’ said education funding should be by “costsharing arrangement.” Other resolutions at the summit chaired by a former Chief Judge of the state and the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye, included that entrepreneurship education should be given priority at primary and secondary schools levels. Participants at the summit, which focused principally on primary and secondary education, included President of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola; Speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole; heads of education institutions in the state; university vice

FACM holds 124th annual confab

he first Indigenous African Church in Africa and the world at

Group hails Ambode on 100 days’ milestone

ommittee for Protection of Peoples Mandate, CPPM, a civil society organisation, has described the first 100 days in office of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as rewarding, having exemplified excellence in governance since assuming office. The group in a congratulatory message to the governor, which was made available to National Mirror yesterday and signed by its chairman, Nelson Ekujumi, said Ambode has “followed in the tradition of responsibility, responsiveness and focused administration like his predecessors, in setting the

pace for delivering on his campaign promises and democratic dividends to the people. “Ever since he assumed office, Mr. Ambode has left no one in doubt about his competence as a tested and trusted administrator and technocrat of repute in discharging his constitutional responsibility creditably to the admiration of the good people of Lagos State, who are delighted that they made the right choice at the April 11 polls,” the group said. Listing some of the governor’s landmark achievements, CPPM said the governor has

succeeded in restructuring and repositioning the state’s civil service by streamlining some ministries, departments and agencies, ensuring financial transparency and accountability through the operation of Treasury Single Account, TSA. The group added, “We are quite aware of how Mr. Governor put smiles on the faces of state and local government retirees from ministries, parastatals and agencies early in August when he approved N11 billion to offset arrears owed since 2010. This was a commendable development by a responsible govern-

ment and this is a radical departure from our history of shabby treatment of retirees in the public service. “Also, the prompt responsiveness and humaneness of the Ambode government to disasters and emergencies is worthy of commendation, if we recollect his empathy visit to scenes of petroleum tanker ignited fire disasters in Idimu and Iyana Ipaja where he not only commiserated with the victims, but also promised them government succour which has since been fulfilled. “Worthy of note is the commitment of Governor Ambode to secu-

chancellors; traditional rulers, education unions and other stakeholders. According to Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola, who read the resolutions, participants also resolved that welfare of teachers be given top priority and that parents should intensify monitoring of their children. Others included that the state Ministry of Education officials should monitor teachers; that continuous assessment tests be combined with terminal tests to determine their promotion to the next class; and that students should also do away with cultism and other vices. The state governor, who expressed confidence that the summit would reposition education in the state, commenting on the presentations by the participants, said: “I support the reintroduction of teachers training colleges. “We are going to take the issue of taxation serious as no government thrives without it. Private school owners should pay up their dues and levies,” he said. The governor said that his administration was also considering the issue of appointment of Headmastergeneral for primary school teachers, and fully in support of prohibiting cultism in schools in the state.

rity of life and property by unveiling plans to strengthen internal security of the state through the establishment of an integrated security and emergency control platform as well as strengthening the Rapid Response Squad, RRS. “Also commendable, is the acquisition by the government in the last 100 days, of modern security equipments, gadgets and vehicles to ensure a crime-free state. All these security strides by Governor Ambode attracted tremendous support in cash and kind from corporate organisations and individuals.”

large, The First African Church Mission Incorporated, will commence its 124th Annual Conference today, September 9, and conclude with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, September 13. According to spokesman of the Mission, Mr. Emmanuel Ola Campbell, venue of the conference is St. Peter’s Cathedral Ahoda Diocese, of the Archdiocese of Orashi, Rivers State. He further said programmes for the five-day conference tagged ‘A Chosen and Treasured Vessel unto the Lord (Acts 9:15)’ will start 10am daily. Also, a special prayer session where all participants would intercede for the peace, development and leadership of Nigeria is to hold on one of the conference days.

South East

Bailout: Hope dims for ex-public officers in Imo Chris Njoku Owerri

ope of paying former Imo State public officers from the bailout granted states by the Federal Government dimmed yesterday as government sources said they were not part of the scheme. Mainly affected are those that served under former Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu and 26 members of the House of Assembly. Our correspondent gathered that the committee set up by Governor Rochas Okorocha to oversee payment of workers’ salaries with the largess complained that the bailout would only be used to pay civil servants. The state received N26bn bailout to off-set salary arrears owed the workers, including pensioners. But ex-public officers were shocked when the committee announced that the bailout would not accommodate their May 2015 salary. Some of the appointees, mostly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, who did

not want their names mentioned, said they were surprised to be abandoned after serving the state and delivering their party in the last election. They said paying the salaries would help them settle down to normal life, as most of them have been evicted from their houses due to lack of money to pay rents. “We cannot even afford to feed our families or pay the school fees of our wards,” they lamented. While insisting that public and civil servants make up the workforce of the state, they wondered why they were not included in the government bailout package as they insisted that their salaries were statutory allocated by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC. Efforts to contact the committee chairman and Chief of Staff to the governor, Uche Nwosu failed, as his call rang out without response. However, a source close to the committee said the salary of the former public officers would be paid but not in the immediate future.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Children sold like commodities, Ugwuanyi alleges Emmanuel Ezeh Enugu

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has expressed concern over proliferation of baby factories in the state. The governor in a speech while inaugurating a committee on child adoption in the state said it has become evident that children were being sold like commodities. He warned that his administration would not fold its hands to watch rules and laws on child adoption abused in the state. Ugwuanyi regretted that despite laws and best efforts of government and

Ugwuanyi

other concerned agencies, the incidence of wrong use of these facilities had continued to increase. He noted that cases of abandoned children, establishment and operation of illegal adoption had continued to rise.

“While we acknowledge the right and necessity for childless or benevolent couples to adopt motherless children and orphans, we believe there is need for strict compliance with due process and provisions of relevant laws to guarantee security and well being of the affected children,” he said, and expressed hope that the committee would ensure the principle is entrenched and also bring the worrisome anomalies of child-selling and trafficking, as well as other forms of child abuse to an end in the state. He urged the committee headed by Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma to work towards ensuring

that government sets up proper structure to facilitate implementation of the Child Rights Act in the state and to improve the quality of Child Justice Administration. Speaking after the inauguration, Most Rev. Chukwuma commended the governor for taking a bold step in the right direction to forestall child abuse in the state. Archbishop Chukwuma noted that the work was tough, but added that the committee would not disappoint. He assured that the committee would among others; find out “who are the mothers of these children and where they are going after delivery.”

Umahi directs payment of workers’ salary on 20th of every month Aliuna Godwin Abakaliki

overnor David Umahi of Ebonyi State yesterday directed payment of workers’ salaries, including local government staff before 20th September. The gesture would enable workers pay their children’s school fees, the governor said. Umahi gave the directive when Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, led by National President, Mr. Michael Olukoya, paid him a courtesy visit. He said: “All salaries in the state must be paid by 20th September. This will be done every month. All salaries of workers, especially those of teachers in the state must be paid on 20th September,” he said Umahi added that in line with recommendations of the special committee his government set up, there would no longer be disparity between the salaries of state workers and their

local government counterparts. It would be recalled that workers in the state are currently on seven days warning strike to press home their demand for continued payment of the 50 per cent salary increase. Umahi appealed to teachers not to join the warning strike, declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, even as he regretted that government and labour signed an agreement to accept the recommendations of the special salaries committee, only for labour to reject it and call workers on strike. The governor, who reassured the NUT national leadership that his administration would not embark on disengagement of teachers, however, frowned on the quality of some of the teachers whom he noted were not qualified to teach. Olukoya had earlier said they were in the state because of the welfare of NUT members.

L-R: National Director of clergymen of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Primate Moses Ogbodogbo; National Chairman, Prince Mike Emuh; Edo State Chairman of HOSTCOM, Prince Sam Igbineweka and Chairman, HOSTCOM Bayelsa, Chief Bob Nabena, during a press conference seeking possession of oil pipeline surveillance in Abuja, yesterday.

Emmanuel Ezeh Enugu

hairman of Enugu South Local Government, Hon. Victor Agbo, yesterday dismissed the recent protest by a group, who claimed to be the council’s workers. The protesters had stormed Government House, Enugu, few weeks ago and alleged that they were being owed over six months’ salary arrears. However, addressing journalists, who were on a fact-finding tour to the council, the chairman said he never owed six months’ salary arrears, stressing that by the time the pro-

Rented crowd protested against me, says Enugu council boss test was on-going, “my workers were rejoicing over two months’ salary we paid them at once.” He added: “Those people cannot be our workers because we never owed up to six months’ salary arrears. “By the time the protest was on-going, we merely owed two months’ salary arrears. Even the NULGE, the umbrella body of workers in this council disowned the protest. “So, up till now, we don’t

know where those people came from; we don’t know who rented them. We are appealing to the media to help us investigate and find out the sponsors.” Agbo further disclosed that his administration had embarked on the construction of an International building materials market, with modern facilities along the EnuguPort Harcourt expressway. According to him, the new market covering about 26.67 hectres of land

when completed, would help to decongest the overcrowded building materials market at Kenyatta and Amaobia Street. He added that they had so far constructed 200 shops out of the expected 1,500 shops and offices in the market. He explained that the facilities in the new international building materials market would include, police post, banks, toilets, restaurants and other facilities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South south

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

C`River to seize kidnappers’ assets Richard Ndoma CALABAR

ross River State Governor Benedict Ayade has signed a bill into law that empowers government to seize the assets of convicted kidnappers and freeze accounts of their collaborators in the state. Other bills signed into law by Ayade`s administration include a bill that prescribes death penalty for convicted kidnappers. The anti-kidnapping bill was one of 10 bills the governor signed into law at the state’s Executive Chambers, witnessed by members of the House of ‎Assembly, chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Ntufam John Okon, and Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Tina

Agbor, as well as permanent secretaries. The law also empowers the state to seize assets and freeze accounts that belong to convicted kidnappers and those who aid and abet kidnapping in the state. The gover nor stated that the Social Housing Law, which he also signed into law, would make housing for the vulnerable a right, even as he described the law as holding emotional significance for him. “The most emotional bill to me is the Social Housing Law which seeks to provide housing for the poorest of the poor in the state. Various researches have linked corruption in civil service to housing. It has also been proven that given the salaries of average civil servants, if they don’t

originate memos that give them extra money, if they don’t compromise, no civil servant in Nigeria would be able to build a house. So by virtue of our salary structure, you have already created a catalyst for corruption to thrive. “By this bill, housing in Cross River State is now a right to the citizenry. It may not be justifiable at this point in time, but we have created a legal stimulus to drive the structure that we can achieve housing for everybody and in the process, stamp out all mud and thatch houses in Cross River.” As a measure aimed at generating revenue to the state from its abundant water resources despite being pronounced a non-littoral state by the Supreme Court following the loss of Bakassi Peninsula,

the governor signed the Water Landing and Fee Charges bill into law. Other bills which he signed include Infrastructure Safety and Regulatory Law, Water Front Management and Development Law, Corporate Social Responsibility Agency Law and Tax Exemption Law for low income earners. The state Assembly Speaker, John Gaul Lebo, who described the legislature as the incubator of leadership, said the bills were sponsored to help the government better the lots of Cross River people. He described as impressive the Assembly’s production of 10 bills in three months, adding that the development shows the vision of the governor was so clear the House could translate it into laws.

ormer Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has described the death of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, as a great loss to the nation. A press statement released by his media office in Abuja yesterday described the late foremost traditional ruler of the Itsekiri nation as, “a peace-maker and nation builder, who went to great lengths to ensure peace reigned in his domain, and among Nigerians.” According to Atiku, the harmony that characterises the daily lives and activities of Nigerians, who live and work in Warri, to a large extent, depends on the love, tolerance and pa-

CALABAR

Police vow to arrest kidnappers of columnist …parade 15 suspects, recover 133 arms Dennis Naku

PORT HARCOURT

olice in Rivers State yesterday said it would track down the hoodlums behind the abduction of a columnist, Ms Donu Kogbara, in Port Harcourt. The columnist with Vanguard Newspaper was kidnapped recently from her residence by six gunmen in the state capital. New Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, stated this while briefing newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt on

the successes recorded since he assumed duty on September 3. Kimo, who expressed worry over Kogbara’s abduction, stated that the command was in deep pains and urged the media to be patient, assuring that it would apprehend the bandits and rescue the victim unconditionally. He said, “We feel the abduction of your colleague the way you feel it. Her abduction is a challenge to all of us.” While parading 15 suspects, who were involved in kidnapping, armed

robbery and cultism, the police boss disclosed that the command under his watch would focus on sustained tackling of “nauseating violent crimes in the state and mop up arms and ammunition from miscreant.” According to him, “from September 3, till date, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) of the Force arrested three kidnap suspects; five suspected kidnappers were killed, while three victims were rescued.” Also, he announced the arrest of five armed

robbery suspects, adding that seven suspected cultists had been arrested at different locations by the Anti-Cultism Unit, ACU. The police boss further disclosed that 133 arms and ammunition, as well as two vehicles were recovered from the hoodlums. He said: “Let me emphasise that we will no longer wait for criminals to strike; instead, we will continue to be proactive and take the onslaught to their hideouts no matter the difficulty of the terrain.”

triotism which were part of the life of the late Olu. The Turaki Adamawa recalled that during the 28 eventful years he reigned as Olu, “Warri grew beyond its known limits and became a magnet of sorts for Nigerians and foreigners alike plying different trades. “The result was that the social and economic circumstances of the people improved raising Warri to a major economic hub in the country.” The former Vice President said Nigeria had lost a wise and thoughtful counselor, adding that “In this era of change, the counsel of the late Ogiame Atuwatse would have been invaluable.”

Ayade promises to surpass campaign pledges Richard Ndoma

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, former President Goodluck Jonathan (4th from left), Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Delta State Deputy Governor (7th from left) and Chief/Mrs. Deipreye Alamieyesegha, during Governor Dickson’s declaration to run for second term, in Yenagoa, yesterday.

overnor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State on Monday evening in Calabar pledged to surpass the campaign promises he made despite the lean federal allocation accruing to the state. The governor in an address on state television said, “With confidence, I proclaim that the landscape is bright, and our future assured. “When I took oath of office that sweltering afternoon, I swore to hew a rocky pathway to greatness and bring our people to a point where they can live out their manifest destiny. We have not relented on this promise. And we shall meet and surpass it.” While harping on the progress made so far by his administration since he came on board, Ayade stated that “today, my team and I have crystallised our signature projects; the 240-kilometre super highway and Deep Sea Port construction work has since begun.

“Our mission from when we took the mantle of leadership has been to create a socially stable and economically rewarding business climate. This we shall accomplish because the wheels of progress have begun to turn. “We have our hands and eyes focused on our collective aspiration with our legs on the pedals, drawing strength from the vitality of our youth and inspiration from God. “Soon and very soon too, the wintry despondency that once held us captive as a state will give way to a new freedom where sweat would be product of pleasure not toil,” adding that the “difficult choices we make today, will definitely meet the challenges of our tomorrow.” The former academic/Senator waxing philosophical said, “If you feel the same passion that I feel, then fear not because we shall overcome. Cross River will soon become the benchmark for excellence among the comity of states in the world.”

North

James Danjum, KATSINA

ive people have died in Katsina State following reported outbreak of gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhoea, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines) in several villages in Kankia council area. The villages affected by the disease include Layin

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stomach flu kills five in Katsina

Hayin Alhassan, Sagarwar Kwarashi, Tafashiya and Nasarawa, with some communities already reporting traces. Apart from the dead, the disease was said to have left several people hospitalised at Kankia General Hospital after they were found to

have had continuous bouts of diarrhoea and vomiting. The disease, which is contracted from drinking contaminated water, may not be unconnected with recent heavy rainfall and attendant flooding that had diluted community ponds and water bodies.

Already, some state government officials have gone to the area to express their sympathies to the families of those that had lost their lives. House of Assembly member from the area, Salisu Hamza, who was among the early callers, donated

drugs and other items for treatment of those hospitalised. Hamza, who went to the homes of those that lost loved ones to the disease on sympathy visit, however called on the state government to come to the assistance of the victims.

When contacted, the permanent secretary, state Ministry of Health, Ahmed Quabassiyyu, confirmed the incident but said only two persons lost their lives. Quabassiyyu said a group of health personnel had been sent to the affected communities to assess the true situation of things.

Four years SIWES allowances ready –ITF Igbawase Ukumba, LAFIA

ndustrial Training Fund, ITF, yesterday said outstanding students and staff supervisory allowances from 2010 – 2014 of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, SIWES, is ready for payment to legitimate participants in the country. Area manager of the fund for Jos area office, Zakari Bala Sabo, stated this in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, during the 2015 Nasarawa State Polytechnic students’ SIWES orientation exercise, adding that ITF was aware of the four years outstanding allowances. To this end, the area manager said ITF merely awaits the account details of all participants in the SIWES exercise for the past four years to enable it compute the outstanding allowances for payment to deserving beneficiaries.

Sabo, who rated the state polytechnic high, said: “The polytechnic has set good records during its previous years of participation in SIWES activity. Therefore, I call on the institution to maintain that tempo. I also want to inform all participants in this year’s exercise that it is only when they participate fully that they would access the SIWES allowances from ITF.” The Rector, Dr. Silas Gyar, said the polytechnic had introduced entrepreneurship programme unit in its school curriculum towards achieving millennium development goals of the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda. Gyar therefore commended ITF for establishing an area office in Lafia, saying it would alleviate the pains of “travelling long distances to solve minor and major cases involving the institution and the supervisory body.”

NEMA urges relocation of flood-prone communities Gloria Usman and Dare Akogun

ational Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has again advised states and local governments to immediately relocate residents of communities along rivers, waterways and flood-prone areas to safer grounds to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and properties. According to a statement made available by the agency, Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, said the warning became necessary due to the heavy rains and devastating effect of floods in most low-lying communities along waterways and floodprone areas in recent time. He disclosed that since the agency issued early flood warning, it has em-

barked on mitigation and preventive measures against the hazard by organising workshops on flood awareness/ sensitisation campaign through its six zonal offices and six operational offices in the country. He urged state and local government authorities to always match early warning with early action by introducing flood control programmes such as clearing drainages and canals to ensure free flow of water, construction of new drainages where necessary, preventing buildings on waterways and relocating those living along flood plains to safer areas. He further said state and local governments should ensure adequate and proper refuse dumping sites from where they would be evacuated regularly.

The new Adamawa Commissioner for Information, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh (right), taking Oath of Office before Governor Bindow Jibrilla (left), at the Government House in Yola, yesterday.

Kano to facilitate N2bn loan for traders Abdulgafar Oladimeji, KANO

ano State government has concluded arrangements to facilitate a N2 billion loan for operators of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the state, says Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Ganduje said the loan, obtainable from the Central Bank of Nigeria, is interest-free and non-discriminatory provided prospective beneficiaries meet the required guidelines to

access it, adding that the move was part of efforts by Kano government to enhance its commercial status. The governor disclosed this during a meeting with members of Kano State Traders Union, KASTU, at Government House, Kano. He added that the state government was also drawing up plans to renovate markets in the state, urging leaders of market associations to help the government by ensuring that all markets are kept tidy always.

Ganduje also tasked traders and other SME operators on due payment of revenue, assuring that the government would work with them towards flushing out dealers of illicit drugs from the markets. Chairman of KASTU, Liti Kulkul, advised the state government to evolve ways of revitalising commercial activities in the state, assuring that they would cooperate with the Ganduje administration to move the state forward. Meanwhile, the governor urged Sunnah TV, a

PDP accuses Niger governor of incompetence Priscilla Dennis, MINNA

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Niger State has described the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration as deficient due to alleged incompetence of the state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello. The state’s deputy chairman of the party, Tanko Beji, stated this during a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Minna, noting that in the last 100 days at the helm of affair, the government has nothing to show.

“The government is yet to have a focus, but is busy commissioning projects executed by the PDP government in the state.” Beji also berated the governor for spending N200 million to fill potholes in parts of Minna, the state capital, without approval, since he was yet to put a cabinet in place. The PDP deputy chairman also lambasted the governor for going to the House of Assembly to seek N2 billion for unidentified projects. According to him, “it is another attempt by the governor to tie the people of the

state into another round of unnecessary debt.” As the November 7 local government election approaches, he stated his party’s readiness for the poll, but insisted in the use of Card Reader in its conduct. “The PDP is complying with INEC’s guidelines in electing our chairmanship flag-bearers in all the 25 local governments and their running mates, the only party who has done that and has received our forms from INEC. And any election in the state without the card reader is outrightly calling for anarchy,” he warned.

satellite electronic medium, to focus more on social issues affecting Muslim communities in Nigeria, like begging, rampant cases of divorce and distribution of Zakkat, to ensure a more wholesome society. He also tasked the medium to establish a research and documentation department to enable it strengthen its public enlighten and education resolve, pointing out that the station should bring into limelight the contributions of Islamic scientists in the field of science and technological development. Ganduje, who gave the advice while receiving the management of the medium at Government House, Kano, said his administration attaches great importance to religious issues and would continue to patronise Sunna TV, towards enlightening the people on spiritual issues like Hajj and societal re-orientation. Earlier, the DirectorGeneral of Sunnah TV, Dr. Ibrahim Disina, told the governor that the station is faith-based and broadcasts over mainly Africa and parts of Europe. He, however, requested patronage from the state government to sustain their services.

Wednesday September 9, 2015

Kaduna: El-rufai’s 100 days of gains and expectations

Taraba State sociocultural group, Taraba Peoples Assembly, TPA, has condemned as wasteful spending and flamboyant celebration of 100 days in office by Governor Dirus Dickson Ishaku, warning the governor to stop showcasing achievements of previous administration as his. In a statement signed by its coordinator, Martins Andekin, TPA said Ishaku’s government has not achieved anything in its 100 days as none of the seven items ascribed to him was initiated, funded

and completed by him. It said: “The most bizarre of the so-called achievements is the brazen claim to improve power supply to the state; it is common knowledge that the Federal Government under President Muhammad Buhari had achieved the record breaking feat of over 4,000 megawatts of electricity. Accordingly, power supply has improved nationwide. “The credit for the expansion of power to the state goes to former acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, who bought and installed over 15 transformers and electrified some towns and villages to boost power supply to the state.

How many transformers has Darius bought?” Saying that it’s very important for Tarabans to note that the mini-power project commissioned by Governor Darius on the Mambilla Plateau was fully completed during the tenure of acting Governor Garba, TPA added: “The Ishaku administration did not contribute a single kobo to the project apart from the commissioning ceremony.” TPA further pointed out that killings and cases of IDPs in the state has worsened as no adequate assistance is being sent to them by the government while refuse dumps and lack of water have crept back to

Politics

Probe of previous governments should not be limited to Jonathan –Olawale

100 days: Group slams Taraba gov for showcasing ex-gov’s projects Robert Awokuse

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the state capital. Andekin said: “We are seriously wondering how the provision of water to Jalingo can be such a big deal. All that the Water Supply Agency requires is the release of its monthly running costs to enable it continuously manage its operations. The truth is that the social services ministries and departments have been denied their monthly allocations since December 2014 thereby grounding their activities. “The N8 million said to have been released to the water agency is far below the millions of naira spent on the celebration of birthday and 100 days in office for Darius.”

N4bn loan: Bauchi lawmakers move against Abubakar •It’s not true –Speaker

arely four months of the All progressives Congress, APC, administration in Bauchi State, indications emerged that it is not business as usual between the executive and the legislative arm of government in the state. A reliable source who confided to newsmen said this may not be unconnected with the N4 billion loan facility collected by the governor on assumption of office, adding that the lawmakers’ grudge was that it is out of place for a governor to single handedly collect such loan even when both the state Assembly and the state executive council are not constituted It was learn that apparently miffed by this development, the governor had allegedly dodged the lawmakers’ request for a meeting. It was also gathered that the lawmakers are

scheming to impeach the governor even when an alleged meeting APC state chairman to pacify the aggrieved lawmakers ended in deadlock. One of the principal officers of the Assembly who pleaded anonymity said the executive has committed an impeachable offence by collecting such a loan, adding that the governor’s trip to the Czech Republic undermines the principles of good governance. He stressed that the Assembly had times without number sought for a meeting with the governor, yet to no avail as the governor was allegedly dodging them. He said: “As am talking to you, we can no longer fold our arms and watch the governor contravene democratic norms regarding the functions of the three arms of government to ensure good governance.”

CNPP to ex-office holders: Submit your diplomatic passport or face impersonation charge Henry Iyorkase MAKURDI

C L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson; former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, during governor Dicson’s declaration for second term in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Enugu-East NASS tribunal: PDP’s witness contradicts self Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

eoples Democratic Party, PDP, opened its defence for the Enugu-East senatorial election yesterday with its witness contradicting himself over the actual date the election result was collated. Although the principal witness told the National Assembly tribunal that collation started in the early hours of March 29, his signature and date on the re-

sult sheet showed March 28. Former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples for Democratic Change, PDC, is challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electrol Commission, INEC, of Senator Gilbert Nnaji, as winner of the poll. Ebe Eric Chidiebere, collation agent for PDP in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, who took the witness box confirmed certified true copies of the Voter Registers used in the election for the

council area during cross examination by petitioner’s counsel, Mr. O. Jolaawo. However, a mild drama immediately ensued when he was shown copies of the voter registers used in some polling units that had no voting ticks, contrary to INEC’s election manual, which stipulates that any voter issued ballot paper must have his name ticked. Ebe reluctantly agreed that there were no ticks even as he also read out to the court, the portion of

election manual, which stipulates that any voter issued ballot paper must have his name ticked. He was also shown the Card Reader Data and result sheets for those polling stations, where there were no ticks in the Voter Registers. Responding to Jolaawo’s questions during cross examination, Ebe admitted that the date he wrote on exhibit RS, 100 was March 28, contrary to his earlier evidence that collation started in the early hours of March 29.

hairman of Benue State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Engr. Baba Agan, has joined the band wagon of those in support of the submission of diplomatic passports by past ministers and former governors to the state. Engr. Agan said this yesterday in an interview with National Mirror in Makurdi, the state capital, observing that anyone who does not comply with the directive should risk prosecution and called on law enforcement agents to ensure that the order is strictly followed. The CNPP chieftain further averred that former top government functionaries must adhere to the rules with view to maintain their dignity and compli-

ance with the new change mantra. Agan stated that the era of impunity has gonen saying that former government officials must submit what belong to the government unlike in those days when orders were not respected. He therefore challenged former government officials to hasten up action and relinquish all other government properties in their possession to government coffers, while advocating that defaulters should be apprehended to serve as deterrent to others. He said that once one leaves power or public service, all official belongings are expected to be submitted immediately, wondering why after three months, some of them are still hanging on to these items until an order is issued.

Politics

n May 29, the Nasir El-Rufal-led All Progressives Congress, APC, was ushered in to take over the mantle of governance in Kaduna State. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had ruled the Liberal State in the last 16 years since the returned of democracy in 1999. El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was voted in by Kaduna people to bring the needed change they had yearned for over a decade ago. Although, previous PDP administrations have done what they were able to do for the citizens of the state, as many were not satisfied with its performances and voted for change in the keenly contested 2015 polls. However, in the past 100 days of the El-Rufai’s administration, pundits averred that the general consensus in Kaduna is to support the present government to see what the governor can deliver in the area of education, health, employment and security, among other sectors. Political observers opined that, the APC-led administration has so far recorded gains within the time under review in office despite inherited economic crisis in the state, due to oil shortfall and financial leakages. Though, expectations are still high from the electorate, but they are patiently waiting for the commencement of the full benefits of El-Rufai’s government programmes and policies which they believed can impact positively on their well beings. Within 100 days, El-Rufai has demonstrated his administrative skills to the electorate that change has come to stay in the Liberal State and dividends are underway for all the citizens. The El-Rufai government seems to be marching towards the end of insecurity in Southern Kaduna and Birnin Gwari. The governor has also embarked on the recovery of public lands in government schools and hospitals from land grabbers, among other steps to restore the people’s governance. In his recent state broadcast entitled ‘How we met Kaduna State and what we are doing to change it,’ Governor El-Rufai expressed shock that after preliminary analysis of the finances, and even after combining receipts from the federation account and internally generated revenue, IGR, the previous government could not settle personnel and overhead costs of the state and local governments without monthly borrowing. He said: “It was obvious that running Kaduna the old way is a recipe for disaster. One of the steps we took was to cut overheads spending by 60 per cent. I therefore directed the state Accountant General to release only 40 per cent of budgeted overheads as we strive to improve liquidity and prioritise spending for public goods. However, our efforts in this regard are not on the expenditure side alone. “As we cut costs, plug leakages and reduce waste, we need to grow our revenues and have more realistic budgeting in the state. We are therefore focusing on strategies to rapidly increase our IGR. “We are conscious of the fact that as things stand today, Kaduna State relies on federal allocation to be able to pay salaries. The state simply does not collect enough IGR. In the last five years, IGR has been able to finance only about 15 per cent of the budget. We are committed to improving IGR, and thus reduce our dependence on federal allocations. The committee we set up to review our tax system in the state, led by former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, is about to complete its work. We shall promptly act on its recommendations to improve revenue generation and collection.” Maintaining that “when a budget is so disconnected from reality, and the same unrealistic figures are increased every year, development cannot be realised,” the governor added: “We will henceforth rigorously match realistic expenditures to sustainable revenues. Therefore budgeting in Kaduna State will henceforth be based on the zero-based budgeting system. This means that every expenditure item will have to be justified both in terms of its necessity, cost and availability of funds vis-à-vis other competing needs before it can be included in the state budget. “There is no reason to legislate N200 billion as annual

Wednesday September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Kaduna: El-rufai’s 100 days of gains and expectations In contrast to the fanfare and red carpet celebration that greeted 100 days in office by governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the last 16 years, there was low-key celebration of the same by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaduna State. AZA MSUE writes on the gains so far made by Nasir El-Rufal and expectations in Kaduna.

El-Rufai

budget when the realistic revenue and expenditure capacity is less than N100 billion. “As we noted during the campaign, our schools and hospitals are in poor shapes. We are outraged that about 50 per cent of our primary school pupils sit on bare floors, often in facilities that lack water, toilets, windows or even roofs. Many schools do not have enough teachers, and a lot of the teachers themselves need further training to enable them truly educate our children. “Our healthcare system is similarly challenged by capacity failures and shortage of tools and equipment that are often mitigated by dedicated personnel. As gov-

It was obvious that running Kaduna the old

way is a recipe for disaster.

One of the steps we took was to cut overheads spending by

60 per cent.

I therefore directed the state Accountant General to release only 40 per cent of budgeted overheads as we strive to improve liquidity and prioritise spending for public goods

ernor, I have had cause to take a child to a public hospital at 5am where I saw a doctor on call along with other busy health workers, but the pharmacy had no drugs.” On governance, El-Rufai declared that he had reduced ministries from 19 to 13, adding that this has enabled his government to reduce the number of permanent secretaries to 18, from the previous 35. He added: “Our deputy governor and I have tried to set an example by taking a 50 per cent cut in our salaries and allowances. Your government has also decided to save the monies hitherto spent on feeding, gifts and pilgrimage. “Our government has concluded the first phase of the biometric verification of its employees. It is in the interest of every responsible citizen to eliminate ghost workers from the state’s payroll. We have saved nearly N120 million so far, and are reviewing the figures from the exercise, and we will apply the lessons learnt in subsequent phases. We are determined to weed out ghost workers from the state and local government payrolls and we will introduce additional measures in the coming weeks to apprehend and prosecute those involved in this fraud.” In the area of transparency, El-Rufai said government has decided to domesticate the Freedom of Information Act in Kaduna State, saying: “We have forwarded the bill to the House of Assembly for passage. We have also signed up to Open Budget, a web-based tool that enables you to track what we are doing with your money.” He also disclosed that in the health sector, the administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with General Electric Healthcare to modernise primary health centres and public hospitals, adding: “Both parties have committed to identifying the specific needs of the centres and hospitals, so that modern equipment can be installed to improve the diagnosis and management of patients.” He added: “We have installed two dialysis machines and have repaired three dialysis machines at Barau Dikko Hospital. We hope to take delivery of four other dialysis machines to be installed at our general hospitals in Kafanchan and Zaria within weeks. Arrangements are being made to purchase consumables for the next 12 months so that dialysis will be affordable to Kaduna citizens needing it.” In the area of security, El Rufai said that security forces are now executing the comprehensive security plans agreed by the governors of Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger states to address the serious security challenges in the forest ranges of Kamuku and Kuyambana that stride the respective states. He said: “A fact-finding and community engagement committee, chaired by the respected General Martin Luther Agwai, has identified the causes of conflict and insecurity in Southern Kaduna and thereafter recommend ways of tackling the problem.” On employment, El Rufai said his administration has initiated a scheme to revive taxi services in major urban centres, starting with 200 branded, air-conditioned cabs in Kaduna. He said: “Prospective owner-drivers are expected to deposit about 10 per cent of the discounted price of the vehicles and pay the balance in installments over a period of four years. Hundreds of our youths have now been short-listed for training with a view to empowering them as owner-drivers in due course.”

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

From The Civil Service

2,000 former PHCN workers for verification P.42

NCWD to train 25 women on ICT business, online marketing, others By Adeola Tukuru, ABUJA

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Linus Awute; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during the launch of Capacity Building Programme for Public Servants at the Presidential villa in Abuja, yesterday.

Buhari laments poor performance of civil service Rotimi Fadeyi, ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has attributed the decline in the standard in the civil service to the inability to clearly articulate a vision and develop the required capacity to articulate and implement various components of the vision. Buhari spoke recently at the launch of the Structured Mandatory Assessment-based Training Programme (SMAT-P) and Leadership Enhancement And Development Programme (LEAD-P) for capacity building of public servants. Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the event which took place at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Buhari said the inability to articulate and implement vision was responsible for

the inefficiency, low productivity, corruption and insensitivity to the needs of the people that were found in the civil service. The President said federal civil servants were the foot soldiers in Nigeria’s march to great future for the country, stressing that they should not fail Nigerians in the discharge of their duties. He stressed that civil service must see itself as servants and facilitators of commerce and entrepreneurship, designing policies and removing obstacles to doing business in the country. The President implored the civil service to cultivate the habit of scoring itself not in enforcing processes and procedures but as to how efficient and expeditious they have worked to ensure that businesses in the country flourish.

2nd Niger Bridge: Preliminary work gulps N14bn, says NSIA boss

P.16

Earlier in his remarks, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, said the overall objective of the programme was to address capacity and leadership challenges in the civil service. Kifasi commended the President for restoring the

confidence of the civil service by depending on it for support in governing the country even with the absence of ministers. He pledged the support of the civil service to the present administration to ensure positive change and development of the nation.

he National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) is set to train over 25 women on the role of ICT in business, Internet usage of business, social media for business to enhance digital literacy and the use of ICT among women and girls to promote their businesses. The Director General of the centre, Lady Onyeka Onwenu, in a press conference yesterday said other objectives of the training was to also increase utilisation of digital services and e-services to advance women’s economic empowerment. She further explained that the one week residential programme which will hold at the NCWD ICT centre will also include Web design and hosting, online marketing of products and services. Onyeka said the train the trainers programme was in collaboration with UN Women and Intel Corporation with the theme, “Promoting women and girls’ access to ICT and the Internet to accelerate Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empower-

ment,” known as Technology and Entrepreneurship training for women in Nigeria (TETWIN). According to her, “This makes it a cross-sectional and trans-disciplinary instrument for sustainable human development. As such, the centre is expected to network internationally and complement other players within the sustainable development terrain. “Nigeria produced this instrument as a direct response to the demands for gender imperatives of the United Nationals global issues and the centre will be evaluated and rated within those parameters. “We are making effort to strongly push for a wider narrative and vision of where African Women issues should go and we believe that when you empower a women, you empower a nation. “I am happy to introduce this training today, because it is about skills and because it is about empowering the woman to make her more economically independent, in a world of huge opportunities and challenges where the fast moving ICT sector is the backbone of every business.”

IPAC sets up committees to enforce code of conduct Chidi Ugwu, ABUJA

etermined to run an effective administration that will impact positively in the affairs of political parties, the new leadership of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has constituted a Technical and Standing Strategy Committees charged to enforce the agency’s code of conduct. This development followed the inauguration of the new IPAC leadership

under the chairmanship of Chief Peter Ameh on August 25, 2015, when it was agreed by the general assembly that people should be appointed into the committees. Consequently, the National Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, has been appointed as the chairman of the Standing strategy Committee, with the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Victor Oye, as member.

Other members of the committee include, Barrister Benjamin Emeka Igwe of PDC, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa of AD, Onwe s. Onwe of PDP and Oluwadare Falade of MPPP, respectively. The members of the Technical Committee headed by Chief Ralph Nwosu, the National chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC, include Alhaji Gani Galadima, National Chairman of ACPN, Manga s. Asha of ACD, Rev.

Olusegun Peters of DRC, Senator Tunde Anifowose Kelani of Action Alliance, AA, Abdullahi Dan Azumi of DPP and Idris Adamu of NCP. Recall Chief Peter Ameh emerged winner after a keenly IPAC chairmanship by election conducted at the Chelsea hotel in Abuja and was subsequently inaugurated by the former chairman of the agency, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, who handed the affairs of the IPAC to him.

New Immigration boss NEMA urges communities removes Obua, appoints along rivers, flood-prone areas to relocate new spokesman P.41

P.42

Civil Service

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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2nd Niger Bridge: Preliminary work gulps N14bn, says NSIA boss Chidi Ugwu, ABUJA

anaging director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, (NSIA), Mr. Uche Orji, has disclosed that so far about N14 billion has been expended on the second Niger bridge project. Orji made this known during an interaction with journalists in Abuja. According to him, the money included N10 billion, a part of N18.3 billion so far released by

the federal government for the project, which has been disbursed for early construction work and $2.21 million, about N4.4 billion which has been expended as consultancy costs on the project. The NSIA said $247,586, about N49 million, has been spent on the due diligence phase of the project while $1.96 million, about N3.9 billion has been spent on the project development phase as consultancy services fees. These services, it noted, had included work in

“legal, financial, technical and engineering and environmental social impact advisory, provided by various credible and well-recognised Nigerian and international professional services firms.” Firms engaged in the consultancy services during the due diligence phase included: “FBN Capital as financial advisor; Murty International Limited as technical advisor; White & Case (UK) as legal advisor; WSP Group Africa, (South Africa) as technical advisor and Zephyrgold International

(Nigeria) as technical advisor.” On the project development phase, “Africa Finance Corporation (Nigeria) was engaged as financial advisor; Clifford Chance, UK and Templars (Nigeria) as legal advisors; Allot Nigeria Ltd and Takedo International, UK as traffic advisors; WSP Group Africa, (South Africa) as technical advisor and Aurecon (South Africa) as Environmental consultant.” According to NSIA, the amount expended on consultancy services so far is

less than one per cent of the estimated total cost of the project which was initially estimated to cost N108 billion excluding duties and Value Added Tax. This is contrary to recent outcry by Edo State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, that about N140 billion had been expended on the project and that $700 million was surreptitiously moved from the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, for the same bridge. NSIA said under the Public Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement for the project, the federal government made a N30 billion commitment to the project while the consortium is expected to raise the remaining funds for the project from Nigerian and international lenders and equity providers. It said the federal government had so far released N18 billion of which N10 billion had been disbursed for early construction works. The statement reads: “NSIA assembled a team

of Nigerian and international advisers with proven capabilities and global experience in Public Private Partnership, PPP, infrastructure projects to ensure the Project gets first-class advisory services. These consultants were engaged through a rigorous and competitive procurement process. “To date, NSIA has spent a total of US$2.21 million on consultancy services on the two phases of the Project – US$247,586 on the due diligence phase; and US$1.96million on the project development phase. These services have included work in the following areas: Legal, Financial, Technical & Engineering and Environmental Social Impact Advisory, provided by various credible and well-recognised Nigeria and international professional services firms. Total consultancy services cost so far is less than one per cent of the estimated project cost.”

KCCN donates educational materials to UBEB Joel Ajayi, ABUJA New Permanent Secretaries in Plateau Civil Service taken Oath of Office during their inauguration at the Government House in Jos yesterday.

Invest in cultural sector to boost economy –NCAC Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

irector General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, NCAC, Mrs. Dayo Keshi at the weekend, called on the federal government and corporate bodies to invest in cultural sector to boost the country’s economy. She said adequate investment into the cultural sector had vast potential of creating wealth and jobs for citizens while preserving “our cultural heritage”. Keshi who made the call during a press conference to flag off the 40th anniversary celebrations of the council in Abuja maintained that this would make the country to compete favourably with the rest of the world. According to her, “Against the onslaught of globalisation, we must face squarely the challenge of preserving, protecting and promoting our culture. This is important for our

culture represents who we are and the values we share. It is indeed our identity and what makes us unique as a nation.” Dwelling on the theme of the celebration, which is, “Showcasing the inevitable role of culture in national development and economic diversification,” Mrs. Keshi said the cultural sector holds a lot of promises for Nigeria. “It is imperative that we draw attention to the potentials of our cultural sector and the contributions it can and is making to Nigeria’s economic development, especially in job and wealth creation,” she stated. Keshi, who said NCAC was poised to strengthen stakeholders in the industry to drive it forward, advocated the promulgation of a law that would make it mandatory for official souvenirs or gifts to be obtained from the culture industry. She disclosed that three major arts and crafts exhibition should be held yearly, to augment the annual Na-

tional Festival for Arts and Culture and further showcase the potentials that abound in the industry. “Staging of at least three International Arts and Crafts Expos in a year to be held in different cities of Nigeria will create the much needed market for our creative products, thereby generating a beehive of economic activities. Similarly, there should be concerted efforts to encourage the imprint of cultural motif in all postcards and governments invitation cards to events to create awareness and appreciation of Nigerian Arts and Culture,” Keshi urged. Mrs. Keshi further said that the younger generation should be encouraged to imbibe creative arts to make life better for them and the society. “Parents should encourage their children to even undertake studies in culture and arts fields, to explore the opportunities therein, instead of insisting their children must

study sciences or other courses termed more profitable by the society. A lot of opportunities abound in the cultural sector too,” she emphasised. On the funding of NCAC, Mrs. Keshi solicited for more from the federal government as she stated that the council would go into Public-Private-Partnership, to encourage participation and boost the capacity of the council. NCAC boss said Nigeria had since signed memorandums of understanding with countries like China and Mexico among others, to expose her cultural potentials and artifacts to them, as well as exchange ideas on improving the sector. Activities lined up for the 40th anniversary include the hosting of an International Arts and Crafts fair, a round table forum/logo unveiling, an international cultural variety night and the hosting of a children cultural fiesta among others.

orean Cultural Centre Nigeria, KCCN, has recently donated over 500 educational materials to the Universal Basic Education Board that would help build Nigerian school children capacity as well as secure brighter future. The educational materials was donated to help the children to develop, not only their cognitive flexibility, but also their teamwork and creativity. While presenting the items to FCT UBEB in Abuja, the Director of KCCN, Mr. Kwon Yong-IK, emphasized the need to educate young people. According to him, it is my great pleasure to donate 500 educational material videotapes and the result of workshop programmes of children’s play programmes to UBEB. “Today, KCC is honoured to donate videotapes and educational materials to UBEB in hope that they will be distributed to all public primary schools in the Abuja area and enjoyed by as many children in the

area as possible. “Children are the future of a country. As the director of KCC Nigeria, I have been deeply impressed by Nigerian children’s exceptional vitality and warmheartedness. Therefore, I can assure everyone here that the future of Nigeria is brighter than that of any other country on earth. “It will be the great pleasure of KCC Nigeria to continue developing educational programmes that will help Nigerian children realise their potential by engaging in their studies with more interest.” Meanwhile, the FCT Director, UBEB, Dr. Mrs. Catherine Ezeilo, thanked the Korean centre for its strive in developing Nigeria and added that the children’s play programmes as well as educational materials donated to the FCT school will go a long way in eradicating illiteracy among children of developing nations. She challenged parents to take charge of their wards’ education rather than rely on the efforts of government and NGOs whose responsibilities were minimal.

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Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Fears about 2015 flood predictions OKUDILI UZOKA

he rains are here once more and already ravaging and wreaking havoc in some parts of our country. The Federal Ministry of Environment, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA), and other agents of state and local governments, are currently using various mass media of communication to alert and warn low-lying communities across nation that the floods of 2015 are likely to be as bad as or perhaps worse than that of 2012. Suggestions are also proffered - stocking up on food, essential medicines and medication, early identification of high grounds by residents and readiness to move to such places as soon as traces of danger signals begin to manifest – to stem the tide. It is pertinent to mention here that much as this media approach is welcome, such frightening messages and warnings were put out in 2013 and 2014 to communities in Ogbaru and Omambala areas of Anambra State; and no floods in the like of 2012 occurred! A number of persons approached do not appear to be overly worried or even bothered, and this is dangerous. Scientists have since confirmed the damaging effects of global warming, and its cataclysmic possibilities on Mother Earth if not checked now. Major chronic environmental polluters such as USA, China, India, etc, have also realized and acknowledged the irreversible

damage their countries are doing to our world. Environmentalists such as green peace, Jimmy Carter, Prince Charles, our own Dr. Desmond Majekodumi have cried out so loud that these major polluters have started to listen. The damage to the protective ozone layer by CFC [a gas containing carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and fluorine, some forms of which damage the ozone layer in Earth’s atmosphere] and other halons has been fully studied, documented and confirmed. Recently, a landmark decision and proposal was put out by Mr. Barak Obama, President of the world’s greatest polluting nation. He did not only acknowledge the existence of global warming and its clear danger to the world, but also put out a plan for the USA to be part of the solution. And all we in Nigeria can do is watch helplessly and pray! As at today, our normal weather patterns and cycles which our ancestors successfully relied on for several activities such as farming, fishing, travel and even procreation have been in total disarray. For instance, the usually predictable “August Break” now comes whenever it wishes; Harmattan could come in April at Aba, Abia State and inexplicable thunderstorm and gulley creating rains could occur in Agulu in the middle of February. And all these are simply because USA, China etc desire massive power for their industries by burning unbelievable amounts of coal and other fossil fuel.

N IGERIA

MUST

FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS MAN - MADE AND

PERENNIAL AQUA TERRORISM FROM OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES In addition, the ever present threat of our neighbouring countries up north releasing trillions of litres of water whenever their dams are overloaded, appears to be a major concern of our governments now. It is against this background that we should consider the warning of the various state agencies about the possibility of major flooding in coastal and low-lying areas of Nigeria this year. However, much as the populace should be encouraged to make some preparations against the floods, it is important to also request governments and their agencies to put in place adequate plans well in advance to be able to render necessary help and succour to likely citizens. These essential facilities must not just be body bags! We have had these floods before, the areas prone to their devastating effects known, and record of successes and failures of remediation efforts must have been properly documented by these agencies and state governments.

What is needed now is for NEMA and state governments to commence a major enlightenment campaign to inform residents of these coastal areas of plans to accommodate and provide adequate facilities to all those who would be affected by the flood. Apart from confirming suitable highland locations, assurance must be given regarding facilities such as tents or buildings to accommodate the flood victims; proper feeding; medical; toilet, security; clean portable water plans, and transportation. NEMA, NIWA, and security agencies should be on full alert, while appeal should also be made to international community in case the problem becomes overwhelming. So, while the three tiers of governments are planning to ensure minimal pains to citizens, part of the campaign should be to encourage persons to welcome relatives in distress whilst the floods last. Meanwhile, our governments disaster related agencies, all donor agencies, groups and individuals should not only work concertedly to ensure limited suffering during the floods, they also must plan for resettlement for victims at the end of the deluge. Finally, Nigeria must find a permanent solution to this man-made and perennial aqua terrorism from our neighbouring countries. Hon. Uzoka, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, wrote from Ogbaru Anambra State via okwudiliuzoka@gmail.com

International Literacy Day: The Nigerian situation

BIODUN BELLO

n September 8 of every year the world celebrates Literacy Day to draw attention to the dangers of illiteracy in our societies. The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Literacy for sustainable societies”. In each year’s celebration, speeches are delivered and policies for mass illiteracy reduction outlined. Over a billion people across the world are illiterate. They spread into categories of “semi-illiterate”, “pretending literates” and “compelled-illiteracy”. The population of those who require functional and basic literacy will triple to over 3 billion people! But nobody knows by what period. Sadly, the same figure or more stands at attention and answers roll calls in the domain of poverty and diseases. Those who are poor are mostly illiterate; those who are illiterate suffer from various diseases, contaminable or epidemic. About half of mankind suffers from lack of simple literacy skills. They cannot read road signs or interpret medical prescriptions; they cannot write letters, cheques or wills; they lack the courage and confidence to express or assert themselves. The nonliterates are completely missing in the daily scheme of our existence; they contribute minimally to our national development indices. They are largely silent and ‘do not have a voice’. On September 8 every year the world reviews the efforts made to positively affect the lives of these people through the UNESCO International Literacy Day Celebration.

NIGERIANS LIVE AND SURVIVE FOR

THEMSELVES AND NOT THEIR COUNTRY However, it seems that at the close of the day on Sept 8, the importance, memories, policies and strategies for the reduction of this large population of illiterates recede into the files of international and national bureaucracies, only to be opened again the following year. While attractive and viable strategies have been adapted to eradicate illiteracy with challenging positive result in countries like Cuba, Sweden, Ireland, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan etc, most countries in Africa are yet to see the “illiterate” as the missing link in the chain of their sustainable development. Over 700 million illiterates are in Africa. Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, so our country has the largest population of illiterates (over 63 million(, and hence, the largest number of poor and diseases affected persons on the continent. The consequence of illiteracy includes imbibing wrong doctrines, which may beget insecurity and insurgencies like Boko Haram; threat to corporate existence like the militia in the Niger Delta, corruption and non-aligned relationship with other countries. Nigerians live and survive for themselves and NOT their country. It is real illiteracy to see Nigeria as a national cake from which we must all take a free cut for ourselves and our

immediate family! It is time to change the attitude of celebrating “Literacy Day” for the records; it is time to liberate the massive army of illiterates in our country. It is for this purpose that the National Commission for Mass Literacy Adult & Non-Formal Education (NMEC) was established in 1991. The agency has been able to device strategies for the emancipation of teeming population of Nigerians from illiteracy. But these strategies lack necessary political and financial support. Back in 2004, the agency started the Literacy by Radio Programme, a strategy that can teach the non-illiterate how to read and write and also numerate in the mother tongue within three months in 22 Nigerian languages. It was to cover the 36 states and the FCT. This Programme was launched nationally by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo government in Minna in 2006 with the commitment of states and local governments to support and expand the programme. Only a few state and local governments complied. This does not show any seriousness on the part of the governments to eradicate illiteracy from their domains. Today, NMEC, through the Revitalizing Adult and Youth Literacy in Nigeria (RAYL) Project, with funding from MDGs and technical support from UNESCO, has concluded the recording of 40 lessons on literacy by radio in English for those who have graduated from the mother tongue lessons. These 40 lessons will make learners, who have graduated from the mother tongue programmes, to be functionally literate in English Language within 90 days across Nigeria if the broadcast is com-

menced nationwide now! But who will make this possible with adequate political will and funding support? This is the BIG question. This 2015 World Literacy Day celebration compels a new direction of change for adult and non-formal education in Nigeria. Beyond the ordinary, the Muhammadu Buhari government should engage illiteracy in a real battle by launching a massive national campaign against it. The Federal Ministry of Education through NMEC, IDPs and other stakeholders, has a legion of fermented strategies and tested methods to facilitate the campaign. NMEC has designed a National Literacy Project that will involve the NYSC, NOA, states’ Agency for Mass Education and other stakeholders for two years. This project, if politically adopted, adequately funded and clinically implemented, will reduce the population of illiterates by half within two years. Another is the Literacy by Radio programme, which makes learners functionally literate in the mother tongue and English Language in six. Bello, a veteran broadcaster and consultant on mass literacy, wrote from Abeokuta, Ogun State, via doublebmassliterac y@gmail.com and can be reached on 080 33378552/ O81 86456555 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

Editorial

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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

SUNDAY OLAJIDE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO BEN MEMULETIWON ACTING DAILY EDITOR GBEMI OLUJOBI SATURDAY EDITOR AYO OLESIN SUNDAY EDITOR DOZIE OKEBALAMA COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD CALLISTUS OKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR AUGUSTUS IMEKAN ACTING HEAD, GRAPHICS

Police’s alleged killing of female politician

hat men and women in uniform often take the law into their hands remains one sordid experience Nigerians have had to contend with over the years. The armed forces, paramilitary outfits and the police are all culprits. Some of their reckless officers and men unleash extreme cruelty on fellow citizens as they please, most times for no cogent reasons. To their discredit are countless cases of human rights abuses, extra-judicial killings, torture, arson and all manner of bestial assaults on ordinary Nigerians. Lately, the nation was enraged by a photograph on the social media which showed how soldiers heartlessly stripped and beat up a helpless citizen in Nasarawa State. The crude soldiers not only flogged the victim with horse whip, but forced him to roll inside a dirty and mud-filled drainage. It is a pleasant surprise that the Nigerian Army had confirmed fishing out the soldiers involved in the shameful conduct and promised to bring them to book. However, such brutality becomes more heart-rending when the perpetrators are the police, the security apparatus that is supposedly closest to the people. Outside such traditional tasks as crime prevention, detection and the prosecution of criminals, the central responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force revolves on the protec-

PUBLIC EXPECTATION, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP), MR. SOLOMON ARASE, WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS MATTER TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG tion of life and property of citizens. But the oppressive, exploitative and repressive manners some bad eggs in the police conduct themselves have routinely attracted opprobrium to the nation’s human rights records locally and internationally; and ruined the image of the police institution. Extra-judicial killings by the police rose astronomically about five years ago to the point that the human rights community described Nigeria as a huge killing field of defenceless citizens, while the Nigeria Police was fingered as the killing machine, for example. It is shocking that the absurd indulgence still persists almost 17 years after the nation embraced democracy; and notwithstanding assurances by the police high command that it is doing all it can to exorcise from the nation’s police the bully mentality they inherited from the colonial era. When will the Nigeria Police become refined in behav-

iour and conduct; and make respect for fundamental human rights as their luminous guide to policing the nation? Ours is one country where trigger-happy policemen have killed countless commercial vehicle drivers (and sometimes passengers) that prove stubborn and refuse the extortionist demands of the police at checkpoints. The alleged killing by the police in Akure, Ondo State, of a 50-year-old female politician, Ronke Adelugba, is just one more instance of police brutality in the land. Reports said policemen who invaded her house, purportedly in search of ‘miscreants’ hit her in the head with a gun butt. Residents who witnessed the incident said an argument ensued when the policemen attempted to search Adelugba’s house, as the latter insisted that only her children were in the house; and that the police should present a search warrant authorising their mission, but which the police was not in possession of. Following a brawl, according to reports, the police used gun butts on the woman’s head, and she slumped and died. “The policemen quickly left the house without making any arrest (of miscreants) after she fell and died”, one eyewitness said. Residents said policemen frequently raided the area in the past and illegally arrested people and forced them to cough up be-

ON THIS DAY

tween N5,000 and N10, 000 to regain their freedom. On the contrary, however, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Wale Ogodo, claimed the woman started panting and died after the policemen left her house, claiming her death was not as a result of the police beating her. Such is the type of hasty, non-investigated conclusion the police often jump to whenever such atrocities are committed. With such comments credited to Ogodo, how credible would the probe purportedly being carried out by the Ondo State Police Command on the killing be? The same applies to the outcome of the autopsy should it be carried out in the absence of representatives of the late Adelugba’s family. Public expectation, however, is that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, would not allow this matter to be swept under the rug. For, the IGP it was who has repeatedly harped on his regime’s resolve to hold police officers accountable for their reckless deployment of weapons and human rights infractions. While waiting for the IGP’s action, however, Adelugba’s family should consider seeking redress from the courts. It is high time police officers and rank and file realized they are not above the law and must be ready to bear the consequences of their actions.

September 9, 1969

September 9, 2009

September 9, 2012

In Canada, the Official Languages Act came into force, making French Language equal to the English Language throughout the federal government. The law gave English and French equal status in the Canadian public circle. Although the Official Languages Act is not the only piece of federal language law, it is the legislative keystone of Canada’s official bilingualism. It was substantially amended in 1988.

At exactly 9:09:09 PM, the Dubai Metro (DM), the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula was ceremonially inaugurated. It is a driverless, fully automated metro rail network in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. The Red Line and Green Line are operational, with three further lines planned. These first two lines run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere (elevated railway).

A wave of attacks killed more than 108 people and injured 351 others in Iraq. The attacks were a series of coordinated bombings and shootings across the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and several major cities in the north and south of the country. They occurred about nine months following the withdrawal of the United States’ military forces from the area, leaving the security of the country in the hands of Iraqi security forces.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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Health & Wellbeing Why government must invest in nutrition 22

37 million children immunized in September SIPDs

Agony of mentally-ill persons in Nigeria ... even doctors stigmatise them, says Psychiatrist MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

part from some cities where their movements are restricted, it is hard to see any Nigerian community where a mentally-sick person does not live on the street. Persons with severe mental illness in Nigeria belong to a class of the homeless, rejected and helpless who exist in a world of people who claim to be compassionate and religious. And, unlike beggars who solicit alms to enable them feed, daily, most mentally-ill persons live on the street, having been abandoned by friends and relatives; and often compete with domestic pets on dumping grounds while seeking daily meal. They sleep and wake on bare ground, inside rain, cold or heat. They look dirty and dreary; very few people consider their welfare. Their situation is so pathetic that famous sufferers of mental illness are seen carrying pregnancies and are delivered of babies; all on the street. No one claims ownership or takes paternity of such children. In some instances too, government policies have been directed at getting them off the streets mainly to stop the ‘embarrassment’ they cause ‘members of the public’ and government officials who make use of the roads where they live day and night. Such arrests could be commendable if they are targeted at offering them medical aid to help restore their health condition and enable them live normal lives. It is unfortunate they are hardly so; that there had been instances where such people were dumped in remote communities by government officials or their own kinsmen ‘to put an end to shame they cause members of their families and the public once and for all’. But, why is so much a stigma attached to mental illness? Dr. Vincent Udenze; a Nigerian UK-based Consultant Psychiatrist and CEO of Synapse Specialist Hospital, Abuja provided the answer. “The stigma itself is a very big topic. So many newspapers have reported about it while many researches carried out on it. It seems it is something that doesn’t want to go away. But, it is getting better by the day. From time immemorial, people have always looked differently upon those with mental illnesses, especially because at the extreme of it, the behaviour he displays. “Somebody becomes ill and ends up on the street becoming naked. Then, it is very likely that you will shy away from him. You will not want to be associated with that type of an illness; even with such sect. It was in the Bible that there was a mad person and Jesus had to cast that demon away from the person into the swine. People started thinking it is spiritual. People keep drawing inferences

A mentally ill patient

and even our own colleagues, they stigmatize my patients. You find out that a mentally-ill person ends up in a surgical ward and doctors will stigmatize and treat them differently from the other patients on the surgical ward.” He stressed: “Mentally-sick people are on the street by virtue of vulnerability and by virtue of lack of social welfare have found themselves on the street. So, already, they are quite vulnerable. You stigmatize them. Some communities end up raping some of these people, especially the women, because some people believe when you sleep with a mentally-sick woman, they will get whole lot of money. Society neglect them and society further abuses them. What else do you want to do to them?” As they would to any other person, very few Nigerians take time to approach a ‘mad’ person on the street to ascertain the severity of his or her ailment. They are literally assumed as societal outcasts whose fate to live meaningful lives depends on some supernatural interventions. It is often believed among us that once some persons appear ragged, with tangled hair, strapping or carrying some dirty items on their heads or backs and

apparently behaving silly, ‘only spiritual help can enable them live meaningful life again. Udenze says mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. They are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. According to him, Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. Experts say mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing and they are treatable. Meanwhile, those people we see on the street represent an insignificant percentage of persons suffering from mental disorder said Dr. Vincent Udenze; According to him, health statistics say about 12 percent of Nigerian population, which represent 30 million of the nation’s 150million population suffer from one mental disease or the other.

Mental illness can be treated like other diseases. Udenze said: “There are different types of illnesses. There are some that you can treat that will go away and never come back again. There are some that you only manage in which case, after the diagnosis, you just give them medication and they continue to live fine and function very well in the community. Even your physical illnesses, there are some physical illnesses like malaria, you get anti-malaria and your feel fine. Even though you might get a mosquito bite and it comes back again. There are some others like high blood pressure that you need to take medication consistently to just keep your blood pressure stable. Most of mental illnesses are manageable; take your medication, stay compliant and most time you are fine, functioning like any other person. It is believed in most cultures in Africa that once mentally ill patients take off their cloth in a market place, they can never be healed. Hence, the common that most of the people suffering from mental sickness on the streets have at one time or the other walked into a market, perhaps naked. “That is not true”, Udenze retorted. He continued “The person that takes off their cloth is just a marker of severity. The same way you have a headache, which can be mild, moderate or severe; you can have a headache that would not allow you to go to work. It may be so severe until you take a medication. Even though some people may have gone very extreme, if you are able to guide them and give them medication, it will settle and they will be fine.” The Obafemi Awolowo University trained psychiatrist put the causes of mental disorder thus: “We always tend to look at the causes of mental disorder from the angle of bio-psychosocial. If it is a biological factor, we are talking about biological factors such as genes. There are some genes that will give you vulnerability which means that if you have those genes, you might be more likely than the ordinary person to get that sickness. Being more likely, being more vulnerable does not mean that you will definitely get it. Other factors could be like social factors like when somebody has an accident, lose their car, or their children lose their house or their job, there is possibility the person become depressed and such depression result into mental illness. When you have stressors like, it that can happen to someone who is not vulnerable, then you and I will not be surprised that they can come down with mental disorder. It may therefore be pertinent that government and relevant stakeholders take a clue from the proposed project of Udenze which seeks collaboration with government to consider the welfare of persons suffering from mental disorder in the country.

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health chizobanwobu@yahoo.com 08120807588 (sms only)

steoporosis means gradual breaking down of bones. It is a condition where the amount of bone tissue in the body is below what is normal for a person, taking into account their sex and age. Oftentimes, osteoporosis is called ‘the silent disease’ as it can remain undetected until someone has a broken bone as a result of a fall or an accident. Osteoporosis on its own does not cause pain nor is it a type of arthritis. Research has shown that osteoporosis can strike at any age, but occurs mostly in people over 50. One in two women and one in four men older than age 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related bone fracture during their lifetime. Another study has also shown that there is good evidence that the adequacy of a child’s diet at least partially determines their osteoporosis risk in adulthood. The best test to diagnose osteoporosis is to getting an osteoporosis screening/ scan by your doctor

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Diet in osteoporosis

to determine the density of the bones. Usually the same reference point in the skeleton is chosen. Hip and wrist fractures usually result from falls, whereas fractures of the spine tend to occur spontaneously when a weakened vertebra eventually crumples under the stress of supporting the body’s weight. There are various factors known to increase the rate at which bone loss occurs. They are: genetic causes (a family history of osteoporosis means a greater risk), illness or inactivity, poor diet (low in calcium), conditions that affect absorption of foods, such as coeliac disease, being very underweight, smoking and increased alcohol intake. Medically related causes are: Steroid drug treatment (particularly if prolonged more than a few weeks), early menopause or the removal of the ovaries at a young age (under 45 years), hormone abnormalities such as over-activity of the thyroid gland or the glands that produce the body’s natural steroids, or under-production of testosterone in men, chronic liver or kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency.

Chizoba Benson

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

There are many ways to help our bodies build strong and healthy bones, especially during childhood and adolescence. After about the age of 30, it’s difficult to increase bone mass, but protecting the bones can begin at any age. Taking steps to build bone health while one is young can save people from this disease. However, at every age, a bone-building diet and regular physical activity are important. They help ensure bone tissue continues to be built since bones are constantly under construction. Certain cells break down bone tissue and other cells use the calcium and nutrients in the foods we eat to build new bone. Many foods contain calcium, but the richest and most easily absorbed source is found in dairy products like low-fat and non-fat milk, yogurt and cheese; fish eaten with bonescanned sardines and salmon and fatty varieties such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines; fruits and vegetables such as turnip greens, kale, okra, cabbage, okra, tomato products, potatoes, sweet potatoes, mustard green, broccoli, papaya, oranges, orange juice, bananas and dark leafy vegetables such as collard greens, spinach, turnip greens and brussel sprouts.

All these also have important nutrients like vitamins A, C, D and K, potassium and magnesium, Also, legumes, cereals, nuts and seeds are also important foods for osteoporosis. “Excess phosphorus promotes calcium loss from the body when calcium intake is low,” says Linda Massey, a dietician and professor of human nutrition at Washington State University in Spokane. Many soft drinks and certain other carbonated soft drinks contain phosphoric acid, which can increase calcium excretion in the urine. And nearly all soft drinks lack calcium. So, if you must consume soft drinks take it in moder-

ate quantity. Avoid caffeine-laden drinks and reach for decaffeinated iced tea or hot tea. Calcium supplements can be recommended. There are several types available on prescription if someone’s dietary intake is low or marginal. Frail elderly people with poor mobility may be helped by taking a calcium supplement along with vitamin D. Consequently, if you are not physically active your bones will suffer. Over time, they will become less dense, weaker and more likely to fracture. Regular weight-bearing activity can help maintain bone strength and reduce the rate of loss of bone mineral. Activities such as brisk walking, climbing stairs or jogging are good examples of weight-bearing exercise. Short bouts of high-impact activity, such as jumping up and down are helpful for building bones when one is young. Limit salt intake. Salt can pose a great obstacle to a sturdy skeleton. Research has found that postmenopausal women with a high-salt diet lose more bone minerals than other women of the same age. It is also vital to quit smoking and then, alcohol consumption should also be kept within safe limits.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults I am 19 years old and I have never had a boyfriend. The thing is that I feel nothing for boys. I have kissed a few boys but it just felt weird. On the other hand, I see a beautiful girl and my heart begins to beat fast and I just want to approach her and befriend her. Is there a drug that can help me? Jane Dear Jane, you are what we call a lesbian but I am sure you know this already. Lesbians are not attracted to the opposite sex (men). They are only attracted to the same sex (women). There are a lot of people like you in the world and there is no drug anywhere that can change this – Uche Hi. For the past few weeks, I have been reading about penis enlargement. I am a woman and if anything, I am interested in a tighter vagina. Do you have anything that can help me or is it only men that you help? Bolanle Bolanle we have products for everybody. Women who want to firm up their pelvic muscles just like you will need two things. They will need a Vagina Tightening Cream and what is called Orgasm Balls for pelvic exercises. The cream is applied within the vaginal orifice minutes before intercourse. It tightens it just for the period of sex. But the Orgasm Balls will make the tightness last longer with constant use. We have many types. Call the numbers here for more information – Uche I am 67 years old and I cannot get it up anymore. I am retired and I still dream about sex. It will be nice to get to have that experience once again. I saw your article over the weekend and I was impressed. Is there a chance that you have something for elderly people that can give a good erection without health problems? I am

old and fragile – Mr Chukwuma Thanks for writing us. We have something that you can take to get an erection. It is mild but effective and there are many options you can choose from such as Libigrow, Man Up Now and Maxidus. These come in lower milligrams so they are just right for someone your age and they will give you two to four days of stamina, staying power and a functional erection when you need it – Uche I bought Volume Pills and Boss Rhino from you weeks ago and I want to order again. But I am not in Lagos. Can you deliver to Minna? Yes we can. Call the numbers below to set up the order and delivery arrangements – Uche My wife and I are in couple’s therapy because we don’t have sex regularly. The doctor recommended visual stimulants like adult films and magazines. I can’t find anywhere. Can we get from you? Timi Timi we have movies and magazines for couples. Films like Public Service, The last Rose and Nurse’s Diary are great for couples and will be of help to you – Uche Lately I have been reading about your new penis enlargers Vimax and VigRx. I know that periodically, you phase out old products and bring new ones but I have been buying Extenze Plus Penis Enlarger from you since last year and sometimes I check and you don’t have it. Look, it works. It worked for me so as a client, I will advise that you keep selling it – Philip Thanks Philip – Uche Can adult toys expire? I bought a realistic black dong a few years ago

when I was in Canada and shortly afterwards it started to change color. I want to buy a toy now but I need advice – Shirley I have never heard of adult toys expiring but cheap toys can change colour. It all depends on the material they are made of. I will personally recommend a rabbit vibrator. The quality is usually high and there have been no complaints of colour change. Get the Butterfly Stroker or Hunni Bunni Dual Stimulation Rabbit Vibrator. They are both top quality toys – Uche I am one of your old clients. I got a text message about Libigrow erection enhancer last week. Please is this the same Libigrow you used to have two to three years ago? If it is, please I am interested – Chile Yes it is the same Libigrow. It was unavailable for a while but we have it now. Call the

numbers below for more information – Uche And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

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Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

37 million children immunized in September SIPDs MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

ederal Government has immunized 37 million under-five children in 13 states in northern part of the country. The exercise was for this month’s round of Sub – National Immunization Days, SIPDs. The immunization began last Saturday Septem-

ber 5th and ended yesterday, September 8, according to a statement made available to National Mirror by Head, Public Relations Unit of National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Saadu Salahu. States where the programme took place, according to the statement, are Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, Adamawa and

Zamfara. Others are Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi and Taraba States. Briefing newsmen while monitoring the exercise at Sabon Wuse in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, the release quoted Executive Director of the agency, Dr. Ado Muhammad as saying that a total of 39 million doses of Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (TOPV) had

been released and distributed to all the political wards in the 13 participating states. “Dr. Ado disclosed that sequel to the vaccination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter; state governors were demonstrating equal impressive political commitment to sustaining the current gains of one year without polio transmission in the Country.

“This great achievement, Dr. Ado recalled with great delight, attracted commendation of the President of United States, President Barack Obama, United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Ban-ki Moon ,WHO Director General, Margaret Chan and other International organizations. “He commended all health workers and Nigerians in general for the sustained dedication and patriotism leading to non – transmission of a single case of polio in Nigeria. The Executive Director expressed the optimism that Nigeria would attain polio – free certification by 2017. “Also speaking, the Ex-

ecutive Secretary, Niger state Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Aliyu Yabagi reiterated the commitment of Niger State Government to sustaining a polio – free country and improved routine immunization. It would be recalled that no polio case has been recorded in the country in the past 13 months, and the World Health Organization, WHO, is expected to certify the nation free of the disease in 2017. President Buhari recently pledged that the nation would employ everything at its disposal to ensure the realization of the certification by the WHO.

World Physical Therapy Day: Physiotherapists advocate more physical activities FRANKA OSAKWE

First set of beneficiaries of Health Journalists Academy.

Roche Unveils Nigeria’s Premier Health Journalists Academy FRANKA OSAKWE

owards deepening its involvement in the regeneration of Nigeria’s health sector, Swiss healthcare pioneer, Roche Products Limited has launched Nigeria’s foremost Health Journalists Academy, which is aimed at enriching health reportage and coverage in the country by sharpening the skills of health journalists through exposure to the latest trends and techniques for specialized reporting. Organized in partnership with the School of Media and Communication (SMC) at the prestigious Pan-Atlantic University, the Academy will see the leading pharmaceutical company funding the training of 15 Nigeria Health Journalists drawn from the Print, Broadcast and New Media whose work will heighten awareness of health-related issues and promote healthy living

among Nigerians. Announcing the initiative at the unveiling ceremony of the first set of 15 beneficiaries at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, the Country Manager, Nigeria, at Roche, Herman Addae, disclosed that the Health Journalists Academy will contribute significantly to improving awareness of health issues among Nigerians. Addae said, “We are convinced that our duty as a responsible corporate citizen goes beyond manufacturing and selling medication and medical devices. We have therefore decided to explore a new way to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.” He added, “Recent studies indicate that Nigerians view good health as the absence of medical symptoms instead of a holistic reflection of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This is typically demonstrated by late presentation of diseases and

eventual high mortality from preventable deaths. Generally, there is poor public awareness about diseases burden in Nigeria. Although, there are areas in the country where healthcare facilities could be seen as improving, there is poor public awareness about health and diseases. There is the need therefore to engage journalists; who are positioned by virtue of their professional calling to advance the cause of the nation’s health through their reportage and coverage of health sector” Commending Roche on the initiative, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute (ably represented by the Director of Health planning, Dr Ngozi Azodoh), encouraged the Top 15 participants to be change agents for the Nigerian Health sector and make good use of the knowledge they will acquire at the Academy. Mr. Awute stated, “I believe this Academy will

infuse new energy into health reporting in Nigeria. I applaud the vision and sense of commitment of the Roche team and it is my expectation that the Top 15 journalists who are beneficiaries of this Academy will diligently apply the knowledge they will obtain, to encourage and galvanize the change in Nigeria’s health sector.” In August, the Health Journalists Academy was open to Nigerian journalists across the Traditional and New Media platforms. Entries were submitted on ‘The Future of Journalism in Nigeria”, collated and vetted by an independent panel of Judges. Over 30 candidates were shortlisted and invited for a oneone-one interview out of which 15 emerged as the first set of beneficiaries. All candidates will receive an accredited certification from Roche and SMC at the end of the Academy.

FG urges multi-national companies to support nation’s healthcare MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

ederal Government has appealed to multinational companies operating in the country to support its health programmes for the people. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr.

Linus Awute, made the call when he hosted a delegation from Agip Energy and Natural Resources Nigeria limited, a subsidiary of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in his office recently. The team, led by Mr. Lorenzo Ceccolini, presented two sets of Infrared Ther-

moscreen Camera for measuring body temperature in the ministry, according to a statement made available to National Mirror by Principal Information Officer of the ministry, Ezeaja Ikem. While thanking his visitors for the presentation, Awute was quoted as stating that solving health issues in

the country was not only the responsibility of the ministry but required collaboration of relevant stakeholders. He added that all hands must be on deck to tackle Ebola and other health related issues on the continent. This, he argued, is to ensure that post-Ebola period is sustained.

o mark this year’s World Physical Therapy Day, the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP), has called for more indulgence in physical activities, exercise and movement. In a press statement on Monday, the association explained that many people with longterm health conditions or disabilities could live fulfilled lives if only they have the support of physiotherapists. “Unfortunately, many people do not receive the right kind of support they need. The people who need the services of physical therapists range from babies to older people, from people with profound disabilities to the highest performing athletes. Through our engagement with them and our focus on physical activity, exercise and movement we have the power to ensure that people reach their potential whatever that may be,” says Emma Stokes, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) President. The WCPT is the profession’s global body representing over 350,000 physical therapists/ physiotherapists from member organisations in 111 countries. A recent study showed that the loss of global economic output as a result of long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and cancer

will be US$ 63 trillion over the next 20 years. However, it need not be like that, says WCPT. “Physical therapy provides services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, pain, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.. Let’s use World Physical Therapy Day to communicate the impact that physical therapy can have on individual lives, and to reach out to politicians and other key decision makers to move our profession closer to fulfilling its full potential in changing the lives of the people we serve.” According to the Physiotherapists, Physical therapists help people lead fulfilled lives. ‘Physical therapists have a key role in helping people with long-term conditions achieve their goals, fulfill their potential and participate fully in society. This is the message that thousands of physical therapists (known in some countries as physiotherapists) are sending out on World Physical Therapy Day on 8th September’, they said.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why government must invest in nutrition FRANKA OSAKWE

t seven months, baby Ntieno Abasi looks more like a three month-old baby. Although she is recovering gradually, the tell tale signs of malnutrition are still visible in her. Apart from the obvious stunting, she cries most of the time and her skin looked pale. She is certainly far from healthy. Ntieno is one of the six malnourished children currently receiving intervention at Calabar General Hospital. Looking frail and weak, she nibbled at her grandmother’s flabby breast, which serves more as a toy, not being able to bring out any breast milk. She lost her mother at birth so she never had any breast milk. According to the State Nutrition officer, Mrs. Regina Adie, Ntieno Abasi could have died if she had not been discovered during the state’s nutritional exercise at the last maternal and child week. She told National Mirror that poverty and poor feeding caused Ntieno abasi’s condition. “This baby was not given breast milk at all, and you know the importance of breast milk”, she said. At the ward, six malnourished children from Odukpani and Bakassi LGAs were also receiving malnutrition intervention. “During our Maternal and Child week, all mothers are mobilized to the Centre, where we access the children for malnutrition. It is during this nutritional screening that we identified these children and brought

Some of the malnourished children at Calabar General Hospital

them here for treatment. We have 12 malnourished children also receiving treatment at Ikom LGA; four are severely malnourished and eight mildly malnourished but we cannot bring them here because of distance. We have a facility there that can manage them”, she further explained. Dr. Adie said that

Cross River state has taken several positive measures to contain the growing cases of malnutrition. One of such measures, she said, is the investment in regular screening of mothers and the newborn babies through the states maternal and newborn child health programme, adding that the state has

been able to identify and control the rate of malnutrition in children through such exercise. “As its contribution to eradicating this silent health crisis in children, Cross River State government has been settling all the medical bills and feeding of the patients, including their mothers.” She disclosed that the state government has also embarked on procurement of F75 and F100 food supplements to support the nutritional needs of the affected children at the cost, which the state government has been bearing. One of the mothers whose child was at the facility, Ruth Atibo, is hopeful that her daughter Ruth, would recover enough to walk again. At the moment, three-yearold Ruth cannot walk due to conditions caused by malnourishment. Except for her protruding stomach, Ruth’s body had shrunk to that of a tiny new born baby with hair that is now pale gold and scanty. She lay in her mother’s arm looking weak and pale. The malnutrition story is not just peculiar to calabar. In Nigeria, about 500,000 children die from malnutrition every year, and out of those that survive, one in three will be underweight while one in 5 stunted, Head Nutritionist, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris. Isokpunwu, disclosed during the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, malnutrition workshop which was held at Calabar, Cross River State recently. Based on this, Isokpunwu says Nigeria, needs about N200 billion to address its nutritional deficiency in

the next five years, “Investment in nutrition must improve. Government has put in place adequate plans to deal with the situation, and this is contained in the country’s strategic plan on nutrition, which will soon be launched. This will require about $918 million over a period of five years for us to achieve the set target”, he said. In his presentation, child nutrition specialist from UNICEF, Arjan de Wagt, revealed that malnutrition is associated with 55 per cent of child mortality in Nigeria. He said this is the reason why childhood killer diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, measles and others thrive more in the country despite medical interventions. According to him, one in every five children are stunted in Nigeria, while two out of every three children are not being fed properly and these situation has contributed to high infant and child mortality. Aside child mortality, he said the impact of malnutrition is felt all over the nation with increased low weight babies, low weight and height in adolescent, early pregnancy, child growth failure, low intelligence and chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Arjan noted that 13 per cent of child death would be averted if 90 per cent of mothers exclusively breastfed their infants for the first 6 months, and another 6 per cent of child death would be averted if mothers provide adequate and timely complementary feeding from 6-24 months.

World summit targets elimination of viral hepatitis MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

orld first-ever summit on hepatitis is aiming at defeating the disease which remains a major threat to human lives, worldwide. Participants at the summit would urge countries to develop national programmes that could ultimately help eliminate viral hepatitis, said the World Health Organization, WHO, in a statement posted on its website recently. “We know how to prevent viral hepatitis, we have a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B, and we now have medicines that can cure people with hepatitis C and control hepatitis B infection,” WHO Director, Global Hepatitis Programme, Dr Gottfried Hirnschall was quoted as saying in the statement . The organization quoted Himschall further as saying

“access to diagnosis and treatment is still lacking or inaccessible in many parts of the world. This summit is a wakeup call to build momentum to prevent, diagnose, treat - and eventually eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health problem.” Though the outcome of the summit was not made available by the WHO, the global health institution informed that 400 million people “are currently living with viral hepatitis, and the disease claims an estimated 1.45 million lives each year, making it one of the world’s leading causes of death. Hepatitis B and C together cause approximately 80% of all liver cancer deaths, yet most people living with chronic viral hepatitis are unaware of their infection. “The summit, co-sponsored by WHO and the World Hepatitis Alliance, and hosted in Glasgow by the Scottish Government this week, is the first

high-level global meeting to focus specifically on hepatitis, attracting delegates from more than 60 countries. The aim is to help countries enhance action to prevent viral hepatitis infection and ensure that people who are infected are diagnosed and offered treatment,” it added. Participants at the summit, according to the agency, include health policymakers, patient groups, physicians and other key stakeholders. They were expected to issue a declaration underlining their belief that the elimination of viral hepatitis is possible and to also governments to work with WHO to define and agree on global targets for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the condition. WHO stated that it was launching a new manual for the development and assessment of national viral hepatitis plans at the summit, while policymakers and other key stakeholders at the 3-day meeting are would

also the draft WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, which sets targets for 2030. The targets include a 90% reduction in new cases of chronic hepatitis B and C, a 65% reduction in hepatitis B and C deaths, and treatment of 80% of eligible people with chronic hepatitis B and C infections, ac-

cording to the release. “The World Summit, which is intended to become an annual event, aims to focus attention on a public health approach to viral hepatitis and to be a central forum for countries to share their experience and best practices to drive rapid advances in national responses,” the release stressed.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

‘Fifty’ at 2015 London Film Festival

I’ve always loved music –Kryztal

NFFG 2015: As Nollywood converges on Germany The Nigerian movie skyline looks bright as Ehizoya Golden Entertainment; a frontline Europe-based promotions company honours African filmmakers at the second Nollywood Film Festival Germany. Ngozi Emedolibe Sen James Donzella

he signs that the Nigerian film industry otherwise called Nollywood is breaking new barriers are everywhere; and happily so. Ostensibly, from September 10 to September 14, several personalities in the film business will gather in Frankfurt, the commercial nerve of Europe’s largest economy, Germany to roll out the drums in celebration of works and personalities that have made the industry tick so far. First of its kind, NFFG, currently in its second edition is a platform that avails the chance for Nollywood to showcase their works to not only Africans in Diaspora, who see the phenomenon as a great step towards presenting Africa’s side of the story to a global audience, but to also the European audience as a way of finding a level of understanding in so many misconstrued facts about the African continent. Championed by Isaac Izoya, a man fondly called Cultural Ambassador for his pioneering role in elevating the cultural heritage of Africa, the 2015 edition from all indications has all the features of an event that is worth its salt. Aside an array of entertainers and personalities drawn from all over the world, this year’s event is scheduled to have some distinguished policy-makers from Nigeria, whom the platform believes their participation would add to the noble call on the Federal Government to explore the potential of the industry, more so with the dwindling fortunes of the oil business which for decades has remained the mainstay of Nigerian economy. According to Isaac Izoya, the fact that some of these distinguished personalities who have had indirect impact on Nollywood through their actions would grace the event, should be a source of joy for the industry as this would further send signals to the authorities on the need to pay attention to the industry. “Already, there is good news that notable Nigerian business men and politicians including former Vice President His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gov Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, Gov Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State, His Excellency, ex-Gov Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the immediate past governor of Sokoto State, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, IGP retd, and Mr. Steve Olu a top security expert as well as a Senator of the United states of America, Senator Donzella James, Democratic senator representing Metropolitan Atlanta’s 35th District of Georgia, will grace the occasion. Senator Donzella James is invited as Special Guest of Honour in recognition of what she does for

Blessing Itua

Official Final Poster

NFFG crew members

the Africa people in the US, which led to her being honoured by the Nigerian Community in the USA, with the 2014 Friend Of Nigeria award, by the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia, NWAG. There is also Queen Blessing O. Itua as Her International Liaison - Adviser, to name a few”, he says. Perhaps another interesting angle is the works on parade at the festival. Arts Lounge learnt that films like Grave Dust, Stigma, Last Slave would be screened. A film producer, Obi Madubogwu whose work, Grave Dust has been penciled down for public screening at the event, said he is excited about the quality of works that have made it to the Frankfurt event. “My source of excitement is the quality of works that will be screened at this festival. Honestly, I am impressed that the works will show the world that Nollywood has witnessed a phenomenal evolution which heightens my hope that in the next couple of years from now, people will know that film business is indeed a serious issue in Africa.” While projecting Africa in positive light may be paramount to the man behind this project, he says his driving force has always

been to help the average African to be proud of who he is and what he has. According to him, “as a means of promoting global integration and as a simple message medium to the viewers that “all that glitters in Europe is certainly not gold” contrary to the general belief in Africa that Europe is heaven on earth. This we believe may help save African migrants that perish on sea within North Africa and Europe yearly in attempt to enter Europe.” The track record of the company is indeed enviable. The organisation has sponsored prominent Nollywood stars, Stand-up Comedians and Hip Hop artistes on European tours (18 EU cities in nine countries) in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy Berlin and Athens because of my belief that artiste’s exposition is a veritable vehicle of influencing humanity, culture and the people’s mentality”. Some of the artistes who have benefited on such tours include prominent Nollywood icons: Patience Ozokwor a.k.a Mama G, Ramsey Nouah, Jackie Appiah (Ghana) Monalis Chinda, Mercy Johnson, Benedict Johnson, Charles Inojie (2 times), Ngozi Ezeonu, Empress Njamah, Nkeiruka Sylvanus, Jim Iyke,

Aside an array of entertainers and personalities drawn from all over the

world, this year’s event is scheduled to have some distinguished policy-makers from

Nigeria

Desmond Elliot, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme a.k.a Aki and PawPaw, John Okafor (a.k.a. Mr Ibu) and Victor Osuagwu. Others are comedians like: Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basket Mouth, Julius Agwu, Francis Agoda a.k.a I Go Dye, Ogbolosingha, Sheddi Baba, Maleke and Gordons. Musicians are not left out as names like Timaya, Olu Maintain aka Yahoozee, Nigga Raw, J. Martins, Bernard Ohenhen, BigBen and Maleke have all rode on this train. The impact of this initiative both for Africa and Europe can be seen in the level of support that has continued to come its way. The show promoting outfit, Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V, is doing this in association with Hessen State Filmforum Höchst VHSFrankfurt Am Main, The Consulate general of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Frankfurt Am Main, The office of Stadt Frankfurt - Kultureamt Frankfurt am Main, The Office for Multicultural Affairs - Amt für multikulturelle Angelegenheiten (AmkA), Ethiopia Airlines and Nigerian Association Rhein/ Main Area e.V Frankfurt, Germany, Exclusive Live, Nigeria Television Authority NTA, ECD…Connecting Community People, Millennium Hospitality International, High Society Magazine in Lagos, Nigeria, Nollywood Radio France and Nollywood Spotlight – Houston, Texas, USA. But more is still required as confessed by Izoya. “If Nigeria is talking about tourism or about projecting the image of the country in positive light, what stops them from coming on this platform?”

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

They call him Timaya

Charles Novia

ancehall cum Afropop star act, Timaya, has been trending for a few days for the wrong reasons, perhaps. A lady in Atlanta, America took to social media to accuse him of rape. Initially when I read the news on a blog, I thought it was one of some crazy publicity stunts some Nigerian artistes pull up and didn’t give it a second thought, even though I abhor anything which has to do with the violation of a woman. Why did I think it was a stunt at first? Because I know how puerile sometimes our Publicists in the entertainment industry in Nigeria sometimes are. They dream up the most asinine of capers just to get their clients trending. Haven’t we read many? Two brothers fighting over getting married or not, some actress owing for fake bags, supposed twitter ‘fights’ and ‘notice-me-by-force’ holidays at exotic resorts. Sadly, the job of the Nigerian Publicists in the entertainment sector seem to be one which ensures that the client must trend by all means necessary because it guarantees ( to them) media exposure and brand visibility somewhat. But that’s a story to dissect for another day. And so, Timaya’s ‘rape saga’ didn’t even as much as raise the hairs on the nape of my neck when I first read it. But I had to sit up when the story started gaining traction with posts after post by the alleged ‘victim’. And I have concluded that it’s not a joke; this is real. Sheila B claims from her narrative and audio proof that Timaya forced himself on her and raped her. Timaya’s initial response to a blogger was to dismiss her claims even though he admitted that he slept with her consensually and thereafter became suspicious of her motives. It was when I read Timaya’s response to the story that I came to the near conclusion that this may not be a stunt after all. Timaya’s response was dismissive and ill-advised without any media management helping out in damage control. That’s the first step for a celebrity when these kind of things happen. It doesn’t

Charles Novia

matter who is right or wrong but all that comes to the fore at first is perception management for the celebrity. And Timaya had none in that first interview. He implicated himself much in that interview, in my opinion and not of the crime he has been accused of but of his admission of being in the same room with the lady and revealing aspects of the post – coital incidents which any smart lawyer in America could use against him in a court of law. His honesty is commendable but a naïveté not to allow a paid media manager give his own side of the story is my worry. According to Timaya, ‘I agreed to see her and she came to my hotel in Atlanta and we got down for real .When we were done and we were chilling…I got up and started preparing for the show but I realised her phone wouldn’t leave my face and she kept asking me stupid questions and even as I answered, I won-

dered what she was up to ,then it hit me that she was recording and I grabbed her phone and we struggled cos I wanted to delete the videos she had made without my consent..I don’t even know if she still has any but I deleted the ones I could on her phone. I called the hotel security and explained what had happened to them. I told them to open her phone so that I could see what she had left but she refused and was making a scene and the hotel told her to get out but I didn’t want her to go cos Í was scared of what she might have recorded and I insisted on calling the Police but the hotel told me that if I called the police, I might be arrested for holding her hostage in my room so I let her go.’ In ending his own side of the story, he accused the accuser of trying to extort $50,000 from him in order not to reveal his deed and he claims he refused to fall for that blackmail.

Effectively, it means any time Timaya lands in America, he’s likely to be arrested and charged for rape if Sheila persists with the case

Memorable Reads What is your favourite book? I don’t have a book I will call my favourite. This is because I have come across a lot of wonderful works. Who is your most favourite author? I will give it to John Grisham, the author of The Firm, The Rainmaker, The Pelican Brief, The Client, The Chamber etc. What is your most-prized book? It is the Holy Bible; my late mom’s Holy Bible to be precise!

Tunde Obe

Entertainer

What is your annual expenditure on books? It has greatly reduced over the years, and this is because a lot of information can now be gotten easily online. If you become an author, what would be the theme of the book? As an author, I would like to write a book on the history of the entertainment industry in Nigeria, with a special bias on the music industry, because if you ask the average musician today, they know little or nothing about those that blazed the trail in the music industry.

An angry Sheila B retorted ( in between putting up curious downloads of her single as a musical artist) that she wasn’t lying and has reportedly filed a rape case against Timaya with the Atlanta Police Department. Gbese re o! Now, that’s serious. This tale has assumed new proportions and it doesn’t look good for Timaya. The implications are dire for him. Effectively, it means any time Timaya lands in America, he’s likely to be arrested and charged for rape if Sheila persists with the case. If he is innocent, which we all have to believe until he is proven guilty, then he also needs to clear himself of these allegations. Here’s what I would suggest Timaya should do; get a good lawyer and go to America and prove his innocence. I repeat, that this is not an allusion that Timaya is guilty but I’m concerned that he has to put this behind to move on as a creative artiste and also to redeem himself and other Nigerian artistes who might get affected by a blanket suspicion in the eyes of the larger world. A good lawyer would ask questions on aspects of Sheila’s story which on face value as it is from the statements right now; seem to be a bit out of place. First, was the sex between both parties consensual? Timaya claims it was; she claims it wasn’t and actually took her phone after the intercourse to record her conversations with him. Now, that’s where experienced Psychologists would have to determine in court why she would record a guy who just raped her, according to her, and still be asking leading questions to cage him. Was it a post – traumatic syndrome or was she surreptiously trying to trap him into admitting that he did it? Second, she has denied that she requested for $50,000 from Timaya which makes her motives not in any way monetary by her denial. Yet a good Lawyer can ask her why she put up links to her songs for downloads just after she accused Timaya on her page. It doesn’t make sense. *Novia, is a film producer-director

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

ARTISTE UNCENSORED She’s fondly called Kryztal. She’s vowing to bring something excitingly different to the Nigerian music industry. Ngozi Emedolibe

I’ve always loved music –Kryztal

aving worked with notable names in the music industry like 2Face, Alex O, Shina Peters, African China and Gloria Ibru to mention but a few, it is obvious that Chinenye Aharanwa aka Kryztal backed by her record label, ‘Heavy Metal Music’ has something up her sleeves to offer the industry. Keen music lovers may have had the opportunity to have listened to some of her singles like ‘Cindarella’,and ‘Waka Waka’, which have been enjoying airplay in some radio stations across the country. Kryztal’s journey in music started professionally from the ‘Star Quest reality TV’ show, where she was one of the housemates. Although her band, did not clinch the ultimate prize, it left a lot to be desired for her career. “I will say that the experience I garnered from ‘Star Quest’ officially prepared me for what I am doing today. That reality TV show is a special one. It prepares you in a lot of aspects in music. It also takes you round all the genres of music like reggae, highlife, hip-hop and R&B. In the house, they also teach you things about the industry like performances and voice training. I will say that house prepared me officially.” Before her entry into ‘Star Quest’ where her group came to an enviable first-runner-up position, Kryztal had left school, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where she graduated in Pure and Industrial Chemistry. But this, though far from music, did not in any way hinder her academic pursuit. “I was doing music while in the university, but I did it with wisdom and that way one did not suffer at the expense of the other. But I will say I have always loved music right from my childhood, and people in my class will testify to this. I knew I liked music, but it was after the ‘Star Quest’ that I became convinced that I needed to pursue it professionally.” While it would be pleasant to think that Kryztal would have teamed up with her band mates in ‘Star Quest’ to make

her dreams of becoming a fullfledged musician a reality, she says proximity has sort of hindered this dream. “I believe every member of my band in the house is doing well. You know people came from all over the country but there were a few of us from Lagos. My band members are not in Lagos but they have been doing well, trying to kick-start their careers as well.” In a few weeks, from now, Kryztal would have concluded the shooting of an accompanying video for her album in a career that has received so much support from her father. According to her, she owes a lot of gratitude to her father who has never bothered that she left her academic qualifications to pursue music. “My father gives me money to do music. He has been very supportive. He has never been worried that I am in music. And some of my younger ones are interested in music too. They are doing so out of interest and not because I am in music.” What new thing is Kryztal bringing to the music industry? “Apart from my voice, which ranges from high-pitch to low-pitch, I cannot be classified into any genre of music. My forthcoming album

MIDWEEK JUMP

We Own Thursday Nights at Club 57

hursdays night is the new Friday at Club57 located on Awolowo Way Ikoyi, Lagos. Event holds on 10th September 2015. Club 57 is the best place for people looking for a place to chill, dance, relax from work and spend time with family and friends. The weekly show opens by 11pm to its fun-loving customers, hosted by Peju_A and Ab_Kay at Club 57, the event paves way for music lovers, dancers and people looking for how to enjoy themselves after work on Thursdays nights.

has something for everyone because it has songs that cut across all genres of music. In fact, I like to call my kind of music, rhythm and groove. When you listen to it, you will not be in doubt that it is African, because it swings from reggae to highlife to R&B. The 16 tracks in the album cut across all these genres.” While she has been influenced by both local and international artistes, she says 2Face has influenced her the most. “2Face is unique. He’s flexible and has remained relevant after all these years. I

Kryztal’s journey in music started professionally from the ‘Star Quest reality TV’ show, where she was one of the housemates

Bottles’ Night with Prudence Band

he September edition of Bottle’s Night holds this Thursday 10th September 2015 at the Bottle’s Bar and Grill, the night is set aside to entertain their visitors with varieties of foods, good vibes, frozen margaritas and melodious songs. Door opens by 6pm and closes by 11pm. Entertainment is officially from ‘The Prudence Band.

Club 57

admire him a lot. I also like Omawumni. Aside her voice, she has a lot of magic, and leaves you wondering what she will be up to next. Internationally, I like Toni Braxton”. If wishes were horses, Kryztal would like to be big on the international scene in the coming years, winning awards and getting recognition. “Yes, I will want to be big, not just on the local scene but internationally. I will want to win awards and be recognisable on the international scene”.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

FAR AND NEAR

‘Fifty’ at 2015 London Film Festival Tayo Irantiola

he British Film Institute (BFI) unveiled the programme for the 2015 London Film Festival. Clare Stewart, Festival Director, presented this year’s rich and diverse selection of films and events including the highly-anticipated Nigerian movie, Fifty, which has been shortlisted under the ‘Love Category’. Fifty is directed by Biyi Bandele with Mo Abudu as the executive producer. Fifty is one of 238 fiction and documentary features, including 16 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres and 40 European Premieres. The film stars Ireti Doyle, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Omoni Oboli and Nse Ikpe-Etim. The production is Mo Abudu’s quest to showcase African women coming of age, loaded with increasingly similar aspirations and dilemmas faced by their contemporaries everywhere, while yet navigating unresolved traditions and obligations. Set in Lagos, a city of disproportionate and breathtaking contrasts, Fifty celebrates the pulse and energy

Nse Ikpe-Etim Amanda Neville, Chief Executive Officer, BFI Mo Abudu, Executive Director Fifty.

of this fast developing metropolis and explores the diversities and complexities of its colourful people through the lenses of its women. Amanda Nevill, Chief Executive Officer, BFI during her opening remarks declared this year’s festival theme as “The Year of the Strong Woman”; a fitting theme for Fifty, a

riveting exploration of love and lust, power and rivalry, seduction and infidelity. Fifty will have its Festival premiere on Saturday, 17th October 2015, at the Vue 7 Cinema, London, and a special grand Nigeria premiere on the 13th of December 2015 at The Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Will AFRIMA event berth in South South?

AFRIMA team.

n preparation for the 2015 edition of The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, the African Union Commission, AUC in a meeting with the International Committee of AFRIMA last April expressed interest in four cities in Nigeria; Port Harcourt, Lagos, Uyo, and Calabar, to host the continental award which is billed to take place in Nigeria in November 13 to 15, 2015. In a letter from the African Union inviting the four states of Rivers, Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers to indicate interest in partnering with AFRIMA as the official host city of AFRIMA 2015. The Commissioner for social affairs, African Union Commission, His Excellency, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko stated that “the main purpose of the partnership is to showcase the tourism and economic potentials of one of the great cities in Africa and promote its strengths to a global audience which in turn add to the GDP of the state and the continent at large”. Hosting AFRIMA presents a lot of

benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the host city. Some of the benefits are: Long Term Investment and Job Creation; adoption of new benchmarks for city development; Increased civic pride and community empowerment; Increased Tourism and publicity and ultimately an Opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the growing African music. According to Matlou Tsotetsi, Direcor of Sponsorship and Communication, AFRIMA, “the host city will be one that is willing to create value and deep brand equity not only for Nigerians but Africans. It must have the most motivation to host AFRIMA in line with its values; have the strongest vision in tourism, culture and entertainment; have the most adequate facilities, surrounding Infrastructure, security and tourist attraction to host the event and should have hosted successful events in the past that attracted both national and or global audiences.”

“AUC has taken interest in these states because they share in AFRIMA`s vision of promoting and preserving Africa`s rich culture. The 2015 edition of AFRIMA will be hosted in Nigeria after she won hosting rights above 13 other countries in 2013 to host the event for three years between 2014 and 2016. Nigeria has proved that it is capable of staging spectacular events after the 2014 AFRIMA was hosted in style in Lagos, in December, 2014.” She concluded. Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar, and Lagos cities have been considered capable of hosting this year`s edition of AFRIMA. Though all cities over the years have shown capacity in terms of security, political stability, tourism, culture preservation, entertainment and tourism, only one city can be the host to AFRIMA 2015. Meet the four cities; The AFRIMA award holds on Sunday, November 15, 2015 and will be preceded by the “Africa Music Summit” on November 13, themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”. The Summit is a platform for the African music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the music industry in Africa can be nurtured in a way that adds to the GDP of the continent. The Summit will also examine opportunities for job creation in the vibrant music industry as a tool for reducing poverty and insecurity in Africa. There will be the “AFRIMA Music Village,” November 13-14, an open, festivalstyle concert over a period of two days. Performing live each night will be different, high-selling African music stars bringing thrilling entertainment to more than fifty thousand 50000 audience members expected in attendance.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Honours for Blaq, Obi-Uchendu

s part of activities celebrating the unveil of the world’s largest poster, Ill Rhymz, Ebuka Obi Ochendu and Yemi Blaq were recently unveiled as Gulder brand ambassadors. The colorful ceremony was held at the Okpara Square in the Coal City of Enugu. The three newly selected brand ambassadors of Gulder expressed their pleasure at the recent connection with the beer brand. Speaking on the epoch-making event as well as his recent status as a brand ambassador, Ill Rhymz said: ‘‘it feels wonderful to be Enugu and to witness what Gulder is doing. It is a great honor for me to be identified with Gulder because it is a brand that makes the Ultimate man.’’ Ebuka Obi-Uchedu, who spoke in Igbo, said his trip to Enugu is like coming home. He said: ‘‘it feels great to be in Enugu to see what Gulder is doing. As we all know, Gulder is the beer for the ultimate man and I am also happy to be a brand ambassador of Gulder.” Yemi Blaq applauded Gulder for the milestone achievement in breaking an existing world record. Past winners of Gulder Ultimate Search were not left out of the fray as Dominic Mudabai, (2007 winner), Chinedu Ubachukwu (2014 winner) and Ifunnaya Onike (Last female contestant standing in 2013) played a major role in the day’s activities. Although, celebrity endorsements and by extension, brand ambassadorship has become a popular marketing strategy which intends to ingrain the image of a product in the minds of consumers, the historic event that culminated in the emergence of these three prominent Nigerian entertainers shows that Gulder has scored a valuable point. Currently, Gulder holds the record of the world’s largest poster with an area of 5.3mSqaure, effectively toppling the former record of 4.7msquare achieved in Kochi, India on the 27th of June, 2015. In his welcome address, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde recounted Gulder’s momentous stride in the beer market and the company’s choice of Enugu as the rallying point. He stated that ‘‘since the commissioning of our second brewery in Aba in 1957, the South East has been a solid base for our operations and a veritable home to our brands. It is in continuation of this robust relationship with the South East that we are here in Enugu courtesy of Gulder the ultimate lager beer’’. He also informed that the recent world promotion poster is a glowing testament to Nigerian Breweries’ commitment to winning with Nigeria. “This commitment covers all aspects of our investments, our footprint, our people and our socio-economic impact. As a Nigeria’s leading brewing company, this feat showcases Nigeria Breweries’ continuous commitment to expand the frontiers of consumer promotion in the history of Gulder with over 4 million prizes to be won.’’

Blaq, Illrymz and Obi Uchendu

Business

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

MTN appeals to subscribers on SIM revalidation 32

Drug trafficking, destructive to airlines’ crew career –Capt.Ore 31

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Renewables to account for 30% of Nigeria’s energy mix –Adaju

‘Nigeria’s aviation regulations should conform with global standard’ Olusegun Koik

n a bid for the Nigeria to continually be recognised as an active member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, its civil aviation regulation should always be in agreement with the world’s standards. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mrs. Bello Binta, said this on Monday at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Stakeholders’ forum working on the proposed amendment of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, NCAR. Bello, who was represented at the occasion by the Director, Safety, Ministry of Aviation, Engr. Hassan Musa, said that the country’s civil aviation must be amended to the ICAO standards and recommended practices as contained in the Annex 1 to 19 of the organization. He added that the annexes must be domesticated for Nigeria to continue to enjoy the pride of place in the comity of nations, stressing that the economic regulations and consumers protections regulations were to be amended to conform to international best practices. Bello emphasized that all hands must be on deck to ensure a very successful outing for Nigeria in the upcoming ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Program, USOAP, audit, which had been scheduled to hold in March 2016. Earlier, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt Muhtar Usman noted that the powers of NCAA to regulate civil aviation in Nigeria were captured throughout the Civil Aviation Act 2006. He explained that Section 30 of the Act empowered the authority to make regulations on all aspects of civil aviation matters, adding that as required by Article 37 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Adoption of International Standards and Procedures), these

regulations were made to cover and domesticate all ICAO Standards that are contained in the relevant Annexes. He added, “The Stakeholders’ Workshop is in accordance with the obligation imposed on the authority in Sec 30(12) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006, which states that ‘in the exercise of its

power to make regulations under this section, the authority shall consult with stakeholders including airlines, aerodrome operators, air traffic control service providers, consumers and other relevant bodies and organisations in the aviation industry.’ I know you are all well represented at this workshop.

“Stakeholders are invited to note that some of these amendments are already captured in Orders 1 and 2 that were issued to the industry in the third quarter of 2014 before Nigeria’s FAA CAT 1 recertification. The proposed amendment is the first holistic amendment to the Nig. CARs since inception.”

AIRLINES’ FLIGHT SCHEDULES 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. Abuja-Yola: 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: Principal Partner, Public Health Partner Limited, Dr. Ubiame Omas; Chief Route Commander/Unit Head of Operation, Mainland, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Uche Ugbebor; Executive Director, Corporate Bank and Treasury, Keystone Bank, Mr. Hafiz Bakare and Eye Care Project Manager, Eye Foundation Hospital, Lagos, Mr. Nwagala Paul, during the free Health and Eye screening exercise organized by Keystone Bank Limited as a CSR programme for Inter-State/Luxury bus drivers tagged Think Road Safety, Save Lives, in Lagos.

IMF, World Bank fix AGM for Oct SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

he 2018 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank Group have concluded plans to hold this year’s Annual General Meeting, AGM, in October, following a resolution by the Boards of Governors of the two institutions. Managing Director of the IMF, Mr Christine Lagarde said, “I would like to thank the government and people of Indonesia for hosting the 2018 Annual Meetings. This will be a great opportunity to showcase impressive economic and social achievements of the country, as well as the culture, beauty, and vitality of the country”. Also, the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim said, “I thank President Widodo and the

people of Indonesia for the invitation. It will be an honour for our institutions that the meetings will be hosted in Bali Nusa Dua. The Meeting is expected to bring together, the central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook. Others included global financial stability, poverty eradication, jobs and growth, economic development, aid effectiveness and climate change. The 2015 Annual Meetings will take place in Lima, Peru in October this year. A complete list of meeting sites is available on the Annual Meetings website. In another development, the Bank Group’s Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate

Change, Rachel Kyte said, “Access to clean sustainable energy for all, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, lies at the heart of all countries’ interests, as low-income countries cannot develop without energy. People, he said cannot have equal opportunities without energy, saying such initiative is central to achieving the goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity. World Bank Group’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ms. Kyte is leading the Bank Group’s efforts to campaign for an ambitious agreement at the 21st Convention of the Parties of the UNFCCC this December. Ms. Kyte previously served as World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development and the International Finance Corporation Vice President for Business Advisory Services.

Abuja-Lagos 9am, 1pm, 5.28pm daily Lagos-Abuja 7am, 11am, 1.23pm,3.30pm daily Lagos-PH: 7.20AM, Ph-Abuja9.54am, Abuja-ph: 3.30pm and Ph-Lagos: 5.28pm daily Lagos-Uyo: 9.20am, Uyo-Abuja: 11.07am, Abuja-Uyo 1.05pm, Uyo-Lagos: 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

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nigerians have responsibility to promote the ideals of good Dr Nat Ofo is a chartered administrator with strong penchant for due process and rule of law. In this interview with TOLA AKINMUTIMI, the President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, and university don speaks on how Nigeria could leverage on the present government’s anti-corruption crusade to entrench good corporate governance culture at all levels of administration in the country, including the roles of the Institute in the governance reform agenda.

ir, the feeling among the populace is that delay in appointing Ministers by the President is slowing down governance, with most MDAs now doing next to nothing in the drive towards transformation of the economy. How do you react to this?

For members of public, explanation that they have given is reasonable and for me I’m aware of two reasons why there is this delay in the appointment of Ministers by Mr. President. One is that we heard that some 36 names were sent for some initial share and out of these, we learnt that only three scaled through the process and that could have caused this delay. But why I think we should not be too much in a hurry is that he has also said that by this month, September, that he will appoint ministers and we are already in September. Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise, that was in the pit for donkey years and when it was time to bring him out and they assembled the machinery for bringing him out and started to complain that they should hurry up, that he is about to die in a place he has been for several years . So, this is September, it is only when September ends and if no minister is appointed that we can say that our President is not keeping faith in what he has told us. It is true that he will need ministers to oversee the ministries but let us be very clear about the role of ministers in ministries and that is something we have often got wrong in the past which, I think, this government is trying to correct. You know when we were still in primary school, we were thought that government would come and go but civil servants will remain. So, what that meant was that civil servants are supposed to be non-political because they serve every government

Ofo that comes whether it is a democratic or republican government, whether it is labour or conservative government, whether it is PDP or APC, civil servants should be focused on their work. But most of the time in this environment we have found that civil servants are now carrying membership cards of political parties. So, we now found that civil servants are not as independent as they should be and in a typical ministry, the minister is an outsider. So, the minister is equivalent to the chairman or the board who is not an Executive and the Permanent Secretaries are the people who should have been the CEOs of the ministries. So, in a typical ministry, if it is well run the way a ministry should be run, the way that concept is intended to be understood, you appoint the chairman of the board who could be seen as the minister from

outside for the CEO of the ministry who is the Permanent Secretary and the CEO who should be the head as far as day-to-day running of the ministry is concerned. Unfortunately here, we have treated our politicians in this environment that ministers start behaving as they are CEOs and that is why, I think, some people are making so much about ministers not being appointed. When you have a Permanent Secretary who knows what to do, the ministry can still run and that is the mentality that this government is trying to recreate that the ministry can run without ministers because Permanent Secretaries are the CEOs of the ministries and not ministers. So, for me, there is no serious danger but then, there is need to have the ministers to be checking the Permanent Secretaries because the President can’t check all the ministries.

So, it is about how the little resources that we have are managed not about how much we have.

Oil price can be $500 per barrel; if corruption is deeply entrenched in our

environment, we will still not feel the impact of that money

Due to the global oil market situation now and the dwindling revenue accruals to the country, how can public governance be structured in such a way that prudence will be mantra of financial management at all levels of government in the country? You know they say that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. What I have learnt from my experience in public finance is that you know at times when we talk about our revenues we always think about what is coming in but I think rather than what is flowing in from crude oil experts and based on the price crisis in the international oil market, as a country, we should be more concerned on what is going out. What that means is, let’s say you are a company and you are selling a lot of products, so on daily basis you should be making money. But, if you are not watching how the money you are getting is going out, you will have so much loss and no profit because it is possible that some people are eating the money such that the money is not of any benefit to the company. So, even in the Nigerian situation where the price of oil is dropping and so we say our revenue is dropping, you still find that as a nation even with the current price of oil Nigeria should not be the poorest country because there are some countries without oil and they are still buoyant and that is why this government is stressing on anti-corruption. This is very important because what they found was that with corruption

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Executive Discourse

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

corporate governance –ICSAN President deeply entrenched, there is so much mismanagement even of the little resources we have and because the little we have is mismanaged, the impact is not felt and so it now seems as if we have nothing. But there are countries, like Dubai that everybody is going to now, they are making money from tourism and Dubai is a desert. I mean when did you start hearing about Dubai and all of a sudden Dubai is a place everybody is going to? So, it is about how the little resources that we have are managed not about how much we have. Oil price can be $500 per barrel; if corruption is deeply entrenched in our environment, we will still not feel the impact of that money. So, in terms of political governance, we should have a system that ensures there is prudent management of our resources so that the revenue that we have as little as it is or as much as it is, is prudently managed. When there is prudence, you will see that as small as it is, the impact will be widely spread because that is why corruption is such an incredible thing because it denies the majority of people of the benefit of a collective communal asset. So, the stress on corruption by the new government for me is okay. I think government should do everything to ensure that corruption is checked or curtailed substantially. Then, the second thing that is important is the fact that government should be accountable to the people. That is, if government is not doing what it should do, the people should be able to say you are not doing what you should do and therefore you should not be where you are. Once you get those two things right, then we will be on course to accelerated development and progress. Building a culture of corporate governance in Nigeria’s public

We would certainly be involved in a lot of advocacy on governance-related issues.

Also, when the National Code of Corporate Governance eventually becomes operational, we shall champion public awareness of its provisions sector will require a lot of efforts and commitment. What role is your Institute going to play in this herculean national development agenda? In the first place, we would have to create a lot of awareness on the issues involved. This we would do through our numerous programmes and activities. For example, from tomorrow (Thursday), we would be having our two-day Annual Conference at Lagos. The theme of this year’s Conference is “Disclosure and Transparency: A Paradigm Shift in Corporate Nigeria”. I am sure you will agree with me that the issue of disclosure and transparency is crucial in corporate governance. Secondly, we would engage in collaborative activities with relevant regulators and government agencies to spread the good corporate governance message. Thirdly, you may be aware of the National Code of Corporate Governance which was recently exposed. It is instructive to note that members of ICSAN were part of the

Steering Committee that developed the National Code of Corporate Governance. As you may know, part of the Code deals with corporate governance in the public sector. Generally, ICSAN needs to be more visible for its crucial roles in national development to be appreciated by the public. What are your plans to improve the Institute’s public image and by implication, its recognition as a key player in the current efforts to see corporate governance principles driving public governance in the country? We would certainly be involved in a lot of advocacy on governancerelated issues. Also, when the National Code of Corporate Governance eventually becomes operational, we shall champion public awareness of its provisions. We would solely, and in some cases, in collaboration with relevant bodies and organizations, organise seminars and other training programmes to disseminate the mes-

sage the Code seeks to propagate. Of course, we shall be counting on the co-operation of media organisations, including your organisation, to ensure that our message gets to every nook and cranny of our country and beyond. We have a collective responsibility to promote the ideals of good corporate governance in Nigeria with a view to ensuring that good corporate governance is entrenched in this environment. ICSAN would need to strengthen its relationship with other relevant institutions in order to enable it fulfill its mandate as a professional body. What plans do you have to ensure that undergraduates in universities and other tertiary institutions know about the Institute and become interested in it for career development? We have long identified the need to take our message to higher institutions. This informed the linkage programme we piloted with Babcock University. This affords students of Babcock University to be engaged in our examinations while they are still in the university, such that by the time they are out of the university, they have only two subjects to sit for to qualify. The pilot with Babcock University was a huge success. Consequently, we are making arrangement to roll out the scheme in other universities and other tertiary institutions as may be determined from time to time by our Governing Council. In addition, we shall engage in courtesy visits to relevant institutions to create the needed awareness regarding ICSAN and its examinations and other activities.

Buhari

Business News

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Enugu registers 22, 000 rice farmers –Fadama Coordinator F

ADAMA State Implementation Committee has disclosed that over 22, 000 rice farmers hadbeen registered in Enugu State The State FADAMA Coordinator, Ikechukwu Jude, who made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists in the state, explained that though FADAMA III Additional Financing targets 5, 000 farmers for 5, 000 hectares of farm land for rice cultivation, the high number of registered farmers could be linked to the dwindling oil revenue that is making more people to embrace agriculture. He expressed optimism that those who may not be captured by FADAMA III AF, will be engaged by other projects of the state government. “Before the end of the proj-

ect in 2017, we are looking at about 30, 000 farmers to be engaged either by FADAMA III AF or by the state government”, Jude projected. While the capacity of farmers generally, is being developed in the State, the State Coordinator pointed out that the first and most important goal is to change the orientation of farmers, so as to make them “realise that farming is no longer development agriculture, but a business enterprise that must be diligently pursued” He also informed that the project will provide 50 percent of the farmers needs as grants. This will include certified improved rice seeds, agro chemicals, fertilizers and other assets and infrastructure”. Meanwhile, the project has

Telefonica in talks to rent towers from America Movil

elefonica SA is in talks to rent mobile-phone towers in Mexico from America Movil SAB’s Telesites unit to help lower the costs of improving coverage and offering faster services, according to people with knowledge of the matter. If an agreement can be reached with Telesites, the infrastructure company that was recently spun off by America Movil, Telefonica would gain access to Mexico’s most pervasive wireless network of about 11,000 towers, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the the negotiations are confidential. Telefonica, the second-largest wireless provider in Mexico, has for years been trying to catch up with market leader America Movil. Competition in the country’s telecommunications market is set to intensify after AT&T Inc.

completed the acquisition of Grupo Iusacell SA and Nextel Mexico this year. AT&T was also said to be working on a separate deal to rent towers from Telesites, people familiar with the matter said in June. Representatives for Mexico City-based America Movil and Madrid-based Telefonica declined to comment. A spokesman for Dallas-based AT&T didn’t immediately return a phone call on a U.S. public holiday. Chief Operating Officer Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete said on Aug. 30 that Telefonica needs to improve its network in Mexico. The carrier “has the obligation to explore possibilities” if they appear, such as accessing Telesites’ towers or sharing networks with AT&T, he said. (Source – Bloomberg)

also approved six locations of seven installations for central pivot system of irrigation which implies that farmers in that location will have over 350 hectares of land to

be done three times a year, which means a cumulative 1, 050 hectares of rice farm in a year on that project alone. A major off taker had also been contacted and assurance

L-R: Managing Director, Jatco Network International, Mr John Tor-Agbidye; Cuban Ambassador to Nigerian, Amb Carlo Trejo-sosa and Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali during the signing of MoU on Technology Transfer at Cuban Embassy in Abuja, recently. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

MAN disowns fake products manufacturing firms SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

anufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has disassociated itself from illegal activities of Bendusco International Agency Limited and D&K Industries Limited accused of manufacturing adulterated products in the country. Noting that the two companies are not members of the Association, MAN said the duo were accused of packaging fake Angola tooth brush, and Nacet razor blades among other products in unhygienic environment. National Mirror learnt that SON shut the two packaging outlets and seized operational and production machines of the companies

According to SON, the siezure is coming on the heels of a recent protest by workers of Bendusco in Awka, Anambra state, said to be instigated by the owner of the firms. During the demonstration, the protesters claimed the Agency was killing the growth of local industries through its regulatory activities. MAN said that the allegations were baseless as the group has been working with it to actualize the nation’s industrial development plan. ‘’We gathered that the SON in its bid to rid the markets of fake and substandard products recently, raided the illegal factories said to be operated by Bendusco. The raids carried out with the assistance of other relevant security agencies resulted in the discov-

Minister laments downturn in Africa’s economies SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

outh Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Rob Davies, has expressed concern over downward trend in economic index of the country, saying ‘’the country is passing through hard times’’. Nigeria, the first largest economy in Africa, is also facing the same economic crisis as the recent economic index shows low economic growth. Davies, who described

South Africa as the second largest economy, said the situation is also affecting other African countries. He however warned credit providers not to take such advantage to rip-off consumers. “We are passing through a difficult period economically; its origins are the impact of the end of the commodity super cycle and the negative effect this is having on the mining industry,” Davies stated. “This means there is going to be less disposable income around and we have to make

been given by him to buy all the outputs, thereby resolving the issues of post harvest losses or lack of market for produce.

sure credit providers are not involved in practices they could use to their benefit and to the detriment of consumers.” Davies also noted that the past year has seen an upsurge in people, who are credit impaired. “We have already seen that the figures of people, who are credit impaired compared to last year March are going in the wrong direction”, Davies added. “One of the messages we are sending out is that we de-

layed the implementation of the Credit Assessment Act until the end of September to allow credit providers to get their systems in place. Credit providers should be open with consumers as they prepare for the new regime. Davies said some of the life insurance products sold have been completely unnecessary. “Our overall message to the financial sector is that don’t try to play hard and fast with consumers as we will do our bit to defend consumers’’, he added.

ery of counterfeited eight brands of shaving stick, including, BIC, Dorco, Excell, Gillette and Zorrik’’, MAN stated. The association President, Dr. Frank Jacobs, however noted that ‘’MAN’s records showed that they are not members of the Association. There is no such name as Bendusco. So, if he says he is representing MAN, we are saying we do not know him. Whatever he says is not the position of MAN. ‘’MAN does not go on demonstrations to press home its demands the way the alleged counterfeiters did. We have channels to address our issues. What the company (Bendusco) is doing is entirely different from what MAN does and of course, he is not a member of MAN”. He therefore noted that the fight against sub-standard products would help manufacturers improve the quality and standard of their products with a view to making them competitive at the international market. “Today, manufacturing should not be only for Nigeria, we must produce to sell these products overseas and be competitive at the international market”, he noted “SON has helped MAN in creating a better environment for our businesses to thrive. We are very pleased with what SON is doing‎. SON’s activities cannot be a threat, especially to the manufacturers. Their activities are helping us in improving the quality and standard of our products to become competitive at the international market.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Business News

Drug trafficking, destructive to airlines’ crew career –Capt.Ore Toshiba posts net loss, plans restructuring

apan’s Toshiba Corp booked a net loss for the past financial year and pledged a bold restructuring, raising hopes it was finally moving beyond a $1.3 billion accounting scandal. The submission of its books, twice postponed due to its accounting woes, helped to allay concerns among some investors that the laptops-to-nuclear power conglomerate risked a delisting if it had missed its latest filing deadline. Shares in Toshiba rose 1.8 percent on Monday, but they are still down around 30 percent since its accounting issues were disclosed in early April. Analysts, however, said the company still had to tackle deeprooted problems. “Toshiba is still facing a number of daunting issues, such as what to do with its unprofitable PC and TV businesses,” said Hiroyasu Nishikawa, a senior analyst at IwaiCosmo Securities Co, adding that its accounting woes were set to drag on due to shareholder lawsuits. For the past financial year, it reported a 37.8 billion yen ($318 million) net loss. It had at one time expected a 120 billion yen net profit before pulling that estimate in May when it announced the accounting probe was being expanded. The weaker assessment included a more conservative estimate on the value of its investment in South Texas Project, a U.S. power plant project. The company, however, denied speculation that it would need to draw down deferred tax assets on Westinghouse, its U.S.-based nuclear business. All in all, Toshiba said it had overstated profits going back to fiscal 2008/09 by 155 billion yen ($1.3 billion) (Source – Reuters)

Olusegun Koiki

he immediate past President, Aviation Round Table, ART, Capt. Dele Ore, has described involvement and arrest of both cabin and cockpit crew in drug trafficking as career ruining for perpetrators of the act. This is also has he said that Chief Pilots of airlines should consistently monitor the activities of crew. Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, Ore condemned the involvement of crew in such dastardly act and urged them to discontinue the disgraceful action, stressing that such people had nowhere to hide with the global tightening of security by security agencies. He also attributed overfamiliarity with the security agencies by the crew as one of the reasons they are able to courier the drugs outside the country with ease, advising security operatives to be more vigilant in the discharge of their duties.

He said, “The Arik Air cabin crew might not be the first time he was engaged in the act, but what they (security agencies) do is that they follow them and monitor their activities in order to eventually apprehend them. “It is the function of the chief pilot to be monitoring the crew regularly. Once they catch one person, all of us become a suspect. This is a very unfortunate incident. The act

is a carrier ruining for anybody that involves in it. “All over the world, they have tightened up some of the privileges hitherto enjoyed by the crewmembers. They no longer have such privileges. Everybody is subjected to stringent screening. No hiding place anymore because they all exchange information.” He explained further that there was no way just a per-

son could engage in drug trafficking without accomplices who he said helped them to beat security, decrying that whenever such culprits are apprehended outside the country, they soiled the name of Nigeria. Besides, he blamed the country’s airlines especially Arik Air for its inability to do psychological test for its recruits.

We ‘ll take Maritime Academy to international heights –Rector FRANCIS EZEM

he management of Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, Akwa Ibom State, has restated its commitment to raising the quality of education being offered by the institution to global standards.

Rector of the Academy, Dr. Joshua Okpo, who gave the assurance in a statement was apparently reacting to recent allegations of financial impropriety leveled against the management by Oron Youth Movement, OYM, said that the current

management cannot afford to be distracted from repositioning the academy to global reckoning. The group had in a petition alleged that financial impropriety on the part of the management, unequal distribution of employment among the various stakeholders and the poor handling of the rift between host communities. In the statement signed on behalf of the Rector by the Media Consultant to the Academy, Mr. Ovie Edomi, Okpo indicated that the allegations by the youth movement was part of the ploy to extort money from the

L-R: Chief of Staff to Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Kabir Mohammed; Chairman, Airports Council International (ACI), World, Mr Fredrick Piccolo; President, Airports Council International (ACI) World, Mrs Angela Gittens; Managing Director, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma; President, Airports Council International, AfricaRegion, Mr Pascal Komla and General Manager, Planning FAAN, Mrs Nse Ikiddeh, at the opening of 2015 Airports Council International (ACI), World [ACI], Latin America-Caribbean/World Annual General Assembly in Panama, recently.

management, which he said would not yield results. He stated: “The attention of the management has been drawn to the jaundiced, baseless and morbid attempt to smear the good image and rising profile of Dr Joshua Okpo, the Rector/CEO of MAN, Oron, by a frustrated and dubious group called OYM” On the allegations of poor handling of the host communities’ rift, he disclosed that contrary to claims by the group, before the appointment of the current Rector of the academy, two communities were having communal clashes. Edomi clarified further that the petition maliciously failed to tell the world that there is undeniable upgrade of facilities and training of the academy’s teaching and non teaching staff in line with internationally accepted standards for such specialised institutions. He argued that it was probably in recognition of this fact that President Muhammandu Buhari renewed the appointment of the rector for a second term of another four years, which would elapse in 2019. He therefore urged the elders of the communities to call the rampaging youths to order, arguing that the Academy is not theirs but belongs to the entire Nigerian nation, though it is located within their land, for which they had been compensated in various ways over the years.

Pharmaceutical group confirms four firms’ compliance with WHO’s GMP

he Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) on Monday said four Nigerian drug manufacturers had met the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s requirements for good manufacturing practice.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Okey Akpa, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a threeday Nigeria Pharma Manufactur-

ers Expo 2015 with the theme``The Nigerian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry and International Competitiveness’’ in Lagos. According to him, the companies are, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Ltd., CHI Pharmaceutical Ltd., Evans Medical Plc and May & Baker Nigeria Ltd. Akpa also hinted that many other pharmaceutical manufacturing companies had also complied with the requirements of International

Standards Organisation. He said: ``Nigeria Pharmaceutical Manufacturers have also developed manufactured and registered products for the UN Commission and life-Saving Commodities for Women’s and children’s Health. ``Nigeria is currently the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing country in West Africa. It accounts for more than 65 per cent of the local manufacture of medicines relevant to the people and

diseases of our nation and region. They are anti-malaria medicines, anti-retroviral medicines for HIV/ AIDS, herbal medicines and medicines for sickle cell diseases and many others,’’ Akpa added. He explained further that many manufacturers in the country had also processed the Expression of Interest (EOI) with the WHO for pre-qualification of products, pointing out that manufacturers processing WHO prequalification

have invested over 50 million dollars in the last five years. Akpa therefore urged the Federal Government to give the drug manufacturers some incentives to mitigate the burden of huge investments to upgrade their facilities while also urging other stakeholders  to collaborate with the companies in order to consolidate on the gains made so far by the pharmaceutical industry.

Business News

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

MTN appeals to subscribers on SIM European shares rebound, revalidation as China’s crisis hits Asian Isaiah Erhiawarien

obile Telephone Network, MTN Nigeria, has asked its subscribers who were affected by the ongoing SIM card validation process to bear it them. The mobile network operator promised that it was working to make sure that all affected subscribers begin to enjoy its services again since the revalidation exercise had resulted in significant congestion at its offices across the country. The Corporate Services Executive for MTN Nigeria, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, stated

that large numbers of subscribers lined up from early hours in the morning till late in the evening to get SIM card revalidated saying MTN is striving to “ameliorate the conditions at its service centers”. He clarified: “We wish to apologise to all our customers who are experiencing difficulty with the ongoing SIM re gistration/revalidation exercise. Affected customers can revalidate their registration details at all MTN sales outlets, including the nearest agent and dealer shops.” “It is for this reason that we have increased the number of staff handling SIM registration/validation across all

our channels. We have also mandated all our registration outlets to remain open till 8pm every day until further notice,” he said. He denied speculations that MTN intentionally decided to deactivate affected lines, explaining that the decision to disconnect lines with invalid or incomplete subscriber registration details was in compliance with the NCC directive. Goodluck pointed out that that every aspect of the registration could be completed at once while urging subscribers to report any fraudulent activity to the MTN manager in charge at any of the centres.

L-R: Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers’ 2nd Vice President, Mr Dapo Adekoje, Acting President, Mr Oluwaseyi Abe and Registrar/Chief Executive, Mr Adedeji Ajadi during press interactive session at weekend in Lagos

FS Club enlightens members on MFBs’ benefits Saidat Alausa

takeholders in commercial and industrial sector, especially the Small and Medium Enterprises, are set to reap from funding opportunities available through the Microfinance banks in the country. This was revealed at a business launch organised by FS Club for members held at the club in Lagos. MD/CEO, FBN Microfinance Limited, Mrs. Paulin Nsah, who is the guest speaker, addressed the role of the Microfinance bank in the development of Nigeria’s industrial sector, with emphasis on the current dispensation. According to the MD, “Microfinance bank is an increasinglyimportant and powerful tool for

social services, government, and business communities alike. The public, particularly the SMEs of this millennial generation, is demanding greater transparency from the banking sectors especially in the aspect of loans and financial sustainability.” While explaining the modalities in writing a good business plan in getting loans, the speaker revealed that one of the challenges hindering the secure of a financial loan is the inability to draw up a good and convincing business plan. She therefore enjoined members of the club to make their business plan more convincing and air tight. Explaining the rationale behind the lunch, President of Fs Club, Mr. Gbolagade Adebisi said, the Business Luncheon

seeks to advance discussions on business, economic, political and social issues affecting members of the club and the contemporary Nigerian society and that is why members of the club need to know more on how to change in their economic fortunes. “Government has simplified the application process for smallbusiness borrowers and give banks more flexibility in the way they structure their loan products. Therefore we need to get more enlightenment on the process from finance professional.” The FS Club of Nigeria is a professional business and social club, and it aims to provide members platforms to socialise and network while promoting thought leadership on a number of topical issues affecting the society.

markets

uropean stocks rose yesterday, lifted by mining and commodities giant Glencore after it pledged to slash its debt by a third, and countering a fall in Asian markets led by weakness in China following a four-day break there. Trading is lighter than usual with US markets closed for Labour Day, while investors across all asset classes continued to digest the implications of last week’s US jobs data for the timing of the first US interest rate hike since 2006. The FTSEuroFirst index of leading 300 shares was up 0.4 per cent at 1,398 points and Britain’s mining-heavy FTSE 100 index was up 0.4 per cent at 6,063 points. Both indexes had been up well over one per cent in earlier trading. Glencore shares rose as much as 12 per cent after it said it will suspend dividends sell assets and raise $2.5 billion in a new share issue as it aims to cut its debt to $20 billion by the end of next year. “The news was well received by the market,” said David Papier at ETX Capital in London. Glencore shares were up seven per cent at 131 pence. The rally in Europe was broadbased, marking a rebound from Friday’s steep losses of close to 3 percent after investors marginally upped their bets that the Federal Reserve could raise US interest rates later this month. Germany’s DAX was up 0.5 per

cent at 10,094 points and France’s CAC 40 was up 0.4 per cent at 4,542 points , both halving their opening gains. But in Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell one per cent, driven by stocks in China where markets reopened after closing over Thursday and Friday as Beijing marked 70 years since the end of World War Two. Shanghai shares initially rose as much as 1.8 per cent after weekend remarks by regulators aimed at calming the market, but reversed course to close down 2.5 per cent. China’s policymakers and regulators promised deeper financial market reforms. They emphasized signs that the economy was stabilizing, but trimmed 2014 growth figures, and said foreign exchange reserves fell in August by $93.9 billion - the largest monthly fall on record - to $3.55 trillion. Financial leaders from the world’s 20 biggest economies agreed on Saturday to step up reform efforts to boost growth, saying reliance on ultra-low interest rates would not be enough to accelerate economic expansion. But they also said they were confident growth would pick up and, as a result, interest rates in “some advanced economies” -code for the United States -- would have to rise.

Apple ups hiring, but faces hurdles on making phones smarter

pple has ramped up its hiring of artificial intelligence experts, recruiting from PhD programs, posting dozens of job listings and greatly increasing the size of its AI staff, a review of hiring sites suggests and numerous sources confirm. The goal is to challenge Google in an area the Internet search giant has long dominated: smartphone features that give users what they want before they ask. As part of its push, the company is currently trying to hire at least 86 more employees with expertise in the branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning, according to a recent analysis of Apple job postings. The company has also stepped up its courtship of machine-learning PhD’s, joining Google, Amazon, Facebook and others in a fierce contest, leading academics say. But some experts say the iPhone maker’s strict stance on privacy is likely to undermine its ability to compete in the rapidly progressing field.

Machine learning, which helps devices infer from experience what users are likely to want next, relies on crunching vast troves of data to provide unprompted services, such as the scores for a favorite sports team or reminders of when to leave for an appointment based on traffic. The larger the universe of users providing data about their habits, the better predictions can be about what an individual might want. But Apple analyzes its users’ behavior under self-imposed constraints to better protect their data from outsiders. That means Apple largely relies on analyzing the data on each user’s iPhone rather than sending it to the cloud, where it can be studied alongside information from millions of others. “They want to make a phone that responds to you very quickly without knowledge of the rest of the world,” said Joseph Gonzalez, co-founder of Dato, a machine learning startup. (Source – Reuters)

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EnergyWeek Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Buhari tasks operators on uninterrupted electricity supply 38

We plan to generate 25% of Nigeria’s power demand –Elumelu

OPEC makes case for wind, other energy sources 37

Assessing solar potential, challenges as alternative energy source

Solar panel

Available statistics showed that more Nigerians are adopting solar as alternative energy source as unstable electricity supply in the country remains a pipe dream still. CHIDI UGWU however reports that despite its perceived benefits, experts believe that more work needs to be done to optimize its resourcefulness as an energy option in the country.

here are strong indications that Nigeria’s electricity generation has risen significantly in the past few weeks. For instance, the Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP, disclosed that the nation’s peak generation at 4,810.70 megawatts, mw as at August 26, this year. The Task Force reported further that while 4,131.71mw was distributed, the balance was conserved to stabilise the system. Despite the improvement, the nation’s power supply has not been able to meet demand at least for a reason. The supply is still far below the country’s 14,630mw daily estimated national demand. Investigations showed that the Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs have been compelled to embark on load shedding in order

to ensure that almost all parts of the nation experience supply at different times. But experts who attended the recent inaugural 2015 Electricity Market Summit in Abuja believed that much power can be generated from other sources, especially solar which the nation has in abundance. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali described solar as the future for Africa, adding that a lot have already been put in place to encourage investments in the solar in the country. According to him, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in conjunction with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, NBET popularly known as Bulk Trader, have worked together to create a

model designed to encourage investments in solar and other renewable sources. “We are emphasising a lot on solar. And like I said in my opening remark, solar energy is the future for Africa. NERC has come up with a Feed-in-Tariff for solar power. The Bulk Trader has come up with the power purchase agreement for solar power. The good news is that NERC working together with the Bulk Trader now have a tariff where a person who comes to invest in coal, or in solar, there is a model now that the person can work with which never existed before,” he indicated. The Publicity Secretary of the All Progress Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, maintained that the time has come to harness the nation’s solar for power generation.

He pointed out that while Nigerians awaited some gigantic energy projects such as Mambilla Hydro Power Projects and the likes, there is urgent need for systematic and sustained investments in solar to solve the energy deficits in the country. “We promised Nigerians revolution in power sector, let us try and explore some other sources without abandoning the ones on ground, I know we can combine some other sources of power. The most source so far that appeals to me is where we can have about 20 million people producing 1kw each of solar energy or any other renewable energy. And then, we can now add it to the seven years and five years plan for the Mambilla and the like. But, clearly I do not think we will be able to face CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Energy Week

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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Assessing solar potential, challenges as alternative energy source

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 Solar panel

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

the electorate in 2019 and say really added this. That is my point” he said. A former minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, noted that unless President Muhammadu Buhari gives the in-coming minister of power a clear target, his administration’s promises to transform the power sector and make electricity available to greater percentage of Nigerians may not be realised as planned. According to him, many of the past ministers of power saw their duties as building more generations, and building transmissions and not delivering power to Nigerians. He maintained that the government has invested a lot on NIPPs and even forgot that those NIPPs needed gas to get them to perform. If the President gives target to the in-coming minister, the minister will see his duty as not building power plants but delivering power to Nigerians and therefore he will be much more open to all other options including solar” he said. Already, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP has provided solar-power energy for five rural communities in Bwari Area Council in the FCT. The benefitting communities are Tokulo, Zhiko, Sunape, Youpe and Goipe. The gesture came under the “Expanding Access to Off-Grid Renewable Energy (Solar and Biomass) Based Sustainable Energy for All,’’ a project initiated by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN. Nigeria is said to have 485.1million MWh/day of solar energy in natural units and enjoys an average of 6.2 hours of daily sunshine. Solar Power solutions are therefore highly relevant for the region and CT Cosmos is well positioned to leverage the country’s solar resource in its bid to close the glaring power supply gap in the country. The project will be located

There are issues with solar power. And we also have presented this before Mr. President, the issue of access to land. Tell Governors, because for solar each mega watt

take about one hectare of land.

And to make an impact you need about 50 to 100 mega watts

near Jos, in the Plateau region of Nigeria which has minimal cloud cover and records one of the highest solar radiation indices in the country as per SolarGIS latest baseline data. This superior radiation produces impressive energy yields that will go a long way to addressing Nigeria’s growing energy demand. The chairman, African Business Round Table, Dr. Ken Ife, urged relevant policy makers to endeavor to take electricity generation to the mass market in order to give small players room to participate. The Chief Architect, GoSolarAfrica, Mr. Femi Oye stated that: “Many consumers have already shifted from the use of public power to renewable, especially solar because of some advantages such as low technology cost, wider service coverage, short and simple trainings required for efficient operations. Oye who puts the rate of adaptation to solar at 37 per cent in the past three years (formerly 5-7 per cent) attributed it to other factors such as confidence building on the reliability of solar in the nation. Low cost of components, especially solar panel and battery. For instance, he stated that solar panel which used to be N1,

000 now cost only N300 per wax. He stated that the lightness of equipment which requires low transportation cost, community resource mobilisation and community management of the decentralised energy system also promote social integration. He maintained that: “By using solar energy as our future source of energy, we can avoid both the two crises as well as meet Nigeria’s immediate energy needs. The application of solar can be broadly classified into two categories; (a) thermal energy systems which convert solar energy into thermal energy and (b) photovoltaic energy systems that convert solar energy into electrical energy. Oye who has spent his entire life assisting consumers to maximize the use of solar stated that the shift to solar would not have been possible without the efforts of two Solar Energy Research Centres at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. As he puts it: “Efforts at both Centers and other Solar Energy Research Laboratories resident in other Nigerian universities and polytechnics have been geared at designing absorptive surfaces for the effective harnessing of solar radiation.

The solar expert who believed the bold steps would go a long way to eliminating BlackOut in Africa stated that the development would assist to clean the environment, stem global warming, strengthen the energy grid, and support national security and energy independence, while enabling consumers to become energy independent. He remarked that no upfront equipment investment. No waiting for discount or solar to become cheaper. Oye stated that CarbonCredit Network obtains all permits and handles engineering, procurement, and construction. He maintained that consumers only pay for what is delivered. However, the investors are said to be experiencing a lot of challenges. As Igali pointed out, “There are issues with solar power. And we also have presented this before Mr. President, the issue of access to land. Tell Governors, because for solar each mega watt take about one hectare of land. And to make an impact you need about 50 to 100 mega watts. Solar producers get to states and spend nine months to get C of O, because the only thing that is bankable to take to your bank and say hey!, I have a site to build is the C of O.” “You will also help us in this area sir for us to encourage our governors that when these investors come China, India and US, to let them have access to land. So we also need access to land. And it will be a partnership between we, the political class, particularly the governors in the states who are the people to give the land for solar which is a quick win for all of us” he said. From all indications, there is a need for the government and other stakeholders to eliminate these and other challenges in order to stimulate the sustainable development of the sector.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Lekoil to add 5,703bpd to Nigeria’s oil output

Energy Week

STORIES: UDEME AKPAN

he nation’s oil output will rise by about 5,703 barrels per day, bpd as Lekoil, the oil and gas exploration and Production Company with a focus on Nigeria and West Africa has made a major ‘discovery’. The company has indicated that it is set to start production from the Otakikpo Marginal Field in oil mining lease (OML) 11 which is located on the shore line in the south-eastern part of the Niger Delta. It maintained that following the successful re-entry of the Otakikpo-002 well, first oil flowed to surface late on 5 September 2015 with production testing being conducted over the weekend. The company indicated that the Otakikpo-002 well produced from only the first of four planned production strings, and flowed oil at various choke sizes for over 24 hours at a peak rate of 5,703bopd at a 36/64 inch choke, significantly ahead of expectations. It disclosed that the Addendum to the Competent Persons Report prepared by AGR TRACS International Ltd released by the Company on 21 January 2015 indicated that it expected to produce around 6,000bopd from the four strings at Otakikpo-002 and -003. The company maintained that based on these preliminary results, the Directors of Lekoil currently believe that this guidance is likely to be exceeded substantially, although further testing and analysis will be required before the Company is able to provide formal guidance. The organisation disclosed that it has taken just nine months for the Otakikpo Joint Venture to bring the Otakikpo field into production since it began operations on the field in December 2014, and less than 16 months in total since Lekoil entered into a farm-in agreement with Green Energy. “Otakikpo-002 will now be temporarily

Oil vessel

suspended to allow completion and testing of the upper C5 zone following which an official well-test programme will commence and the rig will move to start re-entry operations on Otakikpo-003. During the well test, oil will flow into onshore storage tanks.” “The second production well, Otakikpo-003, is expected to come on stream around year end. Further operational details will be made available at the time of the Company’s forthcoming Half Year Results which will be published by 30 September 2015.” Lekan Akinyanmi, Lekoil’s CEO, said, “We are delighted to announce that Lekoil is now an oil producer. We always believed in the potential of Otakikpo but the production rate from the first re-entered well has exceeded our expectations. This is a real achievement for the Otakikpo Joint Venture. I would like to thank the entire team that has worked so hard to deliver this result, our partners Green Energy, investors and our host communities for their continued support.” “However, there is a lot more to be done. We expect to finalize the evacuation infra-

structure during the official well test period and determine the optimal production rate that maximises value from the two wells.” “Production at Otakikpo represents the first major step in fulfilling our strategy to be the world’s leading E&P Company focused on Africa and maximising value for our stakeholders and host communities in a sustainable manner. Safety remains our key priority and we will continue applying the highest standard to our operations as we grow production to, and now beyond, our initial Phase 1 target.” Otakikpo is sited in a coastal swamp location in oil mining lease (OML) 11, adjacent to the shoreline in the south-eastern part of the Niger Delta. Lekoil Nigeria exercises the rights and benefits of its 40 per cent. Participating and Economic interest in Otakikpo via the Farm-in Agreement and Joint Operating Agreement signed on 17 May 2014 with Green Energy International Limited. The Company holds 90 per cent. of the economic interests in Lekoil Nigeria. Lekoil Limited’s economic interest in Otakikpo therefore equates to 36 per cent.

Renewables to account for 30% of Nigeria’s energy mix – Adaju

he Chief of Party, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project, Winrock International, Nigeria, Mr. Segun Adaju, has projected that renewable energy would contribute up to 30 per cent of the nation’s total energy mix in the near future Adaju said the goal of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project (REEEP) which is funded by USAID and implemented in Nigeria by Winrock International, was to facilitate the

development and financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency markets in Nigeria. According to him, the company is already finalizing a proposal for a leading private university in Nigeria to adopt a 2MW small hydro power plant as replacement for diesel generators. This is just as it is also engaging with all relevant partners to convert a rice husk in some major rice mills and

small scale rice millers in East Nigeria to energy to power their operations using gasifiers. He said: “We are also working on projects that will provide alternative drying solutions using clean energy to cocoa farmers in South West Nigeria. We have built the capacity of a major bank and another microfinance bank in Nigeria and lending to the sector has commenced. We are on the verge of

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

44.26

-1.79

-3.89%

12:59:58

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

47.59

-2.02

-4.07%

13:15:44

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

37,070.00

-960.00

-2.52%

13:11:32

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.65

0.00

-0.11%

12:59:53

Source: Bloomberg as at September 7, 2015

concluding a consumer finance product with the leading bank that will make available to all employed staff the option of powering their houses with clean energy while they pay over time from their salaries.” Adaju listed as the biggest challenges of the energy option as including, awareness of clean energy technologies, low quality of existing technologies and installations and dearth of finance in the sector, adding that the vision of his organization is to see the rapid uptake of clean energy options using various available and abundant resources in replacement of fossil fuel. I foresee a future where renewables will contribute at least 30% of the energy mix in Nigeria,” he added. Consequently, Adaju called on potential stakeholders to take advantage of the vast opportunities in the sector. He maintained that the opportunity that is waiting to be tapped is far and above that realized under the telecommunications boom in Nigeria.

Energy Week

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

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We plan to generate 25% of Nigeria’s power demand – Elumelu Heirs Holdings is a major player in the nation’s power sector. In this West African Power Industry Convention, WAPIC interview, its chairman, Mr. Tony Elumelu unveils the plan of the company to boost supply as well as problems and prospect in the sector. What power projects are Heirs Holdings involved in that you are most excited about? The Power Africa Initiative is an amazing opportunity to democratize access to power for Africans, and the $2.5 billion investment commitment we have made reflects exactly how excited I am about it. The present administration made a bold decision when it decided to affect the changes envisaged by the Power Sector Reform Act — legislation that had been on the books since 2005. And that bold step was reinforced during President Barack Obama’s last visit to Africa. We felt more strongly than ever, the need to help power Africa. Our experience so far at Ughelli power plant is testimony to the size of the opportunity; our amazing team has taken that plant from 150mw capacity when we took over in November 2013, to 450mw today; we expect it to increase 700MW by October and to achieve 1000MW by the second quarter of 2015. At that rate, we’ll be contributing 20 per cent of Nigeria’s total power generation. To push the possibilities further, we are working on a greenfield project that will expand the capacity of Ughelli by an additional 1000mw in the next three to five years and we’ve signed an MOU with GE and Symbion Power to facilitate this. I must add, however, that gas is an integral part of power generation and we are pleased that our oil assets in the Niger Delta will eventually produce gas to meet our gas needs at Ughelli. At current produc-

THE MAJOR CHALLENGES WE HAVE ARE UNRELIABLE TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE, LACK OF ACCESS TO UNINTERRUPTED GAS SUPPLY AND UNTIMELY SETTLEMENT OF INVOICED PAYMENTS As you can imagine, working to literally power Africa is truly exciting.

Elumelu

tion projections, by the end of 2015, 150 mmscf per day will be produced and that will meet about 40 percent of the gas demands for Ughelli.

What, in your view, are the main challenges in Africa’s power industry? If you could change three things today, what would they be? Locally, the major challenges we have are unreliable transmission infrastructure, lack of access to uninterrupted gas supply and untimely settlement of invoiced payments. In Nigeria, one of the biggest challenges to power generation is transmission and in fact, while Ughelli Power Plant generated at full capacity for the first time in July, we’ve been asked to scale down generation because of the outdated transmission systems; for every 100mw generated and sent to transmission companies, 40 per cent is lost, in part because of this infrastructure issue.

NNPC supplies 876mscf of gas per day for electricity generation UDEME AKPAN

preliminary report on recent activities at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Group Managing Director, GMD, of NNPC, The GMD, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has shown that the corporation now supplies up to 876 million

Power station

standard cubic feet (mscuf) of gas per day to the country’s power sector. The submission of the report which disclosed that efforts at repositioning the NNPC have started yielding result on the nation’s economy was confirmed in a statement by president’s media aide, Mr. Garba Shehu. According to its content, gas supply to the power plants that had hitherto been

handicapped by vandalism and regular cuts in flow, has increased from about 630mscuf to 861mscuf day, and thus resulted in a more steady power supply as recently disclosed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN. Already, Nigeria’s electricity generation has risen from over 3,800 megawatts, mw to 4,000mw as a result of increased gas supply. The Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP indicated that the nation generated 4,104.56mw as at September 3, 2015. Of the megawatts generated, 4,028.53mw was distributed while the balance was used to stabilise the system. But the increased generation would not be sufficient to meet domestic demand as it is still far below the country’s daily 14,630mw national estimated demand. However, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, on Monday said electricity had been stable in the country lately because there was no case of gas pipeline vandalism. He said, “The gas is now passing to

the gas pipelines and I think that the government has been engaging the communities and the places where the gas infrastructure passes through. “We hope it will be sustained because, like I said, there is a conscious engagement and this is being redoubled. “To redouble means that there was an effort and when there was an effort and you put additional effort and additional effort, then, it means that you have redoubled your work and that is what is going on and at different levels. “We saw tremendous vandalism especially before the handover. It has never been so bad. “But now for nearly three months, not a single day has had that kind of vandalism. It is our prayer that this will continue.’’ Igali explained that apart from President Muhammadu Buhari building on efforts of past government and tasking stakeholders with redoubling their efforts, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been holding almost daily meetings with power distribution companies on ways of improving power supply to consumers.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Energy Week

OPEC makes case for wind, other energy sources UDEME AKPAN

he Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC has made a strong case for the development of wind and other energy sources. The cartel maintained in its latest report that renewables – from wind, solar, small hydro and geothermal – certainly hold promise, but globally their share of the energy mix will still be just 4 per cent by 2040, given their low initial base. It indicated that the share of biomass, nuclear and large hydro is expected to remain at steady levels throughout the period 2015-to-2040, at around 9 per cent, 6 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively. The organisation maintained that this means that fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in meeting energy demand, although their overall share will fall from around 82 to 78 per cent during this period. It indicated that by the 2030s, the share of oil, coal and gas are anticipated to be at similar levels, at around 25 to 27 per cent. “Others will obviously have different views on how they see the future global energy mix. This is natural. But I think it is important to empha-

size four key words: practical, realistic, logical and equitable.” “Over the past two centuries or more, much of our economic growth has been fuelled by the exploitation of fossil fuels. This has certainly brought real benefits. It has helped improve living standards by providing such things as light, power and mobility. It has enabled the development of industries and the creation of jobs. And it has helped increase life expectancies. In short, the industrialized world has been built with fossil fuels.” “However, we should not forget that this has not been the story for everyone. When we start up our cars, switch on a light, turn on our mobile phones, we need to recognize that these everyday things are still unknown to billions of people across the world who continue to suffer from energy poverty,” it added. It disclosed that about 2.7 billion people or more still rely on biomass for their basic needs, and 1.3 billion have no access to electricity. The organisation whose members have been affected by the lull in the oil market maintained that these are people that need their

voices heard. “They need access to reliable, safe and secure modern energy services to live and prosper. We all want to improve our lives. Of course, the economics of wanting more, coupled with growing populations and rising energy demand, has created challenges that were not foreseen at the time when Thomas Edison was developing the light bulb, or when Henry Ford was mass producing the car.” ”I am talking here about the environment and climate change. This is a concern for us all. Current climate change negotiations to develop an

agreement in Paris at the end of the year and raise the level of ambitions for the pre-2020 period are extremely important. But we need to make sure the interests and concerns of all of us are taken into account.” “With this in mind, I will again repeat the four words: practical, realistic, logical and equitable. Yes, we need to continue to develop renewables. But they cannot be seen as a replacement for fossil fuels in the coming decades. Yes, we need to continue to use energy more efficiently. But we need to remember that some people still have no access to modern energy services,” it added.

NSIA spends $100m on Akwa Ibom - Calabar gas pipeline

CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA has invested $100m to enable Seven Energy complete of its gas pipeline from Akwa Ibom to Calabar in Cross River state. The managing director and Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Uche Orji, who disclosed this while giving the agency’s status updates at the weekend said the investment includes an Independent Power plant in Calabar, as well as improvements to assets in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. “In July 2013, the Federal Government of Nigeria issued a $1billion Eurobond through the Debt Management Office (DMO). NSIA was

Gas pipeline

appointed to act as investment manager for US$200million of this money, which is to be invested in gas-to-power and other infrastructure projects. “NSIA’s investment policy with regard to the DMO Fund mirrors that of the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund. “NSIA has invested $100 million in a private bond with Seven Energy to enable the completion of gas infrastructure. This includes an Independent Power plant in Calabar, as well as improvements to assets in AkwaIbom and Cross River States. The scope for the DMO gas-to power managed accounts was subsequently expanded, from gas-to power to include other infrastructure assets” he said.

BP licenses new generation technology

Power meter

The NSIA boss said that the Federal Government had allocated $350 million to Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET), and NSIA has been appointed to act as investment manager for these funds. According to him, NSIA’s investment policy for the NBET Fund is similar to that of the Stabilisation Fund, with the aim of balancing NBET’s short-term liquidity needs and safety of the funds. He explained that to date, all funds had been invested stressing that so far performance is above the benchmark. It would be recalled that a recent study conducted by the Centre for Social Justice has revealed that Nigeria would require a total amount of $2.3bn (N453.1bn) for the 2,300 kilometers of pipelines identified under the Nigeria Gas Master Plan. The report revealed that depending on the terrain, it would cost between the sum of $800,000 and $2m to develop a kilometer of gas pipelines. It stated that if an average amount of $1m is taken per kilometer, then the country would require $2.3bn to implement the NGMP. It said going by the rise as well as the risk of political violence, majority of the international oil companies are not willing to invest such an amount into the gas sector. It said, “The construction cost of developing natural gas pipelines and infrastructure vary between $800,000 per km and $2m per km (for large diameter projects over rugged

terrains). “If we take the average cost of $1m for each kilometre of gas pipeline and 2,300 kilometres of pipelines identified under the NGMP will require about $2.3bn. “Due to a number of reasons, mainly the risk of politically inspired violence, vandalism, the risk of expropriation and the long gestation period before the investment becomes profitable, international oil companies are unwilling to invest in gas projects while government and citizens are desirous of gas investments.” The report said since the multinational oil companies are not willing to invest in the sector, the Federal Government can take advantage of their unwillingness to channel resources for gas infrastructure. It said the funding could be done through various dedicated financing channels. Some of them are the channeling of part of the $18bn unremitted oil funds identified by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative when it is recovered; dedicating the proceeds of Federation Account dividends and tax from existing Bonny LNG Company to new gas investments. It also recommended the scrapping of fuel subsidy and channeling the about N1trn a year subsidy budget to the funding of the masterplan, as well as floating dedicated bonds and developmental loans including Diaspora Bonds to fund the gas masterplan.

ritish Petroleum, BP and OMAN International Petroleum Petrochemical Industries Company, (a joint venture between Oman Oil Company, LG International Corp and Takamul Investment Company) have entered into a licensing agreement for BP’s latest generation purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology. OMPET intends to build a 1.1 million tonnes per annum (tpa) unit at Sohar, Oman, to produce PTA, the primary feedstock for polyesters used in the textile and packaging industry. “This is the first licence for BP’s PTA technology in the Middle East which is an important and strategic region for BP. This is a testimony to the advantages of BP’s technology and to BP’s extensive experience as a PTA producer,” said Nick Elmslie, Chief Operating Officer, BP Petrochemicals. “BP will provide a wide range of technical and knowledge transfer services as well as a commitment to assist Omani staff within the OMPET joint venture. The front end engineering design (FEED) package for the licence has been completed and delivered to OMPET on schedule. I am very proud that OMPET has chosen BP’s PTA technology and we look forward to a long standing relationship between our companies,” said Daniel Leonardi, Vice President, Technology and Licensing, BP Petrochemicals. “Our PTA technology has significantly lower capital and operating costs when compared with conventional PTA plants and the technology is more energy efficient, uses less water, and produces less solid waste. We continue to invest heavily in our proprietary technology and this will maintain BP’s PTA technology as the global leader and as the technology of choice for the future. Innovations in the technology will continue to be developed and implemented and these will be available to our licensees, including OMPET,” said Leonardi. BP’s Global Petrochemicals Business has total (net to BP) capacity at 18 locations in ten countries of 18.3 million tpa including 6.7 million tpa of PTA. BP is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, serving millions of customers every day in around 80 countries, and employing around 85,000 people. BP’s business segments are oil and gas exploration & production, and refining & marketing. Through these activities, BP provides fuel for transportation; energy for heat and light; services for motorists; and petrochemicals products for plastics, textiles and food packaging. It has strong positions in many of the world’s hydrocarbon basins and strong market positions in key economies.

Energy Week

Performance management, major challenge in power sector – Amadi

he Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi has identified project performance management as a major challenge in the power sector.. Amadi made the remark at the opening of a two day workshop initiated by the Commission with Industry Performance Management officers of Generation and Transmission Companies. He said that the need to take the sector to an amiable height that could stand international reckoning makes it imperative to build a team of performance management officers, who would both monitor and report to the Commission particularly activities of generation and transmission companies. According to him, the current problem of the generated electricity predates privatisation. ‘’We cannot wheel out adequate power today because there has not been project management which goes back to PHCN before privatisation’’. To the performance officers he said, ‘’All of you have signed up to capacity improvement. We should all leave this place with a new understanding on how to deliver efficient capacity’’. Amadi affirmed NERC’s continuous support with a pledge for extensive monitoring, geared towards achieving stable sector; taking into cognisance the need to make the grid strong enough to transport the power being generated. Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the level of implementation of the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) by majority of the distribution companies, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will commence enforcement action for non-compliance. The Commission has given the distribution companies a seven day ultimatum to show cause why action should not be taken and sanction meted on them for non-compliance, stemming from violation of the provisions of the licence terms and conditions. This is contained in a letter to the defaulting utilities, namely Port Harcourt, Abuja, Yola and Enugu distribution companies. Others are Ibadan, Ikeja, Eko and Benin Disco. The warning read ‘’ The Commission considers your actions as manifest and flagrant breaches and therefore requires you to show cause in writing within seven days from the date hereon, why enforcement should not be commenced against you and sanctions meted accordingly for non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the license granted you and the order on Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation’’.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari tasks operators on uninterrupted electricity supply STORIES: CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

resident Muhammadu Buhari has charged Power sector operators to redouble their efforts in order to achieve uninterrupted power supply nationwide. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali, who attributed the improved supply recently experienced in the country to the presidential directives, stressing that the impetus is yielding desired fruits, conveyed the President’s directive in a statement issued bythe Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Timothy Oyedeji. The statement indicated that the disclosure while signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with two indigenous investors in the power sector – Messrs. New Horizons Energy Resources and Quaint Global Energy Solutions, interested in renewable projects, especially Solar, Biomass and Thermal Plant respectively. Igali was quoted as saying that the recent increase in power supply is not as a result of rain, as speculated in some quarters, as marginal improvement from our hydro cannot be responsible for this fact, but it is as a result of increase in gas

supply to the thermal plants, adding that our Anti-Vandalism Campaign is also yielding positive results. To sustain this trend, he said the present administration is determined to look in the direction of renewables; hence more emphasis will be placed on solar energy source. He reasoned that with clusters of solar plants built across the country, technical losses occasioned by hauling of energy over long distances will be reduced, as just this renewable source can be deplored effectively. Captive Power in embedded manner will also be available to Discos at the distribution levels. He commended these companies for working with the Ministry and the Government in the development of mini power generation and micro grid, insisting that all these efforts will translate into power stability and reliability. Ambassador Igali announced that the Transmission Company of Nigeria is working on those critical corridors that would enhance the nation’s transmission capacity, enough to evacuate all energy to be produced now that more gas will be available to the ther-

Power Transformer

mal plants. The representative of Quaint Global Energy Solutions, Seun Solesi, informed the Permanent Secretary that his company is to enjoy a grant of 1.3 million USD from the Obama Power Africa Initiative’s United States Trade Development Agency to carry out feasibility studies for its 50MW Solar Powered Plant in Machiok, Kaura L.G.A, Kaduna State. He said with these foreign partners the project is to start in earnest on the land of 150 hectares approved by Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The representative of New Horizons said when their project come upstream, Nigerians will be recruited and trained

in the U.S, while local materials for building the plant would be sourced within. He said the plan of his company is to build 100MW Solar Power plant in Nasarawa State, 300 – 400MW of Biomass in Cross River and 300MW of Thermal in Rivers. The Legal Adviser of the Ministry, Mrs. Adetutu Shoetan said that since the deregulation exercise began a number of serious companies and investors have shown interest, she said these projects that are captured in the MoUs are to be fully funded by the investors, they are also expected to train Nigerians thereby creating jobs for the nation’s teaming youths.

Gombe supports NAPSAS with 250 trainees

he governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe State has sponsored 250 two trainees to a two -week training under the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Programme, NAPSAS which is designed to fill middle level manpower training gaps in the power sector. The Permanent Secretary, Amb. Godknows Igali, represented by Mr. Ebenezer Olowosejeje, Deputy Director in the Ministry, said the NAPSAS

Dankwanbo

programme was being conceived to tackle youth unemployment in the nation. Specifically, he said the programme is focused on practical knowledge transfer that will, on completion, produce a transformed group of innovative persons. The Permanent Secretary assured that government will not deviate from its original plan to use NAPSS trainees as crop of middle/low level manpower required in the unbundled power sector. Igali challenged the trainees to reap bountifully from the programme, while thanking the Government of Gombe for sponsoring the trainees, adding that its support and interest in NAPSAS informed the organization of this 2nd phase programme. The Co-coordinator of training module, Engr. Ifeanyi Eze informed the trainees that the peculiarity of their needs in the North – East, guided the Solar Technology centered training.

He tasked them to embrace solar technology as a means of providing electricity in abundance in the region, by this they can become change – agents for socio – economic revival of the beleaguered North – East region. The Federal Government had launched the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Scheme (NAPSAS) which is aimed at tackling the skill gap in the electricity industry in November 2014. Former President Goodluck Jonathan had flagged off the programme that would see the training of about 7,400 youths drawn from across the country at the presidential villa. Represented by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, the former President had explained that while the federal government would pay for the training of 3,700 youths, which will include 100 youths per state and the FCT, the 36 states governments and the federal capi-

tal territory are also expected to sponsor a 100 youths each. While noting that the scheme marked a major point in government’s effort to bridge the skill gap in the sector, he said, “The NAPSAS is an important aspect of our drive to provide meaningful employment opportunities for the Nigerian youth. Indeed, it will provide the enabling environment for the development of skills required to underpin the reforms and growth of the power sector. “Today’s ceremony, therefore, marks a major step forward in the realisation of our vision for improved employment of the Nigerian youth. In this venture, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) is collaborating with the National Open University of Nigeria to train a total number of 7,400 graduates who will become legible for employment by the generation companies, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and any of the distribution companies.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Industry & SMEs

BOI restates commitment to industrial devt through SMEs ABOLAJI ADEBAYO

he Bank of Industry, BoI, has restated its commitment to the development of industrial sector in the current dispensation by increasing its financial commitment and support to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs. This reassurance was made by the Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, at the 7th Business Luncheon of Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). This is even as the development banking institution hinted that it had signed a service agreement to engage 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to drive the SME sector in the country in a bid to address challenges hindering the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs. The agreement is in fulfilment of BOI’s core mandate of providing longterm financial and business support services to large, medium and small projects, the Bank has decided to engage the services of Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs in order to improve the quality of Loan Applications; Documentations & Pre-disbursement Conditions; Business Plans/Feasibility Study; Success Rates as well as Reduced Time Around Time (TAT). The Bank’s target areas, according to the Bank MD, were aligned with the Federal Government’s Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP, which focused on the development of the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. Olaoluwa, who was represented at ICCI’s forum by the Lagos Regional Manager, Mr. Obaro Osah, said that given the nature of country’s business, it was appropriate to reference the Bank’s Mission Statement and Core values encoded “To transform Nigeria’s industrial sector by providing financial and business support services to enterprises.” He listed the critical sectors of the economy as captured by the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP, that the bank would focus on to include, Agribusiness and Agro-Allied, Solid Miner-

Garri processing machine

Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, inspecting exhibition stands at the Nigeria 2015 Pharma Manufacturing Expo in Lagos yesterday.

als and Metal, Oil and Gas related Industries, Construction, light manufacturing and services. While enlightening the entrepreneurs on the various BOI’s products, the finance expert explained that the Bank offered long term facilities for the acquisition of fixed assets (Plant and Machinery) to the various sectors. He further explained that those assets, which could be achieved through Micro– Credit Lending, Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP), SME Lending, Large Enterprise (Corporate) Lending, and Product Programmes, were one aspect of the bank’s support to entrepreneurs. The BoI boss listed the bank’s products -available funds to include Cottage Agro Processing (CAP) Fund, which was introduced early this year; Dangote – BoI Fund; Business Fund for Women; AFDB Line of Credit; CTG Fund (for the revival of textile industry); Power and Aviation Fund; CBN Intervention Fund; Cement Fund; BoI / State MSME Matching Fund; Rice Intervention Fund; Sugar Development Council Fund; NAC Fund; as well as Cassava Bread Fund. Olaoluwa, who noted the role of SMEs in the economy world over as the key to

real sector growth, said small and medium enterprises were a very important part of the Nigerian economy as a study by the IFC show that approximately 96% of Nigerian businesses are SMEs (Oyelarin-Oyeyinka 2010). He said: “The SMEs represent about 90 per cent of manufacturing/industrial sector in terms of number of enterprises in Nigeria. However, in spite of the fact that the SMEs constitute more than 90 per cent of Nigerian businesses, their contribution to the rebased GDP of $510BN is at 45 per cent.” He declared that the bank had created training ground for the development and

growth of indigenous entrepreneurs, adding that strengthening Industrial Linkages by producing intermediate products for use in large-scale enterprises, the SMEs contributed to enhancing industrial inter-linkages. According to him, BoI has also provided transitional channel from traditional to modern industrial sector; dispersal of economic activity from solely urban areas to rural areas, thereby mitigating rural-urban drift; veritable means of mobilisation and utilisation of domestic savings; enterprise/job creation, employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction as well as enhancement of food security. Meanwhile, the Bank boss said that entrepreneur who seeks the bank loan has to follow three steps, which include writing of a formal application letter; completion of BOI’s Questionnaire and submission of duly completed Forms and Questionnaire to BOI alongside the Business Plans. He explained that beyond providing financing support, the Bank of Industry also provided business and financial advisory services to both current and prospective customers. He also disclosed that the BOI-USAID AGOA Resource Centre was one of the arms through which the Bank provided business and financial advisory services, while also maintaining a strong partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, under the National Enterprise Development Programme, NEDEP.

GM’s sales drop in August highlights divide in China

eneral Motors Co reported on Monday its biggest drop in China sales in five months for August as global automakers struggle with a deepening economic slowdown and slumping equities in the world’s largest auto market. Vehicle sales for GM and its joint venture partners fell 4.8 percent yearon-year in August, while Ford Motor Co and Nissan Motor Co Ltd also reported contracting sales for the month, highlighting the divide between winners and losers in the Chinese market. The figures contrast sharply with last week’s major sales gains for Toyota Motor Corp, Honda Motor Co Ltd and Mercedes maker Daimler AG DIAGn.DE in China, demonstrating the importance of having fresh, in-

demand products to entice buyers. China’s economy is forecast to grow at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century this year. Mainland stock markets have tumbled roughly 40 percent since mid-June after a sharp run-up that began late last year. Mercedes offers a fresher lineup than key luxury competitors in China, having revamped many of its models more recently than Audi AG and BMW AG and helping to lift its deliveries last month by 53.1 per cent. And in the past year, Honda and Toyota have released hot-selling sports utility vehicles (SUVs), a segment that IHS Automotive predicts will grow by more than 20 percent this year in defiance of the auto market’s slowdown. Automakers like GM

are now trying to play catch-up.The U.S. automaker launched a new SUV in July under its Baojun budget brand, but the marquee’s nearly threefold sales growth year-todate hasn’t been enough to lift the company’s relatively flat 2015 sales. The sales numbers of GM, Ford and Nissan bode poorly for overall market sales in August. Industry sales for the January to July period were up only 0.4 percent on a year-onyear basis, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). CAAM is set to release August data on Thursday. In July, CAAM slashed its sales growth forecast for 2015 by more than half to three per cent, saying the stock market crash depressed consumer sentiment. (Source – Reuters)

Cocktail

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Pennsylvanian town serves ‘Hamburger galore’

t was at the Taste of Hamburg-er Festival in the eastern Pennsylvania town of Hamburg on Saturday as meat eaters had their fill in the small town while feasting. “Where’s the beef,” merry-makers asked as music also blared from speakers as security personnel kept guard, although the event went without any incident. The town named after the German city held its 12 annual festival featuring food,

music, eating competitions and children’s activities. Some in attendance donned attire paying tribute to their favorite meat. There were more than 30 stands serving a variety of burgers. Last year, the festival drew more than 35, 000 people. But the attendance for Saturday’s festival was not immediately available. Hamburg is a town of about 4, 000 people in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Man mocks court judgement

Maine man, Richard Plate, who has hired a plane to fly banners protesting the NFL’s four-game suspension of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady again took to the air to gloat over a judge’s reversal of that suspension. Pate’s latest message, flown over Scarborough area beaches on Saturday, taunted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with the message: “Roger G. Feelin a Little Deflated?” Pate, of Biddeford,

Maine, began his airborne banner campaign in August. He paid a pilot to fly over Goodell’s vacation home in the exclusive Prouts Neck neighborhood of Scarborough towing a banner urging Goodell to “Jet home to N.Y.” He commissioned another banner in early August wishing Brady a happy birthday “from Maine and Roger G.” It was not clear if Goodell was at his Prouts Neck home when the banners flew over.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

Shearer clips sheep to safety

n Australian champion sheep shearer has set an unofficial world record after clipping a sheep that had become so overgrown to endanger its life. The gigantic sheep, named “Chris” by a member of the public who found it just outside Australia’s capital, Canberra, could barely walk when it was found. Shearer Ian Elkins volunteered to shear the mammoth creature, which had to be sedated throughout the operation, after being contacted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Australia. He took 42 minutes to remove the 47 centimeter (18 inch) fleece, which the RSPCA said weighed 40.45 kilograms (89 pounds). It easily beat the 27 kilogram (60 pound) fleece previously shorn from a New Zealand sheep,

known as “Shrek.” It also trounced the official world record for the largest single fleece ever shorn, presently held by a New Zealand sheep called “Big Ben.” Shearers stripped Ben of his 28.9 kilogram (68 pound) fleece in January 2014, according to the RSPCA.

The sheep before (left) and after

“I’ve been shearing for 35 years, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” Elkins said. “Many times we’ll shear a sheep and get five kilos but it was seven years since this sheep was actually shorn. It was quite a challenge,” he added, stressing, “The fleece has no commercial value, but

hopefully it will end up in a museum somewhere. It will be a long time until this record is broken.” An average Australian fleece in comparison weighs just five kilograms (11 pounds) and takes approximately three minutes to shear, according to Australian Wool Innovation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Service 41

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

New Immigration boss removes Obua, appoints new spokesman Omeiza Ajayi

omptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Martins Abeshi, has kicked

out erstwhile spokesman of the service, Chukwuemeka Obua, replacing him with Ekpedeme King, a Deputy Controller. A statement signed by one A.O. Okpu of

the Public Relations unit of the NIS said the development was contained in a Staff Posting Order vide NIS/ABJ/1027/VV/ T111/562 dated 2nd September, 2015.

He said Obua has been moved to Lagos Command. Until his deployment, DCI King was the second-in-command at the Murtala Mohammed International Air-

port (MMIA), Ikeja. During his tenure as the Service Public Relations Officer, ACI Chukwuemeka Patrick Obua had a lot of altercations with the former Minister of In-

terior, Comrade Abba Moro, as well as with the media. He was, however, able to upgrade the Service’s Newsletter to a full-fledged magazine within the period.

New CP assumes duty in Kano, warns against corruption

Director-General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Lady Onyenka Onwenu (left), presenting certificate to Miss Mary Pius, one of the Graduates of the centre’s short course in Cake Baking, Decoration and Sugar Craft Students, at the Graduation in Abuja, yesterday.

he newly-appointed Police Commissioner to Kano State, Mr. Muhammad Katsina, has assumed duty with a call on officers and men of the command to shun corrupt practices. This is contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, in Kano on Tuesday. According to the statement, the new CP had also urged the personnel of the command to fear God in all their undertakings. It also quoted Katsina as having promised to enhance the welfare of personnel to boost their morale and pro-

ductivity. ‘’The commissioner also pledged to establish pioneer welfare office in the PRO’s office of the command to look into the welfare of officers affected by sickness, accident or disaster,’’ the statement said. It added that the police boss called on the people of the state to extend to him the maximum support and cooperation they gave to his predecessors. ‘’This is necessary in order to bring down the rate of crime to the barest minimum. ‘’This will also ensure effective provision of adequate security in the state.”

ment to sustain its services. Meanwhile, Ganduje, yesterday conducted the graduation of 250 youths trained at the state Institute for Informatics on ICT as part of activities marking his 100 days in office. He disclosed that the state government expended over N3 million in facilitating the training of the youths coupled with empowering them with ICT gadgets to make them self-reliant. Ganduje urged the graduates to conduct step down training programme by educating their fellow youths on how to put social media to work without contravening culture and values. The governor decried the use of ICT in

disseminating vulgar language, creation of unwarranted political tension and various anti societal functions. He cited the importance of information and communication technology, stressing that the advent of ICT has crystallised the world into functioning a global village. “No serious government will not equip its youths with ICT skills, it plays an important role in the development of our society, the training is for the graduates to direct the proper use of ICT skills,” Ganduje said. In a related development, as a part of the activities in celebration of governor Ganduje’s 100 days in office, Post Office Road and Lagos Street were equally commissioned.

Kano to facilitate N2 billion loan for traders Abdulgafar Oladimeji KANO

ano State government has concluded arrangements to facilitate a N2 billion loan for operators of Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the state, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has disclosed. He explained that the loan, obtainable from the Central Bank of Nigeria, is interestfree and non-discriminatory provided prospective beneficiaries meet the required guidelines to access it. He added that the move is part of efforts by the state government to enhance the commercial status of the state. The governor, who

made this known during a meeting with members of Kano State Traders Union KASTU, at the Government House in Kano, added that the state government was also drawing up plans to renovate markets in the state, urging the leaders of market associations’ to help the government by ensuring that all markets are kept tidy always. Governor Ganduje also tasked traders and other SME operators on due payment of revenue pointed out that the government would work with them towards flushing out dealers of illicit drugs from the markets. In his speech, the chairman, Kano State Traders Union KASTU, Alhaji Liti Kulkul, advised the state govern-

ment to evolve ways of revitalising commercial activities in the state, assuring that they would cooperate with the Ganduje administration to move the state forward. Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje has urged Sunnah TV, a satellite electronic medium, to focus more on social issues affecting the Muslim communities in Nigeria, like begging, rampant cases of divorce and distribution of Zakkat, to ensure a more wholesome society. He also tasked the medium to establish a research and documentation department to enable it strengthen its public enlightenment and education resolve, pointing out that the station should bring into limelight the con-

tributions of Islamic scientists in the field of science and technological development. The governor, who gave the advice while receiving the management of the medium at the Government House, Kano, said his administration attached great importance to religious issues and would continue to patronize Sunna TV, towards enlightening the people on spiritual issues like Hajj and societal reorientation. Earlier, the Director General of Sunnah TV, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Disina, told the governor that the station is faithbased and it broadcast cover smainly Africa and parts of Europe. He, however, requested patronage from the state govern-

Civil Service

Commission urges Buhari to set debt limit for all tiers of govt

he Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set debt limit for federal, state, and local governments. The acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Victor Muruako, made the call at a two-day workshop on the Fiscal Responsibility Act organised for revenue generating government agencies on Tuesday in Abuja. According to Muruako, when set, such limits would help check the federal, state and local governments from borrowing beyond their limits. ``The Act is very clear; Section 42 says the President of the Federal Republic should set the debt limit 90 days after the commencement of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. ``There is need for Mr. President to exercise that function under the act and it should be at the prompting of the Minister of Finance. ``We have written several reminders; until you get the consolidated debt limit set there will be difficulty in checkmating what the federal, state and local governments are doing.`` The acting chairman also said that the commission’s aim was to help reform the management of Nigeria’s finances through regular monitoring of government’s financial activities. He added that it was the commission’s belief that uncompromising investigation backed by a firm commitment to enforcement of the results of the investigation would go a long way to address the mismanagement of the country’s finances. He said that creating an enduring framework for effective and transparent financial management in the country would help curtail financial mismanagement in line with government’s agenda for transparency and accountability. Muruako expressed dismay that the Act establishing the commission did not empower FRC to arrest, detain or prosecute violators. ``This commission has been a victim of this due mainly to the fact that by the letters of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, we

are only to investigate and forward reports to other authorities without the necessary powers to prosecute. ``We are still battling to have these aspects of the law amended to enable the commission have the necessary bite against the violators of the Act,`` he said. Speaking in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the workshop, the Director, Centre for Social Justice, Mr Eze Onyekpere, said that beyond arresting violators of the Act, punitive measures and sanctions should be put in place to stop reckless spending among public officers. `Ìt’s part of the reform that is being advocated that there should be penal sanctions in the law so that people can begin to feel the weight of the law when they violate the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. `Às at today what you have is more or less moral suasion, `don’t, don’t’, but if you do what happens. ``For instance, in Brazil, they have both institutionalised sanctions and personalised sanctions. `Ìn personalised sanctions, as a politician you can be barred from holding public office or running elections for five years. `Às a civil servant you can be fined 30 per cent of your annual basic salary and you also run the risk of going to jail for between three months and five years. `Ànd then you begin to talk of institutionalised sanctions like a state government which is equivalent of a state government in Brazil fails to abide by the debt limit for instance. ``They will no longer be in a position to receive the transfers from the federal government and they may also be barred from borrowing money from the deposit money banks.`` The workshop is aimed at ensuring that Ministries, Departments and Agencies understand the rudiments of the Act. It is to also help them know how they can use the provisions of the Act to perform their functions to grow the Nigerian economy and increase transparency and accountability.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NEMA urges communities along rivers, flood-prone areas to relocate

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday again urged states and local governments to immediately relocate communities along floodprone areas, to prevent loss of lives and property. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Sani Datti, NEMA’s Senior Information Officer in Abuja. ``States and local governments should immediately relocate resi-

dents of communities along rivers, waterways and flood-prone areas to safer grounds, to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property,” it said. It said that the warning became necessary as a result of heavy rains and the devastating effect of floods that had been witnessed in communities along waterways. ``This warning became imperative as a result of heavy rains and the devastating effect of floods that have been witnessed in

most of the communities along rivers, waterways and flood-prone areas in the recent time,” it said. The statement said that since the agency issued flood early warning alert, it had embarked on mitigation and preventive measures against the hazard. It stated that such measures included organisation of workshops on flood awareness and sensitisation campaign through its six zonal and six operational offices in the country.

The statement urged the local government authorities to always march early warning with early action. It added that the local governments should always introduce flood control programmes such as clearing of drainages and canals, to ensure free flow of water. It emphasised the need for states and local governments to provide adequate and proper refuse dump sites from where they would be evacuated regularly.

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Mr Jubrin Paiko; Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Hajiya Hindatu Abdullahi and Director, Multi-Sectorial Regional Office, Unesco, Dr Benoit Sosson, at the Launch of 2015 International Literacy Day in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

2,000 former PHCN workers for verification

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, on Tuesday, said only 2,000 former workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) had not been paid their entitlements. He said that the ministry had concluded arrangement for verification of the workers’ details to enable payment to be made to them. Igali stated this while briefing Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Power, in Abuja, and stressing that the upcoming verification would bring the exercise and payment of the disengaged staff to an end. He explained that the last round of biometric

capturing of the workers was to ensure proper verification of the alleged 2,000 workers yet to be paid. He said that the ministry was determined to ensure that all affected workers were fully paid, adding, however, that there was no clear evidence that the workers allegedly unpaid were staff of the defunct company. According to him, the previous biometric capturing had shown that the affected persons had no document to prove that they were PHCN workers. ``About 2,000 workers that have not been paid have no proved that they were PHCN staff and we do know that some of them could be personal

staff to workers of the company. `` Some were casual workers and these might be the ones that were not likely paid. In view of this, the technical committees have been directed to go round again and bring the case to a close,’’ he said. The permanent secretary said that from the verification so far carried out across the country, about N343 billion had been paid to 46,771 beneficiaries out of the 47, 000 disengaged workers as claimed by labour leadership. He said that the disbursed figure to verified workers accounted for 94 per cent of total payment expected to be made. ``There were claims of about 47,000 workers but

out of that, the technical committees that were set up then were able to do a biometric capturing of about 46, 771 beneficiaries. ``They have been paid their money, which goes over N343 billion,’’ he said. It would be recalled that following the privatisation of PHCN, the federal government set up technical committees to verify the disengaged workers for adequate compensation. This, however, generated controversies over the years as the Electricity Workers’ Union kept engaging the government over allegation of unpaid allowances to some of the disengaged workers.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday September 9, 2015

Probe of previous governments should not be limited to Jonathan –Olawale As a first timer, how has it been in the House in the last 100 days? The House took off on a good note, we were opportuned to have elected leaders of the House without any rancor. Since then it has been good and seamless deliberation on issues on the floor of the House, there is this cordial relationship among members of the House. One noticeable thing we discovered is that members of both Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All progressives Congress, APC, have been working assiduously together as one indivisible entity, as we all have it in mind to move Lagos State forward through people oriented legislation, which we have been doing.

What programmes have you been able to initiate to benefit your constituency based on your campaign promises? The first thing we faced squarely after our inauguration is the issue of job creation. We have been able to establish a relationship with a recruiting firm, recruiting for a refinery that is to be sited in Ogun State. We signed a memorandum of understanding with the firm where we agreed to pay for the technical and administrative fee for no fewer than 200 applicants from my constituency. We are doing this as a way of empowering our people to be self-sustenance, because anybody that is able to secure an employment will go a long way in providing for the basic needs of his family and the immediate environment. We also procured about 212 GCE forms for students and organised a free tutorial for them to prepare them for the exams, and at the same time organised a career talk for the beneficiaries, where they were counseled on career choices by professionals from different walks of life ranging from doctors, lawyers, engineers, entrepreneurs and so on, on what it takes for them to achieve their numerous dreams. The essence of doing this is to ensure that after getting these forms for them, we are also interested in how they will perform creditably well and at the same time on their progression to the next stage of their lives. Apart from the free computer training and the GCE forms procured for students, I am also working in tandem with the Lagos State Skills Acquisition Centre in Mushin, by obtaining forms for street urchins and people not academically sound to learn a trade or craft ranging from aluminum fabrication, hair dressing, tilling, shoe making, furniture and so on, that will be of immense benefits to them and the constituency as a whole. Beside this we also organised a grassroots football tournament tagged ‘Omititi Unity Cup’ designed as a platform of uniting our youths and engage them in activities that will take their mind off vices. We are also organising a unity walk at every last Saturday of the month, starting from Mushin Local Government secretariat to the palace of Onititre of Itire, which every leader of Mushin will partake in, and we believe that through this unity walk the youths and their various leaders will be provided an avenue on movement of okada riders and issues that are germane with safe transportation is embedded in the law. But it is discovered that the issue of enforcement of these laws due to shortage of personnel to carry out these duties on one hand and the attitude of drivers and road users on the other hand. At times you will discover that majority of those driving trailers are under aged drivers and grossly inexperienced. So couple with the fact that these trailers see other road users, especially small vehicles as impediment to their movement, they sometimes care less for the safety of such cars due to the attitude they exhibit on the road on a daily basis. Because I can never imagine why a sane driver will not latch the container it is transporting properly before proceeding on the journey, thereby putting the life of other road user at great risk. If the strict enforcement of these laws is carried out holistically without minding whose ox is gored, by con-

Hon Abdul Sobur Olayiwola Olawale represents Mushin state constituency II in Lagos State House of Assembly. He bares his mind to DARE AKOGUN on his plans for his constituency, assets declaration of the President, corruption and other topical issues. Excerpts: performance and integrity as one of its cardinal objectives, so there is a painstaking process going on in sourcing and screening people to head the various ministries in the state. What is your take on the assets declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibajo? The assets declaration of the president and the vice president is one of the fulfillments of their campaign promises to Nigerians. This singular act showed that our party, as well as the symbols, shows that we have credible individuals and leaders in place that keep to their words. This is surely a sign of good things to come and I am sure that other promises made by the President during electioneering campaigns will be fulfilled gradually. As I have mentioned earlier, the issue of service delivery is paramount to the party and that is our guiding principle, and I am sure the electorates will never hesitate to re-elect candidates flying the flags of the party in subsequent elections starting with gubernatorial election in Kogi State.

Olawale

probe of previous governments should not be limited to the

Jonathan administration alone. The essence of probing past government is to correct all the perceived anomalies that might have been committed by these past governments fiscating the erring trailers and jailing the drivers found flouting these laws by criminalising these offences, this kind of occurrences will be greatly reduced on our road and become a thing of the past. Do you think delay of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in forming his cabinet is dictatorial and he running the state like a sole administrator according to the PDP? That is a wrong statement, because the governor is not a sole administrator and can never be; because he was duly elected by the people of Lagos State. I believe for whatever reason the governance of the state is smooth sailing. You will recall that few weeks ago the governor procured and commissioned ambulances for hospitals in the state to aid service to the people of the state without a Commissioner for Health in place. Some portions of the road that are inimical to free flow of traffic have been repaired or still undergoing repairs without a commissioner in place. The governor has commenced the recruitment of about 1,300 primary schools teachers to boost the education sector of the state, and other activities of governance to name but a few. It can be safely said that with all this activities, he has hit the ground running without the commissioners in place, so what are we saying? It is just a matter of time before the commissioners are in place, because the governor and the party believes in

There have been hue and cry on the few appointments made so far by the President, do you think the President is favouring certain sections of the country as some people have claimed? These appointments are popularly referred to as kitchen cabinet, and so far so good, all these appointments are Nigerians even if they come from certain section of the country. You will be surprised that even in the United States, President Barack Obama appointed his advisers from his close allies that have been with him since his time at Harvard. These people are called advisers and close confidants because they are well known to you, I don’t think a president will want to have strangers as advisers, rather it will surely be people that he is familiar with their antecedents and track records of service delivery. The issue of these groups drumming the ethnicity drum in this present day Nigeria should not be tolerated, because this so called ethnic leaders and jingoists have one time or the other served this country and they can’t point to one meaningful programme they initiated to better the lot of the people. So we should rather look for the credibility and track records of these Nigerians called to serve their fatherland. Do you think the President should limit his probe of past governments to the Goodluck Jonathan administration alone? Personally I believe the present probe of previous governments should not be limited to the Jonathan administration alone. The essence of probing past government is to correct all the perceived anomalies that might have been committed by these past governments. What programme do you think the government should initiate to make corruption unattractive to political office holders, civil servants and Nigerians as a whole? We need to re-orientate the political leaders, civil servants and ordinary Nigerians on governance and service to the people. Corruption watchdogs, the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, need to be strengthened by employing seasoned investigators to carry out the cardinal objectives of their being in existence. Not only that, there should seminars and workshop organised by the National Orientation Agency that will make people have a rethink on engaging in corrupt practices, because it takes two to tangle, if bribes are not offered or solicited for it will not be given or collected.

Politics

Wednesday September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ayade’s strides 100 days after in C’River

n assumption of office on May 29 as governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade had promised the people of the state that salaries of workers in the state was going to be promptly paid. Those who heard him, particularly the civil servants, hailed him. And that promised had not been faulted. Since then, workers had continued to receive their salaries just as promised. Perhaps to toe the line of President Muhammadu Buhari‘s drive to stamp out corruption and bring transparency to governance, Ayade fashioned out a strategic approach where government funds are being manage and deposited through a single treasury account against the previous system where state government funds are deposited into different accounts, making it possible for some monies to be diverted into certain private pockets. An Ayade’s aide, who preferred anonymity, said the governor’s initiative would reduce the cost of governance so that government monies that were hitherto diverted into the private pockets can now be properly utilised to better the lives of the citizens in the state. One of Ayade’s campaign promises was that civil servants in Cross River State whose salaries were being owed by previous administration would immediately be addressed so as to put an end to the suffering of the civil servants. He said that delay in payment of workers’ salaries was not a good habit, which any reasonable government should strive to abhor. He also promised to create 1,000 jobs within his first 100 days in office. To actaulise this daunting task, he set up a committee to scrutinise 1,000 applicants from the Southern senatorial district of the state to fill vacancies which exist in the Green Police, a task force that would help his administration clean the environment and protect the state rich rain forest reserve from being depleted from activities of timber loggers. Because of the high rate of unemployment troubling youths in the state, 9,000 applicants turned up to compete for just 1,000 job placements. Ayade was shocked when he realised that job opportunities meant for school certificate holders, Nigerian Certificate in Education, NCE and Ordinary National Diploma, OND, holders, were being scrambled for by first degree and Master’s degree holders. Not pleased with the development, the governor urged the committee to increase the number of intakes from 1,000 to 1,500. His promise to establish a garment factory to also stem the unemployment scourge is also being fulfilled with work ongoing in the proposed garment factory along airport bypass. Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to Governor Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita, said: “As we speak, about 525 equipment had arrived Apapa Port and is undergoing clearance and any moment from now they would be moved by road to Calabar.” The Governor had in one of the public fora said that 80 per cent of the work force for the garment factory would be women, with widows getting preferential treatment and those who are already have skill in sewing to be automatically employed. Ayade had on his inauguration promised to lift the state to a higher pedestal. He said that the only way to keep faith to that promise was for him to identify two signature projects; the deep seaport and the super highway. A government source said that feasibility studies, earth work and clearing of the bush for commencement of superhighway had been done, so that work can commence. Ita stated that President Buhari had given a commitment to officially flag off the construction of that road on September 21. The initial date was September 4, but other engagements came up, adding that on the new date, the road project would be formerly flagged off. For the deep sea port, the design and every other thing has also been completed. A source in Government House told National Mirror that particular investors from Abu-Dahbi had already made available to the gov-

RICHARD NDOMA writes on the strides achieved by Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, after 100 days in office.

Ayade

One of Ayade’s campaign promises was that civil servants in

Cross River

State whose salaries were being owed by previous administration would immediately be addressed so as to put an end to the suffering of the civil servants ernment an initial 500 million Euros to fund his signature projects. Apart from construction work which had commenced on the superhighway, detailed engineering design on the sea port had also been done with complete geological studies. Other areas in which the Ayade administration had made strides in 100 days include: the signing of a $4 million Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Modula Affordable Homes Limited of Ireland to erect houses for the people in the state. The Ayade administration also recently got accolades for lifting the 23-year embargo placed on employment of youth into the state civil service, an initiative which has gladdened the hearts of young people in the state. The Ayade administration has also completed designs for three new cities: Calasvegas, in the Southern senatorial district; Centicort City, in Central senatorial district and Nostadam, in the Northern senatorial district of the state. Eager to leave office with numerous achievements, he went ahead and signed an US$18 million project with Cavenco of Span for the establishment of Automated Poultry Dietary Plant with capacity for 50,000 birds per

week production. Not long ago he signed a MoU for three megawatts solar power plant with Skipper of India and also created a new Social Welfare Ministry to take care of welfare matters in the state. His administration has relentlessly been working to meet with all that was necessary to make the social housing scheme, which he said is created for the poor and vulnerable people in Ogoja come to fruition. The government has also acquired 27 Special Purpose Vehicles, SPVs, to drive development across the state. Ayade also wants to boost the economy of the state through the setting up of Cross River State Tourism Limited, Cross River State Diaspora Trust Fund, Cross River State Forestry Development Trust, Cross River State Electric Power, Cross River State Petroleum Company Limited, PETROCROSS, Cross River State ICT Company Ltd, Cross River State Marine Company Limited, Cross River State Cocoa Company Limited, Cross River State Rice Company Limited, Cross River State Banana Ltd and Cross River State Maize Company Limited; all in the bid to ensure that the state economy, which was hit hard by the menace of unemployment is quickly revived within the shortest possible time. A Government House source said that a German firm had already engaged a particular Chinese civil engineering firm skilled in the development of deep sea port to facilitate the deep seaport project. The source also told National Mirror that Affordable Homes Concept Ltd “were here in Nigeria about a week ago and were taken to a site at Summit Hills, this company builds what they call modulla homes. These are homes that are built upside meaning that everything is prefabricated and brought to site.” However, some critics opposed to Ayade’s vision said the governor does not have the financial resources to execute such gigantic and bogus projects he is embarking on. Other critics who happen to also be in the other side of the divide castigated the governor’s initiative, saying that Ayade had violated certain provisions of the constitution. To this class of critics, projects of this nature ought to have followed due process. but the reverse is the case, while some others also opined that Ayade is only supposed to pay salaries, instead of daring to embark on such capital projects that may end up putting the state in more debt than the previous administration. However some of the questions bugging the minds of most Cross Riverians on the garment industry are: Do local entrepreneurs, who are expected to champion this cause, understand the challenges of the industry? Does the state have the logistical requirement to compete favorably with other key players in the garment market? Would the comparative cost of garment production in competing markets be an advantage or disadvantage owing to our exchange rates? A public affairs analyst, Okongor Etta, said the proposed factory may not be feasible, adding: “Ayade is a cosmetic politician who is very good in the act of spinning. We know that over 80 per cent of his signature projects, especially the garment factory, may not be feasible unless it becomes fully operational before we can believe him.” But those who know him said Ayade had never failed in any of his ambition. Ayade had in a thanks giving ceremony in Obudu, his home town, said that all the strides he had always wanted to make in life, God had given him the strength to attain them, wondering what would hinder him from executing his signature projects. Meanwhile, Cross Riverians are waiting to see if the garment industry brings prosperity to the state or not, given the fact that the state is not a major cotton producer.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Stanbic IBTC to engage SEC over N20.4bn rights issue suspension Johnson Okanlawon

tanbic IBTC Holdings yesterday said it will continue to engage with relevant regulatory bodies to ensure that regulators lift suspension on its rights issue. The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, earlier on Tuesday said the proposed rights issue of Stanbic IBTC Holdings earlier approved has been suspended. According to the SEC, the rights issue has been put on hold in view of letters received from the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as well as the Financial Reporting Council, FRC. The holding company had received approval to raise

N20.4billion rights issue for the bank this year and seek shareholders’ vote to distribute a scrip dividend to boost its capital base. The FRCN on Monday said it has commenced investigations into allegations of financial impropriety made in the financial statements of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, FRCN, Mr. Jim Obazee, stated that the move was in response to a petition written by shareholders of the bank, drawing the attention of regulatory authorities to some unapproved transactions allegedly conducted by the bank with its foreign technical partners. In the petition, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, members of Trusted Shareholders Association, had alleged that

tens of billions of naira were yet to be returned into the profit and loss account of the bank. But reacting to the development, Obazee said that the council, based on preliminary discussions with both parties, had come to realise that the petitioners had a valid case. He said, “The petition from the stakeholders of Stanbic IBTC is on issues relating to Stanbic IBTC and the way they have been accruing some monies in their account. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Stanbic IBTC Holding company, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, had in July said that its South African parent bank Standard Bank was supportive of the cash call and that a price for the share sale would be set after regulatory approvals had been received. “If we are successful with

the scrip dividend, assuming 50 percent of shareholders go for it … together with the rights issues, we should be able to maintain adequate capital,” the bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Arthur Oginga, told an investors call. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio stood at 10 per cent. Return on equity fell to 14.2 per cent for the first half, compared with 28.9 per cent a year ago. It forecast ROE to reach 18 per cent by yearend. Nigerian lenders have been shoring up their balance sheets in preparation for the adoption of stricter international capital requirements, which would otherwise see capital ratios for most of them drop by between 100 and 400 basis points.

Equities gain 1.02% as investors react to half year earnings

rading in equities sustained positive trend on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as investors remain cautiously optimistic. The All Share Index appreciated 1.02 per cent to further drive the year-to-date negative return to 12.40 per cent. Volume and value of transactions advanced by 5.44 per cent and 13.53 per cent respectively, just as 40 stocks appreciated against 17 stocks that declined. Research analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, an

investment firm said that given the direction of market activities, bargain hunting motives were primarily behind the gain recorded, especially due to the relatively attractive levels of prices. “While we are not expectant of that the current resurgence in the market will be sustained given that the headwinds currently pressuring down market returns are still prevalent, we anticipate that some positivity might accompany news regarding economic policy thrusts and probably, the full release of

the ministerial list,” the firm added. United Bank Capital Plc led the gainers’ table with 14 kobo or 9.72 per cent to close at N1.58 per share, followed by Zenith Bank Plc with N1.45 or 8.84 per cent to close at N17.85 per share. ABC Transport Plc gained four kobo or 7.27 per cent to close at 59 kobo per share, while Vono Products Plc appreciated seven kobo or N6.60 per cent to close at N1.13 per share. Ikeja Hotel Plc rose 19 kobo or 5.28 per cent to close at N3.79 per share.

Conoil Plc dropped N2.92 or 9.72 per cent to close at N27.13 per share, while Caverton Plc shed 16 kobo or 4.94 per cent to close at N3.08 per share. Diamond Bank Plc depreciated 17 kobo or 4.55 per cent to close at N3.57 per share, while Custodian Insurance Plc lost 19 kobo or 4.53 per cent to close at N4.00 per share. Academy Press Plc fell three kobo or 4.29 per cent to close at 67 kobo per share. A total of 226.6 million shares valued at N1.99 billion were traded in 4,531 deals.

UBA revises loan growth projection on risks to lending Johnson Okanlawon

nited Bank for Africa, UBA, has lowered its forecast for 2015 loan growth to between five to eight per cent from 15 to 20 per cent rising regulatory and economic uncertainty increase risks to lending. The Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said yesterday that the bank would maintain a conservative approach to lending for the second half of the year with a view to balancing risk with returns. Loans grew 8.5 per cent in

the first half. “We have revised downwards our loan growth target ... given renewed uncertainty in the global and domestic market we would maintain a conservative approach,” Oduoza said. The bank’s shares continued to receive patronage on the Nigerian Stock Exchange following good earnings result for the half year ended June 30, 2015. It gained 10 kobo or 2.38 per cent on the NSE yesterday to close at N4.30per share. The bank had in September 3, announced a profit after tax of N32 billion, an

increase of 40 per cent when compared to the same period in 2014, while its turnover increased by 21 per cent to N166.9 billion, from N138.2 billion recorded in the same period of 2014. However, investment analysts believe that the bank’s share is trading at significant undervaluation to its intrinsic value, saying that the stock should trade between N6.59 and N8.50 per share over the next 12 months. Analysts like Rencap value the stock at N8.00 per share while their colleagues at CSL Stockbrokers value it at N7.20 per share.

Rate (%)

Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N197 Market indicators All-Share Index 29,747.57 points Market capitalisation 10.21trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

SKYEBANK

1.76

1.90

0.14

7.95

NESTLE

840.00

882.00

42.00

5.00

PAINTCOM

1.00

1.05

0.05

5.00

ACCESS

4.07

4.27

0.20

4.91

AIICO

0.83

0.87

0.04

4.82

MAYBAKER

1.30

1.36

0.06

4.62

UBCAP

1.24

1.29

0.05

4.03

LINKASSURE

0.50

0.52

0.02

4.00

UNITYBNK

1.63

1.69

0.06

3.68

NPFMCRFBK

0.85

0.88

0.03

3.53

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

EVANSMED

0.73

0.67

-0.06

-8.22

TRANSCORP

2.37

2.19

-0.18

-7.59

WEMABANK

0.85

0.79

-0.06

-7.06

CHAMPION

4.50

4.26

-0.24

-5.33

ACADEMY

0.80

0.76

-0.04

-5.00

SEPLAT

258.20

245.30

-12.90

-5.00

OKOMUOIL

22.85

21.71

-1.14

-4.99

IKEJAHOTEL

3.15

3.00

-0.15

-4.76

ASHAKACEM

23.00

22.00

-1.00

-4.35

DANGFLOUR

3.00

2.87

-0.13

-4.33

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

0.99

97.43

15.95

97.58

15.78

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.69

99.20

15.61

99.35

15.51

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.86

101.36

15.50

101.66

15.39

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.48

100.28

15.45

100.58

15.35

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.44

103.98

15.39

104.28

15.31

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.57

94.68

15.33

94.98

15.26

Closing Market Prices of July 30, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

26-Nov-15

14.67

15.27

WAUA

270

USD

197

18-Feb-16

13.42

14.38

EURO

214

4-Aug-16

14.08

16.27

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

30.8750

POUNDS STERLING

293

18.3158

20.4606

SDR

273

21.2936

NIBOR

The Fixings of August 6, 2015

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Community Mirror ItLet is time the repeat international African to take a good has lookno at me for again what Icommunity have beenand saying thatleaders Goodluck Jonathan the factors responsible for the death and destruction in the Mediterranean by illegal personal agenda in convening this national conference. migration of youths from Africa.

Dare Akogun

wo persons allegedly parading themselves as a police officers have been arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, attached to Lagos State Police Command. The suspects identified as

RRS nabs fake policemen in Lagos 43-year-old Lawal Hakeem and Abiodun Ibrahim, 32, were apprehended at mile 2 area of the state. Confirming the arrest, RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji

NAFDAC holds summit for manufactures Dare Akogun

n its bid to create an avenue for manufacturers, marketers and consumers of regulated products, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, will be organising an annual summit and exhibition. Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the agency’s office in Lagos yesterday. Orhii noted that the summit tagged ‘NAFDAC SUMMEX’ is slated for October 2015 and will be a convergence of all stakeholders that come under NAFDAC regulation. “During this exhibition manufacturers and marketers of regulated products as well as end users will have the opportunity to interact on ways of finding lasting solutions to drugs and other regulated products counterfeiting in the country. “The summit will go a long way in enlightening people about ways of identifying genuine prod-

ucts in circulation, NAFDAC always encourages the initiative that seeks to bring together all stakeholders under its statutory regulation,” he stated. Orhii said the agency was also working with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria to ensure that all pharmacies are manned by qualified pharmacists and also to discourage self-medication by the public. He added that any drugs without NAFDAC registration number should not be consumed and seeing it as a matter of civic duty to report stalls where such products are sold to law enforcement agencies. “The market for counterfeit products is growing tremendously due to the large population of the country where the supply of its medications are inadequately met, this factor led to the reliance of imported drugs, which gives room for different kinds of products to be brought in under the guise of augmenting the gap left by local manufacturers,” he added.

Lions club promises more humanitarian services Ogbonna Michael

ewly elected President of New Festac Lions Club of the International Association of Lions Clubs has reiterated her resolution to foster the club to a more enviable position through her project initiatives and speedy execution. Speaking during her installation ceremony as the 17th president of the club, Lion Chinyere Mmezi noted that the club as a leading figure in service to humanity has core projects to execute under her leadership, which would continuously keep the club in its top position in community services. Mmezi averred that the club is famous for its affections towards orphans, widows and physically challenged people, whom are beneficiaries of its numerous contributions in different ramifications. She said, “Lions render selfless service to orphans, widows, blind, handicapped, and also

PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN GOODLUCKOBASANJO JONATHAN –FORMER PRESIDENT,

empower youths. We do these without expecting rewards but to make the world a happy and better place.” “I accept with a deep sense of humility to serve the needy and the less privileged in my community as the president of the New Festac Lions Club.” The president noted that the projects earmarked for execution in her term include: sponsoring of needed cataract surgeries and granting new corneas for ailing patient; sinking of boreholes in a needy community to alleviate the scourge of water borne diseases; donation of drugs, bed sheets to general hospitals and its environs; provision of sick bay at 3rd Avenue primary school, Festac and donation of food items, toiletries to orphanage and old people’s homes. The chairman of the occasion and owner of Ric-Ken Merchants Ltd, Pastor Dr. Eric Obele however charged the new president not only to execute the projects that are inherited but should endeavour to do more.

Disu, said the police while on patrol sighted the two suspects in mufti behaving in suspicious manner. He said both men claimed they were police officers when questioned. According to him, “the RRS operatives continued interrogations, after a while, one of them, Lawal Hakeem, showed his cloned police identification card. The RRS men looked at the ID card critically and discovered it was fake. Immediately, both of them were arrested and driven to headquarters for

further questioning.” The RSS commander also revealed that Abiodun during interrogation confessed he was not a police officer but a friend to Hakeem, adding that he was just trying to settle a dispute that ensued between Hakeem and one private car driver at the scene of arrest before the policemen arrested them. Hakeem, who resides at No 16, Shittu Ajiron, Ajangbadi, Ojo Local Government Area, also confessed that he was once a police officer but was dis-

LASTMA officials in close rapport with a traffic offender, yesterday.

missed since July 2014. “I got enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on April 4, 1989, with force number 180939 before I was dismissed last year due to absenteeism from work after the death of my wife. Since then, things have not been easy for me. I was only parading myself as police officer to find means of livelihood,” Hakeem said. Disu stated that the duo would be charged to court upon completion of investigation on the matter.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

Nobel carpets supports women entrepreneurs Saidat Alausa

igeria’s number one rugs and carpets brand, Nobel Carpets, has demonstrated its unalloyed commitment to support and encourage Nigerian women entrepreneurs, noting that the role and contribution of women to the economic well-being of the society cannot be over-stated. The company reaffirmed this at the just concluded 2015 Empowerment Day event organised by Prime Women Builders Foundation of Nigeria, which took place in Badagry, Lagos. With the theme; An Enterprising Heart, the aim of the event is to assist women in communities to acquire needed skills for self-realisation and empowerment in their chosen area of endeavour.

Nobel Carpets and Rugs from the stables of Lucky Fibres Plc, was also presented with Prime Women Builders Foundation of Nigeria Recognition Award for outstanding support for women empowerment. Speaking at the event, which was sponsored by Nobel Carpets, Assistant National Sales Manager, Mrs. Bunmi Odunoye, encouraged women to become self-sufficient by acquiring entrepreneurial skills that would go a long way in empowering them economically. She also urged the women to take advantage of empowerment opportunities provided by Nobel Carpets. She said, “As a company, Nobel Carpets understands the role and contribution of women in the society. We are also aware of some of the economic chal-

lenges women face and we are motivated to empower them to overcome them.” Also speaking at the event, National President, Prime Women Builders Foundation of Nigeria, Mrs. Adekemi Olofinkua, stated that this year’s event was aimed at encouraging women to go and create opportunities rather than wait for them. She said, “This year’s theme, ‘An enterprising heart’ reflects a heart that is creative, enterprising and willing to take challenges, a heart that goes after opportunities rather than wait for them.” Mrs. Olofinkua also expressed gratitude to Nobel Carpets and Rugs for its continued partnership and support for the foundation in empowering women.

Community Mirror

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ekiti bemoans cases of abandoned babies Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

kiti State government has decried the alarming rate of abandoned babies in government hospitals in the country Health Commissioner, Dr Olurotimi Ojo, said proper family planning and child spacing would reduce incessant cases of abandoned babies as well as ensure manageable healthy families. Ojo advised couples in the state to embrace family planning and adopt child-spacing to guarantee healthy living. The commissioner said in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, at the weekend that having too many children than could be reasonably managed could lead to poverty, hunger, hooliganism, prostitution, armed robbery and other social vices. Ojo said parents must care and protect their children especially the girl-child, noting that failure to do so could lead to teenage pregnancy. He cautioned youths, particularly school age girls, against being wayward, warning that apart from poverty, pleasure seeking and waywardness also lead to unwanted pregnancy with the attendant menace of child abandonment.

Labourers waiting for employers at Songo, Ogun State, yesterday.

Lions Club provides succour for less-privileged Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

ions Club International has extended its milk of kindness to some orphans and less-privileged children of a private orphanage in Usi Ekiti, Ekiti State, with a donation of materials worth hundreds of thousands of naira. The joy at Winning Children Foundation, Usi Ekiti, which has about 1,000 children, knew no bounds as Ado Ekiti Metropolitan Lions Club showered it with gift

items. President of Ado Metropolitan Lions Club, Dr Pius Adeojo, urged governments to invest in education of the children that found themselves under such circumstance. Adeojo said such intervention would reduce crime, adding that many of the children in this category had been used for bombing and destruction of lives and property by insurgents. He said: “It is disheartening to hear on daily basis reported cases of child abandonment, baby facto-

ries, child labour and trafficking even when we have a functional government in place. “Governments and private organisations owe it a duty to protect the future of these children. They should not allow anyone to seize the opportunity of their vulnerability to use them as slaves or other evil things. “That was why Lions Club is taking this step. We will continue to partner with the owner of this orphanage and those owned by government to make life better for these children. They might have

Herdsmen need to embrace education –Group

hairman of Hausa/ Fulani socio-cultural group, Alhaji Muhammad Koli, on Sunday in Abuja called on Fulani herdsmen to embrace education to be able to read and write. Koli gave the charge when he and 26 others were swornin as executives to run the affairs of the group for a fouryear single term. According to him, education would not only empower them to read and write but participate in socio-economic activities of the nation. He noted that it was extremely becoming hard to secure white collar jobs even with paper qualification, “but Fulani with their business can also excel when they combine it with formal education”.

PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

He said the aims and objectives of the group were to bring the Hausa/Fulani and northerners under one umbrella. “To have a peaceful co-existence between the Hausa/ Fulani and Nigerians for the socio-economic development of the nation, to educate, enlighten and encourage members to be self-reliant and help one another, and for the group to visit all nooks and crannies for the purpose of explaining to Nigerians the importance of voter’s card, formal and informal education. “The group would also help in training members on skill acquisition and other entrepreneurial trainings,” he said. Koli added that the team

also plans to support orphans, widows and other less privileged ones in the society, noting that r those who for one reason or the other were affected by disaster, both natural and man-made, would also benefit from the group’s gesture. He appealed to members to be law-abiding by reporting any disagreement that may arise in the cause of their day to day activities. “I am more specific on the issue of cattle rustling and issues between herdsmen and farmers. “We should tread softly and always report such cases to appropriate authorities for amicable settlement,” he said. Besides, he called on farmers to see Fulani herdsmen

as friends and brothers in progress as each complement the other, adding that “each one lives for the other”. Alhaji Halilu Kado, a member of the group, said after the oath ceremony that the group was inaugurated in Bwari because of the unique nature of the town. “When area councils were created Bwari was not included, but was classified as a development area. “Because of the agricultural potentials of the area couple with the ‘Water Provider for FCT’ it was later made an Area Council,” he said. He solicited for support for the association, which he described as “human development group”.

been abandoned by human beings, but God has not to forsaken them,” he said. Adeojo added that he would study the blueprint of the orphanage to know where best the Women and Children Development and Health Research Initiative, which he founded, could lend a helping hand that would be in the interest of the children. Coordinator of the orphanage, Mrs. Funmilayo Adeyemi, who praised Lions Club for the gesture, said the Foundation started in 2005 with 105 orphans, who were to undergo rehabilitation to make then fit and useful to the society. According to her, the Foundation now has about 1,000 children at various levels of academic cadres across the country, revealing that about 30 of them are in tertiary institutions within Nigeria with one studying Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. “After I incorporated this organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2005, what I intended to do was to rehabilitate the children, I mean, to provide home and food for them. “I later realized the need to give them education, it was then I reached out to philanthropists, who had been of help. I am happy these children are proving that they are better than those who even have good parental care,” Adeyemi said. Materials donated by the club included food items, clothes, books and recreational facilities.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

World News It is unfair that spouses should be long oppressed by darkness of doubt over whether their marriages could be annulled.

–POPE FRANCIS

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

arely two weeks after Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, met President Robert Mugabe and confirmed his plan to invest in Zimbabwe’s ailing sectors, a team raised by the Nigerian billionaire has arrived in Harare to further the talks with a view to sealing deals. Reports from Harare yesterday said the six-member team, led by Dr. Abdul Mukhtar, arrived in the southern African country’s capital on Monday and held meetings with senior government officers who include Deputy Chief Secretary to the president and cabinet, Justin Mupamhanga. The team, which comprised Dangote Corporate Strategy specialist, Rumbidzai Sithole, a Zimbabwean, as well as lawyers and geologists, amongst other experts, met various state department leaders yesterday. Mukhtar told the state media that the team would depart from the country after all the business deals had been concluded. Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man with a net worth over 18$ billion with his empire spanning across nearly all sectors on the continent, had during his visit late last month expressed his interest in power generation, cement manufacturing and coal mining. Zimbabwe’s Mines Secretary,

Zimbabwe bailout: Dangote’s team in Harare ‘to seal deals’

‘Cecil’ killer back to work The US dentist who generated an outcry after killing a lion called Cecil in Zimbabwe, Walter Palmer, yesterday returned to his dental practice after weeks in hiding. Palmer arrived at work at 0700 local time (1200 GMT) where a throng of media and a few protesters awaited him. Employees were also seen escorting him and patients into the surgery, as photographers swarmed the office. In recent interviews, he has claimed that the hunt was legal and that he was shocked to hear the animal was famous. One woman could be heard screaming “Extradite Palmer!” The killing of Cecil in July prompted a global uproar, which Palmer claimed led to some safety issues for his family.

Burundi opposition man shot dead

Dangote

Professor Francis Gundyanga, also said yesterday that the business team would meet Chief Secretary to the president and cabinet, Dr. Misheck Sibanda. “The intention is to facilitate all processes that are required and to ensure there are no de-

lays in implementing the agreed projects,” Gundyanga said. Dangote’s interest in Zimbabwe has come at a time when the government is struggling to attract FDI due to a number of issues, including unfavourable investment laws.

Interestingly a top Zimbabwean official, Simon Khaya-Moyo, had last week claimed government would not bend its tough laws for Dangote, days after the businessman told local journalists that he had held a positive meeting with Mugabe.

ICC trial: Gbagbo loses health appeal

ppeal judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague yesterday rejected a request by former Ivorian leader, Laurent Gbagbo, for temporary release on health grounds. The 70-year-old denies charges of murder, rape, attempted murder and persecution in the wake of disputed presidential polls in 2010. Records showed that some 3, 000 people were killed in unrest after he refused to accept defeat. He was arrested in April 2011 and his trial is due to start on November 10. Gbagbo, who ruled Ivory Coast from 2000 until his arrest by forces loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, backed by UN and French

WORLD BULLETIN

troops,was transferred to The Hague in November 2011. Court documents said he suffers from post-traumatic

Gbagbo

stress disorder and an unspecified physical ailment. “The appeals chamber found that it was not unrea-

sonable for the trial chamber to find the existence of Gbagbo’s support network posed a risk to abscond or obstruct investigation,” ICC ruling said. Gbagbo is the first former head of state to be detained by the ICC, although Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Liberia’s Charles Taylor were tried by special courts in The Hague. His wife, Simone, is serving a 20-year jail term in Ivory Coast for her role in the violence that followed her husband’s defeat in the presidential run-off. The ICC’s request to transfer her to The Hague to be tried for crimes against humanity has been rejected by the Ivorian government.

The spokesman for a party in Burundi opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s third term, Patrice Gahungu, has been shot dead in the capital, Bujumbura. Gahungu, from the Union for Peace and Development (UPD), was targeted by unidentified gunmen as he drove home late on Monday, Police said yesterday. The leader of the same small opposition party, Zedi Feruzi, was killed in May. President Nkurunziza was sworn in for a controversial third term last month following several months of unrest. The government accuses the opposition, which says the third term is illegal, of causing the violence.

2018 election: ‘Outcast’ Mujuru to contest Zimbabwe election Former Zimbabwe vice president, Joyce Mujuru, has announced she will contest the 2018 elections. Mujuru, removed from government and the ruling party late last year, has considered coming back into mainstream politics amid reports of the coalescing of a group of disgruntled ex-ZANU PF stalwarts stampeded out of the former liberation movement as part of the succession fight. The war veteran published a Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development (BUILD), a two-page plan that read like an election manifesto, yesterday, signaling she was ready to challenge the 91-yearold Mugabe who has indicated he will contest the 2018 vote at the age of 94.

World News

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

…Migrants break through barriers

ramatic scenes unfolded on the Hungarian-Serbian border yesterday, as hundreds of frustrated migrants and refugees broke through police lines and ran from a holding area. Some parents carried children on their shoulders, struggling to make their way across the rough ground near Roszke in Hungary. As they ran across open corn and sunflower fields, police followed. But officers have not so far stopped any of the refugees. The breakout happened suddenly and did not appear to be planned. Earlier in the day, scuffles broke out as migrants forced to wait in the holding area expressed their frustration. Many cannot understand why, having reached the European Union, they are not receiv-

ing a warmer welcome. Some of the migrantsmost of them from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan-also tussled with police on Monday. Police have been blocking a road from the holding site to a transit camp where they can register as refugees and continue their journeys. Hungary has been at the forefront of Europe’s migrant crisis in recent days. Many of the refugees and migrants arriving there from Serbia-having been on the road for weeks in some cases-are afraid they will get stuck in Hungary and be unable to carry on their journey to their preferred destinations in Western Europe. Hungary’s government has said it is just trying to enforce EU rules on the movement of migrants without proper documentation.

Iran nuclear deal madness–Cheney

ormer US vice president, Dick Cheney, said yesterday that President Barack Obama is responsible for directly equipping Iran with the capability to destroy the United States, calling the negotiated nuclear deal “madness.” In a fiery speech delivered at the American Enterprise Institute, the Republican man unleashed an aggressive attack against the Iran deal, which Congress will begin debating this week.

“This agreement will give Iran the means to launch a nuclear attack on the U.S. homeland,” Cheney said. “I know of no nation in history that has agreed to guarantee that the means of its own destruction will be in the hands of another nation, particularly one that is hostile.” A protestor interrupted Cheney’s speech highlighting his role in war in the Middle East but soon got into a tug of war with a man in the audience.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Migrant crisis update: Germany makes asylum-seekers’ pledge

ermany can cope with at least 500, 000 asylum seekers a year for several years, Vice Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said yesterday. The European nation says it expects more than 800, 000 asylumseekers in 2015 alone four times the 2014 figure, although Gabriel maintains other EU states should share the burden. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), a record 7, 000 Syrian migrants arrived in Macedonia alone on Monday and 30, 000 were on Greek islands. The migrants, mainly Syrians, are engaged in a long trek which takes them from Turkey, across the sea to Greece, through Macedonia and Serbia, and then to Hungary from where they aim to reach Austria and Germany. The migrant influx has unsettled European governments and prompted diverse responses. Hungary’s conservative leadership is

Germany Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel

building a border fence to try to keep them out, but German politicians have expressed pride in crowds who turned out to welcome new arrivals. A Greek minister said on Monday that

the island of Lesbos, which sits off the Turkish coast, was “on the verge of an explosion” due to a build-up of 20, 000 migrants. The government and UNHCR have brought in extra staff and ships

to process them. European Commission chief, Jean-Claude Juncker, is expected to unveil proposals today to distribute 160, 000 refugees among member states on a mandatory basis, a programme the UN says is now the only solution. The UN’s special representative for migration, Peter Sutherland, said several wealthy countries, such as the US and Gulf states, had in fact been generous in contributing financially to help improve the lives of Syrians in countries neighbouring Syria. “Buying your way out of this is not satisfactory,” he said. The crisis has divided the 28-nation European Union, especially the issue of obligatory quotas. Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, are opposed. Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, reiterated his country’s position yesterday, saying: “In Europe the talk is all the time about fighting the results, and little on how to liquidate the reasons. Europe is in a kind of a closed circle.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Masari identifies problem behind nation’s economy James Danjuma, KATSINA

ismana g ement of resources at the national and state levels has been responsible for the socioeconomic backwardness in Nigeria. Governor Aminu Bello Masari stated this yesterday at an event for the donation of 40 wheelchairs and 10 wheeled crutches to selected hospitals and handicaps in the state. The items were donated to the state by the Japanese government. Masari said in the past, many countries of the world had rejected equipment donated from Japan, but that the story changed after diligent efforts of transformation by the Japanese government. He said Japan had become a household name that she was now donating items like wheel chairs and crutches to Nigeria. He said if Nigerians

North

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

were given the right environment and encouragement, some of the items being received as donation from Japan and other foreign nations would be a thing of the past. The governor however said Nigeria would continue to face economic challenges unless the nation’s resources were diligently utilised and kept from being mismanaged. He, therefore, called on youths in the country to brace up to the challenges facing the country, as well as make efforts to change same. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ahmed Quabassiyu said beneficiaries of the items would be victims of polio, meningitis and other child-killer diseases. Quabassiyu however called on parents to ensure that their children were immunised to keep them from becoming physically challenged for life.

Kaduna abolishes fees for admission forms in varsity, others

...approves Fiscal Responsibility Bill A za Msue, KADUNA

aduna State Executive Council has approved a draft Fiscal Responsibility Bill for submission to the state House of Assembly for legislation. The Council also decided to abolish payment of fees for admission forms and processes. A statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the state governor, disclosed that the approval were some of the highlights of this week’s meeting of the Council. The statement said: “Briefing reporters after

the fourth meeting of the State Executive Council, Finance Commissioner Suleiman Kwari disclosed that the Fiscal Responsibility Bill is designed to help protect the state from fiscal indiscipline by reforming public financial management in the state. “He said that the absence of a guiding framework for fiscal policy by previous governments had seen the state become one of the most indebted in the country. “Therefore, the new government has decided to pursue macro-fiscal discipline, compliance with rules and the attainment of budget credibility. “Kwari said when passed into law, the bill will

limit possible deficits to not more than five per cent of aggregated revenue. The law will also create a Kaduna State Fiscal Responsibility Commission, KADFREC, which shall be independent and be capable of recommending violators for prosecution, which on conviction may result in imprisonment or the payment of fines. “The finance commissioner also reminded MDAs that extant laws prohibit the receipt of cash payments from members of the public. “Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, the commissioner of education, announced the cabinet decision that henceforth admission

forms and admission processes will be free in all tertiary institutions owned by the state government. “Adamu said that under no condition should scratch cards be sold to admission-seekers for access to school portals. “He explained that council is persuaded that the aspirations of young people for admission into higher institutions should not be treated as a revenue source. “Adamu also conveyed the council decision that all non-teaching occupants of school quarters should vacate the premises within 90 days, while teachers transferred to other schools will have six months to give up their former quarters.”

Police arrest 8 armed robbery suspects, one kidnapper Wale Ibrahim, LOKOJA

ogi State Police Command has arrested eight armed robbery and a kidnap suspects at different locations in the state. The State Police Commissioner Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, who disclosed this yesterday, while parading nine suspects at the Command Headquarters, Lokoja, stated that his men are on red alert to rid the state of criminal activities. Ojukwu warned that it would henceforth be impossible for criminals to go scot free after perpetrating crimes. He stressed that police will go after all criminal elements to make the state safe for the citizens. Ojukwu pointed out that the police got information that the suspects were coming to block the highway along Eika-Itakpe bye pass to rob as usual. They were subsequently ambushed by operatives from SARS, who arrested two, while others escaped. The commissioner said those that escaped have been arrested from their

hideout by his men. He stated that suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. Also arrested were those behind political killings in Ejule in the eastern part of the state. They are Mohammed Yusuf, Abdulrahaman Sanni, Sulyman Abdulazeez, Aliyu Bariyu, Yakubu Yusuf, Yahaya Musa, Haruna Shuinu and Abubarka Mohammed Ori. The command also paraded Shagari Adamu, who was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a house wife after shooting her brother. Niger police recovers property worth N24.4m Priscilla dennis, minna. Outgoing Commissioner of Police in Niger state, Mr Olusola Amore has revealed that the command recovered property worth N24.4m from September, 2014 to September, 2015 in the state. Speaking at the official hand over to his successor, Mr. Abubakar Marafa in Minna, he explained that 1,655 cases were reported within the period.

L-R: A beneficiary of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s scholarships, Mr. Muhammed Abdullahi Tosin (left) and Mr. Adam Muhammed Ndakudu (right) two First Class Law School students, with Senate President Bukola Saraki, their benefactor, in Ilorin on Monday.

I was initiated into stealing by my Chinese boss –Suspect Wole Adedeji, ILORIN

suspected car thief, who was arrested by the police in Kwara State, has blamed his Chinese boss for his induction into stealing. The suspect, Danie Usman, a driver working with Honggye International Nigeria Ltd., a Chinese construction firm in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, was arrested while crossing the Niger Bridge at Jebba on his way to Abuja to dispose the car. He made the confes-

sional statement when he was paraded along with other arrested armed robbers and cultists at the Kwara State Police Command Headquarters in Ilorin. Usman said he became fascinated in the art of stealing through his supervisor in Ado Ekiti, who often employed him to divert the company’s money into an account and also be part of raising fictitious papers to cover up such deals. He cited an example of a N4m that was diverted, which prompted him to try his hands on cheating

the company by stealing the vehicle; a Hyundai Jeep with registration no KTU-32-BZ. The suspect confessed that before his arrest, he had earlier taken the car to one of his regular customers in Lagos, who offered him N1m. He said because he was not satisfied with the offer, he decided to try the Abuja option and was arrested. Usman told journalists that he had no regret over his action because according to him, his master had cheated him several times in the past

over such transactions against the company. Also paraded by the state Police Command spokesman, Ajayi Okasanmi were three suspected cultists, Habib Olamilekan, Adebayo Gbenga and Felix Somadima. A woma,; Abdulrasheed Latifa was also paraded for dealing in alleged illicit drugs like Tramol and Codeine. Olamilekan, the alleged cultists was said to have been rusticated from a tertiary institution in the state for belonging to Aye Confraternity.

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PROPHET SEGUN EBENEZER TINUOYE WORLD MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS MISSION

This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PROPHET TINUOYE EBENEZER OLUWASEGUN – PROPHET 2. MRS TINUOYE EUNICE MAYOWA – MEMBER 3. MRS ADEGBOYE ADEWUNI OLUBUNMI – SECRETARY 4. MR OLALEKAN SAMSON – MEMBER 5. MR OYELEKE TIMITAYO SAMSON – MEMBER 6. MRS ADETOGUN OLADIJI TUNDE – MEMBER 7. MRS AWOSIKA ADEITAN BLESSING – MEMBER 8. MR. BITRUS KENNETH YAKUBU –MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the message of hope to this dying generation 2. To bring salvation to the poor hearted 3. To restore hope to the hopeless 4. To reach out to the unsaved through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. JOHN WILSON IREAMEKE Chairman 2. EVAN. CHRISTIE IREAMEKE Vice Chairman 3. SIS. NNEKA NWOSU Secretary 4. MISS. AMAKA OBI Treasurer 5. PASTOR DANIEL OGBONNAYA Member 6. HON. IREAMEKE OBIOHA JP Member 7. SIMEON MMADUEME Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE (a) To promote the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (b) To evangelize the world according to instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ. (c) To promote love and peace among Christians and Non Christians. (d) To help the needy, orphans and windows through the gospel. (e) To help mankind in any other way that we deem necessary. Signed: Rev. Johnwilson Ireameke.

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CHANGE OF NAME

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PUBLIC NOTICE OLODU COMMUNITY LAND ESTATE ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION OLODU TOWN. This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act

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7) Ezedi ifechukwude

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO FOSTER PEACE AND HARMONY AMONG THE OLODU COMMUNITY. Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama, Abuja,within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED NKWOR SYLVESTER CHUKS - CHAIRMAN.

Wednesday September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

I can say for a fact that the World Cup nightmare for Brazil is in the past. We are now in a new era

Moses explains reason for Chelsea exit

–PSG defender, Thiago Silva

Coach Sunday Oliseh (left) celebrating with his players at the Port Harcourt stadium, yesterday

Usman Mohammed

Eagles must dictate the pace –Oliseh …Nigeria 2 Niger 0

Everest Onyewuchi

fter watching his team beat the Mena of Niger 2-0 in an international friendly match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt yesterday, Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, expressed optimism that the team was beginning to blend. Oliseh, who said the Eagles played better compared to their performance last Sat-

urday in Dar res Salam against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, however, added that the Super Eagles must begin to dictate the pace against their opponents. “The good thing is that we won playing organised game. Our team is getting better, but we need to hold the ball much longer and dictate the pace,” the former Nigeria captain surmised. He praised the Mena of Niger for giv-

ing the Super Eagles a good game. “They did very well, which is good for us.” Stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa and Moses Simon scored Super Eagles goals in each half as the team put behind them the barren draw in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania last Saturday, to give Oliseh his first victory at the helm of the Nigerian team. Oliseh made six changes to the side that

AAG: Glo rallies support for Dream Team, Falcons

ational carrier and official sponsor of Nigerian National football teams, Globacom, has advised the U-23 national team and the Super Falcons to make Nigeria proud by winning in their respective football engagements at the ongoing All Africa Games (AAG) in Brazzaville, Congo.

The two teams will mount double assault today as they plot their way to reaching the finals to pick gold medals. While the Falcons will lock horns with Tanzania in the second Group A match, the U-23 team will face Ghana in the opening match of group B as Nigerians look forward to

victory from the two national teams. Globacom, in a press statement in Lagos yesterday, called on both teams to go for outright victories to pave way for early qualification for the next round. “The dream team’ coaching crew and players have prepared very hard for this competition

and we expect them to do well while Super Falcons have the advantage of playing together for a long time,” the statement said Globacom commended the Super Falcons for winning their first match in the competition with a 5-1 thrashing of the host Diablesses Rouges of Congo last Sunday in Congo.

played against Taifa Stars by including Godfrey Oboabona, Chima Akas, Rabiu Ibrahim, Usman Mohammed, Sylvester Igbonu and Anthony Ujah. It took just 11 minutes for Nigeria to make headway in the game when Ujah was felled by his Nigerien marker, Issiakou Koudize, in the box for a penalty. Musa stepped up and scored though Nigerien goalkeeper Daouda Kassaly felt he should have kept the spot kick out if he had applied a strong punch. FC UFA man, Igbonu, broke on a solo run in the 18th minute from a swift counter-attack and his turn of pace took out the Mena defence before he lost hold of the ball. In the run up to half hour mark, Ujah and Igbonu had chances to score but saw their attempts blocked. In the 85th minute, KAA Gent attacking winger, Simon, scored the second goal after being gifted the ball in front of the box. He made no mistake with shooting into the roof past a despairing Kassaly in Niger goal.

Sports

Wednesday September 9, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

US Open 2015:

Venus ready to end Serena’s

Venus

Grand Slam dream V FIBA Africa picks Daudu for coaching course

ollowing the exploits of his team to the Afrobasket U-16 Women’s Championship in Madagascar in July, 2015, Nigeria’s U-16 Women’s team coach, Adeka Daudu has been selected by the sport’s African body, FIBA Africa to attend an all expense paid coaching course in France. Secretary General of FIBA Africa, Alphonse Bile in a letter to the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Tijjani Umar dated September 3, 2015 said, “I would like to inform you that FIBA Africa has selected Mr. Daudu, coach of the Nigeria U16 women for(sic) attending the Basketball Coaches training called “Euro-colloque” to be held from 17th to 19th Sep-

tember, 2015 in Lille, France”. According to Mr. Bile, “His participation fee as well as those of his stay and transportation will be covered by FIBA Africa”, adding that FIBA Africa would also provide all necessary documents to enable him procure his travelling visa from the French Embassy in Nigeria.” It would be recalled that Coach Daudu led a depleted Nigerian U-16 team of 9 players against 12 by other countries to the final of the 2015 Afrobasket U-16 Championship where they lost to four-time winners, Mali in the final to pick one of the two tickets to the World U-17 Championship slated to hold next year in Spain.

Med-View/ NUJ Games: FRCN, Complete Sports unbeaten Ifeanyi Eduzor

he 10th edition of the Med-View’ Lagos NUJ Media Games entered its second day with FRCN and Complete Sports maintaining their unbeaten run in the football event. FRCN which recorded a 2-1 victory over Voice of Nigeria on Monday repeated the feat with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Federal Ministry of Information to enhance their chances of picking one of the quarter- final tickets in the championship. In the other matches played yesterday, CompleteSports defeated hard fighting “The Source

Magazine” 1-0, just as STV and NTA walked over NAN and Tell Magazine respectively. Daar Communications also recorded a 1-0 victory over Silverbird Television while ‘The Source Magazine defeated Business Plus 1-0 before their loss to Complete Sports in their second match of the day. Action resumes today in the other group matches with defending champions, Vanguard meeting Business Plus,while SUN Newspapers squares up with Tell. Lagos Ministry of Information will play FRCN, with LTV meeting STV and Sports day will face NTA while the last match of the day will be between Daar Communication and NAN.

enus Williams is prepared to end her sister’s attempt at a first calendar Grand Slam when she meets Serena in the US Open quarter-finals. The sisters will play each other for the 27th time when they open the night today. Serena, 33, has not lost a Grand Slam match since Wimbledon 2014 and hopes to win the first calendar Slam since 1988. “No-one is out to be a spoiler, but at the same time you’re focused on winning your match,” said Venus, 35. Serena is in the process of rewriting the tennis history books as she closes in on a 22nd major title, a record seventh US Open and fourth in a row, and matching Steffi Graf ’s achievement of winning all four in

1988. The world number one’s last Slam defeat came against Alize Cornet at Wimbledon last year, since when she has racked up 32 wins at the major events. The 25th of those victories was against Venus in the fourth round at Wimbledon - Serena’s sixth in the last seven of a professional rivalry stretching back to 1998. “I’m playing, for me, the best player in the tournament, and that’s never easy,” said Serena, who leads the overall head-to-head 15-11. “She’s beaten me so many times. I’ve taken a lot of losses off of her - more than anybody. “She’s a player who knows how to win, knows how to beat me, and knows my weaknesses better than anyone.

Moses explains reason for Chelsea exit

uper Eagles forward, Victor Moses has revealed to West Ham TV why he readily left his parent club Chelsea for the Hammers on a season-long loan. According to the Kaduna-born footballer, he left Chelsea because West Ham’s counter-attacking style of football fits his abilities. He said:“It’s not just been the way they have played that has impressed me, but it’s been the hard work as well. You can tell everyone is fighting for each other and it was a great result at Arsenal and then at Liverpool at the weekend. “I love playing counter-attacking football and this club has definitely got it here and it will definitely suit my game. We’ve got a good quality of players up front and the wingers are quick, so if we can get it going on the counter-attack we can really be a threat as a team. “I’m delighted to be here and I want to help the Club finish as high up in the table as possible this season.”

Moses

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Itodo changes gear at Shooting Stars

hooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) attacking midfielder, Cletus Itodo has promised to net more goals for the side in the remaining 10 matches of the ongoing league. The former Abia Warriors and Sunshine Stars player has scored two goals for the Oluyole Warriors in his short stint with the Ibadan-based outfit. Itodo said he would be primed to contest for the top scorer’s award by the time the ongoing season will come to an end. “My first goal for 3SC was the 3-1 defeat of Heartland in Oba while the second was the 2-1 win against former side, Sunshine Stars in Ibadan at the weekend. “I thank God for the ones I have scored I strongly believe I will score more goals in the days to come to even challenge for the top scorer’s award. “It looks laughable at the moment considering the fact that some players have already scored as many as 12,

13 goals with 10 matches left on the season’s calendar. “For me impossibility is nothing, I will strengthen myself and work harder towards achieving the target,” Itodo said. He said his side would not comeback empty-handed in the NPFL match day 29 clash at Enugu Rangers on Sunday.

“Rangers are traditional side in the domestic league and almost impregnable at home but that profile will not change the fact that on match day it will be 11 players on each side. “We will work very hard to challenge for the three points at stake, if we cannot take the whole points we cannot miss

Wikki’s Yakubu targets five more goals

Paulo Jorge

N Victor Yakubu

Table Teams

Enyimba

Wolves

Sunshine

Wikki

Giwa

Heartland

Abia

IfeanyiUbah

3SC

Pillars

Nasarawa

Rangers

El-Kanemi

Lobi

Kwara

Dolphins

Akwa

Sharks

Taraba

Bayelsa

COD hires foreign coach

ing my fans and the club’s fans more goals. “My target remains to score at least 10 goals to help my team achieve greatness this season. I have scored five now and hope to get five more, at least.” He said Wikki had not given up on the league championship, as they hope to contest for the shield. “We still believe we can win the title. All we need now is to win our next two away games to reclaim top spot,” he said. Wikki are fourth on the table after

ewly-promoted Nigeria National League (NNL) club, City of David (COD) United has appointed Paulo Jorge Silva as their new head coach. The Lagos club named the Portuguese as the man to be in charge of their men’s team ahead of next season. Silva has been handed the task of leading “the club’s charge in the league

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

taking a point from the clash. “Our dream is to finish among the top three at the end of the season so we need all the points we can garner to be on the path to realising our target,” he concluded.. The Ibadan outfit are ninth on the table with 41 points, 11 points behind league leaders, Enyimba.

Cletus Itodo

ikki Tourists forward, Victor Yakubu, has said he hopes to score five more goals so as to reach his 10-goal personal target for this season. The former JUTH FC of Jos player, who has now scored five goals, scored the first brace of the season on league opening day as they beat 3SC 2-0 in Bauchi. He has also scored for his Bauchi club in their last two games. “I feel very happy to be scoring goals again. I returned to action from injury not too long ago. I am promis-

Sports

Wednesday September 9, 2015

as well as in the FA Cup next season.” He is also expected to “reorganise and optimise the club’s seven-team academy structure” for the coming campaign. The Portuguese is excited by the challenge of working in Africa and explained why he accepted the offer to become COD United coach. “I have joined a very ambitious and very organised club. Working in Africa is quite different from working in Europe and so I had to be careful in choosing a club that matches my ambitions and with the right structure. In COD United, I believe I have found that club and cannot wait to start the job of improving the impressive structure they have built so far,” said Silva. COD United CEO Sola Opaleye explained that the choice of hiring the Portuguese is “another demonstration of our ambition as a club.” “Paulo Silva’s appointment is yet another demonstration of our ambition as a club to keep progressing. Paulo joins us with a lot of experience and his knowledge of football is demonstrated by the rich array of top clubs he has worked with.”

WORLD RECORD

Largest smoothie Vol. 05 No. 1195

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

The largest smoothie contained 2,300 litres (607.6 US g al) and was pre pared by Dry July (Australia) at Circular Quay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 30 June 2014.

N150

Why Peace Committee must disband now

he drumbeats of war sounded so loudly in the run-up to the 2015 General Elections, that it reverberated in major capitals across the world, raising concerns that Nigeria could blow apart, if the polls were stalemated. However, the transition was concluded peacefully to the glory of God, and peace now reigns in Nigeria, apart from the perennial Boko Haram insurgency which is also top on the agenda of the APC-led government. Every patriotic Nigerian should support President Muhammadu Buhari in his war against terror and its twin demon of corruption. His success or failure would ultimately be judged by the defeat of insurgency and the recovery of looted public funds. One is, therefore, disappointed by the discordant tunes coming from some members of the National Peace Committee, which includes erstwhile military leader, Gen. Abdulsalami

THE PRINCE OF NIGERIA PARADIGM Chris

Okotie

Okotie@revchrisokotie.com; twitter@revchrisokotie, 08078421451 (sms only)

Abubakar (retd); Bishop Mathew Kukah; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’Ad Abubakar III; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh; etc. The Committee only recently visited President Buhari for undisclosed reasons. But Bishop Kukah, who addressed journalists after the meeting with the President, appealed to President Buhari “to be fair” to the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration on his ongoing corruption investigation. I am amazed at the ecclesiastical affinity of Jonathan. First, it was Pastor Orisejafor and now it is Bishop Kukah. Both are now amalgamated in the Peace Committee. I submit that Pastor Orisejafor has exhibited himself as a general factotum of the imperial house of Jonathan and Patience Goodluck. He, therefore, debunks the definition of an emissary of peace on an unremunerated endeavor. Bishop Kukah in his apologetic prolixity, describes Jonathan governmental enterprise as ‘’fantastic’’. To my sanctified mind, this is not only imaginary but approaches the periphery of phantasmagoria. He castigates President Buhari in subtle verbiage for what he perceives to be a sluggish pace in revving the engine of governance. He thus, abandons momentarily, the responsibility of his committee’s morality posture and immerses his Episcopalian garments in the quagmire of the political emporium. He almost loses his compass in a broken monologue of praise singing sycophancy in veneration of vanquished Jonathan. Haba Aboki, with all due respect!

A MITIGATION PLEA BY THIS COMMITTEE IS NOT ONLY PREMATURE, IT IS BUT UNCALLED FOR Question: What compels a chartered libertine, who has been weaned on the mountains of divine servitude to descend to such lowly valleys of mundane terrestrials? What inspired such lisping accents of jejune political naivety? Is it peace committee? Seriously? Yeah right! Ha! There are several other questions still begging for urgent answers: Who sent the National Peace Committee to Aso Rock to plead with President Buhari “to be fair” to officials of the Jonathan government now under investigation? Why is the Committee putting the President under pressure in his quest to rid the Augean stables of the filth of the corrupt PDP regime? Why are they pre-empting the President by assuming that he’d not be fair? A mitigation plea by this Committee is not only premature, it is but uncalled for, and is a direct insult to the injury that ex-President Jonathan’s six-year misrule has inflicted on Nigerians, majority of whom are now impoverished and dying from the ravages of hunger, malnutrition and disease. The Peace Committee is no longer relevant and should honourably and immediately disband to save Nigerians from this gratuitous charade and national embarrassment. There’s no denying the fact that, at least, one of the

committee members used to hobnob with exPresident Jonathan, and is a beneficiary of his patrimonial leadership. President Buhari’s crusade against corruption must begin with a comprehensive probe of former President Jonathan to send a clear signal that he means business. A serious fight against corruption must, therefore, begin with the immediate subpoena of the former President, who ran a large patronage network that spurned the unprecedented corruption that has brought this nation to the abyss. Under his leadership, his extravagant wife, Patience, functioned like a Deputy President, and must also be investigated, to ascertain the extent of her involvement in the squandermania. Since a fish rots from the head, any credible and effective drive towards the recovery of looted public funds in the PDP-led federal government can only succeed, not just by investigating functionaries of that government, but by taking the bull by the horn: Probe the ex-President and his imperious wife. President Buhari must know that Nigerian’s are firmly behind him. He must demonstrate to the world that he still has fire in his belly, by showing himself strong, fearless and capable of taking on the most sacred cows whose hands are soiled. There’s nothing new about jailing high profile leaders. Besides, it is in Jonathan’s interest to face a probe to clear his name if he has nothing to hide. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the leader of the opposition in the First Republic when he was tried and jailed by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa government for treasonable felony. President Buhari himself was behind bars for 23 months with his deputy, the late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, after their military regime was toppled in August 1985. The Peace Committee should stop whipping-up sentiments about the probe and allow justice to take its natural course. Whoever is aggrieved or dissatisfied with the outcome of an investigation could seek reliefs from the court, which is open to all. Rev Okotie, a Pastor-politician, wrote from Lagos via okotie@revchrisokotie. com and could be followed on twitter @ Revchrisokotie.

Sport Extra

Marathon: Radcliffe ‘categorically denies’ cheating

arathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has “categorically” denied any form of cheating. The 41-year-old Briton said questions raised during a parliamentary select

committee “effectively implicated” her in the Sunday Times’ allegations of blood doping in athletics. Jesse Norman MP suggested London Marathon winners and medallists and “potentially British

athletes” were under suspicion. Radcliffe was not specifically named. But she is a three-time London Marathon winner and the only British athlete since 1996 to triumph

at the event - though Norman later tweeted that he had not made any allegation against individual athletes. Jesse Norman wrote on Twitter that he had not accused Radcliffe specifically

Following the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing, Radcliffe issued a statement saying she was “devastated” her name had been “linked to these wide-ranging accusations”.

Radcliffe

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