Binder1 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Oil marketers creating scarcity to force removal of subsidy –NLC

Lamorde sick, flown abroad for treatment

Kachikwu blames payment delay CHIDI UGWU AND OLUFEMI ADEOSUN Wabba

Vol. 5 N0. 1246

igeria Labour Congress, NLC, has blamed the ongoing fuel scarcity on the activities of unscrupulous oil

Wednesday, November 18 , 2015

marketers, who are bent on blackmailing government into removing subsidy on petroleum products. While urging necessary CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

National Mirror Online

$2.9bn arms deal

P.6

@NationalMirror ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

Buhari orders arrest of Dasuki, others Reps to investigate alleged Army war crimes

N150

P.7

resident Muhammadu Buahri has ordered the arrest of those indicted in the audit of the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date. Buhari had in August this year directed the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, to set up a 13man committee to carry out the audit. Although the committee CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

L-R: Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III; Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; a recipient of honorary Degree, Prof. Ayo Banjo; representative of the Minister of Education, Prof. Julius Okojie, and Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, at the convocation of the University of Ibadan, yesterday.

No going back on N25bn TSA probe –Saraki

Real sector’s contribution to GDP dips ASUU kicks against account by 16.8% P.4

P.5

Ekweremadu escapes assassination attempt

P.7

News

Wednesday, November 18 , 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Buhari orders arrest of Dasuki, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

is yet to complete its work, a statement issued yesterday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions. The statement said: “On the authority of Mr. President, a 13 man committee was set up by the Office of the National Security Adviser to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to date.

“While the committee which was inaugurated on 31 August 2015 is yet to complete its work, its interim report has unearthed several illicit and fraudulent financial transactions. “As part of the findings, the committee has analyzed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters Naval Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies. “So far the total extra

budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is Six Hundred and Forty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Hundred Naira and Eighteen Kobo (N643,817,955,885.18). “The foreign currency component is to the tune of Two Billion, One Hundred and Ninety Three Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand US Dollars and Eighty Three Cents ($2,193,815,000.83). “These amounts exclude grants from the State Gov-

ernments and funds collected by the DSS and Police. It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defense procurement. “The committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32; N2,189,265,724,404.55 and 54,000.00; Fifty Three (53) were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively. “Interestingly, it was noted that the amount of foreign currency spent on

failed contracts was more than double the $1bn loan that the National Assembly approved for borrowing to fight the insurgency in the North East. “The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N3,850,000,000.00) were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfilment of tax obligations to the FGN. “Further findings revealed that between

Members of the Afenifere led by Chief Olanihun Ajayi (second left) at the lying in State of the late Mama H.I.D Awolowo, in Ikenne yesterday.

Oil marketers creating scarcity to force removal of subsidy –NLC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

agencies of government, particularly Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to wield the big stick on marketers hoarding products, the union described as unacceptable, the agonies people were going through on account of the artificial scarcity. A statement signed by NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in Abuja, urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to succumb to the antics of a few individuals that wanted him to act against the wishes of the masses. It would be recalled that despite assurances from government and its agencies that there were adequate supply of petrol, most filling stations in major cities across the country have been under lock, causing long queues in few stations that have the product to dispense. In Abuja for instance,

petrol is being sold as high as N200 per litre at the open market, while black market price ranges from N350 at N400. The statement reads in part: “Nigeria Labour Congress is outraged by the continuing incidences of fuel scarcity resulting in skyrocketing prices and long queues spreading to different parts of the country. “We note that this is happening despite assurances from government and its agencies that there is enough fuel being distributed around the country and that citizens need not go into panic buying. “That the situation has not visibly improved after more than 72 hours of such assurance means that the marketers and other groups that have held the country hostage over the years for their unearned profiteering from the petroleum sector are still determined to con-

tinue as if it is business as usual. “It is completely unacceptable to us that Nigerians are forced to go through the perennial hardship especially towards the end of the year, and now have to cough out between N130 – N300 per litre of petrol in different parts of the country, instead of the official N87 per litre price. This for us shows a clear determination of the unpatriotic operators in the petroleum sector working to circumvent government regulation through blackmail and other unorthodox methods. “Government needs to urgently address the issue of hoarding by marketers and others who have continued to canvass for so-called deregulation in which government would hands-off regulating prices of petroleum products. “Given that petroleum products continue to be the

artery of our economy, indeed our existence, it is naïve and foolhardy to expect that government will handsoff the downstream sector and allow for those whose sole purpose is profit-making to take over full control of determining the prices of these critical products. “The Congress once again commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his stand against the removal of subsidy. The on-going scarcity, for us, is a deliberate strategy by the cabal in the oil industry to force the hands of government to remove subsidy and therefore work against the interest of the Nigerian masses. “They have done this and succeeded in the past, most particularly in the governments of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, through blackmail and deliberate hoarding of petro-

leum products.” However, Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday said most oil marketers were no longer bringing in fuel due to the delay in subsidy payment. Kachikwu, who gave the hint during a tour of filling stations in Abuja, said Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has been the one supplying the country in the last few weeks, but assured that the scarcity will soon be over as discussion are on with major oil marketers. He said: “Also it is because of the delay in the release of funds for the payment of subsidy, a lot of individuals are not bringing in products. So NNPC has been the one supplying the country and it is almost a hundred per cent when most typically we should be CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt Col MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50, $1,671,742,613.58 and 9,905,477.00. The contracts which were said to be for the purchase of 4 Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory. “Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, 2 companies, were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and 9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded. “Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and 9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions. “The findings made so far are extremely worrying considering that the interventions were granted within the same period that our troops fighting the insurgency in the North East were in desperate need of platforms, military equipment and ammunition. Had the funds siphoned to these non performing companies been properly used for the purpose they were meant for, thousands of needless Nigerian deaths would have been avoided. “Furthermore, the ridicule Nigeria has faced in the international community would have been avoided. It is worrisome and disappointing that those entrusted with the security of this great nation were busy using proxies to siphon the national treasury, while innocent lives were wasted daily. “In light of these findings, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the relevant organizations arrest and bring to book, all individuals who have been found complicit in these illegal and fraudulent acts.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Photo News

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Public Relations Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma; Ivie Okujaye; General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, Martin Mabutho; Marketing Manager, DStv, Chioma Afe and Okechukwu OC Ukeje, during the media launch of the DStv Upgrade Season Offer in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: General Secretary Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson; Deputy Speaker House of Representative, Rt Hon Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun and World Bank representative ,Mr Volker Treichel , at the National Assembly Dialogue on Economy, Security And Development in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO; ROTIMI OSASONA

L-R: Project Coordinator International Federation of Pharmacists/Young Pharmacist Group, Adeyemi Oluwatosin present an award of Beacon of hope to Director General NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone; Etisalat Customer, Buchi William; Etisalat Nigeria’s Vice President, Consumer Sales and Services, Ken Ogujiofor and Director, Customer Care, Etisalat Nigeria, Plato Syrimis at the Etisalat Customers Forum in Lagos recently.

National News Tola Akinmutimi

anufacturing sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP for the third quarter this year slumped from the 21.58 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 to an estimated 4.80 per cent year-on-year. Nigerian GDP Report for the Q3 published by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, yesterday showed that the nominal GDP growth of manufacturing in the third quarter was estimated at 4.80 per cent year-on-year, indicating 16.79 per cent points lower than the 21.58 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2014 The Bureau stated that the slump was occasioned by declined output of some activities, coupled with higher operating costs. While noting that electricity generation was better during the quarter, thereby limiting some of the cost increases, it said growth was 4.72 per cent higher than the Q2, 2015 es-

Real sector’s contribution to GDP dips by 16.8% year-on-year

timate. According to NBS, on a quarter-on- quarter basis, the sector grew by 10.63 per centm while the sector’s contribution to nominal GDP was 9.67 per cent during the quarter under review. This growth rate that was lower than 9.78 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of last year and 9.29 per cent in the second quarter of 2015. Specifically, the Bureau stated that the overall GDP in the quarter under review grew by 2.84 per cent yearon-year in real terms, representing a marginal 0.49 per cent points higher than the rate recorded in the preceding quarter but lower by 3.38 per cent points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014. When analysed on quarter on quarter basis, real GDP increased by 9.19 per cent with aggregate GDP standing at N24,313,636.94

…as GDP growth ebbs to 2.84% in Q3 million (about N24.3tr) in nominal terms at basic prices. This is just as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year’s value of N22,933,144.01 million, (about N22.93trn) the Q3,2015 nominal GDP was 6.02 per cent higher just as it was also relatively higher than the growth recorded in the first quarter of this year by 0.85 per cent points. According to the national statistics producing agency, classification of the GDP growth trend on sector-by-sector basis showed that as in the previous quarter, non-oil sector accounted for the larger chunk of the growth recorded, contributing 89.73 per cent but lower marginally than its contribution in the preceding quarter of 90.20 per cent.

The Bureau reported further that in the quarter under review, oil sector’s performance was not particularly impressive, as preliminary data on production reflected a total output of 2.17 million barrels per day (mbpd). The output in the sector represented 0.17 mbpd higher than the volume produced in Q2 and was also marginally higher than the corresponding quarter in 2014 by 0.02 mbpd when output was recorded at 2.15 mbpd. For non-oil sector, the agency disclosed that growth was largely driven by the activities of crop production, financial services, telecommunications, and trade amongst others. Specifically, it reported that the sector grew by 3.05 per cent in real terms last quarter (that is Q3,2015),

a rate that is 4.45 per cent points lower from the corresponding quarter in 2014 and marginally lower from the Q2, 2015. It stated further that 89.73 per cent real terms contribution of the non-oil sector to GDP was marginally higher from shares recorded in Q3, 2014 at 89.55 per cent but lower from the second quarter of this year at 90.20 per cent. A further decomposition of the non-oil sector contributions on major economic sectors basis showed that while mining and quarrying sector, which comprises of four main activities namely, crude petroleum and natural gas, coal mining, metal ore and quarrying and other minerals basis, slowed in the quarter under review, growing by 33.43 per cent year on year.

The agricultural sector grew by 9.33 per cent, marginally higher from the growth rates recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2014 and the second quarter of 2015, when growth was recorded at 9.19 per cent and 9.17 per cent respectively. The Bureau attributed the sector’s growth to higher output in crop production, accounting for 83.83 per cent of overall growth of the sector as a result of the harvest season. NBS also noted that agriculture contributed 24.51 per cent to nominal GDP during the quarter under review, a growth rate higher than the corresponding quarter in 2014 and the Q2, 2015 by 0.74 per cent points and 6.62 per cent points respectively.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, November 18 , 2015

No going back on N25bn TSA probe –Saraki OBIORA IFOH, GEORGE OJI AND FRANCIS EKPONE

enate President, Bukola Saraki yesterday said the senate will not go back on the probe of the alleged N25bn fraudulently paid as commission to an e-collection firm, REMITA for the Treasury Single Account, TSA, in spite of alleged media blackmails. Saraki, gave the assurance while reacting to a motion moved by Senator Dino Melaye concerning a newspaper article allegedly blackmailing the upper legislative chamber investigating the alleged fraud. It was revealed during a motion on November 11 that REMITA collected N25bn in one day as one per cent commission of monies for the services of the firm for the collection of the TSA funds. Following that revelation, the senate directed its Committees on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Accounts to investigate the matter and report back in two weeks. Saraki yesterday vowed that no amount of intimidation will stop the Senate from investigating the alleged fraud, explaining that it was part of its constitutional duties to point out any individual or group’s action that would be injurious to the country. Saraki who later referred the write-up and letters cited by Melaye to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for thorough investigation added that committees to carry out the needed probe on the alleged commission would soon be inaugurated. Melaye, while raising the motion, expressed concern over the write-up, which alleged that the Senate was working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to implement the TSA. He pointed out that it was the motion on the alleged TSA fraud and decision of the Senate to probe it that led SystemSpecs to refund the one per cent it collected from mopped up funds to Central Bank of Nigeria, BN. Also yesterday, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, kicked against the TSA on the ground that it would starve higher institu-

tions of fund for adequate administration. ASUU noted that such policy could have its good intentions, but insisted that government should have engaged representatives of the university system to look at the immediate and remote implications of the policy before its implementation. Chairman of the union in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Dennis Aribodor disclosed this at a memorial anniversary organized by UNIZIK chapter in honour of their former National President, Prof. Festus Iyayi, who died two years ago in an accident involving the convoy of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State. He said: “Our union appreciates measures to promote transparency and accountability in public institutions, including Nigerian universities. “However, we shall resist any policy measure that emasculates university operations or robs the system of its autonomy. All over the world, universities control their finances for the purposes of short, medium and long-term planning.” Aribodor also accused the leadership of some universities of championing crisis ravaging them, citing Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; Lagos State University, Ojo among others as examples. He said: “ASUU has consistently struggled and sacrificed for the improved governance and democratisation of the Nigerian University System to enable it contribute meaningfully to national development. “While these efforts have paid off to some reasonable extent, it is disheartening that some Vice-Chancellors and Chairmen of Governing Councils have continued with unbridled arrogance to manipulate the system to serve their selfish and untoward end. “These Vice-Chancellors and their cronies have literally turned the public universities given to them to manage into fiefdom where their words are laws,” he added. In a related development, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to show transparency, boldness and honesty in explaining to Nigerians the secrecy behind

the remittances and operation of the TSA. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, speaking yesterday in Abuja, said the the exchange of words between the National Assembly and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive over the controversies surrounding the handling of the TSA is worrisome. He said: “On the controversies trailing the operations of the TSA, the conflicting statements emanating from the federal executive, via the minister of information and the CBN underscore the fear being raised by the Senate that there may have been underhand deals in the process. “Whereas the Senate has ordered its committee on finance and public accounts to investigate the remitting and handling of N2.5trn into the TSA, the federal

executive, through the minister of information, had earlier informed the nation that the sum of N1.4trn has been remitted, while the CBN put its figure at below a trillion and announced an estimated collectable amount of N1.2 trn.” He said the party finds this discordant tune and Monday’s brazen attack by the minister of information on whistle blowers as completely unacceptable and contradictory of a government that rode to power on the garb of ‘Mr. Clean’. Meanwhile, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has insisted that the funds that have accrued to the TSA remain intact, challenging anyone who has any fact and figure to the contrary to make such information public. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the minister reiterated the fact that less

than N2trn has accrued to the TSA, hence the one per cent charges on the amount could not have been N25bn. He said apart from the resort to personal insults in the most undignifying statement ever credited to any state governor in Nigeria, nowhere in the statement did Governor Ayodele Fayose controvert the facts as stated concerning the TSA. “For the sake of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, who have been following the TSA debate, we hereby restate the facts: “The TSA deal was initiated by the immediate past administration but only enjoyed a new lease of life under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because of his sterling leadership qualities of accountability, transparency, uprightness and respect for the rule of law. “Any agreement on the

TSA charges was reached long before the present administration assumed office. “Even if the agreement on the charges is one per cent, it could not have amounted to N25bn because the total amount of money that has accrued to the TSA is less than N2trn. “Even if one per cent was agreed as charges, whatever accrues therefrom was meant to be shared among the CBN, Systemspecs (the owner of the Remita software) and the commercial banks; hence no single company could have collected N25bn as charges “As at the time the controversy over the TSA broke, the total amount of money in the TSA was less than N800bn. “The TSA has neither been enveloped in any fraud nor has any money from the account been diverted.”

All Progressive Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu(second right); Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonaya Onu (third right) and others, during a courtesy visit to the National Leader in Lagos, yesterday.

Oil marketers creating scarcity to force removal of subsidy –NLC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

doing 50 or 55 per cent. “But I think this will go away because I’m getting all the majors to get involved. I’m instructing that the majors must take charge of their stations. We are working to ensure that some of the rules are relaxed so that they can bring in products and deliver. “Currently there is enough supply within our facilities. Some of the pipelines issues are being addressed, but we are moving trucks massively. Yesterday (Monday), over five million litres were moved, today (Tuesday) we are doing the same thing and most of the stations in Abuja have prod-

ucts right now and it is just a matter of time. “So I’m instructing most stations to stay open for 24 hours, the police will provide protection for them. I’m expecting majors to move in and supply products and take responsibility for their own filling stations as we are taking responsibility of our stations as NNPC and our retail outlets.” Kachikwu denied that government was considering reduction in the pump price of fuel. “I can be very clear, there is no reduction whatsoever. Frankly, sustaining subsidy based on the rate that we have now is a major problem for the country and is

only happening through the magnanimity of the President. We are looking at the price modulations. By January, we will have a price modulation dynamism that will enable us address the critical issues with the marketers. But the issue of price reduction is not in the horizon at all,” he said. Meanwhile, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has urged the Federal Government to direct private oil depots across the country to sell petrol to its members at regulated price of N77.66 per litre. Chairman of Minna branch of the association in Niger State, Alhaji Ad-

amu Erena, told newsmen yesterday that such step would enable members sell the product at approved N87 per litre. “We don’t have the intention of making our people suffer by selling petrol above N87 per litre approved by government; this is because we sell as we buy from the private depots. “The truth is that NNPC cannot supply us with enough fuel so the private depots are cashing in on that to do what they want. “When you go to the private depots to purchase PMS you are made to pay N77.66 to the company as approved by government.”

News

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Larmode sick, flown abroad for treatment George Oji Abuja

ormer Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Larmode is sick and has been flown abroad for medical attention, his lawyer, Festus Keyamo said. Keyamo made the revelation yesterday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to represent the former EFCC boss. But the senate probe committee has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against Lamorde if he fails to appear before it on November 24. Lamorde is accused of non-remitting recoveries by EFCC to the tune of N2.051trn, comprising seized properties, assets and funds of individuals under investigation by the commission. George Uboh, the Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems, a property and financial recovery firm brought the petition against Lamorde. The petitioner alleged that out of the N2.051trn, Lamorde is to account for N1trn, which he has failed to provide explanations as

to its whereabouts. Uboh also accused Lamorde of doctoring bank accounts and diversion of already seized loots. The probe committee said it had on three separate occasions invited the former EFCC boss to defend the allegations but he failed to honour any of the invitations. Keyamo, who represented Lamorde at the hearing of the petition, informed the lawmakers that his client’s absence was due to some health issues. He explained that Lamorde was abroad for medical treatment and will not be back earlier than December 6. Keyamo said Larmode’s invitation was in his capacity as the EFCC boss and that following his removal as Chairman, all such invitations have subsequently become nullity. Besides, he told the lawmakers that the Senate has no powers to invite anybody in Nigeria to give evidence but can only summon somebody as a witness. According to the lawyer, as soon as Larmode was relieved of his duties, he can only be summoned

Reps to investigate alleged war crimes by Army Ubong Ukpong Abuja

ouse of Representatives yesterday said it would commence investigations into the alleged war crimes committed by the Nigerian Army in the ongoing military operations against Boko Hara in the North East. Chairman House Committee on Defence and Army, Hon. kwewum Rima Shawalu, made the disclosure at the inaugural meeting of the Committee in Abuja. The Nigerian military has faced serious image problem over war crimes allegations levelled by Amnesty International. The group had accused the Army, former

Chiefs of Army Staff, LtGens Azubuike Ihejirika and Kenneth Minimah, as well as former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh amongst others of war crimes, demanding their trials. However, in his speech, Shawulu said the committee would conduct investigations into all claims of human rights abuse and war crimes against the Army to ensure that no personnel is unjustly accused. “In no distant time, the committee will look into allegations of war crimes to ensure that personnel are not victimised,” he said. He said the committee would back the efforts of the Army to achieve its desire of building a strong force and institution.

•Senate threatens arrest warrant

by the Senate as a witness. However, Samuel Anyanwu, chairman of the committee, insisted that Lamorde must appear before it on a final date, which is November 24. Also speaking, Dino Melaye, pointed out that the committee had the powers to summon the former EFCC, emphasising that its constitutional powers

must not be undermined. He warned that the senate should not be coerced into issuing a bench warrant for the arrest of the former anti-graft czar. Another member of the committee, Obinna Ogba, described Lamorde’s failure to honour the invitation as an insult to the National Assembly. “Enough is enough,” he

said. But Keyamo faulted the statements of the committee, saying Lamorde had become a private citizen whom the senate had no jurisdiction over. “The senate has no jurisdiction over private citizens. Lamorde’s failure to appear before the committee is because he thought as a private citizen, the

case has ended with his exit from EFCC,” he said. Addressing newsmen immediately after the interaction, Keyamo said the committee was ignorant of its powers. “The senate doesn’t know its powers. I will do all I can to correct this. The senate has no power to summon a private citizen for investigation,” he

L-R: Director, Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr Emmanuel Evong; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, and Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, during a meeting of the Minister with the Permanent Secretary, Directors, and Heads of Units, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

We can no longer spend N1trn on food importation –Buhari Rotimi Fadeyi

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said the country can no longer afford to spend huge amount of money on importation of food that could be produced locally. Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, puts the average amount spent on importation of foods and agricultural commodities at over N1trn in the last two years. Buhari, who spoke at the inauguration of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of CBN, and the commencement of the dry season farming in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, stated that Nigeria has to diversify its economy in the face of the fall in oil

prices. He said agricultural produce such as groundnuts, palm oil, cotton and rubber plantation used to be the mainstay of the economy before the discovery of oil. The President noted that the economy was built on agricultural activities while gross domestic product grew steadily. Buhari said economic diversification was no longer an option, stressing that it was the only way to economic momentum and the drive to prosperity. He stated the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme has the potential to create million of jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country, while it would also lift thousands of small holder farmers out of poverty. Earlier, Minister of

Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe while commending his predecessor, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina for the innovation introduced into the agricultural system, said he would improve on the innovation. Ogbe said though Adesina had very good intention in the development of agriculture in the country, corruption still crept into the sector under him. The minister said: “People supplied sharp sand as fertilizer, while fake seeds were sold to farmers. There were companies with no traceable address.” According to him, Buhari was very concerned about incessant conflicts between farmers and grazers, saying a new approach to grazing would eventually be introduced.

Ogbe noted that one of the challenges was to persuade youths to embrace agriculture but said the present government was already working this for the benefit of the country. In his remarks, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele said the apex bank was concerned about the high forex spent on importation of food items that could be locally produced. Emefiele said the situation made the CBN to set aside N40bn from the N220bn Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund for farmers at a single-digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent. According to him, agricultural commodities and food import bill had averaged over N1trn in the past two years.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

News

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Reps to investigate alleged Army war crimes Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

ouse of Representatives has said it will commence investigations into alleged war crimes committed by the Nigerian Army in the ongoing operations against Boko Haram in the North East. Chairman House Committee on Defence and Army, Kwewum Shawalu, disclosed this yesterday at

the inaugural meeting of the committee in Abuja. The Nigerian military has faced serious image problem over war crime allegations pushed by Amnesty International. Amnesty International, a foreign-based group, had accused the Army, former Chiefs of Army Staff, LtGenerals Azubuike Ihejirika and Kenneth Minimah, as well as former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh

among other top army officials of war crimes, demanding their trials. However, in his speech, Shawulu said the committee would conduct investigations into all claims of human rights abuse and war crimes against the army to ensure that no personnel is unjustly accused. “In no distant time, the committee will look into allegations of war crimes to ensure that personnel

are not victimised,” he said. He said the committee would back efforts of the army to achieve its desire of building a strong force and institution. The chairman asked the army to brace up for an effective relationship with parliament, saying that in every nation the military maintains good working relationship with the parliament to build a strong democracy.

Lagos issues 27-day ultimatum to land allottees Francis Suberu

agos State government has issued a 27-day ultimatum to government land allottees in Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki axes, urging that they take full physical possession of the land before expiration of the ultimatum on December 14. Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro, who gave the directive on behalf of the state government, stated that the directive is in line with the policy thrust of the government in allocating lands to citizens in residential schemes to assist them meet their desire of building houses of their own. Agoro, however, did not recommend any penalty in case of default but affirmed that the terms and conditions as stated in the State Land Law mandates allottees or holders of Right of Occupancy to fully develop their plots within two years of allocation, which he said informed allocation of plots of lands on the schemes.

He added that building approval for those that are ready to develop their parcels of land in compliance with the directive would be treated with utmost dispatch, and urged affected persons to act without delay. Agoro decried the unwholesome activities of hoodlums who constitute threats to lives and properties of residents in those areas, adding that government would not fold its arms and continue to watch innocent citizens suffer unduly. He counseled the public to verify the status of any landed property before consummating transaction and also obtain information from the Office of the Surveyor-General as well as ensure proper validation of titles from the State Land Registry. The Permanent Secretary stated that such steps would also guard against practice whereby some individuals, families and communities engage in illegal sale of government acquired land.

Absence of suspects stalls trial of Nyanya, Kuje bomb attacks

A L-R: Anambra State Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the meeting of South East Governors in Enugu, yesterday.

Ekweremadu escapes assassination attempt George Oji, ABUJA

eputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday escaped assassination attempt in Abuja, a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Uche Anichukwu, revealed to National Mirror. He said the attempt occurred about 10a.m between Apo Flyover and Dantata Construction Company’s yard, close to old Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Headquarters junction on his way to work. It said, “The suspected assassins who operated in a tinted, white Mercedez Benz AMG E63 without a plate number, were chauffeured by a long-bearded light skinned foreigner, apparently a mercenary. “The vehicle, which was

positioned by Apo Bridge, on noticing that the Deputy President of the Senate’s convoy took the right turn to join the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway instead, made a turn. The occupants attempted to attack the convoy, but were blocked. The

driver violently broke into the convoy and they made several frantic attempts to attack the Senator’s official car. “When charged at by the security operatives attached to the Deputy President of the Senate, the

Benz driver made a u-turn, and partially smashed an oncoming vehicle on the opposite lane of the highway and escaped. “The development has already been reported to the security agencies.”

bsence of five alleged masterminds of Nyanya and Kuje, Abuja bomb attacks stalled hearing in the matter at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday. The prosecution told the court that prison officials could not bring the suspects to court because of logistic problems. The five suspects are standing trial on five counts bordering on conspiracy and terrorism. The accused persons are AbdulAzeez Muhazab,

Arase meets with squadron commanders …set to deploy PMF personnel to northeast George Opara, ABUJA

nspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, yesterday held strategic and operational meeting with squadron commanders across states of the federation meant to ensure that the Police Mobile Force, PMF, would be consistent on its mandate to deliver as the tactical and operational arm of the force. During the maiden interactive session, Arase

stated that some PMF personnel would be deployed to the liberated Boko Haram strongholds in Northeastern states of the country in line with PMF reform initiatives to ensure that civil authority is fully restored. In his words, “Let me warn, men and logistics to be deployed must be in upmost shape and their selection based on competence and strategic needs. In line with the reform vision of the force in repositioning the force,

among yourselves, I urge you to emplace a peer mechanism that will assist you in ascertaining areas of progress, challenges, achievements and possible improvement.” He added that equipment and other logistics meant for the deployment were provided for to enhance their competence and professional strength in carrying out their operations. However, the meeting was designed to review the operations of PMF in view of the nebulous se-

curity challenges and to address the strategic and operational issues associated with the forthcoming elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Other issues addressed included the achievements and challenges facing PMF and to encourage peer review mechanism where squadrons could interact and share their experiences with one another as well as analyse their operational capabilities, thereby adding value to their schedules as squadron commanders.

Ishaka Salihu, Mohammed Jimoh, Abdulwaheed Nasiru and Abdullahi Nasiru. At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecution counsel, Mr Mohammed Diri, expressed disappointment over the inability of prison officials to bring the suspects to court. “My lord, the responsibility of bringing the defendants to court lies squarely with the prison authorities. “My lord, I will like to ask for adjournment and on the next adjourned date; I will make arrangement with the police to use their vehicle to convey them to court,`` he said. In his submission, counsel to the defendants, Mr Nureni Sulaiman, argued that the liberty of his clients was at stake. He urged the court to ensure that the case was given accelerated hearing. Justice Abdul Kafarati, after listening to both parties adjourned the case to December 17 for hearing of a motion brought by the prosecution seeking for a secret trial of the suspects.

South West

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Students demand same pay for govt officials, workers BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

tudents of tertiary institutions in the country yesterday demanded that political office holders be put on same salary scale as civil servants with same qualifications.

The students, who staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, under the platform, Alliance of Nigerian Students Against NeoLiberal Attacks, ANSA, said President Muhammadu Buhari needed to immediately set machinery in motion to block all

avenues through which the nation’s resources were being wasted, citing jumbo salaries political office holders earn as one of such drain pipes. The protesters, who condemned what it called “commercialisation of education by government at all levels,” accused fed-

eral government of poor funding of post-secondary education, claiming that at least 26 percent of the 2016 budget must go to education sector in line with the recommendation of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.

Armed with placards with inscriptions like “Want Free Education”, “Buhari Should Allocate 26% of 2016 Budget To Education”, “No To Extravagant Spending by Political Holders” among others, the students who were drawn from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Benin, Benin, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, among others, said the protest was to commemorate this

year’s International Students’ Day and to draw attention of government to the ills in education sector. Addressing newsmen after the protest, ANSA convener, Comrade Olubanji Oluwole, said only proper funding of education could help nip terrorism in the bud in the country and called for abolition of tuition fees in all tertiary institutions in the country.

Minister asks court to stop libelous publication against him MATTHEW IRINOYE

I Managing Director, Cadbury Plc, Mr. Roy Naaman (left) presenting a gift to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode during a courtesy visit by the Cadbury Nigeria Leadership Team to the governor, recently.

Buhari assures of three-pronged approach to national problems KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Ibadan gave his administration’s policy direction, saying it will shape the future of the country through a three-pronged approach of character, creativity and technology. Buhari, who was the Visitor to University of Ibadan, stated these at the Foundation Day ceremony of the institution, being the grand finale of its 67th convocation ceremony. The president who was represented by his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, pledged better days for Nigeria, stressing that the character of Nigerians is very important in reforming the country, a deficit of which would negatively affect whatever idea one may have. He identified series of challenges confronting the nation including infant mortality, extreme poverty, insecurity, climate change, the rabid activities of terrorists, all which he described as monsters which cannot be allowed to prowl the street without being controlled. “Government of the Federation is com-

mitted to responsive governance focusing on the ordinary man who daily looks for job. But how many jobs can be generated?’’ he queried. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who was installed as the Chancellor of the university, and conferred with the Doctor of Law award by the authorities of the premier institution, blamed the menace of insecurity created by Boko Haram insurgents in Northeastern Nigeria partly on the socio-economic factor of Almajiri, which he advocated must be given an urgent lasting solution. The sultan expressed serious concern over insecurity in the country, especially Boko Haram’s insurgency. According to him, although the insurgents flaunt Muslim credentials, their ideology has nothing to do with the religion “but their deluded minds and the evil intentions of their sponsors. “However, the spread of the group was also aided by other socio-economic factors which are usually glossed over as we search for solutions to this menace. The Northeast sub-

nformation Minister, Lai Mohammed, has asked an Ikeja High Court to stop the national spokesperson of People Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh, from publishing any further ‘libelous’ statement against him. Mohammed had on October 12 filed a N500 million suit against Metuh before Justice Atinuke Ipaye, alleging that the PDP spokesperson defamed him in a press statement on September 20, 2015. He alleged that Metuh accused him of embezzling funds meant for fencing an airport, as well as obtained money to supply ambulances, both in APC-controlled states in the Southwest, which he never did. During yesterday’s hearing, counsel to Mohammed, Mr. Wahab Shittu, brought an application dated November 8, urging the court to “restrain the defendant,

region harbours one of the largest concentrations of Almajiri, numbering over two and a half million, who are outside the conventional school system. “Secondly, the low educational indices also translate into high incidences of relative poverty, with the Northeast posting a figure of 76.3%. This phenomenon would definitely not augur well for the orderly development of our diverse societies and of our nation.” As a way out of the quagmire, the sultan urged ter-

tiary institutions, including University of Ibadan “to take real and sustainable action to address this sad situation.” To him, it was the university system that deployed its intellectual energies and resources to find lasting solutions to this problem in several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, over 50 years ago. “Nothing shall prevent our institutions from doing so if they tackle the issue seriously, sincerely and assiduously,” he said.

n its continuous bid to complement government’s efforts in providing succour to the needy, MTN Foundation has flagged off the distribution of relief materials to three Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camps in North East, Nigeria. The relief materials meant to provide succour and brighten hopes were distributed to displaced persons in Government College, Maiduguri, Borno State; NYSC Camp, Yola, Adamawa State and Poponari Camp, Damaturu, Yobe State. The relief materials included: mattresses, pillows, bed sheets and pillow cases, bathing soaps, disinfectants,

MTN supports IDP with relief materials

cooking pots, kerosine stoves and cartons of noodles. At the presentation ceremony in Adamawa, the Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, represented by Dealer Account Executive in the Sales & Distribution division of MTN, Ms. Pedeino Mathias, said MTN was delighted to contribute to efforts that would ease the plight of the IDPs. “We have come to demonstrate our deepest concern for our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers including children who have been affected by one disaster or the other. As the government

strives to meet the needs of these individuals, this donation is part of the many projects of the MTN Foundation to support the efforts of the government to improve the quality of lives in our communities,” Ugboma said. On his part, the NEMA Camp Coordinator at NYSC Camp, Damare, Adamawa, Alhaji Balarabe Musa said, “We are really happy for the concern shown by the MTN Foundation and we assure you the items will be distributed to the IDPs. We appreciate the donations we receive from individuals and groups and we appeal for more to be able to meet the needs of

his agents, groups or associations from further publishing libelous writing against the applicant pending the hearing of substantive suit.’’ “We need a stop-gap of this court. The claimant is accused of corruption and embezzlement, meaning the claimant is a fraudster and an economic saboteur. This is a claimant who has not been arraigned or found guilty of any corrupt practices and a legal practitioner of great standing. He is currently serving as Minister of Information,” Shittu argued. He added: “The claimant’s legal right has been violated and is threatened by the defendant who seems to be on rampage. The defendant should be restrained from further publication of libelous statements.” In his response, counsel to Metuh, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), urged the court ‘‘to strike out or dismiss the application for incompetence.

the IDPs. NEMA is doing its best on behalf of the federal government to accommodate the IDPs and make them comfortable but we need the support of all.” The chairman of the IDPs, Alhaji Madu Goni who spoke on behalf of the IDPs in the Adamawa camp expressed satisfaction with the gesture shown by the MTN Foundation. He said that “by this donation, they have shown that they care for us and have concerns for our plight. We call on other organisations across the country to emulate this gesture and also support us”.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, November 18 2015

Disaster alert: Expert warns of arbitrary water drilling

… wants regulatory commission set-up KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

L-R: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Dr. Nteranya Sangiga; Deputy Director General Partnership/Capacity Development, IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, and Head of Administration, IITA, Mrs. Sylva Oyinlola, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Osun government and IITA at Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo, yesterday.

Ogun needs N80bn to fix SangoIjoko-Agbado-Ojodu road ...Buhari to commission 40th anniversary projects FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday said the state would need N80 billion to complete the abandoned 32km Sango-Ijoko-AgbadoAkute-Ojodu road which contract was awarded to a Brazilian firm in 2012. Amosun disclosed this during a Town Hall meeting on the 2016 Budget organised by the state Ministry of Budget and Planning at June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta. The governor, who allayed fears over the rumour of abandoning the project, however stressed that his government would complete all projects it started as part of agenda to rebuild the state. He appealed to residents of the affected area to show understanding with his administration,

noting that the dwindling federal allocation coupled with the slight hitches caused by the rainy season was responsible for stoppage of work on the project. Reiterating the commitment of his administration to genuinely rebuild the state, Amosun also assured that President Muhammadu Buhari would lead eminent Nigerians to commission 40 projects scattered across Ogun to mark its 40th anniversary next February. National Mirror, however, recalled that the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan had during the course of his tenure, commissioned about 65 companies facilitated to the state by the Amosun-led administration between April 2011 and May 2015. Amosun gave the list of some of the ongoing

projects to include roads, flyovers, bridges, model schools and ultra-modern markets. The governor, who pointed out that contractors were now back at some construction sites across the state, further boasted that President Buhari would not inaugurate uncompleted projects. While unveiling the plans of his administration for the rural areas, Amosun promised to prioritise rural development in his second term in office, stressing that his deputy, Yetunde Onanuga, had already been assigned to oversee the affairs of the Ministry of Rural Development. He, however, bemoaned the dwindling revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account and called on residents of the state to be prepared to

sacrifice in his administration’s efforts to grow the state’s economy. He further assured that the 2016 budget would focus on prudence, stressing that “the budget is on how to maximise all our opportunities to increase our internally generated revenue without unnecessarily inconveniencing the people.” Earlier in her address, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ms Adenrele Adesina, said the essence of the town hall meeting was to sensitise people about government’s plans and priority projects for 2016 and also obtain their inputs. Adesina noted that next year’s budget would not be different from the previous ones which were geared towards revolutionary programmes to impact positively on the people’s lives.

Lagos warns against intolerance, hate speeches FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State government yesterday cautioned religious organisations in the state against intolerance and hate preaching; promising to clampdown on all such preachers and leaders. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, also

said the state will henceforth start monitoring religious houses including mosques and churches to ensure that clerics refrain from hate sermons. He spoke during a meeting with members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC at the state secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. Abdullateef further said the state government will

next year begin an interface religious conference where all religious bodies in the state, irrespective of their denomination, will participate in seminars to be coordinated by NIREC. He explained that the government will sanction any religious leader that makes hate speeches that are capable of endangering people’s freedom. He said all Nigerians

must develop the habit of tolerating one another since the country’s constitution recognises the freedom and rights of every citizen to express self. The commissioner further urged clerics to immediately deactivate the external loud speaker after using it to call their faithful for prayers, in order not to constitute a nuisance to the community.

ational President, Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners, AWDROP, Michael Ale, has raised an alarm that health disaster is knocking on the doors of many Nigerians except urgent measures are put in place by the newly inaugurated Minister of Water Resources to stem the tide of indiscriminate and illegal water drilling sites in the country. Ale, who is a development expert, raised the alarm yesterday while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over a recent health report on Nigeria which claimed that over 80 per cent of hospitalised patients were admitted for one form of water related problem or another. Describing the report as an eye-opener, he said from his experience as water drilling expert, he could not agree less, stressing, “These ailments among other diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water and effect of water

channels caused by indiscriminate drilling of borehole sites in the country.” He said because of lack of relevant regulation agency in the industry, illegal water drilling is on the prowl in Nigeria, hence a source of concern to practitioners. He called for concerted effort to license and regulate the works of the practitioners so as to protect Nigerians from further water-related health challenge. Recalling how developed countries tackle such problems, Ale, a former governor of World Water Council, urged the new minister to open his doors for constructive criticisms and advice capable of safeguarding the health of all Nigerians. While further calling on the minister to make water a profitable business by strengthening the value chains around water resources, he also tasked him to pursue the National bill on water resources to set up regulatory commission (Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission).

Court jails man over Indian hemp WALE IGBINTADE

ustice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced Gafar Yaya, 37, to five years imprisonment for drug trafficking. Yaya, a trader, was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on a onecount charge bordering on drug trafficking. He had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. Subsequent to his plea and evidence adduced by prosecution, Justice Tsoho sentenced him to five years imprisonment to begin from the date of his arrest. The court held that it was satisfied with the evidence tendered against the accused to establish his guilt. “From all evidences adduced by prosecution, I am satisfied of the guilt of the accused; I pronounce him guilty of the offence and convict him summarily,” the judge said.

“The convict is hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment beginning from August 10, 2015 when he was arrested. “The drug substances are to be destroyed by NDLEA after 90 days if there is no appeal against this judgment. “Aggrieved parties are entitled to appeal within 90 days of this judgment.” Earlier, the prosecutor, Jeremiah Aernan, told the court that the convict committed the offence on August 10. He said the suspect was arrested at Abule-Oki busstop Iyana-Ipaja while selling cannabis sativa alias Indian hemp to touts in the vicinity. Aernan told the court that the accused was subsequently arrested by NDLEA officers and the drug substances seized. After presenting his case, the prosecutor tendered before the court a transparent envelope containing remnant of the substance.

South East

Don’t support call for Biafra, Dimgba urges Ndigbo Ebere Ndukwu

ze Ndigbo in Ikeja, Lagos State, Uche Dimgba, has called on Igbo not to support calls by some aggrieved youths for the sovereign state of Biafra. He said such call will take Igbo people to nowhere. Dimgba, who stated this in an interaction with media men at his palace, while announcing his New Yam festival that will hold this Saturday in Ikeja, called on the agitators to sheathe their swords and device a better means to table their grievances to government. He said: “Don’t join the Biafra thing, it takes us to nowhere. Are you asking us to join Biafra when the Igbo have invested in all parts of Nigeria? “If there is anything that we want, let us discuss it in Nigeria and not in Biafra because Biafra failed and I don’t see the reason we are talking about it now. “I will advise the agitators to fashion another means of airing their grievances. There are many other ways to bring out ones problems and it will be listened to and not to say that you want to go.

Emmanuel Ezeh ENUGU

outh-East Governors’ Forum met in Enugu yesterday without a substantive chairman, amidst increasing pro-Biafran agitation by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB. This is as the governors have convened an emergency meeting involving Ohanaeze Ndigbo, National Assembly members and ministers from the zone and other political leaders to take a decisive stand on the Biafran agitation. The meeting was attended by Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), while Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke.

“It is like my son telling me that he wants to go that I’m no longer his father; go where? It doesn’t work like that; there should be a means for my son to tell me what I have done wrong so we can discuss it. So, my advice is that no Igbo man should join the Biafra thing because it will lead us to nowhere.” Dimgba, however, cautioned that the group should not be neglected so that the situation does not become another case of Boko Haram in the North East. Calling on Nigerians to support the present government, Dimgba advised the President to remain firm and straightforward in his decisions in order to take the country to the path of glory. “My advice is the President should remain firm and straightforward in his decisions; he shouldn’t look at anybody’s face. Whatever that is good for the country he should do it and remain firm on it. “He shouldn’t allow those who believe in tribalism to hijack his government. He should do whatever he’s doing base on merit, let even the minutest tribe be given their right so that Nigeria will march forward,” he said.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Pregnant woman, two kids, 7 others die in Ebonyi Aliuna Godwin ABAKALIKI

ragedy struck in E|bonyi State yesterday, as a pregnant woman, her two children and seven others lost their lives in a ghastly accident at Ogbawusa Quarters junction along Abakaliki-Afikpo road. The accident involved an 18-seater bus, belonging to Ezza South Local Government Area with registration number NKE 28LG and a

crane belonging to a Chinese Company with registration number DKA 17YF. An eyewitness, Mr. Favour John, who spoke to our correspondent at the scene, blamed the accident on the recklessness of the bus driver. He said: “Accidents always happen at this Ogbawusa junction. The truck was trying to turn all the way from Spirando junction, but the bus driver, instead of stopping like others, decided to pass through, but unfortu-

nately rammed into it.” John called on the state government to erect bumps at the junction to prevent further carnage in the area. Another witness, Chibuike Nwali also blamed the driver for causing the accident “The impatience of the driver led to this accident. The most painful thing was the death of a woman and her two kids who died instantly at the scene,” he said. It was gathered that the

driver of the ill fated bus was last week warned by an officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC for over speeding. Caretaker Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area, Mr. Joe Egede, confirmed that the accident was caused by over speeding. Egede said the mass transit company has been closed down for now, stressing that all the drivers will be sacked and new ones recruited with new orientation.

Acting GOC 82 Div Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru (r) addressing newsmen on the protest in the South-East states by the Movement for Actualisation of Soveriegn State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Enugu, yesterday. With him are Commander 82 Div. Garrison, Col. Greg Omorogbe (left) and Chief of Staff, Col. Tokunbo Omoniyi.

Biafra agitation, leadership crisis split South East govs ...Army issues fresh warning The Forum has been without a chairman ever since the former Abia Governor, Chief Theodore Orji served out his tenure and was elected Senator. It was gathered that the meeting, earlier scheduled to hold in Owerre, Imo State, was moved to Enugu as majority of the governors insisted that it must be held at the political capital of the South-East. However, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi was not at the meeting. He also did not send any representative, fueling belief that the Forum was facing leadership crisis. When asked about the vacuum in the chairmanship position, Governor Okorocha, who read the communiqué issued after

the meeting said: “We are all governors from the SouthEast, anybody can be chairman; we are equal, we are all governors; so, I don’t think that is an issue, if there is need for us to come up with a chairman, we shall get into that.” The three point communiqué read: “The South-East Governors met today, 17th November, 2015 and deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows: “To appoint a high level economic advisory committee to harness the economic potentials of the people of the South-East. “The governors are concerned about the poor state of Federal Government roads in the zone, namely, Enugu-Onitsha Road, AbaIkot Ekpene Road, Ow-

erri-Port Harcourt Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, amongst others, which need urgent intervention by the Federal Government. “On security, the issue of MASSOB/IPOB was discussed and they resolved to consult widely with Ohanaeze, traditional rulers, development unions, clergy and other stakeholders on how to ensure lasting peace in the zone. “In furtherance to this, the South-East governors scheduled an emergency meeting of stakeholders on Sunday 22nd November, 2015 at Enugu. “Attendance to the emergency meeting includes all National Assembly members, all honourable ministers and other invited stakeholders from the zone.”

The communiqué added that the governors have advised MASSOB and IPOB “to continue to tow the line of peace as this is the only way to ensure economic development of the zone.” In a related development, the Nigerian Army has issued a fresh warning, restating its resolve to crush all forms of insurrection in the country. Addressing journalists yesterday at the 82 Division headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, the GOC, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru described the increase in pro-Biafran agitations as worrisome, vowing that the Army would not hesitate to invoke its rules of engagement. The GOC, while noting that agitations were based

on constitutional provisions, however warned that a particular line must not be crossed. He maintained that arson attack on government facilities and killing of citizens would not be tolerated but receives necessary force from troops. “In the light of the above, the Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more especially to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson, as well as wanton destruction of lives and properties that once deployed, the Nigerian Army shall apply the Rules of Engagement to the latter in order for peace to prevail,” he warned.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fuel scarcity cripples businesses in Uyo

usiness activities ground to a halt in Uyo yesterday due to fuel scarcity. A News Agency of Nigeria, NAN correspondent who monitored the situation, said few stations sold a litre of fuel for between N170 and N200 to those in long queues. He said the commodity was being sold in the black market at N400 per litre. A tricycle rider, Mr Okon Imoh, told NAN that he bought five litres of fuel from a black market dealer at N2,000. Imoh said he had to increase the transport fare to N150 per drop so he could make a profit. “For fuel to be sold by black market dealers, you will agree with me that the scarcity is artificial. “Some of the fuel stations have fuel but chose to sell to black market dealers who in turn sell at high price. “Government should try and address the prob-

lem that has made us to be suffering to buy a product we have in abundance.’’ he said. The fuel scarcity has led to the drastic reduction of vehicular traffic on Uyo roads and other parts of the state. Some people also walked long distances to their places of work. A civil servant with Akwa Ibom State civil service, Mr Ekefre Akpan, told NAN that he had to park his car to avoid buying adulterated petrol which might cause engine dysfunction. Akpan urged the Federal Government to fulfill its promise of ensuring fuel availability always by reviving the nation’s refineries and possibly construct new ones. He also urged government to put a palliative measure in place concerning the deplorable condition of Calabar–Itu Road, to avoid tankers falling with the consignments.

Delta Assembly rejects Okowa’s nominee as Auditor-General

elta State House of Assembly has rejected the nomination of Mrs Mary-Brown Njokanma as AuditorGeneral of the state on the ground of long service. The rejection of the nominee’s nomination followed a voice vote requested by the Speaker, Monday Igbuya, which was unanimously approved by members during plenary on Tuesday in Asaba. “Considering the credentials of the nominee before the House, it is so clear that the nominee is not qualified for the appointment as AuditorGeneral of the state,’’ Igbuya said. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had earlier forwarded the name of the nominee to the Assembly for screening and confirmation. The nominee, who appeared before the lawmakers, said she was recruited as Clerical Officer into the then Bendel State Civil Service in 1973 when

South South

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

she was 16 years old. She told the lawmakers that during the period, she applied for four years study leave without pay. After due consideration and deliberation, the legislators observed that the nominee had spent more than the required 35 years in the state civil service despite her four years study leave and rejected her nomination. Also at Tuesday’s plenary, the Speaker announced the constitution of 28 standing committees. Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere, was appointed the chairman, Committee on Information, while Miss Eriathake Ibori, representing Ethiope West constituency, was appointed chairman, Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation. Mr Dennis Omovie, representing Warri South II constituency, was appointed chairman, Committee on Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission.

Ayade to announce 700 political appointees next week Richard Ndoma CALABAR

rrangements have been concluded by Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to announce additional 700 names for political appointment next week. A statement released by

Ayade`s chief press secretary, Mr Christian Ita, stated that the governor has reaffirmed his commitment to complete all political appointments before the end of November this year. “Once all appointments have been made, Governor Ayade would have

brought additional 700 people into the state’s payroll,” Ita added. Ita said the appointments was borne out of the governor’s desire to expand government as a way of reducing poverty which plagues young people, increase democratic participation and improve the

value of service delivery. Ayade had last month sent 25 commissionernominees’ names to the House of Assembly, who have already undergone confirmation. National Mirror gathered that as much as 300 special advisers would be appointed by the governor.

Cross-section of people at the inauguration of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Awareness Campaign in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Richard Ndoma CALABAR

ross River State House of Assembly has passed a bill into law to provide equal opportunity to all persons and to prohibit all forms of genderbased discrimination and inequality in the state. The bill was passed by a voice vote of members of the House during a plenary session presided by the Speaker, John Gaul Lebo. Before passage of the bill, some members of the

C’River passes equal opportunities bill into law House spoke on the need to have such a bill, especially at a time the state is battling with challenges of ending the menace of abandoned children on the streets in parts of the state. Hon. Itam Abang, who is the chairman House Committee on Education and member representing Boki 1 state Constituency, said the flooding of the streets by abandoned children is pathetic and requires urgent attention. Abang urged her

colleagues to cue behind the bill to enable it become a law. Also, Ogana Lukpata of Yala II State Constituency and Deputy whip of the House said the bill was an improvement on existing similar laws, applauding the recommendation for the setting up of Cross River State Equal Opportunities Commission to implement the policies recommended in the bill as a sign that the issue of social welfare in the state will experience a face-

lift. Ending street hawking during school hours, improved enrolment in the government’s free education exercise, enhancing gender equality, establishment of home for the elderly, need to accept and offer the less privileged in the society an opportunity to contribute their quota to the building of the society were highlighted by different speakers as some of the advantages of the new law.

Operation ‘Pulo Shield’ recovers arms, ammunition in Bayelsa

ommander, Operation Pulo Shield, OPPS, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, on Tuesday said the joint military team would stem the proliferation of light arms ahead of the Bayelsa State governorship election in December. Okunlola spoke at a news conference held at the headquarters of the joint military team in Yenagoa, where he displayed some seized arms and ammunition. He said the team, which

operates in Niger Delta, was already making success in the recovery of illegal arms and weapons. The commander said OPPS troops, in a raid on November 1, recovered four AK 47 assault rifles, two pump action guns and 228 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition. “The recovery of the arms and ammunition is as a result of intensive patrols and raid on suspected militants camps at Azagbene community in Ekeremor

LGA of Bayelsa. “Three of the recovered AK 47 rifles with serial numbers 565223132, 565217534 and ON9129 were discovered to be among four rifles carted away during an attack on troops by suspected sea pirates in recent times. “Also recovered are two pump action guns with serial numbers TS870-12-2414 and 10243, eight empty magazines and 228 rounds of 7.62 special ammunition. “However, no arrest was made during the operation,

but I want to assure you that we will not rest on our oars in making sure that the activities of these hoodlums are adequately curtailed,” Okunlola said. He solicited the support of people in the entire Niger Delta, urging them to give useful information to aid the troops in tracking and apprehending miscreants. The commander said that such support would help ensure a crime-free and peaceful atmosphere.

North

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Don’t abandon national confab report, church urges Buhari JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

hurch of Christ in Nations, COCIN, yesterday expressed concern over the fate of the outcome of the National Conference conducted last year under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s ad-

ministration. COCIN President, Rev. Dachollom Datiri, while addressing journalists during the church’ 89th General Assembly in Jos, said that it will not do Nigerians any good if the report of the conference was abandoned by the APC led-Federal Government and called on President Muhammadu

Buhari to do something without further delay. Datiri said: “We have not heard any references to the National conference held last year. It would be a shame to let all those efforts come to nothing. “We call on the President and his cabinet to dust the report of that conference and imple-

ment it for the progress and development of the nation. “Government is a continuous process. It is not wise and wasteful to abandon laudable projects like this. “We are praying for President Buhari as he fights corruption in the country. As a church we must do everything to

see that our relationship with God plays out in making us key players in the fight against corruption. Let us make it our goal to be corruption free. “We as a church are calling on the newly appointed ministers to resolve to be selfless in discharging their duties and in their services to the nation so that they can make this country

forward. Nigeria has everything it takes to be a developed country.” Datiri also condemned the barbaric killings of innocent and law abiding Christians in Syria by ISIS stressing that the war has devastated the nation. “We call on world leaders to sincerely resolve this issue and bring this reign of terror to an end,” he said.

ICPC recovers N80bn looted funds WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

L-R: Kwara State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Wasiu Odewale; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Asiat Saka; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; his Deputy, Peter Kisra, and Commissioner for Social Development and Culture, Hajia Iyabo Adeniyi, at their swearing-in at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

FG sues contractor over N9.2bn stoves contract

ederal Government said it has sued the contractor, who allegedly failed to execute the N9.2bn ‘Clean Cook Stove’ contract, to court. Director of Press, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ben Goong, made the disclosure in yesterday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. Goong explained that the ‘Clean Cook Stove’ Project was instituted by

the Federal Government in 2014 to stop the depletion of forest resources caused by indiscriminate felling of trees. He regretted that the stoves meant for women in rural areas to stem the use of solid fossils like firewood and charcoal for cooking were not delivered to the ministry. The director, who declined to give details on the suit, said that it would

be a breach of court proceeding. On the forthcoming 2015 climate change conference in Paris, France, the director said the ministry had commenced plans to participate in the conference. Goong listed some of the end results of climate to include flooding, desertification, shortage in food supply and low quality of harvest. The director noted that

the Lake Chad Basin had also lost so much of its water to climate change. He said President Muhammadu Buhari had given directive for the remediation of the basin in a bid to curb effects of climate change to the environment. The director, however, called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to tackle the effects of climate change.

Onjeh vs Mark suit: Appeal Court reserves judgment

ourt of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, has reserved judgment in the appeal challenging the election of Senator David Mark, as winner of Benue South Senatorial District election. All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Mr Daniel Onjeh, challenged the decision of the National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the election.

Onjeh had dragged Mark to the tribunal and joined Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the outcome of March 28 poll, which he claimed was marred by electoral malpractices. However, the tribunal in its judgment on October 7 dismissed the petition for want of evidence and upheld the election of Mark, a former Senate President.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of the tribunal, Onjeh filed a notice of appeal on 12 grounds, contending that the tribunal did not make its findings on all the vital issues. Onjeh further said the tribunal erred by failing to consider his final written address and determine the relevant arguments proffered in it. The petitioner/appellant insisted that the tribunal had miscarried justice by

deciding against the evidence placed before it. He, therefore, urged the appellate court to invoke the provision of Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act and review the evidence in his petition so as to overturn the decision of the lower court. When the appeal came up for adoption of briefs, Onjeh’s Counsel, Mr. Adetunji Oso, urged the court to allow his appeal and set aside the decision of the lower tribunal.

ndependent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, said it has so far recovered over N80bn looted funds. This includes N23bn funds stashed in 40 banks across the country by looters. A member of the commission, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami stated this yesterday during a session of the North Central zonal advisory committee, held in Lokoja, Kogi State. Salami said ICPC, since inception has received over 4,497 petitions with 899 concluded, while 470 are still pending in court. He stated that ICPC has done so much in the area of securing conviction, contrary to widespread insinuations. According to him, the commission on receiving a petition, investigated and

uncovered 63 illegal degree awarding institutions in the country and in conjunction with the National Universities Commission, NUC, ordered the closure of those institutions. He said the core mandate of the commission was not only to fight corruption but to mobilise and educate Nigerians on the danger of corruption, saying the commission has gone round schools to educate young Nigerians on the need to embrace honesty and integrity in what they do. Salami urged Nigerians to cooperate with the commission saying lack of funds; inadequate witnesses and the nature of Nigerian courts were responsible for delays in court judgments. Governor Idris Wada, who spoke at the occasion described corruption as institutional problem which needs to be checked within the family and community system.

Police arraign 57 rapists in Kano

ano State Police Command said it had arraigned 57 suspected rapists, who defiled more than 57 minors in the last three weeks. Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Muhammad Katsina, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano yesterday. Katsina said the suspects were apprehended within the last three weeks across the state. He said most of the victims were between the ages of two and seven. He also said some of the victims had already been infected with HIV/ Aids, while others were still receiving treatment at the hospital as a result of various degrees of ca-

nal injuries. “One of the suspects was found to have defiled 10 boys in an area in Kano metropolis, while some were found to have infected their victims with HIV/AIDS,” he said. He blamed the high rate of rape, lesbianism and sodomy cases in the state to lukewarm attitude of parents who did not care about the proper upbringing of their wards. The commissioner said the police would ensure that such suspects were prosecuted appropriately so as to serve as deterrent to others. He called on parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children in order to be useful members of the society.

Wednesday November 18, 2015

PDP needs repositioning to regain power at centre

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Fasehun tasks Fashola on masses-oriented projects Ayo Esan

hairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has advised the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), to embark on citizen-friendly projects in the administration of the three portfolios thrust under his care by President Muhammadu Buhari. “Fashola and all other ministers in the Federal Executive Council must steer the Buhari regime to make Nigerian Talakawas, Mekunus, Lagbajas and commoners the centre-piece of all govern-

ment policies,” said the UPN National Chairman in a congratulatory statement circulated to the media in Lagos yesterday. Extolling Fashola’s appointment as making him a super-minister, akin to a prime minister, Fasehun said the former Governor must be humble over his tri-fold responsibility and ensure that the Federal Government made the welfare of the commoner top priority. According to the elder statesman, who is also the Founder and President of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Fashola must shun projects like those that became contro-

versial during his tenure as Governor, including: Installing toll gates on the highways and building high-brow government houses that were priced beyond the reach of the poor. “As Lagos Governor, Fashola came off with the reputation of an achiever because he embarked on massive reengineering of physical infrastructure in the state, especially in road construction. “But now, Fashola’s glory will be further enhanced if he should embark on mass provision of low-cost housing for the poor and other programmes that will improve the living standards of the average Nigerian.”

According to him, Nigerians had rejected the idea of installing tolls gates on federal highways because the country had resources needed to build and maintain the existing network of FG roads. “If any roads must need tolling, it must be purely brand-new constructions embarked upon in publicprivate partnership initiatives,” he counselled. Fasehun said the former governor’s appointment into Power, Housing and Works showed the great faith the president had in him and he must not fail. His words: “We always had the faith that with his achievements in La-

DPC urges INEC chairman to deepen multi-party democracy

INEC is constitutionally charged with the enormous responsibilities of monitoring political parties’ activities, updating voters register and conducting free, fair, credible and acceptable elections. According to him, the integrity, credibility and neutrality of the electoral umpire are essential in boosting Nigerians’ confidence in our political process. “We charge the new INEC boss, Professor Yakubu to be upright in

repositioning the commission. Nigerian people expect INEC to be pro-active and give political parties direction in the quest at safeguarding our participatory democracy. “The era of giving excuses and conducting flawed elections is over as Nigerians are strongly determined to vote in all polls and ensure that their votes are counted and count in the overall result. The outcome of all elections must reflect the will

of the people. “The need for regular training of INEC officials to meet the challenges of staggered elections, card readers and future electronic voting system cannot be over-emphasized. “The competence of the commission’s personnel in conducting elections, the patriotism of security agents covering them and vigilance of the electorate will guarantee credible and peaceful polls in the country.

Recalling that electricity supply remained problematic, despite its privatization, Fasehun urged Fashola to cooperate with the private generating and distribution companies (GENCOs and DISCOs) to provide adequate and affordable power to Nigerians. However, he charged the minister to resist temptations to increase electricity tariff, saying, such must be avoided at this point in time, until power supply improved.

APC will win 2018 gubernatorial election in Ekiti –Ex speaker Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (centre) and his team on arrival at Sabagreia Town during his Community to Community Meet the People Campaign Tour in Kolokuma / Opokuma local Government Area of the State.

he Democratic People’s Congress, DPC has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to formulate and implement policies that will promotes, strengthen and deepen the nation’s multiparty democracy particularly opposition parties. In a press statement signed by the National Chairman, Olusegun Peters, the party said

gos, Fashola would someday attain service at a higher level –but we least expected it would be in the form of being overfed with three major ministries. However, all that glitters is not gold. When you overfeed a child, you produce nausea and vomiting. But as nothing is impossible with God, we hope and pray that this heavy load will be featherweight so that he can meet the expectations of Nigerians generally, not Lagosians alone.”

former speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Femi Bamisile, has said that people of the state daily yearn for good governance and development which have eluded them in the last one year. Bamisile, an All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain said yesterday that the people’s desire for growth had broadened the chance of the opposition APC to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state in 2018. The APC governorship hopeful, who spoke at IseEkiti while distributing free petrol to commercial motorbike operators in continuation of his mobilization drive towards his 2018 governorship ambition, said failure of the present administration in the state to empower people including the teeming youth had shown the inability of the government to connect with the people. “Just as PDP at the federal level failed to perform for 16 years hence Nigerians’ vote for the APC in the March 28 election, that is what is happening in Ekiti State at present and the people will vote out PDP. I can tell you that it is clear that PDP is history in Nigeria,” he said.

The former speaker, who said that the free petrol to commercial motorcyclists was meant to alleviate the sufferings of the jobless Nigerian youths, advising Fayose to complement his efforts in this regard. Bamisile said: “We are trying to meet the needs of the people. This is what the state government ought to be doing that it is not doing. But I can assure you that we (APC) will find a better way to alleviate the people’s needs when we get to office. He, however, advised the state governor to forward to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC evidence of his allegation that the Treasury Single Account, TSA policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was used to divert N25 billion rather than engaging in frivolous criticisms. The APC chieftain said it was quite shameful that only the Ekiti State governor had consistently been maintaining a dissenting voice among the 36 governors concerning TSA, urging him to learn how to exercise restraint. The governor had on Sunday described the TSA initiative as a colossal fraud meant to delude Nigerians, adding that he would continue to shun any meeting called by the Federal Government to deliberate on issue of TSA.

Politics

Alhaji Shuaibu Idris is the former deputy managing director of Dangote Flour and former governorship aspirant in Kaduna State. In this interview with EBERE NDUKWU, he speaks on current national issues in his state and the country at large. Excerpts: How would you react to the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria is broke? The reason we elected President Muhammadu Buhari is to help solve our problem and not to come and say that Nigeria is broke. Okay, Nigeria is broke and so what? General Abdulsalam Abubakar became head of state when the price of oil was $9 per barrel and the system was running. Sani Abacha of blessed memory ran the government when oil price was about $6 to $7 per barrel. Today we are talking about $45 to $48 per barrel. No doubt, there is a huge reduction in the price from $115 to $48, but we have had a period when oil was sold at $9. One can argue perfectly well that Nigeria was not running democracy then, so the cost of governance was not as high as it is now. But that was $9 and we are talking of $48. Needless to say that you can also accused the past Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governments that they didn’t manage the economy very well by saving for the raining day, but what is new about that. Is that news? When Obasanjo left and handed over to Yar’Adua of blessed memory there was over $60 billion in our Excess Crude Account and Foreign Reserve and by the time Jonathan was leaving, he left just about $28 billion. In addition to the money that accrued, they still took out so much. Nobody would want to point accusing fingers to PDP and of course to those who led us from Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to Jonathan and other persons that ran the government. But the point we are making is that it is not the best thing to do, you as the President and Commander-in-Chief, and you the Chief Economic manger of the country to come out to say the country is broke. We didn’t elect the president to come and tell us our problem, we know our problems and we elected him to come and help lead us to solve the problems not to come and tell us our problems. That is my position. What is your assessment of Buhari’s government? I think it is a mixed kind of thing. On one hand, one will say it is good that he doesn’t just jump into the ring to do razzmatazz. However, for someone who had contested for the presidency of Nigeria four times, to take about five months to hit the ground running is also too late. When you elect somebody for a period of four years and you multiply four years by 366 days and you calculate the number of days so far spent, you’ll see we have got into six months which is a little over seven per cent of his tenure, by the time you use 10 per cent of your tenure just planning and the fact that the last six months of any administration is usually used for politicking, so you again cut off these six months for politics, you realised that the period for him to make an impact is shrinking by the day. I think it is a kind of 50 – 50, you can say we have waited for too long and we needed not wait for this too long, you can also say fine, underlining all these waiting game, we are meant to understand some people have made refund – a number of people are still being prosecuted silently and quietly. But if you want to fight corruption and punish people, punishment should not be made in secrecy. This is because the purpose of punishment is to deter other people from committing similar offences. Now if Shuaibu Idris was asked to return $10 billion dollars and he did return it, for heaven sake his name should be published so that people will say okay I won’t steal again because somebody who did was asked to refund the money. But when you shroud it in secrecy and in confidentiality, I think there’s an issue there. You seems to be one of those that say All Progressives Congress, APC was not prepared for governance? I think if I say they were not prepared for governance it is a bit to the extreme. So far, if you look at campaign promises and the document produced by the APC on the economy where they said they will work on economy with particular reference to areas like agriculture and solid minerals, one will see that they were reasonably prepared. However, remember the APC is not PDP nor is the PDP, APC, what do I mean? From an outsider perspective, APC was outside

Wednesday November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP needs repositioning to regain power at centre

Then when you look at time like I have said, at any point in time that you are looking at five to six months before you bring the cabinet- this is not a parliamentary system of government where somebody will form government and then appoint ministers from the house of the parliament. Once a president is sworn in, a government is automatically formed, so it is not that Buhari has not formed government. The phrase forming cabinet is different. From May 29 when he was sworn in, is a government. Whether it took him five months or six months – maybe we can understand from the point of view of frugality, okay there is no money let me adopt a delay tactics so that I can further saved money.

Idris

government, they couldn’t have known the level and depth of the rot, so even if they were prepared, by the time they went into governance and took over the mantle of leadership they might have thought that the depth of the rot is just five inches only to realise it is 10 inches. So, if the preparation is to cover a ditch of five inches and then you realised the ditch is 30 inches obviously the entire preparation is wrong and you have to restrategise. I think one has to be extremely careful in either criticizing the APC government as to whether they are prepared or not. This is because the critic is coming from outside as opposed to an insider who probably would know the depth of the crisis. How do you see the composition of Buhari’s cabinet? I think number one, a lot of us were taking by surprise by men and women that were nominated as ministers. A lot of people expected university professors or people that we have never even heard of. But we saw people that we all know have been the gladiators. Now if you follow what Pastor Tunde Bakare said that these are people that have experiences, either they have held one position or another in the past. If you take for instance our father , Chief Audu Ogbeh for example, he was a minister when I was in secondary school and he is now coming to be a minister again, the wealth of experience could be there. Take Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Kayode Fayemi or Babatunde Fashola, they were governors, one or two of them were chief of staff and another one was speaker in the state House of Assembly, so, experience is there. However, be that as it may, the fact remains that when Buhari said he was taking time to look for certain quality materials, the body language that an average Nigeria was looking at was a keg that is clean, that have not been put on fire so there is no stain, if you like a stainless steel. However, what we are seeing are the same people so, obviously a lot of people were taking by surprise and if there is anything one or two people said, there has been a kind of political loss in the kind of surprise that President Buhari gave us .

I think one has to be extremely careful in either criticizing the

APC

government as to whether they are prepared or not

The Governor of Kaduna state, your home state, Malam Nasir el-Rufai has been accused of destroying some structures in Kaduna State. How will you react to this? Well, the assessment of any governor or even the president four months into their administration is a bit premature and too short to say this is good or bad. However, what Malam el-Rufai has been doing is just a careful renew of the impunity that was sustained for 16 years. What do I mean? We’ve had schools that have had sizeable amount of land that were there during Sadauna Ahmadu Bello’s time till recent past. These lands were there possibly for expansion, increase in classrooms, increase in residential quarters for staff and so on and so forth because the plan was that population is going to explode and these schools could be expanded to accommodate the new population. Now successive government decided to unilaterally and with some level of impunity allocate these pieces of land for residential purposes. We have a situation in the state where somebody’s residential house is a shouting distance to a classroom. Now, if Malam Nasir decide to say gentleman your house is encroaching to government land, we do know you obtained a Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, before you build but this is wrong and I’m demolishing – for me I don’t see anything wrong or bad in that. However, where el-Rufai erred and I think sincerely and more sincerely erred is one, there was no mention of compensation for owners of those houses that are being demolished or going to be demolished. Two, there was not sufficient notices. When one is residing in a place for 10 years, some even longer and he is asked to move for the house to be demolished, you don’t know his economic and financial position whether he can afford another place. If you say he should move tomorrow, may be he has one wife or more wives with children, where does he move to? We need to be sensitive. What are the chances of your party coming back? You see it is normal in a democracy for a party to win election run government and after sometime it loses election and another party takes over. Look at the United Kingdom, Margret Thatcher how long was she Prime Minister, John Major took over, before her was Conservative, when we had Tony Blair taken over from John Major how long did Labour Party stay? Then Gordon Brown took over and now back to Conservative. Absolutely there is nothing new with party changing hand, Ronald Regan was there in US, he took over from Carter who was Democrat after him Bush took over then Clinton came in as a Democrat, Bush junior a Republican again took over from him and now we have the Democrat again. So, parties interchange. After 16 years, PDP had been thought a lesson and I hope and sincerely pray that the party has learnt its lesson because what has happened in the PDP and what made the PDP to lose are basically three things – you make a statement and you don’t abide by the statement. As gentlemen and women our words should be our bond, we said w are going to do zoning, Yar’Adua took over as a northerner, it was the turn of the northerner but by providence God called Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan completed the tenure, for the desire to have peaceful Nigeria the North was prevailed upon not to contest, to allow Jonathan do the second term. I would have thought PDP should have let go that position in 2015 to a northerner but that agreement was breached with ignominy and impunity.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

From The Civil Service

FG takes measles campaign to 96 IDP camps P.16

Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

ewly appointed Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki, has disclosed that no fewer than 400,000 young Nigerians under the age of five die yearly of diarrheal, pneumonia and other related diseases. Shamaki, who was represented by the Director, Family Planning Health of the ministry, Dr. Wapada

Over 400,000 die yearly from diarrhea, pneumonia, others –FG Balami, MNI, while speaking on Tuesday, in Abuja at the National Dialogue on Amoxicillin DT and Zinc/ Lo-ORS, an event that coincides with this year’s World Pneumonia Day noted that pneumonia and diarrheal diseases remain major kill-

ers of young children in Nigeria that must be adequately addressed. Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, and Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Fam-

ily Health PACfaH clarified that the huge number recorded for the diseases drove the meeting that would focus more on the treatment of childhood killer diseases. She disclosed that the project was also designed to

L-R; New ministers, Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Claudius Omoyele Daramola; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of State Solid Minerals, Abubakar Bawa Buari and Minister of State, Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, taking oath of office during swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

address four critical areas such as treatment of childhood Diseases-Pneumonia and Diarrheal, routine immunisation, nutrition and family planning would go a long way in strengthening the health system in the country. According to her, the essence of the dialogue was to chart a course to put an end to the diseases in the country. He said: “We are gathered here today -the World Pneumonia Day - to focus on the treatment of childhood killer diseases -Pneumonia and Diarrheal which are leading killers of children under the age of five years. “In 2013, about 1.5 million children died globally and about 400,000 Diarrheal 201,368 and Pneumonia 177,212 in Nigeria from these preventable diseases.” She added that: “Another issue to deliberate on during the dialogue is the need to scale up the use of Zinc and L-ORC tablet as the first line drug for the management and treatment of childhood Diarrheal disease. “I believe that this array of participants will create

AEMA to honour Africans for entrepreneurial ingenuity Chidi Ugwu,

ABUJA

s part of measures to recognise and encourage established individuals, corporate and other relevant bodies who have propelled economic growth in the continent, a body, African Economic Merit Awards, AEMA, has said preparations are at advance stage to honour de-

serving individuals. According to AEMA at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, the organisation explained that recipients of the award would benefit from enhanced visibility of their work, through the communication and promotion campaign coordinated by the partner organisation bestowing the award, even as their work would also

We’ll grow biotechnology to create 25,000 jobs yearly –FG

P.16

be showcased at the event and community programme initiatives around Africa.

Addressing journalists, President and Founder, AEMA, McEva Temofe said apart from appreciating efforts of successful entrepreneurs towards initiating more grassroots development, “this platform is to encourage Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs, with

massive live impact as well as empower the people at the grassroots with structured educational, agricultural and technological programmes.” He members of the advisory committee of AEMA’s are picked from over 17 African countries. His words: “They are individuals with credible records, and will support the jury and the secretariat by providing guidance

Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism too huge for govt alone –NIHOTOUR

P.37

on the development of the award programme.” Speaking earlier in a similar vein, an executive member of the team and media practitioner, Senator Iroegbu, charged journalists to cue into the programme as it is also targeted to be a media friendly event aimed at touching every strata of the economy. He urged the media to do more in the area of in-

good opportunity for the various stakeholders to deliberate on the prospect, challenges and strategies required to bring Nigeria in alignment with the current joint guidelines of the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, recommending Amoxicillin as the first line treatment for childhood Pneumonia.” Speaking at the occasion, the Project Director for PACFfaH, Dr. Mohammed M. Saleh explained that in any disease or sickness, quick interventions are very paramount for long lasting solution. Dr. Saleh urged the government to encourage the domestication and increased production, distribution and appropriate promotion of commodities by local healthcare providers and private sector actors by enacting friendly policies that would ensure the targeted communities have access to the life-saving product. He called on government to endorse the usage of recommended tablet, Amoxicillin DT and Zinc/Lo-ORS, with a universal coverage to assist in reducing morbidity and mortality of children under age 5 in Nigeria.

vestigating and reporting some giant technological exploits of some Africans in Africa with the intention of promoting the continent’s rich technological heritage. AEMA plans to hold the maiden edition of the prestigious award from in 2016 in Nigeria while the second and third editions may be held in both Kenya and South Africa in that order.

Why Nigerian languages are dying –Linguists

P.38

Civil Service

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

We’ll grow biotechnology to create 25,000 jobs yearly –FG Chidi Ugwu, ABUJA

he federal government has promised to grow the nation’s biotechnology to enable it complement current efforts in bridging the vacuum created by falling oil price in the country. D i re c t o r- G e n e r a l , National Bio-safety Management Agency (NABMA), Dr. Rufus Egbegba, stated this in a statement recently made available by his agency to National Mirror. The release said from the planned transformation, no fewer than 25,000 jobs would be created through bio-

technology-related institutions in the country. Egbegba said the jobs would be created along the value chain of biotechnology products which are regulated by his agency. “With a well regulated biotechnology sector, up to 25,000 jobs can be created annually, and this will increase with time because more biotechnology products will be made available in the market and activities will be more. Job creation is critical in this sector. “With an agency in place to regulate the sector, the biotech industry will be more vibrant. You now have

people who will be employed in the biotech industry. The companies are in place, doing research, producing genetically-modified organisms and deploying the technology. So, along the line, there will be increased direct and indirect employment through the distribution chain of biotechnology products,” the statement quoted Egbegba as saying. The release further quoted the agency’s boss as saying that modern biotechnology has great potential to develop products, materials and living systems that could be used to expand the economy, especially in the area

of agriculture. It maintained that with the establishment of more laboratories, more foods would be produced for domestic consumption and for export, and that the agency would generate revenue for the country. The agency, the release noted, was ready to use biotechnology in achieving food security for teeming population in the country. “We are looking at the situation where we have food in abundance in the Nigerian system. Now, you can have improved crops, improved animals and other organisms; you develop new plants that can have higher produc-

tivity, and are disease and pest resistance and herbicides tolerant. So, with such stress on crops being reduced, you discover that these crops will attain their full potential,” the release furthered reads. Arguing that the nation’s textile industry had been comatose “simply because of inadequate quantity of locally produced cotton to drive the textile industry”, the statement explained that African countries like Burkina Faso had recorded suc-

Group lauds NITDA over job creation Chidi Ugwu, ABUJA

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire and Head, Dentistry Division, Ministry of Health, Dr. Bimpe Adebiyi, during the ministerial press briefing on 2015 National Oral Health Week in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: DESKROTIMI OSASONA

FG takes measles campaign to 96 IDP camps Adeola Tukuru, ABUJA

he National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) yesterday revealed that it would extend its follow up campaign against measles to 96 Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) across the Northern states. According to the NPHCDA Executive Secretary, Dr. Moham-

med Ado, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, the states included Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Ado further explained that the first phase would start in 19 northern states from November 21st to 26th, 2015 while the second phase would be between January 28th and 1st February, 2016 in 17 Southern states. Saying that plans

were on to achieve 95 per cent coverage, he added that the campaign became important to reduce measles epidemic in the country. According to him, the agency had partnered other relevant agencies, especially Non Governmental Organisations, to ensure the campaign is successful. He said: ”The children to be targeted are from 9 months to 59

months. It is very important because a successful campaign would reduce 4 per cent of under five mortality in the country. “We want the media to also help us create more awareness on this campaign for the benefit of the masses. It will hold virtually at all public places including bus stops, churches, major traffic points, border towns among others.”

cess in producing genetically-modified cottons that are resistant to worms. “With modern biotechnology that is safe, there will be more raw materials for the industry and diversifying the economy is now more feasible than ever. The National Biosafety Management Agency will enforce rules to ensure that only healthy and environmental friendly products are produced in Nigeria,” the release reads in part.

resident, Integrity Network Initiative, INI, Comrade Dominic Ogakwu Jr., has commended efforts of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, to create employment in 2,000 communities in Nigeria. Comrade Ogakwu Jr., gave the commendation during a familiarisation visit to the agency by members of Integrity Network Initiative to brief the leadership of the agency on their efforts to support President Muhammadu Buhari deliver on his promise to bring change and grow the nation’s economy. The president quoted the Director General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack, as saying during a familiarisation visit by leadership of INI that “with the falling oil prices, ICT offers a credible replacement to youth empowerment in creating jobs and wealth.” Ogakwu said further, “Mr. Jack enumerated projects of the agency to include the establishment of a cyber kiosk which is a triangular business model comprising of corner

shop, eatery and cyber café in over 2000 communities with full zero power requirement through a multi stakeholders partnership.” He said if the projects were properly managed, millions of jobs would be created, economy would be boosed, poverty woiuld be reduced and the problems of insurgency and youth restiveness would be forgotten. The Director General opined that it had become necessary to establish what he described as “NITDA Civil Society Collaborative Forum” to help create awareness and drive the vision with integrity and commitment to enable proper and adequate participation of youths to maximize and achieve the goals of the project, since the agency was established for the development and regulation of ICT in the country. However, Comrade Ogakwu Jr. thanked the leadership of the agency for offering qualitative and visionary leadership and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to support the Director General to realise the great vision for the youth of Nigeria.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Views

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Biafra: The wound that refuses to heal YOMI OBADITAN

iafra War, Nigeria’s avoidable 30 month civil war, ended in January 1970. In a broadcast signaling the end of the war, General Yakubu Gowon, the then head of state made the famous “No victor, no vanquished” statement. However, in reality it has since been proved that there were the victors and there were the vanquished. The victor was the Nigerian state; the vanquished the Igbos. General Yakubu Gowon tried to heal the wound with the three Rs - Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. Good as the mantra sounds, our friends from the Eastern part have kept telling the nation about the marginalization they suffered in the hands of our rulers. First, the Igbo’s first army general came almost 40 years after the war; and no Igbo police officer has ever been made the Inspector General of Police. And for the nation’s highest political post, the President, it appears a no go area for Igbo politician. The coming of President Muhammadu Buhari to power and his perceptively selective appointments opened old wounds that no single Igbo man was among the top seven political leaders in the nation. Chief Chuwkemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a Lt. Colonel in the Nigeria Army and the first military governor of old Eastern Region after the January 15, 1966 coup led by his kinsman, Major Chwuma

Kaduna Nzegwu, championed the Biafran secession cause that resulted into the 30 month civil war. While justifying the birth of Biafra, Chief Ojukwu had stated: “Biafra nation were fighting for unity, self determination, social justice.” Also justifying the same Igbo secession bid, prolific author Chinua Achebe had written: “The only thing left for persecuted Easterners to do was to establish our own state and avert destruction.” The Biafra war reportedly claimed over six million lives from both sides. Forty years after the end of the war, it seems the drumbeats of war are on again in South East zone, the Igbo enclave. The wound might have been healed but the scars persist. Although there is no pogrom and the Igbos are not facing persecution in the dimension of the level that led to the civil war; that ethnic nationality appears not comfortable with the nation’s politico-economic sheme of things. The major grouse of Ndigbo is political marginalisation. The Igbos were favoured under former President Goodluck Jonathan. They were the pillars that held Jonathan administration intact. It is unsurprisingly, therefore, they supported Jonathan to the hilt in the last general elections. Jonathan’s defeat was a big loss to Ndigbo. It is not surprising that what they could not derive through the ballot boxes, they believe that agitation for a Biafran Republic may grant them.

IS PAINFUL THAT

MAJORITY OF THE PROTESTERS WERE NOT BORN BEFORE

THE CIVIL WAR .

SO,

IT IS EASY FOR THEM TO AGITATE FOR WAR It is painful that majority of the protesters were not born before the civil war. So, it is easy for them to agitate for war. Those who sufffered as a result of the last civil war and alive today will likely think twice before venturing into another war. Novelist George Santayana asserted that, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Both the Federal Government and the states agitating for secession cannot pretend that all is well. The Igbos have the right under African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the United Nations Charter on Human and People’s Rights to demand for a separate state. But the agitators must follow the law. The procedure is clear enough; but to do otherwise would runs contrary to the law of the land, this would likely make mockery of the intelligence of the great men and women of the Igbo nation. The National Question has been an old challenge. The almost forgotten 2014 National Constitutional Conference re-

port may not be the answer to the present agitation. We cannot pretend not to remember that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their leaders boycotted the conference. How then do we expect them to implement report a conference they rejected ab initio? The nation is better off when people’s feelings and opinion are allowed to be expressed. The current agitation for the state of Biafra has confirmed what our founding father expressed earlier that “Nigeria is not a nation, but a mere geographical expression”. If after 55 years of independence, we are still clamouring for separation, it goes a long way to reveal that Nigeria is comprised of strange bedfellows. The Igbo youths have the rights to express themselves and make legitimate demands. But it must be done in a civil and legal manner. The burning of Nigerian flags and the tearing of Nigerian passports are violation of the law of the land. No government will fold its arms when a group of seemingly aggrieved people take the law into their hands. We expect the Igbo leaders to dialogue with the Federal Government before their youths lead them to commit harakiri. President Buhari should address the perceived marginalisation of the Igbos. A statesman is not only a father of his people, but a man who sees solution to every challenges. Obaditan wrote from Oshogbo, Osun State.

Nigerians reject proposed electricity tariff hike

SEGUN IMOHIOSEN

his nation’s perennial power supply deficit saga that has plunged Nigerians into the throes of anguish and hardship over the years needs a more pragmatic approach from the government now more than ever before in order to create conducive socioeconomic environment for the people. There is need for proper planning as population keeps surging. Poor Nigerians have been hard hit by the waves of the insensitivity of the Discos with regards to regular tariffs review that makes the poor consumers pay more for the electricity they hardly enjoy. Bearing in mind the subsisting economic reality on ground today, to ask Nigerians to pay more for electricity would be gagging the people who have already been overly stretched by the reason of the constraints in economic activities that have translated to little or no resources for them. The proposed 40 percent increase is unfortunate, rather undeserving, and would be most unbearable if implemented. In this context, the matter arising as it were is, what exactly is the standpoint of the Federal Government in all of this? In retrospect, sometime in February 2014, there was an FG organised talk shop on power sector financing. It was a fantastic piece of information that could ordinarily wet the appetites of Nigerians, who have longed over the years to see Nigeria get out of the perennial sei-

THE PROPOSED 40

PERCENT INCREASE IS UNFORTUNATE,

RATHER UNDESERVING, AND WOULD BE MOST UNBEARABLE IF IMPLEMENTED zures of everyday blackout. Anything that would address and bring succour on electricity is welcomed by Nigerians. Interestingly, the conference held at the State House Banquet Hal, Abuja. The thrust of the conference hinged on the transformation agenda of the then President Goodluck Jonathan as it affected power sector reforms. Ultimately, the direct beneficiaries of the fund influx were the Transmission Company of Nigeria; the Discos; Gencos; NIPPs; the emerging IPPs and other sector service providers. The coference was expected the stakeholders the opportunity to physically sight and comprehend the magnitude of emerging opportunities in the Nigerian power sector. So, having sighted this so called magnitude, what suddenly went wrong when the investors gallantly opted for the acquisition of PHCN assets privatized by the FG? How on earth do they assume they were going to run the business from inception? The truth is, when the country unbundled the power monopoly and the Discos bought the

power assets, if they don’t have money to inject into the business, why go into it in the first place? It is very clear that the Discos borrowed money to buy the assets. Were the Discos expecting government to run the business for them? To make Nigerians pay more for electricity is conscienceless, unconscionable and ultimately devilish in approach. From all of these outfalls, it is almost apparent that the Discos are somehow from within the same group that sold them out. That may partly account for the calls for bail-out to these so called private investors. At some point in 2014, NERC insisted on investments to strengthen distribution networks. Can the Discos tell Nigerians how much of their monies they have invested? It is significant that the Nigerian publics see for themselves the purpose of that conference, but today what is happening with the Discos leave little to chance. Meaning, the burden of their investment now lies on the shoulders of the poor citizenry who are to be made to pay higher tariffs for the electricity they have barely enjoyed. Would we say that the enormity of the investment is weighing them down to the point that poor Nigerians should be the ones to bear the brunt? What was the mindset from the very onset when the Discos were opting for the acquisition of the assets? For the record, there was a time in 2014 when labour and FG disagreed over tariff increase; and now here we are again being goaded for 40 percent

increase. Nigerians should be wary of the Discos and the Federal Government. Why would there be any increase in electricity tariff when there has not particularly been any appreciable improvement in power supply? Sometime ago, the FG gave over N200 billion to these companies as a bailout at no interest. Why would the government dole out so much funds to these private investors without any positive impact on the poor Nigerian consumers? Moreover, there is this fixed monthly tariff, which is whether you use electricity or not, automatically you are surcharged. But the fact is that the investors should invest more money into their business until such a time they can begin to reap the dividends of their investment. However, upon these various bail-outs, who is bailing out the poor Nigerian being made to pay more electricity tariff. It is apparent that the Discos are being over-pampered by the government. I Think the era of instant coffee and instant milk is over. So, to keep treating these companies as overgrown babies with no proper hormonal make-up fit for the responsibility they brought upon themselves is maleficent. Segun Imohiosen wrote from Abuja via segunimohiosen@yahoo.com 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, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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

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

With Mahmood Yakubu in charge of INEC

ith the swift nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari, approval by the Council of State, ‘screening’ and confirmation by the Senate and subsequent swearing-in of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside five other Commissioners, the controversy trailing the appointment of Hajia Amina Zakari to head the electoral umpire in acting capacity has been effectively put to rest. Presently, INEC is not only properly constituted to lawfully carry out its duties as the nation’s apex electoral body, but is set for its first litmus test: the Kogi governorship election coming up on Saturday, November 21, as well as that of Bayelsa State slated for Saturday December 5. Yakubu, on assumption of office penultimate Monday at INEC headquarters in Abuja, said he would not just be courageous enough in tackling the tasks set before him, but would be guided by the Constitution and Electoral Act in so doing. “I am not sure it is really difficult; this is simply because the Constitution is very clear. The roles and responsibilities of INEC are clearly spelt out and the provisions of the Electoral Act are also very clear. Our responsibility is to

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN, THE JOB MAY PROVE NOT AS SIMPLE AS

YAKUBU HAD ASSESSED IT ensure that in whatever we do, we are guided by the letter and spirit of the Constitution; and these we are going to do with courage”, he was quoted as saying. He earlier stated at the Senate screening that the responsibility of his team was to consolidate on and add value to the operations of INEC. “Nations don’t make progress by always starting afresh; nations make progress because there is a building block which we will now build more (on)”, he said, an indication that he wants to follow the foot-steps of his predecessor in office, Professor Attahiru Jega, who is widely acclaimed as the best manager of the INEC edifice since the nation’s return to civil rule in 1999. Because the job of INEC and the conduct of elections are inextricably entwined, all attention seems concentrated on how best the Yakubu team manages future elections efficiently and transparently. This will help demystify the often spirited public agitation for the timely release of funds to INEC long before election dates;

update of voters’ register; secure, efficient and effective deployment of logistics, particularly in respect of the movement of election materials and staff on election days; and other related challenges. For Yakubu, however, there is the additional task of improving on the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and Card Reader technology introduced by his predecessor, which injected transparency to an appreciable extent in election management, but were marred by failures, imperfections and human errors that delayed polls in many polling units during the last general elections. Still lingering, too, is the sensitive burden of redrawing the boundaries (delimitation/delineation) of constituencies that is long overdue, but which the Jega regime and the one before it, led by Professor Maurice Iwu, were not able to pull through because of unresolved contentions. Public expectation is that the Yakubu-led INEC should be able to find ways of navigating this challenge in a manner that will attract the least suspicion of cheating by any of the nation’s federating units. No less important is the need for INEC to encourage internal democracy within the political parties if it wants its job to be

ON THIS DAY November 18, 1993 In South Africa, 21 political parties approved a new Constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule. The country’s current Constitution, the fifth, was drawn up by the parliament elected in 1994 in the first non-racial elections. It was promulgated by President Nelson Mandela on December 10, 1996 and came into effect on February 4, 1997, replacing the Interim Constitution of 1993.

free of avoidable hitches. The positive note on which Yakubu ascended his new office is quite encouraging, particularly his reference to being courageous and seeing the job as not really a difficult one when done within the confines of the law. But herein also can be found the greatest challenge that would test the adrenalin of the new INEC helmsman to its limit. For, the Nigerian political class is more at home with impunity. It is a class that possesses extreme capacity for mischief, such that demands special courage to stay on track with the law and shun leprous compromise. When the chips are down, the job may prove not as simple as Yakubu had assessed it, especially should the public find anything fishy with the body language of INEC under Yakubu. The strident call for the removal of Zakari, the former INEC Acting Chair, over her alleged family relationship with President Buhari is enough tutorial for Yakubu and his team. The truth, it would seem, is that providence and the mood of the nation assisted Jega to swim against INEC’S numerous challenges while he was in charge. We wish Yakubu similar success provided he keeps to his avowals.

November 18, 2003

November 18, 2013

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in the United States ruled 4 to 3 in the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health suit that the state’s ban on samesex marriage was unconstitutional; and gave the state legislature 180 days to change the law. This made Massachusetts the first state in the US to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples. It was a landmark state appellate court case.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United States government agency responsible for civilian space programme as well as for aeronautics and aerospace research, launched the ‘MAVEN’ probe to Mars. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) is a space probe designed to study the Martian atmosphere while orbiting Mars.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Health & Wellbeing Neglected pregnant women in Oriade LCDA run to TBAs 22 SAM EFERARO

he first ever World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) began on Monday as part of efforts by the World health Organisation (WHO) to increase awareness on global antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. With the theme, “Antibiotics: Handle with Care,” the World Antibiotic Awareness Week also coincides with the release of a multi-country survey by WHO which not only reveals the gross abuse of this class of drugs in most countries but also a widespread public misunderstanding about antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. According to WHO, a growing number of infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and gonorrhea which are usually treated with antibiotics are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective. This development, referred to as antibiotic resistance, occurs due to misuse and general abuse of antibiotics by people. Nigeria, one of the 12 countries involved in the survey, is reputed as a country where drugs (including antibiotics) are generally sold everywhere, including motor parks and public transport vehicles mostly without doctor’s prescription. Most Nigerians also indulge in self- medication especially with antibiotics. For now, the country is yet to adopt any serious infection prevention and control measures and is not known to have embarked on any surveillance for antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause. Over-use and misuse of antibiotics, a common occurrence in Nigeria is said to increase the development of resistant bacteria. According to WHO, while antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, its misuse in humans and animals is accelerating the process. Thus, antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality. “The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, and governments now recognize it as one of the greatest challenges for public health today. It is reaching dangerously high levels in all parts of the world,” said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, while launching the multi-country survey findings. “Antibiotic resistance is compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and undermining many advances in medicine,” she further said.

Maternal death declines worldwide –UN 21

World Antibiotic Awareness Week

Infections becoming harder to treat, WHO warns

WHO in its latest Fact File on antibiotics further warns: “In countries where antibiotics can be bought without a prescription, emergence and spread of resistance is made worse. Similarly, in countries without standard treatment guidelines, antibiotics are often over-prescribed by health workers and over-used by the public. “Without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.” Unfortunately, awareness about the growing danger of antibiotic resistance is said to be very low in all countries as many are yet to pay the deserving attention to its public health implications. According to the multi-country survey findings, Almost two thirds (64%) of some 10 000 people who were surveyed across 12 countries say they know antibiotic resistance is an issue that could affect them and their families, but how it affects them and what they can do to address it are not well understood. “For example, 64% of respondents believe antibiotics can be used to treat colds and flu, despite the fact that antibiotics have no impact on viruses. Close to one third (32%) of people surveyed be-

ACCORDING TO WHO WHO, A GROWING NUMBER OF INFECTIONS SUCH AS PNEUMONIA,

TUBERCULOSIS, AND GONORRHEA WHICH ARE USUALLY TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS ARE BECOMING HARDER TO TREAT AS THE ANTIBIOTICS USED TO TREAT THEM BECOME LESS EFFECTIVE lieve they should stop taking antibiotics when they feel better, rather than completing the prescribed course of treatment,” WHO further revealed. “The findings of this survey point to the urgent need to improve understanding around antibiotic resistance,” says Dr Keiji Fukuda, Special Representative of the Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance. “This campaign is just one

of the ways we are working with governments, health authorities and other partners to reduce antibiotic resistance. One of the biggest health challenges of the 21st century will require global behaviour change by individuals and societies.” To prevent a looming disaster where minor injuries and common infection can no longer respond to existing antibiotics, WHO advises that people should, in the first place, prevent infections by regularly washing hands, practicing good food hygiene, avoiding close contact with sick people and keeping vaccinations up to date. And when taking antibiotics, the organization further advises that people should always take the full prescription, never using left-over antibiotics and never sharing antibiotics with others. Health workers and pharmacists are also advised to prevent infections by ensuring hands, instruments and environment are clean, keep patients’ vaccinations up to date and when a bacterial infection is suspected, perform bacterial cultures and testing to confirm. They are also urged to prescribe and dispense antibiotics only when they are truly needed.

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health

insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both over a prolonged period of time. A diabetes diet however, is medically known as medical nutrition therapy (MNT). This is a healthy eating plan which involves consumption of a variety of nutritious foods that are high in nutrients, low in fat and moderate in calories sticking to regular mealtimes. It is a healthy diet for anyone! When you eat excess calories and fat, your body responds by creating a rise in blood glucose. And when the blood glucose is not monitored, it can lead to serious health problems such as a hyperglycemia- high blood sugar level, cardiovascular diseases such as chest pain (angina), heart attack, narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis); nerve damage (neuropathy); kidney damage (nephropathy) and if severe, can lead to kidney failure; eye damage (retinopathy) such as cataracts and glaucoma; foot damage, if left untreated, the cuts and blisters can develop serious infections, which often heal poorly. These infections may ultimately require toe, foot or leg am-

Chizoba Benson chizobanwobu@yahoo.com 08120807588 (sms only)

o many persons are so up tight and sometimes confused on what to consume if diabetic. A lot have even gone to the extent of starving themselves of vital nutrients because they are scared of what to eat that could raise their blood sugar levels. Others however, have become frustrated with life probably because their blood sugar levels keeps fluctuating whenever they run blood sugar tests. Readers who are diabetic, let me say to you that diabetes is not a death sentence! It can be controlled, managed or monitored. One important step you need to bear in the back of your mind is that there is a natural, friendly and enjoyable way to manage diabetes. And that is engaging in healthy eating pattern (diabetes diet), lifestyle changes and engaging in day to day activities. Before proceeding, diabetes mellitus is a condition by which an individual has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Diabetes diet and food tips putation); skin problems including bacterial and fungal infections; hearing impairment problems and Alzheimer’s disease. There are recommended foods for diabetics: consume healthy carbohydrate foods found in fruits, vegetables, whole grainsbrown rice, whole-wheat bread, and whole-wheat pasta, legumes (beans, peas and lentils) and lowfat dairy products and cut down on refined carbohydrates and sugary foods like cakes, sweets, etc. Carbohydrates usually break down into glucose, and have the greatest impact on blood glucose level. It is therefore, essential to make sure that the timing and amount of carbohydrates are the same each day, especially if an individual is already on diabetes medications or insulin to prevent the blood glucose level from fluctuating. Form the habit of consuming fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes (beans, peas and lentils), whole-wheat flour and wheat bran. Dietary fiber can aid digestion, decrease the risk of heart disease and help control blood sugar levels. Consume heart-healthy fish at least twice a week as an alternative to high-fat meats. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and

sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health by lowering blood fats called triglycerides. Fish have less total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol than meat and poultry. Avoid fried fish and fish with high levels of mercury, such as swordfish and king mackerel. Consume good fats sparingly as the fats are also high in calories. Examples are foods such as walnuts, olives, avocados, pecans; oils such as canola, olive and peanut oils can help lower the body’s cholesterol levels. There are foods to avoid. They are: processed foods like snacks such as chips, cakes, biscuits, and margarines; high-fat dairy products and high-fat animal proteins such as sausage, bacon, beef, hamburger, egg yolks, shellfish, liver, and other meat organs. Aim for no more than 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol a day. Also, avoid too much salt (sodium) intake. Aim for less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day.

Reduce how much soft drinks, soda and juice you drink. It is healthy for a diabetic to engage in lifestyle changes such as consuming excessive alcohol, smoking, monitoring his/ her blood sugar regularly and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control, scheduling a yearly physical and regular eye exams, paying attention to one’s feet, taking care of one’s teeth and avoiding stress. It is also important a person gets his/ her physician’s OK to exercise and engage in physical activities. Adopt the habit of eating at regularly set times. Remember that your body is better able to regulate blood sugar levels when you do not skip breakfast, maintain a regular small portion meal size and keep calorie intake the same. This would keep your sugar level on check at all times. Do not forget to contact a dietitian because he/she can help you plan the right food menu suitable for you, advice you on how to prepare and combine these foods and teach you how to measure food portion paying special attention to serving size and carbohydrate content in what is being consumed.

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

s it safe to get butt implants? I hear that once your surgeon is good, then you have nothing to worry about. Some of my friends think it is too excessive but nothing is too excessive when you are trying to save a failing marriage to a serial womanizer – Carol Dear Carol, I understand how you feel but many serial womanizers get regular sex at home and still cheat anyway. I don’t see plastic surgery changing your husband’s womanizing ways. For a start, he married you just the way you are. If all he wanted was a big bottomed woman for a wife, he wouldn’t have married you. So this is not about you. Men who are habitual cheaters will continue to cheat even if they are married to Nicki Minaj. This is about a behavioral flaw that he has been unable to address and he is the only one who can fix it. You can also seek a second opinion from another relationship councilor. But I know for sure that no professional anywhere will advise you to get plastic surgery as a way to straighten a cheating husband – Uche My wife means well and is willing to make things work. But I think she needs helps. When we are being intimate, no matter how I touch and kiss her, she does not show excitement. She just lays there. She is not a lesbian – Olayinka Many straight women experience sexual arousal disorder and as a result are unable to respond to genital stimulation and other arousal attempts. Hormonal imbalance contributes to this problem due to low estrogen levels especially among menopausal women. But this is a fixable problem. The G Female Oral Tablets for women increases sexual desire, genital sensitivity and lubrication in women so it is highly recommend-

ed for problems such as this one and will help her a lot, provided she is not a lesbian. Adding an external stimulation gel like the Sex Accelerator Gel also helps – Uche I have started using the Stiff Nights Erection Enhancer as recommended by you for weak erection and it is working well. Now I want penis enlargement as well but I don’t know if I can take both drugs at the same time – Yakubu An alternative way to enlarge your penis when you are already taking an erection supplement is through the use of an enlargement cream or pump. So for this, get the Maximus Penis Enlargement Cream which you can also combine with the Machismo Enlargement Pump for better and faster results – Uche Hello sir. I have no problem with getting an erection. I get good erection but I just don’t have the power for second round of sex and it takes forever for me to get an erection again after first round – Chinedu There is a supplement that can help you for that. Get the Max Stamina supplement. It will restore or create the ability to have several rounds of sex with the necessary energy and quick recovery time. Max Stamina also improves the quality of erections for those who need it – Uche My husband and I are interested in novelties that boost performance and sexual play. Our preference is toys and movies. Do you have anal toys and something that can make him maintain his erection for longer? For anal toys, you can take the Beginners Butt Plug. It is slim too for easy and comfortable use. Of course you need a lubricant for this so I recommend the LS Anal

Desensitizing Lubricant. To enable your husband maintain his erection for longer, take the Stay Hard Vibrating Cockring. This will enable him remain firm even after ejaculation for an additional twenty minutes. And for you, since you didn’t specify what you need in particular, a great female toy for sexual play is the Swoop Plummeting Rabbit Vibrator. It does everything except time travel. And for movies, get the Kamasutra Sex Position Guide for couples. It has a lot of fun loving and easy to attain sex position options for couples. For more entertainment, get the feature film Public Service – Uche I am using Volume Pills and I cannot quite describe the kind of sex I am having now. When I am climaxing, it is like fireworks and Christmas. The feeling is amazing. I ejaculate for longer and the climax is really intense. Thank you for this -

Okpaleke You are welcome. And that is it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551, 08027901621 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.comUche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

atest report from WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and the United Nations Population Division has revealed that maternal mortality has fallen worldwide by 44% since 1990. According to the report, maternal deaths around the world dropped from about 532 000 in 1990 to an estimated

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Maternal death declines worldwide –UN 303 000 this year, the last in a series that has looked at progress under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This equates to an estimated global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 216 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births,

down from 385 in 1990. Maternal mortality is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth or within 6 weeks after birth. “The MDGs triggered unprecedented efforts to reduce

maternal mortality,” said Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General, Family, Women’s and Children’s Health. “Over the past 25 years, a woman’s risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes has nearly halved.

L-R: Commissioner for Health Delta State, Dr Nicholas Azinge, Air Commodore Edward Akinwale, his wife, Director of Research for Neglected Tropical Diseases NIMR, Dr. Olaoluwa Akinwale; NIMR’s DG, Prof Innocent Ujah, and others at the institute’s 6th Annual Scientific Conference in Lagos recently.

EVD can be used as weapon, Iwu warns govt FRANKA OSAKWE

ormer INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, has classified Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as ‘Category A’ biological weapon that can be used by an enemy to wipe out a whole city, while calling for urgent priority on its research. The Don made this call during his speech at Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)’s 6th Annual Scientific Conference, held recently in Yaba Lagos. Iwu, who was the Chairman of the occasion, gave this warning, in reaction to the recent insurgence going on around

the world, while calling on government to invest more into research of emerging deadly infectious diseases such as Ebola, among others, that has no cure and can become an epidemic. He said such research can be coordinated at medical centers such as NIMR, which is equipped to carry out medical research. Iwu blamed increase of Non Communicable Diseases, (NCD) on lifestyle changes as most Nigerians have abandoned the traditional foods for westernised diets. The Director General of NIMR, Prof Innocent Ujah said the theme of the lecture ‘Ending the Communicable

and Non-Communicable Diseases divide in Nigeria’, was informed by the growing need to close the gap between Communicable and Non Communicable Diseases, NCDs. Stating that NIMR was limited in funding and human resource, he said by harnessing and synergising its activities and programmes they would spend less and get more in return.“We are also trying to meet up with the new Strategic Development Goals, SDGs, approved by the United Nations. We believe that there is need to look at vaccine preventable diseases and other non-communicable diseases.”

He said that in Nigeria today, there is significant dual disease burden of communicable and NCDs which provides new challenges and new opportunities to enact responsive changes in research and policy.S peaking, the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, noted that there is need for the country to focus more on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension among other diseases that WHO has predicted to cause more deaths by 2030 in developing countries like Nigeria.

Nolywood actor leads WDD walk

eteran Nollywood actor and founder, Saving Life for Africa Diabetics Foundation (SLAD) Mr Obi Madubogwu, in collaboration with the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Saturday led Nigerian actors and members of the public in a walk across the streets of Lagos to mark the 2015 World Diabetes Day (WDD). In a move to draw attention to the disease and its deadly impact on human health, the group used the occasion, also marked by countries around the world, to distribute education leaflets while also carrying out

free screening on members of the public. Madubogwu described diabetes as a condition caused by high blood sugar that could have very serious side effects if it is not properly managed. The actor said that diabetic symptoms which included weight loss, increased hunger, increased thirst and increased urination were easily ignored, a reason so many people with the condition are not aware they have it. “Today is World Diabetics Day and we are creating awareness about diabetes management, early

detection and how people can know their status. “We have noticed a high sugar level in a majority of the people that we have tested so far, some even up to 400 mg/dL and they did not know it,” he said. Madubogwu said that in a healthy person, the sugar level should be between 82 to 110 mg/dL and that the higher it was the more serious the health risk. Mrs Ngozi CharlesOsuagwu, a nurse heading SLAD’s medical team, told NAN that diabetes is a sugar related disease. “Presently, there is no

cure for diabetes but it can be managed, it is not a death sentence if recognised on time,” she said. Charles-osuagwu said that was caused by the inability of an individual’s body to make use of the sugar in their system because of a particular enzyme called insulin. “Insulin converts blood sugar to glucose, for metabolism and other body activities. “Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or when the cells of the body do not respond properly to the insulin,” she said.

That’s real progress, although it is not enough. We know that we can virtually end these deaths by 2030 and this is what we are committing to work towards.” Achieving that goal will require much more effort, according to Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. “Many countries with high maternal death rates will make little progress, or will even fall behind, over the next 15 years if we don’t improve the current number of available midwives and other health workers with midwifery skills,” he said. “If we don’t make a big push now, in 2030 we’ll be faced, once again, with a missed target for reducing maternal deaths.” Despite global improvements, only 9 countries achieved the MDG 5 target of reducing the maternal

mortality ratio by at least 75% between 1990 and 2015. Those countries are Bhutan, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Maldives, Mongolia, Rwanda and Timor-Leste. Despite this important progress, the MMR in some of these countries remains higher than the global average. “As we have seen with all of the health-related MDGs, health system strengthening needs to be supplemented with attention to other issues to reduce maternal deaths,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Geeta Rao Gupta. “The education of women and girls, in particular the most marginalized, is key to their survival and that of their children. Education provides them with the knowledge to challenge traditional practices that endanger them and their children.”

Scientists develop prototype HIV vaccine vector

team of scientists at Royal Holloway, led by Professor George Dickson, and as part of the UK HIV Vaccine Consortium, led by Professor Jonathon Weber at Imperial College London, has developed a prototype HIV vaccine vector using a similar approach to that used for a vaccination for Ebola and Malaria. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 35 million people are living with HIV/ AIDS or almost 1% of all adults aged 15-49. Over two million people are newly infected every year, and it is estimated that globally around £10 billion is spent each year on HIV treatment and care. Although researchers have been working on developing a vaccine for 30 years, recent advances are helping to speed up their quest and by pooling their knowledge the scientists have made a giant leap forward with the current prototype which they hope can be taken through to human trials. The team’s findings are published in the journal Vaccine. Professor Dickson, from the School of Biological Sciences, at Royal Holloway, said: “Discovery of an effective vaccine against

HIV is one of the greatest challenges in medical research. Our work makes a contribution to the growing and profound body of knowledge about the nature of protective immune responses required for an effective AIDS vaccine. But success will require multidisciplinary efforts like the UK HVC to take discoveries in the lab onwards through preclinical testing and manufacture, into early human trials.” Dr Shan Herath and Dr Anita Le Heron are key members of the Royal Holloway research team working on the verified prototype HIV vaccine vector project which was funded by the Wellcome Trust. The team have engineered two HIV vaccine vector candidates based on Chimpanzee adenoviruses (chAd3 and chAd63). They have studied the immune responses to the vaccines to establish whether there could be immune responses to the HIV transgene. In addition to designing a vaccine, the route of injection in muscle tissue has also been shown to be an important factor in assessing efficacy. The results suggest that chimpanzee adenoviruses are good vaccine candidates as viral vectors for HIV vaccines.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Neglected pregnant women in Oriade LCDA run to TBAs FRANKA OSAKWE

aimot Adanse is 8 month pregnant and living in Ilashe, one of the coastal communities that make up the Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, of Lagos. Although part of Lagos State, these coastal communities have been neglected by Lagos State government. To access medical care, Raimot has to travel 45 minutes on speed boat, across the water to Ibeshe, a neighbouring community. This is because Ilashe has no hospital and Ibeshe Primary Health Centre (PHC) is the only PHC serving the Island communities within the LCDA namely; Ibeshe, Ibasa, Imore, Ilashe, Okun-Ilashe, IgboOsun, Igbo-Eseyere. The journey to the PHC, is both tedious and expensive. First, Raimot will have to contract a boat that will take her to Ibeshe, because the entire Ilashe community has no boat and none of the private boat owners plies that route, except on charter. Then she will have to wait hours at the sea side for the speed boat to appear, the wait is usually very risky for a woman in labour or one who has complication. “I remember an incident where a woman after delivery, died while waiting for a boat to appear. The woman started bleeding, her husband quickly called a boat man but before the boat arrived, the woman had bled to death”, she recalled. Without speedy intervention from Lagos state government, it seems more and more pregnant women will continue to die in these communities. For Raimot and other women from the communities, their only desire is to have more PHC’s in their communities so they will not have to travel long distance for healthcare. It was discovered that the journey to Ibeshe PHC, is even farther for women living in Imore community, about one hour with the speed boat. “While on the sea, at times the weather is very bad and there is turbulence which can be risky for a woman in labour, but there is nothing anyone can do except pray throughout the journey”, Raimot said. But the fare is the worst of all the troubles, she exclaimed. “I will have to pay the boat man the sum of N2, 500 to take me to Ibeshe and bring me back. This

is very expensive for me because am a petty trader and I make only about N7, 000 a month”, she told National Mirror. o she decided it would be best to stay back home and let the TBA’s attend to her. Another 7 months pregnant woman, Fatimah says coming to the PHC is a waste of money since there is no drug. Fatimah who is pregnant for the third time says the PHC is only good for immunizing children, not for pregnant women. “I will spend about N1, 000 on transport to get to the PHC, I will wait and wait for drug, only to be told that there is no drug. Sometimes, we are given only anti malaria drugs that cost not more than N200, which could be bought at the chemist shop”, she said. So she decided that instead of wasting huge amount of money on transport just to get a N200 drug, she would stay at home and let her father who is a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) deliver her baby. She is not alone, other pregnant women within the community, that spoke with National Mirror Correspondent feels the same way. For Fawusat Ali, who is 7 months pregnant, the TBA’s are the specialists on ground. She told National Mirror during a visit to the PHC that she has not seen a doctor since her pregnancy and the nurses normally call the TBA’s to assist during labour. “Even the nurses here call the TBAs, during delivery, to assist them with difficult cases. If a woman in labour cannot push, the nurses call the TBAs to give herbs to her. So I will rather have a TBA deliver my baby than a nurse”, she said.

Fausat

Fatima

At the PHC, Monday’s are the clinic day, when pregnant women from the communities come for antenatal. But surprisingly, during a visited to the PHC, on a Monday morning, the place was almost empty. Only about 4 pregnant women came to the clinic. One nurse and a ward aid were in attendance. Going by world Health standard, a PHC should have one or more doctors, at least four nurses and other paramedical support staff that can help with its functions such as; immunization, basic curative care services, maternal and child health services, preventive services, and monitoring and evaluation. But this is not the case in Ibeshe PHC. The building itself, is in dire need of renovation, with weeds and wastes seen around the compound. With the state of the facility, there is no doubt that the health of any woman on admission may be compromised. The Centre has not had

electricity supply for the past seven years till now; the nurses deliver babies with touch lights. According to a report by one of the staff, the available generator has not been used because there is no money for fuel. The borehole is also not functioning. The only source of water is an old well with filthy water. A poor pregnant woman who has no money to buy water will have to drink from the well. According to the hospital record, an average of two deliveries take place every month, out of 10 registered pregnant women. The Chairman Ibeshe Ward Health Committee, Alhaji Sharafa Amodu, is concerned about women’s refusal to deliver at the PHC. Without a documented statistic, he puts the estimate of child bearing women in the communities at 250, with an average of 30 deliveries taking place every month in the communities. Yet only about two women deliver at the PHC

every month. “Women in ibasa community are many, they are supposed to be coming to deliver at Ibeshe PHC but the distance from ibasa to ibeshe is much. Imore is far from here too, it takes 60 minute to get here from Imore. That is the reason why you don’t see many pregnant women here. I always see many women bring their babies during the mother and child week but during their pregnancy, you will not see anyone come for antenatal on Mondays”, he said. Mr. Amodu says the Centre is in need of a stand-by boat for referral cases. Since there is no available boat for referral cases, women who have been referred to Oriade PHC, have to hire a boat that will take them to the dock (Ijegun-Egba Jetty), from where they can get a vehicle to Oriade PHC, about 10 minute drive from the Jetty. Fawusat, remembered a pregnant woman that almost bled to death after delivering her baby. She was referred to Oriade PHC, located at the local government but there was no boat on ground to take her across to the Jetty. The community people had to finally arrange a boat that took her across. “She could have died during the time wasted while looking for a boat, but she was lucky to survive”, she recalled. From the Jetty, the only accessible road to Oriade PHC, which is the Ijegun-Egba road, is badly flooded. The state of the road makes the trip to Oriade PHC very slow and long, another reason why a pregnant woman in Ibeshe will rather deliver at home. Mr. Amodu recalled that the previous Local Government Chairman, promised to assist with building health Centers, and other infrastructures but nothing was done till the end of their tenure. National Mirror spoke to the medical officer in charge of the area, Dr. Osoba, regarding the lack of medical doctor and other limitations, at Ibeshe PHC. Due to the nature of his job as a civil servant, he said he was not allowed to comment on such issues but explained that he is not the one assigned to attend to the women medically. However, he promised to communicate to the Executive Secretary for the LCDA, Hon. Bola Olujobi Badmus, who is currently the interim Local Council Chairman. Dr. Osoba, also assured National Mirror that other issues regarding the PHC is currently being looked into by the council. The Executive Secretary, herself could not be reached as at the time of this publication.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge I love working before cameras –Nonye Marvis

Carnival Calabar unveils 2015 activities

Challenges confronting reading culture in Nigeria Opinions are divided about the impact of technology on readership. How is the emergence of technological gizmos affecting the reading habit of Nigerian children? Ngozi Emedolibe

he signs are everywhere. Times and trends are changing scholastic attitude. Some decades ago, secondary school boys exude pride in the number of literature texts they can quote off hand. The ability to memorise verses of popular books from authors like Shakespeare and Charles Dickens, were dependable assets for wooing girls. But not anymore! Signs of poor readership stare everyone in the eyes in Nigeria. Some time ago, the nation woke up to the unpalatable news that less than 10% of the students who enrolled for the National Examination Council, NECO were able to obtain credit passes in English Language during at the last session. The matter got compounded with the news of the Unified Matriculation Examination, UME which showed that only three students in the whole nation could score 300 points, while over 80% fell far below the pass point! While Nigerians could be waving it aside in view of the army of unemployed youths roaming the streets, experts think that the development may impact negatively on the nation’s workforce in the nearest future. Already, there are calls in some quarters that a majority of university graduates being produced are not employable, although blames are being heaped on the curriculum more than readership habits. According to Ned Obiozor, a human resources consultant, the symptoms of poor readership are already noticeable at work places in the country. “It is worrisome. I am not one of those who would subscribe to the fact that the future is bleak; the present is already bleak, because Nigeria is being confronted by manpower problems. While some people think it is as a result of the curriculum, I think it is as a result of the orientation. People do not study to know they just study to pass their examination, and that is why sometimes at the work place, you realise that they are empty. People think the problem of manpower shortage is because of the new technology, but it is beyond that. Reading develops the mind, and opens new vista to several issues that confront life, but the youths are not ready to imbibe that, and it is already showing in the way they work”, he told

Readers at University of Ibadan

Arts Lounge. This point was also buttressed by Babatunde Omotosho, an education specialist, who believes that lack of readership would impact negatively on future leadership and governance in the country. According to Omotosho, the nation has been suffering from lack of quality leadership because the majority of those who find themselves in positions of leadership lack ideas, which could be derived from reading books. “From experience as a stakeholder and educationist, I’ve discovered that Nigerians only read to pass examinations, yet knowledge acquisition is beyond textbooks and lesson notes. It is beyond reading the WAEC or UTME syllabus to gain admission to tertiary institutions. Reading is the pinnacle upon which knowledge stands; so, without extensive reading, quality will suffer. But unfortunately in Nigeria, what most schools do is just to find a way of ensuring that their pupils pass WASSCE or NECO; reading is not being promoted by schools and even by government. That is why the quality of our graduates keeps on diminishing”. A journalist and author, Mr Mike

Awoyinfa however sees the situation from the prism of technological gadgets students are inundated with these days. “In our time, there really was nothing to distract one unlike the situation now”, he said. “The kids now have so many things to contend with, and I believe they are just too many for them to contend with. These technological pieces are appearing at an alarming rate. This has reduced the quality of readership, because a child would prefer playing games on his play station than reading, while the girls would prefer to ping with their phones. It is also greatly affecting writing, because the shorthand used in text messages are gradually creeping into written articles, which is quite unfortunate”. Obiora Nweke, a director with Image Nigeria, Europe, would however differ that Nigerian kids are victims of modern technological devices. Resident in Berlin, Germany, he argues that European kids still manage to read in spite of the fact that technology is readily available to them than their Nigerian counterparts. “We all know what happened with the Harry Potter series and how it sold hotly. The series is for children.

These technological pieces are appearing at an alarming rate. This has reduced the quality of readership, because a child would prefer playing games on his play station than reading, while the girls

would prefer to ping with their phones.

I blame the readership culture on the value system and not technology. Over the years values have dropped to the lowest ebb, and these children are watching and now seem to believe that smartness in class or the smartness that comes with readership is not the type they require to make it in Nigeria. Parents are also fuelling this belief by going to bribe to buy question papers for their wards prior to examinations. It is only natural that they will not read, and it is a serious issue the nation needs to tackle”. Unfortunately the nation may not be doing enough to contend this monster. From all indications efforts at balancing the situation have been thrown on the altar of politics. Prior to the election of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, he had embarked on nationwide campaign, Bring Back the Book, a project he hoped to use to create awareness about the culture of reading amongst Nigerian youths. But the project was short-lived, and nothing seems to be heard about it anymore. The question on the lips of literary enthusiasts is how far this new administration can go in this regard. A film director, Reginald Ebere, however believes that there is still hope for readership culture in Nigeria. According to him, writers also need to be documenting what the generation will want to read. “My submission is that it is not a helpless situation. Extreme remedies are appropriate for extreme situations. Our writers need to figure this and begin to churn out works that would grab the attention of the new generation of readers.”

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

VOICES

When storytellers fall asleep on duty Richard Ikiebe

e fall victims to the plague of forgetfulness when our storytellers, among them journalists, shirk their responsibility, when they fall asleep on duty. And our memories are impoverished just as often when, as citizens, we choose to be nonchalant, apathetic and unheeding of the stories we are told. Okey Ndibe in Arrows of Rain. In October 1954, Ebun Adesioye, the then editor of the Daily Times, wrote a “Dear Tunde” letter to the then Eastern regional representative of the paper, Babatunde Jose. Adesioye was responding to an earlier letter from Jose that spelt out his dilemma: “Should I quit the Daily Times or persevere?” At that time of his life, Jose was at a crucial career crossroads. He had gone on the Enugu posting most reluctantly, six months earlier. He thought and saw the posting as a means to shove him aside, considerably lowering chances of stepping up to the editor’s chair, which he figured was his next rightful claim. From far away Enugu, the chances looked very remote for a former “assistant editor”. To compound his dilemma, Jose had been offered a job by the fledgling Western Nigerian regional government. Its two leading politicians, Awolowo and Akintola, mounted low pressure on Jose and were requesting his term through Bisi Onabanjo, his friend. Onabanjo had impressed on the politicians that Jose was a seasoned “newsman, capable of holding the news section without supervision”; therefore, the politicians wanted him. It was a season of change in the land and for the journalism profession, Onabanjo wrote: “there are plenty of jobs to go round for any and every journalist”. Journalists were dedicating their terms for joining this government or that. In his letter to Jose, Adesioye said: we are living in changing times. What was folly yesterday may be wisdom today. What was real yesterday maybe veneer tomorrow… if it is money that one wants, one can get it by showing sympathy for this or that political party. But the danger is that if one thrives by politics, he will go down with politics. And so, it becomes imperatives that professionals like us should be careful in giving out their services. It is dangerous to allow politicians to direct our thoughts. The history of the Nigerian media predates

Richard Ikiebe

the history of Nigeria, as an amalgamated entity and as an independent nation. Indeed, the Nigerian press certainly predates the colonial government. Media scholarship has shown limited interests and therefore, understanding in the dynamics that defines today’s media from a historical perspective, particularly in the area of leadership. For instance, the references we see made to Townsend today are not original; many are not even secondary… they are usually tertiary or farther removed. But Dr. S. Biobaku got closer. According to Dr. Azikiwe, Biobaku “had access to the bound numbers of the paper’s issues from January 1860 to October 1867 of Iwe-Irohin and came off with the conclusion that Townsend and the paper had profound effect in shaping the destiny and history of the Egba people in five distinct areas. IweIrohin and Townsend became: A. The publication of record: the recorder of the Egba nation

We need our home grown stories, so that we would not be forgetful any more

B. The instigator of the deliverance of the Egbas from the Dahomi C. The real architect of Egba policy towards the British D. The channels that brought and caused civilising influences to flourish E. The weapons that fought foreign slave trade as the great obstacle which must be overcome. Questions about management and leadership abound to which only genuine and relevant scholarship can assist in the search for answers about our past has media, and roles we have played in shaping the media that have shaped our nations. To lose our history and connection with where we are coming from is to lose the appreciation of how, and what it cost for us to arrive here; and to constantly have to begin all over again. Returning to the Jose story: he resisted going to Enugu in 1954: but it was the beginning of his tutelage as a pupil manager of men and real leader. He wrote: “I started to manage people. He was sent there as regional correspondent, but he got his title changed to that of regional representative, after two months: the old title, he said, was too restrictive. Jose wrote: “I took the initiative to expand my functions to cover all aspects of the

Memorable Reads Aside reading how else do you relax? There are so many ways to relax. I like watching films and I love singing, I sing and my husband will play the piano. Now that I have grandchildren, I love playing with them and I travel a lot. Travelling is one of my hobbies. I try to go to new places. I love teaching children to educate them. You wrote a novel on Nigerian Civil War, have you read similar novels? The Nigerian Civil War gave us a story to tell and one thing is that you will not rest until you tell that story. So such experiences are not forgotten easily, it remains in people’s psyche, consciousness and mind. Even people who were not born will grow into it hearing about it. That is why it will continue to remain a subject in many writing and

Akachi Ezeigbo

Author

it will continue. People who are not even born now will grow up and write about that war. Let me give you an example, Stephen Craine an American novelist wrote one of the best novels on the American Civil War. The title of that novel is “The Red Badge of Courage”. He wrote it 100 hundred years after the civil war, he wrote about a war that was fought even before his parents or grandparents were born or just when they were kids. I’ve read “A Troubled Dust” by Onuora Nzekwu and there others like “The Forest Dame”. Which book is your most memorable? There are so many memorable book, for instance I read a book titled “One hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

company’s operation in the East. Literarily I seized power. I started by recommending appointments and disciplinary actions to Lagos. Later the general manager, Percy Roberts, delegated to me the authority to hire and fire employees In the religion”. That is leadership. These were the roots that formed the iconic Alhaji Isma’il Babatunde Jose, chairman and Managing Director of the legendary Daily Times of Nigeria. How was Nnamdi Azikiwe able to manage and lead seven daily newspapers, as chairman and managing director from 1937-1953? Who were these men? Sir Kitoye Ajasa, Ernest S.Ikoli, Duro Mohammed Ali, Ayo Lijadu, Bisi Onabanjo, Bonar Ekenem, Peter Osugo, Lateef Jakande, S.L Akintola, Increase Coker, Gabriel Fagbure, Ndem Abam, Mogaji Dambata, Abiodun Aloba, M.C.K Ajuluchukwu, Abubakar Imam, Anthony Enahoro, Ebun Adesioye, E.E Effiom, P.C Agbu, Mr. Justice Olujide Somolu, M.O. Iweanya, Alade Odunewu, Kanu Okoro, Yekini Tinuu, J.A.C Onwueguna, Herbert Unegbu, Sa’ad Zungur, S.D. Opuiyo… men that doctor Azikwe called “a galaxy of…immortal journalist produced by Nigeria, dead or living, who have played their part in this corner of the earth in the great crusade for human freedom”. Our history holds much in secret. To learn from it, we must dig it out and uncover the secret; that, I believe, is one of the key values of scholarship and research. Lord Cecil King called Dr. Azikwe “an excellent journalist” and thought his COMET was “the best source of journalist training” for the young Tunde Jose in the 40s. Do we have serious account of Zik, the journalist, or how he managed to have a string of seven daily newspapers in the 1940s from Kano to Enugu, to Port Harcourt, to Onitsha to Lagos? Chief Anthony Enahoro has died. He died with a whole library inside his head. And this year, Chief Segun Olusola has died with his own broadcasting library. Chief Bisi Onabanjo was a veteran of the profession. We cannot readily find a collection of his writing as a newspaper man, or an even speech as governor. Yet, before all these became renowned politicians, they were known, nationwide as excellent and foremost journalists. We need our home grown stories, so that we would not be forgetful any more. •Mr. Ikiebe is a senior fellow and director, Centre for Leadership in Journalism, Pan-Africa University, Lagos.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ARTISTE UNCENSORED A graduate of Biochemistry, Nonye Marvis knows what she is about and does not pretend about it.

orn Chinonye Marvis Ukenenye, the young Nonye Marvis has done stage, modelling and film and said she is more comfortable with the camera. Perhaps that is why she has found the time to so far do three films in Igbo language in spite of her 9-to-5 job as a biochemist. What is more, she is writing a book on medical biochemistry. For someone who came into the Nigerian movie industry on the wings of the Niger Delta talent hunt show around 2010 it is easy for anyone to tell that Nonye is not your everyday actor and hence should be watched closely. Add to the mix the fact that no role, whether comic, romantic or what have you, poses a challenge to her and you have a new kid on the block that will cause upheaval in Nollywood. “I love acting and I know that I can do better there. It is not that I cannot do better in biochemistry it is just that I want to bring out the talent in me,” she said of her foray in acting. But to get here she had to surmount a lot of obstacles, chief among them being to please her dad by studying biochemistry first. Now, Nonye, who intends to a higher degree or two in the sciences, even medicine, said she has the blessing of her father to act. One need only see the deft handling of her roles in the Igbo language movies, The Battle of Owerri, Nwa-Mary and Tufia to understand the single-mindedness with which the Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based Nonye is approaching her venture in the industry. “I have not really gone for any training as all my acting is natural and I am just amazed about what people say. They say that it is in you so I do my best,” she said. The actor, who is avidly reading acting books and said she is not good at spelling in Igbo, speaks it fluently enough to take part in films in that language. “I speak pure Igbo when I am speaking Igbo not mix it with English,” she said. She is also fluent in the English language and has auditioned for a couple of roles in core Nollywood films, for which

I love working before cameras –Nonye Marvis

she said there has been positive responses and she would soon move to location. Nonye said mixing biochemistry with acting is not difficult for her because she has a flair for acting and the two are not related so is like walking different paths whenever she finds herself in one or the other. But if you think she does more of one than the other then you must think again because her time is equally dedicated to both and it helps that not many of her biochemistry colleagues know that she also acts. “Only a few (colleagues) know, those that really know me closely are the ones who also know that I am a model,” she explained. She has appeared on billboards and calendars mainly in Owerri, Imo State where she obtained her Biochemistry degree at the Imo State University. So professional is she that she already has a manager at her beck and call and a mentor, too in the person of the Nollywood actor and producer, Ifeanyi Ezekwe. Nonye also loves Stella Damasus, counts her as one of her few mentors and has seen most of her movies. Beyond Nollywood, Nonye who dreams of plying her acting trade in Hollywood and is ready for the big time, loves to watch Hollywood movies including Galaxy starring Sandra Bullocks and George Clooney. The card-carrying member of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN would rather not comment on the way AGN politics is played since she has not problem with that. “But I won’t want to run for or hold any office. I just want to act,” she explained. She however hopes to write movie scripts in the future “I have some ideas

Nonye whose favourite musician is R. Kelly listens to R & B, plays chess and calls on her friends to relax. MIDWEEK JUMP

The Brunel University African Poetry Prize

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

he Brunel University African Poetry Prize invites entries. Worth £3,000 (US$4,640) to the winner, the prize aims to develop, celebrate and promote poetry from Africa. The Prize is for ten poems in order to encourage serious poets. Only poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published are eligible. The Prize is open to poets who were born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are Africans. The deadline is 30 November.

that I would like to work on”. And her language of choice for her scripts is English. But is she comfortable with the toga that people dress female actors in, saying they are loose or even prostitutes? “It is not every actor that is that way, it depends on what you want to portray to the people, for instance, I cannot act nude in a movie. I will only take on roles that I know I can handle,” she said. No doubt such roles may not be anywhere near the stage as Nonye prefers the big screen. “Stage is more frightening to me than the camera. When you are on stage a crowd of people are watching your every move but on camera there is no stage

fright,” Nonye, who played the role of Ada in Tufia stated. “Everybody likes (Ada) and picks on her, don’t do this, don’t do that they tell her,” she said. The major Biochemistry-related project she is working on is a biochemistry book. “I have so far done two chapters. (But) you will get to know about that after I finish work on it. And right now I have written about three thousand words,” said the actor who does not feel that you must not wear make-up to look good. Nonye whose favourite musician is R. Kelly listens to R & B, plays chess and calls on her friends to relax.

Ake arts and book festival

he Ake Arts and Book Festival is a five-day programme of cultural and literature-focused events. These include readings, workshops, master classes, performances, panel discussions by both Nigerian and international writers and thinkers. Events also include stage plays, film and documentary screenings, and art exhibitions, and feature over 80 guests: writers, poets, actors, musicians, artists and cultural icons from Nigeria, Africa and beyond such as author and activist Niyi Osundare, Maaza Mengiste, Chris Abani, Taiye Selasi, Howard French, Mona Eltahawy, Tendai Huchu, Helon Habila and many more. The event is ongoing today 18th November 2015. Ake Festival

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

FAR AND NEAR

Afrinolly launches anti-piracy App

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Korean culture fiesta kicks-off

Isiguzo Destiny

ollywood celebrities, filmmakers as well as distributors may finally heave a sigh of relief as a solution to the piracy issue which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the movie industry may have found a remedy in the latest Application from Afrinolly. The application which was officially launched at the 5th Africa International Film Festival, was said to have gulped a huge sum of N200m by the Founder and CEO of Afrinolly, Mr. Chike Maduegbuna. Afrinolly is an application which signifies an e- market place where African movies, short films, series, movie trailers, music videos can be downloaded for as low as N100 One of the special features which interested the aggrieved Nollywood celebrities and filmmakers was the anti piracy and anti-sharing feature which stops the hacker or downloader from

Mr. Kwon Yonk IK

Joel Ajayi Chike Maduegbuna, Afrinolly

sharing the film to another smartphone users. Filmmakers were further enlightened as it was revealed to them that upon signing up to Afrinolly, they will have the opportunity to view a dashboard which would show statistics based on activity in the publishers’ account. The statistics he said include number of views of the content.

According to Maduegbuna, Afrinolly is also set to use mobile platforms in movie distribution, as the Nigerian movie industry is worth more than 4billion dollars, “so we need to combat piracy using some formats such as these. We have spent over N200million and have taken care of loose ends by equally providing bandwidth for people who cannot afford it, he said.

Carnival Calabar unveils 2015 activities Richard Ndoma

alabar the capital city of Cross River at the weekend came alive with the official flag off of the Carnival Calabar dry run by the Governor of the state Ben Ayade in readiness for the Carnival Calabar festival. Ayade who was being represented by Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, showcased a display of the latest dance steps as the revelers as well as the five carnival bands who were treated to a sumptuous rendition of the best Nigerian hip hop tunes. In his remark, the chief executive of the state stated that “The 2015 festival will be glamorous, excellent with international presence from different countries of the world who would visit Calabar to spice the festival,” According to him, the experience will linger in the memories of local and international participants for a long time. “Don’t wait to be told, make out time and be a part of history because we are presenting the best show ever in the history of carnival because we have got the swag, energy and ca-

Dancers at Calabar festival pacity.” The dry run which started at the Millennium Park took revellers through Mary Slessor, Ndidem Usang Iso, MCC and terminated at the Muritala Muhammed Highway. Chairman of Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said: “The dry run is to formally announce to the world that we are ready to host the world, this time in a grand style because we are bringing a lot of innovations to spice up the annual event.” Some of the innovations, according to

At AFRRIFF 2015

AFRRIFF stakeholders

Onah, is the introduction of the bikers event. It will attract bikers’ circus of south-south Nigeria, exotic car shows on the street of Calabar, adding that the international content will include the flamingo carnival group from Spain, Trailers of Italy and Leo dancers from France as well as other talented dancers across Africa. Among dignitaries who graced the flag off were Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. John Gaul Lebo, Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Tina Agbor.

Basirat Muhammed

hioma Ude, founder of Africa International Film Festival, AFRRIFF has described the festival as the next biggest thing in film festival. “I saw a lot of potential,” Ude said of the motivation behind founding AFRIFF five years ago. “I saw ten years from where I was standing. There is a film festival right now and it’s growing. But I see beyond that. I see a film market, I see a content production. I see development. We train a lot of young adults and we’re trying to bridge the gap already. I see advancement.” Five years after, AFRIFF has become a hub for African film practitioners. “This year is a huge year for us,” Ude said. “We’ve attained a lot of credibility. We’re set to be the most vibrant film festival.” With this year’s theme as ‘Accessing Africa’, AFRIFF which was sponsored by Ac-

orean Cultural Centre in Nigeria has marked five years of existence in Nigeria with colourful festivities. While the Capital City of Nigeria plays host to the series of cultural activities that displayed the socio-cultural similarities between Korea and Nigeria, it is believed, this will offer unforgettable experience to both Nigerians and Koreans. Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria established five years ago has been the vanguard of promoting cultural ties and deepens the bilateral understanding with its host country. The center in the period of five years has consistently organised and embarked on programmes that highlight the cultural similarity of the two countries as well as breeding creativity amongst children, women and youths. South Korea, one of the peaceful Asian countries with its rich and colourful culture, alluring and enchanting landscapes, unfold the depth and richness of its cultural heritage, as it kick start cultural festivity of peace and joy in Nigeria’s nation capital. While speaking ahead of festival, Director of Korea Cultural Centre Nigeria KCCN, Mr. Kwon Yonk IK, said this year’s event promises to be funfilled, colourful and exciting, as it has a rich outline of events and array of people and organizations participating in it adding that the cultural festival will also encourage economic import of the festival. The events which started on Tuesday 17th to Saturday 21st November 2015 have Korean traditional Music during the opening ceremony inside the transcorp Hilton hotel Abuja. Other events are Korean-Nigeria Photo Exhibition, School Special Drama Performance, Korea Food Sales event, Korean Film Festival amongst others.

cess bank, started on Sunday, November 8, had sessions for film screenings, training, parties and an award ceremony. The venues for the screenings were Genesis Cinemas at The Palms, Lekki, Genesis Cinemas at City Mall, Onikan and Silvebird Galleria, Victoria Island, while training holds at Afrinolly Space, Ikeja. There are three categories of films – feature, documentary and shorts – at AFRIFF. Thirteen different categories of awards were given out by a jury composed of Pedro Pimenta, Soheir Abdel Kader, Prof Hyginus Ekwuazi, Teddy Mattera, Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Dapo Oshiyemi, Serge-Armand Kouami Noukoue and Asha Lovelace. Going back memory lane from the first edition, Ude said AFRIFF now has more credibility. “As you grow, more credible people would send in their movie,” she said. “The criteria is very tough. You’re no longer competing with your local counterpart. You’re competing at the international level. So people now understand what it takes to submit a film into AFRIFF. And so, we’re getting quality films.”

Business

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Agric earnings to drop on climate change impact 30

Transporters, marketers exploit consumers as fuel scarcity spreads nationwide

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Creation of investment-friendly environment ‘ll fast-track Nigeria’s devt –China’s envoy

Bayelsa State, Abuja consumers pay highest for fuel in October –NBS UDEME AKPAN

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October, this year. The report indicated Cross River as the third State with high fuel prices, residents having paid N114.40, N98.09, N117.91, N117.00, N123.78, N117.70, N118.40, N97.32, N99.00 and N105.80 per litre in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, ,August, September and October, this year. The NBS report further placed Taraba as another State with high petrol prices, as residents paid N126.75, N113.78, N112.86, N132.86, N129.23, N118.33, N130.00, N112.13, N124.63 and N104.57 per liter in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, ,August, September and Oc-

tober, 2015. It also identified Nassarawa as the next State with high fuel prices, residents having paid N105.50, N90.83, N116.50, N105.56, N126.67, N 26.08, N110.57, N103.8, N94.20 and N102.50 per liter in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, ,August, September and October, this year. According to the report, Kebbi followed closely as residents paid N117.83, N112.11, N116.14, N117.91, N121.85, N115.91, N111.63, N105.21, N93.33 and N100.24 per liter in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October, 2015. The report identified Rivers as the next State with high fuel prices because residents paid N96.89,

N90.29, N98.50, N98.71, N100.33, N110.57, N113.38, N99.71, N102.80 and N100.14 per liter respectively during the period. According to the report Rivers is followed by Yobe State where residents paid N122.20, N104.86, N122.50, N122.50, N132.67, N115.14, N120.50, N119.63, N119.78 and N98.13 per liter in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October, 2015. The report also noted that marketers sold the product at the N87 per liter government regulated price in some States,

espite its status as an oil and gas producing state, residents in Bayelsa State paid as much as N111 per liter of petrol in October, this year. The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS which indicated in its October, 2015 report did not provide reasons for the development. But investigations showed that despite its oil bearing status and proximity to two refineries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, most consumers have no access to filling stations because of the ‘riverine’ nature of the State. including Adamawa, Delta, It was learnt that it is difficult Ekiti and Katsina, probafor marketers and others to supply bly because of easy access fuel to communities in coastal and to fuel and other factors. swampy areas of the state. The Executive Secretary of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMA, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, noted that Bayelsa state did not have many filling stations as other states. In the past eight months, Bayelsa residents paid N109.83, N103.40, N101.33, N108.50, N108.50, N155.00, N152.86, N132.43, N119.83 and N111.00 per litre in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, ,August, September and October, this year. The NBS also identified Abuja as another place where residents paid N97.00, N89.50, N97.75, N93.60, President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Olorogun James Omeru (left)presenting an award N97.75, N97.20, N94.00, N94.60, to MD/CEO, CMC Connect Burson Marsteller Mr. Yomi Badejo Okusanya, during the 2nd National Mandatory Seminar N92.60, and N108.20 per liter in of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, yesterday in Lagos.

We’re in Nigeria to stay –Virgin Atlantic Olusegun Koiki

ritish carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways, has reiterated that it would not quit the Nigerian route soon or even in the future. The airline also promised to continue to deliver to the public quality air service experience to its clients who travel with it either for business or leisure to all its routes. The Marketing and Communications Manager, Mrs. Kudirat

Scott-Igbene, gave this hint while interacting with aviation journalists in Lagos Scott-Igbene hinted that the recent restructuring exercise, which affected some of its Nigerian based crew was necessary in order to sustain its flight operations on the route, but assured that it would not stop flying to the country from its base in London, United Kingdom. Some national newspapers had reported recently that the airline was planning to stop flight operations into Nigeria following the

sack of its Nigerian crew some few weeks ago without any severance package regardless of their length of service with the airline. The report also alleged that the airline in 2014 closed its Nigerian call centre and let go of all the Nigerian staff working in that department. She however insisted that whatever business decision the airline had taken was in tandem with the labour laws, noting further that the primary purpose of having locally based cabin crew is to provide cultural expertise, but

customer feedback had shown the practice was no longer a requirement on the Lagos route. It would be recalled that globally, airlines are restructuring in order to meet the current challenges in the sector and are regularly looking for way to reduce cost. Besides, the International Air Transport Association, IATA, recently said that airfares are expected to fall 3.5 per cent in 2015 because the global airline industry anticipated a slightly weaker year of profits on all routes.

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 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, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Creation of investment-friendly environment ‘ll Today, as one of the fastest growing economies despite its current challenges, China has continued to play dominant roles in charting the right course for the global economy as most economies continue to experience fiscal and structural whirlwinds. In this interview with ABOLAJI ADEBAYO, the Consul General of China in Lagos, Mr. Liu Kan, speaks on sundry areas of his country’s e development and plans to re-position the economy on the path of sustainable growth and innovative contributions to the world’s economic system.

he last two decades have witnessed major trajectories in China’s drive to become a global economic power and the results of such initiatives have been remarkable. In the past year, the country’s economy has really slowdown. What is your assessment of China’s macroeconomic situation now?

At the moment, global economic recovery is still weak. Many international institutions have downgraded their global economic forecast. The more complex and intricate the situation, the more we need confidence and hope. My message is this: despite the moderation in speed, the performance of the Chinese economy is stable and moving in a positive direction. Although difficulties remain, there are more opportunities than challenges. Chinese government is capable of meeting the main goals and tasks set for economic and social development this year, and this will lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the years to come. Given the slowdown in global growth, the 7 per cent growth China achieved in the first half of the year is not at all easy. Because we are talking about a $10 trillion economy, for which 7 per cent growth actually generates more increase in volume than the doubledigit growth in the past. And the 7 per cent growth is in fact among the highest of the world’s major economies. What is more encouraging is that China’s economic structure is rapidly improving. Today, the services sector already accounts for half of China’s GDP, and consumption contributes 60 per cent to growth. Growth in hightech industries is notably higher than the entire industrial sector. Consumer demands for information, cultural, health and tourism products are booming. Energy conservation, environmental protection and the green economy are thriving. New economic growth areas are rapidly taking shape. In the past, Chinese economy grew at a high speed, and became the main driving force for world economy. At present, Chinese economy slows down. In what ways would you say economic development in China are impacting on the global economy? China’s steady economic development has benefited the world. China contributed about 30 per cent to global growth in the first half of the year. With commodity prices dropping markedly on the global market, the growth of China’s foreign trade volume is slowing down. But even so,

Kan

the actual amount of commodities China imported has continued to go up. Until the end of August this year, the amount of trade between China and Nigeria reached $9 billion, the third largest in Africa. China’s outward investment has maintained rapid growth. The number of outbound tourists has notably increased. Last year alone, Chinese tourists made over 100 million trips overseas. In the first half of this year, the number rose by another 10 per cent. All these serve to prove that China is not a source of risks for the world economy but a real source of strength for world economic growth. What are the main reasons for the slowdown? Despite the many difficulties and downward pressure, the Chinese

economy is still within the reasonable range. The Chinese economy is deeply integrated into the global market. Given the weak growth of the global economy, China could not stand unaffected. Meanwhile, the deep-seated problems that have built up over the years are thrown into sharper relief. The Chinese economy is in the state of a new normal. It is going through a transition with traditional drivers being replaced by new ones. The extensive model of growth in the manufacturing sector is giving way to more intensive production. And over-reliance on investment is abandoned for greater balance between consumption and investment. This is a painful and challenging process. Ups and downs in growth are hardly avoidable, as they are natural in a period of adjustment and transition.

The fundamentals underpinning a stable Chinese economy have not changed. The ups and downs in the economy may have formed the shape of a curving wave, but the underlying trend remains to be positive

To borrow a concept from traditional Chinese medicine, they are the “pulse” that shows the health of the economy. Over the last two months, we have seen a slip or fluctuation in certain indicators. Yet, the policies and measures adopted in the previous stage are starting to pay off, and positive factors are building up in the economy, hence the upward trend in certain indicators. The fundamentals underpinning a stable Chinese economy have not changed. The ups and downs in the economy may have formed the shape of a curving wave, but the underlying trend remains to be positive. We will not be swayed by short-term fluctuations in economic performance, nor will we take it lightly. Do you think China’s economy has a bright future? We believe that the Chinese economy is on the right track and its future will be even brighter. This is not unrealistic optimism. Our confidence is based on the sound foundation, condition and momentum of economic growth. The Chinese economy is resilient and full of potential. China is going through the process of a new type of industrialization, IT application, urbanization and agricultural modernization, which all serve to generate strong domestic demand. China has a vast territory and diverse industries. That means, the Chinese economy is supported not by

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

fast-track Nigeria’s devt –China’s envoy a single pillar but multiple pillars. It is highly resilient and shock-resistant. Meanwhile, we are comprehensively deepening reform, accelerating structural reform and pursuing an innovation-driven development strategy to fully unleash the potential of economic growth. We want to make sure that the economy maintains medium-high speed of growth and moves to mediumhigh level of development. Beyond the measures of reform, what are the new driving forces responsible for China’s growth? Last year, Chinese government firmly encourages “Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. This in fact makes a major part of China’s ongoing structural reform and adjustment. Measures have been taken to streamline administration, delegate government power, strengthen regulation and improve services. Steps have also been taken to cut taxes and fees for small and micro enterprises, establish investment funds to guide entrepreneurship, and promote the “Internet +” and “Made in China 2025” strategies. Consequently, the people’s creativity and entrepreneurial passion have been unlocked, and a massive wave of entrepreneurship and innovation is sweeping across the country. Those involved include both people at the grass-roots and high-calibre professionals, from college graduates, migrant workers and returned overseas students to researchers, technical experts and senior managers. There are various platforms for entrepreneurship and innovation, which attracts both small and micro companies as well as big corporations. Platforms such as crowd innovation, crowd outsourcing, crowd support and crowd funding have been set up, changing the way of production and management. It allows employees within the company to get rewards in addition to their salary by sharing their creative ideas on-line. It also gives opportunity to makers outside the company to take part in innovation and share the benefits. As a result, a large group of micro businesses have been incubated, and collaborations among research institutions through the Internet have made their innovation more efficient. “Mass entrepreneurship and innovation” is a strong power driving development. Creativity of the people is the greatest asset for development. China has a labor force of 900 million and over 7 million people graduate from college every year, with more and more of them joining the ranks of entrepreneurship and innovation. This has led to new supply and demand, and could well count as a major factor in keeping growth stable. Mass entrepreneurship and innovation means more employment. Though growth is moderating, more jobs are being created because new market entities keep emerging. Measures to streamline administration, delegate government power and reform the

as far as China is concerned, it has manufacturing capacity for quality and affordable mid-end equipment, strong engineering and service capabilities, and large foreign exchange reserves business system have enabled new businesses to get started. For the past one and a half year, over 10,000 new businesses have been registered on a daily basis in China, and the momentum is still growing, creating a lot of jobs in the process. Mass entrepreneurship and innovation gives impetus to developing a sharing economy. Could you cite an a successful example of “Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation”? In Dalian, China, a company employs only ten people, but has built an impressive business in just two years’ time. It has attracted 280,000 registered engineers through the Internet, and collected data of some 30,000 machine tools in northeast China. It has managed to link the machine tools with consumers on the demand side to improve the utilization rate of these machine tools. More importantly, building on the wisdom of its 280,000 registered engineers, it has offered smart solutions for upgrading machine tools, and developed nearly 100 products. The company has an ambitious plan -- to not just upgrade the old machine tools, but also build new and smarter ones by pooling wisdom via a public platform. In fact, one could find tens of thousands of small companies like this in China, whose creativity is beyond our imagination. Whether they succeed in the end, they are all like the new champions. Through them, people see the future of our economy, and I believe they are all part of the new blueprint for growth in China and beyond.)

production capacity will match supply with demand effectively, and generate more demands through innovation on the supply side. As developing countries accelerate industrialization and urbanization, they now have a strong demand for applicable technologies, equipment and infrastructure. Many middle-income countries and developed countries also need to upgrade their equipment and infrastructure. However, constrained by funding shortage, some demands have been repressed. Talking about comparative strengths, developed countries have advanced key technologies and equipment, but the demand for their products and equipment is limited due to high prices. Developing countries may enjoy rich natural resources and low labor costs, yet most of their industries and products are at the low end. And as far as China is concerned, it has manufacturing capacity for quality and affordable mid-end equipment, strong engineering and service capabilities, and large foreign exchange reserves. What China needs is to transform and upgrade its industries. Three-party cooperation could combine our comparative strengths, and provide quality equipment and products with relatively low prices to bring down construction costs and better

Does China have any new idea to strengthen international economic cooperation? China has come up with the initiatives to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and to promote global cooperation on production capacity. We believe these initiatives could help further open up our country and forge a more balanced and inclusive global industrial chain. This in turn could pool the comparative strengths of all countries and foster a global community of common interests and development for win-win, inclusive and common progress. Global cooperation on production capacity is an interesting term. Could you talk about it in details? Countries are at different stages of development. Global cooperation on

Kan

meet the needs of different countries. It will also help countries overcome the difficulties in industrial development, upgrade their industries and integrate the high, mid, and low-ends of the global industrial chain. This will help businesses increase their presence in both the international and Chinese markets. Like a convex lens that makes rays converge, such a cooperation model brings together the supplies and demands of various parties and converges their interests. It could be a new driver to sustain steady growth of the global economy. We live in the same globalized world. Like passengers riding in the same boat, we all have a stake in each other’s future. China is committed to peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening-up. We will work with all countries including Nigeria to promote inclusive and balanced growth and green and sustainable development. Together, we could build a community of common interests and development and create an even better future for Chinese as well as Nigerian people. There are many economic potential in Nigeria which has not been translated to national advantage. How do you think Nigeria can leverage on its resources to develop? Nigeria is in the vantage position to be one of the best economies with its vast resources. It depends on the way the government handles things including its policies. If the government can create enabling environment for the private sector and encourage more foreign direct investment, the economy of the country would be fast developed. Already there are the needed raw materials while the labour is also available.

Business News

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Agric earnings to drop on climate change impact SYLVA EMEKA-OKEREKE

recent report has revealed that revenues from the nation’s agriculture sector have continued to drop due to the effects of climate change. A lecturer from the Economics Department, University of Ibadan, Jacob Novignon in a paper entitled, “Household Income Inequality in Ghana: A Decomposition Analysis’’, noted that “agricultural income is falling as a result of climate change and rural populations are therefore turning away from farming’’. He said one of the ways to reduce inequalities was to transfer money to the populations, saying that 44 percent of the poorest households are located in rural areas. According to him, the authorities need to introduce new policies to boost agricultural income by providing fertilisers, offering micro-loans and assigning engineers to advise farmers on the best ways

to deal with climate change. In a paper entitled “Small Area Estimation of Poverty in Africa”, a researcher, Yegnanew Shiferaw said, a household consumption survey conducted in 2010 and 2011, shows that 38 percent of Africans, especially Ethiopians live below the poverty line. However, Shiferaw said the national average failed to reflect widespread poverty in some provinces, arguing that dedicated policies are needed to ensure that these areas benefit from progress made under the SDGs. Also, the Resident Representative of the African Development Bank, AfDB, in Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Mr Sylvain Maliko said that the continent’s leaders must prioritise attainment of SDG 3, relating to health and well-being. The study revealed that food provision in educational settings can help to increase the number of children attending school, especially in

Japan’s economy falls back into recession again

apan’s economy has fallen into recession again after it shrank 0.8% on an annualised basis in the third quarter.

The preliminary data means the world’s third-largest economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter, marking a technical recession. Growth was expected to decline after it fell a revised 0.7% in the second quarter on weak domestic demand. Japan has been in recession four times since the global financial crisis. On a quarterly basis, growth fell 0.2% in the third quarter from the previous one, weaker than forecasts of a 0.1% decline. The seasonally adjusted figure was also much lower than expectations of a 0.2% drop. Economists said the weak data will put more pressure on the government and central bank to continue to stimulate the economy. However, Marcel Thieliant, economist at research firm Capital Economics, said policymakers have showed “considerable reluctance” to respond to weaker growth with more stimulus as inflation

accelerates, and he does not expect more easing at the central’s meeting this week. “The upshot is that the Bank’s preferred inflation measure, which excludes prices of fresh food and energy, should start to moderate soon,” he said in a note. “We therefore remain convinced that more stimulus will eventually be needed, and now believe that the January meeting is the most likely venue for its announcement.” Japanese companies continue to be wary of using their record profits to raise wages and invest in the economy a major challenge for Prime Minister’s Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” policies. Business spending fell 1.3%, against forecasts of a 0.4% decrease. It also marked the second quarter in a row of declines. But, private consumption, which accounts for 60% of the economy rose 0.5% from the previous quarter.

Consumer spending has picked up from the hit it took last year from an increase in sales tax in April, which contributed to the recession in 2014.

L-R..Chairman of occassion,Dr Olawale Cole; Formal Deputy Governor of Lagos State,Princess Adebisi Sarah Sosan and Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises Bank of Industry, Mr Waheed Olagunju at the Bank of Industry Special Day at 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair

arid regions where poverty is widespread. According to the researchers, the attainment Sustain-

able Development Goals, SDGs, as adopted by the United Nations, UN, General Assembly in New York in Sep-

tember 2015, would have significant impacts in eliminating intergenerational poverty and inequality in Africa.

FCMB empowers Nigerian youths with Dare2Dream Project

s part of its youth engagement and empowerment initiatives, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, is for the second consecutive year sponsoring the 2015 edition of the fashion-to-entrepreneurship reality competition tagged, ‘’Dare2Dream (D2D)’’. The contest, which is organised by Kinabuti, a Nigeria-based Italian fashion label, and Pulse.ng, provides an opportunity for young and aspiring women across the country, especially students, who desire to take-up career in modelling and fashion, to showcase their skills and live their dreams. The initiative is also designed to discover, empower and encourage them to realise their aspirations through the sponsorship platform provided by the FCMB brand, while raising the profile of the Nigerian fashion industry. This year’s competition kicked off yesterday with a campus activation that would involve a selection programme of contestants who are students in three universities. The selection which will produce 18 finalists that would attend a boot-camp, holds at University of Lagos (November 16 – 18); University of Abuja (November 19 – 21) and the University of Port Harcourt (November 23 – 25). The 18 shortlisted contestants who make it to the Dare2Dream boot-camp will participate in the FCMB Challenge from November 26 to December 5, 2015. During this period, the 18 fi-

nalists will be trained in modeling, fashion, music, among other creative skills to prepare them for the life of their dreams. It will also afford them the opportunity to showcase their skills, the viability of their respective ideas and projects they intend to execute. The boot-camp will also be an avenue for accomplished celebrities and entrepreneurs to inspire the contestants. Speaking on this year’s competition, the Group Head, Communications/CSR and Youth Segment & Diaspora Business of FCMB, Mrs. Uchenna Mojekwu, said that the bank’s support and sponsorship of the Dare2Dream initiative is another demonstration of its commitment towards encouraging students and youths to discover their potential with a view to aligning

such talents with value-added ventures to empower them, thereby contributing to national economic and social development. According to her, ‘’FCMB as a helpful bank is once again using the platform to communicate and engage the youth. They are agents of the future and we believe that by effectively impacting them, they could discover their skills and put such to productive use towards a sustainable society. This support is a strong reinforcement of our mantra, “teach a man to fish and he will feed for life’’. She added that this year’s competition, ‘’has been packaged to be great, exciting and life changing. The Nigerian fashion industry has been making waves all over the world and we want to contribute to this positive development’’.

Access Bank organises anti-fraud forum for bank officers Johnson Okanlawon

takeholders involved in anti-fraud functions in various banks will gather for an Anti-Fraud forum this week to be hosted by Access Bank. The event is expected to serve as a platform for anti-fraud officers of banks to further interact on ways this menace (Fraud) can be curbed by their joint collaboration. According to the Chief Internal Auditor, of Access Bank, Mr. Yinka Tiamiyu, the forum is another way Access Bank demonstrates

its commitment to go the extra mile towards using collaboration in fraud prevention. Tiamiyu, who said that the theme of the forum is “Fraud Management – The need for a Harmonized Approach,” said that representatives from Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Inspector General of Police, Price Waterhouse Coopers, PWC, Akintola Williams Deloitte House, Ernst & Young, KPMG and NIBSS are expected to attend the forum with other participants from various banks.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Coca-Cola, Cadbury to hook to Ikeja electric firm’s network

…as power firms list gains of sector’s privatisation Tola Akinmutimi

here are strong indications that two major manufacturing multinationals in Nigeria, Coca-Cola and Cadbury Nigeria Plc, may hook on to the public power supply network if their ongoing discussions with Ikeja Electric (IE) Company are finalized. Giving this hint when a team from the Post Privatization Department of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, (BPE), undertook the monitoring of power companies in the Lagos axis last week, the Manager for the Ikeja Business Unit, Mr. Christopher Lawal, confirmed that his company’s discussions with the two entities on their intentions to source power from the public network had reached an advanced stage. A statement by BPE’s Head, Corporate Communications, Alex Okoh, quoted Lawal as saying that two multi-national companies have been generating their power but with the privatization, plans have reached advanced stage to hook them back on the IE’s power network. Lawal, while briefing the BPE’s visiting team, led by a Deputy Director in the Bureau’s PPM Department, Mr. Ignatius Ayewoh, said that one of the benefits of privatization was the plugging of all leakage channels, thereby raising the Unit’s monthly revenue generation from N400,000 in the pre-privatization period now to N1.1bn monthly. Lawal said the Unit had 28 injection stations and supplies its customers with 80-100 megawatts of electricity though the required demand is 376 megawatts, adding that the management’s plan is to raise the current supply to 250

megawatts. The Manager informed the team that the Unit had also blazed the trail in metering as 1,200 meters had been installed for customers. Meanwhile, at the Oshodi Business Unit’s Manager, Mr. Sunday Oyewale, said that the Unit was now collecting N1.211bn monthly,

compared to N602 million in the pre-privatization period. He said because of the improvement in services, 134,000 customers were now on its network compared to 128,000 in the preprivatization period. The Manager expressed optimism that the figure will increase after the metering of customers.

he Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, has said that only full automation of the port systems would guarantee the achievement of 24-hour operation of seaports in the country. The Council had, following its constitution by the immediate past administration February last year ,commenced the process of enthroning a new port order, which will be driven by efficiency, reduction in cargo dwell time and high cost of operation and designed to make the ports competitive and userfriendly. Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, told National Mirror in an exclusive

noting that the PHCN successor companies will continue to do their best to ensure power supply sustainability in the country. In his remarks, the BPE team leader commended the strides recorded by the Business Units since privatization, adding that the leadership of the privatization agency is keen on seeing that owners of the new power companies fulfill the terms they signed with the government.

rolled out across Nigeria in phases starting with Lagos. He said the service is currently available at its Ikeja office. The launch of a self-service kiosk he stated followed the introduction of two other payment options; Globalpay and Internet Banking/Bank Branch Payment (NIBSS Ebills Pay). Global Pay, a product of Ze-

nith Bank, he explained allowed the Verve card, MasterCard, Visa Card holders and Zenith Bank Internet banking users make payment for Arik Air tickets on the Arik Air Mobile Website. Likewise, the internet banking and branch payment option, which went live on recently enabled passengers’ book and pay for tickets on Arik Air website using their internet banking credentials and Bank Branch Locations. Commenting on the developments, the Managing Director of Arik Air Mr. Chris Ndulue who noted that e-commerce holds the key to future business success said; “Our renewed focus is on the introduction and deployment of technologies that will not only increase in-flight travel comfort but will provide more convenient avenues to book flights, get travel updates, check-in and constantly remain in touch with Arik”. Ndulue, while disclosing that Arik Air was the first airline to launch a self-service kiosk, gave an assurance that these alternative payment platforms come with enhanced security and have recorded 99 per cent payment success rate since their introduction.

Arik Air introduces self-service kiosk for passengers Olusegun Koiki

rik Air has launched a self-service kiosk for its air passengers travelling to any part of the country and beyond. The airline also introduced two extra payment options to broaden payment options available to passengers.

Statement by the spokesman of the airline, Mr. Ola Adebanji stated that the self-service kiosk allows passengers make bookings and pay for Arik Air tickets at a kiosk without the intervention or assistance from any of its officers. He said that the service was first of its kind in Nigeria, adding that the kiosks are being

L-R: Mr. Fujii Hisashi, Marketing Director/Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Olivier Levigne Managing Director Cfao Yamaha Motor Nigeria Limited, Alh. Remi Bello, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu 1, Oba of Lagos at the CFAO Yamaha stand during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair where the Oba blessed the newly introduced Yamaha Crux motorcycle

Automation crucial to 24-hour port operations- Shippers Council FRANCIS EZEM

According to him, following privatization, customers have begun to follow the rules while the older ones are being re-oriented . Oyewale noted that for a seamless service delivery to the customers, one marketer was assigned to 900 customers as against the previous arrangement of one marketer to 1,500. At Somolu units, the managers also spoke on the core gains of the privatization of the power sector,

interview at the weekend, that the low level of automation of the various processes has remained the bane of the seaports in the country. He also said that apart from achieving 24-hour port operation, which would come with lots of efficiency, would also bridge the revenue gap in the nation’s economy occasioned by the declining price of crude oil in the global market, which is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. According to him, this would also require the Federal Government to bridge the infrastructural gap in the country to make this dream a reality. “But above all, it requires the collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders in the

industry, especially relevant government agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON”, he said. Bello who commended the Customs and NPA for their efforts at automating their processes, noted that there was no better and faster way of enhancing port efficiency other than automation and integration of these various processes. He made a particular mention of the Electronic Ship Entry Notice e-SEN, which enables shipping lines operating in the country to process their entry procedures online real time, which is more efficient than the former manual system.

U. S. may suspend South Africa’s agricultural products from AGOA

resident Obama has informed Congress of the intention to suspend the application of duty-free treatment to all AGOA-eligible agricultural products from South Africa. While this development is not entirely unexpected, it is disappointing that issues around the animal health and food safety regulations between South Africa and the USA remained unresolved at the set deadlines. The notification provides a 60 day period before the duty-free quota-free suspension of South Africa’s agricultural exports to the USA is actually implemented. Agbiz has learnt that if the South African government manages to resolve outstanding animal health issues for poultry, pork,

and beef before the 60 days lapse, there may still be an opportunity for this suspension to be withdrawn. Given this possibility, we take note of the acknowledgement by President Obama of South Africa’s willingness to resolve the outstanding issues. “Agbiz calls on government to push beyond current efforts to ensure that the impending suspension of South Africa’s duty-free quota-free access of agricultural products is avoided. Alternatively government needs to be transparent in its dealings with the private sector and explain the legitimate reasons for the impasse, if there are any,” Dr John Purchase, CEO of Agbiz, said.

Business News

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

TE Connectivity, NAPTIN to train Euro nears six-month low as Paris attacks stoke economic concern Power Sector workers Tola Akinmutimi

E Connectivity (TE), a global leader in connectivity, has announced a strategic partnership with the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, (NAPTIN), with a view to providing critical expertise and workforce training essential for the country’s power sector. TE experts will work with NAPTIN’s trainers and provide technical training on the connectivity required to enable power systems. The training will be based on TE’s high-quality products and solutions including the industry-leading Raychem product line. Once complete, NAPTIN will organize training sessions at its facilities for local installers. Commenting on the importance of technical training for the nation’s power sector, Ronnie Fotheringham, head of the TE Energy Project in Nigeria, noted that with

increasing investments by private and public operators in the power sector, the need to have build a strong technically competent workforce to achieve the purpose of the investments cannot be overemphasized. He said: “As the government of Nigeria invests in upgrading and expanding the power network, the country also needs to invest in its people – developing the skills and expertise required to develop and maintain that network.’’ “The partnership with NAPTIN is a significant step in that direction. It furthers the mission by bringing the proven solutions, technical know-how and broad application experience to NAPTIN and those being trained. We view this partnership as beneficial to the Nigerian power vision and to TE, building deeper connections throughout the country”, Fotheringham added. In his remarks, the Director General, NAPTIN, Engr. Reuben

Okeke explained that “the power sector needs skilled technicians, and this partnership with TE is meant to help achieve sufficiency in power supply, which is one of the steps taken to encourage industrialization and as well improve the economy. According to him, this is very important now as the sector needs to develop its talent base to enable the operating and maintenance of the electricity supply in Nigeria. NAPTIN was established on March 23, 2009, to serve as an institute to train power sector personnel in Nigeria and other countries in the West African region. The NAPTIN institute continues to provide training for power sector personnel and coordinate training activities in the sector, with eight regional training centres nationwide. Today, 85 instructors are working for NAPTIN and more than 9,500 power sector personnel have been trained.

fter a sharp drop in Asian trading hours, the shared currency recouped some of its losses early in the European day. The slide extends a decline that’s seen the euro lose more than 5 percent in the past month as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi stokes investor speculation he’ll provide more monetary stimulus at the bank’s December meeting. That reinforces the prospect of a policy divergence with a Federal Reserve that’s set to raise rates and boost the U.S. currency. “The initial steep decline in the euro reflected concern and uncertainty as to what impact the Paris events would have on the economy,” said Alvin T. Tan, a London-based strategist at Societe Generale SA. “But the currency has since recouped some lost ground as the economic concern is likely to be transitory. The focus in the market remains firmly on policy divergence between the ECB and the Fed.” The euro declined 0.4 percent to $1.0727 as of 9:50a.m. in London. It sank as much as 0.8 percent to $1.0687 earlier, approaching the $1.0675 reached on Nov. 10

that was the weakest level since April 23. The yen weakened 0.3 percent to 122.92 to the dollar. It climbed 0.4 percent earlier, and advanced against all but one of its 16 major peers, as traders turned to traditional havens after French warplanes bombed targets in Syria. U.S. Treasuries and gold were still climbing, though European stocks reversed an earlier decline. The history of terror incidents around the world over the last 15 years shows market reactions have become increasingly short-lived. Key economic reports from Japan, the euro zone and China that have trailed estimates over the past week may ultimately end up influencing markets more. “I don’t think the horrific events on Friday will sustainably cause a change to macroeconomic themes,” said Richard Benson, a money manager at Millennium Global Investments Ltd. in London. “Central-bank policy divergence is a central pillar of my investment thesis and the Fed is not yet fully priced for December liftoff, while the euro is not far off being fully priced.”

Gartner recognizes Microsoft as Magic Quadrant leader in ODBMS

M L-R: Area Sales Manager, PZ Cussons, Mr. Tunde Amuni; Iyaloja Ebute Ero, Alhaja Mrs. Risikat Aromire; Iyaloja Idumota, Welfare Officer Market Women Association, Alhaja Mrs. Falilat Kofoworola Sunny Kuku and Regional Sales Manager, PZ Cussons, Mr. Ayodeji Adewale during the Canoe Detergent Relaunch Activation at Oke Arin Market, Lagos Recently.

FSDH Merchant Bank gets ISO 27001 certification

Johnson Okanlawon

he FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, has announced its certification in ISO 27001:2013. FSDH is the first among the merchant banks that were licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to achieve this feat. and dedication of its personnel, who are seasoned professionals in the banking Industry. According to bank, the ISO 27001 Certification demonstrates that it has placed information security as priority while reassuring stakeholders that a best practice system is in place, and compliance with CBN banking industry IT Standards is achieved.

FSDH stated that the certification would further enhance investors and customers’ confidence in its system and processes. Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Rilwan Belo-Osagie, said the company would continue to do its best to maximise shareholder value by constantly realigning and diversifying its operations to take full advantage of unfolding opportunities as they arise. Belo-Osagie stated that its experience as a discount house had helped the FSDH Merchant Bank expand the frontiers on the banking industry. He said, “The year 2015 marks the third year of our operations

as a merchant bank. We intend to continue with our time tested conservative approach of building a portfolio of risk assets that will stand the test of time; while ensuring that we meet the demands of our customers through

the provision of world class financial services at all times.” He added the bank has since starting operation offered a broader range of services to its clients thereby, deepening its client relationships, in line with the approval it secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria to commence merchant banking operations.

icrosoft has once again earned recognition as a leader in the Magic Quadrant for Operational Database Management Systems (ODBMS) for the 3rd time, based on a Gartner Inc. assessment. The Gartner’s assessment of the ODBMS landscape positions Microsoft as a clear choice and an industry leader in ODBMS. This implies that, managing Data can be best done with Microsoft, which when stacked up against others, is furthest to the right on the axis for completeness of vision, and closest to the top on the axis for the ability to execute within the Leaders Quadrant. In a news release following the announcement, Microsoft stated that: “With the release of SQL Server 2014, the cornerstone of Microsoft’s Data platform, we have continued to add more value to what customers are already buying. Innovations like workload optimized in-memory technology, advanced security, high availability for mission critical workloads are built-in instead of requiring expensive add-ons.’’ The release added, that, ‘’We have long maintained that customers need choice and flexibility to navigate this mobile-first, cloudfirst world and that Microsoft is

uniquely equipped to deliver on that vision in both trusted environments on-premises and in the cloud.” According to Microsoft, a key design point in Microsoft Data strategy is to ensure that customers’ problems are solved with ease. “Customers can now manage both structured and unstructured data through the simplicity of T-SQL rather than requiring a mastery in Hadoop and MapReduce technologies. This is just one of many examples of how Microsoft values ease of use as a design point. “We believe it validates that Microsoft is delivering a comprehensive platform that ensures every organization, every team and every individual is empowered to do more and achieve more because of the data at their fingertips.” Gartner, a world leading information technology, and research advisory firm delivering technology research to global technology business leaders to make informed decisions on key initiatives. The company conducts its research without endorsing any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not decide technology for users based on highest ratings/rankings or designation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EnergyWeek Wednesday, November 18, 2015

NCDMB support oil and gas free zones – Kentebe 36

PTD commends Buhari on choice of ministers

1,200 secure PTDF training in Petroleum sector welding 37

Transporters, marketers exploit consumers as fuel scarcity spreads nationwide

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, had earlier raised hopes of ordinary Nigerians when they pledged to supply more fuel as well as monitor distribution in the past few days to tackle the problem of what they termed ‘artificial’ scarcity of petrol nationwide. Several days after their assurance, the lingering shortage of fuel has worsened, thus creating another opportunity for transporters, marketers and traders to exploit ordinary Nigerians. In this report, UDEME AKPAN reports that the worsening situation has culminated in high transport fares and sky-rocketing prices of basic goods and services.

he scarcity of petrol that gripped the entire nation was expected show improvement over the weekend at least for a reason. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which is the only consistent importer and operator of the nation’s four refineries, had announced the supply of commercial fuel to the domestic market. The Corporation had last week assured that it had enough quantity of petrol in stock to meet the nation’s domestic consumption requirement, noting that the prevailing fuel queues in some major cities across the country have nothing to do with the lack of supply of petroleum products. The Executive Director, Commercial

of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, Mr. Justine Ezeala, indicated that a projected volume of 1.4 billion litres of petrol are available for distribution to fuel stations across the country all through the month of November. Ezeala explained that as part of the extra measure in place to tackle the artificially induced queues, PPMC has increased the volume of petrol being trucked out to fuel stations across major cities in the country, adding that most of the 37 NNPC Retail Mega Stations across the country have been directed to commence 24-hour service. “NNPC Retail has 513 retail outlets all over the country and the strategy is that every one of these stations is de-

signed to have products at all times. In addition we have decided that most of the mega stations will adopt 24 hours operation model and where for security reasons that cannot be met, we are going to have extended hours of operation in such location starting from 5am and end till about 10 pm daily”, he said. Explaining further, Mr. Oladipo Fagbola who is in charge of its retail business remarked that in addition to the commencement of the 24-hour service, the company has opened up some hotlines to enable members of the public provide useful feedback and intelligence on the operations of Mega and affiliate filling stations across the country. He urged members of the public to provide useful information

to assist the Corporation achieve its mandate and responsibility to the fuel consumers. The supply was expected to increase available stocks, thus leading to the elimination or reduction in the pains of consumers nationwide. But this was not to be. Investigations showed that the plights of consumers have indeed increased following the disappearance of petrol from many outlets. Take Lagos as an example. Only very few filing stations had the product to sell over the weekend. Those that had limited stocks sold at arbitrary prices, ranging between N100 and N200 per liter, depending on locations and CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Again, transporters, marketers exploit consumers as fuel scarcity spreads nationwide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

other factors. Consequently, there long queues in the city and outskirts. By Monday, this situation had worsened as a reliable survey showed that available stocks were almost depleted while arbitrary pricing of the product had risen to between N100 and N300 per liter in many outlets. The situation was not different in other States. For instance, in Abuja long queues started to emerge on Monday, this week as motorists and other users moved rushed to buy the product. Some oil marketers, especially those in remote locations hike prices from N87 to over N200 per liter. The story was not different in others, including Akwa Ibom State where only a few filling stations had the product to sell to motorists and other users at exorbitant prices. These range from N250 to N300 per liter. Consequently, motorists cashed in on the situation to hike fares. For instance, the Akwa Ibom Transport Company that used to charge about N3, 600 per commuter in its none aircondition buses from Uyo to Lagos now charge over N5, 000. The company also charges about N7, 000 for its air condition buses. Other private transport operators even charge more. The operators have also increased their fares for inter-city routes. The company is not alone. Other major transport companies have also hiked their fares in all routs. The Chief Executive Officer of one of them who preferred not to be named said: “We have all increased our fares because of the high price of fuel and difficulty associated with sourcing the product. It is not possible for us to retain previous fares at the current market situation.” “When the supplies and prices of fuel have improved, we will reduce the fares to ameliorate the pains of commuters and other stakeholders. The government and marketers have to work hard in order to bring about positive change, “he added. Expectedly, traders and others have passed the burden to consumers in form of high prices. Consequently, the prices of various goods and services have increased in Lagos and other parts of the nation. John James who operates a cyber café in Maryland, Lagos indicated: “We used to only N150 per hour until this fuel scarcity started. Now, we charge N200 per hour because we need to cover the high cost of our operations.” “We will continue to increase our rates as far as it costs us more to buy petrol from the black market. We have been patronizing black market operators because it is difficult to buy petrol at the filling stations,” he added. Investigations showed that the situation would not have been as bad as it is at the moment if the officials of Department of Petroleum Resources,

Buhari

Kachikwu

DPR have risen to their responsibility. The DPR has the duty to provide licenses as well as monitor and impose sanctions against operators who refuse to play according to set rules and regulations. A few days ago, DPR had maintained that it was monitoring the operations on marketers in order to sanction culprits. It indicated in a statement that: “The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) wishes to inform the General Public that it has set up a 24 hours surveillance monitoring team of petrol stations nationwide to ensure unhindered sale of petroleum products at government regulated prices. This is in response to reported cases of panic buying in some Petrol Stations across the country. The DPR wishes to state that the current stock level of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in depots nationwide is about 365million litres and we are also expecting over 800million seaborne litres to be discharged before the end of the week. This translates to a stock level for thirty (30) days’ supply.’’ “To further ensure the supply of products, DPR has fast tracked the grant of product import permits and vessel clearing process to aid rapid

stock build up for importers. We hereby appeal to all Depots and Petroleum Product Retail Outlets nationwide to ensure that products are sold at government regulated price as the DPR will not hesitate to enforce necessary sanctions against any erring marketer. The General Public is hereby advised not to engage in panic buying as there is adequate supply of petroleum Products nationwide,’’ it added. From all indications, the nation’s fuel situation may not improve much without the settlement of outstanding subsidy claims. The Executive Secretary of Major marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Olawore indicated that the inability of the government settles claims has constrained operators from importing the product into the nation. It would also require substantial funds to construct new refineries in the country. The new Minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has already estimated that 500 million dollars would be required to fix the country’s refineries. He described the poor refining capacity as worrying, adding that there were plans to restore the lost glory of the refineries and ensure that they contribute massively to

will be engaging the

presidency on weekly basis , the governors monthly ,

National Assembly monthly basis , while

and the on

we continue to publish out reports monthly

the national fuel consumption. He pointed out that NNPC was speeding up the payment of the subsidy claims, adding that plans are also in the pipeline to review the subsidy system and bring down the amount of subsidy from about N20 per litre to about N5 per litre. According to him, “products distribution is key to NNPC, and we have therefore sent out about 5000 trucks to various locations across the country in the last two days. We are out for transparency. We will be engaging the presidency on weekly basis, the governors monthly, and the National Assembly on monthly basis, while we continue to publish out reports monthly,” he said. Kachikwu, who agreed that these are very serious trying times for the industry, said the problems are actually more serious than we think, so Nigerians need to work hard and begin to add value. He said the president is deeply worried about the prevailing situation in the industry and has gave him the mandate to fix the problems, “and I will never do things that will compromise my integrity,” he stated. “In 12 weeks at the NNPC, I have enhanced commercial value, increase productivity, increase profitability and improved governance at the corporation. Within 12 to 24 months, we want to build a competitive and stable investment regime that balances the needs of the nation and private investors. We will have zero tolerance for undue hike of project costs. However, some stakeholders, including a Port Harcourt-based energy ana-

lyst, Mr. Bala Zaka stressed that the challenges facing the downstream sector and the entire industry did not require much rhetorics but strategic planning and strong commitment to implementation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Investors review investments as lull in oil market persists – OPEC I nvestors in the global oil and gas industry have continued to cut their investments because of the prolonged fall in prices. The Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Dr. Abdalla S. ElBadri indicated that the market has witnessed a great deal of volatility since 2014. He maintained that prices have fallen by 60 per cent, many investments have been deferred or even cancelled, manpower has been laid off, supply has been greater than demand, stocks have risen above their five-year average, and the market has been searching for balance. The Secretary General maintained that the industry has gone through many cycles in its evolution. “We have had periods when prices were low, and periods when prices were high. We have seen times when supply outstripped demand, and times when supply has struggled to keep up. There have been long periods of stability, as well as some periods of instability. I am sure some of us here can recall the supply and demand challenges of the early 1980s and the price drop in 1985-1986. The OPEC Reference Basket fell from around $25/b in November 1985 to just $8/b in July 1986.” “In 1997 and 1998 there was the Asian financial crisis, and another price drop. The OPEC Reference Basket fell from around $20/b in October 1997 to $9/b in December 1998. In the early years of the last decade we saw strong demand growth, particularly in

Oil vessel

Asia, which led to rising prices. And at the end of 2008 there was the global financial crisis, when prices dropped from around $140/b to the mid-$30 range.” “The current cycle was triggered by oversupply. But what is different on this occasion is that most of the supply increases in recent years have come from high-cost production. The market is now taking on board this new reality and gradually resetting itself, as we can see with falling non-OPEC supply growth and stronger demand. As with previous cycles, the industry will come through this one. In fact, cycles have helped make it increasingly resilient and more efficient. Our industry is built on strong foundations. Nevertheless, we should recognize that each cycle does bring with it changes and challenges,” he said. He said that from 2014 to 2015 the in-

dustry has seen a fall in exploration and production investment of around $130 billion. El- Badri said there were many other ongoing challenges: the uncertain prospects for the global economy; environmental issues and concerns; excessive speculation and the role of financial markets; the impact of geopolitics; and advances in technology and their impacts on exploration and production, to name just a few. He said moreover, many new factors may be just around the corner; there are always unknowns. The Scribe maintained that Asia has a number of significant producers, but overall it is a major importer of crude and products. He nited that the industry will need to supply more oil in the future, much of it going to the Asian region. And this will need more investment.

SNEPCo promotes clean cookstoves

hell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has signed an agreement with Project Gaia Prospects Limited (PGPL) for the conduct of a pilot study on the use of Ethanol clean cookstoves, a cleaner and safer way of cooking. SNEPCo will provide 2,500 clean cookstoves and 15,000 canisters for distribution to households in Lagos while PGPL will ensure the supply of Ethanol fuel blended with methanol during the one-year study. The (M)Ethanol clean cookstoves project aims to reduce mortality associated with indoor air pollution by providing cleaner and healthier cooking alternative to kerosene, firewood and charcoal. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) estimates that house-

hold air pollution contributes to 70,000 premature deaths every year and affects 127 million people in Nigeria. “We’re pleased to promote a safer cooking system in Nigeria as part of efforts to encourage access to a better source of energy,” said Bayo Ojulari, SNEPCo Managing Director, at the signing ceremony on Nov 5. “There is a compelling case for action on a better and leaner cooking method. I’ll be taking a personal interest to ensure the agreement we’ve just signed delivers on all promises and opens the door to safer cooking in Nigerian households.” Harry Stokes, the Director of Project Gaia International said: “We started this journey with Shell International in 2001 and executed the first project three years later in Brazil and Haiti

with support from Shell Foundation. We then went to Ethiopia where the government has supported the use of Ethanol clean cookstoves in all refugee camps because of the inherent health benefits. We’re happy that the project is now in Nigeria with the active support of SNEPCo.” He said Project Gaia plans the fabrication and assembly of the (M) Ethanol clean cookstoves in Nigeria to ensure their availability and promote local content development in Nigeria. Also speaking, Shell’s General Manager, Production, David Martin who serves on the board of the GACC said: “We eagerly look forward to the completion of the pilot study in Lagos so the benefits can quickly spread to other parts of Nigeria. This is about saving lives, stopping deforestation, and creating employment through the produc-

Commodity

Units

Price

Change

% Change

Time(ET)

Crude Oil (WTI)

USD/bbl.

40.37

-0.37

-0.91%

10:20:02

Crude Oil (Brent)

USD/bbl.

43.74

-0.73

-1.64%

10:20:01

TOCOM Crude Oil

JPY/kl

33,900.00

-450.00

-1.31%

10:19:27

NYMEX Natural Gas

USD/MMBtu

2.38

+0.02

+0.80%

10:20:08

Source: Bloomberg as at November 16, 2015

tion of the clean fuels in-country and the planned local assembling of (M) Ethanol clean cooktsoves by Project Gaia.” SNEPCo had earlier supported a prepilot health study in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital under the supervision of Prof. Christopher Olopade, a specialist in pulmonary medicine at the School of Medicine of the University of Chicago in the United States. The 150 households covered in that study said they found the Ethanol clean cookstoves better and more convenient. SNEPCo hopes to promote wider usage of the new cooking system and encourage families to switch from unclean fuels through the Lagos pilot. SNEPCo’s role in the (M)Ethanol clean cookstoves project in Nigeria follows from Shell’s active participation in the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. The Alliance is working with governmental stakeholders and partners to enable 17.5 million households to adopt clean cookstoves and fuels in Nigeria by 2020.

Energy Week

Indigenous firms showcase potential at SNEPCo exhibition

early 40 Nigerian companies showcased their potential for offshore materials and services in the oil and gas industry at an exhibition organised in Lagos by the deep-water subsidiary of Shell in Nigeria, Shell Nigeria Exploration and production Company Limited (SNEPCo.) The exhibition, the 4th in the series aimed to raise the level of awareness in critical offshore oil and gas categories where local investment opportunities exist, and where Nigerian businesses are currently underrepresented. Among the exhibitors at the 2015 edition were two companies, the Nigeria Machine Tools, and Kay Global, whose products are now being used in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. “The annual Nigerian content exhibition has helped Nigerian companies to keep pace with the fastevolving local market for offshore materials and services,” said Bayo Ojulari, SNEPCo Managing Director in his opening remarks. “Looking back on the three editions, I’m happy to say that the event has provided a platform for the alignment of offshore industry demands with local capabilities, which has in turn promoted exchange of ideas and best practices among the indigenous service providers, SNEPCo and other stakeholders.” Manager, Monitoring at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. William Arikekpar commended SNEPCo for sustaining the exhibition since the first edition in 2012. He urged Nigerian companies to take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities in offshore oil and gas operations. SNEPCo’s Finance Director, Ralph Welzels, said he was happy to see many Nigerian companies exhibiting at the event, saying they must sustain the drive for excellence by improving processes and benchmarking against global standards. The Nigeria Machine Tools attended the Nigerian Content Exhibition on November 11 having just successfully introduced some of its products, such as stud bolts and nuts, for use in offshore oil and gas exploration and production, after SNEPCo supported them with testing and certification. Also, Kay Global achieved a breakthrough when the backing of Shell led to the acceptance of the company’s locally manufactured personal protective equipment for use in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Shell companies in Nigeria, Mr. Chiedu Oba, said: “Shell companies in Nigeria will continue to support local manufacturers and vendors to bring them up to international standards. In doing this, we’re looking to see manufacturer suppliers who will make their mark on the international scene.”

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ExxonMobil to drill offshore post-Ebola Liberia

xxonMobil Corp said it plans to start drilling in Liberia in what President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said was a sign of economic recovery after the Ebola epidemic. The West African country produces no oil but has awarded a number of exploration blocs offshore, following the examples of Gulf of Guinea neighbours Ghana and Nigeria. Exxon Mobil intends to start drilling late 2016 or early 2017, Steven Buck, its country manager for Liberia and Ivory Coast, said. The U.S. oil major signed for bloc 13 in 2013 but put the project on hold due to the Ebola epidemic. The worst known outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever killed 4,800 people in the country and deterred investors. Liberia was declared Ebola-free in September but Johnson Sirleaf has said it will take two years to regain its economic footing. “I am very excited to see Exxon Mobil here,” she said on Thursday after a meeting with Buck. “Their

presence demonstrates to the world that Liberia is once more on the move.” The strength of our global organization allows us to explore for and capture all resource types, across all geological and geographical environments, using industry-leading technology and capabilities. We use our unique geoscience capabilities and understanding of the global hydrocarbon endowment to identify and prioritize all quality resources. ExxonMobil indicated that major projects are more capital intensive, and operating complexity places even greater emphasis on execution excellence. It maintained that what remains unchanged is our long-term perspective, disciplined approach to investment, technological leadership and focus on world-class operational performance. The company indicated that the strength of our global organization allows us to explore for and capture all resource types, across all geological and geographical environments,

Oil pipeline

using industry-leading technology and capabilities. “We use our unique geoscience capabilities and understanding of the global hydrocarbon endowment to identify and prioritize all quality resources. We deliver industry-leading project execution for a portfolio of diverse opportunities that includes conventional, heavy oil, tight gas, shale gas, deepwater, liquefied natural gas (LNG), Arctic and sour

gas projects.” “We focus on safe operations, reservoir management, continuous improvement and on applying production operations best practices around the world. With experience and applied technology, we can capture more oil and gas reserves at both new and mature fields. Advances in seismic imaging, reservoir simulation, drilling and facility design allow us to reach deposits that were previously unidentified or unreachable,” it added.

NCDMB to support Oil and Gas Free Zones – Kentebe

he Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB) Mr. Denzil Kentebe, last Thursday led the Nigerian content development General Managers of the international producing companies and other stakeholders of the oil and gas industry to tour the facilities of the Oil and Gas Services Centre, Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, Rivers State, with a promise to support companies operating in the zone to maximize their potentialities and address some of their challenges. The tour was coordinated by Intels Nigeria Limited, a concessionaire in the zone whose integrated logistics services are dedicated to the oil and gas industry. The company showcased its investments in berthing facilities, ports operations equipment, offices and accommodation facilities etc. The other firms visited included Total Premier Services, Vallourec

Oil men at work

Oil and Gas, Titan Tubular, Tenaris and Pipe Coaters Nigeria Limited. Other companies visited included Cameron Valves and Measurements, West Atlantic Shipyard, OPMC, Remm Oil Services, Oando Rigs One Subsea/ Cameron Offshore and GE Subsea Facility. The team also visited FMC Technologies, West African Ventures yard and Adamac. The tour came on the heels of a similar visit by the delegates of the recently held Practical Nigerian Content Conference to the facilities at the zone. Speaking during the tour, Kentebe explained that the purpose of the visit was to get the industry to appreciate the capacities of companies operating in the oil and gas service centre and Free Trade Zone, noting that the Board was insisting on the utilization of locally manufactured inputs by the oil and gas industry and many of such activities were carried out in the zone. He expressed delight that many of the companies were engaged in value

addition activities and manufacturing of components, which according to him hold the key to real Nigerian content growth and employment creation. He encouraged companies operating in the zone to approach the Board if they experienced challenges, noting that the NCDMB was willing to support any company seeking to domicile its operations in the country. On complaints from the operators of the West Atlantic Shipyard that the vessels they manufacture in the Zone were often taxed exorbitantly when they are moved out of the vicinity, the Executive Secretary promised that the Board will engage relevant agencies of government to ensure that applicable tax policies do not negate the essence of establishing the zone. He charged the company to ensure that it restarts the manufacture of vessels aside from just carrying out dry docking of vessels. He noted that the Board will begin to give first consideration to locally built vessels in tenders from 2016. Explaining the company operations to the Executive Secretary after they conducted a tour of their rigs, the Managing Director of Oando Energy Resources, Mr. Bamidele Badejo explained that the company’s three rigsOES Integrity, OES Respect and OES Teamwork were moored at the Free Trade Zone as they were out of work. He explained that the company invested $450m in the acquisition of four rigs in furtherance of the Nigerian Content Act and employed 600 persons when three of the rigs were working.

He regretted that the staff strength had been cut to 200 since the slide of oil prices and downturn in operations. He pleaded with the Board to help the company secure business so they can recall their staff and make their investment worthwhile. When the team visited OneSubsea, the officials explained that the company was assembling Christmas Trees for ExxonMobil’s Erha North project and 70 per cent of the project team are Nigerians. OneSubsea Offshore Systems is a leading provider of flow equipment products, systems and services to oil and gas and process industries. Officials of General Electric also told the Executive Secretary and his entourage that they repair and maintain Christmas Trees for the Shell Bonga project and other deep water projects. He added that the Christmas Trees were dismantled and assembled back in their facility and returned to the production platforms offshore. In their presentation, officials of West African Ventures noted that the certifications offered by the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron to local trained seafarers were not accepted by the oil and gas industry and offered to upscale the capacity of their graduates to enable them acquire international certifications and skills they need to secure work.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Civil Service 37

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

FG pledges improved access to water, sanitation Regina Otokpa, ABUJA

L-R: (FRONT ROW): Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu; American freelance journalist and Resource Person, Eduardo Cue; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan; U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle; NUJ President, Mr Waheed Odusile; Chief Press Secretary, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Mr Mohammad Sule, and participants at a workshop organised by the U.S. Embassy for government spokespersons in Abuja.

Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism too huge for govt alone –NIHOTOUR Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

he Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs Chika Balogun, has said that tourism potentials in Nigeria are too huge for government alone to harness without the collaboration of the private sector. NIHOTOUR boss, who described tourism sector as a goldmine, observed that the sector “is capital intensive, thus requires both the government contribution and the experts input in the private sector to move the industry to its desired stage.” Consequently, the International Tourist Choice Ltd. is collaborating with the National Tourism Development Corporation, Bwari and Kwali Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to establish Bwari Tourists Village International along Ushafa axis and Kwali Inter’l Sport Tourist Centre to

promote sport tourism. Speaking at the International Investment Tourism Forum, in Abuja, Balogun said government was unable to make much progress despite abundant tourism potentials in the country, due to limited resources, adding that joint efforts of private and public sectors “can lead to rapid development of tourism industry in the country.” The Managing Director of the International Tourist Choice Ltd, Arc. Henry Ogboi, said the two projects, which were opened up for other investors to come in, were designed to create one million jobs using tourism and agriculture as alternative means to oil exploration. He explained that Bwari project would be launched into global tourists destination through the campaign sticker, while the Kwali project, which “has grown in importance from niche market to multi-billion dollar

business, is expected to attract 250,000 visitors with projected benefit and revenues.” According to him, “Sport and Tourism bring people together in many unimaginable ways and can play major part as instruments of change.”

The chairman of the occasion, Dr. Justin Ogwuegbe, noted that the most stable and vibrant economies of the world today depend on tourism as their mainstay and it helps to stem unemployment. He appealed to other area cou

he federal government has promised to improve access to water supply and sanitation across the country. Speaking in Abuja during his maiden visit to the ministry, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, assured the citizenry that the present administration would do its best to scale up access to water supply, improve on sanitation coverage level and complete all on-going dams and irrigation projects. Laying emphasis on agriculture as the major thrust of the Buhari-led administration, he disclosed that the ministry would boost food security through its dry season irrigation farming projects and other initiatives in the area of water supply. Adamu added that “even though it is in the concurrent list of the constitution, whereby state governments are supposed to do their bit but as the

Federal Ministry of Water Resources we also have responsibility to regulate, monitor and set standard.” The minister urged the entire staff to show commitment, accountability and transparency in the discharge of their duties in moving the sector forward, saying, “the only best way we can succeed in the sector is to work as a team towards the success of the ministry in the overall interest of the Nigerian people. “We must follow rules and regulations in discharging our duties in the sector, without cutting corners” In her remarks, the new Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, noted that the sector would experience high level development following the emergence of a young professional engineer as minister. She promised to key-into the administration’s change mantra by working assiduously with him and the entire staff to ensure success.

14 entrepreneurs graduate from NBTI Regina Otokpa, ABUJA

he National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has concluded plans to pass out another set of entrepreneurs from one of its Technology Incubation Centres located at Agege, Lagos State. This is in its efforts to demonstrate commitment to actualising its policy thrust of commercialising research and development results, innovations and inventions with tendencies to create more jobs and generate wealth, while entrenching entrepre-

neurship culture and re-orienting values in the society. According to the Director General of NBTI, Engr. Mohammed Jibrin, the event would provide a platform to create the much needed linkages to advance socio-economic benefits. He disclosed that during the week long event which coincides with the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), the INNOVADIS super market was expected to be launched, even as no fewer than 29,000 people would receive dealership for “Sweet Naija” rice after the launch of the store. The DG explained that INNOVADIS su-

permarket was a super store for the sales of products of entrepreneurs from the Technology Incubation Centres nationwide and exhibition of innovation He further disclosed that the economic benefits of the programme would include the “promotion of economic development, wealth generation through income and taxes, employment generation, creation of entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture as well as demonstration of political commitment to development of knowledge based businesses.” Jibrin maintained that the objective of the

programme was aimed at providing a platform for speedy commercialisation of technologies by linking talents, technology, capital and know-how in production of goods and services. He said further that the programme would also promote “Wealth creation and employment generation by creating, nurturing and developing value-added technology based enterprises.” He said it would also encourage “enhance global competitiveness with emphasis placed on technology value-addition and innovation as a criterion for global competitiveness.”

Civil Service

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why Nigerian languages are dying –Linguists Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

inguists in Nigeria, yesterday, called on the federal government to undertake language survey, documentation and analysis of oral legislature and lexicon to have a correct statistics of languages in the country and to prevent them from going dying. They noted that some of the languages, which signify the strength and diversity of Nigeria were practically dying due to the recognition given to one language by law over another and the desirability of the users to abandon their languages for others. A Professor of Linguistics from the University of Jos, Prof. Andrew Haruna, and other speakers who contributed their views spoke at a national consultative forum on Nigerian endangered languages with the theme, Creating Strategies for Preventing Language Loss in Nigeria, in Abuja. The don said that Ni-

geria is the third richest country in the world in terms of language, as it has about 500 languages out of 7,000 languages in the world. He noted that Nigerian linguistic diversity is in controversy, as no specific figure of languages in Nigeria is known due to lack of survey. He added that most of the figures (450 or 500 languages) given emanated from survey undertaken by foreigners. “The fact remains that the task of documenting and describing the languages of Nigeria is best suited to national linguists, not foreigners. A great deal of time has been lost and we are yet to know many languages and cultures there are in Nigeria,” he said. Haruna maintained that the disappearance of language is the disappearance of culture; meaning that the country would be witnessing depletion in its cultural heritage as languages disappear.

Citing Bauchi State as an example, the don disclosed that a study had shown that there were 64 languages in the state, but only five of them are currently active. Also, a former President of Linguistic Association of Nigeria, Prof. Ahmed Amfani, further explained that a research carried out in Kaduna State revealed that many languages in the state, particularly in the Southern Kaduna, are gradually going into extinction. They told the govern-

ment categorically that language could be used as an instrument to promote unity in diversity, if properly harnessed. In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said it was unfortunate that “80 per cent of Nigerian youths, especially those between the age bracket of 12 to 18 years, find it difficult to speak their mother tongue fluently or do not speak them at all.” Represented by a director in the ministry, Mr. Adebola Kayode,

said western education and globalisation had set Africa back significantly in the area of linguistics, which pertinently is the cornerstone of every nation’s development. The minister added that “language imperialism which causes the abandonment of cultures and traditions should be discouraged through international legislations and proclamations by UNESCO which is the body in charge of this discipline.” The Director of Cul-

tural Industries and Heritage, Mr. Seyi Womiloju, said about 400 Nigerian indigenous languages are endangered and that they would go into extinction in the next 50 years, if nothing is done. “To prevent this, this ministry had earlier on conducted a mapping and documentation of these endangered languages across the six geo-political zones and arrived at a publication titled ‘Pilot survey on Endangered Languages and Cultures of Nigeria,” he added.

Minister preaches love, hardwork Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

he Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has pledged that the rights and privileges of staff would be protected during his tenure in office. He also called on staff to expunge primitive sentiments by eschewing bitterness and rancour. Rather, he said, they should embrace love, dedication and hard work. Addressing the staff of the National Sports Commission in Abuja, at the National Stadium, Abuja, Barrister Dalung admonished the workers to key in to the role sports play in national unity. According to him, we

must see ourselves as a people, act as a people and work as a people for the progress of Nigeria.” He added that “every person should have passion for the nation as there is no other country for us than Nigeria.” “Let me use this occasion to urge the top management to understand that the level of success which they have attained could be accessed through the impact they made on the lives of their subordinates,” he said further. He urged them to think of the welfare of these subordinates at all times. Speaking earlier, the Director General, Alhassan Yakmut, assured the minister of staff cooperation and undiluted service.

A cross-section of presidents and members of national sports federations at the inauguration of the committee on Nigeria ‘Hospitality’ House Project for 2016 Rio Olympic Games, in Abuja, yesterday.

Nigeria has re-invented winning formula –NSC Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

he Director General, National Sports Commission, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, has said that Nigeria has rediscovered her brilliance in sports and that the period of lacklustre performance is over. He made this remark while receiving the management of Tiki Taka Football De-

velopment Academy, Sweden, led by Michael Idoko at the weekend, in Abuja. Yakmut stated that Nigeria had never witnessed the revolution that is currently going on in sports, noting that the winning formula had been reinvented. The Director General remarked that the concept and mission of the academy was in tandem with that of the Commission in en-

suring that grassroots sports were developed, and talents discovered. “National Sport Commission will leave no stone unturned in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Tiki Taka and to help the academy gain access across the six geopolitical zones to organise sports development for youths. “We are ready and available to collaborate with the academy,” he

assured. Earlier in his remark, the founder and owner of Tiki Taka Football Development in Sweden, Mr. Michael Idoko, stated that the academy was designed to give a holistic approach from human capital development in sports to academic excellence of sportsmen, with the aim of catering for sports curators, coaches and club managers amongst other.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Bayelsa poll: APC, PDP in war of words Osahon Julius YENAGOA

Chairperson, House Committee on Electoral and Political Party Matters, Rep. Aisha Dukku (4th r), and other dignitaries at the 10th public lecture on voters Behavior and Political Participation in Nigeria in Abuja yesterday.

Kogi poll: IG promises to provide security of lives, properties Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

he Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Aranse has assured the people of Kogi state that Nigeria Police will provide adequate security for lives and property before, during and after next Saturday’s election. Aranse who disclosed this while speaking at the Kogi state governorship election stakeholders forum held in Lokoja yesterday, stated that the Police and other security agencies in the state will ensure violence free governorship election in Kogi state.

He assured all the political parties and the candidates of a level playing ground during the election. He explained that 21 units of Mobile Policemen will be deployed to the 21 local government areas of Kogi State, stressing that over 6,000 regular police will also be in charge of security during the coming election. He also admonished the Police officers not to follow their personalities to the polling booth. The Police boss stated that there will be restriction of movement from one local government to another Local govern-

ment, stressing that the police will be working in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC to ensure that there is strict compliance. He posited that there will no scared cow, noting that those who dares the might of the police would not be spared Speaking earlier, the newly appointed Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said that the commission will conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable governorship election in Kogi State. He explained that

preparation are in top gear to ensure the conduct of Kogi governorship election without hitch, noting that the commission had carried out processes that will lead to credible election in Kogi State. The Chairman explained that a total of 1,351,313 are eligible voters in the next Saturday election, pointing out that the commission has recruited over 13,000 adhoc staff to work in the 3018 polling units for the election, while the commission had detected over 2,300 double registration assuring that the figure would be removed from the voters register.

Funds accrued to TSA intact –Minister Ayo Esan

he Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has insisted that the funds that have accrued to the Treasury Single Account, TSA remain intact, challenging anyone who has any fact and figure to the contrary to make such information public. In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister reiterated the fact that less than N2trn has accrued to the TSA, hence the one per cent charges on the amount could not have been N25bn. He said that apart from the resort to personal insults in the most

undignifying statement ever credited to any state Governor in Nigeria, nowhere in the statement did Gov. Ayodele Fayose controvert the facts that we stated concerning the TSA. ‘’For the sake of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora who have been following the TSA debate, we hereby restate the facts: “The TSA deal was initiated by the immediate past administration but only enjoyed a new lease of life under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because of his sterling leadership qualities of accountability, transparency, uprightness and respect for

the rule of law. “Any agreement on the TSA charges was reached long before the present administration assumed office. Even if the agreement on the charges is one per cent, it could not have amounted to N25bn because the total amount of money that has accrued to the TSA is less than N2trn. “ Even if one per cent was agreed as charges, whatever accrues there from was meant to be shared among the CBN, Systemspecs (the owner of the Remita software) and the commercial banks, hence no single company could have collected N25bn as charges “ As at the time the

controversy over the TSA broke, the total amount of money in the TSA was less than N800bn . The TSA has neither been enveloped in any fraud nor has any money from the account been diverted. “ The Senate’s investigation of the TSA issue is within its oversight responsibilities and is never a confirmation that the TSA funds have been diverted or that indeed one single company has made N25bn as charges”. ‘’These are the issues and we stand by them, irrespective of a rabblerousing and demeaning statement from any quarter,’’ the minister said.

he campaign organizations of the Bayelsa State Governor and candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Seriake Dickson, and that of the All Progressive Congress, APC, yesterday engage one another in war of words over alleged plans to rig the December 5, gubernatorial poll. While the PDP are accusing the opposition APC of plans to rig the governorship poll in the state, the APC, said such allegation was false, frivolous and unfounded, saying such false claim was the ‘thinking of a sinking ship and a loser.’ The governor and the PDP who spoke on Tuesday through Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, the Director of Publicity of his campaign outfit, alleged that a lot of efforts had been made by the APC leadership in Bayelsa to infiltrate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC at both state and national level to ultimately rig the election. “We have unearthed plan to compromise the INEC Bayelsa office, to give authentic result sheets to APC leadership during the election, which will then be used to rig the election. As we are talking, they are not relenting in the criminal proposition to manipulate some officials of the commission at the national headquarters and in Bayelsa towards actualize their evil plan to rig the election by all means. “In this aspect of the ignoble plot, these INEC officials, if they succumb to the ongoing pressure being mounted on them, will be asked to distribute fake result sheets on the day of election while withholding the original copies to execute the rigging. This is a fact we came across through our intelligence network which we must emphasize is very credible.” Obuebite claimed that already, as part of the measures to rig the poll, the APC had sewn both police and army uniforms to be given to APC thugs on election day to enable them to hijack electoral materials and intimidate voters at polling units purporting to be soldiers and policemen on duty. The campaign team said

the organization and the PDP had carefully examined the whole situation and felt convinced that they needed to expose the plans ahead of the poll and urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to institute a thorough investigation into the allegations in order to unravel the truth or otherwise of the claims. “We are sure he will find the allegations to be the truth and nothing but the truth. As a beneficiary of a clean democratic process, President Buhari should move swiftly to take action on this matter,” he noted. But in a swift reaction, the Director of Media and Publicity, Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organization of the APC, Chief Nathan Egba, said the allegations were false, frivolous and unfounded. Egba said it was shocking that the PDP would quickly turn around to raise those allegations that the APC had put before the security agencies to investigate against the Dickson-led government. He said, “There is of course no truth in the allegation that our party is planning to rig the election in connivance with the use of the security agencies and other institutions as the INEC. This is the thinking of a sinking ship and a loser. “Our reaction to what the PDP has said is very simple. Every single thing they are alleging against the APC is precisely what the campaign organisation of the PDP is doing. “What they are trying to do is to defect attention from their plans, realizing that their plans have been exposed. “For instance, we have called the attention of the security agents to the activities of a senior INEC official in Bayelsa State who is working closely with them to compromise the election. The said official was used to rig the last National and State Assembly election in the state.” Egba said the party had it on good authorities that tailors were brought into the guest houses in the Government House, where they are sewing military and police uniforms they intended to use during the election. He said that was criminal and the APC had called on the police to invade the location to verify the party’s allegations.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OBADARE YEMISI MARGARET, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS OYETOLA YEMISI All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Orjiewulu Chinenye Anderline, now wish to be known and addressed as Orji Chinenye Anderline. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AKOREDE-OMOLAJAOLUKOGA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr KOREDEOMOLAJA-OLUKOGA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CORRECTION OF NAME

Mr Ajayi Oluwafemi Adebowale, wants to be known as Mr Ajayi Oluwafemi Adebowale Matthew. All documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Usman Mufutau Gbadebo, now wish to be known and addressed as Usman Mufutau Olalekan. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as NWOSU UJUNWA CYNTHIA AHAMEFULA OFURUM, now wish to be known as AHAMEFULA UJUNWA CYNTHIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mutalubi Kehinde, now wish to be known and addressed as Akintayo Abidemi Atoke. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Kamilu Serifa, now wish to be known and addressed as Amusat Islamiyat . All documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr. OZOAGU CLEMENT now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. JUDE CLEMENT. CHIKELU . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known, called and addressed as MRS EMI MERCY OJIYOVWI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MISS AKPOGUMA MERCY OJIYOVWI SOPHIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EZECHI UGONNA ANIWEOKWU HENRY, now wish to be known and addressed as NWEZE UGONNA ANIWEOKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as USMAN ISIYAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as SULE ABDULAZEEZ. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss ISIAQ YETUNDE ONAGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. SHINAAYOMI YETUNDE . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MRS ADETIMILEHIN BOLAJI CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS EMMANUEL BOLAJI CHRISTIANA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Formerly known and addressed as MAKANJUOLA OLANREWAJU AYODEJI, Now wish to be known and address as AYANDEJI OLANREWAJU. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Yusuf Olufolake Ayodele, now wish to be known and addressed as Elegushi Olufolake Ayodele. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr Umeh Samuel Abuchi, now wish to be known and addressed as Umeakuka Samuel Abuchi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr Okorobo Ernest, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Okunrobo Ernest Joseph. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr Salami Ayinde Faruk, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Rasak Ayinde Faruk. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr Nifemi Ajibola Salami, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Shittu Sulaimon Opeyemi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mr Ikechukwu Nna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Ikechukwu Njoku. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY known as MISS OMIDIRE LUCIA NIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUWOLE LUCIA ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAIYA ATINUKE MAYOWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SONOLA ATINUKE MAYOWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FORMERLY FALERO OLUWAFERANMI JAMES, NOW FALERO FOWOSOLA JACOB. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OKUMEBOR: I formerly known and addressed as OKUMEBOR HUMPHREY AND OHWODIASA HUMPHREY. Now wish to be known and addressed as OKUMEBOR HUMPHREY. All former documents remain valid. Skype Bank Nig Plc, Eco Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Salami Alirat Ibidun, now wish to be known and addressed as Kataye Yanjue Alirat . All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ayanlowo Aminat , now wish to be known and addressed as Ganiyu Rashidat. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Akande Ganiyat A. , now wish to be known and addressed as Agbaje Ganiyat Amope. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Akinsoji Kehinde Asakun, now wish to be known and addressed as Yakubu Jelilat. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, MRS. UGWUEGBU MAUREEN AISHAT IHINOSEN, am one and the same person known, called and addressed as MRS. IBRAHIM AISHAT. All former documents bearing these names remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Ishola Sekinat, now wish to be known and addressed as Abdullahi Sekinat. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss OKALA PATRICIA EGO, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. EGEMBA PATRICIA EGO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Usman Idris Umar, now wish to be known and addressed as Buhari Sales. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Salami Lateefat Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Afape Lateefat Mercy. All former documents remain valid. Ogun state Civil servant and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss ULUNMA NWOKORIE, and now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. ULUNMA UBAZUONU. All former documents still remain valid. Banks and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Known and addressed as miss Igwe Dorathy Oluwatosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Majonagbe Dorathy Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid . SUBEB Ogun state, University of Ibadan and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adebayo Adenike Omotade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeosun Adenike Omotade. All former documents remain valid . Psychiatric Hospital, Aro and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME LOVINA: I, formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU LOVINA THERESA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADIELE CHUKWU LOVINA THERESA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

KPANKPAN. This is to confirm that I, KPANKPAN THEODORE, am the same person known, called and addressed as KPANKPAN THEODOU. All former documents bearing these names remain valid. General public should please take note.

1, formerly known and addressed as Nafiu Mujidat, now wishes to be known and addressed as Salimonu Mujidat. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to inform the general public that my names were wrongly spelt in some documents as JOY SUNDAY ENEM, while my correct names are SAMPSON JOY SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME OLAYIWOLA: I, formerly known and addressed as OLAYIWOLA KAFILAT OLATANWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AJISE KAFILAT OLATANWA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Sanni Oladimeji Mohammed, now wish to be known and addressed as Sanni Oladimeji Mohammed Arewa . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Ojeba Yusuf Enabere, now wish to be known and addressed as Dauda Yusuf Enabere . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I,Lawrence Latifat Amonke am the same as Latifat Oloya Lawrence, now wish to be known and addressed as Olanipekun Latifat Omoriyeba All documents remain valid. Skye Bank, First Bank and general public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Olowolagba Misirat, now wish to be known and addressed as Tajudeen Misiratu. All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Miss Aremu Folasade Mary, now wish to be known as Mrs Alamu Folasade Mary. All Former documents Remain Valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Owolabi Oluwakemi Omobolanle, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluwakemi Omobolanle Jonah. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

This is to confirm that I, AMBROSE CHUKWUEMEKA UGOJI is the same person as HYCENT UGOCHUKWU UGOJI. That any documents bearing any of the names remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abigail Oyiza Alabi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ABIGAIL OYIZA SHAIBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is confirm that I Mbonu Okoye James and Mbonu Tochukwu James refer to as one the same person , now known as Mbonu okoye James. All former documents bearing my names remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known as ODUSAJO TEMITOPE OLUSEGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASAJO TEMITOPE OLUWASEGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to notify the public that ODUOMA CHINEDU KENNETH, is still the same person bearing BERNARD CHINEDU KENNETH. All former documents remain valid, First Bank PLC and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Abua samson Oshi, now wish to be known and addressed as Egrinya solomon Oneh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Bakare Kafilat Nike, now wish to be known and addressed as Adigun Kafilat Nike. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ahuruonye Chioma Geraldine,.now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anigbogu Chioma Geraldine. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs moji ASanat Alani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Elizabeth Taiwo Ademuyiwa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as UBI EFOLI ENO, now wish to be known and addressed as UBI BRIGHT ENO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anatojigbenu Noweline Damilola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mustapha Teslimat Damilola. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed Miss AJEWOLE ABIOLA OLUBUKOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. OGUNMILOYE ABIOLA OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Mr Somorin Dairo Ajani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr Dairo Somorin Moses. All former documents remain valid. banks and General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE WONDER CHURCH

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 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Rev Chioma Christian orji - General overseer. 2) frank Chukwuka orji, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO ALL NATIONS.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS FAJIMI OLUWASEYI ABIDEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FATAISHOSANYA OLUWASEYI ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as David Oluwagbenga Samson is the same person as Olutayo Oluwagbenga Samson now wish to be known and addressed as Olutayo Oluwagbenga Samson. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Gbenga Olalekan Orija is the same person as Gbenga Lekan now wish to be known and addressed as Adegboyega Olalekan Orija . All former documents remain valid. Gtb,Uba bank and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Nwadike Janet Olubunmi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kareem Janet Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Yslgea Ilaro and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS UDEOGU BLESSING IJEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AGBONTAEN BLESSING IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE PYEM CHIEFDOM DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Mr. Charles Mato Dakat Hon. Samuila Tukyes Kallamu Hon. Tanko Umaru Adamu Alh. Bello Ali Gidado Mall. Inusa Dajar Yartor

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1 . To give the entire people of the chiefdom and its communities a clear sense of direction through a progressive, purposeful leadership 2. To make Pyem Chiefdom Development association an apex

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.

Association that shall direct and co-ordinate the activities of members and all recognize Association or organization with the authority of the Chiefdom and in Diaspora.

SIGNED,

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Rev Chioma Christian orji - General Overseer.

SIGNED: Secretary

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME .Formerly known and addressed as Miss TEMIDAYO MOSUNMOLA ADENIYI now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. TEMIDAYO MOSUNMOLA JOSHUA. All former documents remain valid. GTBank and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly called and known as Miss Moshood Mutiyat Idowu now wish to be addressed and known as Mrs Lawal Mutiyat Idowu. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Ganiyu Aderonke Fasilat, now wants to be addressed as Rasheed Ayoke Misiratu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Abodunrin Sekinat, now wants to be addressed as Abodunrin Fatimo Ayanmo. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I MRS. CHINYERE CHIKEZIE JULIET, is the same and one person as CHINEYERE OLUA as contained in my bank account number. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

TOYON: I, formerly MISS. TOYON MEDESE REBECCA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. SEGBENU REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as BENJAMINE AUDU, now wish to be known and addressed as OJOCHENEMIN ABAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Afolabi Kudirat Adeola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Kadiri Kudirat Adeola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that MISS. OKECHUKWU BLESSING NGOZI is the same person as IMO BLESSING ADALI; now also wish to be known as IMO BLESSING ADALI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as SALAWU BOLA MARIAM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BALOGUN MARIAM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as TITILOYE OLUWABUKOLA GETRUDE, now wish to be known and addressed as DUROSINMI OLUWABUKOLA GETRUDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OPADOTUN OLUWASEUN JANET, now wish to be known and addressed as JOLAYEMI OLUWASEUN JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME EMEBO : Formerly known as Miss Emebo Ogochukwu Juliet now wish tio be known as Mrs Taubman Ogochukwu Juliet. All former documents remains valid. Public take note.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certified that Abiola Sunday Oke and Sunday Oke is the same one person as Abiola Sunday Joshua, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Abiola Sunday Joshua. All former documents remain valid, GTB Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as FRANKLIN O. AKALAZU, now wish to be known as AKALAZU FRANKLIN UGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Yekini Barakat Folake, now wants to be addressed as Sanusi Barakat Folake. All former documents remain valid. National Park Service and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as CHINEDU JOHN OSU, Now wish to be known and addressed as CHINEDU JOHN OBI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certified that Adejare Iyabo is the same one person as Adesina Yetunde, that henceforth wish to be known and called as Adesina Yetunde. All former documents remain valid, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Keystone Bank Plc and general public should please take note .

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as NWOKORO OKEREKE STANLEY, now wish to be known as AKUMA NWOKORO. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Fatunmila Fatunmibi Abosede Adeleke Oluwatoyin Comfort, now wants to be addressed as Adeleke Abosede Oluwatoyin Comfort. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OGONNA EMMANUEL CHINWE, Now wish to be known and addressed as UGWUANYI EMMANUEL OGONNA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that OGHENEKEVWE EMMANUEL PHILIP is the same one person as AONDONA EMMANUEL OVIEN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as PIUS EROMOSELE ABOIRALOR, now wish to be known and addressed as PIUS EROMOSELE EHIAGUINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as OBASUYI OZABOR, now wish to be known and addressed as ROLAND OBASUYI EKOMWAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Chalaram Kamso, now wish to be known and addressed as Idris Mohammed with Date of Birth 24th…April…1981. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MR. ADEWALE BALOGUN OLU, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. AKINPELU BABATUNDE . All former documents remain valid, general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS AZEEZ ABIDEMI OLUWAKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLA AYINDE ABIDEMI OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid, general public take

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH OJEMEN, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSEPH OJEMEN CLEMENT EHIZONAGA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I OHIRO ABIODUN and ALADE MONSURU ABIODUN refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS. OMEJE STELLA CHINASA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GODWIN STELLA CHINASA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Fagbemi Aderemi Anthonia, now wish to be known and addressed as Olaleye Aderemi Anthonia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AKINADE KOLA OPEYEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINADE ADEKOLA IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid; GT Bank, general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME NDAY: Formerly known and addressed as JOY ONYEJE SUNDAY now wish to be known and addressed as THERESA ONYEJE OLOKPO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADIGUN RUKAYAT ADEBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS LADEJOBI RUKAYAT ADEBOLA All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EMEKALAM CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWACHUKWU CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certified that Ojo Christianah Abiola is the same one person as Edo Ayodele Funmilayo, that henceforth wish to be called and known as Edo Ayodele Funmilayo. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Mudasiru Iyabo, now wants to be addressed as Ibrahim Alimat Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Sarafadeen Adenike, now wants to be addressed as Salawu Adenike. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as Miss Oladoja Temitope Wasilat, now wish to be known and called MRS. HAMMED TEMITOPE WASILAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as miss Olorunkemi Bunmi Alice, now wish to be known and called MRS. OLANIRAN BUNMI ALICE. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB and general public should please note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as JUNAID KARIMAT BOLANLE, now wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI JUNAID KARIMAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Odunayo Busayo Akinbode now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Odunayo Busayo Shobayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MR. MR. FALETI MOFOLORUNSO FATAI, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. FALETI MOFOLORUNSO STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid; Skye Bank Plc, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SIMON: Formerly known and addressed as MR OYEBODE OGUALA SIMON now wish to be known and addressed as MR ANOKEHI B RAIMAH. All documents, records and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as IJI MOYINOLUWA A., now wish to be known and addressed as OMOBE MOYINOLUWA A. JACOB. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly addressed and known as Miss Morakinyo Maria Olufunmilayo Ayoola now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Oderanti Maria Olufunmilayo Ayoola. All former documents remain valid, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as Titus Suliyat, now wants to be addressed as Suliamon Adama Adetutu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Formerly known as Rasaki Monsurat Arinpe, now wants to be addressed as Sikiru Monsurat Arinpe. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Asifa Omolara Seki now wants to be addressed as Adamo Sekinat. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Ganiyu Aderonke Fasilat, now wants to be addressed as Rasheed Ayoke Misiratu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY known and addressed as ADENIYI DHIKRU ADEOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIYI SIKIRU ADEOLA. All former documents valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Abraham Moses John, now wish to be known and addressed as Abraham Okon Udo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLAWUNMI SURAT BAIYEWUNMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLAWUNMI SURAT NWANO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as DOMINIC ISAAC UDOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as NJOKU UDOCHUKWU NWAWEZE ISAAC. All former documents remain valid. United Bank of Africa and general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ORHEWERE HELEN IYABO’OKHUO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FADEYIBI ORHEWERE HELEN IYABO’OKHUO. All former documents remain valid; United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ADAGBA: Formerly known and addressed as MISS SARAH EDI UFOT now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SARAH EDI RICHARD CHUDE-ONYEKELU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NCHA : Formerly known as Ncha Friday Dominic now wish to be known as Ncha Chinedu Dominic. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED HAKEEM AYINDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MOHAMMED HAKEEM ADIGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as UGWUSHIE KENNETH ONYEKACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as PHILIPS DAVID ONYEKACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adelakun Aina Gbemisola is the same person as Mrs Ojo Adelakun Aina Gbemisola, All former documents remain valid. Eco bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MR. ISAH JATAU, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. YARIMA DANJABA ISAH. All former documents remain valid; United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EBENEZER: Formerly known and addressed as OWOLABI KEHINDE EBENEZER now wish to be known and addressed as MR ISRAEL EBENEZER. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ashiru Olugbenga Oluwaseun, Ashiru Olufunmilayo Elizabeth Ashiru Adedeji Omowunmi Now wish to be known and addressed as :Oni Olugbenga Oluwaseun Oni Olufunmilayo Elizabeth oni Adedeji Omowunmi. All former documents remain valid, General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that I YUSUF SANNI and ALHAJI YUSUFF FOLORUNSHO ISHOLA ABDULSALAM refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EBEH: Formerly known as Ebeh Shedrack Chidozie now wish to be known as Ebeh Joel Chidozie. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

ODOH: I formerly known and addressed as ODOH CHUKWUDI CHRISTIAN now wishes to be known and addressed as ODOH CHIDI CHRISTIAN. All formal documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc, and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWAONU : Formerly known as Nwaonu Kizito Onyebuchi now wish to be known as Ugoeze Kizito Onyebuchi. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OTUBO : Formerly known as Otubo Chukwuemeka now wish to be known as Simon Nnaemeka Francis. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

OKPARA : Formerly known as Okpara Daniel Obinna now wish to be known as Okpara Daniel Prince. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

ONYEKWELU :Formerly known as Onyekwelu Azuka maryrose now wish to be known as Atueyi Maryrose Azuka. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OBIOHA : Formerly known as Obioha Nneka Lorretha now wish to be known as Obi Nneka Lorretha. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

CHEKWUBE : Formerly known as Chekwube Lawrence David now wish to be known as Okwara Lawrence. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and called as Miss Aboyeji Oyebimpe Esther now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Fatoye Oyebimpe Esther. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME GODWILL : Formerly known as Godwill Philomena Ogechi now wish to be known as Maduabuchi Philomena Ogechi. All former documents remain valid. Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AZIKE : Formely known as Miss Azike Emilia Oluoma now wish to be known as Mrs Ezenwa Emilia Oluomachukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OBIDIKE : formerly known as Mr Obidike Uchenna Kenechukwu now wish to be known as Mr Obidike Uchenna Ekene. All former documents remain valid. Public note. CHANGE OF NAME NWAGBA: I formerly known and addressed as NWAGBA OBIANUJU PATIENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAFOR OBIANUJU PATIENCE (MRS). All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

National Mirror

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Salami Shola Taofeek, now wish to be known and addressed as Elegushi Oluwanisola Taofeek. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Arinjo Sophia Olatundun Etchun now wish to be known and addressed as miss Arinjo Sophia Olatundun all former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as miss Adeleke Olaide Blessing now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rotimi Olaide Blessing. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Nnanwuba Chinelo Ifenyinwa now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ezeobi Chinelo Ifenyinwa. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Hena Talatu Misinda, now wish to be known and addressed as Bwala Kucheli John. All former documents remain valid . General public take note.

Formerly known and adddressed as MRS. OLAOPA RHODA REMILEKUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ABIODUN RHODA REMILEKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Oseni Oluwatoyin Serifat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kolawole Oluwatoyin Serifat all former documents remain valid Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Nwofor Onyekachukwu David now wish to be known and addressed as Ezenkwu Onyekachukwu David all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Adebayo Janet Tolulope now wish to be known and addressed as Ashafa Janet Tolulope all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as miss Somefun Taiwo Deborah now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anne Taiwo Diya all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Ogunmodede Adeboboye Isaac now wish to be known and addressed as Benkoya Isaac all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The original certificate of Occupancy of Plot R/319A Old G.R.A Layout Enugu belonging to CHIME JIDE got lost in his house at No 25B Iji Road, Tinkers Corner Layout Enugu on 2/10/2015. Ministry of Lands Enugu and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly MISS OLAEGBE OPEYEMI BALIKIS, Now MRS OLUGANNA OPEYEMI BALIKIS. All former documents remain valid. Greater Tomorrow College Agbaluku Arigidi Akoko and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME PATRICK: I, formerly known and addressed as PATRICK GLORY LINDA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SAMSON PEACE GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EMMANUEL: I, formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL MARTHA , now wish to be known, called and addressed as EMMANUEL IJEOMA EKELE . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NDUBUEZE: I, formerly known and addressed as NDUBUEZE JAMES IKECHUKWU now wish to be known, called and addressed as UDEH ISAIAH IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

That my name was written as KAREEM ABASS ADEJARE. That my surname is ADEJARE and not KAREEM. That all the documents that both names are written belong to me and are valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Olumuyiwa Oluremilekun Abisoye now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adebola Oluremilekun Abisoye.all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

USMAN: Formerly known and addressed as MONDAY USMAN now wish to be known and addressed as OVENGBISI MONDAY SOLOMON. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AHMED: Formerly known and addressed as SAIDU AHMED now wish to be known and addressed as BAWA YALWA SAIDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Adekoya Anthonia Adedoyin now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fakoya Anthonia Adedoyin all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Ojo Esther Oluranti now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Rabiu Esther Oluranti all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

SANI: Formerly known and addressed as SHAMSI SANI now wish to be known and addressed as BUHARI ALI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Formerly Mrs Bisuga Alice Olurotimi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adenuga Rotimi Olubukun all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

MOHAMMED: Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED TASIU SHUAIBU now wish to be known and addressed as ASHIRU SHUAIBU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT OKEKE IFEANYI CASMIR AND IKECHUKWU IFEANYI BELONG TO ONE AND SAME PERSON. ALL DOCUMENTS BEARING THESE NAMES SHALL REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME SA’IDU: Formerly known and addressed as SA’IDU LAWAN now wish to be known and addressed as MUHAMMED LAWAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWANKWO: Formerly known and addressed as NWANKWO JOSEPHINE NGOZI now wish to be known and addressed as UGWUAGBOR JOSEPHINE NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME JANET: Formerly known and addressed as ONYEBUENYI JANET OBIAMAKA now wish to be known and addressed as EKUNIE CHIAMAKA ASSUMPTA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ANAGOR: Formerly known and addressed as THERESA ANAGOR now wish to be known and addressed as THERESA EMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NENMAN: Formerly known and addressed as NENMAN TONGDOS TENPO now wish to be known and addressed as JOHNSON TONGDOS TENPO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Idemudia Itohan Mercy Adesuwa now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Odibi Itohan Mercy Adesuwa. All former documents remain valid. College of Education Ekiadolor, Benin City and General public to take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Samuel Charles Tochukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Anigbogu Tochukwu Charles. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and address as Ogbonnaya Chinenye Lovelyn but now wish to be known as Ezeakor Chinenye Lovelyn. General public please take note.

Formerly known as Miss TOLORUNJU BOSEDE OLUBUNMI, Now to be know, called &addressed as Mrs. OLATUNDE BOSEDE OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Ministry Of Agric Ondo State and General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Gabriel Olukemi Grace now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fasube Mary Olufunke.All former documents remain valid.Wema Bank plc Ise-Ekiti branch,SEAP ERA (SIX)6 and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EMILY: Formerly known and addressed as EMILY NDALI EBIFA now wish to be known and addressed as JUSTINA NDALI OKONKWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME BUTER: Formerly known and addressed as MISS BUTER MARY_CHRISTY HEMBADOON now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AJAYI MARY_ CHRISTY . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as miss Adewuyi Monsurat Aina now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Hassan Monsurat Aina.All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ADEBOYE: I, formerly known and addressed as JOSEPH OLAYINKA ADEBOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAIDE ADEOYE. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AMARIKWA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS HARRIETH CHINATU AMARIKWA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS HARRIETH CHINATU OBIGWE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKAFOR:I formerly known and address as MISS OKAFOR CONFIDENCE CHIAMAKA, now wish to be known and address as MRS MOUGBO CONFIDENCE CHIAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

I formerly known and address as UZOECHINA LEONARD ONYEKACHUKWU, now wish to be known and address as NWADUCHE LEONARD. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

kasali Ibrahim is one and same person as Alani Ibrahim Akani now wish to be known and addressed as Alani Ibrahim Akani all former documents remain valid and general public take note . CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I Mr Ogunmodede Abiodun am the same person as Mr Obasola Abiodun.Henceforth,I want to be known and addressed as Mr Ogunmodede Abiodun.All former documents remain valid. general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluyede Blessing Nike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Komolafe Blessing Adenike.All former documents remain valid,N Y S C,Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olabisi Olufunke Abejide now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Afe Olabisi Olufunke.All former documents remain valid First Bank plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Bamigbola Muibat. Adeyemi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oladunjoye Muibat Adeyemi. All former documents remain valid,general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Oduneye Oyeseye Adeola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Dosumu Oyeseye Adeola all former documents remain valid and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Ejike David is one and same person as Onah Ejike Sunday now wish to be known and addressed as Onah Ejike Sunday . former documents remain valid and general public First bank, Union bank. F.C.M.B and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is To Certify That OKHALE PAUL EHIS And OKHALE MACAULEY EHIS Refer To One And Same Person But Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed as OKHALE MACAULEY EHIS All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Awobusuyi Adeola Ruth now wish to be known and addressed as Enebeli Grace Ndidi.All former documents remain valid,Fidelity Bank plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Folakemi Adebamike now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oloniluyi Folakemi Adebamike. All former documents remain valid,EKSUTH,Ado-Ekiti and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Lawrence Tope now wish to be known and addressed as Ajidahun Tope Bayo.All former documents remain valid. Guarantee Trust Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

That my name was wrongly written as OKAFOR GOLDEN ADAKU instead of OKAFOR GOLDIE ADAKU. General public should please take note.

NZERIBE: I, formerly known and addressed as NZERIBE ANSLEM CHINEDU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NWANEGBO ANSLEM CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME That on my Union Bank savings account my names appear as AKHAZEHUORIA GLORY, while on my BVN, it appears as GLORY OMON USEGHE. That my full names are GLORY OMON USEGHE. That any of my documents bearing the two names stated above remain valid and belong to me. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Akeredolu Mary Adenike now wish to be known and addressed as miss Onafuwa Mary Adenike all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as H.Binta Bashir now wish to be known and addressed as H.Binta Sanni Kangiwa all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME ONAKOYA: I, formerly known and addressed as ONAKOYA ADIJAT KUBURAH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as KAZEEM ADEBUKOLA KHADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEBAYO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEBAYO SABAINAH BUKOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. AJASA SABAINAH BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Iniobong Malachy Nkantion now wish to be known and addressed as Austin Malachy Nkantion all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I WAS FORMALLY KNOWN AS ENAHORO ROSELYN OHILEOBA NOW KNOWN AS USIFOH ROSELYN OHILEOBA. All former documents remains valid. General public note.

DECLARATION OF NAME:

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME 1.Formerly known and addressed as miss Okuwoga Kudirat Omolola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ashimi Olawale Kudirat. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

FORMERLY HADIZAT KUBURAT SANNI MUSTAPHA NOW TO BE KNOWN AS MRS. HADIZA KUBURAT SANNI TALATU MUSTAPHA-MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE NOTE.

BEDE: I, formerly known and addressed as BEDE ADIELE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as PETER NNAMDI BEDE. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

EBALUKHE: I, formerly known and addressed as EBALUKHE GLORIA OMO’S, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ORUKPE GLORIA OMO’S. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as ISHOLA KAFILAT OLAPEJU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLAWALE KAFILAT OLAPEJU MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWOJO: I, formerly known and addressed as STANLEY KALU NWOJO, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOJO INVIRI KALU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWOGU: I, formerly known and addressed as NWOGU KELECHI STEPHNE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EWERUZOR STEPHNE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as MISS EMEASOBA ECHEZONA SILYVIA, now wish to be known and address as MRS EZEKIAL ECHEZONA SILYVIA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

ALADEMOFE: I, formerly known and addressed as ALADEMOFE TOLU JADESOLA .O., now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALADE TOLUWALOPE JADESOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE GOSPEL CUSTODIANS INTERNATIONAL CENTRE This is to inform the General Public that the above named mission has applied for Registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990. Trustees: 1) John Eleojo Thomas, 2) Igeh Albert Ojodale, 3) Clement Ovili, 4) Musa Bulus, 5) Danlami Amamsgamba Audu Aims and objectives 1, To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 2, To engage in Evangelical outreaches, missions, teaching, prayers and deliverance. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar– General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication..

Signed A.O.Igeh Esq

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

FG takes measles campaign to 96 IDP camps AdeolaTukuru Abuja

ational Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, yesterday revealed it would extend its follow-up campaign against measles to 96 Internally Displaced Camps, IDPs, in states across northern Nigeria. According to NPHCDA Executive Secretary, Dr. CHANGE OF NAME CHIBOGU:I, formerly known and addressed as CHIBOGU OKECHUKWU MICHEAL now wish to be known and addressed as OKECHUKWU MICHAEL UDENNA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKAFOR: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR ANN NKEM now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MADUKA ANN NKEM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME WEMIMO :Formerly known and addressed as WEMIMO MARTINS now wish to be known and addressed as MARTINS PATTON WEMIMO VERONICA ( JP.) All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IKEKWEM: Formerly known and addressed as IKEKWEM IBEKWE ELIZABETH UGONMA now wish to be known and addressed as ODIKANUOM UGONMA GLORY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME GENTY: Formerly known and addressed as GENTY TAWAKALITU ANUOLUWAPO now wish to be known and addressed as GENTY TAWAKALITU ANUOLUWAPO OLAREWAJU. All.former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS. JANET OGORI UDENSI Now wish to be known as MRS. JANET ULU UDENSI all former document remains valid general public take note CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR ISERAI EKENE EVANS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR ISERAI EKENE UYIOSA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME OGEDENGBE: I, formerly known and addressed as OGEDENGBE TITILAYO MODUPE (MISS), now wish to be known, called and addressed as OWOEYE TITILAYO MODUPE (MARRIED). All former documents remain valid. General public and the Nigeria Police Force should please take note.

Mohammed Ado, the states include Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Ado further told newsmen in Abuja that the first phase would start in 19 northern states from November 21 to 26, while second phase will commence on January 28 to February 1, 2016 in the17 Southern states. He said the plan was to achieve at least 95 per cent CHANGE OF NAME

OWOH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OWOH OBIANUJU LOVELINE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWUOKE OBIANUJU LOVELYN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME CHUKWUKELU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHUKWUKELU CHIKA VERONICA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS RICHARDS-OKORIE CHIKA TREASURE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME RICHARD: Formerly known and addressed as IMEH RICHARD now wish to be known and addressed as ETIM EMEM. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME ZAKARIYAWU: Formerly known and addressed as ZAKARIYAWU ISHAQA now wish to be known and addressed as MUHAMMAD ISHAQA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

BASHAR: Formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED MALLAM BASHAR now wish to be known and addressed as SALISU MUHAMMAD LAMBU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MRS. AGWU UCHENNA FRANCISCA Now wish to be known as EME AGWU ODIBEZE UCHENNA all former document remains valid general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS AKHIGBE STEPHEN VERONICA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OGBOLU VERONICA . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. UBA, UNION BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME UGO: I, formerly known and addressed as UGO GLORIA UZOMA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SAMUEL UZOMA GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The property situate at Okpulor Ikeagwu Aba-Ukwu, Aba, Aba South LGA Abia State and covered by a Statutory Certification of Occupancy Dated the 9th Day of August 1985 and Registered as No. 99 at page 99 in volume 128 of the Lands Registry office, Owerri (Now Umuahia) is lost the property is vested in chief WILLIAM JOHN UKAOWU general public take note. Signed: Chief William John Ukaonu.

coverage,adding that the campaign became imperative to reduce measles epidemic in the country. According to him, the agency had partnered relevant agencies especially non-governmental organisations to ensure successful campaign. He said: ”The children to be targeted are from 9 months to 59 months. It is very important because a successful campaign CHANGE OF NAME

UBA: I, formerly known and addressed as UBA CHIMEZIE FRANK now wish to be known and addressed as ONYIRIUBA CHIMEZIE FRANK. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OGBU: I, formerly known and addressed as OGBU KINGSLEY EZE IKECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as OGBU IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ONOVO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONOVO VICTORIA NWAKAKU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANYATAONWU VICTORIA NWAKAKU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

BUOLUONWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BUOLUONWU GEORGINIA NKECHI,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ILO GEORGINIA NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EGWUATU Formerly known and addressed as EGWUATU KELECHI CHRISTAIN now wish to be known and addressed as EGWUATU ONWU KELECHI CHRISTAIN . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as NANE MONDAY KUTANTA, wish to be called MONDAY KUTANTANG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME ANDREW: Formerly known and addressed as ANDREW OTEEMEH now wish to be known and addressed as ALIYU YUSUF. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ANURI REJOICE CHRISTIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHIDINMA GRACE CHINWENDU all former document remains valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

would reduce 4 per cent of under 5 mortality in the country. “We want the media to

also help us create more awareness on this campaign for the benefit of the masses. It will hold virtu-

ally at all public places including bus-stops, churches, major traffic points, border towns.”

Ishaku defends appointment of over 117 aides Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo

overnor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has said the appointment of over 54 Special Advisers and 63 Senior Special Assistants CHANGE OF NAME OFORKAJA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OFORKAJA OBIANUJU JOVITA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONUZURUIKE OBIANUJU JOVITA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that MAAH PAULINUS EJIKE is one and the same person as MAAH EJIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME OBU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBU CELESTINA UCHENNA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IGWEBUIKE CELESTINA UCHENNA. All former documents remain valid. PPSMB and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IDIOBARA: Formerly known and addressed as IDIOBARA FRIDAY now wish to be known and addressed as FRIDAY IRIFERI .All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ILEAGBALA: Formerly known and addressed as ILEAGBALA GINIKACHUKWU EMMANUEL now wish to be known and addressed as ILECHUKWU GINIKACHUKWU EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKONKWO: Formerly known and addressed as AGOMUO BLESSING NKECHINYERE now wish to be known and addressed as OKONKWO BLESSING NKECHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ADELEYE : Formerly known and addressed as ADELEYE OLUFUNKE MARY now wish to be known and addressed as OYEKANMI OLUFUNKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This confirms that Kalu Okwara K, Okwara Kalu Okwara, Kaluson refers to same person that I now wish to be known as Okwara Kalu Okwara all documents remain valid, Union Bank PLC, General Public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

UKATTA: I, formerly known and addressed as UKATTA SARAH CHINASA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as UZOECHI SARAH CHINASA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

SANI: I, formerly known and addressed as SANI ALIYU GARBA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALI SHUAIBU ABDULLAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME SALAKO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAKO KEMI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MISS ADIDI KEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

EYONG: I, formerly known and addressed as BENJAMIN SUNDAY EYONG, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BROWN SUNDAY EYONG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

is a deliberate attempt to have an all-inclusive government and to foster development. Ishakustated this yesterday in Jalingo while swearing-in the appointees at the multipurpose hall of Jolly Nyame stadium. The governor has come over heavy criticism since the announcement of over 117 aides. Critics wondered why the governor could appoint such huge number of CHANGE OF NAME JAMES: Formerly known and addressed as JAMES OMOHAGBO GEORGE AMHANESI now wish to be known and addressed as JAMES OMOHAGBO GEORGE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

OZOANI: I, formerly known and addressed as OZOANI EVELYN now wish to be known and addressed as ANEKE CHARITY NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AMBALIU: Formerly known and addressed as AMBALIU KEHINDE JELILI now wish to be known and addressed as ODETUNDE ABDULJELILI AMBALLI. .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME CHIGOZIE : Formerly known and addressed as MR CHIGOZIE LIVINUS ANYAOCHA now wish to be known and addressed as MR DAMIAN LIVINUS IZUNNA. .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

AFAMU:Formerly known and addressed as MR UDOABAGU FESTUS AFAMU now wish to be known and addressed as MR. UDOABAGU FESTUS CHIBUIKE. .All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME JAMES: Formerly known and addressed as JAMES OMOHAGBO GEORGE AMHANESI now wish to be known and addressed as JAMES OMOHAGBO GEORGE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

aides, aside the already appointed 20 commissioners in a state that dependsheavily on federation account for survival. Ishaku at the swearingin of the aides noted that the appointments were based on political exigencies that arose as a result of rancour in the past three years, stressing that this destroyed the sense of unity that hitherto existed in the state. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that UGWUOCHA JAMES IKECHUKWU is one and the same person as UGWUOCHA IKECHUKWU OGECHUKWU JAMES. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NNAMANI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NNAMANI FLORENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIKE-NNAMANI FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

GAHOUNZO: Formerly known and addressed as GAHOUNZO ABLAMVI ADJOR now wish to be known and addressed as MISSI ERNEST. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

EZELIORA: Formerly known and addressed as AGOZIE EZELIORA now wish to be known and addressed as AGOZIE EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME ADEGBE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEGBE ROSE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGUNJIMI ROSEMARY JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

ONOLI: Formerly known and addressed as MERCY CHIZOBA ONOLI now wish to be known and addressed as MERCY CHIZOBA MUOCHEBE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT MORDI LAWRENCE OSITA IS THE SAME PERSON AS THOMPSON LAWRENCE MORDI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. UBA, DIAMOND BANK;ANY AUTHORITY IT MAY CONCERN AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT ONYINYECHI OKOLO PRISCAL IS THE SAME PERSON AS UDEAJA ONYINYECHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FIRST BANK, ACCESS BANK. AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

MOGAN: I, formerly known and addressed as MORISE JAMES MOGAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OKWUEZE CHRIS CHUKWUEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ARIYO BOLAJOKO OLALOWO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TAIWO BOLAJOKO ARIYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MESIRIONYE: I, formerly known and addressed as REV. MRS. BEATRICE .C. MESIRIONYE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BEATRICE CHIDI OKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ARIGBEDE AYOPO FELICIA , now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS ADEYEMI AYOPO FELICIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME

NZONIWU; I formerly known and address as MISS NZONIWU CHIOMA ADAOBI, now wish to be known and address as MRS NZELU CHIOMA ADAOBI. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as MISS AGU CHARITY VIRGINIA, now wish to be known and address as MRS OZURUMBA CHARITY VIRGINIA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as MISS OKONKWO ODINAKA ABIGAIL , now wish to be known and address as MRS OKOLO ODINAKA ABIGAIL. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OSO: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OSO YETUNDE CAROLINE Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKINGBESOTE YETUNDE CAROLINE. All Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MRS ADETIMILEHIN BOLAJI CHRISTIANA Now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS EMMANUEL BOLAJI CHRISTIANA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and address as OGBUKWO NKECHI IMMACULATER, now wish to be known and address as MRS VICTOR BASSEY NKECHI IMMACULATER. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AKUBUENYI BETRAND IBENWA. All I formerly known and address as CHIBUEZE BETRAND IBENWA, now wish to be known and address as former documents remain valid. General Public to take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as ELOUBA NKIRUKA LILIAN, now wish to be known and address as IGWE CHINWE PATRICIA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME KILANI: Formerly known and addressed as KILANI WAHEED Now wish to be known and addressed as KILANI WAIDI. All Former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fashina Oluwatosin Bukola, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Olatunji Oluwatosin Bukola. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as WAHAB SHEHU BUARI, now wish to be known and addressed as ASIKIRY PRINCE SHEHU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AKAWIMO ESSIEN EFFIONG, now known and addressed as AKANIMO ESSIEN EFFIONG. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as ABUA ANTHONY JOHN, now wish to be known and addressed as ABUA SAMUEL OSHIE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ORUCHE : Formerly known as Oruche Monica Nkechi now wish to be known as Anagwu Monica Nkechi. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ezenwane Gladys Ogochukwu , now wish to be known and addressed as Okoli Gladys Ogochukwu . All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known as FOLAKE SALAWK, now FOLAKE BALOGUN. All former documents valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME OBIDI:I, formerly known and addressed as OBIDI TONIA JANE UJUNWA now wish to be known and addressed as IMOKA ANTHONIA UJU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EKPEREAMAKA: I, formerly known and addressed as FELIX EKPEREAMAKA BASIL now wish to be known and addressed as FELIX EKPE BASSEY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EZEH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZEH CHINONYELUM MERCY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENEH CHINONYELUM MERCY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EZEUZOEKWE : Formerly known as Ezeuzoekwe Uchenna Kenneth now wish to be known as Ezeh Uchenna Kenneth. All former document remain valid. Banks and Public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as USMAN ISIYAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as SULE ABDULAZEEZ. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as Ajileye Omolaiye Okeowo, and Ajileye Okeowo Ayodele. now wish to be known and called AJILEYEOMOLAIYE AYODELE OKEOWO. All former documents remain valid. UBA, SPED and general public should please note.

CHANGE OF NAME That my names are Akachukwu Emmanue Nnoruka and Akagod Emma are one personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name. I formerly known as Ejiofor Stanley Onyedika but now is Ejefor Stanley Onyedika. Miss Amobi Grace Nkemdilim Mrs Okekpe Grace Nkemdilim.

CHANGE OF NAME OKORO: I, formerly known and addressed as OKORO CHUKWUEMEKA now wish to be known and addressed as OKORO CHUKWUEBUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKAFOR:I, formerly known and addressed as CHUKWUJEKWU OKAFOR AUSTINE now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUJEKWU OKAFOR AUGUSTINE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and address as MISS MOLOKWU OGOCHUKWU VICTORIA , now wish to be known and address as MRS MBANUGO OGOCHUKWU VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT ANEKE MICHAEL CHUKWUDI IS THE SAME AS ENEH MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note CHANGE OF NAME JOEL: I, formerly known and addressed as JUMOKE JOEL MARY (MISS), that when i was still single my name was DANIAN JUMOKE MARY, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ADEWOLE JUMOKE MARY . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AKINYEMI BABATUNDE JULIUS, Now wish to be known and addressed as ADELANI BABATUNDE JULIUS. All Former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EBEREDEM MBAINUWU, now wish to be known and addressed as IBEREDEM MBA INIEWE.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ZHAOJIN, now known and addressed as ZHOU KE ZHU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME UDENSI : Formerly known as Udensi Goodnews Stanley now wish to be known as Udensi Ozioma Stanley. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME EJIMKEONYE : Formerly known as Ejimkeonye Charles Everest now wish to be known as Ejimkeonye Charles Ndubuisi. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as MISS GABRIEL CHIDINMA LOVE, now wish to be known and address as MRS EGBO CHIDINMA LOVE. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT CASMIR AMAECHI IS THE SAME PERSON AS OZOR AMAECHI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS AMAECHI EMEBOZOR. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS LAWAL OYINKANSOLA ABOLANLE, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Afolabi Oyinkansola Abolanle. All former documents are valid. General public please take note.

This is to confirm that I, AGHA OSITA AUGUSTINE is the same as AGHA OSITA AUSTINE. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

Formerly known and addressed Miss Obiamaizu Onyinyechi Uchenna, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ezea Onyinyechi Uchenna.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as KAREEM RUKAYAT ABIMBOLA, now known and addressed as BUNMI AGBAJE OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

UGWU : Formerly known as Chukwuemena Ugwu now wish to be known as Mr Isaiah Ugonna Anozie. All former documents remains valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

ONYIWA : Formerly known as Onyiwa Irene now wish to be known as Okwesili Gladys. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME EGBE: I, formerly known and addressed as EGBE EMMANUEL IGBANG now wish to be known and addressed as EGBE ELENG IGBANG. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ORAMU: I, formerly known and addressed as MR. ORAMU JOHNPAUL KEDONOJO now wish to be known and addressed as MR. IBECHI JOHNPAUL CHEKWUBE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OKWUCHUKWU PIUS OKWUEBUKA now wish to be known and addressed as OKWUEBUKA ROMANUS OKWUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKEKE: I, formerly known and addressed as DANIEL OKEKE EZENWANKWO, now wish to be known and addressed as DANIEL NDUBUEZE EZENWANKWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ALUGA: I, formerly known and addressed as ALUGA SIXTUS UZOCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as IBEKWE KINGSLEY UZOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ANYAMENE: I, formerly known and addressed as MRS ANYAMENE NGOZI CHRISTIANA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EGBOGU NGOZI CYNTHIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as MGBEJIOFOR BENJAMIN , now wish to be known and address as BENJAMIN CHIKEZIE PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that I SYLVESTER CHIMA UZOUKWU is the same person bearing UZOUKWU CHIMA And SYLVESTER CHIMAN UZOUKWU. All Former documents remain valid. Access Bank PLC Akure Branch, UBA PLC Akure Branch and general public should take note.

OGUNDELE: I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNDELE OLUWAFUNSO RILIWAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MODELEOLUWA OLUWAFUNSO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as EZECHI UGONNA ANIWEOKWU HENRY now wish to be known and addressed as NWEZE UGONNA ANIWEOKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKONKWO: I, formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO AMAECHI now wish to be known and addressed as EDEH INNOCENT ONWUKWE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and address as ONYEKWELU NGOZI JULIAN, now wish to be known and address as ONYEKWELU GLADYS CHINWE. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.

SMITH: I, formerly known and addressed as MRS. SMITH ABIOLA FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MISS OYEWOLE ABIOLA FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abigail Oyiza Alabi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ABIGAIL OYIZA SHAIBU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FORMERLY MIKE GODWIN OLAYEMI now MIKE MUYIWA OLAYEMI. All former documents valid. general public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Seidu madachi, now wish to be known and addressed as Seidu Nuhu Abdullahi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ALLI BASIRAT ABIODUN, now known and addressed as AKINTOLA BASIRAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWAEZE : Formerly known as Nwaeze Chukwu Arthur now wish to be known as Nwanze Chukwudi Ato. All former documents remain valid. NPF.B Division Ijamo and pubic take note.

OTENE: I, formerly known and addressed as OTENE ENEH GLORIA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SALAMI ENEH GLORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ALABI: I, formerly known and addressed as ALABI TAIWO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS BENTHOMAS TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AKINSANYA OLUWAKEMI TEMITAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINYETUN OLUWAKEMI TEMITAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLOYEDE BALIKIS AJOKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BOLAJI BALIKIS AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IFESI : Formerly known as Ifesi Ndidi Favour now wish to be known as Umealor Rosemary. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME CHINWUKO : Formerly known as Miss Chinwuko Chizoba Felicia now wish to be known as Mrs Obi Chizoba Felicia. All former documents remain valid. Public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME

AGUBUEZE :Formerly known as Miss Agubueze Ebere now wish to be known as Mrs Okeke Ebere. All former documents remain valid. Banks and public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME That my name was written on my Diamond Bank Account as MBAM ONYINYE FAITH and my name also appears on my First Bank as AWO OLUCHI FAITH that my full and correct name is AWO OLUCHI FAITH. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as IGWILO HOPE CHIOMA now wish to be known and addressed as NWACHUKWU HOPE CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MR CHINONSO KELVIN OFORKAJA now wish to be known and addressed as MR CHINONSO KELVIN OFOR. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME formerly known and addressed as JOHN JUSTICE MANYAR now wish to be known and addressed as J.DADMI MANYAR. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as IGWEKAMMA SOMTOCHUKWU MALACLY, But now IGWEKAMMA BASCL EMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE OYINDAMOLA ADEBAMOWO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named organization has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under the Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR. AYODEJI AMBROSE ADEBAMOWO 2. MRS. ADERONKE ADELEYE OLAMILOKUN 3. MR. ADEWUYI OLUWASEUN MORAKINYO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To Break the cycle of poverty and advance the development of human capacity in Nigeria Particularly among the underprivileged through the; I. Award of scholarships, maintenance allowances or grants tenable at primary, Secondary schools or higher institutions or further education to indigent students. II. Empowering the needy individuals under the age of 30 by funding marketable business III. Vocational and information technology skills trainings IV. Providing free mentorship and educational programs Any objection to the registration of this organization should be directed to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja FCT within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. O. T. OLATUNBOSUN

Wednesday November 18, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

We just need one win and our season will be turned around for the best as the EPL resumes

Toure, best in the world, says Algeria midfielder

–Chelsea midfielder, Cesc Fabregas

FIFA 2018 World Cup

Fans hail Eagles’

qualification … Super Eagles 2 - 0 Swaziland Paul Erewuba

ootball enthusiasts yesterday expressed satisfaction with the Super Eagles qualification for the FIFA 2018 World Cup group stage following their 2-0 victory over Swaziland. The fans said in Lagos yesterday that the team deserved a lot of commendation having defeated Swaziland in their second leg match in Port Harcourt. A former Super Eagles player, Joe Erico said the victory was well deserved and the players had lived up to expectation against a very determined opponent who

were thirsty for glory. He said he had expected the victory to go the Eagles way and commended Coach Sunday Oliseh for their performance. “The players did well, they deserve their victory and all commendations should be accorded to them for playing their best to ensure the team’s qualification. “The team had settled down together after their first leg encounter which did not really bring the best out of them, it is indeed a worthy outing of the team’’, Erico said. Another former coach, Tunde Disu said that the team had given their best and quality against a difficult Swaziland team who

wanted to put their football on world map. “They have brought a lot of joy to us. The team is obviously in good hands and the introduction of home-based players showed the coach’s confidence in the players fight for jersey. “I congratulate the entire team and hope they continue to give their best in subsequent matches in the group stage ahead’’, Disu said. The two goals came in the second half by Moses Simon in the 51st minute and Efe Ambrose in the 71st minute to ensure Nigeria’s qualification to the group stage.

NPFL: LMC sanctions Giwa , two players

iwa FC of Jos and two of its players have been sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC) for their roles in the abandoned match day 38 fixture in Lafia against hosts, Nasarawa United. The Jos-based side had refused to continue with the game on 34th minute forcing the Referee to call of the match at the expiration of the first half thereby breaching article 13.26 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League. The players, Amos Gyang and Nojeem Raji had on separate occasions refused to retire to the dressing room after being expelled for initial violent behaviour.

Giwa FC was fined N3, 000, 000 , a deduction of three points and forfeiture of three points and three goals to Nasarawa United for the abandoned match. For assaulting a ball boy, Gyang was charged for breach of article C1 for violent conduct amounting to misconduct, contrary to the principles of sportsmanship and capable of bringing the league to disrepute. On the second charge of breach of article C8, he was charged for refusal to retire to the dressing room after being sent off the match by the Referee. He was fined N50, 000 on the first count and suspended for two matches on the second count.

Sports

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Messi likely to play in Saturday El Clasico B

arcelona superstar Lionel Messi looks likely to be fit to feature in Saturday’s much-anticipated El Clasico against Real Madrid. The Barcelona talisman has been sidelined with a knee injury but made a return to full training on Monday, right in time for La Li-

ga’s glamour clash this weekend. Barca teammate Adriano says Messi has looked in training and is backing the Argentinean to be fit in time for the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu. “He is recovering very well, doing everything to get to the game and to have him in the

team changes a lot,” Adriano said.. “There’s a difference when he plays or doesn’t, but in his absence we’ve managed to come together and move forward in matches. “Every day he’s been the Leo we’re accustomed to: laughing, joking, and doing things with confidence.

Messi dribbles past Ronaldo during the last El-Clasico

Toure

Toure, best in the world, says Algeria midfielder

A “Would I put money on him playing in the Clasico? Hopefully, yes.” Luis Enrique’s side have not felt the impact of Messi’s absence as Neymar has been on fire, surging to the top of the La Liga scoring charts with 11 goals, and Luis Suarez also has nine.

Athletics doping:

Fredericks in team inspecting Russian reforms E

Frankie Fredericks

x-Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks is part of a five-man team that will monitor Russia’s athletics federation as it bids to regain IAAF membership. Russia was provisionally suspended by the sport’s governing body after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report alleged “state-sponsored doping”. Anti-doping expert Rune Andersen will lead the team that includes four-times Olympic silver medallist Fredericks. IAAF president Sebastian Coe said: “The inspection team has great experience.” Namibian Fredericks, 48, came second in the 100m and 200m at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

and is also a former world champion. Andersen, who served as chief of anti-doping at the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, will also be joined by International Association of Athletics Federation council members Abby Hoffman, Anna Riccardi and Geoff Gardner. “After consultation with WADA, we will set the verification criteria,” Coe added. “The five-person inspection team, led by renowned anti-doping expert Rune Andersen, has an extraordinary amount of experience to ensure Araf (Russia’s athletics federation) meets the criteria and is eligible to once again enter athletes into international competition.”

lgeria and Valencia midfielder Sofiane Feghouli — who was on the original 10-man list for the 2015 African Footballer of the Year — believes Manchester City’s Yaya Toure is the ”best in the world.” Toure has had success with this award before, winning it four times in a row from 2011 to 2014, although he has never won the Ballon d’Or crown. Feghouli, though, believes he is a clear favourite to win this year’s (2015) award. ”For me it is a great honour to be present in this list, it means that I worked well together in 2015 at Valencia,” said Feghouli. ”The favourite, of course, it remains Yaya Toure. He is the best in the world, not only in Africa.” The list has now been cut down to five names, and while Toure still remains, Feghouli has been left out; he did, however, make the final 10 earlier in Novem-

ber. Toure won the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in 2015 Yaya Toure won the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in 2015. Toure has always had success at club level, wining two league titles with both Barcelona and Manchester City, and the Champions League with the former in 2009. However, up until 2015 international success has always eluded him. That changed this year in Equatorial Guinea, where Ivory Coast secured the Africa Cup of Nations, the second time his country have won that award. The five-man shortlist is: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon Borussia Dortmund), Andre Ayew (Ghana and Swansea), Yacine Brahimi (Algeria and Porto), Sadio Mane (Senegal and Southampton) and Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast).

NSA 2015: Dalong, Yakmut, others for award Afolabi Gambari

inister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalong and the Director General, National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut, are among dignitaries that have confirmed their presence at the 2015 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award slated for Friday. Spokesman for the award and the Executive Director, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Kayode Idowu, who made this disclosure in Lagos

yesterday, said: “I am very proud to announce to you that Barrister Dalong and Mallam Yakmut will be at the event on Friday. “State governors, commissioners, captains of industries, past and present athletes as well as Nigerian top celebrities have confirmed to also attend. “SuperSport is set to cover and broadcast the event live for two hours on Superport 9 with several repeat broadcasts.” The 2015 Nigerian Sports Award wil hold at the Marquee, Oceanview, Eko Hotel, Lagos.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Wednesday November 18, 2015

Ahead Champions League: Enyimba target Pillars’ Afelokhai, Oghenekaro E nyimba yesterday revealed interest for Kano Pillars goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai, ahead of the 2015/2016 domestic and continental seasons. Enyimba were crowned league champions for a record seventh time at the weekend after a goalless draw with Sunshine Stars in Lagos. The People’s Elephant will make their 10th CAF Champions League appearance next year and want the best players for the campaign. It was gathered that goalkeeper Afelokhai is wanted to compliment the pair of Chijioke Ejiogu and Femi Thomas competition. “We will get Afelokhai. He’s one of the exceptional goalkeepers in the league and experienced on the continent. “We’ll be careful and thorough in our recruitment.

Enyimba players

Only the best will do for us.” The source who did not want his name in print said they would love to sign Warri Wolves winger,

Stanley Dimgba. “There are a couple of Warri Wolves players we would fancy so much. Players like Stanley Dimgba and Oghenekaro Etebo.

“But because Wolves will also be playing in the (CAF) Champions League, I don’t know whether they could be allowed to join us,” the source wondered.

Emordi considers Rangers’ return F ormer Enugu Rangers coach, Okey Emordi, has indicated interest in returning to the club as new technical adviser in the 2015/2016 Glo Nigeria Professional Football League season, it was yesterday gathered. Emordi handled Kano Pillars in the concluded season but was relieved of his managerial responsibilities mid-season, with Ahmed Babaganaru filling the void. It was learnt that the much tauted sweeping changes Enugu State government, financiers of the club, want to make in the club following their dis-

Emordi

mal performance in the last season, may see Emordi emerge as the first candidate for the coaching job. “Emordi is already a candidate for the coaching job at Rangers for the coming season,” a source revealed yesterday. “We are expecting an announcement by government as to a new management for Rangers which they have kept pending the conclusion of the season. “But while that has been on the waiting list, Emordi has been making contacts with influential people in government to have a smooth journey back to Rangers.”

Owumi hails Wolves for Champions League feat

arri Wolves CEO, Davidson Owumi, has hailed his players and their financier, the Delta State Government for ensuring they qualified for the African Champions League. He highlighted the roles of the players for showing commitment despite the hiccups experienced during the campaign. He credited the fans and their financier, the Delta State government for supporting the team all through the season.

He, however, recognised that there is work to be done ahead of their first-ever appearance in the CAF Champions League. “This is a special moment for the club and we are happy to have achieved this because last season we finished third and this time we have finished in second which is an improvement. “I must commend the players for showing total commitment and determination in the face of a very difficult season.

We had our ups and downs in the season but the players stood firm and were never distracted by the challenging period. “I also dedicate this to the people of Delta State who have supported the team during the sweet and difficult times in the season and even when they were winning or not. And most importantly we are appreciative of the Delta State government and the governor (Ifeanyi Okowa) for his support to the team and we

continue to look forward to his fatherly backing for the team,” he said.

Owumi

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

Table Teams

Enyimba

Wolves

Nassara

Wikki

Giwa

Sunshine

Heartland

Pillars

3SC

Abia

IfeanyiUbah

Rangers

Lobi

Akwa

El-Kanemi

Dolphins

Sharks

Kwara

Taraba

Bayelsa

Sunshine rue continental ticket miss

unshine Stars, yesterday, said missing the continental ticket was the most painful aspect of the 2014/2015 Globacom Premier League season. Sunshine Media Officer, Wahab Bankole, who said this yesterday, expressed regrets that despite the efforts of the management and players, they could not achieve goal. Eyimba emerged Champions of the season and were presented with the trophy on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Bankole stated that there were lessons to be learnt from the performance of the team in the just concluded season. “Remember in 2012/2013 season, Sunshine Stars escaped relegation by whiskers. In 2013/2014 season we finished eleventh on the log, and in this just concluded season, we finished sixth. “By and large, it was an improvement every year. “It was just a disappointment that the team led the log for almost 20 weeks and the desired results could not be achieved, “he said.

WORLD RECORD

Most baked beans eaten in five minutes Vol. 05 No. 1246

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

N150

The most baked beans eaten with a cocktail stick in five minutes is 271 and was achieved by Ashrita Fur man (USA) in Jamaica, New York, USA, on 11 August 2014.

Politics of the APC’s promised N5000 welfare stipend

he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently came forward with another disturbing data on unemployment in Nigeria. Joblessness in the nation, according to the Bureau, has risen from 7.2 percent in the previous quarter to 8.2 percent in the second quarter of 2015. Since the third quarter of 2014, the rate of unemployment has risen three consecutive times. Further to that, we were told there were a total of 17.7 million people between ages 15 and 65 either unemployed or underemployed in the labour force in Q1 2015. With this unimpressive outlook, the situation demands urgent Federal Government policy direction and requisite interventionist strategies. The issue of unemployment is an endemic social and economic challenge of all season in

Guest Columnist

Sunday O. Eze

Nigeria. Therefore, it has become a political bait thrown to the electorate in exchange of votes. Among the various campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in the build up to the last general elections was, “creation of Social Welfare Programme of at least N5000 that will cater for the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon the demonstration of children’s enrolment in school and evidence of immunisation to help promote family stability.” The above presidential campaign pledge and the NBS report prompted a crucial motion by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, (PDP Akwa Ibom North East) taxing the APC-led FG to reduce the high level of unemployment in Nigeria. The motion sadly elicited unnecessary and unhealthy political rivalry between APC and PDP Senators. Senator Bassey, who described the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, as another time bomb waiting to explode, also urged the government to take bold steps aimed at bolstering entrepreneurial development and employment skills, adding that government should integrate entrepreneurship, savings and investment culture and education into the educational curriculum at appropriate levels. An additional prayer to the motion by Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) that government should commence immediate payment of N5000 irked most if not all the APC Senators. Consequently, Senator Babajide Omoworare (APC Osun East) raised a point of order 53 (6) of the Senate Standing Rules, which reads: “It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senate had come

WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE BEHIND DELIBERATE INSULATION OF THE EXECUTIVE FROM FULFILLING A PROMISE MADE WITHOUT PRODDING…?

to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.” Omoworare rubbished the spirit and intention of the motion and sought in the alternative that the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan be called upon to account for SUREP funds to the admiration and support of APC Senators. What was the rationale behind deliberate insulation of the executive from fulfilling a promise made without prodding and one already at the public domain? Five months down the line of the electoral triumphs, is it immaterial to revisit the campaign promises of the elected political officeholders? Where else is the best place to nudge the executives for the fulfilment of their promises to the nation except in the legislature? The APC had aggressively done that over the past years before now. It was totally niggling to link calls to investigating SURE-P of the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan with the stark reality of high level of

unemployment on ground. The APC should be told in clear terms that the baton of leadership of our nation is no longer with the previous administration; therefore, its always looking back at the errors of an old era is ridiculous. After all, much power resides with the Senate to investigate, at any given time, the stewardship of previous and present governments it believes fall short of expectation or one which contravenes the extant laws of Nigeria. Sadly, the Senate in the end took an anti-people decision by rejecting that motion. Whither national interest in all these theatrics? The failure of some of these distinguished senators to rise above primeval partisan sentiments confirms the enormity of dilemma confronting the nation. Truth remains sacrosanct no matter who tells it. The fact that the motion came from an opposition party makes it imperative for APC to once in a long while unite and be on the same page with PDP in this noble cause of dealing with the plague of unemployment. Unfortunately, the baby was thrown away with the bath water. However, the statement from the APC leadership assuring the citizenry that government will not renege on its promise is refreshing. It is absolutely unnecessary for some people to frustrate the fulfillment of a promised “national welfare package”, which catapulted them to their present exalted political positions. Nigerians should confront standards raised against honest effort at stemming the tide of unemployment and developmental strides at large. Legislature globally remains the beacon of democracy and should function as such to preserve its responsibility. The worse disservice any democratically elected institution indulges in is utter insensitivity to the welfare of the masses. The saltiness of democracy is holding those in position of authority accountable for their deeds and actions. And the legislature remains the right and constitutional platform upon which the executives should be reminded of their duties and promises to the nation. Eze, a Media and Communications specialist, wrote via sunnyeze02@yahoo.com and can be reached on 08060901201

Sport Extra

Onigbinde calls for establishment of NFF medical department

AF and FIFA instructor Adegboye Onigbinde yesterday called for the establishment of a medical department in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Onigbinde made the call

while delivering a paper titled “Areas of Fitness’’ at the ongoing NFF/CAF BLicence Coaching Course, organised by the NFF technical department in Abuja. According to Onigbinde, establishing a medical de-

partment will ensure that the medical staff are regularly trained for the day-today football challenge. “This will ensure that they don’t just have a medical doctor for the football teams but a special football

doctors,’’ he said. Onigbinde, whose topic dwelt on intellectual fitness, psychology, medical, physiological, technical and tactical aspects of football, noted that a good coach was one who could improve the

players’ intellectual fitness. He also said that coaches should be able to think constructively to impact positively on players, noting that coaching went beyond what happened on the pitch.

Onigbinde

Printed and Published by Global Media Mirror Ltd: Head Office: Mirror House, 155/161 Broad Street, Lagos Tel: 07027107407, Abuja Office: NICON Insurance House, Second Floor, Central Business District Area, Abuja Tel: 08070428249, Advert hotline: 01-8446073, Port-Harcourt Office: Suite 115, NICON Hotel, 6, Benjamin Opara Street, Off Olusegun Obasanjo Rd, GRA Phaze 3, Phone: 07032323254 Email: mail@nationalmirroronline.net. Acting Editor: BEN MEMULETIWON. All correspondence to PMB 10001, Marina, Lagos. Printed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja and Akure. ISSN 0794-232X.