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PDP admits failure after 16 years in power

...as IBB rejects partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rebranding invitation Obiora Ifoh ABUJA

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eoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday admitted that it made many mistakes during the 16-year period it

was in power. The party vowed to reposition and empower itself to bounce back to power in 2019 and deliver CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

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President swears in ministers today, meets Obasanjo again P.6

Buhari fires 18 perm secs, redeploys 18 Vol. 5 N0. 1241

Rotimi Fadeyi ABUJA

head of the swearing in of ministers and inauguration of a new Federal Executive Council, FEC, today, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the appointment of 18 permanent secretaries into the civil service According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the new Permanent Secre-

National Mirror Online @NationalMirror Wednesday, November 11 , 2015

... appoints 18 others as replacement ...reduces ministries to 25

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

Marafa moves to halt inauguration of Senate committees P.4

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

More suspects arraigned over Falaeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ...as Gbajabiamila escapes impeachment kidnap P.8 Pro-Biafra protest turns bloody in Rivers

APC Reps fight dirty, exchange blows over committee slots

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Buhari fires 18 Perm Secs, redeploys others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

taries include Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba; Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Mr. Taiwo Abidogun; Dr. Bukar Hassan; Mrs. Wakama Belema Asifieka; Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi; Mr. Sabiu Zakari; Mrs. Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi and Mr. Aminu Nabegu. Others are Mr. Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele; Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo; Dr. Shehu Ahmed; Mr. Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu; Mrs. Nuratu Jimoh

Batagarawa; Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa; Mr. Bassey Apkanyung; Mr. Louis Edozien and Dr. Ugo Roy According to the statement, Buhari also approved the deployment of some permanent secretaries. They are Dr. Shehu Ahmad (Agric and Rural Development; Arch Sunday Echono (Communications); Alhaji Sabiu Zakari (Transportation); Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba (In-

formation and Culture); Danjuma Sheni (Defence); Dr. Shade Yemi-Esan (Education); Mrs. Fatima Mede (Budget & National Planning); Alhaji Mahmoud Isa Dutse (Finance); Ambassador Bulus Lolo (Foreign Affairs); Dr. Amina Shamaki (Health); Mr. Aliyu Bisalla (Industry, Trade and Investment); Mr. Bassey Akpanyung (Internal Affairs); Mr. Taiwo Abidogun (Justice); Dr. Habiba Lawal (Science and Technology); Dr.

Clement Illoh (Labour and Productivity); Dr. Jamila Shu’ara (Petroleum Resources); Also redeployed are Mrs. Binta Bello (Women Affairs); Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye (Federal Capital Territory; Mrs. Rabi Jimeta (Water Resources); Dr. Bukar Hassan (Environment); Mrs. Wakama B. Asifieka( Niger Delta Affairs); Mr. Istifanus Fuktur (Solid Minerals); Mr. Christian Ohaa (Youth & Sports); Engr. A.G. Magaji

(Works & Housing); Mr. Louis Edozien (Power; Mr. Jalal Arabi (State House) and Mr. Mohammed Bukar - General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) Others are Mr. Abbas Mohammed (Ecological Fund Office, OSGF); Dr. Ugo Roy (Council Secretariat), Mr. Aminu Nabegu (Special Services Office, OSGF); Amb. Bamgbose Akindele (Political Affairs Office, OSGF); Mr.

Alo Williams Nwankwo (Economic Affairs Office, OSGF); Mrs. Obiageli Nwokedi (Special Duties Office, OSGF); Mr. Innocent Ogbonnaya (Career Management Office, OHCSF); Mr. S.K.Y. Adelakun (Common Services Office, OHCSF); and Mrs. N. Batagarawa (Service Policy & Strategies Office, OHCSF The statement added that the new appointments and deployments are with effect from yesterday.

Aisha Buhari urges FG to pay N5,000 allowance to unemployed

Nigerian Military contingent from South Africa, where they were trained for AU Standby Force 2nd Batch, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

PDP admits failure after 16 years in power CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

dividends of democracy to the people. Speaking at its maiden press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the party’s National Conference Organising Committee, Raymond Dokpesi, said PDP had made a lot of mistakes in the past. He said the first fundamental mistake made by the party was the breach of the power shift pact in 2011 Dokpesi, who is leading a 53-member committee, noted that when President Umaru Musa Ya’Adua died while in office, instead of allowing a northerner to complete his tenure, the party fielded former President Goodluck Jonathan, from

the South, who was acting President, as its presidential candidate in 2011. Dokpesi also argued that in 2015, when it was expected that a northern candidate would be fielded, party leaders unanimously adopted Jonathan as the sole Presidential candidate, a decision he said led to the the defeat at the elections. He also explained that the party in the build up to the last general elections failed to uphold internal democracy, adding that there was impunity, imposition of candidates and breach of the zoning arrangement as well as lack of a level playing field for members. Dokpesi said: “You asked about the mistakes

the party made. The Ekweremadu’s report is very explicit on that. It acknowledged the fact that the party made a lot of strides during the last 16 years, but also, there was no internal democracy; there was impunity within the party. There was no level playing ground for members of the party. “Make no mistake, the PDP is aware that there were errors made along the way. We admit that at certain times in our past, mistakes have been made; we did not meet the expectations of Nigerians. We tender apology. But the past is exactly what it is. We call on all party faithful, supporters and sympathisers to partner with us going forward.

“The zoning principles of the party were abandoned and a gamut of all other issues which will come up during the conference. And for all these and for the people who have been offended, for people whose toes were stepped upon, we tender unreserved apology. “While we should not forget the past and its errors, we must look forward and begin to show true leadership within and outside our party. “The PDP in 2010/2011 made the first fundamental mistake by not allowing the North to complete its term. PDP leaders in 2015 also did not return the ticket to the North. The leaders who took that decision are not paying

what the other members of the party are paying,” he said. According to him, over 3,000 delegates are expected at the party’s national conference which is to be held tomorrow in Abuja, to discuss issues within the party and proffer solutions. He said for national progress and development to be meaningful in this fast paced era, it is imperative that any serious cabinet of government at all levels must have core youth representation in positions that require rapid progression in line with global changes in technology, research, development and human capital. In a related development, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

ife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has appealed to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), not to renege on its campaign promise of paying N5,000 to 25 million unemployed Nigerians. This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the president’s wife on Media, Mrs Adebisi Ajayi, yesterday in Abuja. She also urged the party to fulfill its promise of giving school children one free meal a day. She stated this after the Senate voted against the motion calling on the Presidency to pay the N5,000 allowance. “APC is a party of integrity and has assured Nigerians during the campaign that it will pay N5,000 each month to 25 million most vulnerable citizens. “Nigerians should be patient with the APC government as the change they had been yearning for has come to stay,’’ she said.

Aisha Buhari

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Wednesday November 11, 2015

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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L-R: Vice President, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Zone D North Central, Comrade Habibahilah Abdullahi; Nawoj President, Mrs. Ify Omowole; UNIDO Chief Technical Adviser, National Quality Infrastructure Project, Dr. Charles Malata; NAWOJ Training Officer, Mrs. Veronica Ogbole; UNIDO Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, Ms. Tabitha Buba and Partnership and Communications Expert, Ms. Efehi Ubebe, after the signing of project partnership agreement between NAWOJ and UNIDO in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Pastor Kunle Ashiru; Pastor-in-Charge, Glory Worship Centre, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Tope Akinbola; Pastor-in-Charge, Apapa Family, Region 20, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade; Pastor Africanus Sam Epelle and Chairman, Building Committee, Mr. Bola Shodipo, during the 22nd anniversary and groundbreaking ceremony of the new Glory Worship Centre auditorium, in Lagos, recently.

Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor (left) receiving an award from the President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Chikwendu Edoziem, during a preconference workshop of the 33rd NAPE 2015 in Lagos, on Monday.

L-R: Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Iyiola Oni; Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Solomon Akinboye; German Consul General in Lagos, Ingo Herbert; Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Babajide Alo and Guest Lecturer, Dr. Jan Steckel, during the 2015 public lecture of the Department of Geography, School of Postgraduate Studies, in Lagos, recently.

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Senate c’ttees: Marafa moves to halt inauguration •Says composition defective, illegal, void

George Oji

enator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial district in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has described the composition of the Senate’s standing committees announced last week by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as defective, tyrannical, illegal, null and void. Consequently, the lawmaker has asked Saraki to put in abeyance the proposed inauguration of the committees slated for next week. Citing some provisions of the Senate’s rule book as well as some sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Marafa noted that the composition of the committees, particularly the creation of ad-

ditional eight by the Senate was in flagrant disregard of both the Senate Standing Orders as well as the provision of the Constitution of Nigeria. In particular, the lawmaker cited order 1, 3(2), 97 and 100 of the Senate standing orders 2015, as well as section 62(4) of the 1999 Constitution to oppose the new Senate committees. Marafa made these depositions yesterday during plenary when he was allowed by Saraki to intervene under a point of order. However, some senators, who commented on the issues raised by Marafa noted that even though some of the points raised by the lawmaker were germane, the intervention came

late as the Senate had already adopted the votes and proceedings of last Wednesday, which ratified the new Senate committees. Saraki had announced the composition of the new Senate standing committees last Wednesday and subsequently adjourned plenary till yesterday. The list showed that the standing committees were increased from 57 to 65. The list, which contained the names of chairmen and vice chairmen of the committees, showed that Saraki’s main challengers for the office of the Senate President, Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume, were assigned to chair the committees on defence and

army, respectively. The list further showed that most of the new senators were assigned committees to chair, contrary to what obtained in the past where only ranking senators chaired committees. Marafa in his submissions stated that order 3 of the Senate’s standing order states unequivocally that nomination of senators to serve as presiding officers and appointments of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators. He noted that in the composition of the selection committee, nonranking senators were wrongly brought in by the Senate President to represent some zones in the country, particularly the North East, where he

came from; as a result, “the principles of seniority was not followed by the selection committee.” The lawmaker also noted that the outcome of the composition of the selection committee was statutorily expected to be subjected to the ratification of the Senate, sitting in the whole as required by order 97 of the Senate’s standing rules, but that was not done. Besides, Marafa regretted that the Senate’s standing rule was not amended to allow for the increase in the standing committees, but was done unilaterally by the Senate President, stressing that, “the issue of the added eight committees was illegal and tyrannical; as a result, the Senate President must apologise to the Senate for his actions.” According to him, “it is only the Senate that is empowered by our rules

to approve the composition of committees. The committees were not presented to the Senate for approval; as a result, the committees are illegal, tyrannical and cannot be inaugurated by the Senate President.” Asked what would happen in the event that the Senate President goes ahead to inaugurate the committees, Marafa said, “I expect Nigerians to charge him (Senate President) for contempt.” When asked if he was resigning his chairmanship of the committee on population and National Identity Cards, Marafa said, he would not resign because in the face of non-compliance with the laws in the composition of the Senate committees as he was trying to expound, he was not a committee chairman since the entire exercise was illegal.

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APC Reps fight dirty, exchange blows over committee slots Ubong Ukpong ABUJA

he crisis rocking the House of Representatives over allocation of Standing Committees yesterday deepened as lawmakers on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, exchanged blows. Chairman House Committee on FCT, Herman Hembe (Benue APC), who is one of the supporters of Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Aliyu Da’u Magaji, (Jigawa APC), who is a supporter of Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, allegedly exchange blows at the lobby to the Chambers, over argument on the composition of the committees. This was even as Gbajabiamila escaped an impeachment plan by members of the APC Caucus. Magaji was said to be holding discussion with his counterparts, while Hembe stood alone, waiting for a planned APC caucus meeting that was meant to impeach Gbajabiamila. It was learnt that Magaji was lamenting the unwillingness of Dogara, to reverse the composition of the House Standing, a development that reportedly irked Hembe, leading to the exchange of hot words and blows. It was also learnt that the impeachment plan against Gbajabiamila failed, as the caucus meeting ended in quarrel. Deputy Speaker, Sulaimon Lasun, had to calm frayed nerves and put an

end to the plot to impeach Gbajabiamila. The Speaker, it was learnt also engaged the Majority Leader in a meeting in his office, in a bid to restore peace. The move to impeach Gbajabiamila, it was learnt, may not be unconnected with his uncompromising stand on the committee issue. Gbajabiamila’s camp had boycotted the inauguration of the House Standing Committees on Monday. Members of his camp were said to have met five days ago and insisted that the Speaker reversed the committees’ composition. Ahmed Kaita (Katsina APC), who walked out on the meeting in anger, accused Dogara of working with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP legislators in the House, against the will of APC and President Muhammadu Buhari. “Just about five days ago, he promised to get back to the party by Monday, and it was the same Monday that he decided to flout the rules of the party. “Yesterday, while we were having a meeting at the National Secretariat of party, texts were flying by the same group of people that do not want the APC to succeed in this House that Gbajabiamila is going to be removed today, and they actually planned it. “So we came and they couldn’t do nothing. They know we have the majority, and as long as this house would be dictated to by the PDP, we would resist it.

“If Dogara wants us to be with him, fine and good, he is one of our own, and we do not have any problem with being with him. “If only he can align himself with our party manifesto, and the wishes of Mr. President, he would have a smooth ride because he has majority, but as long as he would be flouting the orders of the party, as long as he would be instigating some unscrupulous members to say they would remove preferred candidates, or office holders of the party, we would resist it,” Keita said. On his part, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who is Majority Whip, said there was no plan to impeach Gbajabiamila, claiming that the House is united.

“Enough of this misunderstanding among APC family. You are all aware of what happened yesterday where the Speaker chaired a special session to inaugurate the standing committees. “I want to tell you on behalf of the leadership of the House that there is no crack in the leadership whatsoever. “Nigerians are tired of this waiting. We were elected to come and do our work as members of the House of Representatives and members of the National Assembly by extension. “I want to tell you precisely that by what we did yesterday, the flight of the 8th National Assembly has taken off. It has not only

taken off, it has taken off very successfully, and it’s a flight that is a four year bound flight with Dogara as the pilot. “I want to tell you that we have maintained the status quo for now and Femi (Gbajabiamila) is our leader in the House of Representatives and even the speculation made that there is any move to remove Femi as our leader is unfounded and it is not from the leadership of the House or the APC. “Look, this morning, I had a very close consultation with the leaders of our party, specifically Senator Lawan Shuiabu, who is our deputy national leader and I told him that there is no cause for alarm in the House of Repre-

sentatives, that we are moving forward as one. “There is no two-way about our unity. This party was founded on unity and the House of Representatives as it is today is very much poised and ready to work with President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver the change mantra we promised Nigerians. “Every other speculation in this regard is baseless and unfounded,” he said. The infractions actually led to late resumption of plenary, which started well behind schedule, as the Speaker eventually emerged from his meeting coming into the Green Chamber in company of Gbajabiamila.

L-R: Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos, Mr. Hyginus Omeje; Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, during his inspection of Ladipo canal, yesterday.

PDP admits failure after 16 years in power CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has turned down the invitation by the party to participate in its Rebranding Conference. In a statement issued yesterday, the former military leader said: “While I welcome the invitation to the event as a mark of respect as one of the founding fathers, I want to be excused on the grounds that I have long bid bye to partisan politics. “Four years ago at an elaborate event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan

politics after my failed attempt to contest for President and having attained the gracious age of 70, in a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years. “In appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many challenges, stabilising me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that Journalists would not push me around again. “Attaining the age of 70 in 2011 was to me a great accomplishment for

which I remain eternally grateful to Almighty Allah and my family who have shown tremendous support and encouragement throughout my political trajectory. “Since 2011 till date, I have been playing my role as an elder statesman and ‘consultant-in-chief ’ to political office seekers and other like-minds who want my input in their aspirations. “At 74, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment in my new role as non-partisan elder statesman and a patriot; available to all categories of persons without the burgeoning label of any politi-

cal party or affiliation. “I have many friends and associates in the two dominant political parties; APC and PDP, and numerous other smaller political parties. At this stage of my political journey, I want to be able to interact and socialize with them without being branded “anti-party. “It is on the score of this that I have elected to turn down this request to participate in the rebranding conference of the PDP in a partisan manner. “My fulfillment in life is further bolstered by the emerging scenario that is evident in our present po-

litical reality. “First, the idea of a two-party system which has always been my desire; and the stack reality that, incumbents can be defeated at various levels of election as a function of growing awareness and consciousness on the part of the electorate. “These to me, present interesting dimensions in our political evolution as a country grappling with so many challenges.” General Babangida said he heard whispers from different political arenas that one of the rationales for the rebranding of PDP was to prepare him for fu-

ture elections in 2019. “How ridiculous? God’s willing; by 2019, I will be 78 years old. If I called it quit in 2011, why would PDP contemplate fielding a 78 years old man in a presidential election in a country that parades very vibrant men and women of lesser age? “I have no intention whatsoever to run for any office again in Nigeria. I will consistently pray to Almighty Allah to grant me good health and sound mind to watch my dearest beloved country grow from strength to strength during my lifetime and beyond,” he added.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Abuja

igerian Society of Engineers has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop oil subsidy payment to free money for other pressing purposes, particularly infrastructure. NSE President, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi, who made the call while addressing journalists on the 2015 National Engineering Conference, stated that the billions

…wants tolls re-introduced on roads in subsidy payment should be channelled towards developing other critical sectors such as manufacturing, steel and transportation. The conference with the theme: National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) 2014: Strategies for Implementation, is scheduled to hold at Akure, Ondo

Anti-corruption network drags CCT boss before Reps Ubong Ukpong Abuja

ouse of Representatives yesterday received a petition on fresh set of allegations of corruption against chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Danladi Yakubu Umar. The petition by an Abujabased anti-corruption group, Anti-Corruption Network, was brought by a member, Rima Shawulu Taraba (APC), This comes days after the Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, led by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, petitioned the Senate alleging a “conspiracy by EFCC, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to remove the Senate President from office using the instrumentality of their public offices to achieve their aims.” In the two different petitions signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr Ajufo I. Ajufo, the group said it had unearthed “startling facts

and documents that reveal a scandalous and outrageous level of corruption” totaling about N44 million in CCT. The group identified six different cases of misappropriation of public funds, award of fictitious contracts, disregard for due process and conversion of public funds for personal purposes against the CCT chairman. The petitions were supported by copies of payment vouchers and schedule. In its petition, the group said Umar had been “engaging in dishonest, unscrupulous and discreditable conduct” and “committed financial impropriety, misuse of office and disregard for due process.” In one of the transactions referred to in the petition, the Anti-corruption Network alleged that Umar caused a payment of N1 million to be made to him vide payment voucher CCT/ ABJ/DC/206/11 dated July 14, 2011 for the purpose of organising his wedding ceremony, an act it said amounts to misuse of public funds.

Army arrests recruitment fraudster Ubong Ukpong Abuja

igerian Army yesterday said it arrested one Mr. Onokphemheo Godswork operating under the false name of Guy Ajah, for defrauding applicants of 74 Regular Recruits Intake under the guise of facilitating their recruitment into the Nigerian Army. This is contained in a statement issued through Chief of Staff, CoS, of the Directorate of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu. He said Mr Ajah, who lured several unsuspecting citizens through a scam

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Stop oil subsidy, NSE urges FG

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Olufemi Adeosun

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email address, recruitmentbord84@gmail.com, had presented himself as a person in authority in Nigerian Army. “The suspect had conned unsuspecting members of the public with a GSM number 07032715751, following which he directed the victims to make payment into a UBA account number 2083426339 and First Bank account number 3096498825. Preliminary investigations revealed that the fraudster’s GSM number 07032715751was registered with the name, Progress Ehizoha of 11, Iruele Street, Ubiaja.

do, the environment must be conducive for private investment. Foreign investors have option on where to put their monies, including Nigerians. We believe the PIB, if passed in any agreed form, will go a long way to resolve some of the incongruities in the sector. “Subsidy should be removed. It does not benefit an average Nigerian. Private investors could be encouraged to build modular refineries. It does not have to involve piping refined products from Port Harcourt to Abuja. There are modular refineries that can serve this Central District or a local government area. That is one of the steps. In all of these, the guidelines must be there to

assure investors that their investment is protected.” On road infrastructure development, he stated, “The issue of road infrastructure is not about prescribing an item of solution. What we have advocated over the years and still contain in this paper, is that there is the need o have a framework. The Road Sector Reform Bill in the National Assembly, when approved will take care of all these. “Reintroduction of tolling system remains one of the strategies to achieving adequate road infrastructure, though that in itself, in this present structure, will not work. Necessary policy should also be in place to make it work.”

State, next week. He also called for the re-introduction of tolling system for road maintenance, adding that the present structure that depended solely on budgetary allocation was not sufficient to provide the needed road infrastructure. Olorunfemi, however, noted that while the Nigerian government had paid N950 billion on petroleum products subsidy in the last 11 months, the chunk of the figure went into private pockets with little or no effect on the masses. Instead of going on with the subsidy regime which constitutes a serious strain on government pulse, Olorunfemi said efforts must be made towards providing the needed conducive environ-

ment that encourages investment into the sector. According to him, critical to unlocking the sector potential is the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that has been gathering dust in the National Assembly for several years. He said, “We are the only country in Africa that God gave oil, but importing refined petroleum products. That tells you clearly, without being an expert, that something is wrong somewhere. We can’t continue to complain. There is a Petroleum Industry Bill that, for a personal selfish reason, has been at the National Assembly for God knows how many years. “Whatever we need to

Rotimi Fadeyi

Buhari swears in ministers today

Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed door at the Presidential Villa. The meeting was described as private and journalists were not allowed to cover the event. The meeting held yesterday ahead of the swearing in of cabinet ministers and inauguration of a new Federal Executive Council, FEC, today, by Buhari. Obasanjo later emerged from the meeting that lasted about an hour and did not speak to journalists. Buhari is scheduled to swear in ministers-designate today at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa. They include Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Suleiman Adamu (Jigawa); Lai Mohammed (Kwara); Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Audu Ogbeh (Benue); Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto); Mohammed Bello (Adamawa) and Abubakar Buari (Niger). Others are Chris Ngige (Anambra); Udoma Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom); Ibrahim Jibril (Nasarawa); Osagie Ehanire (Edo); Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano); Amina Mohammed (Gombe); Ibe Kachikwu (Delta); Kemi Adeosun (Ogun); Claudius Daramola (Ondo); Adebayo Shittu (Oyo); Anthony Anwuka (Imo) and

…meets Obasanjo in private Isaac Adewole (Osun). Also to take oath, are Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe); Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa); Usani Uguru (Cross River);

Munsur Dan Ali (Zamfara); Zainab Shamshuna Ahmed (Kaduna); Geoffrey Onyeama (Enugu); Adamu Adamu (Bauchi); Okechukwu Enelamah

(Abia); Abubakar Malami (Kebbi); Solomon Dalong (Plateau); Hadi Sirika (Katsina); James Ocholi (Kogi) and Baba Mustapha (Borno).

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91, 182 and 364-day tenors amounting to N32,436,508,000 N22,824,447,000 and N64,677,523,000, respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, November 19, 2015. All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN S4 WEB INTERFACE between 9.00a.m and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. Each bid must be in multiple of N1, 000 subject to a minimum of N10, 000. Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non – Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid. Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, November 19, 2015, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00am on Thursday, November 19, 2015. The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury Bills. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

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Kano govt is broke, Ganduje laments Abdulgafar Oladimeji Kano

Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (right), addressing officers and men of various para-military organisations from Nigeria and Niger Republic, at the Illela border post in Sokoto State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

BVN enrolment exercise has no time limit —CBN Tola Akinmutimi

entral Bank of Nigeria yesterday stated that the ongoing Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, exercise would continue for customers yet to complete their registration in banks nationwide. A statement by the apex bank’s Director, Corporate Communications, Mallam Ibrahim Mua’zu, indicated that despite expiration of the earlier October 31, 2015, deadline for customers to complete their enrolment, all unregistered customers are expected to still register their BVN in order to enjoy

unhindered banking services. He stated that the clarification became imperative following complaints by some customers that their banks had turned them back from continuing the enrolment for their BVN due to expiration of the October 31 deadline. Mua’zu therefore, restated the apex bank’s earlier position on the issue, saying that although the time frame given for the initial enrolment had lapsed, customers who are yet to register are required to do so in order to avoid restrictions on their accounts. He clarified: “All banks

have been directed to ensure uninterrupted enrolment of customers on the BVN platform. “Account holders who are yet to obtain their BVN are enjoined to visit their banks and do the registration. “There are two steps to the BVN process. The first step is to obtain a BVN, while the second step requires the account holder to link the BVN with his or her bank account (s)” According to him, an individual can enroll for a BVN without necessarily having an existing bank account. He stated that such individual can then submit the acquired BVN at any bank

he/she wishes to open an account, adding that linking BVN to bank accounts is now a one-stop-shop which enables account holders to register and link their BVN to their accounts in one location irrespective of the banks in which they have their accounts. All these are aimed at making the process as seamless as possible. Mua’zu advised bank customers and other stakeholders to be appropriately guided that the BVN was neither a payment instrument nor an account number and therefore cannot be used to access any account by unauthorised users.

NBA defends lawyers over walk out on CCT Elo Ogwara Warri

igerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday refuted allegation of judicial misconduct leveled against some lawyers at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, last week, stating that the lawyers did no wrong. Speaking during inauguration of the interim executive of the NBA Udu Branch at the High Court of Justice in Udu Council area of Delta State, National President of the association, Augustine Alegeh stated that on investigation, it was discov-

ered that the lawyers had applied to withdraw from the case and respectively took leave of court after their submission was granted. “We got letters to be issued to the lawyers involved. Talking of immediacy, they replied to us on Friday, stating that they applied to court to withdraw appearance for their client, their application was granted and they respectively took leave of the court, words such as judicial rascality were never used. “The only reference to judicial rascality or words of that nature was when

they were reading to the court, the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case which they had cited. “We have come out boldly to say that the lawyers have done nothing wrong, if they had applied to court to be allowed and they were discharged from further appearance, they were entitled to leave the courtroom,” Alegeh stated. The state Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Marshall Umukoro called on legal practitioners to be up and doing in their profession and imbibe the culture of loyalty.

Recalling times when lawyers in Warri were the most sort after in the then Western region, Umukoro urged them to reorganise themselves, noting that some 10 years ago, the city used to have more Senior Advocates than neighboring Benin and Port Harcourt. On his part, former deputy governor of the state and chairman of the occasion, Prof. Amos Utuama expressed optimism that the branch would become one to be reckoned with, given that Warri branch, one of the most vibrant in the country, gave birth to it.

ano State government yesterday decried the economic crunch in the country, which has led to a drastic reduction in allocation from the federation account. Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the development has led to slow pace of work and payment of entitlements to all strata of workers. Ganduje said the wage bill alone was N3.6bn per month, while the state now collects N4.2bn as federal allocation as against N10bn to N8bn it was receiving before. He disclosed that the decision to sack the state revenue board was aimed at bringing on board a team of consultants that would su-

pervise revenue generation and block loopholes through which the state was denied and defrauded of its entitlements. “I must get alert of money going out and coming in. We have consulted some international organisations, like DFID SPARK. We were going to have an executive chairman, who is independent; we would have a director of assessment, director of collection, planning and research and statistics, personal income tax, director of ICT. “We are going to monitor the account, anything paid into this account, I will get alert, anything removed; I will also get alert. That is the new system and the government will get director of audit, so that the account will be audited from time to time.”

Burial rites for Olu of Warri begins Nov 20 Elo Ogwara Warri

he burial rites for the late Itsekiri monarch, Ogiame Atuwaste II, has been slated for Friday, 20 November, in Ode-Itsekiri, Warri South Council Area of Delta State. Stating this yesterday during a press briefing at the Olu’s palace in Warri, Chairman of Warri Council of Chiefs, Chief Yaya Pessu, also disclosed that Saturday, December 12, 2015, has been set aside for the crowning of the new Olu of Warri, Prince Ikenwole Godfrey Abiloye Emiko, also in Ode-Itsekiri. According to him, the final burial rites, which will be

preceded by a commemoration service on 19 November at the Olu’s palace in Warri, will last for 14 days. The council of chiefs had in September announced the death of the monarch. Meanwhile, chairman, publicity committee set up for the burial ceremony, Prince Yemi Emiko has assured of adequate security throughout the period. He said that a security committee made up of serving and retired members of the armed forces has been put in place. “We are talking with our neighbours, working together so that we have a crisis free outing throughout this period,” he added,

S&P downgrades MTN Group to ‘BBB-’, ‘zaAA-’ Isaiah Erhiawarien

lobal rating organisation, Standard and Poor, S&P, has downgraded MTN Group, lowering its ratings to ‘BBB’ and ‘zaAA-’ from ‘BBB’ and ‘zaAA+’ and placing the mobile network operator on CreditWatch with negative implications. S&P cited the recent sanctions by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, of $5.2bn fine on the mobile network operator for

its downgrading. According to the rating, which was released yesterday, S&P stated that it “believes country risk in Nigeria has increased, while the group’s liquidity cushion has declined and it faces tougher economic conditions in its service areas.” S&P said the CreditWatch indicated that it could downgrade MTN if its liquidity position and credit metrics weaken further, depending on the timing of the fine and the group’s near-term refinancing activity.

South West

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

More suspects arraigned over Falae’s kidnap OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

wo more suspects were yesterday arraigned before an Akure High Court over the abduction of former Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae.

The suspects, who were arrested in Abuja by men of Department of State Services, DSS, are Abdulkadir Umar and Babawuro Kato. Five other suspects had earlier been apprehended by the police and charged to court. Department of Public

Prosecution, DPP, sought approval of the court to withdraw the earlier charges preferred against the suspects to be replaced with a new one. The new charges preferred against the seven suspects read: “That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim,

Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21, 2015, at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did give information for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel

Former Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Dr. Olufemi Abiodun Omotosho (3rd right) and four other suspects: Adebayo Sunday Dada; Yusuf Saka Olarenwaju; Ogunleye Samson Adeyemi and Azeez Dayo Kola, during their trial before Justice M.I Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering, yesterday.

Aregbesola lauds Jonathan over law against female genital mutilation BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

sun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said despite not leaving many good legacies behind, former President Goodluck Jonathan deserved commendation for signing into law a bill prohibiting female genital mutilation. This was just as the United Nations Population Fund, UNPF, advocated inter community dialogue and legislative enforcement to end Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF. Speaking at the opening session of a “High-

Level Meeting” on female genital mutilation organised by UNFPA and Shericare Foundation, SCARF, in Osogbo and attended by wives of Oyo and Ekiti governors, Aregbesola said it was during the reign of President Jonathan that female genital mutilation became a crime, describing the practice as bad and primitive. Aregbesola stated that even if majority of Nigerians accused the former president of non-performance, Jonathan needed to be lauded for signing into law on May 5, 2015, the Female Genital Mutilation Laws, and urged

government at all levels to ensure they work towards implementation of the act. Earlier, wife of Osun governor and President of Shericare Foundation, SCARF, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, in her welcome address described female genital mutilation as primitive. Similarly, the country’s representative of UNFP, Mrs. Rati Ndhlovu, who described the practice as “violation of rights of female child,” added that over 8,000 female children were daily mutilated. While urging governors’ wives to lead advocacy against the wicked

act, the UNPF boss urged parents and other stakeholders to support the fight against the scourge. She said recent survey conducted by UNPF revealed that Nigeria is third in global ranking of countries with high prevalent rate, with Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, as well as Kwara, Imo and Ebonyi states having highest prevailing rate in the country. In their goodwill messages, wives of the governors of Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ebonyi and Imo states, advocated prosecution of erring parents to serve as deterrent to others.

N115m fraud trial: Don’t be intimidated, EFCC tells judge KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan and presided over by Justice Ayo Emmanuel, was yesterday charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, not to be intimidated in handling the case brought before the court against a former executive director of the Institute of Ag-

ricultural Research and Training, IAR&T of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Prof. Benjamin Ogunbodede, and three others over alleged N115m fraud. It would be recalled that the EFCC had dragged Ogunbodede, Zacchaeus Tejumola, Adenose Clement and Jalekun Omitowoju Yisua, before the court on a 17-count charge, following petitions written by all the staff

unions of the institute and the industrial action that paralysed the research institute for over 11 months. The accused, according to the charge with suit number FHC/IB/55C/14, on or about June 6, 2011, conspired among themselves to commit an offence to wit: conversion of the sum of N115,750,000 which sum was derived from theft and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable

under section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 No. 11 and punishable under section 15 of the same Act. The court had on September 28, 2015 adjourned the matter to yesterday for commencement of hearing in the matter, but at the resumed sitting, the third defendant (Adenose) prayed the court for another adjournment on the ground that his counsel was not in court.

Oluyemi Falae. ”That you and others now at large on or about Monday September 21 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did aid the kidnapping and abduction of Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae. “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday September 21, did kidnap Chief Falae, the former Secretary to the Federation Government of Nigeria and did not release him until N5 million ransom was paid. “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday September 21, did rob Chief Falae of N15,000 and his handset while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.” The prosecution said

the offences were contrary to section 2 of AntiKidnapping and AntiAbduction Law, 5(1a) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Laws; Section3(11)(b) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law; Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms(Special Provision) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 1(2a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges but six of them asked to be provided lawyers. The prosecution team led by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Akinladapo Ogunleye, asked for few days to present their witnesses. The Presiding Judge, William Olamide, adjourned hearing of the case to December 2, adding that the suspects should be kept in prison custody.

NUPENG tasks FG on prompt subsidy payment

ational Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has told the Federal Government to ensure prompt payment of fuel subsidy to avoid persistent scarcity of petroleum products. South-West Chairman of the union, Mr Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Lagos on Tuesday that the current scarcity was due to late payment of subsidy claims to petroleum marketers. He said that non-payment of the claims had led to non-importation of products by marketers and loss of jobs by many workers. The chairman, however, said activities had resumed at various loading depots in Lagos and other cities because government had released N413bn to marketers. ‘‘Currently, loading of petroleum has commenced in different loading depots in Lagos and other states. I can assure you this has greatly increased distribution of products in the

country. “As far as I am concerned, there is little or no queue of motorists at filling stations in Lagos presently because the product is available in almost all stations. “The marketers are also aware of the sanctions that would be given to any filling station that sells above the pump price or refuses to sell when the product is available,’’ he said. Korodo urged motorists to exercise patience, adding that the product would soon be distributed to all filling stations in the country. A NAN correspondent who monitored depots and filing stations along Ikorodu Road, Ojuelegba, Iyana-Ipaja and Agege areas of Lagos, reports that filling stations were dispensing fuel. Some attendants at the filling stations that were shut said that they were waiting for product. No queue was also observed in most of the stations visited, as they were selling at the official pump price of N87.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Wednesday, November 11 2015

Extradition: Judge refuses to withdraw from Kashamu’s suit WALE IGBINTADE

L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his wife/Chief Host, Sherifat; wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and her Ekiti State counterpart, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose, during a high-level meeting on female genital mutilation, in Osogbo, yesterday.

Bad roads: Ambode begs Buhari to release Lagos’ N30bn FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to pay the already cleared N30 billion of the N51 billion debt owed the state by the Federal Government. Ambode, who made the appeal during an inspection tour of Apapa-Isolo road, via Mushin and Ladipo Market in Oshodi, said though part of the N51 billion owed the state was under contention, N30 billion of the money was free from encumbrances. He said if the money is released, he would be able to fix more roads and thus reduce the traffic congestion in Lagos, adding that the state government was

FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday approved the appointment of Mr. Oye HassanOdukale as new chairman of State Security Trust Fund Board of Trustees, subject to ratification by the House of Assembly. He succeeds Chief Remi Makanjuola whose tenure as chairman of the board expired after serving two terms. In a statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, the governor also

ready to meet all laid down conditions to fast track recovery of the debt. According to him, one of the most important Federal roads in Lagos is the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road, leading to Oshodi. He said if the road was not fixed before end of the year, he would be forced to intervene next year. Commenting on the traffic situation in Apapa, Ambode said though there is a semblance of improvement, he is not satisfied with the traffic situation in the axis, adding that “I believe strongly that the Federal Government needs to quickly get back the contractor to site to alleviate the challenges motorists are facing. “But, so far, so good; we have seen some parts

of Apapa that are now motorable. We believe strongly that once the bridge is completed, the Container Terminal will be put to use. The Container Terminal can take like 1,000 container vehicles and that in itself will improve on the traffic gridlock in Lagos.” The governor also inspected Isolo road where he met the contractor on site. He said in another nine months, the road should be completed, adding that in the interim, palliative measures would be put in place to make the road accessible to motorists. Ambode who equally visited the headquarters of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, pleaded with motorists in Lagos to be

law abiding, saying full enforcement of traffic laws would affect traffic offenders. “We do not take joy in taking people’s money because we want to generate revenue; but there should be law and order in the first place across the city. We want to be civil first, to say that every citizen has a chance to behave like a normal person. “The enforcement should be for those who are actually traffic offenders; but we want to take it first that the people I govern are law abiding citizens and that’s the approach we want to use. Its only when you disobey that we would want to treat you as an offender. I want to appeal to everyone that Lagos is for all of us,” Ambode said.

ustice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday refused to disqualify himself from adjudicating in a suit filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu. Kashamu is praying the court to restrain the Federal Government from seizing his property over drug trafficking allegations. He sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the Attorney-General of the Federation from taking possession of his property. Justice Buba had earlier restrained NDLEA from arresting or extraditing Kashamu to the United States of America, where he is allegedly wanted. But NDLEA in its application asked the judge to hands off the trial. According to NDLEA, since Justice Buba, on June 23, reaffirmed a May 27 order by Justice Okon Abang of the same court, stopping Kashamu’s arrest, he might not be fair in the case. The agency claimed the injunction amounted to preventing federal agencies from discharging their constitutional duties. NDLEA asked the judge to withdraw from the case on the basis that he might not reach a different conclusion in the fresh case having ruled in Kashamu’s favour once. According to NDLEA,

the case file should be returned to the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge. But, refusing the application, Justice Buba said he would not shy away from deciding a case merely because of an unsubstantiated accusation of bias. Justice Buba said: “This application is part of the game of hide and seek between the parties before me who have been in and out of court. Some of the matters are on appeal. “The applicant failed woefully to point at any decision this court reached or point of law that it reached and is likely to reach in another one.” The judge said if any party is dissatisfied with any judgment, the right thing to do is to appeal, and not to accuse a judge of bias. “The Federal High Court is one. The judges are one. The applicant cannot pick and choose judges for his matters. “The application has no merit and does not deserve any consideration. Same is hereby dismissed.” Kashamu said he learnt of moves by the NDLEA and AGF to seize his property, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe and several hectares of land on Lekki Peninsula, Lagos. According to him, he acquired the property, which he said is worth N20 billion, by dint of hard work and through his legitimate business.

Security Trust Fund board gets new chairman named a former Deputy Majority Leader in the House of Assembly, Dr. Abdulrasak Mobolaji Balogun, as executive secretary of the fund, following the resignation of Mr. Fola Arthur Worrey. The governor also approved the appointment of other members of the board who include the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Mr. Yemi Idowu, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje; Managing Director of UBA, Mr. Philips Oduoza and DIG Israel Ajao (rtd). Other members of the

board named by the governor are the Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, and special adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass. The appointment of Dr. Balogun takes effect from yesterday, November 10, 2015. The tenure of the last board expires on November 15, this year; the members have already served two tenures and are ineligible for another term. Policeman commits suicide in Lagos Patience Ogbo

There was pandemonium at the Nigeria Police Training School, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday when the lifeless body of a policeman was found in his car. It was gathered that the deceased policeman, identified as Corporal Agi Elias, attached to the Safer Way Patrol Unit, allegedly committed suicide yesterday night after he missed an assessment exam. Lagos State police command confirmed the death in a press release signed by the command’s

spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor. The statement reads: “The command wishes to confirm the story that a policeman was found dead in his V/W Passat Reg.No. 489 AY, parked at the entrance of High Barracks, Ikeja, today, 10th Nov., 2015, by 0730hrs. “The NCO CPL Agi Elias, until his sudden death was attached to the Safer Highway Patrol, Lagos, but on Corporal to Sergeant promotion course at the Police Training School, PTS, Ikeja. The aforesaid course

came to an end yesterday, 09 Nov., 2015. Preliminary investigations carried out so far revealed that tablets and some poisonous substances littered his corpse while still inside his car. “His body has been recovered and deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital mortuary, while investigation of the case has been taken over by the homicide section of SCIID, Yaba, with a view to ascertaining the cause of death. “Further development will be communicated to you in due course.”

South East

Tragedy in Enugu as woman, daughter drown in well Emmanuel Ezeh Enugu

esidents of Ozalla community in Igbo-Etiti Council Area of Enugu State have been thrown into mourning following the death of a woman and her daughter inside a well. A source said that though the body of the deceased persons, identified as Uche Nweze and her daughter, Ukamaka, were recovered from the well, there was still no hint as to how they fell into the well. However, spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that four suspects had been arrested. He stated that “investigations have commenced into circumstances sur-

rounding the death of the mother and her daughter with a view to finding out the possible cause. “No fewer than four suspects are helping the police in their investigations. “Their corpses have been recovered and deposited at Zim Uzo Hospital mortuary, Igbo-Etiti, for post-mortem examination.” In another development, one Ugochukwu Mba of Umulumgbe in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State has been nabbed for attempting to rob customers at a beer parlour with a locally made double barrel gun. However, according to Amaraizu, he was overpowered and handed over to the police by the community’s vigilante group.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

No guinea worm scourge in Ebonyi —Umezurike Aliuna Godwin Abakaliki

bonyi State government yesterday denied rumours that guinea worm scourge was ravaging the state after it had been totally eradicated long ago by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd). Briefing journalists in Abakaliki, the capital, Commissioner for Health, Mr.

Dan Umezurike, said the rumour was untruthful, adding that what was discovered was a mere boil, not guinea worm. “We were worried about the rumour of guinea worm scourge in Ebonyi State. It is a very bad signal and we have done all our investigation about the issue. It is not a guinea worm case. It is a reportable case; if you find anyone with guinea worm and report it, you will get

N25,000! “There is need for it to be investigated; there is no case of guinea worm in Ebonyi State; the disease has been eradicated. “Time for its transmission and life cycle has been overtaken; there are no signs and symptoms of guinea worm in the woman alleged to be a victim,” he said. Recall that the alleged victim, Mrs. Cartrine Og-

wudu, who hails from Amofia Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was purportedly diagnosed of the worm by a private hospital, Little Seed, in the same village. Meanwhile, investigation by coordinator of Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, NIGEP, Mr. Nwafor Ezekiel, said: “We saw a wound at the hand of the woman and no worm was seen.”

Group commends Ohanaeze’s stance on pro-Biafra protests Obiora Ifoh Abuja

uhari Media Support Group, BMSG, has commended apex Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for coming out to condemn the pro-Biafra protests and agitations in some parts of the South East and South South. The group said protests and agitations in favour of secession and separatists directed at re-awakening the defunct Republic of Biafra was an ill-wind that would not do any good to the protesters and their sponsors. A statement jointly signed by both Muhammed Labbo and Cassidy Madueke, coordinator and secretary respectively, said it was indeed clear from the manner of the protests that the protesters were misguided by selfish politicians and political jobbers, who care only for their interest and little for the generality of the Igbo people. “At a time like this when a new people’s government under President Muhammadu Buhari is in power and determined to improve the lives of Nigerians without exception, the hard-working and fo-

cused people in the South East do not need the distraction of the pro-Biafra protesters and their sponsors. “The future of Ndigbo and indeed other ethnic groups in Nigeria is better guaranteed in a large, fertile and resource-rich country like Nigeria.” BMSG maintained that the perception of marginalisation and neglect by the pro-Biafran protesters, are not enough to cause the disunity and disintegration of the Nigerian state. It further noted that these complaints are not peculiar to the South East zone as they are common across the country. It said: “The harrowing experience of the last civil war in Nigeria, 1967 – 1970, is not one which the present generation should re-live, more so, when the dramatis personae on both sides of that war declared it was a mistake that should never have happened.” BMSG believes that this is the appropriate time for other socio-cultural, socio-political south-eastern state governments and prominent Igbos to emulate Ohanaeze Ndigbo in beating the drums of peace and development.

Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam (middle) being arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

NCS impounds N281.3m goods in S/East, S/South …arrests 32 suspects, 21 cases pending in court Chris Njoku Owerri

nti-smuggling measures of the Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C, Owerri, yesterday yielded positive results with the seizure of assorted contraband bearing an overall Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N281,258,822 with N25,356,397 as total underpayment recovered. Already, 32 suspects have been arrested in connection with the illegal business, while 21 cases are pending in court. The unit’s area controller, Mr. Victor Dimka, who disclosed this to newsmen

while inspecting the impounded items in the premises of the NCS in Owerri and Benin, explained that the seizures, which were made between September 30 and November 9, 2015, on the Aba-Port Harcourt Road and Owerri axis were as a result of the determination of the establishment to rid the nation of smuggling. He listed the items as 325 bales of second-hand clothing with a DPV of N41,570,000; 526 pieces of foreign-used tyres at a DPV of N3,156,000; 100 cartons of rubber slippers, which had a DPV of N41,320,000 and three vehicles with a DPV of N5,659,125, which were recorded within the Owerri axis.

The Customs’ area controller added that 46 vehicles with a DPV of N222,287,855; three vehicles with a DPV of N3,517,842 and 40 bags of 50kg rice with a DPV of N748,000 were made in Benin, Calabar and Enugu respectively. According to him, the latest feat was accomplished by the combined efforts of officers and men of the unit who he said are strongly determined to see that smugglers, their sponsors and collaborators are apprehended and brought to book. Dimka, who decried the persistent scourge of smuggling banned goods in the country despite severe penalties for those involved, said: “We are painstakingly

doing our investigation and we will definitely get to the root of these cases and bring all involved to book, while those in court would answer for what they had done.” He attributed the feat to the zero tolerance for corruption stance of the current Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali Ibrahim (rtd) who he said is resolved to ensure that maximum revenue is collected for the nation. Dimka assured that the NCS would continue to strengthen its collaboration with sister agencies, including the Army, Navy, police, DSS and the Federal Road Safety Corps until the battle against smuggling is won.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Delta Assembly suspends chief whip, former deputy leader AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

L-R: PDP gubernatorial candidate/Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; his counterparts from the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva and PDM, Mr. Moses Siasia, during a peace summit organised by INEC, ahead of December 5 governorship election in the State, in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Pro-Biafra protest turns violent in Rivers …banks, shops shut

ing that the police shot sporadically into the air to scare protesters, hitting the victims in the process. She said the three injured persons were later taken to an undisclosed clinic at Oyigbo for treatment. Also, at Artillery junction, the police shot several teargas canisters to scare away defiant Biafra protesters who marched through police barricade, and headed on. The police battled with the protesters for several minutes before finally giving up and allowing the protesters to have their way. The protesters, who also allegedly destroyed some billboards erected by churches, paralysed social and economic activities in Port Harcourt as many commercial drivers withdrew their vehicles from the roads, while banks

and shops hurriedly shut down to prevent their property being torched. The situation caused a gridlock in many areas like Rumuikrusi, Waterline, Rumuokoro and Eleme junction axis of Port Harcourt, while pedestrians were seen trekking long distances. Reacting to the development, Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Mohammad, confirmed the protest, but said no single person was shot by the police. Mohammad said the police were careful in handling the situation, so as not to disturb public peace. He said, “It is not true that any of the protesters was shot by any policeman. We (police) were very careful not to allow the situation disturb public peace.”

pro-Biafra protest by hundreds of youths turned violent on Tuesday as windscreens of vehicles were smashed, while the Nigerian flag was pulled down in some areas of Port Harcourt. Also, agitators of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, allegedly attacked those who refused to chant their songs in support of Biafra. The protesting youths, who wore Biafra insignia, were said to have marched from Aba in Abia State to Port Harcourt through Oyigbo as early as 6:30am and blocked all routes leading to Port Harcourt,

Rivers State capital. They displayed placards that Biafra has come to stay and called on the Federal Government to release their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Eyewitnesses said the youths were coming from Oyigbo but were confronted by anti-riot policemen stationed at the popular Eleme junction to prevent them from entering the city. The witness said the policemen shot several teargas canisters at the protesting youths to stop them from entering Port Harcourt, but they were defiant as they passed through teargas smokes to have their way. Another observer, who gave her name as Grace, said three of the protesters sustained bullet wounds from the police at Eleme junction, add-

OSAHON JULIUS

‘Bayelsa owes N20bn gratuity, pension’

DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

YENAGOA

oordinator of Bayelsa State Pensioners General House, Godspower Amara, yesterday revealed that the Seriake Dickson administration still owes pensioners a whopping N20bn in unpaid gratuity and four months pension stipends. Amara spoke when he and some of the senior citizens of the state held audience with the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for the

December 5 gubernatorial election and former governor of the state, Timipreye Sylva, who paid them a surprise visit at Obogoro community, Yenagoa. He said pensioners in the state have been going through a bad time as their gratuity was last paid in June 2014, while their pension stipend was yet to be paid for over four months now. Amara thanked the former governor for what he said was a timely visit

since none of the candidates or the incumbent governor had deemed it fit to visit them or find solution to their plight. He also lamented the untold hardship they have been going through, adding that they were the ones who laid the foundation for today’s Bayelsa State. Responding, APC candidate, Sylva, described the pensioners as the most important persons in the state as they were the ones who gave their lives and time for the state.

He said APC as a party is aware of their importance and productivity, saying that any government who does not take care of its senior citizen is doomed to fail. Sylva, who described himself as the biblical Moses sent to deliver the people of Israel from their oppressor, the Egyptians, after many years in the wilderness, said he has truly come to deliver his people from the PDPled government in the state.

elta State House of Assembly yesterday slammed the member representing Oshimili North constituency and chief whip, Princess Pat Ajudua, and the former house deputy majority leader, Johnson Erijo, representing Isoko South II constituency with three months suspension. The suspension that followed a motion moved by the majority leader, Tim Owhefere, stated that the suspension of the two lawmakers followed built up and accumulated offences. The motion was seconded by a member representing Ika south constituency and minority leader, Festus Okon, and adopted by the entire House.

It was gathered that before now the two lawmakers had constituted themselves into a parallel authority in the house and as such no longer had respect for constituted authority of the house following their long term and legislative experience in the house. It was also learnt that the suspension of the two lawmakers was overdue and building up before the house went for its controversial training in Atalanta Georgia, USA, where their suspension was sealed. Meanwhile, barely 48 hours after the member representing Isoko south constituency II, Erijo, had a victory thanksgiving service on Sunday at Irri, Isoko South council, he was slammed with three months suspension.

Regard Bayelsa as home, Dickson tells non-indigenes

overnor Seriake Dickson has told non-indigenes in Bayelsa State to regard themselves as indigenes and feel at home. “Regard Bayelsa as home,” he said. He spoke when nonindigenes, comprising South-South, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa communities residing in the state came together to endorse him for a second term. The event at Peace Park in Yenagoa, the state capital, had in attendance about 3,000 men and women, who unanimously gave their support for re-election of the governor. Dickson, who was elated by the endorsement, said the non-indigenes were good people doing well in their various endeavours and should not harbour any for m of discrimination. He also acknowledged the support of non-indigenes to his aspiration, saying he was aware they had been supporting his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which he also said was their party and should continue to do so. He told the people not

to be intimidated by the antics of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, but come out on election day to cast their votes at their respective units and wait for the votes to be counted and results declared. He noted that APC was no longer campaigning because it lacked meaningful message to tell the people, saying Bayelsans had rejected them and that the message should be taken home to let everybody join what he said was “Operation reject APC and Sylva” at the election. Earlier, Hon. Ferdinand Ozins on behalf the non-indigenes, said they came together to endorse Dickson because of his government’s sense of accommodation given to them and the provision of security, which have enabled them live and work in peace in the state. Ferdinand, who was one of the three appointees of the government at the forum, vowed that the non-indigenes will vote en-masse for the governor at the December 5 election.

North

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Purge judiciary of bad eggs, Darius urges Buhari Obiora Ifoh, ABUJA

overnor of Taraba State, Ishaku Darius, has called for urgent purge of the nation’s judiciary to free it from bad eggs, who are bent on dragging the country into the mud. The governor, who called on President Muhammadu Buhari while explaining to the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee, NWC, members his decision to challenge the tribunal judgement against him, said the “tribunal judgement was a very rude shock to people of the state.” He said, “We would do everything possible to ensure no one is killed as a result of the judgement and we, the political class, must work to avoid shedding the blood of people in the name of seeking political offices.” Responding, acting PDP chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against what he

termed as “brazen impunity” metted out to members of the party by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government agencies. Prince Secondus said since the advent of the APC administration, series of cases of impunity have been metted on various occasions on PDP governors. He alleged that there was a grand design by the APC to take Taraba, Rivers and Bayelsa states that are currently PDP-governed states by all means, thereby planting a seed of discord among the people. He said the President should note that without peace he could not govern the country well. He said crises are already looming around these states where positions were wrested from people that were duly elected by the electorate. He said the party is solidly behind the Taraba State governor as he moves to exhaust all legal options to challenge the election tribunal judgement against him.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Suswam pleads not guilty to N3.1bn fraud charge Doosuur Iwambe, ABUJA

ormer governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, and his Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia, yesterday pleaded not guilty to N3.1bn corrupt charge preferred against them by the Federal Government. Federal Government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had

filed a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion against Suswam and Okolobia, who ruled Benue State from 2007 to 2015 at the Federal High Court in Abuja. When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, the two accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges that were read to them. Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Moham-

med, admitted both accused persons to bail in the sum of N100m each and one surety each of grade level 12 on the employment of federal, state or local government or person with national awards, each in like sum. This followed a bail application that was unopposed by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs. Justice Mohammed also ordered the accused persons to deposit their in-

ternational passports with the deputy registrar of the court as part of bail terms. Justice Mohammed also ordered that both accused persons be remanded in custody of the EFCC if they fail to meet the terms of bail before close of work. Suswam who served a second term as governor of Benue State and Okolobia were alleged to have diverted the state government’s funds for their own use in breach of public trust.

COREN asked to address problem of building collapse James Danjuma, KATSINA

ouncil for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, has been called upon to come up with measures to address the problem of collapsed buildings in the country. Katsina State Commissioner for Works, Tasiu Dahiru, made the call yesterday when he received a team of inspectors of COREN, who were on an official assignment in the state. Dahiru lamented the continued loss of lives and properties as a result of building collapse in some states of the country. He said it was in the interest of the engineering profession and country at large for COREN to find a lasting solution to the problem. The commissioner said Nigerians were disturbed by news of building collapse, which

COREN “should find ways to end in the overall interest of the country.” Dahiru however assured that his ministry would collaborate with the council toward upgrading the standards of building and civil engineering projects in the state. He also said the ministry would cooperate with the team of inspectors of the council to monitor and carry out all construction projects based on the specification of the building regulatory body. Earlier, leader of the COREN inspectors, Mr. Abdullahi Bala, had said the council has come up with measures to eliminate quackery in the engineering profession. Bala said quackery remains a major cause of building collapse and assured that the team would ensure that only the right people practice the profession in the country.

Chairman, Plateau State House of Assembly Committee on Attack and Counter Attack Special Committee for Peace and Security, Mr. Yusuf Gagdi, presenting the committee’s report to the House in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

N50bn bailout funds: Sort it out with CBN, APC tells Kogi govt Obiora Ifoh and Ayo Esan

ll Progressives Congress, APC, has described as cheap blackmail the decision by Kogi State government and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, to blame political interference for the delay in releasing bailout funds to the state. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it had no business with the release or otherwise of the bailout funds to Kogi State. ‘’This accusation is in line with the new-found propensity of the PDP to blame everyone but itself for the woes befallen the

party in recent times. If the opposition party is not accusing the APC of colluding with the judiciary over the election petition cases, it is accusing the ruling party of colluding with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, over bailout funds. This is sickening,’’ the APC said. It added that the Kogi State government should sort itself out with the CBN, if indeed it wants to get the bailout funds. ‘’Our investigations have revealed that the Kogi State government has not been able to justify the over N50bn it is asking for as bailout funds. It is curious that the chunk of the funds which the state is asking for - over N40bn - is for the payment of the salaries of local government workers. ‘’The state is saying the backlog of salaries owed

this category of workers dates back to 2011. “How can that be, when Nigeria was not even broke in 2011? How can the state be owing local government workers when it has been collecting N2.2bn monthly in allocation for local governments, amounting to over N100 billion in four years? What happened to the local government allocations collected by the state, if it was still owing local government workers since 2011? ‘’The figures and explanations tendered by the Kogi State government to justify the request for N50.8bn in bailout funds are not tenable, especially because only N4.9bn of the amount is for the payment of workers in the state civil service. ‘’Nigerians should bear in mind that the bailout

funds are not for anything beyond the payment of workers’ salaries. The onus is therefore on the Kogi State government to justify its request for N50.8bn, and assure the CBN that the state is not seeing the funds as slush money. It is the failure to do just that, rather than any so-called political interference, that has denied the state government access to the funds so far,’’ the party said. APC reminded the PDP Governors’ Forum, which has been quick to jump into the fray without doing its own due diligence, that the initiative to bail the states out of their inability to pay workers’ salaries was at the instance of the Buhari administration, and is meant to provide much-needed relief to the workers.

Wednesday November 11, 2015

God sends Buhari to cleanse, sanitize Nigeria –Isong

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Osahon Julius YENAGOA

undreds of members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Bayelsa State yesterday stormed the state headquarters of the party in protest over the choice of a running mate for Chief Timipre Sylva, the party flagbearer in the December 5 governorship poll. The protesters, mainly the supporters of the party State Chairman, Timipa Orunimighe, chanting anti-Sylva songs, destroyed billboards and barricaded the entrance to the party secretariat along the Mbiama-Yenagoa road, to register their protest over the choice of a retired Principal, Wilberforce Ikiri, over the party chairman, Timipa Orunimighe.

Protest rocks Bayelsa APC over choice of Sylva’s running mate The protesters were angry that the campaign organisation of Chief Timipre Sylva had secretly picked a retired principal and one time governorship aspirant in the old Rivers State, Chief Wilberforce Ikiri as his running mate instead of the State Chairman, Timipa Orunimighe. The angry protesters made up of ward chairmen and members from across the state demanded that Timipa Orunimighe be nominated as running mate. Wilberforce Ikiri, a retired principal is from Foropa community while Chief Timipa Orunimighe

hails from Koluama community, both in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state. A close ally of Chief Timipre Sylva confirmed to National Mirror that the nomination of Chief Wilberforce Ikiri ahead of Timipa Orunimigha was decided upon due to the strong political message it carried. According to him, “the man is cool headed and a strong politician that can get the job done. He can interact with elders and the youths with a clear humble disposition. He will not be power drunk and he is a technocrat. Also he is a

good administrator as a former Principal.” But the Supporters of Orunimighe during a show of anger against the decision at party’s secretariat in Yenagoa alleged that Sylva had reneged on his promise of running with Orunimighe, whom they claimed made it possible for Sylva to emerge as the candidate of the party at the primary election. The protesting supporters, drawn from wards and local government areas of the state, vowed to sink the party instead of allowing Sylva’s preferred choice. The protesters, who de-

L-R: National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; APC governorship candidate for Kogi, Prince Abubakar Audu; Vice President, Yemi Oshinbajo and Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello, during the APC governorship rally in Okene, yesterday.

US cautions against violence during Kogi, Bayelsa polls George Oji

he United States of America has urged the electorates and other stakeholders in Kogi and Bayelsa States to refrain from violence during the coming gubernatorial polls in the two states. The U.S. handed down this caution in a statement it issued yesterday through its Embassy in Abuja.

Citing the constitution of Nigeria, which recognizes the respect of the dignity of the citizens of the country and the rights and legitimate interests of every citizen, the U.S. reminded political parties, elected leaders and candidates for the offices that they have a special obligation to uphold the stated democratic precepts. The Kogi election will hold on November 21, while the Bayelsa election will take place on Decem-

ber 5, this year. In the two paragraph statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the U.S. Embassy, it stated that, “As Kogi and Bayelsa states prepare to conduct important gubernatorial elections, the United States calls upon all Nigerians to refrain from advocating, fomenting, or condoning violence before, during, or after the elections. “The Nigerian Constitution itself states it is the duty of every citizen

to “respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of citizens to live in unity and harmony.” Political parties, elected leaders, and candidates for office have a special obligation to uphold these democratic precepts.” The statement further noted that, “The United States remains committed to working with Nigeria to strengthen its democratic institutions in the years to come.”

stroyed Sylva’s billboards and posters in major places, insisted that if Sylva failed to run with Orunimighe, he should forget his ambition of running for the election slated for December 5. They shut down the state secretariat to prevent people from entering and coming out, maintaining that Orunimighe had worked so hard for the party’s survival and wondered why he should be betrayed

now. Speaking during the protest, Chairman, Ward 11, Yenagoa LGA, Mr. Exodus Ebi, said by the protest, they were sending message to the party’s National leadership that Orunimighe remains their choice as running mate to Sylva. He claimed that the party chairman had worked hard enough for the party that he should be compensated with the position.

Voters Assembly sets agenda for new INEC Chairman Kemi Olaitan IBADAN

pro-democracy and human rights group, Nigeria Voters Assembly, on Tuesday, called on the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to strive to meet the expectations of Nigerians which it said has been heightened by the successes recorded in the 2015 elections and desire for a more improved credible election in 2019. The group in a statement issued by its President, Comrade Mashood Erubami, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, also tasked the newly constituted INEC management to build on the legacies left behind by the immediate past Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to be able to reach the raised bar for credible elections. He similarly charged the INEC management to ensure that the sources of malpractices and irregularities that marked the past elections are nipped in the bud through immediate prosecution. He said, “ Of those who have perpetrated electoral impunity before his assumption of office, he should send strong signal to stakeholders in the elector-

al process that commission of electoral offences and crimes will not be tolerated by his administration. “Election impunity has persisted because of INEC seeming indifference, because election malpractices and irregularities are committed by certain electorate who are left to go scotfree without accounting for their acts of commission and omission during elections and it will be difficult to eradicate this Impunity when offenders are not brought to book to serve as deterrent to others”. Erubami then called on Yakubu to let the commission begin strict adherence to the constitution, Electoral Acts and its rules and regulations, stating that it must use its prosecutorial power as enshrined in the electoral act to engage election offenders unsparingly and in a non- selective manner to show that electoral crimes will no more be spared. “Much is being expected from the new chairman in terms of better improvement in institutional, systemic and legal reforms for quality operations and deallignment from fraudulent politicians who might want him to affiliate to undermine the significance of the good legacy left behind by the Jega administration”, he stated.

Politics

Bishop Emmah Isong is the General Overseer of Christian Central Chapel International, CCCI and Assistant National Vice President ,South -South Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN. In this interview with RICHARD NDOMA, he speaks on issues of national importance. Election Petition Tribunals have cancelled the governorship election in Rivers State, ordered rerun in 18 local government areas of Akwa-Ibom State and sacked the governor of Taraba state. How will you react to these landmark judgements? First of all, let me congratulate Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State for passing through his own political storm and is able to retain his integrity among the political class and of course my confidence that he is going to clear election result in the remaining eighteen local governments. I am also praying for Governor Wike of Rivers state. At least for once, let people learn how to do the right thing during elections so that we won’t have too much cancelation after elections. If the right things are done by INEC, by candidates, which begins from nomination but some of the candidates were not nominated correctly in their intra- parties affairs or were not the right candidates but were just thrown up to the electorates to swallow and of course they had no choice other than to manipulate the electoral process. There are few cases of these nature in states like Akwa Ibom that you and I know, that there were controversial incidences. For instance, if you say in eighteen Local governments, each local government that has about ten wards but more than half had issues in the election and the tribunal decides to cancel it, I don’t think there is a problem with that. To me, the tribunals are doing a good job, the courts are doing well; I back the judiciary for a job welldone and believing that they should continue like this. Maybe if care is not taken, many more cancelation may still occur. With this kind of development can one say that INEC is not competent enough to conduct a free and credible poll or was it that the election umpire were overwhelmed by external influence? No .The contestants are stakeholders, , the INEC is a stakeholder, the electorates are stakeholders, then the federal government or state governments are stakeholders, and it include the military and police, then judiciary is another stakeholder. This inter-play of fault by human is not without error because there is a lot of water that goes under the bridge. So I think what happen is that they all go and jumble- rumble and in the end they will come out and go to judiciary with their documents to be vindicated, that is what we have seen here. The process is not yet perfect, our democracy is just a few years old unlike America that has ran their democracy for about 200 years. So we are still believing God, we are still evolving because the process is not yet perfected. When we talk about corruption, people think it is only to carry money and run away but that is not all what we are talking about only but electoral frauds, intimidating the electorate with unrealistic promises are also corruption. The federal government needs to expand its own meaning of corruption so it not only means diversion of public fund by politicians. Lack of integrity in the electoral process, I am not saying INEC is not involved but as the umpire, the man who makes a fight to happen after a match is the referee and INEC is the referee in any election. The process of appointing INEC commissioner in a state is faulty because they would arrived in their designated state only to wait for machineries of state government or a particular candidate to survive. So if I arrive as an INEC commissioner in a state, I don’t have a house, the government needs to give me a house, I don’t have vehicles and the governor gives me this facility. We need to emphasize the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC at all levels. APC is now at the centre after playing opposition for many years. Despite its promise of change, things have not improved much. For instance, the Ikom-Calabar highway is now a death trap. How do you see this development? Let me tell you something APC made a mistake of play-

Wednesday November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

God sends Buhari to cleanse, sanitize Nigeria –Isong can’t they make themselves a big fish by fixing the roads so as to win the hearts of Cross Riverians and Akwa Ibomites who could jointly constitute a minimum of 4000 votes? I am not criticizing the APC, but you see, if you want to take over power, elections is not all that takes people to take over power.

Isong

ing an opposition in which they were not thinking that election will be free and fair and they may win and that is why it had taken them a long time to go back to their drawing board because they are shocked to have won the last elections. APC didn’t know they were going to win the elections; if you doubt me I will give you instances that they were not ready for governance. These include the delay in the ministerial appointment, denial of some statements credited to the APC during electioneering campaign and of course trying to fine-tune a lot of things. They are depending more on former PDP members. If you mention ten ministers-designate, you will see that they are all PDP people. Like the Senate minority leader, Godswill Obot Akpabio told one of the ministerial nominees not to insult the PDP because he ruled for eight years on the PDP’s platform as governor. Can you then mention some areas that you think the present Federal Government can assist the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states? Are you aware that Calabar-Itu road is one of the most economic booster, or an international road, which leads to the Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea? But suddenly it has become the worst road in the whole world, not just Africa. Are you aware that several hundreds of people had died on this road? Only yesterday, they were using canoe to crossed when coming into Calabar and travelling out of Calabar, just because the road is in a deplorable state. We hear APC government want to be in control of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states;

Infrastructural politics is the greatest politics in

African region. Whether stomach or physical

infrastructure,

Africans

don’t want to know whose logo whether broom or umbrella

So if you say it is not only wining elections that matter, what else is it that can also be an indices to ascertaining whether a particular government is doing well? Infrastructural politics is the greatest politics in African region. Whether stomach or physical infrastructure, Africans don’t want to know whose logo whether broom or umbrella, they want to know who fixes the Calabar-Itu road and Ikom- Calabar Highway or Akpabuyo- Ikang federal highway, which because of it bad state is almost crumbling the economy of these two sister states. They want to know who can fix the state, who can ameliorate and alleviate poverty. I believe that the APC were believing God to win election but was not prepared to win elections. Any woman you marry and come and begin to learn how to cook in your house then you know that something is wrong with that woman. Why is it that she didn’t learn how to cook in her mother’s house before making herself available for marriage? It means she wanted to marry but didn’t know she would marry very soon. So if I were APC I will get back to the mantra of change, you say you are coming for change, why not hit the change now to enable people feel the pulse of change because PDP who is now in opposition is too ready to take over again if you fail and you know Nigerians, today they sing your song and clap for you, tomorrow if you don’t perform they are ready to sing another song. Going by what you have seen on ground, do you see Buhari as a man with the capacity to deliver the country from its numerous woes? I have given answers to this question before now. God didn’t send Buhari to change this country but to cleanse the country of its filth. I’m saying it again, write it down that God didn’t send him to change the country. God sent him to cleanse and sanitize and prepare the place for Nigerians by killing the scourge of corruption in us. In other words block the leakages, put NNPC in order, return discipline to Nigeria and then leave the stage say after four or eight years. When people were shouting, clapping for Jonathan, I said he was not a messiah, people almost crucified me, I said God brought him to stabilize Nigeria; check the records. Jonathan was to stabilize the country . The temperament of Jonathan was not to stop Nigeria, when they say he was supervising corruption I said they don’t know what they are talking about because Jonathan came under that temperament so that we would not fight. That is the only man who knew peace, the only man who would not go and say kill that person for me. He was abused, mocked; comedian mocked his wife. You can see, if you had tried that during Babangida era, you would have been in hot soup. I am not a Jonathan supporter as I am talking now, he knows he came to stabilize Nigeria. Buhari is an headmaster to cause noise to stop in a classroom, the temperament of Jonathan helps and the fear of Buhari is the beginning of not touching Nigeria treasury. God is going to use him to stop leakages, to stop flamboyancy, to stop rascality in the civil service, see what he told his ministers, I don’t want to see long siren and convoys, cut down your protocol and PA`s, is that not a good sign for Nigeria? Are you saying Buhari should be supported? To me, we should support Buhari for the sake of our country so as to put the country in the right direction. Buhari is like a traffic officer who needs to put Nigeria back on the right track by restoring discipline but I am sorry he is not the man you people should expect to transform Nigeria and change it.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

From The Civil Service

NAPTIP wants counsellors in fight against child trafficking P.41

Access BOI-NYSC empowerment fund, DG urges corps members Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

irector-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has called on interested corps member across the country to avail themselves of the opportunity to access loan from the N2 billion set aside by the Bank of Industry (BOI) for disbursement under the BOI-NYSC Graduate Entrepreneurship Empowerment Fund. He also restated the need for Corps members to be in the vanguard for the actualisation of the change agenda of the present administration. Olawumi stated this while addressing the 2015 Batch ‘B’ Corps members, who are currently undergoing their orientation course at the different orientation camp visited in South-West zones. The states include Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara orientation camps. He emphasised that the security and safety of every corps member was very key to the scheme, even after camp. NYSC scribe advised corps members to avail themselves of opportunity to access loan from the N2 billion set aside by the Bank of Industry (BOI) for disbursement to interested Corps members under the BOI-NYSC Graduate Entrepreneurship Empowerment Fund as well as the N200 million earmarked by the Heritage Bank for a similar purpose. DG, who hailed Nigerian youths as some of the best in the world, cau-

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Transport, Anofi Elegushi; Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem; Deputy Corps Marshal, FRSC, Operations, Adei Abu; Zonal Head of Operations, Lagos Zone, Godwin Ngwekwu, and others, during the flag-off ceremony of ‘Ember Month’ campaign in Lagos, yesterday.

tioned them against making uncomplimentary remarks about the country. However, Olawumi used the occasion of the visit to announce the procurement of an ambulance for the NYSC Kwara State Secretariat as part of efforts to enhance the Corps members’ welfare

while he commended the state government for the standard of facilities put in place at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Iseyin. He reaffirmed the commitment of the scheme to the safety of Corps members, and urged them to play roles in their own

security by, among other things, avoiding unnecessary journeys. “I want to encourage corps members to integrate with their host communities as well as appreciate and respect their cultures and religions,” he said. He enjoined them to

offer constructive views to help move Nigeria forward instead of making derogatory remarks. DG further encouraged them to take advantage of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship training to equip them for self-reliance. In her welcome address

at Iseyin, the NYSC Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akin-Moses, announced that 2,242 corps members were registered, kitted and accommodated at the state permanent orientation camp for the 2015 batch B, stream I orientation exercise. According to her, “The orientation camp is conducive enough with adequate water and electricity supply as well as capable security officials to ensure security of lives and property of corps members and NYSC officials with programmes designed to make our stay on camp an interesting one.” The NYSC Oyo State Cultural Troupe did not lag behind as they thrilled the DG, his entourage, camp officials and corps members to various traditional dance steps. The martial art group also was not left out as they displayed their martial skills. Before leaving, General Olawumi donated a cow to corps members and officials of the orientation camp.

Don launches 17 books to revamp reading culture Joel Ajayi, ABUJA

university don, researcher, and national coordinator of Agro-Allied Commodities Cooperatives Entrepreneurship Multipurpose Union Limited, Professor Victoria Aladejobi, has declared that his aspiration to revamp reading culture in the country is the reason for immediate release

Census is for development, not revenue sharing –NPC

P.16

of seventeen new books at once. Prof. Aladejobi made this known at the launching of her 17 new books an event she used to commemorate her 64th birthday at the weekend in Abuja. She revealed that she started writing the books in September last year. According to her, “I’m presenting it for people to have the spirit of read-

ing; the reading culture is dying, I am revamping it through my own power and contribution. Other professors will follow suit, and ignorance must be wiped out in the country thereby increasing literacy.” She said further: “I started majority of this book in 2014 and the aim is to create a reading culture among our youth as this will lead to their gathering

Use space technology to tackle insecurity, expert tells FG P.41

more knowledge to making book writing a very profitable venture and to boost our national economy. It will also wipe off the dearth of books.” The Professor of English Language emphased that it would also serve as motivation to others who were aspiring to be writers and authors. Speaking on agro-allied, she opined that “it will give opportunity to use

more talents in me to help the grassroots people to source money to procure counterpart fund needed by them to access the money allocated to them by FG to improve the economy of the agro-allied sector. “I don’t see any reason why 30% of Nigerians are rich and 70% are poor. We want a society that is egalitarian because we have resources that can make us rich,” she said.

FG plans more employment opportunities through livestock P.42

Civil Service

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Census is for development, not revenue sharing –NPC Joel Ajayi ABUJA

he chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, has urged all Nigerians to see the forthcoming 2016 Population and Housing Census as the statistical exercise whose main purpose is for development rather than avenue for revenue sharing. NPC boss stated this yesterday in Keffi Nassarawa State during a 2-day capacity build-

ing/sensitivities national workshop for staff of public affairs of the commission. He noted that the training would go a long way in sharpening the skills of public affair officers who would be involved in carrying out publicity and advocacy programmes for the exercise. According to him, the contentions about previous censuses had little to do with the technical capacity of the commission. He said: “Politicisation of census in the

past has made many Nigerians see census exercise as an avenue for revenue sharing rather than developmental planning. “Let me state categorically that one of the greatest challenges of census taking in Nigeria is the issue of acceptability. Rather, the major problem has been the psyche of the people and their perception of the use of census.” He then, used the medium to appeal to all Nigerian to see the census as a purely sta-

tistical exercise whose main purpose if for planning. Speaking on the importance of the workshop, NPC chairman explained: “Today’s event marks another major step in the efforts of the commission to boost the technical competence of its staff in the discharge of constitutional mandate particularly in the areas of population education and public enlightenment. He also revealed that head count is a major operation that involves

L-R: Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Michael Olawale-Cole; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Sarah Sosan, and Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju, during the Bank of Industry’s special day at the Lagos International Trade Fair, in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

NOA deploys 3,000 personnel for FOI Act sensitisation Ijeoma Elechi, ABUJA

s part of efforts to ensure the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, the National Orientation Agency, NOA, has deployed 3,000 personnel for the continuous public sensitisation about the use of various platforms. Director General of NOA, Mike Omeri disclosed this in Abuja when the Deputy Director, FOI Unit of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Stella Anukam,

visited him to fine tune areas of partnership between the two organisations to enhance implementation of the Act by public institutions in the country. Omeri said the agency had translated the FOI Act into twentyeight Nigerian languages and had distributed same to various ministries, departments and agencies. He urged the FOI Unit of FMOJ to step up efforts in making the implementation a reality by encouraging the disclosure of information and educating

the MDAs on the type of information to be disclosed. According to him, the FOI Act is timely. “The right to know is a fundamental right of every citizen and the Act could be used to fight the ills of the society. “Over 3,000 personnel of the agency have been deployed in continuous public sensitisation about the act using the various platforms,” he said. Earlier, in her remark, the Director, FOIA Unit of Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Stella

Anukam, said the unit was concerned about the implementation of the FOI Act and that public servant should not be afraid to disclose information when necessary. She disclosed that the FOIA is about transparency and accountability in running the affairs of government, keeping records properly for the development of the country and not a witch-hunting effort. She solicited the agency’s support for nationwide sensitisation using its platforms.

huge resources and logistics added that successful census can be achieved if government and people of Nigeria are properly sensitised on their expected roles and need for their support. In his earlier remarks, the NPC vice chairman of Public Affairs Committee, Alhaji Aliyu Gumel, disclosed

that the training exercise marked another landmark in the commission’s effort to reengineer the office for effective engagement of stakeholders to have a successful 2016 Population Census. He equally urged participant to remain open to new ideals that would lead to effective head counts.

FIIRO empowers 500,000 women, youths with skills

r. Gloria Elemo, Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has said that the institute had empowered over 500,000 women and youths through its skill acquisition and empowerment programme. The director-general made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos while signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FIIRO and Lagos-based Olio Nuovo Ltd., a private company. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olio Nuovo Ltd., has been collaborating with the Nigerian government to empower youths in the Niger Delta. According to Elemo, the proposed partnership with Olio Nuovo had the sole objective to train youth and women under the Federal Government Amnesty Programme. ``Strategic collaboration is one of the approaches the institute has considered and adopted in partnering with relevant organisations to make significant contribution to realising its mandate. ``It is based on this realisation that the institute can make the much desired impact from collaborating with other organisations,’’ she said. Elemo said that the partnership with Olio Nuovo was for a threemonth programme

with a minimum of 50 participants per batch with January 2016 as commencement date. ``This partnership is in the spirit of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which the Federal Government is strongly promoting for rapid economic development of the nation,’’ she said. Mr. Emmanuel Ekolama, Executive Director, Olio Nuovo Ltd., in his response, said that the company embarked on the entrepreneurship with FIIRO because of its involvement in skill empowerment. ``We are into youth empowerment and we are collaborating with the Federal Government Amnesty Office to empower youths. ``We are into this partnership with FIIRO because they are a skill transfer institute and they have the manpower to deliver the job. ``This type of entrepreneurship programme is meant to empower people to be self-reliant,’’ he said. Ekolama said that government’s initiative in bringing about peace in the country brought about the amnesty programme that Olio Nuovo keyed into. He noted that government had also made provision for individual empowerment of the youth after training so that they could start their own businesses.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Ministerial screening and PDP macabre dance OLALEKAN WAHEED ADIGUN

fter all the drama that characterised the screening of those who are to work with President Muhammadu Buhari as ministers, the Senate, in performing its constitutional duty, cleared all those nominated. The dusts raised by the exercise, especially the screening and confirmation of Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past former governor of Rivers state governor, are still with us! Before the exercise, the social and traditional media were filled with rumours of Amaechi been “used and dumped” by the “Hausa/Fulani cabal” after having worked tirelessly for Buhari victory. In fact, the ethnic juggernauts and political harlots amongst us had done their utmost both to prevent Amaechi from becoming minister and also praying earnestly for his appointment so as to serve as a propaganda tool to rubbish Buhari anti-corruption stance. Their scripts were soon to be revealed soon after Amaechi was confirmed by the Senate with the opposition PDP senators staging a walk out. My question then is, Can PDP appoint ministers for President Buhari? Many discerning Nigerians appear to have seen through the PDP’s antics. They probably know that their worst fear is that Amaechi, who is expected to hold a powerful position considering his role in the titanic 2015 presidential election, will further sink PDP’s ship in its comfort zones. If they could not control him while he was governor under the

PDP platform, how then could they control him if given a powerful position in the APC government? It is on record that Amaechi’s only offence was that he, against all odds, supported a Daura man from Katsina as president against “our son” from Otuoke. He is on record to have, as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) demanded that things be done according to due process. The misappropriation of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and other oil revenues under the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration, which is still the subject of investigations, was a revelation of Amaechi-led NGF. The high chance of Amaechi’s protégé, Dr Dakuku Peterside, carrying the day at the re-run election can at best compound the PDP’s woes, hence he must be stopped whatever the costs! The fact that Amaechi is a dogged fighter, who hardly loses any battle, scares the PDP even more than death. He, without having to solicit for votes, won the River state gubernatorial election in 2007. This could better be described as the beginning of the end of impunity in our history, which the reactionary forces will never like to hear! Need we say that if the history of the 2015 presidential election were to be written today, Amaechi will be described as the David who conquered Goliath Jonathan, by effectively ending the 16 year old PDP Empire? Can all these be why they fear him so much to have engaged in such a dance of shame on the floor of the Senate? Let me look at the issues a bit from

T HE FACT THAT A MAECHI IS A

DOGGED FIGHTER , WHO HARDLY LOSES

ANY BATTLE , SCARES THE

PDP

EVEN

MORE THAN DEATH PDP’s lenses. Amaechi is corrupt; a River state Government Panel has found him to have misappropriated some amount of money; the government “White Paper” is before the Senate and on the basis of this, Amaechi cannot be a Minister of the Federal Republic. One will only be left to wonder if the party suffers from amnesia. If not, how come they forget so soon? I will address the question raised above later. But let me still address the question of whether Amaechi can be minister with the “White Paper”. As far as the laws of Nigeria are concerned, allegations remain allegations until proven otherwise. As far as the law is concerned, at the four corner of my room I can say for as long as I like that my step father stole public money, even going on the pages of newspapers to lay bare my allegations. Let us even say that I got my step dad arrested on the basis of my allegations, he was interrogated and later released for want of evidence. Does that make my step dad guilty just because some elements in the police got him arrested for an offence they hastily investigated?

Again, the PDP recites it like a nursery rhyme that none of its members is guilty of corruption until proven by a competent court of law. When the Buhari anti-corruption trail got to Diezani Alison-Madueke’s doorstep, the party was quick to shout “witchhunting”(even though the witches now walk in the day time), but heaven must fall because a doctored “White Paper” says Amaechi stole some money. If this is the case, my best guess is either that the party is confused or ridiculously ignorant of the provisions of the law. Witches are only hunted when they are becoming a nuisance to the community, just as the farmer will not wait for the goats to finish the yams just because he thinks he will eat the yams as part of the goat’s meat! Lest we forget, some months ago, a certain Musiliu Obanikoro was to be screened and confirmed minister in the teeth of protests from all APC senators, he was confirmed not minding the fact that all the three senators from Lagos, the state he was appointed to represent, opposed his nomination as the Senate rules states. The PDP-controlled Senate saw nothing wrong in appointing Koro, screening and confirming him as minister even with a damning petition on his involvement in election rigging earlier in Ekiti State. If there was nothing wrong in Koro, then nothing is with Amaechi’s nomination. Adigun, a political analyst and strategist, wrote from Lagos via adgorwell@gmail.com and can be followed on twitter: @adgorwell

Imperative of diversifying Nigerian economy

UMORU ABDULKADIR ILEONIKHENA

ew months ago, many state governors were unable to pay salaries of public servants and meet other recurrent expenditures due to a sharp fall in oil revenue. Of course, they had to resort to borrowing to address the challenge. A situation where states had to borrow to pay salaries is the worst scenario of how bad an economy can be. As a way of preventing the re-occurrence of the embarrassing situation, I propose the following measures through which the country’s economy can be diversified. First is revolutionizing the agriculture sector to both address national food insecurity and beef up our foreign exchange earning capability. A highly revolutionized agriculture sector is capable of creating jobs for 70 percent of our unemployed youths. Unemployment is one of the greatest challenges of the Muhammadu Buhari-led change administration. With the right policies and effective implementation, the agriculture sector will be a saving grace for our unemployed and underemployed youths and adults. Government partnership with private sector investors in agriculture, which stands now at about N1.23 billion can grow fourfold to N4.92 billion between this year and 2019 , if the Buhari administration’s agricultural policies do not

A HIGHLY

REVOLUTIONIZED AGRICULTURE SECTOR IS CAPABLE OF CREATING JOBS FOR 70 PERCENT OF OUR UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

threaten existing investments in the sector. Many foreign and local investors will invest more in this sector of the economy if the policies are right. The entertainment sector is also a very viable one for diversification of our mono-cultural economy. The Nollywood, for instance, employs a large chunk of unemployed Nigerians and also generates significant revenue for the government. The music industry as a component of the entertainment industry is also not left out in this, as the industry players have portrayed the nation’s positive image in good light both within and outside the country. Therefore, to fully utilize the potentials of this sector, there is need for government support through the creation of the necessary enabling environment for the industry and players to thrive. The government must make and enforce laws to eradicate or reduce high level of piracy in this sector. The manufacturing sector is anoth-

er very important sector that can rake in a lot of revenue for the government and provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. We have seen the negative effects of our dependence on oil, whose price is externally determined. It will be better we look inward for our national survival. The manufacturing sector has to be given the necessary boost to fully maximize its benefits of our economy. We ask for improvement in public power supply, stability in the pumped prices of petroleum products, harmonization of tax system to eradicate double taxation, liberalization of foreign exchange procurement and improvement on road infrastructure for effective evacuation of consumer goods. Lastly, government attention in the tourism sector is needed. Globally, tourism generates a lot of foreign exchange for a country richly endowed. Nigeria has Obudu Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve Calabar Marina Resort, Tinapa Business and Resort and IKogosi Warm Springs Resort, to name but a few. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in 2013, International tourism generated $1.4 trillion in export earnings. The total tourism receipt in Africa for that year is estimated at $34 billion. A World Bank report shows that Africa’s tourism could create 3.8 million jobs. In 2012, tourism contributed 3 percent to

Nigeria’s GDP and 2.8 per cent of total employment. It is obvious Nigeria has what it takes to succeed and this is, if it develops the appropriate tourism development template. The sector at present generates annual revenue of about N80 billion. The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) needs to do more to develop the sector. Much needs to be done by the Federal Government in looking into tourism sector as part of measures to fully diversify the economy. We need to do the impossible to create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. The less we depend on oil the better for us as a nation. A situation where about 90 percent of the country’s revenue comes from the oil sector portends grave economic danger for the economy. Therefore, the current situation must not be allowed to continue. The diversification option must be vigorously pursued as it offers the only way out of our current economic quagmire. Umoru wrote via bigdaddy2962010@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 11, 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

Time to arrest MASSOB’s lawlessness

bout the end of last September, Ambassador Layi Laseinde, in a keynote talk he gave at the 4th Biennial International Conference of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, said the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), might emerge another security nightmare in the country, like the Boko Haram sect, if steps were not urgently taken to curb its activities. Closely following Laseinde’s candid observation some weeks later was to be the huge protest the group staged in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, purportedly to press for the release of one of the operators of ‘Radio Biafra’, an illegal medium that whipped up raw sentiments for MASSOB’s Biafra dream, who was picked up by security operatives. Lately, the leadership of the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, told the leadership and crowd of MASSOB that their dream of the South-East seceding from Nigeria would not be in the interest of Ndigbo. But the recalcitrant militant group stuck to its guns, stressing that its members were ready to die to make sure their Republic of Biafra dream was realised. Its Director of Information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, reportedly said several Igbo people believed secretly in MASSOB’s mis-

IT DOES APPEAR MASSOB IS NOT READY TO REIN IN ITS IMPUNITY, EXCEPT THE STATE IS PREPARED TO ASSIST IT DO SO sion, but feared incarceration. About August last year, MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, secured an injunction from an Owerri High Court, restraining the Imo State Commissioner Police and his agents, from enforcing their threat of arresting or declaring him wanted should he fail to honour their invitation to explain his role in a fracas within the group, which claimed the lives of two or more members of MASSOB and left several others injured. The Imo CP at the time, Abdulmajid Ali, said the MASSOB leader and his men had a disagreement on the sharing of money at their Onuimo chapter. He said when the matter could not be resolved, Uwazuruike invited the Onitsha sector to push out the Onuimo group. In the bloody clash that followed, the deaths and injuries were witnessed. Also recall that the Federal Government arraigned Uwazuruike and some of his men on November 8, 2005, before the Abuja Federal

High Court on a four-count criminal charge of conspiracy, treason, belonging to a militant group, MASSOB Army, and being members of an unlawful society (that is MASSOB). They were accused of indulging in acts between January 2004 and October 2005, at Owerri (capital of Imo State) and other places in Nigeria, “with intent to levy war, overawe and overthrow the legitimate government of Nigeria”. Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court refused to quash the charge or release the accused persons on bail. But the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on May 15, 2008, granted their prayer for bail, but refused to dismiss the charge. Not satisfied with the ruling of the appellate court, the accused persons headed to the Supreme Court, which dismissed their appeal and ordered their trial. But intense pressure by ethnic and other vested interests appears the greatest setback to the treason trial. As recurrent events are revealing, it does appear MASSOB is not ready to rein in its impunity, except the state is prepared to assist it do so. Therefore, the FG should not sit back and allow MASSOB to grow more dangerous wings than it now possesses. For, the greatest assets on which the group thrives are mass poverty and destitution, desperation occasioned by frustration, jobless-

ON THIS DAY

ness, ignorance and illiteracy, retarded economic development and the absence of infrastructure that can support the survival of industrious youths, as well as a corrupted polity, to name just a few. To the extent that the Nigerian Constitution has no provision for secession by any of its grumbling federating units, MASSOB’s craving is an affront on the nation, its constitution and sovereignty; and the nuisance should be stopped forthwith until whenever it becomes permissible based on a sincere national dialogue and necessary constitutional amendments. When Boko Haram insurgency raged up North, with studied silence, more or less, from leaders in the region, Nigerians, including Ndigbo, rose in unison to condemn the perceivable coldness of prominent northern leaders to Boko Haram carnage. Today, however, reports say northern governors, rallying under the umbrella of Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), have unanimously resolved to unmask and punish the sponsors of Boko Haram insurgency. Though belated, the positive impact of such determination cannot be ruled out. Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo should likewise resolve to tame MASSOB, their own emerging monster, before conspiracy theories are weaved together against Ndigbo leadership.

November 11, 2001

November 11, 2004

November 11, 2014

Three journalists - Pierre Billaud (French), Johanne Sutton (French) and Volker Handloik (German) were killed in Afghanistan during a convoy attack. They were traveling on a Northern Alliance armoured personnel carrier when they came under attack by Taliban troops with machine guns and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Two other journalists in the convoy survived the attack.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) confirmed the death of Yasser Arafat from unidentified causes; and Mahmoud Abbas was elected chairman of the PLO minutes later. Arafat al-Qudwa (August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), popularly known as Yasser Arafat, was a Palestinian leader. He was Chairman of the PLO and President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), etc.

About 58 people were killed in a bus crash in the Sukkur District in southern Pakistan’s Sindh province. The bus was traveling from Swat to Karachi when it collided with a truck at the Theri Bypass. The exact cause of the crash is not known. Initial reports by local media stated, however, that the driver of the bus was trying to overtake another vehicle and rammed into a truck coming from the opposite side.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Health & Wellbeing

‘Our goals is to prevent, treat, rehabilitate VVF victims’ 22

World Diabetes Day Sam Eferaro

Two-thirds of world’s population is infected with herpes, WHO

Nigeria leads Africa with 3.9 million cases

... Rainbow hospital offers free screening in November

s the world marks the 2015 World diabetes Day on Saturday with latest statistics by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) showing that no fewer than 387 million people are currently living with diabetes worldwide, Nigeria has been listed as the country with the highest number of people living with the disease in Africa. The current IDF atlas which provides details of the disease around the world has revealed that as at 2014, there are 3.9 millions Nigerians living with the disease. Not only that, the Federation also estimates that over 11 million Nigerians are currently undiagnosed. Diabetes is a serious complex condition which can affect the entire body. It occurs when the amount of glucose in an individual’s blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This happens when the pancreas doesn’t produce any or not enough insulin, to help glucose enter the body’s cells. It could also be that the insulin that is produced does not work properly, often referred to as insulin resistance. Medical experts describe insulin as the hormone produced by the pancreas which allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel for energy so that the individual can work, play and be active. It is vital for life. Glucose on the other hand, comes from digesting carbohydrate and is also produced by the liver. Diabetes develops when glucose can’t enter the body’s cells to be used as fuel. This happens when either there is no insulin to unlock the cells (described as Type 1 diabetes ) or there is not enough insulin or the insulin is there but not working properly (described as Type 2 diabetes). Thus the glucose stays in the blood and could not be used as fuel for energy. The individual thus begins to feel very thirsty, passing more urine than usual and feeling tired all the time. There’s also unexplained weight loss, itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush cuts or wounds that heal slowly and blurred vision (caused by the lens of the eye becoming dry). Unfortunately, many people with diabetes may not even be aware that they have the disease until complications set

Dr. Isiavwe

in. According to IDF, one in two people with diabetes do not know they have the condition. And the number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country. Indeed, the Federation estimates that the number of people living with the disease will rise to 592 million by 2035. Sadly, diabetes is more rampant among people in the productive age. In Africa, IDF says 76% of deaths due to diabetes

are in people under the age of 60. This is why the Federation has chosen the theme: Halt the diabetes epidemic for the 2015 World diabetes Day. This is also being echoed in Nigeria by a leading private endocrinology hospital in Lagos, Rainbow Specialist Hosiptal, Lekki which kicked off its World Diabetes Day campaign last week. A statement by Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, the hospital’s Medical Director said the hospital is offer-

ing free screening to the general public throughout the month of November. The hospital disclosed that the goal of the screening is to help Nigerians who may have the disease but are not aware they have it to detect it early to prevent complications and death. “The IDF atlas reveals that one person dies from diabetes every 6 seconds around the world. Also, in view of the revelation by the Federation that 11 million Nigerians are currently undiagnosed, we think something must be done urgently to address the ugly situation. This is why we have decided to provide the opportunity for every Nigerian to come forward for the free screening to help reduce unnecessary death from diabetes, in the country,” the hospital further said. The statement also announced that the hospital will, on November 14, the World Diabetes Day, hold a free diabetes boot camp, focusing on foot care and nutrition in diabetes, at Peninsula Hotel Lekki Epe Express Way between 10am and 12 noon. Experts have also called for the need for specific measures by individuals to prevent diabetes. For instance, making a few lifestyle changes, according to them, could dramatically lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Excess weight in particular. has been identified as the single most important cause of type 2 diabetes as research has shown that being overweight increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes seven fold. Being obese also makes an individual 20 to 40 times more likely to develop diabetes than someone with a healthy weight. There is also convincing evidence that diet modification could also help. For instance, studies have shown that whole grains protect against diabetes, whereas diets rich in refined carbohydrates lead to increased risk. Experts say diets made up of white bread, white rice, mashed potatoes, donuts, bagels, and many breakfast cereals should be avoided because they contain a high “glycemic index and glycemic load.” That means they cause sustained increase in blood sugar and insulin levels, which in turn may lead to increased diabetes risk. Like refined grains experts suggest that sugary beverages should be avoided and replaced with water, coffee, or tea.

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition for Health

early civilisation. It was a popular ingredient in ancient Egypt as recorded in the Holy Bible (Numbers 11:5), “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic.” Apart from consumption, onions were also placed on altars and buried with Pharaohs and have been found in mummies as symbol of eternity in Egypt. Ancient naturalist believed that onions have long therapeutic history. It was used in healing health problems like heart diseases, vision problems, toothaches, dysentery, indigestion, hemorrhoids and so on. Like in garlic, onion also has an enzyme, allinase which is perceived only when the onion is cut or minced, and causes your eyes to shed tears. The organic sulphur compounds are good for the liver because it detoxifies unwanted compounds from the body. Onions are proven to be low calorie vegetables, high in Vitamin C, biotin, Vitamin B1, B6 and K. It also contains quercitin, an antioxidant flavonoid that helps to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, as well as certain types of cancer.

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

s we are waxing through the ‘ember months,’ don’t forget to use onion as part of your cookery ingredients in line with all the benefits it contains for your health and palatable enjoyment. Onion is one of the most popular and multipurpose vegetables in the world. It is well-known as a very strong aromatic bulb vegetable that has been cultivated for thousands of years, due to its medicinal and culinary value. Onion and garlic are members of the Allium family, and both are rich in sulfur-containing compounds that are responsible for their pungent odours and various health-promoting effects. Part of onion’s popularity throughout the centuries is its adaptability; it can be grown in a wide variety of climates and soils. There are different varieties of onion, such as scallions, shallots, yellow, red onions and white onions. It is said to have originated from Central-Asia with emphasis on

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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Health benefits of onion

Antioxidants are compounds that help delay or slow the oxidative damage to cells and tissue of the body that may help to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, as well as certain types of cancers. Studies have revealed that quercitin which is an anti- inflammatory, antiviral, antibiotic helps to eliminate free radicals from the body. They inhibit reactions in the atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, by warding off blood clots; they prevent diabetes (lowers blood sugar), chronic bronchitis, asthma, and hay fever. The benefits are also good for many types of tumors, including those of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, colon, kidney, and breast and prostrate. A recent study revealed that strong tasting onions are highest in flavonoids and may inhibit the growth of liver and colon cancer cells. However, for someone who wants to increase an intake in antioxidants, there is need to consume scallions, shallots, red and yellow onion varieties instead of the white onion specie. Onions are free of sodium, fat, cholesterol, but provide a number of other key nutrients. It is a good source of dietary fiber and folic acid. They also contain

calcium, iron which is beneficial in the treatment of anaemia and have a high protein quality. Onion juice is applied directly to the skin for insect bites, wounds, warts, light burns and bruises and brings boils to maturity by its warming feeling. The seeds of onions increase semen and libido in sexual performance. It also lessens vomiting, diarrhea and cholera. Studies have also shown that constant onion consumption can protect one from tooth decays because of its bactericidal property. Onions is said to have expectorant properties for cold, cough, bronchitis and influenza. It relieves bleeding piles after being taken for few days. The seeds also relieve dental worms and

urinary diseases. The stalks of onion are a source of vitamin A, thiamin and vitamin C. One of the most important qualities of onions is its high culinary taste. They are used for garnishing soups, sauces, and for flavouring or seasoning food everyday, universally. It could be eaten raw, baked, grilled, stuffed, and pickled or fried. In manufacturing, the oil is used to flavor packaged foods. It can be well preserved; hence, the bulbs may be kept for several months without deteriorating. I concur with Julia Child, who said “It is hard to imagine a civilisation without onions.” Our cooking would be significantly different if the onion did not exist.”

Sexual solutions and love products for adults

f somebody doesn’t have sexual urge and masturbates, is it bad? Secondly, as a health education student I also want to know, for the men who have anal sex, does it affect their anus? What are the disadvantages? Thanks – Michael Hello Michael. First of all, there is nothing wrong with masturbation. That is how the human body gets sexual relief in the absence of a partner to have sex with. This sexual relief is very important because it helps lower stress and depression levels and also helps keep rape and sexual violence in human society to a minimum. Secondly, if someone has no sexual urge, then they wouldn’t feel the need or desire to masturbate in the first place. So I take it that you are talking about a man who has no sexual urge towards women? You also wanted to know the adverse effects of men having anal sex but people of all genders and sexual persuasions experiment with it as well so we will discuss it in general terms. Like all other forms of sex, anal sex does have risks such as bruising/ bleeding due to lack of lubrication and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and bacterial infections when protection is absent. There is also a common assumption that frequent and prolonged anal sex will eventually loosen the anal muscles to the point where one begins to defecate uncontrollably. In theory this makes sense but there is very little documentation to support this claim yet - Uche I will like to order more of the Boss Rhino Gold. I tried it a few weeks ago after a friend recommended it and I cannot believe how it transformed my love life. At 56, it is as if I am a new man. The erections are strong again and I can per-

form well, last long and keep performing for days. Please I want the order sent to a Port Harcourt address which is where I will be for the next month – Zikora I am currently using Volume Pills after I could not find Max Load. I understand that it is also good for fertility in addition to increasing semen quantity. Is it true? I have noticed the semen increment but the fertility bit is yet untested. I also want to know if I can also take it when taking an erection supplement – Sola Yes Sola Volume Pills aids fertility by boosting motility. Motility means the speed of movement of the sperm cells towards the egg when couples are trying to get pregnant. There are various reasons some people cannot get pregnant. One of these reasons is the slow movement of the sperm cells and Volume Pills help correct that. And for your second enquiry, yes you can combine it with an erection supplement liker Stiff Nights or Man Up Now – Uche Hello. I am 50 years old and I am based in Onitsha. Can I get the things I want from you delivered to me there? I want enhancers for me and my wife that have no side effects. I want a penis enlargement cream, Stay Hard Delay cream for premature ejaculation and Girlgasm Orgasm Gel for my wife – Obiora Hello Obiora, your order can be delivered to any state of your choosing within Nigeria and yes the products you want have no side effects. We try very hard to only source and recommend products with no side effects – Uche I had my first major orgasm (if I can call it that) with the Pirates Vibrator I just bought from you. I have a question.

I was ejaculating like a man at first and then I started gushing like I was urinating except that it was like an outburst like a fountain of water or something. Is this to be expected? Jane Jane you did not urinate. You had what is called a squirting orgasm and it is actually the highest orgasmic experience a woman can have. Not every woman can climax like this though but some of you can. Next time just use nylon sheets for beddings so you can clean up easily afterwards – Uche Please do you have any solution to cold sex? Sometimes my wife’s vagina is just too cold and uncomfortable during intercourse and I don’t like it – Paul Vaginal temperatures change from time to time. This does not indicate a biological problem. But there is a lubricant that warms up skin tissue when applied on it. It is called Mood Warming Lubri-

cant. Get it. It will help you – Uche 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.com- Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Franka Osakwe

ore than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, which in most cases causes “cold sores” around the mouth, according to the first global estimates of the infec-

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Two-thirds of world’s population is infected with herpes, WHO tion by the World Health Organization (WHO). Herpes simplex virus is categorized into two types: herpes simplex

virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both are “highly infectious and incurable,” and while HSV-1 is

primarily transmitted by oral-oral contact and in most cases causes orolabial herpes or “cold sores” around the mouth, HSV-2

Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, (second right), Country Director, Science Ambassador Foundation, Mrs. Nnabugwu Peace (right) taking students through an experiment at the sensitization seminar for the forthcoming Science Expo Africa 2015 in Nigeria, at the weekend.

JOHESU faults Uwakwem’s committee report on FMC Owerri Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

ealth workers under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) have faulted the Ministry of Health’s committee report that exonerated the Chief Medical Director of (CMD) of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, Angela Uwakwem, from all the corrupt allegations levied against her. The National President of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Comrade Biobelemoye Joy Josa-

iah, during a media briefing recently in Abuja, described the report as fraud due to the way and manner the committee submitted its report. It will be recalled that since the past few months, health workers at the FMC Owerri have been in severe battle with the CMD over alleged corruption allegations. Following the allegations, the Federal Ministry set up a committee to examine the issues and the committee last week presented the report exonerating the CMD of all allegations. Some of the allegations earlier raised against her include denial of

the 2013 and 2014 promotion arrears that runs into several millions of naira and that she paid herself for spending extra hour at work against the civil service rule, among others. Josaiah at the media briefing said: “In a report hurriedly written without our input and in desperation to ensure that the matter is swept under the carpet before the resumption of the minister of health who would be coming with the change mantra of Mr President, Dr. Uwakwem was exonerated from any financial misappropriation and corruption. Nothing can

WHO declares Sierra Leone Ebola-free

he World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Ebola virus transmission has been stopped in Sierra Leone, as 42 days – two Ebola virus incubation cycles – have now passed since the last person confirmed to have the disease had a second negative blood test, and pledged continued support to the country towards the recovery of essential health systems. “Since Sierra Leone recorded the first Ebola case in May 2014, a total number of 8,704 people were infected and 3,589 have died, 221 of them healthcare workers,

all of whom we remember on this day” said Dr. Anders Nordström, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. The country now enters a 90-day period of enhanced surveillance which will run until 5 February 2016, and WHO will continue to support Sierra Leone during this period. This new phase is critical for ensuring early detection of any possible new cases of Ebola virus disease. Commending the Government of Sierra Leone and its people on achieving this significant milestone in the country’s fight against Ebola, the UN

health agency underscored that Sierra Leone had achieved this milestone “through tremendous hard work and commitment while battling the most unprecedented Ebola virus disease outbreak in human history.” The strong leadership of the Sierra Leone Government, working with partners from around the globe, mobilized the necessary expertise needed to contain the outbreak. According to WHO, Sierra Leone experienced a massive rise in cases in September and October 2014 which was curbed by putting in place

be farther than the truth. “Facts available have it that the medical director is in breach of public service rule 030301, 030402, 100230. 030404 which borders on misconduct and serious misconduct and financial regulation S.316 (ii) which deals with virement from one head in the recurrent expenditure to another head of account in the capital expenditure being prohibited amongst other infractions details of which are contained in our minority report and our previous correspondences to the head of civil service of the federation.

treatment facilities, setting up safe and dignified burial teams and working with communities to identify and stop Ebola. In addition, the use of rapid response teams and strong community involvement became the cornerstone of the national response strategy, continued WHO. International partners supported the Government to maintain a rapid response capacity to detect, identify and shut down any new transmission chains, and also contributed technical assistance, personnel, food, supplies and equipment.

is almost entirely sexually transmitted through skinto-skin contact, causing genital herpes. Access to education and information on both types of herpes and sexually transmitted infections is critical to protect young people’s health before they become sexually active. “Access to education and information on both types of herpes and sexually transmitted infections is critical to protect young people’s health before they become sexually active,” according to Dr.MarleenTemmerman, Director of WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research.

“The new estimates highlight the crucial need for countries to improve data collection for both HSV types and sexually transmitted infections in general,” Dr.Temmerman said. Herpes is a lifelong infection, which often has mild or no symptoms but can be detected by the presence of antibodies for HSV-1 or HSV-2 in the blood, according to WHO. “It is difficult to determine the proportion of HSV-infected people worldwide who have symptomatic disease, as symptoms may be mild or simply not recognized as herpes,” it said.

Pharmanews partners White Tulip on health professionals’ training Franka Osakwe

est Africa’s foremost health publishing and training company, Pharmanews Limited has joined forces with White Tulip Consulting, a leading training and consulting company with firm roots in the pharmaceutical industry, to boost human capital development in the health sector. This strategic synergy was birthed with the goal of developing world-class leaders, as well as producing a highly productive workforce for the healthcare industry. The ultimate vision is to take human capital development in the health industry to its pinnacle in Nigeriaand the African continent in general. While unveiling the idea behind the initiative, Programmes Director for the Pharmanews Centre for Healthcare Management Development, Mr Dozie Atueyi stated that capacity development in the healthcare sector is currentlyinadequate and lamentable. He noted that aside from the dearth of quality programmes and relevant contents,training sessions for healthcare personnel often involve joint-classes with workers from other sectors, including banking and telecommunications, and they are often delivered by facilitators without requisitebackground and experience

in the health industry. “For the healthcare sector,which is unique because of its vital roles in the society, this status quo has invariably resulted in waste of time and resources. Worse still, it has led to manyhealth care workers performing at sub-optimal levels,” Atueyi said. Also speaking on the partnership, Pharm. Tunde Oyeniran, Managing Director of White Tulip disclosed that the Pharmanews-WhiteTulip partnership will focus on the healthcare landscape in general, including the personnel, facilities, institutions-private and public - as well as the regulators. “We will do this by developing timely, relevant and practical programmes and courses, which will be delivered by seasoned facilitators and trainers with requisite pedigrees and pertinentbackgrounds. The health care industry is set for a revolution,” he assured. While calling on CEOs, directors and administrators of hospitals, health facilities, laboratories, healthcare groups and associations, to take advantage of the partnership between the two reputable companies, Oyeniran noted that both Pharmanews which has been training health personnel for over 20 years, and White Tulip which has a track record of outstanding consultancy services, offer the guarantee of maximal benefits on training budgets and investments.

Health & Wellbeing

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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‘Our goals are to prevent, treat, rehabilitate VVF victims’ Dr. Umaru Nasiru Ibrahim is an obstetrician/gynaecologist who served on acting capacity as chief medical director, Federal Medical Centre, Azare and now the medical director, National Obstetric Fistula centre, Ningi, Bauchi state. In this interview with EZEKIEL TITUS, he explain the danger of vesico viaginal fistula (VVF) and why women should patronize the centre in Ningi as well as the causes of VVF. Excerpts. What will you say is the rationale for the establishment of the VVF centre in Ningi? The purpose of establishing the centre is to cater for women affected by vesico virginal fistula cases. It is a noble idea by the government, considering the proliferation and danger of fistula among women in Nigeria especially in the North-east where we have a lot of maternal complications. What is the major cause of VVF? Fistula is caused during child birth even though we have a lot of related problems associated with child birth so, the idea of the centre is a laudable effort by the government How do you intend to enhance health delivery services to victims of fistula in the North-east Region? To be honest, my objectives and vision are, among others, to reduce to the barest minimum, the alarming cases of VVF cases and its attendant danger to women during birth because it is something preventable. Currently, we run two types of programmes in tackling VVF. One is the routine repair where affected fistula women can just walk into the hospital and get treated. On the other hand, we

run what we call poll effort which involves mass campaign to create awareness on the health service for VVF prevention and this has continued to attract appreciative turn-up of the affected victims. We use the media in all ramifications, targeting the North-east region and even the states beyond the region. Sometimes at the end, we receive several hundreds of cases after the media campaign. With the current challenges of inadequate funds as well as competent manpower in most health centres, how is the centre coping? In fact, the level of fistula is common and that calls for all hands to be on deck, from government and stakeholders, to ensure health services delivery. Mind you, government is to be commended for even establishing the VVF centre. Since the centre was established, there has been collaborative effort in conjunction with NGO’s in organizing mass campaign, apart from the fatherly effort of some philanthropist like the Emir of Ningi in mobilizing communities within his proximity to attend the VVF centre.

benefited from VVF surgery since the centre was establishment? Initially, the VVF centre was under the Bauchi state government until the federal government took over and since then almost four hundred VVF patient had successfully enjoyed operation. From your assessment, what has been the VVF situation in the region since the establishment of the centre? According to the national statistics, it appears the cases of VVF is fast rising due to lack of awareness but now following the level of awareness campaign through the involvement of the media, I am happy to inform you that declining cases is in our favour. Culture is said to be among the factors contributing to the problem of VVF. What are you doing to stop the menace? You see, the mandate of our centre is to prevent, treat and finally to rehabilitate the victims of VVF and we also have the mandate of conducting research on VVF as well as empowering some of the victims against poverty so that they can be meaningful to the society through re-integration.

How many women have so far

Ibrahimchallenges are you curWhat rently facing in the centre? In fact one major challenge is the inadequate manpower and experts to carry out surgery for VVF patients including other personnel. You know government is providing this health services free in spite of the economic hitches in the country, so funding constitutes major constraints.

What is your appeal to the community in respect of the patronage of the Centre?

Why Nigeria must review its abortion laws Adeola Tukuru ABUJA

eports from a recent study on the incidence of abortion in Nigeria have revealed that over one million women of reproductive age underwent unsafe abortion and further developed complications. During the just concluded launch and dissemination of the national study conducted in 2012, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Dr Olutosin Awolude said inspite of Nigeria’s highly restrictive abortion law, an estimated 1.25 million induced abortions occurred in 2012, adding that the estimated abortion rate was 33 abortions per

1,000 women aged 15 to 49 in 2012. He explained that the objective of the study was to assess the incidence of abortion in Nigeria both regionally and nationally as well as to check the prevalence of unintended pregnancies. Nigeria is obligated to implement the 2030 global Sustainable Development Goals agreed by the world’s governments at the United Nations in September 2015,which include a target of universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services. According to the study, in Nigeria, abortion is legal only when performed to save the life of the woman. Still abortions are common and mostly unsafe

because they are done clandestinely by unskilled providers. Awolude further said the prevalence of unsafe abortions in the country had contributed to reproduction complications and high rate of maternal mortality. “Complications of unsafe abortion range from pain to bleeding and more serious conditions, including systemic infection, pelvic infections and injury from instruments and even death. There are about 40 per cent of women undergoing abortion experience, complications serious enough to require medical treatment.” He, however, said that expansion, promotion of family planning programmes

My appeal goes to women. They should always attend medical check-up before and during birth. Also, people should not look down on the women affected by VVF instead; they should exhibit true care and love with financial help so as to curb the disease. However, the community should support the VVF Centre as there will be no meaningful success where the level of patronage is low within the immediate proximity.

as well as sexuality and family life education would reduce unsafe abortion practices. Awolude said that the study was carried out in the six geo-political zones of the country, involving 18 states and sampling all tertiary institutions where unsafe abortion was regarded as most prevalent. As these findings suggest, unsafe abortion is a major contributor to the country’s high levels of maternal death, ill health and disability. Nigeria is among the countries with the largest maternal mortality ratios in the world, at 560 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, with little improvement in recent years.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Arts Lounge My burning passion for drums –Wura Samba

2Face, Arinze for ‘Goodwill Ambassador Awards’

Subjecting Nollywood to scholarly critique Nollywood is over 20 years; yet many Nigerian scholars are not keen on using Nigerian films as references for their researches. What is the way forward? Destiny Isiguzo

n a survey this reporter took in University of Lagos on 2014/2015 session final year projects students, it was shocking to discover that most of the literary and theatre art students centered their research on creative literature e.g. novel, play, poetry, and literary criticism and there was an overwhelming neglect on Nigerian motion pictures. Even up to post-graduate level, there is an insignificant research going on in Nollywood films. Though the model and case study can be said to be inadequately representational of Nigerian scholars, it goes a long way in revealing the aloofness of Nigerian academia on Nollywood films. This may have informed why one of the foremost and reputable journals in Africa: African Literature Today, chose film as the theme of its 28th edition but unfortunately, Nollywood received little complimentary remarks. The bulk of critiques we have today on Nollywood are championed by film journalists especially in the print and new media and most of them are not dissected critically. Most of their works are interpretations of the plot and storyline and lacks in-depth analysis. This conspicuous neglect of Nollywood is as a result of what these intelligentsias termed the “exhaustible nature” of Nollywood films. They argued that for criticism to worth its salt, the text must be inexhaustible, having the ability to have multi-dimensional approaches to it, and most importantly must be able to generate arguments and controversies. While decrying this situation, in one of his essays on Nollywood entitled “Literature Review: Nigerian and Ghanaian Videos”, Jonathan Haynes pointed out that academic literature on Nigerian films are but few, scholars on films in Nigeria hardly make reference to others but however admitted that the comatose in Nollywood industry over the decades negatively affected academic criticism of Nigerian films. Supporting this view, Biodun Jeyifo said: “For everything in Nollywood is cheap to the point of excess. In plain terms, and as far as I am aware in well documented comparative profiles of the national film traditions of the planet, Nollywood leads the rest of the world in how cheaply, how quickly and how effortlessly films are produced

On the set of Emelonye’s new film, Oxford Gardens (Below and above).

and released”. On the other hand, others believe that the Industry has done remarkable well and should be patronized by these critics. Tayo Elesin remarks that “I think Nigerian movies are getting better and better every day. This is an industry that is about 20 years old and it has recorded remarkable progress in the time frame”. However he admonished and hopes that “…with more training for actors, producers, directors and structure put in place, the industry has the ability to make more progress in future. For instance, we need agents and managers who will deal with contracts so that artistes don’t have to be bogged down by these things”.

Speaking with a Literature post-graduate student of LASU who begged for anonymity, the scholar admitted that he has never thought of doing any research on Nollywood because he does not see Nollywood as a veritable area that will yield good research results. When asked if he has been following Nollywood or patronising them recently, he concluded he could not bring himself to watch Nollywood films for what he called nauseating production. This reveal the fact that most of the scholars have lost touch with Nollywood owing to its formal reputation for recklessness; and are unaware of the revolution going on in Nollywood industry.

This conspicuous neglect of Nollywood is as a result of what these intelligentsias termed

“exhaustible nature” of Nollywood films. They argued that for critiques to worth its salt, the text must be inexhaustible, having the ability to have multi-dimensional approaches to it. the

Agoola Adesanya, a lecturer in Lagos State University’s Mass Communication Department who recently worked on Ije and Mr and Mrs revealed that he changed his mind on Nollywood after seeing Ije and Mr and Mrs. According to him “I use to believe all Nigerian movies are heaps of rubbish and nothing good can come out of them, though this position is right when you look at Nollywood‘s recent past, but this orientation has changed. I worked on Ije and Mr and Mrs and it was published in an international journal. I feel sanity is gradually returning to Nollywood and I think it’s high time they took leverage of this new reputation”. Apart from these two movies, there are a whole lot of Nigerian films with deepened or improved qualities according to film critics reviews. Last Flight to Abuja, Figurine, October 1, Phone Swap, andDry are just few from the long list of films with deepened quality. Odesanya noted that this improvement will surely attract the academic scholars who alb-initio were discouraged from engaging in scholarly enterprise with Nollywood films. Jonathan Haynes noted the importance of scholarship ventures in Nollywood when he averred that film impacts almost all sectors of the society from language, to health, ecology, politics and even economy. Nigerian scholars’ continuous neglect of Nollywood, as widely believed by critics imposes great danger on the life span of Nollywood. But again, Nollywood film makers must sustain the tempo of quality film making which according to Moradewun Adejunmobi must be charted towards local and global appeal. According to Adejunmobi “Audiences for Nigerian video film, as for other commercially driven texts, respond above all to perceptions of substantive relevance, that is to outcomes presented as having implications for the interests or concerns of viewers, and presented as having implications for the interests or personal, social and political circumstance of viewers. Paradoxically, both the desires for escape from everyday life and the desire for relevance to everyday concerns are high on the list of reasons why people consume commercial fiction”. This also applies to the academic critics who are looking for inexhaustible materials for their criticism. Again, Nollywood and Nigerian literary scholars must have a symbiotic relationship as proposed by Ernest Emenyonu where as literary critics are giving Nollywood in-depth attention, Nollywood must reciprocate by adapting creative works into motion pictures in order to sustain the interests of these scholars.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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VOICES

Excesses at Asaba film locations

Reginald Ebere

he first time I shot a movie In Asaba was for my ministry Christ Embassy. I was surrounded by a group of very Christian, very good and disciplined young men and women who had no moral issues nor were they inclined in any way to abuse the liberty and the testosterone/oestrogen filled headiness that normally seems to accompany film makers like a sex crazed mob of female groupies will accompany dirty rockers everywhere. In that first trip I fell in love with the ancient but quietly emergent city that was on the verge of rediscovering itself. That love was so strong that I considered relocating my family there. Don’t blame me, I am normally a victim of sudden emotional impulses that always seem to get me into trouble. Thank God my wife quashed the idea. The second time, I went to shoot one of my movies. I‘d heard of good locations, cheap priced hotels and hardworking, professional crews, not like the indolent fat cats we have in Lagos. I wanted to take advantage of all that. What someone did not tell me however was that Asaba had also become home to semi-prostitutes, parading themselves as artistes and an accompanying band of young, very young pimps who ran production shifts and sold sex for pennies to immoral libidinous directors and producers. What I didn’t discover then was the whole truth. The idea of Asaba came up again and I put up a post on this blog that has elicited some very serious reactions. Suffice it to say that everybody seems to think that my going to Asaba to work is a very bad idea, major reason being that there is a massive stench of corruption coming from this pristine town. That oozing fermentation seems to be coming out of Nollywood. Before now I’d heard stories of directors and producers who would demand that female artistes buy them lap tops and i-pads before giving them roles. What’s bad in that you may ask, well nothing really but those female actors are also required to sleep with them

Reginald Ebere (Author)

for as long as the production lasted and finally they are also required to pay certain amounts of money to get roles. Sums as huge as twenty thousand Naira nay, even fifty thousand Naira. Now did I say finally? Forgive me because the list goes on. If these unfortunate female artistes are to be accommodated in the pro-

duction camps, they are also required to pay as much as N10,000. Now I know that dirty linen is not sup-

It is time for the heads of our different guilds to go in there and clean the place out instead of sitting back in

Lagos

fighting over who will be part of the next dinner with the

President Typical movie shot at Asaba

Memorable Reads How did you get introduced to reading?

blue cigar smoke rings being puffed into the air by some evil mogul.

My father did this to me! Growing up, we had shelves and shelves of books in the house. At first I used to play ‘Shop owner’ selling the books to my brother and other imaginary friends! But one day I picked out one of the books – ‘That’s the way the cookie crumbles’ by James Hadley Chase and that was the end! I became addicted to them. I doubt now that, at eight or nine years old, I should have been reading them, but I read all the James Hadley Chase books in the house! But I promise, they opened my mind to the world out there and till today I can still see in my mind’s eye, the bar scenes with

What is your favourite book of all time?

Bola Essien-Nelson

Author

The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young. Who is your favourite author? When I was young, it was Sidney Sheldon and of course James Hadley Chase. Today, I like Paul Coelho. You need to read The Alchemist. For Nigerians, I really like how Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes but it will be so unfair to name any favorites because I love so many, especially the female ones so I shall not.

posed to be washed in public especially in Nollywood and some of my colleagues will nearly send Boko Haram insurgents to assassinate me for what I am saying here since we keep denying that there is sexual harassment going on in Nollywood. But I have found out that if we do not wash our linen in public sometimes the stench will kill us in private and Reginald Ebere has never been known not to speak his mind. I have names and I can mention them with hard facts but I refrain from pushing the walls down because I believe broken walls can be mended. What is going on in Asaba is sordid, which is the reason why half-baked, illiterate, uncouth, insulting and sometimes utterly apologetic stupid productions are coming out from that enclave of sin and depravity. It is time for the heads of our different guilds to go in there and clean the place out instead of sitting back in Lagos fighting over who will be part of the next dinner with the President and issuing communiqués about how to share the three billion grant. If we do not act quick enough, we will soon find that we all will be drowned in this morass of moral decadence. It is what somebody has that he gives. If we build an industry that is peopled by thieves, pimps and whores, we will continue to produce movies that will corrupt our children and our society. I will shut my mouth for now. • Ebere is a film director

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ARTISTE UNCENSORED Born Abiodun Abraham Oke, he has carved a niche for himself on the art scene due to his dexterity with the samba drums. Meet Wura Samba

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

My burning passion for drums –Wura Samba

Bunmi Olaleye

is love for the samba drums made him adopt the name of the drum with ‘wura’ the Yoruba word for gold as prefix to show how much he values the samba. “I’m a percussionist; I’m a drummer and I sing” is how Abiodun Oke introduces himself. The artiste explains how he came about the name, ‘Wura Samba’ and also includes the history of the drum, “I chose the name because of my love for the samba drums. I made my first drum myself at a tender age. Although the samba drums is an ancient drum which has been in existence for a long time. Originally the samba drum was presented in a two-drum form ‘kubu’ and ‘raising’ it is common with the riverside people; the Ilajes and Ijaws mostly. The kubu used to be a square shaped drum. According to history when the slave merchants swooped on the nation of the blacks, and took some to the southern part of the world like south America, Brazil and such places it was known that after their daily grueling work they were given time to relax and they relaxed by doing some of the things they did back home. They made the drums. It was one of such drums that they brought back to Africa that they christened samba, it is the same four squared shaped drum and people back home had nearly forgotten about this drum as a tool to aid relaxation, we had delegated it mainly for use during traditional festivals. It was later adopted by the first juju musician called ‘Babatunde King’ he used it to complement the ‘Akungba’ ‘Gobe’ and other drums used in his brand of music. People liked it and the white-garment churches picked up the samba drum from there”. Oke’s first contact with the drum was at the white garment church his parents attended with him in tow, “I joined the band from a young age. I got to know the history of the drum. I was so fascinated

Wura Samba perfroming

With Ras Kimono

by it that I re-made it, so to speak and renamed my version the ‘Sambabe’. Wura means gold, and I don’t believe it is a common name so I chose ‘Wura Samba’ as my stage name when I decided to form

Oke’s first contact with the drum was at the white garment church his parents attended with him

MIDWEEK JUMP

Writing fellowship at Fine Arts Work Centre

he Fine Arts Work Centre awards seven-month Writing Fellowships to five poets and five fiction writers each year. Applications are open for the 201617 Writing Fellowship, which runs from 1 October to 30 April 2016. Writing Fellows are provided with a private, furnished apartment and a monthly stipend of $750. Fellows are required to remain in residence at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, during the seven-month Fellowship. Writers from around the world are eligible, but writing samples must be written in English. Writers who have published a full-length book of creative work are not eligible. The deadline is 1 December. D

my own band, I picked the golden samba” The percussionist’s remodeled drum the ‘Sambabe’ is an arrangement of 8 Samab drums tuned on a major scale. He describes his music as ‘fresh orchestration of traditional music’ because of the recouped drum. He got his first drum at age 5 but he only got his parents to buy him this drum when a ‘prophesy’ was delivered to said parents. They chose to

buy him the samba drum as the ‘prophesy’ had shown. A grown up Oke plays the conga, trap drums, the talking drum and majorly all kinds of percussion instruments. He has performed with a high number of Nigerian musicians and has played with a fair share of international artistes too, “In 1995 I played with Zakky Azzay. I also played for Dede Mabiaku and Blacky. I stayed long with Zakky after I was made to choose between Dede and Zakky I preferred to play with Zakkky because Mabiaku had twoother drummers. I was the main percussionist for Kayode Olajide’s band. I left Zakky’s band in 2000. I played for Olajide until he left for the states then I joined the Ayo Balogun band, I also played for Duro Ikujenyo, it was while in Ayo Baloguns’s band that I decided to do my own thing that is after the vision of the Sambabe drum came to me in a dream. I woke up and made the drum the same way I saw it in my dream” The artiste also featured in Tony Allen’s album but started building the Wura Samba band in 2004, “It has been a difficult task. I had to play with other artistes to get funding for my band. I played for; Nneka, Ade Bantu, Siji, keziah Jones and other international acts whenever they come into the country. From this ‘hustling’ the Wura Samba band produced its first album in 2009”. The first album, ‘Ajo”’contains 12 tracks. The band’s next album ‘Ire’ would be out in the first quarter of the coming year says the artiste, it would be a mix of Wura Samba’s songs and some old school classics remixed and presented with solely percussion instruments playing the roles of the trumpet, guitar and the other instruments. A couple of Fela’s songs and 2Face’s ‘Ifunemba o’ will receive the full percussion treatment, also some of Tunji Oyelana’s songs. “Percussion will climb the next level, people will be amazed at the wonderful things drums can do when they hear ‘Ire’ I want to make a statement on the wonderful things the drums are able to achieve which people never knew of ” he says. Wura samba is optimistic that the next album, which he says would be ‘properly packaged’.

Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook Short Story Competition 2016

or published and aspiring writers alike - enter the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2016 short story competition and you could win: They are offering the chance to win £500, plus a place on an Arvon writing course of your choice! All you have to do is enter a short story (for adults) of no more than 2,000 words, on the theme of ‘ageing’ and email it to competition@bloomsbury.com with “WAYB16 competition” as the subject line. The closing date is midnight on Sunday 7th February 2016. The winners of the competition will be announced in March 2016.

Arts Lounge

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

FAR AND NEAR

2Face, Arinze for ‘Goodwill Ambassador Awards’ Regina Otokpa

t’s that time of the year for another edition of the ‘Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Awards’ to honour individuals and organisations who have in various capacities affected positively, the lives of everyday people within society. Addressing the media in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer, Amb. Chris Odey, noted that recipients of the annual awards were strictly those who have reached out and impacted on the lives of the less privileged or have changed the face of their communities by rendering a helping hand. Releasing a 35 man list of nominees, he disclosed that each recipient was a member of the group’s alumni and must be an active contributor to its annual community development oriented charity programme ‘Celebrity Love Visitation’. Odey had explained that the charity programme focuses on developmental projects which includes “peace building workshops, building or renovation

2 Face

of schools, scholarship, libraries, boreholes, free medical treatment and donating to orphanage homes.” While imploring Nigerians and foreigners to make available names of unknown humanitarians who have impacted on individuals communities, he

maintained that the awards was not limited to Nigerians alone, but any individual or organisation catering for the needy. In his remarks, Phil Roberts said that the essence of the award was to support those who have reached out in various ways to ensure the lives of less privileged children and women were elevated to the point where life would make more meaning to them. He therefore urged successful individuals and organisations, businessmen and politicians to reach out to their constituencies to make people appreciate life. The third edition of the award is scheduled to hold on the 3rd of December at the Transcorp Hilton and the recipients include: Linda Ikeji, Mike Ezerounye, Segun Arinze, Ordinary Ahmed Musa, Walter Anga, Wi-PAY, Sen. Stella Oduah, Sen. Dino Melaye and Sen. Oluremi Tinubu. Others are 2Face Idibia, Jimmy Jatt, Weird MC, Helen Onos, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Chris Oputa, Isabella Ayuk, Frederick Leonard and Lamido Sanusi the royal father of the day.

‘Queen Amina of Zazzau’ comes to Abuja

Queen Amina

Damilola Imoleayo

he Jos Repertory Theatre returns to Abuja with a landmark production of Wale Ogunyemi’s Queen Amina of Zazzau, which is the remarkable epic on the life and times of the legendary Queen Amina of Zazzau. The production of the play, which had its world premiere in 2000, will run for two days in Abuja at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 in two performances daily at 4pm and 7pm. Versatile actress Jumoke Olatubosun will play the lead role of Queen Amina in the play. Olatubosun, a star of the stage also has very intimidating credentials in Nollywood, Nige-

ria’s film industry and the country’s television. Nominated for the United Kingdom-based ZAFAA in 2009 as the Best Upcoming Actress for her role in the Nollywood film Greatness, she has had over 30 marvellous stage performances to her credit. Among her television appearances is the soap Band of Five currently showing on ONtv. Other performances include Wetin Dey which took television by storm and Nimi (in Yoruba) both BBC initiatives. The other films to the credit of the Jos-based Olatubosun are: Sitanda, White Waters, Pensioners, Laviva, Five Apostles, Heart of a Father and Nadia. Other influential actors from the JRT will be taking part in the production that will no doubt bring the federal capital territory to a standstill. Amina’s reign in the 16th century

witnessed tremendous growth in territory, commerce and relationships with cities which Queen Amina conquered or which she forged friendships with. Her territory extended all the way from ancient Zazzau to the Sudan with the first markings of what later became the trans-Saharan highway. She exerted tributes of kolanut, gold and slaves from territories that she conquered and from territories that wanted friendship with Zazzau. Queen Amina’s reign witnessed a lot of infrastructural development and her reign pioneered the use of iron coat armour which was used by her soldiers in their military campaigns and conquests. The famous Zaria wall is attributed to her reign and ingenuity. She was a remarkable leader who developed and built a court founded on justice and fairness. Her subjects also prospered during her reign and according to her – “you will prosper if you work hard as food does not grow on trees”.

Lagos Photo-Etisalat Photography Competition

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Photography: Etisalat rewards winners George Onuoha

he top three winners of the photo competition are Kelvin Abidemi Oladiran, whose entry in the Fashion category won him the first place prize, Adeboye Thomas whose entry in the People category made him the first runner-up and Ima Mfon as the second runner-up with a winning entry in the Places category. The first prize winner received a Canon Camera EOS 550D, while the first runnerup got an iPad mini 3. The second runnerup went home with a Nokia Lumia 930. Speaking at the Grand Opening of the LagosPhoto Festival 2015 in Lagos, where the winners were unveiled and presented with their prizes, Modupe Thani, Head Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, said the photography competition is in keeping with the telecommunication company’s vision of encouraging creativity and innovation through the creation of and support for credible platforms for youths. “Etisalat is passionate about innovation and creativity. We have also been in the forefront of promoting excellence, nurturing talent and providing platforms for people to express themselves and communicate their ideas. It is in this light that we have organised the Etisalat Photo Competition and also sponsored the LagosPhoto Festival right from inception about 5 years ago,” she said. The theme for this year’s photography competition is, ‘I love 9ja‘. The submission of entries started from July 6th to September 28th, 2015. Overwhelming entries were recorded for the four themes: Places, People, Fashion and Food through the official LagosPhoto App after which the three winners emerged from votes through the same app. Speaking on the competition, the second runner-up, Ima Mfon, expressed joy of being a prize winner and thanked Etisalat Nigeria for organising the competition to express his talent and creativity. “This is very inspiring and encouraging to get rewarded doing what you love to do. I really appreciate Etisalat for this platform they have created for Nigerian youth”, he said. Curator, African Artists Foundation (AAF), Cristina De Middel said LagosPhoto Festival is a platform that offers Nigerians and Africans an opportunity to tell compelling narratives about Africa and Africans through images that are inspired by their creativity.

Business

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Leaders must be accountable on public resource mgt –Ezekwesili 32

Bancassurance brings banking, insurance sectors to c ollaborate for mutual interest –Orimolade28

Nigeria’s cyber malware threats hit 45.3% in Q3 Isaiah Erhiawarien

38.2 million unique malicious objects: scripts, exploits, executable files adding that this is 46.9 per cent higher than in the second quarter. Kaspersky disclosed that there were 5.68 million registered notifications about attempted malware infections that aim to steal money via online access to bank accounts adding that in the overall trend so far for 2015 has continued in third quarter. The report stated that 323,374 new malicious mobile programs were detected by Kaspersky Lab mobile security products in the period under review, noting that it is 10.8 per cent increase on the second quarter of 2015 and a 3.1-fold increase since the first quarter.

Kaspersky reported further that there were more than 1.5 million malicious packages installed on mobiles during the quarter, 1.5 times more than in the previous quarter. The report finding showed that displaying adverts to users has remained the main method of making money from mobile threats noting that during the quarter, Kaspersky Lab observed a growing number of programs that used advertising in this way. The company also stated that its Lab’s solutions blocked almost 626,000 attempts to launch malware capable of stealing money via access to users’ online banking noting that this number is 17.2 per cent

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

BVN implementation improves BDCs’ compliance with forex limit 31

lower than in the second quarter of the year, although it is a 5.7 per cent increase since third of 2014. Commenting on the report, Principal Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab’s Global Research, David Emm, said that the developments in third quarter demonstrated that the global threat landscape was continuing to evolve at a fast pace. He pointed out that malicious mobile programmes were on the rise, and with 5.6 million cases of attempted theft from online bank accounts, and cybercriminals continually developing sophisticated attacks, the use of high quality cyber security products has never been more important.

bout 45.3 per cent internet users in Nigeria suffered attack from cyber crooks in the third quarter of 2015. According to the third quarter IT Threat Evolution report from Kaspersky Lab overall 45.3 per cent of KSN participants in Nigeria encountered malware that spread in local networks, via USBs and storage disks, while 13.8 per cent faced cyber threats emanating from the Internet. The report, which published the details of the key security incidents of the quarter using statistics from the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), which obtains information from millions of Kaspersky Lab product users in 213 countries, sheds light on the increase in mobile threats, the attempted theft of money from online bank accounts and targeted cyber attacks in the evolving threat landscape. According to Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), in the third quarter of 2015 this puts Nigeria on the 64th and 128th place worldwide by the percentage of users who encountered the two types of malware. Globally according to KSN data, Kaspersky Lab solutions detected and repelled a total of 235.4 million malicious attacks from online resources located all over the world. The report indicated that Kasper- L-R: Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Arc. Sonny Echono inspecting the stand of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, sky Lab’s web antivirus detected Ondo State during the International Nutritious Food Fair held in Kubwa, Abuja.

Arik Air airlifts 17.3m passengers in 9 yrs … to increase NY flights next year Olusegun Koiki

rik Air disclosed that it airlifted at least 17, 304, 741 passengers since it commenced flight operations on October 30, 2006. This is even as the airline said plans were underway to increase its three weekly flights to New York from Lagos to daily by 2016. The Managing Director of

the airline, Mr. Chris Ndulue disclosed this to journalists recently at the airline’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos. Ndulue said that the airline had airlifted just 29, 363 passengers in two months of 2006, but said that since the commencement of flight operations of the airline, its passenger traffic has been on the increase. He declared that with the im-

pending arrival of aircraft such as two Q400, two CRJ1000 and two A330-200, the airline would grow its fleet while also having enough aircraft for its new operations, including the plan to launch LagosRome-Lagos operation by the first quarter of 2016. According to him, the airline would also launch operations to Libreville in the first quarter of 2016, adding that the company would go public in 2016 first quar-

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 ter while it would be listed on the stock exchange by 2017 after an Initial Public Offering, IPO. He said: “In 2006, we started

with only Lagos-Abuja flight, we now fly to 19 domestic and 12 regional / international destinations, we currently employs over 3,000 Nigerians directly, we will also be extending our Abidjan operations to Dakar from mid-November.”

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 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Bancassurance brings banking, insurance sectors to MR JIDE ORIMOLADE is a seasoned risk underwriter with over 20 years of cognate experience in the nation’s insurance sector. During the period, he has demonstrated professional competences that see him climb the ladder of leadership in the industry. In this interview with Isaac Asabor, the Managing Director of one of the listed insurance firms in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, speaks on sundry policy and operational issues the industry, including how he has been pushing his company into the leading edge of competition in the insurance market. Excerpts:

ir, the third quarter of your company’s 2015 unaudited financial statements was just released showing 215 per cent Profit Before Tax growth was achieved. What strategies did you employ to achieve this?

We believe we can do more by the grace of God. Whatever level of performance we achieve now or in the future is attributed to our people. Our people are our greatest assets and we value them. You see, no matter your strategy and other resources at the disposal of any CEO, it is the people who will utilize those resources and also implement the strategy to ensure the achievement of the company’s goals. So for us in Law Union & Rock Insurance, we have been able to align our people with our strategy and also working hard to ensure we create a conducive environment for our staff to be their best. As a CEO, there is very little you can achieve alone, so you have to develop the skills in managing and motivating your staff to deliver exceptional performance. You know that our main business is risk underwriting. This in itself is a risk business (...laughs). Orimolade So for you to underwrite another person’s risk, you must have the expert skills to assess, analyze and these initiatives will turnaround the Union & Rock Insurance we have zero rate the risk profitability. This is what fortunes of the company within the tolerance for non-compliance with accounted for our underwriting profit shortest possible time.My passion is ethical conduct. We have a strong regof N1 billion in September 2015. So to take insurance to the grassroots. ulator that monitors and supervises like I said earlier, our people are my Many Nigerians do not have any form all operators. However, competition greatest assets and we have developed of insurance. I want to see a great has made some companies take to great expertise in all aspects of our change in this regard in the next 5 “rate cutting”. This is where you find business operation. years. some underwriters charging very low rates for certain risks. This is dangerWith the impressive unaudited Talking of insurance business ous because it erodes shareholders financial report that was just rein Nigeria, which of the market value and can even affect a company’s leased, what is your vision for Law, practices can you say has greatly claims paying ability. For us, rate Union and Rock in the next finanhindered efforts been made by the (price) is not the only basis for comcial dispensation? company’s management and what petition. We aim to provide our cusOur business focus in the next 5 are your takes on how the issue can tomers with prompt and high quality years is on growth and my vision for be tackled by insurance bodies? service especially prompt claim settlethe company is to achieve significant Every industry has its guidelines ment. We price our risk well and we do growth in the retail sector. We have for market conduct. For us in Law not participate in businesses that the conducted a critical review of the our overall corporate performance in the last 5 years and we are repositioning to drive positive and very significant hatever level of performance we growth in the next 5 years through a achieve now or in the future is attributed well thought out 5-year Strategic Plan designed to guide our resolve to greatto our people ur people are our greatest ly improve on our all-round corporate assets and we value them ou see no performance and take a significant share of the market. Our strategic matter your strategy and other resources direction to grow the business is anat the disposal of any it is the people chored on developing the direct/retail market segment, improving relationwho will utilize those resources and also ship with existing intermediaries, implement the strategy to ensure the developing alternative distribution channels and improving our brand achievement of the company s goals value. We are quite confident that all

CEO,

’

rate charged is ridiculously so as not to unduly expose our insurance and shareholders’ funds. What is your position on the evolvement of ICT applications as alternatives to Insurance distribution channels? We believe the future of insurance is retail and direct sales and there is no way this can happen without a sound and robust technology platform to drive sales, manage customer service and provide accurate and prompt data for planning purpose. So we take ICT as a very important tool to drive sale through alternative channels. In fact, we have done extensive work in this area and once we have the regulatory approval, we will launch our alternative channel strategy. We are improvingour ICT systems with upgrades and unique e-solutions that aim to deliver value promptly to our customers. With this in place, our customers can buy and pay for their insurance online. We also have developed new-to-market products that will see many people at all income levels taking into insurance. This will drive insurance penetration rate in the Nigeria – still among the countries with the lowest level of insurance penetration in Africa.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Executive Discourse

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

collaborate for mutual interest –Orimolade Do you consider the views that are being expressed by some insurance experts that Bancassurance had robbed the insurance industry of an effective vehicle of distributing insurance products to be in favour of the industry’s quest for deeper insurance penetration? No, I do not agree to that assertion. Bancassurance is aimed to drive insurance penetration. In Nigeria the banking sector has a larger customer base than insurance. So where there is a Bancassurance partnership it is intended that insurance leverages on the banks customers base. Essentially both sectors have same customers with very similar profiles. You see each compliments the other. For instance a bank customer who has taken a loan to import goods will need insurance protection for those goods in case of an accident or loss. If there is no insurance cover both the bank and the customer will be negatively affected. So, Bancassurance brings both the banking sector and the insurance sector to work together for mutual interest. One of the practices that is common among insurance companies, and which is fuelling the apathy of the insuring public towards insurance business is that claims are not settled promptly. How is Law, Union and Rock managing the issue of claims? Insurance companies are set up to carry the risks of their customers and to settle their claims when they occur. There is no insurance company that will not want to settle genuine claims. However, I think the concern is that customers want their claims to be paid quickly. We need to realize that while the customer wants his claim to the paid quickly, the insurance company must ensure that the claim is paid to the right person and in the right amount to prevent fraud. It might interest you to know that fraudulent claims are on the increase and so the insurance companies must be very vigilant in this regards. For us in Law Union & Rock Insurance, we ensure customers get their claims promptly upon complete documentation. Our claims process and documentation is simple and easy. Last year 2014, Law Union & Rock was rated BBB+(NG) by Global Credit Rating in terms of claims paying ability. We hope to achieve a significant improvement in our rating going forward. A lot of people still have fake motor insurance, what is responsible for this, what are the dangers and what can be done? The awareness is still very low among members of the general public. Also, enforcement is still a challenge but it is improving. For us at Law Union & Rock, our customers are empowered to verify the authentic-

As I mentioned earlier, the industry

players need to take insurance to the grassroots through micro insurance

initiatives and products.

Also, the need

to direct marketing communication about insurance products appropriately to

grassroots is very critical ity of their insurance. We also ensure that all our customers’ policies are promptly migrated into the Nigeria Insurance Industry Database (NIID) where members of the public can verify online or through their mobile phones. Anyone with fake insurance papers risks going to jail. This is an offence punishable by law. It is also dangerous to victims of road traffic accidents as they may not be able to get adequate compensation from the culprits. We always advise our customers and the general public to please take reasonable steps to verify their motor insurance certificates. It is important to ensure you obtain genuine insurance policies from our Offices, licensed Insurance Brokers or and Authorized Agents nationwide. For us in Law Union & Rock, we have make it simple and easy for our prospective customers to buy genuine motor insurance through scratch cards and online. Customers can verify their policies by a simple phone call to our customer care personnel.

stalls are constructed with materials that are not fire resistant and also the nature of some goods stored, if there is a little spark of fire, it spreads easily and faster. Also, due to congestion, the Fire Service personnel who are supposed to respond finds access to most of these markets very difficult. I advise business people to take up appropriate insurance policies for their businesses to cover the goods while being imported or stored in the shop or warehouse and also while being transported from one location to another. You mentioned earlier that the rate of insurance penetration in Nigeria is among the lowest in Af-

What is your view on the implementation of no premium no cover so far, especially on how it has impacted on insurance business and clients? It is a very positive development for the industry as a whole. The “No premium, no cover” regime has impacted positively on the cash flow of insurance companies and has almost eliminated issues of outstanding premiums which a significant part use to be written off as bad debts in the past. The downside of this policy however is that most clients now resort to short-term cover as most of them cannot afford to pay the total annual premium once. This in a way reduces the amount of funds available for investments during an accounting year and thus impact negatively on investment income. There have been incessant market fires in the country, what are the major causes and how can traders protect their businesses with insurance? The major causes of these incessant fires are market congestion and over population, nature of materials used for construction or partitioning, nature of goods stored and the use of fuel generators have been identified as the major causes of market fires. You know that most of our markets

Orimolade

rica, so what is the way forward for Nigerian insurance sector? Yes there is great need for us to invest more in awareness creation, human capital development and investment in research and development as well as investment in technology. It is also important for genuine claims to be settled promptly. As I mentioned earlier, the industry players need to take insurance to the grassroots through micro insurance initiatives and products. Also, the need to direct marketing communication about insurance products appropriately to grassroots is very critical. Do you have any general advice for members of the public? My advice to the general public is that they should embrace insurance. They should not go with the notion than insurance companies do not pay claims. I tell you those who have insured with us have good testimonies in this regard. Most people still erroneously think that motor insurance is to allow them avoid police arrest. There are far more benefits that they can gain from insurance and I want them to key into this and they will never regret it.

Business News

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

BVN implementation improves BDCs’ compliance with forex limit T here are strong indications that the implementation of the use of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) as a requisite for the purchase of foreign currency from the Bureau D’ Change (BDC) segment of the market may have compelled the operators to comply with the earlier directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the maximum amount which they could sell to low forex end users. Investigations conducted over the weekend showed that most of the BDC operators are now left with large volume of unsold dollar cash, most of which they bought from the CBN official window, as they blamed the BVN requirement as responsible for their inability to sell. The DBC operators’ assertion implied that customers now shun the BDCs and in its stead, patronise the parallel market which pushed the rate at the parallel market to above N225 as at last week. Reacting to media enquiries on the development, CBN’s spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Mu’azu, faulted the assertion that introduction of the BVN as a requirement for the sale of foreign exchange was responsible for the low patronage. He described such claim “as just a ploy to arm-twist or blackmail the CBN into reversing the directive on BVN requirement”. Mu’azu noted that BDCs were licensed to service the low end users whose demand fall between $4,000 and $5,000 (and below) as Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) or Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) as the case may be. However, the BDC operators

have engaged in bulk sales of foreign currency over the years to those who carry the foreign currencies across the borders. Hence the introduction of the BVN as a mandatory requirement for purchasing foreign currencies from the BDCs has checked that flagrant disobedience of regulations guiding of their operations, he averred. Expatiating further, Mu’azu noted that those with legitimate demand for foreign exchange need not fear as the BVN requirement is to facilitate the enforcement of authorized limits of sales and spread to end users and reduce the incidence of multiple purchases, round tripping and illicit transfer of funds. The CBN spokesman also allayed fears of customers in terms of compromising part of their banking information, stating that BVN is just a unique identification number which is grossly inadequate to provide access to customers’ accounts. The BVN is neither a payment instrument nor an account number and therefore could not be used to access any account by unauthorized users, he assured. In practice, travelers who need to buy the forex submit more personal information like bank statements, international passport details and other personal information to the embassies, travel agents and airlines on demand without of compromise while the BVN is just a number which ordinarily the BDCs cannot access their personal information. Before now, BDCs were buying from the CBN and selling in bulk

L-R: The Lead, CSR and Sustainability of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Temitayo Ade-Peters; one of the beneficiaries of a skill acquisition programme sponsored by the Bank, Mrs. Abiodun Shomorin; the Baale of Bayeku Community in Ikorodu, Chief Saheed Ajibode and another staff of the Bank, Mr. Joseph Imoh, during the FCMB sponsored workshop on Transforming Water Hyacinth to Profitable Handicrafts in partnership with MitiMeth in Ikorodu, Lagos.

to those who engage in trafficking across the border contrary to retail business of selling not more than $5,000 for which they were licensed.

The Financial Stability Board, created by the Group of 20 nations in the aftermath of the crisis, published its plan for tackling banks seen as too big to fail. The most systematically important lenders must have total loss-absorbing capacity equivalent to at least 16 percent of risk-weighted assets in 2019, rising to 18 percent in 2022, the FSB said on Monday. A leverage ratio requirement will also be imposed, rising from 6 percent initially to 6.75 percent. Bloomberg reported these numbers on Oct. 2. The shortfall banks face under the 18 percent measure ranges from 457 billion euros to 1.1 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion), depending on the instruments considered, according to the FSB. Excluding the three Chinese banks in the FSB’s 2014 list of the world’s most systemically important institutions, that range drops to 107 billion euros to 776 billion euros. “The TLAC announcement is hugely important; it’s a milestone of the first order in bank reform and ending too big to fail,” Wilson Ervin, vice chairman of the Group Executive Office at Credit

purchase could no longer purchase above the limit. thereby reducing significantly, the number of BDCs’ who applied for forex from CBN in the past week.

NABG supports CBN’s forex policy Tola Akinmutimi

igeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), the Agribusiness sector operators platform has expressed its support for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s foreign exchange policy and the regulatory banking institution’s

Banking giants know cost of averting another financial crisis

anking behemoths led by HSBC Holdings Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. now know the cost they’ll have to shoulder so the global financial system doesn’t have another Lehman moment.

To further buttress the issue of bulk sales, with the BVN requirement, the forex demand in the BDC segment has dropped because those who engaged in bulk

Suisse Group AG, said before the announcement. “There are a lot of important details to consider and hopefully improve, but the big picture is, if you have a bank rescue fund with $4 trillion to $5 trillion of resources, you can break the back of this problem.” Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who heads the FSB, said the rules make a major failure less likely because banks’ creditors know they’ll face losses in a collapse. Previously, the “lenders, the unsecured creditors, to a bank were implicitly and ultimately explicitly relying on the state to back them up, and therefore didn’t pay that much attention to what the institutions were actually doing,” Carney told reporters in Basel on Monday. “Now they actually have skin in the game, so to speak, and they will exert greater pressure, consistent with their fiduciary duties, and that in and of itself will make failure less likely.” The FSB rules separate the liabilities needed to keep a bank running from purely financial debts such as notes issued for funding. By “bailing in” the bonds -- writing them down or converting them to equity -- regulators aim to ensure a lender in difficulty has the resources to be recapitalized without using public money.

stance not to devalue the national currency international finance institutions and multi-lateral agencies’ pressure to devalue the naira. Making the position of the group public on the key monetary issues as part of the panel of discussant ‎at the 4th EU-Nigeria business forum in Lagos, its National Chairman, Mr. Sani Dangote, said that the group believed that the CBN forex policy, especially as it affects commodities like tomato puree, rice, palm oil and other agric produce, was the right step to take to save the nation’s economy from impending crisis and return it to the path of sustainable growth. He said the decision by CBN was desirable to stimulate local production, maintaining that allowing imports would only suppress local production. The NABG Chairman stressed that his Dangote said: “We commend the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for taking this bold step. We have companies who employ thousands of Nigerians, we have small farm holders who will produce for the country’s need. We cannot do this overnight but it has to start from somewhere and if the federal government kills the incentive to start from the grass root level, you can never reach the level to be self sufficient. ”If we do not stimulate it now, when will there be the time to do this. Once you allow some imports to come in and be dumped on the

local market it will certainly surpress local incentive and indigenous initiative and there is no way any investor will deploy resources to develop the sector, there is no way the local farmers, rural farmers will find the opportunity to grow,” he said. He advised that the CBN should make more funds available and affordable for the farmers to grow in order to achieve the nation’s quest for economic diversification, adding that it is heart -warming that the apex bank recently agreed to provide funds for tomato out-growers in the country toward enhancing their capacity to boost output and meet the requirement of tomato processing companies in the country. Dangote tasked the commercial banks and other financial institutions in the country to support the effort of CBN in funding agricultural enterprises in the country. Meanwhile, the group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Dutch Organisation, Top Sector Agric Food, the agribusiness development unit of the Dutch government. The pact is to facilitate and encourage the growth of agribusiness in Nigeria, ranging from livestock to horticulture and other agro-allied industries, pointing out that this move by the group would expose Nigeria’s agricultural sector to global opportunities while also bringing investment opportunities into the country.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Business News

Customs Zonal Coordinator assures on improved revenue, trade facilitation FRANCIS EZEM

ewly appointed Zonal Coordinator in charge of the Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller General, ACG, Charles Edike, has said that the zone under his watch will ensure trade facilitation and promote investment inflow into the nation’s maritime industry. Zone A of the service, which accounts for over 70 per cent of the service’s annual revenue, is made up of all the commands in Lagos covering the two major seaports; Apapa and Tin Can Island , Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and the two major land borders, Seme and Idiroko. Edike however warned that the service would not sacrifice collection of government’s revenue on the altar of trade promotion and facilitation. According to him, the current dispensation of Customs is such that no officer of the service is allowed to hold down any importer’s document for one minute longer than necessary, warning that any officer caught would be dealt with severely. “Holding any consignment by any officer would mean holding the nation’s economy down and we will not look kindly at such officer but we will also ensure that the importer must do the right thing so that no one will have any reason to hold down his consignment down in the first place”, he said. He said that the role of the importers, agents or freight forwarders in the new dispensation is to comply with the extant trade laws and regulations, warning that the service will no longer tolerate any form of violation of such laws and regulations. “We will promote trade and investments in the nation’s supply chain at all time but we will also

frown seriously at any attempt by the agents or their importers not to comply with the trade regulations but it will no longer be business as usual”, he further warned. On the declining import volumes, which led to a sharp decline in the revenue collection by the service, Edike said that the new management would ensure that the service collects all collectible revenue since it has no control over the volume of imported goods

that come into the country. Edike, until his recent promotion to the rank of an Assistant Comptroller General and subsequently posted at the Zonal Coordinator was the area controller in charge of Apapa Area 1 command of the service, which controls Lagos Ports Complex Apapa, all the free zones in the zone and some bonded terminals and port facilities. Before his posting to Apapa,

Edike served as Customs Area Controller for the Tin Can Island Port and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, where he carried out massive reforms of the systems in both commands. With his last week’s posting to the zonal headquarters, the ACG has already started visiting the various area commands under his control beginning with Apapa, where he charged officers and men of the service to brace up for the

change that is currently sweeping through the length and breadth of the service. Part of the reform was the compulsory retirement of a total of 35 top officers of the service ranging from the five Deputy Comptrollers General to eight Assistant Comptrollers General and many other Comptrollers serving at the Headquarters Abuja and the various commands across the country.

ing company stated that the facts of the matter were that on the day in question, loading activities at the Ibafon depot commenced after the sanitation exercise; adding that 17 trucks were programmed and assigned destinations as filled in the DPR coupon which were equally approved for loading by the DPR representative in Ibafon. According to the company, at the time DPR officials were at the depot, access to the depot from the truck park was blocked, and

trucks were unable to gain access to the depot thereby necessitating its officials’ efforts to liaise with the security agents and Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) to ensure that the road into Total Ibafon depot got cleared. It claimed that the measures were to enable programmed trucks gain entrance to load products. It clarified further: “The facts concerning Total Nigeria Plc product supply and distribution

operations in the past weeks after extended periods of product outage are that the company completed the reception of: 1. 25, 311 Metric Tons of PMS in Apapa Terminal 1 and Joint Venture Depots on 2nd November 2015. 2. 11, 228 Metric Tons of PMS in Port Harcourt Depot on 2nd November, 2015. 3. 10, 063 Metric Tons of PMS in Ibafon Depot on the 3rd of November, 2015. “As soon as these ships had discharged, Total Nigeria Plc started to load out the¬ product at full capacity to its retail outlets in order to meet the demands of the Nigerian public. On the day in question, Total was loading PMS at both our Apapa and Port Harcourt Depots and trucks were lined up for loading at our Ibafon depot. In the last five days, we have loaded 24 million litres from our Apapa, Port Harcourt and Ibafon depots combined. This PMS has been distributed to our stations nationwide and sold to the public at N87 per litre”, the company emphasized. This is even as restated that as a subsidiary of The TOTAL Group - a World-Class Group of Oil, Gas and Chemical Companies, with operations in more than 130 countries, has always operated within the ambits of the Laws of the country and in line with international best practices and could not have engaged in any subversive of fraudulent acts capable of tarnishing its globally acknowledged core values and ethics to engage in the hoarding of petroleum products. Total Nigeria Plc therefore described the decision by DPR to close its depot as unjust and unwarranted thereby necessitating the management’s decision to visit DPR’s management to clarify the situation. The company restated its commitment to working with the relevant agencies to support government efforts in ensuring availability of petroleum products and assured the Nigerian public and relevant agencies of our total commitment and continued cooperation.

Total flaws DPR’s closure of Ibafon Depot, restates integrity Tola Akinmutimi

otal Nigeria Plc has faulted the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) over last Thursday’s closure of the company’s Ibafon Depot on allegation that it was hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), due to the absence of loading at the time of visit to Total depot, Ibafon. Specifically, the management of the major petroleum market-

L-R: Head, Strategic Brand Management, Access Bank Plc, Mr Amaechi Okobi; Chief Executive Officer, Anadeo Communications, Switzerland, Mr Christophe Amenc and Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access bank Plc, Mr Victor Etuokwu, at the press briefing on the forthcoming 2015 Access International Conference, in Lagos

FCMB restates commitment to Nigeria’s export trade growth

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has assured of its continued support, through funding and other initiatives, towards the growth of export trade business and the ongoing efforts of the government to diversify the Nigerian economy with focus on non-oil products. The Bank stated that this was in recognition of the huge resources available in the non-oil sector and its capacity to accelerate national development. The assurance was given by the Bank’s Executive Director, Business Development, Mr. Adam Nuru, at the Customer Forum on

Export Trade with the theme, “Enhancing Capacity for Export Growth”, held last Thursday in Lagos. The interactive and capacity building forum was organised by FCMB in partnership with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria ExportImport Bank (NEXIM), Bank of Industry (BoI), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), Federal Inspection Agency for Solid Minerals (FIASM). Speaking at the forum, Nuru

said that the Bank had created various windows of opportunity to assist Nigerian exporters benefit optimally from the exportation of products. He listed some of the offerings of the Bank in this regard to include pre and post-shipment financing/refinancing and discounting, provision of market information as well as advisory services. He explained: “The customer forum is another way we demonstrate just how much we value our customers. It is also an opportunity to inform the Market that we are truly on ground to support government and stakeholders in their efforts towards driving and

growing export trade to boost non-oil revenue in the economy. “Our alignment with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other sister agencies is a proof of the commitment to go the extra mile to contribute significantly towards the realisation of the business aspirations of our customers and that of the country’’. The seasoned banker urged exporters to ensure that products they export meet set the standards so as to compete favourably in the international market as it would in turn, increase their income and have multiplier effect on the country.

Business News

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Leaders must be accountable on public resource mgt –Ezekwesili David Audu

ormer Minister of Education, Dr. Obi Ezekwesili, on Wednesday called on Nigerian citizens to assert themselves in demanding from their leaders’ accountability in the management of public resources. Making the call at a Symposium organized by Brand IQ Magazine, she said the citizen held enormous power in their hands hence the need to bring leaders to account for their actions if the people desire to live an economically emancipated life. The former World Bank top official pointed out that public office existed at the behest of the citizen, and therefore “if there is not a commensurate demand

defining the expectation of a citizen through an intentional, conscious and deliberate role in the society of how things should be, then the outcome always will remain the same”. Ezekwezili, who spoke on the theme ‘Reinventing Brand Nigeria for the 21st Century Market Economy Through Public Accountability and Responsible Citizenship’, emphasized that if Nigeria must take its rightful in global economy landscape, the key concept that should be pushed by all is responsible citizenship. She explained that citizens who demand accountability from their leaders always put the leaders on their feet to do what is right and doing what is right means good governance, ac-

countability and taking responsibility for their actions. Appraising Nigeria’s performance on the United Nations good governance parameters that propel nations for economic growth, the development finance expert explained that Nigeria could not be found to have complied with one, and therefore if we must attain economic growth there is need to redefine our values system. She clarified: “A lot of people spend time talking about corruption, but it is a mere symptom of

a deeper disease known as poor governance. Corruption is the minutest symptoms of the deeper disease that completely halt the growth of economies and societies.

President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Otunba Samuel Deru (left) congratulating an Associate Chartered Accountant, Miss Jecinta Chukwuedo, at the 56th induction ceremony for new Members of in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:NAN

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

IATA reports global revenue passenger km growth by 7.3% in September Olusegun Koiki

he International Air Transport Association, IATA, has announced global passenger traffic results for September showing solid demand growth compared to September 2014 for domestic and international traffics. Total revenue passenger kilometers, RPKs, rose 7.3 per cent compared to the year-ago period, slightly above the 7.1 per cent growth achieved in August. September capacity (available seat kilometers, ASKs,) increased by 6.6 per cent and load factor rose 0.5 percentage points to 80.7 per cent. IATA’s Director-General, Mr. Tony Tyler described the September demand for air travel as robust despite the economic slowdown in some key emerging markets such as China. He said that the result indicated that global air travel was set for a positive end to 2015. September international passenger demand rose 7 per cent compared to September 2014, with airlines in all regions recording growth. Total capacity climbed 6.9 per cent, and load factor edged up 0.1 percentage points to 80.5 per cent. According to IATA, European carriers saw demand increase by 7.1 per cent, supported by

Group urges Buhari to make F SMEs economic priority

micro economic empowerment group under the auspices of “Say Yes To My Needs”, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to give priority to Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in his economic policy. The team is hopeful that such economic policy would take care of the needs of Nigerians to be self-employed and self-reliant. The group made the call at the weekend, in Abuja, while giving out cheques to deserving beneficiaries as loans, to empower their small and medium scale businesses. Director General, DG, of the

organisation, Francis Pember, while speaking during the presentation, said that his organisation has already built a database of over 35, 000 people across the nation, who have continued to benefit from the Say Yes To My Needs financial schemes, to alleviate their poverty. He said that individual beneficiaries were receiving up to a hundred thousand naira, while a group of 10 or cooperative societies were getting from one million naira and above as loan to help their small scale businesses. Pember said that while the loans were given by a Micro Finance Bank, MFB, to the beneficiaries, his organisation bore the burden of paying off the interests on the loans to help members.

He said that the huge number of people that visited his organisation on daily basis for help was an indication that several Nigerians were wallowing in abject povety and needed to be helped by government. The DG called on the federal government to take off this huge task off his organisation’s back by saying yes to the needs of Nigerians in order to change their lives. Equally, he said that his organisation was helping indigent persons to go back to school through its scholarship programme. The sum of one hundred thousand naira was paid to a school been part of the outstanding fees of 10 pupils under scholarship in the school.

82.4 per cent. Expectations for better economic performance are supporting travel demand.

MTN’s CEO links resignation to shareholders’ interest Isaac Asabor

UBONG UKPONG, Abuja

economic recovery in the region while capacity climbed 6.6 per cent and load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 85.1 per cent, highest among the regions. Besides, it said that Asia-Pacific airlines’ September traffic rose 6.8 per cent compared to the year-ago period. Capacity increased 5.9 per cent and load factor climbed 0.7 percentage points to 77 per cent, stressing that the healthy performance occurred in spite of notable declines in trade activity in Emerging Asia as well as slower than expected growth in China. African airlines experienced their third consecutive month of positive traffic growth in September, posting a 5.2 per cent rise compared to a year ago. IATA however attributed the growth to volatility in reported volumes, as fundamental economic drivers remain weak. For the continent, IATA’s statistics revealed that capacity rose 3.5 per cent, and load factor improved 1.2 percentage points to 71.6 per cent. North American airlines’ traffic climbed 4.1 per cent, which was matched by a capacity expansion of 4.1 per cent. As a result, load factor was flat at

ollowing the fine imposed on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), the management of the telecommunication company says its Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Dabengwa, has resigned, and it has appointed Phuthuma Nhleko as executive chairman in a temporary capacity. Dabengwa’s resignation was a fallout of $5.2 billion, equivalent of Nigeria’s N1.04trn, which was imposed on MTN Nigeria for failing to cut off five million unregistered subscribers on its network in line with regulatory directives. As contained in the CEO’s resignation letter, the compelling reason for his quitting the company as its group chief executive officer was in the interest of the company and its shareholders. “Due to the most unfortunate prevailing circumstances occurring at MTN Nigeria, I, in the

interest of the company and its shareholders, have tendered my resignation with immediate effect,” said Dabengwa in a statement. However, MTN is currently negotiating with Nigerian authorities over the fine that has its payment deadline scheduled for November 16, 2015. Meanwhile, the company says Nhleko, currently non-executive chairman will act as executive chairman for six months while it searches for a successor for Dabengwa. Nhleko served as non-executive director and chairman of MTN from July 2001 until June 2002 and thereafter as an executive director, group president and CEO until March 2011. He has chaired the group in a non-executive capacity for the past two-and-a-half years. “I will assume responsibility as executive chairman for the next 6 months as I proactively deal with the Nigerian regulator and will continue to work with them.”

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EnergyWeek Wednesday, November 11, 2015

AEDC taskforce uncovers energy theft scam

S/Court fixes Jan. 29 for Chevron, Britannia-U dispute judgement

41% Nigerian bizmen generate own power supply 37

Experts list constraints to stable power supply 35

Power plant

The private operators who took over the Electricity Generation Companies, GENCOs and Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs were expected to greatly improve power generation and distribution within a few months. But UDEME AKPAN and CHIDI UGHU report that the dream remains unfulfilled due to multidimensional militating factors they are contending with in their drive to improve the nation’s electricity supply.

here were strong indications that the Federal Government would realise about 6,000 megawatts, mw of electricity in December, this year. Investigations showed that the target was set mainly because of the expectation that much gas would be supplied to thermal power plants. It was also expected that the high rate of pipeline vandalism and other issues would be tackled.

But this was not to be. The Presidential Task Force on Power, PTFP indicated in its authoritative report that the nation has not gone beyond 4,800mw as a result of many factors. The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi identified vandalism of gas pipelines as a major problem that stare the electricity sector in the face. Amadi who made the observation when he received officials of the United States Agency for International

Development/ Power Africa delegation maintained that the nation has recorded several cases of vandalism in recent times. He disclosed that as a result of many cases of vandalism, it has become impossible for gas to be supplied to the Electricity Generation Companies, GENCOs. Amadi also identified inadequate funding as another challenge. The Commissioner for Engineering, Standards and Safety, Engr. Mary Eniola Awolokun pointed out that there is a considerable portion of the Nigerian populace that currently receive electricity without paying proper tariffs due to the lack of widespread metering and the Commission is taking adequate steps to address this The delegation, led by Sharon Pauling, the Abuja Director for USAID used the opportunity to commend the Commission on their efforts in the power industry

thus far. Power Africa is an agency under USAID with the goal of leveraging partnerships to increase access to power in Sub- Saharan Africa, according to the acting deputy coordinator, Agnes Daswicz, “the Nigerian privatization programme has partly influenced the creation of Power Africa”. She went on to state that the delegation had canvassed views from various private and public bodies that have invested in the power industry but sought a deeper public sector perspective on the power sector challenges ahead, which the Commission was uniquely situated to provide. However, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said its special taskforce has uncovered huge cases of electricity theft by customers using meters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Company’s Executive Director, Commercial

Services, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya, who confirmed this in a statement from the Media Head, Ahmed Shekarau revealed that many of those customers involved in the theft are high profile personalities resident in Abuja and environs. Mupwaya warned all customers engaged in such fraudulent activities to desist from doing that as the AEDC will soon launch “Operation Shame Them” campaign to expose all those involved in the act, including the high profile personalities. The ED, who declined to provide details of what the “Operation Shame Them” campaign will entail, said the Company plans to involve the police and the media in the exercise. The AEDC and the police had early this year agreed to collaborate towards CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Experts list constraints to stable power supply CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

tackling theft of electricity and vandalism within the Company’s coverage area. The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the management of AEDC led by its Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Neil Croucher. The Police IG was represented at the meeting by the DIG (Logistics and Supply), Mr. Mamman Tsafe. At the meeting, Croucher, who regretted the rising cases of theft of energy in the power sector, said the Company needed the support of the police in dealing with the twin evils of electricity theft and vandalism. Citing the Penal Code and other relevant laws, the MD said the Company was ready to collaborate with the police to further reduce the incidence of commercial and technical losses being incurred by the Company. Meanwhile, AEDC has sought the support of its esteemed customers to its 10-year tariff plan, which it unveiled recently. AEDC had prepared the new rates following the request to the 11 Discos in the country by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to seek the support of their customers for a cost reflective tariff for the next 10 years starting from 2015. Croucher, who led officials of the company to seek the cooperation of its customers in the new rates at several stakeholders’ meetings across the covered States, disclosed at the weekend that the proposed tariff review was to among others, provide a cost reflective tariff to facilitate the attraction of private capital into the sector. He had stated that the current rates charged by the Disco to distribute electricity to its customers did not cover the cost of producing and distributing electricity in the country. The Energy Savers Nigeria, (ESN) a non-governmental organization (NGO) has said an estimated 41 per cent of Nigerian businesses generate their own power supply. In a paper titled: “The Nigerian Power Sector, A Performance Appraisal under the Buhari Administration” a member of Board of Trustees of Energy Savers Nigeria, Moses Nasamu, said about 56 per cent of the population are connected to the grid, while 44 per cent are not. He stated that Nigerian business owners generate own electricity to augment supply from the grid, in line with the recent World Bank report on electricity situations in Nigeria, adding that the problem was caused by poor generation and distribution system and other systemic issues in the sector. According to him, no fewer than 97 million out of 175 million Nigerians have no access to grid electricity. The remaining 78 million people who are connected to the grid face substantial power interruptions. The ESN noted that Nigeria lags behind other developing nations in terms of grid- based electricity consumption

Buhari

Kachikwu

with 126 kilowatts hour(kwh) per capita, stressing that electricity consumption is expected to be five times higher than what it is today in Nigeria, if we consider the country’s Gross Domestic Product( GDP) alongside other countries globally. The paper said 25 per cent of Nigeria’s 12, 522 megawatts (Mw) of electricity installed reach the end user. “Widespread inefficiency means that only 3, 879Mw of this capacity is operational, with 3,600Mw transmitted and 3,100 distributed. Most of the shortfalls, which were about 5,381Mw, is capacity that is unavailable due to obsolete equipment and poor maintenance or due to ongoing maintenance and repair activities at existing power plants. Also, about 3,262Mw of electricity is non-operational primarily due to gas, water, high frequency, and transmission line constraints.” According to the paper, the sector has recorded some operational improvements, mainly driven by increased availability of gas since May 29th, 2015, when the Buhari/Osinbajo led government started. The paper stated that in August 2015, Nigeria hits historical highs as both peak generation and total energy generated across the system

stood at 4,811Mw and 4,213 megawatts hour (mwh) respectively. It said transmission losses fell by 10 per cent between June and August 2015, compared to the first four months of the year. “Nigerians would recall that at the commencement of Buhari/Osinbajo’s administration in May this year, the sector was plagued with challenges, which included under-utilisation of generating plants partly due to insufficient gas availability occasioned by frequent vandalism of gas distribution assets, inadequate transmission infrastructure, high distribution losses, liquidity problem, among others,” the group added. They said electric-

Amadi

ity generation and distribution has improved relatively, despite the fact that the problems still exist in the sector. “The Buhari government has helped in restoring confidence in the sector through its decision to fast-track execution of the first set of World Bank partial risk guarantees, and granting of sovereign immunity waiver which aimed at increasing the rate of growth of the first tranche of project-financed Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and the interim execution of the contracts undertaken by the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). On solution, the group urged the the sector has recorded some successor distribution companies to improve on their revenues in order to operational improvements enable them fund what they described as ‘Wholesale Obligations,’ cater for mainly driven by increased their operating expenditure requirements, invest in new and modern caavailability of gas since ay pacity, and ensure cost- effective tariff

29th, 2015, when the Buhari/ Osinbajo led government started

is provided for the teeming consumers of electricity in Nigeria. They said when these measures are well implemented; power supply would improve in virtually all parts of the nation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Energy Week

Supreme Court fixes Jan 29 for Chevron, Britannia-U dispute judgment CHIDI UGWU

with agency report

he Supreme Court has fixed judgment for January 29 in the suit involving oil giant Chevron Nigeria, Britania-U Nigeria Ltd and Seplat Petroleum Development Company on the disputed sale of three oil blocks – Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 52, 53 and 55. The dispute followed Chevron’s alleged refusal to transfer ownership of the oil blocks to Britannia-U, which claimed it outbid other firms. The court chose the date for judgment after parties adopted their final written arguments last week. Counsel to the appellant (Britania-U) Rickey Tarfa (SAN), while adopting his client’s brief, noted that the appeal was in respect of the June 20, 2014 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which vacated the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja that parties should maintain the status quo regarding issues relating to the oil blocks. The Federal High Court in Abuja, on December 13, 2013, issued an interim injunction restraining Chevron from assigning OMLs 52, 53 and 55 to any of the unsuccessful bidding companies, including Seplat, in the bid won by Britannia-U in September, 2013. Tarfa urged the court to grant the motion for mandatory restorative order to revert parties to status quo before the appeal was lodged. He urged the court to uphold Britannia-U’s appeal, set aside the decision of the Appeal Court and dismiss the preliminary objections of Chevron and other respondents. Counsel to Seplat Damian Dodo (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the appeal, which he said was interlocutory. Dodo argued that the core issue raised in the Brittania-U appeal was whether or not the lower court was right to set aside the ex-parte order, which extended the interim injunction granted in favour of the appellant indefinitely when the substantive case was still pending. Uche Nwokedi (SAN), who represented Chevron and BNP Paribas Securities Corp (second and fourth respondents), adopted his respondent’s reply to the brief with his

Oil vessel

Development Company Ltd. Joined as defendants also are Chevron USA Inc, BNP Parbas Securities Corp, Hermant Petel and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Ltd. Britannia-U Nigeria Ltd sought a declaration that its final binding offer of $1,015,000,000 for acquisition of 40 per cent interest of Chevron Nigeria in oil mining leases 52, 53 and 56 was accepted by the first defendant. In its statement of claim, Britannia-U said the second defendant (Chevron USA) requested it to provide “firm board commitment letter” by its (plaintiff’s) bankers for the balance of $765million, which it complied with. The plaintiff added that its bankers paid the money to the second defendant (Chevron Corp) at its Houston office on November 15, 2013, arguing that with the payment, the parties had entered into a binding contract for the acquisition of OMLs 52, 53 and 55 by the plaintiff. Britannia-U urged the court to hold that its revised bid of $1,015, 000, 000 for acquisition of the 40 per cent interest of Chevron Nigeria Ltd in Oil Mining Leases 52, 53 and 56 is binding and subsisting. The plaintiff also urged the court to hold that the Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit for $250 million representing 15 per cent of the company’s initial bid price of $1.667 biloccasion and we are ready to guide you lion, opened in favour of the first/second dethrough the process to ensure you do defendants on September 30, 2013, remained in liver more power to the national grid.” force. Insulla while assuring on the company’s willingness to investment more in the power sector thanks the Commission for the efforts at issuing the licence to Regulator Commission, NERC, indicated would do everything within its area of in- his company even as he assured, “We are CHIDI UGWU that the NAOC’s Managing Director, Mr. fluence to ensure that investors in power ready for the second phase.” ABUJA “Agip is committed to working in comMassimo Insulla, made the commitment generation will not suffer loss on their inpliance with NERC rules and regulations. igerian Agip Oil Company for the second phase following a request vestments. We shall work without compromising in(NAOC) has assured it was com- from the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Issuing the licence to NAOC, Dr. Sam mitted to start work on the second Amadi that Agip should do more than Amadi said, “We know Agip can deliver tegrity of the assets and in line with the phase of its Okpai Power Plant in Delta it is doing in the power sector, since it more. You do not have gas problem. We rules and regulations.” Okpai power plant is a joint venture State which generates 480megawatts to would not have gas supply challenge, be- are looking forward to your delivering investment of the Nigerian National Pethe national grid presently. ing an oil producing company. more power to the national grid.” troleum Corporation, NAOC, Philips Oil A statement by Nigeria Electricity Amadi assured that the Commission “We congratulate you on this special Company Limited and was constructed in line with a power purchase agreement Commodity Units Price Change % Change Time(ET) signed on July 24, 2001 with the then National Electric Power Authority prior to Crude Oil (WTI) USD/bbl. 44.60 -1.10 -2.41% 11:38:24 the enactment of the Electric Power SecCrude Oil (Brent) USD/bbl. 47.46 -1.14 -2.35% 11:38:24 tor Reform Act 2005, which establishes NERC. -530.00 TOCOM Crude Oil JPY/kl 35,900.00 -1.45% 11:38:30 Okpai power plant started operations NYMEX Natural Gas USD/MMBtu 2.60 +0.04 +1.56% 11:38:11 on April 1, 2005 and has since being delivSource: Bloomberg as at October 7, 2015 ering 480mw to the national grid. notice of preliminary objection to the appeal, which he said, was filed the same day with the reply to the brief. Counsel to Chevron USA Inc and Hermant Patel (third and fifth respondents) A.V. Etuwewe, told the court that his clients filed their reply on March 3, but deemed properly filed on March 23. Tarfa said the respondents’ game plan was to forestall the case so that they could use technicality to knock it off. He told the court that the respondents failed to realise that in the case, the 14 days did not apply because the statutes “say if you sue foreigners outside jurisdiction, they must be given 30 days before they can be compelled to appear before the court.” Tarfa added: “When the case resumed at the trial court, after the grant of ex-parte injunction, the respondents brought an objection that the court has no jurisdiction. “So we argued that in view of the objection that the court has no jurisdiction, what is the position then because the res must be preserved while the issue of jurisdiction is yet to be determined. “This was the reason the court made the preservative order over the res while fixing the preliminary objection for hearing on the first opportunity.” He urged the court not to allow respondents take undue advantage of the delay they engineered. Britannia-U is challenging the award of OMLs 52, 53 and 55 by Chevron Nigeria Ltd to Seplat Petroleum

Agip to commence work on 480mw Okpai power plant

Energy Week

NNPC requires $500m to fix refineries

he Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Saturday said that the sum of 500 million dollars would be required to fixed the country’s refineries. Kachikwu disclosed this at a Luncheon organised in his honour by the Petroleum Club in Lagos. He said that the refineries model cannot be sustained to achieved the objective desired in production. The NNPC boss said proposed money which will be repaid over a period of eight years, to repair the refineries. He revealed that he had been inundated with requests for allocation of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and other products from the refineries but insisted that the time of allocation of products to people by the NNPC is over Kachikwu has stated that his target is to ensure that Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity hits 3 million barrels per day by the end of 2016, from the current production level of about 2.5 million barrels per day. He further stated that the preliminary results of seismic studies conducted in Chad Basin showed that there are potentials for oil discovery in the area, adding that he is optimistic that the announcement to that effect may be made by the end of this year. “People come to my office to ask for allocation of LPFO but I tell them that the period of product allocation is over. That is clearly not my job. “Nigerians must begin to add value to get results and income. My period, no matter how short, will not be characterised by favouritism. “I like people to get rich but people should get rich based on ideas they bring to the table and not based on allocation paper given to them by government,” he said. Kachikwu stated that there would be no space for armchair and brief-case businessmen in the present NNPC. He stated that his target is to ensure that the country produces 3 million barrels per day by 2016. According to him, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the upstream arm of the NNPC has increased its crude oil production capacity by 20,000 barrels per day since he took over 11 weeks ago as the Group Managing Director of the state-run oil firm. Kachikwu stated that NPDC currently produces 220,000 barrels per day, which is expected to increase to 240,000 barrels per day by the end of this year. According to him, his target is that by the end of 2016, NPDC will hit a production capacity of 350,000 barrels per day.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AEDC taskforce uncovers energy theft scam CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has reported major cases of electricity theft by customers using meters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The company’s Head of Media, Ahmed Shekarau, in a statement quoted the Executive Director, Commercial Services, Engr. Ernest Mupwaya, as confirming the scam which indicated that many high profile personalities resident in Abuja and environs were involved. Mupwaya warned all customers engaged in such fraudulent activities to desist from doing so as the company will soon launch “Operation Shame Them” campaign to expose all those involved in the act, including the high profile personalities. The company’s boss, who declined to provide details of what the operation will entail, said the Disco planned to involve the police and the media in the exercise. The AEDC and the police had early this year agreed to collaborate towards tackling theft of electricity and vandalism within the Company’s coverage area. The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the management of AEDC led by its Managing Director, Mr. Neil Croucher. The Police IG was represented at the meeting by the DIG (Logistics and Supply), Mr. Mamman Tsafe. At the meeting, Mr. Croucher,

who regretted the rising cases of theft of energy in the power sector, said the Company needed the support of the police in dealing with the twin evils of electricity theft and vandalism. Citing the Penal Code and other relevant laws, the company’s Chief Executive Officer said that the company was ready to collaborate with the police to further reduce the incidence of commercial and technical losses being incurred by the Company. Meanwhile, AEDC has sought the support of its esteemed customers to its 10-year tariff plan, which it unveiled recently. AEDC had prepared the new rates following the request to the 11 Discos in the country by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to seek the support of their customers for a cost reflective tariff for the next 10 years starting from 2015. Croucher, who led officials of the company to seek the cooperation of its customers in the new rates at several stakeholders’ meetings across the covered states, disclosed at the weekend that the proposed tariff review was to, among others, provide a cost reflective tariff to facilitate the attraction of private capital into the sector. He had stated that the current rates charged by the Disco to distribute electricity to its customers did not cover the cost of producing and distributing electricity in the country. He disclosed that having put in as much as N2 billion since taking over the network from the government in 2013, the Disco would need

Power transmission station

to invest $200 million over the next five years in the network, hence its request for a review. “We are appealing for a marginal increment in the tariff. And if you support us in this regard, it will help us to serve you better since private capital will be attracted to this new tariff regime,” Croucher pleaded. Speaking more on the investments made by the Disco so far, Croucher said that the company had invested for the improvement of service delivery within its operating area since takeover in November, 2013, the sum of N2 billion which had been injected by the company with a view to improving its network assets and infrastructure. He clarified: “Besides, we will install 500,000 meters, 100,000 per annum for a period of five years after we must have completed the pilot scheme of free meter installation totalling 35,000 for which Minna in Niger state and Life Camp in FCT

have been selected as test areas. These projects are currently being rolled out. “Electronic vending system is also in the offing where customers can pay their bills via the internet by logging on to our website, and POS terminals,” he added. Notwithstanding AEDC’s pleas, its customers were however divided in their positions on the rate review, with some of them backing the marginal increase on the expectation it will bring about improvement in power supply, while others expressed reservations about the increase in tariff as they insisted on improvement before the review. Croucher however requested that customers adopt the proposed rate review as a sacrifice to improve the stability of the network. He stressed that even at the proposed tariff, customers would still pay less when compared with the cost incurred in self-generation of electricity. Croucher in this regard reiterated that AEDC’s 10-year tariff plan ensures that the rate will actually fall in real terms over the years.

Sahara Group joins UN, SDGF, others SDGs Fund launch UDEME AKPAN

ahara Group, a leading African Energy and Infrastructure conglomerate will on November 10, 2015 in New York, join other stakeholders for the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) new report, “Business and the United Nations: Working together towards the Sustainable Development Goals: A framework for Ac-

Oil rig

tion”. The UN estimates indicate that achieving the SDGs will require $3.3-4.5 trillion a year. Sahara’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Tonye Cole, SDG-F Director, Paloma Duran and other speakers are expected to give insight into the report which provides a roadmap on how the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be effectively driven through col-

laboration between the private sector and other stakeholders. A collection of company case examples and perspectives from Sahara Group, Microsoft, BBVA Microfinance Foundation, EBRO Foods and H&M, among others, formed part of the SDGF report which is expected to serve as a manual for regional and global multi-stakeholder cooperation. Cole, a member of the SDGF’s Private Sector Advisory Group, said the report offers “a strategic and pragmatic direction for more coordinated private sector partnership with other stakeholders across the globe.” The report, according to him, also reinforces good governance, transparency and best practice as principles that must guide alliances involving businesses, governments and nongovernmental organisations to achieve meaningful and sustainable development.

Cole said Sahara was passionate about its involvement with the SDG-F, adding that the company’s experience with various governments and partners in countries where it operates indicate that effective collaborations often produce bespoke solutions that can be replicated. “We have seen our intervention projects which are coordinated by Sahara Foundation transform lives and businesses and hope that our contribution to the report will inspire a new wave of private sector led partnerships that will promote inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication, capacity building, food security and access to potable water, especially in Africa,” Cole stated. Sahara Group reiterates its commitment to providing financial and advisory support to accelerate efforts geared towards realising the sustainable development goals by 2030.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Energy Week

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

41% Nigerian businesses generate own power supply – ESN STORIES: CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Energy Savers Nigeria, (ESN) a non-governmental organization (NGO) has disclosed that an estimated 41 per cent of Nigerian businesses generate their own power supply. In a paper titled: “The Nigerian Power Sector, A Performance Appraisal under the Buhari Administration” a member of Board of Trustees of Energy Savers Nigeria, Moses Nasamu, said about 56 per cent of the population are connected to the grid, while 44 per cent are not. He stated that Nigerian business owners generate own electricity to augment supply from the grid, in line with the recent World Bank report on electricity situations in Nigeria, adding that the problem was caused by poor generation and distribution system and other systemic issues in the sector. According to him, no fewer than 97 million out of 175 million Nigerians have no access to grid electricity. The remaining 78 million people who are connected to the grid face substantial power interruptions. The ESN noted that Nigeria lags behind other developing nations in terms of grid- based electricity consumption with 126 kilowatts

hour(kwh) per capita, stressing that electricity consumption is expected to be five times higher than what it is today in Nigeria, if we consider the country’s Gross Domestic Product( GDP) alongside other countries globally. The paper said 25 per cent of Nigeria’s 12, 522 megawatts (mw) of electricity installed reach the end user. “Widespread inefficiency means that only 3, 879Mw of this capacity is operational, with 3,600Mw transmitted and 3,100 distributed. Most of the shortfalls, which were about 5,381Mw, is capacity that is unavailable due to obsolete equipment and poor maintenance or due to ongoing maintenance and repair activities at existing power plants. Also, about 3,262Mw of electricity is non-operational primarily due to gas, water, high frequency, and transmission line constraints.” According to the paper, the sector has recorded some operational improvements, mainly driven by increased availability of gas since May 29th, 2015, when the Buhari/Osinbajo led government started. The paper stated that in August 2015, Nigeria hits historical highs as both peak generation and total energy generated across the system stood at 4,811mw and 4,213 megawatts hour (mwh) re-

Power plant

spectively. It said transmission losses fell by 10 per cent between June and August 2015, compared to the first four months of the year. “Nigerians would recall that at the commencement of Buhari/ Osinbajo’s administration in May this year, the sector was plagued with challenges, which included under-utilisation of generating plants partly due to insufficient gas availability occasioned by frequent vandalism of gas distribution assets, inadequate transmission infrastructure, high distribution losses, liquidity problem, among others,” the group added. They said electricity generation and distribution has improved relatively, despite the fact that the problems still exist in the sector. “The Buhari government has helped in

restoring confidence in the sector through its decision to fast-track execution of the first set of World Bank partial risk guarantees, and granting of sovereign immunity waiver which aimed at increasing the rate of growth of the first tranche of projectfinanced Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and the interim execution of the contracts undertaken by the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). On solution, the group urged the successor distribution companies to improve on their revenues in order to enable them fund what they described as ‘Wholesale Obligations,’ cater for their operating expenditure requirements, invest in new and modern capacity, and ensure cost- effective tariff is provided for the teeming consumers of electricity in Nigeria. They said when these measures are well implemented, power supply would improve and industrial activities will improve also.

NERC slams N18m fine on Abuja DISCO over electrocution incident

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has slammed N18 million fine on Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) following electrocution of one eight year old Faith Yakubu at Anguwan Dodo, Gwagwalada, FCT, which is within the company’s distribution franchise area. The Commission stated that the fine was part of in a resolution upholding the recommendations of its Panel Report of Accident Investigation which found the distribution company liable of negligence. “AEDC shall pay Eighteen Million Naira (N18,000,000) as compensa-

Amadi

tion to the family of Faith Yakubu and communicate same to the Commission accordingly. AEDC should ensure that the surviving four month old child undergoes medical checkup in a recognised hospital and evidence presented to the Commission for further directives.” The electricity distribution company was directed to carry out regular safety enlightenment campaign in accordance with the Nigeria Electricity Safety Manual and Nigeria Electricity Safety Code. The Disco was told to adequately train its staff on market regulations as well as ensure that its Marketing Units are provided with competent technical staff with the sole responsibility of carrying out the function of connection and disconnection of customers when all conditions for disconnections in line with NERC’s regulations have been met. Meanwhile, the accident occurred when a staff of Commission disconnected the wire feeding Yakubus’ residence over allegation of accumulated bills and left the wire lying on the ground even as it failed to disconnect supply from

the transformer. The deceased, in her innocence, was running an errand with the surviving four month old baby boy strapped on her back, grabbed the wire in an attempt to cross over the naked wire when she got electrocuted. The baby on her back survived the accident. Meanwhile, a South African energy expert, Mr Rens Bindeman, has advised Discos to seek stiffer penalties for vandals and recruit community informants to address electricity theft. Bindeman who spoke in Abuja while lecturing stakeholders on data management and revenue recovery for electricity distributors also said the Discos must meter all of its customers to increase revenue while ensuring accurate estimated billing in the interim. Bindeman, who is the Technical Advisor to the South African Revenue Protection Association (SARPA) mentioned factors responsible for energy loss to include faulty meters, meter bypass, lack of metering, unlinked meters and some meters not loaded unto customers’ accounts. The industry expert hinted that the power distributors in South Afri-

ca partner with banks where customers take loans to procure and install meters, a system typical of the existing Credited Advance Payment for Metering Initiative (CAPMI) that allows customers to pay for meters and get their money with interest through electricity credit hours. He said: “The Discos in Nigeria do not have the money to buy all the meters at a time now, what they should do like in South Africa is to look at the ones that need meters now and you give the meters; then look for how to meter others. The companies got agreement with the banks – the customers take loan from the bank for the meter which is then installed in his house. “So the channel for Discos is to find ways of sourcing for meters and a good idea is to start making meters in Nigeria so customers can get the meters much cheaper because for now, they are being brought from overseas,” Bindeman advised. The workshop organised by the Abuja Disco for stakeholders in the power sector including the Ministry, electricity regulators, the transmission, the Discos, among others was to address the rising cases of energy loss and energy theft.

PTDF scholars excels at Malaysian university

o fewer than thirty-five scholars of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund were among a total of 253 Nigerians who graduated in various academic disciplines at the 2015 convocation ceremony of the Linton University College Malaysia in collaboration with University of East London and Coventry University, United Kingdom. Altogether 50 Nigerian graduates distinguished themselves with first class honours degrees, among whom were 13 PTDF scholars who earned first class degrees in Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Business Management and Civil Engineering. Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Malaysia, Mrs Janet Besseng Odeka said the unprecedented achievement of the Nigerian scholars in a university in Malaysia has contributed in creating a positive image for Nigerians living in the country. The High Commissioner who addressed the PTDF scholars at a post convocation meeting in Kuala Lumpur urged the graduands to go back to Nigeria and contribute to the development of Nigeria particular under a new regime of transparent leadership “I am really excited and grateful because this is the first time we are having such number of graduates who produced good results such as 1st class and 2nd class upper. We have had students from Nigeria who were involved in criminal activities and other immoral acts, but for the first time we are celebrating something we should be proud of as Nigerians and I wish to appeal to Nigerians here that they should emulate what these graduands have done to attract a good name for Nigeria”. Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Femi Ajayi urged the graduands to take advantage of the opportunities that are opening up in Nigeria under a new administration to deploy their new skills and knowledge. “Rather than being skeptical about the future and apprehensive about job opportunities back home in Nigeria, you should be excited knowing that a new chapter has opened in Nigeria this provides the enabling environment for those who genuinely wish to make it in Nigeria”. Ajayi said that their areas of specialization which are Engineering related will serve as stepping stones for building bridges between opportunities and dreams. He said that the money invested by the Federal Government of Nigeria through PTDF in training the gradaunds has yielded good dividends that will impact on government local content aspiration in the oil and gas industry. “This is something to be very proud of and excited about, particularly when you know the areas they specialized in such as software engineering, electronic engineering, business information, and related disciplines.

Energy Week

SPDC JV’s Andoni GMoU cluster empowers 80 women

ighty women have graduated from a skills acquisition programme of the Andoni Cluster Development Board (CDB) under the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) JV’s Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) for the development of communities in the Niger Delta. The 80 youths earned National Board of Technical Education approved certificates at the end of a three-month intensive training programme in fashion and design, catering, cosmetology and computer, under a partnership between the Andoni GMoU CDB and the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), at the Workmanship and Technical Training Centre (WTTC) in Bori, Rivers State. “Our Global Memorandum of Understanding with our host communities is anchored on the principle that they should drive their own development and capacity building. This structure elevates SPDC and the host communities to the rank of partners, collaborating for a common purpose; the continued development of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region,” said SPDC’s Head Government and Community Relations, Edesiri Akpomudjere. He congratulated the beneficiaries for successfully completing the intensive training programme and challenged them to utilise the skills and networks they have gained from the training to their full potential. “Today is a very unique day and I am glad to see hardworking women graduate from a rigorous training programme,” said Mrs. Blessing Daniel-Kalio, General Manager, Business Development and Job Creation, RSSDA. The Andoni CDB Chairman, Chief Gad Harry thanked the SPDC JV for playing a key role in the success of the programme. “These young women are our pride, the repository of our own values knowing the role they would play in our society tomorrow,” he added. Some of the beneficiaries said that the programme has equipped them with skills that would set them apart in an increasingly competitive job market and thanked the SPDC JV for funding the development programmes of the Andoni CDB. Meanwhile, the development of indigenous manpower for the oil and gas industry has received a boost as more students passed out from a one-year internship programme organised by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), a group of indigenous oilfield service companies. The internship programme which was introduced by SPDC JV in 2014 seeks to support manpower development in critical disciplines and equips graduates with vital industry experience for employment.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PTD alleges military harassment of personnel UDEME AKPAN

ncreasing cases of harassment and extortions of Petroleum Tank Drivers (PTD) by uniform men has necessitated the need to establish cordial and working relationship between tanker drivers and the Nigerian army. The Chief of Civil – Military Affairs, Nigeria Army Headquarters, Brig General R.I. Nicholas while on a visit to the National Secretariat of PTD Branch of NUPENG in Abuja explained the reason for the visit, which was aimed at reducing recurring frictions between the army and PTD members. He noted the important role played by Tanker Drivers in the nation’s economy and that rather than be seen and treated with scorn, Nigeria and the Nigerian Army recognized the contribution of Petroleum Tanker Drivers and assured the union that the army is ready to partner with member of PTD at ensuring the smooth flow of fuel distribution across the country. He stressed the need for peaceful co-existence, devoid of rancour and unnecessary strike actions. Big General Nicholas, expressed the readiness of the Army to relate with PTD members in civil manner so long they conduct themselves within the ambit of the law, saying the present day Army does not see himself as a subject of terror in the society and that the union should cooperate with the force to build mutual and respectful relationship between the two organizations. The Chief of Civil – Military Af-

fairs who was accompanied by other officers promise to look at some of the problem areas identified by the union notably – Warri – Benin by pass among others with a view to check the excesses of uniform men in the area as well as other parts of the country. In an earlier address the National chairman of PTD Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti extol the virtues of the Army saying the Nigerian Army made the country proud particularly in recent times with the remarkable successes recorded in the fight against insurgent. Oladiti recalled the feats achieved by the Nigeria Army is Liberia, …, South Sudan and Somalia among others the entire executive present at the occasion expressed delight over the visit Meanwhile, 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

Fuel tanker

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. Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC indicated that it has stepped up measures to eliminate fuel queues in some petrol stations across major cities in the country with the injection of additional volumes of premium motor spirit, PMS to enrich product availability in the affected areas. The Corporation maintained that in line with its drive to ensure zero fuel queues ahead of the forthcom-

Knowledge of lubricants essential – Sote

he Principal Partner, Lubeservices Associates, Engr Kayode Sote, has advised Nigerians to be wary of the quality of lubricants that are used in their cars and machinery to protect their engines and guarantee the durability. This was the thrust of his paper discussed at the press conference flagging off the 2nd Nigerian Lubricants Summit 2015 held on Thursday, 29th October 2015 in Lagos. Sote, who is the technical consultant to the Nigerian Lubricants

Lubricant plant

Summit, explained the need to draw attention to the nation’s lubricant quality and the challenges the industry has witnessed. He mentioned that a vast number of Nigerians usually use improper roadside lubricants that do not go through testing, which sometimes affects their equipment or vehicles. He explained that this year’s editon was the second edition of the Nigerian Lubricants Summit, and it is an avenue to inform and educate stakeholders on the quality of Lubricants in the Nigerian market and to

promote the marketing potential of lubes manufactured locally. “The imperatives of the technical and commercial challenges of the Nigerian lubricants market informed the need to organize this year’s Conference and Exhibition on lubricants quality, its sustainability, compliance and enforcement in line with the research and development in base oils, additive technology and techno - economic dynamics of engine designs in general. In his remarks, the Managing Director, Lubcon Limited, Mr.Taiye Williams stated the need to sanitize the Nigerian lubricant sector for growth in the Oil and Gas industry, noting that his company has invested a lot on testing lubricants in laboratories to ensure that the quality of what it produces meets customers’ expectations. He explained that the summit had been endorsed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). “It is expected to have key players outside the country and in the Nigerian Lubricants Industry including participants from the Standards Or-

ing yuletide and beyond, the Corporation is working assiduously with its downstream subsidiary company, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC and other downstream players to consolidate the prevailing stability in the supply and distribution of fuel nationwide. However, many stakeholders have renewed their calls for the establishment of new refineries in the nation. One of them is the National President of the Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Colman Obasi who traced the travails of the nation to its inability to meet domestic fuel needs. “Many previous administrations did not do much to construct new plants. The present government should give priority to building new refineries. This is the only way we can add value to our crude oil before it is exported to other nations. We cannot afford to export a bulk of our crude oil while importing refined products from other nations.”

ganization of Nigeria, Department of Petroleum Resources, Major Oil Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Lubricants Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Members of the Press and more,” Williams noted. The summit objectives include but not limited to promoting the marketing potential of lubes manufactured locally in order to confirm the fact they are equipment lubrication – compliant. And also expose their technical competence as premium grades that meet and in some cases exceed the performance level and optimal drain intervals as recommended by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), international standard organization (ISO), technical associations, professional bodies like SAE, IP, ASTM, NLGI, etc. To exhibit and showcase the diversed lube range and also confirm the fact that the total installed capacities of the lube plants in Nigeria currently operating at about 40% can meet the local consumption and with the potential to export market to earn foreign exchange for the country.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Industry & SMEs

Analysts list Foreign Direct Investments benefits to Nigeria’s economic growth Governments over the past years have been trying to lift the country out of economic doldrums without achieving the desired success. Largely, one of the factors identified by analysts as hampering sustainable economic growth in the country is the absence of long-term FDI policy frameworks to assure investors of returns on their investments. ABOLAJI ADEBAYO reports:

or most Nigerian governments, little policy attention has been given to foreign direct investments that should have guaranteed positive economic development for the country. FDI is needed to reduce the difference between the desired gross domestic investment and domestic savings. FDIs contribute to economic growth not only by providing foreign capital but also by crowding in additional domestic investment. By promoting both forward and backward linkages with the domestic economy, creating additional employment and further stimulating economic activity. The unstable international economic and political environment has led to a renewed interest in the benefits foreign direct investments, FDIs, can offer to developing countries in achieving economic growth. The growing interest in foreign direct investment stands from the perceived opportunities derivable from utilising this form of foreign capital injection into the economy, to augment domestic savings and further promote economic development in most developing economies. Analysts believe that FDIs assist in closing domestic revenue-generation gap in a developing economy, given that most developing countries’ governments do not seem to be able to generate sufficient revenue to meet their expenditure needs, including other benefits such as adoption of foreign technology. Foreign direct investment consists of external resources including technology, managerial and marketing expertise and capital. All these generate a considerable impact on host nation’s productive capabilities. The success of government policies of stimulating the productive base of the economy depend largely on her ability to control adequate amount of FDI comprising of managerial, capital and technological resources to boast the existing production capacity. Although the Nigerian government has being trying to provide conducive investment climate for foreign investment, the inflow of foreign investments into the country has not been encouraging. Given the Nigerian economy resource

Garri processing machine

Buhari

LCCI President, Remi Bello

THE IMPLICATIONS ARE CLEAR; AS THE CREDIT CRUNCH STARTS TO BITE AND CAPITAL BECOMES SCARCER AND MORE EXPENSIVE, SO MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS WILL SCALE BACK THEIR INVESTMENT PLANS base, the country’s foreign investment policy should move towards attracting and encouraging more inflow of foreign capital. The need for foreign direct investment is born out of the under-developed nature of the country’s economy that essentially hindered the pace of her economic development. Generally, policy strategies of the Nigerian government towards foreign investments are shaped by two principal objectives of the desire for economic independence and the demand for economic development. An analysis of foreign flow into the country so far has revealed that only a limited number of multinationals or their subsidiaries have made Foreign Direct Investment in the country. Added to this problem of insufficient inflow of FDI is the inability to retain the Foreign Direct Investment which has already come into the country. Also what effect has foreign direct investment have on such vari-

ables as- Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and Balance of Payment (BOP). According to Omankhanlen Ehimare, a lecturer at the Department of Banking and Finance, Covenant University, the relationship between FDI and economic growth in Nigeria is yet unclear, and that recent evidence shows that the relationship may be country and period specific. Speaking a workshop on Foreign Investment Policy and Practice organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Lagos recently, Ehimare said that developing countries economic difficulties did not originate in their isolation from advance countries, saying that the most powerful obstacle to their development came from the way they were joined to the international system. Added to this problem, as he said, were the poor external image Nigeria has and the concept of European Economic Community that include Eastern Europe. He submitted that this translated to the fact that investment flows that would normally come from western countries now went to poor European Economic Communities which include Eastern Europe. He said: “While inflation was seen not to have significant impact on foreign direct investment inflows. The exchange rate has positive effect on foreign direct investment. Therefore it is recommended that for Nigeria to attract the desired level of FDI, it must introduce sound economic policies and make the country investor friendly. There must be political stability, sound economic management and well developed infrastructure.” The Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muda Yusuf, said that foreign direct investment has been one

of the principal beneficiaries of the liberalisation of capital flows over recent decades, and now constitutes the major form of capital inflow for many developing countries, including low-income ones. He however said that while there were reasons to celebrate this success, the current financial turmoil in Nigeria does not bode well for the sustainability of these flows. Meanwhile, Yusuf said that for the nation’s economy to be developed, competitiveness has to be encouraged, and as a result, the existing and ‘yet-to-exist’ export processing and free trade zones should be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructures and technologies. “The infrastructures in the country need to be enhanced to meet the needs/requirements of foreign investors. For example, electricity should be provided at an uninterrupted level to reduce the extra cost that investors incur in the procurement of power generating sets coupled with their maintenance. “Also, good network roads and adequate water supply should be provided so as to cut the cost of investors doing business. Appropriate measures should be placed to check economic and financial crimes,” he said. The Chief Executive Officer of Akigsag Ventures Limited, Olawale Timothy, an expert in built industry, said although foreign direct investment was considered by many to be a major source of financing for a number of developing countries, it could sometimes compound problems during times of financial crisis. He declared that multinational enterprises can shift financial resources easily from one country to another, adding to macroeconomic instability in developing countries. According to him, this was particularly evident during the downturn in 2000-01, when global FDI outflows fell by almost 50 per cent. He said: “The implications are clear; as the credit crunch starts to bite and capital becomes scarcer and more expensive, so multinational corporations will scale back their investment plans. FDI inflows are also highly contingent on local growth as a ‘pull factor’ which entices foreign investors. In so far as the prospects for growth in the developing countries deteriorate, so too will FDI inflows. This is particularly important to the extent that much FDI in the developing world is directed towards local markets. “Once the crisis is over, FDI might actually be one of the forms of cross-border flows that will be privileged (as it has been in the aftermath to previous crises). Indeed, in a deleveraged world, FDI may become one of the few ways in which low and middle-income countries can access capital for development. But in the meanwhile policy makers in developing countries need to monitor trends carefully and adapt policy accordingly.”

Cocktail

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Election: Judge faces voting equipment theft

uthorities in western Pennsylvania said yesterday that a local judge of elections, Darrin Farmer, was arrested after allegedly failing to show up to the polls and instead deciding to work as a jitney driver for the day. The Allegheny County sheriff’s office says 55-yearold Farmer of North Versailles never came to the North Versailles precinct with voting equipment, delaying poll opening by three

hours. Authorities said his wife said he dropped her off at a store to buy refreshments for volunteers but then left. They allege he decided to spend the day giving rides for money. Farmer faces charges including tampering with public records and obstructing a government function; a listed number for him could not be found and it is unclear whether he has an attorney who could respond to the charges.

Oddities

Missing Texas’ pit bull found in California

he owners of a pit bull who disappeared during flooding in Texas in May are puzzled as to how the animal ended up more than 2,000 miles away in northern California.

Eddie Hurtado says Thor ran away after his family evacuated their San Marcos home that was overwhelmed by the swelling Blanco River during storms over Memorial Day weekend. Police found Thor

Company launches Sanders maiden TV advert

mployees of a Vermont company have launched a side business selling underwear featuring a black-and-white drawing of the face of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Reports said that the underwear, which features the message “Feel the Bern,” was available for men and women and costs $15 plus shipping and handling. The three workers with

KSE Partners, a strategic communications and government affairs firm, said they created Bernie’s Briefs as a fun side business. The Vermont senator has said recently on late-night TV and talk shows that he prefers briefs over boxers. The startup’s founders called Sanders’ passion for serious issues admirable. One founder says the political process has benefited from his campaign.

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The pit bull and its owner after their reunion

wandering in Crescent City, California, in September and took him to the Del Norte County Animal Shelter, where workers used the microchip to identify him. Hurtado says he doesn’t know how Thor

got to California. Hurtado says he can’t afford the estimated $1,500 to ship the dog home. A California trucker has volunteered to drive Thor back to San Marcos, 30 miles south of Austin.

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Civil Service 41

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Use space technology to tackle insecurity, expert tells FG A n exploration g eophysicist, Prof. Isaac Aigbedion, has urged the Federal Government to adopt the use of space technology to tackle terrorism and criminality in the country. Aigbedion who delivered a lecture on Tuesday titled, ``Space Technology and Use of Geophysical Methods for National Security in Nigeria,’’ at the Ambrose Alli Univer-

sity (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo, stressed the need to use space technology. According to him, the use of space technology would identify and track criminals in Nigeria and across borders. ``Nigeria should adopt Geophysical Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) solutions, resistivity and induced polarisation, seismic reflection/refraction, vibration monitoring and forensic geo-

physics to combat crimes (from weapons or metallic barrels to human burials and bunkers). ``Geophysical methods have the potential for the localisation and mapping of buried objects beneath soil or water. ``Forensic geophysics is an evolving technique that is gaining popularity and prestige in crime detection, and if the federal government

can adopt this method it would help in tackling threat to national security,’’ he said. Aigbedion called on government to as a matter of urgency launch an indigenous spacecraft in the country. The expert insisted that geo-science search techniques could complement traditional methodologies in the search for buried objects, including clandes-

Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Titus Reagan (right), handing over to new Sole Administrator of Bauchi State Yankari Game Reserve, Mr. Habu Mamman, in Bauchi, yesterday.

tine graves, weapons, explosives, drugs, illegal weapons, hazardous waste and vehicles. He, however, regretted that Forensic Geophysics, defined as the ``application of physical methods related to legal investigation’’ was still

uncommon in normal Nigeria Police practice. ``Geophysical techniques, and particularly Ground Penetrating Radar, have been used with varying degrees of success, to locate unmarked cemetery graves or mass graves,’’ he said.

UNICEF to partner with Kebbi journalists on information dissemination

he North West zonal field office of UNICEF said it would partner with journalists in Kebbi to disseminate information on healthcare tips for mothers, newborn and children. The UNICEF chief of field office, Mr. Mohammed Mohiuddin, made the disclosure in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday at its maiden state media briefing. He said the Fund would partner with journalists to increase awareness about vaccine preventable diseases, facilitate community dialogue toward removing barriers such as taboos and cultural and religious misconception to enhance access to

healthcare services. He added that UNICEF would continue to provide logistic support to commodity supplies in health camps and announced that 50 Muslim clerics had been engaged to propagate the acceptance of immunisation in five high risk communities of the state. Mohiuddin said the Fund would sustain its support toward reducing malnutrition and improvement of girl-child education in the state. He noted that the world body had also assisted in repairing 312 vaccine preservation refrigerators out of 700 faulty ones and had provided healthcare support to many wards in the state.

NAPTIP wants counsellors in fight against child trafficking

rs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has called on counsellors in public schools to partner with the agency to combat child trafficking and abuses. Jedy-Egba, who was represented by Mr. Arinze Orakwe, Director of Public Enlightenment, NAPTIP, made the call during a one-day sensitisation workshop for counsellors of public schools on Tuesday in Abuja. She said that school counsellors, as an organised professional group with large numerical and geographical spread, were in good position to support the

campaign against child trafficking, child labour and child abuse in Nigeria. According to her, the counsellors have the capacity to carry the campaign against trafficking in persons to the appropriate vulnerable children nationwide, because they interact with them daily and directly in their classrooms. Jedy-Egba added that school counsellors’ influence on children went beyond the classroom, with multiplying effects on their parents and relations on matters of behavioural and career counselling. She said that the agency had decided to train counsellors to act as advocates on trafficking in persons and child protection matters in

the society. She disclosed that the recent NAPTIP’s early morning sensitisation in some selected schools within the Federal Capital Territory revealed a deficit of approach by counsellors to child abuse and related issues of child molestation. The NAPTIP boss explained that most school counsellors were not knowledgeable on issue of child protection, adding that they were clinging to the old approach of career selection and choice. According to her, most of the counsellors did not imagine that their position was more than just for academic interest of their wards but also health and physical wellbeing. She said that the

workshop was to ensure that counsellors in primary and secondary schools were knowledgeable about the provision of the Anti-Trafficking Laws and Child’s Right Act. ``It is to ensure establishment of register for child offenders, which will provide a stream of intelligence for profiling and detection of the type of crime prevalent in certain localities. ``The workshop is also to ensure a drastic reduction in cases of child trafficking and domestic child abuse cases involving school teachers, parents and guardians. ``It is also to create awareness on the current modus operandi of traffickers and chart a new road map to achieving a human trafficking

free society that will guarantee our future leaders a brighter tomorrow,`` she said. In her contribution, Mrs. Stella Nwoke, Head, Guardian and Counseling, Local Education Authority, Abuja Minicipal Area Ccouncil, commended NAPTIP for sensitising the school counsellors to the matters of child protection from trafficking and abuse. Nwoke said that the workshop was apt, adding that counsellors often discovered cases of abuse and molestation on their wards which they normally reported to the appropriate agencies. She added that the workshop would help to educate school counsellors that hitherto did not

know where to report cases of abuse and how to go about it when faced with such challenge. According to her, the authority had been counselling its teachers on the need to look at every child under their care as their biological children while they are in school. ``We are currently faced with shortage of counsellors in the public schools but we have compiled the list of professional counsellors among our teachers with the aim of devoting them to counselling only. ``We hope that if by 2016 more teachers are recruited by the government, every school in the FCT should have a guardian and counsellor,’’ Nwoke said.

Civil Service

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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NISER wants taxes imposed on MSMEs reduced

he Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, on Tuesday, advised governments to minimise high taxes allegedly imposed on Micro, Small and Medium scale Enterprises (MSMEs). Dr. Foluso Adeyinka of the institute’s Department of Economic Policy Research Department gave the advice while delivering a lecture at the NISER Research Seminar Series (NRSS) in Ibadan. Adeyinka spoke on the topic, ‘Infrastructure Investments and Development of Micro, Small and MediumSized Enterprises in Nigeria’. She said that government’s minimising the taxes imposed on MSMEs would assist the growth in capital for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure critical for sector’s operations. Adeyinka noted that Nigeria was facing severe infrastructure deficits which were hampering its developmental programmes and marred its growth prospects. She said that the development of MSMEs would largely depend on investment in infrastructure and urged the government to play its role in infrastructure

development. Adeyinka recommended public-private partnership (PPP) initiative for the provision of critical infrastructure need in the country. “NGO’s, international agencies and philanthropists should be encouraged to complement government’s efforts in the provision and repair of existing infrastructure. “Financial institutions should continue to provide loan at concessionary interest rate for MSMEs while the CBN should regulate interest rates of the financial institutions. “They should also provide such loans to the MSMEs through organised cooperative societies,” she said. Adeyinka concluded that electricity, transport, water and communications are critical infrastructure necessary for the development of MSMEs. The NISER acting DG, Prof. Olakunle Odumosu, commended the choice of the topic for the lecture, saying infrastructure was important for the development of the country. Odumosu said the seminar was the last for the NRSS in 2015, stressing that it had been held from January to November as part of the institute’s mandate.

Some federal permanent secretaries leaving the Presidential Villa after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

FG plans more employment opportunities through livestock M r. Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said on Tuesday that the federal government was planning to generate more employment opportunities through livestock production. Echono said this at the National Animal Production Development Committee

Atoyebi appointed LAUTECH Governing Council chair Boladale Bamigbola, OSOGBO

sun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday approved the appointment of a new Governing Council for the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. The nine-man council is headed by Prof. Wole Atoyebi, the im-

mediate past Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos. A statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, listed other members of the Council as Dr. Kayode Akinlade, Dr. Ademola Akintolu Onifade, Oba (Dr) Folorunso Agboade Makanju

Olaniyan. Others are; Prof Akeem Lasisi (Acting CMD, LAUTECH); Dr. Temitope Olalekan Oladele (P.S Health), Dr. Surajudeen Ogunyemi, Chairman, NMA), Prof. Samuel Sunday Taiwo, Provost, College of Medicine and Dr. Daniel Adebode Adekanle (Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee).

(NAPDC) meeting organised by the Federal Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Ibadan. The meeting, the maiden edition, was attended by stakeholders from the 36 states of the federation. According to him, the development of livestock would go a long way to assist the nation to improve the non-oil sector revenue and make the country self-sufficient in animal production. ``The ministry knows the contribution of the livestock sub-sector to the National Agricultural Gross Domestic Product in 2014. ``It created the Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services (DAPHS) with the mandate to up-scale animal production and make animal protein available to the

populace, likewise boost National Income, `` he said. Echono, who was represented by Mr. Ademola Raji, the Director, Production and Husbandry Services in the ministry, said the meeting was conveyed to suggest measures of increasing livestock production. Prof. Clarence Lakpini, Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Animal Production Research Institute, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said livestock resource in Nigeria was enormous. ``Livestock is enormous in Nigeria but the low productivity has minimised its contribution to overall national economic growth and well being of the citizens of the country,’’ he said. Lakpini said the nation needed to make use of agriculture to

rebase her economy, especially at this time of fall in oil price at the international market. He, therefore, called for a paradigm shift in the interface between the government officials and professionals to impact positively on stakeholders. Prof. Israel Adu, the President, Nigeria Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), urged stakeholders to utilise the outcome of the meeting to grow the livestock sub-sector of the economy. Also, Dr. Olufemi Olaifa, Deputy President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the nation’s livestock, if properly developed, has the potential to improve the living standard of the people. Olaifa, a High Chief in the Olubadan Council, therefore, appealed to all tiers of

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Politics

Wednesday November 11, 2015

Osinbajo urges Kogi people to join change train Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

ice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has urged the people of Kogi State to join the change train by voting enmasse for the All Progressive Congress, APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubarka Audu. Osinbajo who made this call while speaking at the Zonal APC Governorship Campaign rally at Egbogogo playing ground in Okene yesterday, expressed gratitude to people for voting APC durIng the last Presidential, National and House

of Assembly elections. He explained he was in Kogi State to deliver special message from President Muhammadu Buhari that come November 21, the people of Kogi State should finally join APC. He noted that everyone is moving forward and not backward, stressing that the people of Kogi State must be prepared to move forward from November 21, 2015. Osinbajo called on the people to vote APC change mantra and move Kogi forward. The National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief John

Odigie-Oyegun stated that change has come and people of Kogi State must not be an exception, calling on the people of the state to vote for APC candidate, Prince Abubarka Audu. Odigie-Oyegun noted that Audu has done it before and will still do it better, saying that with a vote for Audu, school will reopen, local government will function. The Niger state Governor, Abubarka Sanni Belle who is the National Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Committee Chairman advised the people of the state to join the change

train now for the development of Kogi state. Also speaking, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole stated that Audu has been a great achiever who has done very well and will do it better again. Meanwhile, the APC flagbearer, Prince Abubarka Audu has appealed to the Federal government to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company and National Iron Ore Mining Company . Audu stated that if the government revive these companies there will employment opportunity for teeming youths in the state.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar(middle) being received yesterday by Adamawa State Governor Umar Bindow (left) at Yola International Airport ahead of the weekend wedding fatiha of Atiku’s three daughters and AUN Founder’s Day.

civil Society group, the Democratic Agenda, DA has called on security agencies to call the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Osun to order before it plunges the state into anarchy. The call to security agencies was made in a statement signed by the convener and secretary of The Democratic Agenda, Alhaji Lateef Olalekan and Nurudeen Ayinde Abiola respectively. The group noted that it expected the PDP to uphold the truth before making a statement in the press rather than what it described as tissues of lies. Democratic Agenda pointed out that the opposition in its usual practice lied on the governor of the state when the bail-out fund was still being approved, told the world that Governor Aregbesola had not

Group urges security agencies to halt PDP’s felonious politics in Osun only collected the funds but had gone to put the fund in unnamed fixed deposit account for gains. The group held that the acts of aggression and transgression against the Nigerian law by the PDP in Osun must be stopped by law enforcement agencies of the Federal Government before it gets out of hand. According to DA, “in a constitutional democracy, the opposition is expected to perform its role as the underdog to call the attention of the society to any wrongs committed by the government in power and by extension, the ruling party. “We expected the PDP to uphold the truth before making a statement in the press but to our utter sur-

prise, all that the opposition party had been releasing were tissues of lies. “As young men and women of considerable education, connection and career influence, we investigated all the issues on which the PDP had spoken only to find out that there was not a single truth attached to any of them”. The group averred that with its investigations both at the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General, it is absolutely necessary to call the attention of the Nigeria Police and the State Security Service, SSS to various acts of felonious propaganda of PDP in Osun since the beginning of the year. Democratic Agenda said,

“before our efforts could produce results and within one week of the first press release, Osun PDP again issued another statement claiming that Governor Aregbesola had paid N20 billion out of the bail-out fund to settle a contractor. “We have since found out that the lies issued by PDP was widely believed not only by government workers but also by members of the public who have expressed serious misgivings about their Governor. “Our findings have further revealed that the Osun PDP spokesman particularly is always in the trade of inciting unrest and public disorder since the days of Navy Commander Anthony Udofia.

Ekiti ex-speaker faces court as assembly fails to reverse impeachment Abiodun Nejo ADO EKITI

kiti State House of Assembly has turned down the request by a former speaker of the Assembly, Hon Adewale Omirin, seeking the reversal of his impeachment by a faction of the immediate past Assembly. Omirin had in a letter to the Assembly dated October 19, 2015, entitled: “Reversion of Unconstitutional Impeachment,” addressed to the speaker, Hon Kola Oluwawole, urged the Assembly to reverse the impeachment carried out against him. The former Speaker also urged the Assembly to obliterate the tenure of the factional Speaker, Hon Dele Olugbemi, from the records. But the Assembly, in a reply dated November 9, 2015 to Omirin’s letter, said the requests were purely constitutional matters and beyond the purview of the legislative house. The embattled former Speaker, has, however, assured that he would get justice on the matter in the court of law, even if the Assembly turned down the request. Omirin had said that it would have been honourable for the lawmakers to accede to the request for posterity sake. The Speaker, Hon Kola

Oluwawole, said at a press briefing in Ado Ekiti yesterday that Omirin, had in a suit No FHC/CS/1823/14 at the Federal High Court, Lagos, challenged the impeachment before it was later dismissed upon withdrawal. Oluwawole said that the challenge in court of the impeachment constituted a serious impediment to the House to accede to the request, in spite of their interest to do justice in the matter. The reply to Omirin reads in part: “Sir, why we will not comment on the constitutionality of the impeachment or otherwise, one point remains sacrosanct that there was an impeachment exercise against you on November 20, 2014, upon which you instituted the matter referred to above. “It must be borne in mind that whether your impeachment was legal or not is for the court of law to decide, but we, with due respect to your person, are helpless in the circumstances. “Against this backdrop, the present House of Assembly is not empowered by either the constitution or the Case Law to obliterate the records of Hon Dele Olugbemi as the speaker between November 20, 2014 and June 5, 2015.

INEC deploys 3,700 smart card readers for Kogi governorship election –REC Wale Ibrahim LOKOJA

he Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioners, REC, Alhaji Halilu Husein Pai has disclosed that 3700 Smart Card Readers have been deployed to the state ahead of November 21 governorship election. Pai who disclosed this while speaking on a live Radio programme “Peoples Parliament” monitored in Lokoja yesterday, stated that INEC was ready to conduct free, fair and Credible governorship election. He explained that contrary to speculation that Smart Card Reader machines would not be used for the election, both the Smart Card Readers and Permanent Voter Cards

would be used during the governorship election in Kogi State. The REC stated that a total of 3,000 Smart Card Reader machines will be distributed to the polling units, noting that the commission has provided for additional 700 Smart Card Readers as back up in case there are any technical hitches. Pai also disclosed that INEC has recruited adhoc staff for the repair of the Smart Card Reader machines that developed technical fault. He pointed out that INEC has partnered with all critical stakeholders, political parties ,actors, security agencies, traditional rulers and civil society organisations to ensure they conduct hitch- free governorship election in the state.

Politics

Wednesday November 11, 2015

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Complaint of bad roads dominate Oshodi/Isolo constituency meeting

L-R: Founder, Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), Prof. Pat Utomi; British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) technical committee member, Mr. Fatai Afolabi; Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Engr. Umar Bindir and General Manager, BATNF, Ms. Abimbola Okoya, during the CVL economic growth in the agriculture sector celebration, in Lagos, at the weekend.

ssues of bad roads and the need for government intervention dominated Oshodi/Isolo2 constituency meeting, held at Isolo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Osolo Way, Lagos yesterday. The stakeholders meeting was introduced by the Lagos assembly to create an avenue where members of the House will occasionally meet with people of their

humiliated out of office in similar circumstances while investigation and prosecution of some highly placed government officials both at the national and state levels were going on. The same pattern plays out in the National Assembly where heads of committees that tried to probe corruption allegations have been humiliated one way or the other.” “If in the course of performing their statutory duties, they are accused of wrong doings, they should be made to complete the assignments they are handling, get to a

logical conclusion before they are prosecuted or made to quit the office because quitting the office abruptly will be more of advantage to the accused persons than to the cause of justice. And getting the heads of these agencies and panels out of the way might be the only reason why the complainant or their cronies could have accused the heads of agencies investigating or prosecuting them so that the process of getting the criminals diligently investigated and prosecuted may be truncated”. Adeniran stressed.

constituency to interact and discuss what the people need from government as well as an avenue where the member update them on his activities, programmes and accountability. A member of the House representing Oshodi-Isolo State Constituency 11 , Hon. Jude Emeka Idimogu, while addressing the people of his constituency said he was in the constituency to interact with them, saying it was an avenue for the people to freely tell him the needs of the constituency. According to him, his coming was as a result of a resolution in the House for every member to go back to his constituency, engage and interact with them on different issues affecting them, saying that every discussion at the meeting will be submitted to the House which will then submit it to the executive arm of government for action. Complain of bad roads in almost all the different areas of the constituency dominated the meeting, with other issues such as traffic jam, robbery, lack of primary healthcares, human right abuses, operation of miscreant youths were also presented by the people of the constituency.

stores would be made available in order to meet the aspirations and agitations of the people in all ramifications. Olawale said the needs of the people would be addressed as a matter of urgency on the floor of the House to be accommodated in next’s budget. “The essence of having this kind of stakeholders meeting is that we want to move closer to our people and we want to deepen the dividends of democracy values. From the gathering, you can see it is populated by people of dif-

ferent strata. We invite them because we want to hear their opinions and know their feelings about our government and governance in the state. “As you have heard, all their grievances and agitations would be noted, taken to the floor and would be deliberated upon. The deliberations won’t end here; it would be addressed on the floor of the House and sent to the executive arm for its assent. We have it in mind to use this forum to determine where the shoe pinches our people and to alleviate their suffering.”

and intimate Dr kayode Fayemi, the enormity of tasks ahead of him, which we believe might just be the reason why God of second chance has put him in the federal cabinet again, after losing the June 21governorship

election in Ekiti last year.” The president further lamented the deplorable condition of the state in education, which according to him, if allowed to continue unabated, would leave the sector in perpetual crisis.

Ebere Ndukwu

CACOL condemns Lamorde’s sack Ayo Esan

he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has condemned the victimization and humiliation of heads of anti-graft agencies by both the executive and legislative arms of the federal government.. President Muhammadu Buhari had last Monday announced the unceremonious removal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, thus

bringing his reign as the country’s anti-graft head to an abrupt end amid, albeit, fraud allegations. Lamorde’s sacking came few weeks to the end of his four-year tenure. The Executive Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said, “One thing that such reckless sacking would engender is the fear of good people serving at anticorruption, investigative panels or regulatory agencies as chairman or head. It has been established that when you fight corruption, corruption fights

back and these corrupt elements are ruthless when they have to fight back.’’ Adeniran also expressed dissatisfaction over the sacking of Lamorde just days before the expiration of his tenure as the EFCC chairman, “more so when he had not been found guilty of any wrongdoing in spite of the allegations against him. If the system has tolerated him up till this point, why wouldn’t they give him the couple of days before the expiration of his tenure? “We should recall that both Nuhu Ribadu and Mrs Farida Waziri were

Lagos lawmaker promises dividends of democracy Robert Awokuse

ember Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin Constituency II, Hon. Abdul Sobur Olayiwola Olawale yesterday hosted a stakeholders’ meeting at his constituency where he briefed members of his constituents on the role expected of the legislature. The stakeholders’ meeting with the theme: “Towards a Better Constituency Engagement” which

was simultaneously held in all the 40 constituencies was initiated to enumerate the primary responsibilities of the lawmakers and to address issues that are peculiar to their constituencies in order to extend the gains of democracy to the people. Speaking at the interactive session, Hon. Olawale noted that there have been conflicting ideas of duties of both the legislative and executive arms by the public, stressing that the functions of the legislature includes: appropriation and allocation of

funds for projects earmarked by the executive; legislation and consideration of political or economic actions of the executive and approving them when deserved; oversight functions and checking on the executive to ascertain funds allocated are used for the projects they are meant for; and representation to serve the people by lobbying and influencing the executive to ensure that the yearnings and aspirations of his constituency are meant. He noted that what was being done was a step in that di-

rection. Fielding questions from the constituents on the dividends of democracy, the lawmaker said amongst other things that housing scheme would be provided; skills acquisition centres are to be set up, empowerment programme for both women and youths, massive road and drainages to be constructed and retooling of the street lights in all the wards of the constituency. Also, he assured that health care centre would be built and affordable market

Group commends Buhari over Fayemi’s appointment as minister Robert Awokuse

youth base advocacy group under the aegis of Ekiti Youth Action for Good Governance, EYAGG has

commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of the former governor of Ekiti state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi as a minister, describing it as an opportunity to restore the lost glory of the state.

In a statement signed by the founding President of the group, Comrade Tope Musowo, the group said,n parts; “we have been waiting for this day, to have a credible Ekiti son as a rallying point for all the well meaning Ekiti

people, whose only calling is to salvage our state from the edge of the precipice, and build for ourselves an Island of hope in this ocean of despair. “We want to use this opportunity to congratulate

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Capital Market

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Market capitalisation dips N64bn on stocks supply glut Johnson Okanlawon

rading in equities continued on a negative note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as more investors sold their holdings. Specifically, the All Share Index depreciated 0.64 per cent to close at 28,981.12 points, compared to the decline of 0.03 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 29,168.04 points. Market capitalisation lost N64 billion to close at

N9.962 trillion, compared to the drop of N3 billion recorded the preceding day to close at N10.026 trillion. Unilever Nigeria led the gainers’ table with N3.38 or 10.24 per cent to close at N36.38 per share, while Skye BANK Plc gained nine kobo or 4.74 per cent to close at N1.99 per share. Eterna Oil Plc appreciated eight kobo or 4.73 per cent to close at N1.77 per share, while Honeywell Flour Mills Plc added 11

kobo or 4.58 per cent toclose at N2.51 per share. Wema Bank Plc was up four kobo or 4.21 per cent to close at 99 kobo per share, while Ikeja Hotel Plc rose 14 kobo or 4.17 per cent to close at N3.50 per share. Conversely, Caverton Plc shed 13 kobo or 4.94 per cent to close at N2.50 per share, while Neimeth International Plc depreciated five kobo or 4.85 per cent to close at 98 kobo per share. NAHCO Plc lost 21

kobo or 4.79 per cent to close at N4.17 per share, while Diamond Bank Plc declined 21 kobo or 4.79 per cent to close at N2.74 per share. Learn Africa Plc fell three kobo or 4.41 per cent to close at 65 kobo per share, while Vono Products Plc was down four kobo or 4.35 per cent to close at 88 kobo per share. A total of 317.4 million shares valued at N1.808 billion were exchanged in 3,721 deals.

Stanbic IBTC money market fund hits N50bn Johnson Okanlawon

et asset value of Stanbic IBTC’s money market fund, a low-risk open-ended mutual fund in West Africa, has crossed N50 billion mark. The fund, which is managed by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, achieved the milestone in October 2015 with a yield of 12.45 per cent. The latest report on collective investment schemes by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the industry regulator, showed that the fund has N50.19 billion net assets value, 22 per cent of the N230 billion Nigerian Collective Investment Scheme/Mutual Fund market in assets un-

der management as at Friday, October 16, 2015. Stanbic IBTC Asset Management described the milestone, an industry first, which the five-year old fund accomplished after a period of consistent growth, as an indication that investors view the Fund as an investment haven, one with a history of consistent and exceptional returns to its subscribers. The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju, said that the historic N50 billion mark not only demonstrates the Fund’s leadership position in the industry but also shows the level of expertise and commitment by the fund managers to ensure safety of invested funds while enhancing returns.

“This is an important milestone for us. The Fund is just five years old, and to have achieved asset under management of over N50billion is a remarkable feat, which highlights the solidity and competencies of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management as Nigeria’s leading asset management company,” Dayo-Olagunju said. She explained that the fund established in 2010, invests 100 per cent of its assets in fixed income investments, including treasury bills, money market placements, commercial papers and other instruments approved by the SEC. According to her, the fund has consistently paid dividends to its subscribers since inception. She assured subscribers to the fund as well as

other funds managed by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management that the fund manager will continue to leverage on the rich heritage of the Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC belongs, to manage their funds in a prudent, efficient and responsible manner. “Stanbic IBTC Asset Management derives a rich heritage from the Standard Bank Group’s 153 years of experience in risk management and offering excellent services to clients. We plan to regularly leverage our robust risk management framework to safeguard investments and ensure the best returns for investors in SIMM and other Stanbic IBTC mutual funds,” she added.

Growth concerns hit global stocks; dollar at seven-month high

orld stock indexes edged lower yesterday on more concerns about global growth, while the dollar hit a seven-month high on growing expectations the Federal Reserve will raise rates next month. Oil prices bounced back after the International Energy Agency noted unprecedented declines in investment. A bigger-than-expected fall in Chinese inflation followed disappointing trade figures over the weekend and underlined the problems in an economy that has driven world growth for a decade. But the data also added to expectations

of more stimulus measures from Beijing to counter any slowdown. In the United States, though, Friday’s strong jobs report bolstered expectations the Fed would raise rates next month. “People are a little nervous because the macro signals are so mixed,” said Andy Sullivan, a portfolio manager with Swiss investment firm GL Financial Group, citing weak revenue results from companies. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 55.58 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 17,674.9, the S&P 500 lost 5.22 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 2,073.36 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 35.67 points, or 0.7

per cent, to 5,059.63. Also weighing on US stocks, Apple’s shares fell after Credit Suisse said the iPhone maker had lowered component orders by as much as 10 per cent. MSCI’s all-country world index was down 0.4 per cent, while European shares were up 0.1 per cent. In the foreign exchange market, the dollar index hit its highest since April, rising 0.5 per cent to 99.469, outpacing Friday’s post-jobs report highs. Longer-dated US Treasuries prices slipped with benchmark yields hovering at their highest in over three months as investors sold bonds to make room for a $24

billion auction of 10-year notes. Rate (%) Inflation

8.2

MPR

Crude oil price

$58.96

Source: NSE

Inter-Bank Rate Naira

US Dollar

N196.98 Market indicators All-Share Index 28,981.12points Market capitalisation 9.96trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

UNILEVER

33.00

36.38

3.38

10.24

SKYEBANK

1.90

1.99

0.09

4.74

ETERNA

1.69

1.77

0.08

4.73

HONYFLOUR

2.40

2.51

0.11

4.58

WEMABANK

0.95

0.99

0.04

4.21

IKEJAHOTEL

3.36

3.50

0.14

4.17

UNITYBNK

1.32

1.36

0.04

3.03

UBCAP

1.34

1.38

0.04

2.99

CAP

38.00

39.00

1.00

2.63

NASCON

7.18

7.30

0.12

1.67

CHANGE

% CHANGE

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CAVERTON

2.63

2.50

-0.13

-4.94

NEIMETH

1.03

0.98

-0.05

-4.85

NAHCO

4.38

4.17

-0.21

-4.79

DIAMONDBNK

2.87

2.74

-0.13

-4.53

LEARNAFRCA

0.68

0.65

-0.03

-4.41

VONO

0.92

0.88

-0.04

-4.35

STANBIC

20.87

20.00

-0.87

-4.17

FLOURMILL

21.80

20.90

-0.90

-4.13

135.00

129.51

-5.49

-4.07

ZENITHBANK

17.70

16.99

-0.71

-4.01

FGN Bonds

Offer

Bid

Description

Price

Yield

Price

Yield

15.10 27-APR-2017

1.58

100.42

14.77

100.57

14.66

16.00 29-JUN-2019

3.75

103.04

14.89

103.34

14.78

15.54 13-FEB-2020

4.37

101.74

14.97

102.04

14.87

16.39 27-JAN-2022

6.33

105.75

14.94

106.05

14.87

14.20 14-MAR-2024

8.46

96.25

14.99

96.55

14.93

10.00 23-JUL-2030

14.81 68.00

15.58

68.30

15.51

Closing Market Prices of September 29, 2015

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

Exchange

Rates (N)

24-Dec-15

10.54

10.81

WAUA

270

31-Mar-16

12.66

13.52

USD

196.96

EURO

214

01-Sep-16

12.55

14.19

CFA

0.32

YEN

1.64

Tenor

Rate (%)

SWISS FRANC

202

O/N

5.7333

14.5852

POUNDS STERLING

293

15.8238

SDR

273

17.0819

NIBOR

The Fixings of September 29, 2015

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror Let me again repeat what I have been saying that Goodluck Jonathan has no Wein must renegotiate contracts to reflect personal agenda convening this our national conference. current market realities.

– GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR NNPC, DR. IBE KACHIKWU PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Communities petition Ogun CP over house demolition Wale Igbintade

ight communities in Agunfoye village in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned the Ogun State Commissioner of Police over demolition of their houses and use of poisonous chemical on their farm land by some alleged agents of the Redeemed Christian Church of Christ (RCCG). In the petition dated November 5, 2015 signed by their lawyer, Chief (Dr.) Victor Odunaiya, the communities namely, Agunfoye, Isaga Kekere, Ishaga Nla, Pagbo, Igbonla Adeleye, Igbonla Akinremi, Oloparun and Agara urged the Commissioner of Police to come to their rescue. Specifically, the petitioners alleged that one chief Olutunde Ojelade and Chief Jimoh Adebayo sold their land to the Incorporated Trustee of the RCCG and started bulldozing the land without their consent. As a result, the petitioners stated that they approached the High Court of Ogun state, Sagamu Division to seek redress. The petitioners added that the trial judge, Justice E O Osinuga in a ruling delivered on June 9, 2015 ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum and that nothing should be

done on the land by all the parties pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The communities however lamented that despite the interim order made by the court, the RCCG and its agent are still working on the land without any regard for the court. They alleged that on October 24, 2015 the agents started spraying dangerous chemicals that allegedly endanger the lives of the villagers. ‘our client are now stretched to the limit and we humbly invite you to come to our aid and prevail on RCCG, its agents and worker at Isaga and seven other villages to stop all forms work, particularly spraying of chemicals pending the time the court will determine the matter’’, the petitioners pleaded. The communities through their representatives, Benjamin Oladele, Oluniyi Ajibode, Taiwo Ogunleye and five others had in suit No-HCS/253/14 instituted against the Incorporated Trustee of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Chief Olutunde Ojelade and Chief Jimoh Adebayo prayed the court to restrain the defendant from further trespass on their land. They also prayed the court For N100 million as damages against the defendants.

Katsina to get mobile courts on sanitation James Danjuma KATSINA

atsina state is to set up five mobile courts to charge violators of end of the month sanitation exercise in the state. Executive secretary, state Environmental and Protection Agency, SEPA, Lawal Inusa who made this known over the weekend, said the mobile courts would commence operation next year. Inusa said the courts were necessary due to refusal by some people to strictly observe the monthly environmental sanitation, espe-

cially in the metropolitan area of the state. He said when the mobile courts commenced operation; they would be given the needed powers and logistics to properly operate. He however called on members of the public to embrace environmental hygiene and for stakeholders to promote importance of ensuring clean environment amongst its members. Inusa said if people properly embrace the culture of personal and environmental hygiene, cases of malaria and cholera would be reduced to barest minimum.

However, the Incorporated Trustee of Redeemed Christian Church of God in its counter affidavit deposed to by the traditional ruler of Agunfoye village, Chief Yekini Babatunde

Agunfon urged the court to dismiss the suit. The deponent stated that the Church entered into an agreement with landowning family to build at its own cost, mod-

ern houses in replacement of every standing structure in the village which is currently being implemented. He further stated that the family has trans-

An over-loaded bus conveying goods out of Ebute-Ero market.

ferred the land to the 1st defendant (RCCG) and all documents to that effect had been concluded and signed hence the claimants no longer have any right over the land.

PHOTO: ABIOLA ABDULHAMMED

Group, traders commend NCS over smuggling Francis Ekpone ONITSHA

coalition of Civil Society Groups in the South East in collaboration with Traders Union yesterday lauded the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Zone C in charge of South East and South-South for their fight against smuggling in the zone. This is coming as inves-

tigation revealed that Nigerian Custom, Zone C command made a total seizure of goods worth N5million in three years. Briefing newsmen in Onitsha, the spokesman of the group, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, disclosed that the Custom Area Controller in charge of Federal Operations, Mr. Dimka Victor David, who is in charge of the special taskforce on Anti

Smuggling, has done a lot in the zone, including the attraction of the Custom Federal Secretariat in Owerri, Imo State. Uzor who is also the chairman of Campaign for Democracy in the South East also lauded the good relationship between the Command and traders within the area. He said interactions with stakeholders includ-

‘Prophet’ arraigned for rape

23-year-old Celestial Church prophet, Adewale Adeleke, on Tuesday appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court, Lagos for alleged fraud and rape. The prophet was arraigned on a four-count charge of stealing, obtaining by false pretext, impersonation and rape. Prosecutor Chris Takim, told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 26 at 6 p.m. at the premises of Original Inn Hotel, Ebute-Metta area of Lagos.

Takim stated that the accused approached his victim claiming to be spiritually informed about her problems and had solutions to them through a scheduled prayer session. He said the complainant met him at the hotel on the scheduled appointment were he collected her mobile phone and N13, 000 as mobilisation fees. “Adeleke collected her phones and N13, 000 to begin the prayer session with her and later forced her to strip naked as a prerequisite for her prayer to be an-

swered. “Adeleke, thereafter unlawfully assaulted her and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent,” the prosecutor said. He added that the offences contravened Sections 258, 285, 312 and 378 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Section 258 prescribed life imprisonment for any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent. The accused however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

ing traders and haulage transporters indicated that the Command under Victor Dimka had been effective both in enlightenment and advocacy, adding that he constituted a special task force against his men to checkmate their activities in the zone. The group also urged the special anti smuggling not relent in intercepting contraband and unwholesome goods in the interest of humanity and the economy of the zone. They however urged the Customs to continue to engage stakeholders to deepen awareness while calling on traders and transporters to be mindful of the laws and adhere to them. “The coalition wishes to commend the Nigerian Customs, Zone C in charge of the 11 states of the South East and South-South for good job on the fight against smuggling. The command has created a good relationship between the Service and the traders who used to cry to us for Customs’ high handedness.”

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

It should also be noted that the aircraft purchased by the Department of Defence for use by the president and deputy president belong to the state.

–SOUTH AFRICA’S PRESIDENCY STATEMENT

Afolabi Gambari

WITH AGENCY REPORT

enegal’s President Macky Sall has called for a fight against what he calls excessive form of Islam which has led to the growth of jihadi groups. Sall, who himself is a Muslim, also called for greater intelligence-sharing between governments. Last week, Senegalese officials said two imams had been charged with money-laundering, and suspected links with militant Islamists. The president, who spoke at a peace and security conference in the capital, Dakar, on said people should have the courage to fight the malaise. “Militants should not be allowed to impose another form of religion which did not correspond to our traditions or our conceptions of Islam,” Sall said. “We must develop a philosophical and theological discourse, training imams with a sense of a tolerant Islam,” he added. It is the first such case in Senegal, a mainly Muslim country known for its tolerant version of Islam. Other West African states including Nigeria and Mali are battling militants linked to alQaeda or the Islamic State (IS) group.

‘Excessive form of Islam’ worries Senegal Govt

Egypt pyramids spot mystery heat An international team of architects and scientists have observed “thermal anomalies” in the pyramids of Giza, Egyptian antiquities officials said yesterday. Thermal cameras detected higher temperatures in three adjacent stones at the bottom of the Great Pyramid. Officials said possible causes included the existence of empty areas inside the pyramid, internal air currents, or the use of different building materials. The tombs of the pharaohs Khufu (Kheops), Khafre (Khephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus) were built in the Fourth Dynasty, about 2613-2494BC. A team of architects and scientists from Egypt, France, Canada and Japan used infrared thermography to survey the pyramids during sunrise, as the sun heats the limestone structures from the outside, as well as at sunset when they cool down.

Meningitis jab ‘stunning success’

Senegal President Macky Sall

Memorial: Groups demand Saro-Wiwa’s pardon

upporters of renowned Nigerian environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, yesterday called for him to be posthumously pardoned, as they mark the 20th anniversary of his execution in November 1995. Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists were hanged after a secret trial which saw them being convicted of murdering four traditional leaders. They denied the charge, and said they were framed. The executions led to Nigeria’s temporary suspension from the Commonwealth. Nigeria’s then-military regime sparked global outrage after convicting Saro-Wiwa of murder and hanging him. The West African state’s main human rights body said his trial was “deeply flawed” and he should be pardoned.

AFRICAN BULLETIN

Saro-Wiwa led mass protests against oil pollution in Nigeria’s Ogoniland. But the protests were seen as a major threat to then-military ruler General Sani Abacha, and oil company

The late Ken Saro-Wiwa

Shell. The head of the governmentappointed Nigerian Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, said there was no doubt Saro-Wiwa’s trial was “deeply

flawed” and “unsafe”. “A posthumous pardon was the only way to restore the integrity of the state which breached its own laws to procure a killing,” he added. Suzanne Dhaliwal from campaign group, Action Soro-Wiwa, said the group’s action would be sustained. “We are still seeing the same attitudes to the freedom of expression that were there 20 years ago,” she said. Last week, Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development accused Shell of making false claims about the extent of its clean-up operations in Nigeria. In a report, they said several sites Shell claimed to have had cleaned up were still polluted. Shell said that it disagreed with their findings.

A mass vaccination programme against meningitis A in Africa has been a “stunning success”, experts said yesterday. More than 220 million people were immunised across 16 countries in the continent’s meningitis belt. In 2013 there were just four cases across the entire region, which once faced thousands of deaths each year. However, there are fresh warnings from the World Health Organization that “huge epidemics” could return unless a new vaccination programme is started. The meningitis belt stretches across sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

Zimbabwe to export crocodile, zebra meat The government of Zimbawe has signed an agreement with El Badaoui Ltd. to export crocodile and zebra meat to Italy, Trade and Industry Minister, Mike Bimha, said yesterday. Zimbabwe also signed an agreement concerning the manufacture of a prototype car in Zimbabwe, the minister said. The vehicle, if successful, could be exported throughout Africa, Bimha added, without giving further details. In August, Bimha led a highpowered delegation of government ministers and officials from relevant ministries and private sector to Italy for the Milano Expo.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

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CHANGE OF NAME DANJUMA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS BASHIRAT AISHAT DANJUMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AISHA BIOLA AKINBODE. All former documents remain valid. Authorities Concerned and the general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Kareem Sulaiman Adewale and Mujaidu Moibi refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Stealing Bank and general public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Badmus Qudus Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Oyedokun Qudus Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BABA: I, formerly known and addressed as JOHNSON BABA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OCHOYODA BABA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I Kareem Sulaiman Adewale and Ayo Ade Dawou refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public please take note.

This is to confirm that I, Adewoye Oluwatoyin Abeni and Muritala Nimotu Abeni 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 Ajayi Femi Adabarra, now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Femi Abdulganiyu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME IBANGA: I, formerly known and addressed as FRIDAY ASUQUO IBANGA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as FRIDAY IBANGA AUGUSTINE IBOK. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OYEDARE: I, formerly known and addressed as OYEDARE OPEOLUWA, now wish to be known and addressed as OYEDARE OPEYEMI HEZIKIAH. All former documents remain valid. General Public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME JONATHAN: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JANET JONATHAN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. KEHINDE ADEBISI JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME IWUJI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IWUJI TREASURE OLUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS CHUKWUNTA TREASURE OLUCHI. All former documents remain valid. First bank and general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Benedict Remilekun Timileyin now wish to be known and addressed as Aimionowane Timileyin Marian. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Kareem Sulaiman Adewale and Animashaun Jubirila Adewale refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Kareem Sulaiman Adewale and Ameen Oke refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, Bikom David Odu and Agbor David Bikom refer to one and the same person. All former documents remain valid. general public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I Jamiu Adeola Balikis is the same person as Abolarinwa Adeola Balikis as obtained in some documents bearing my names. All other documents remain valid. First Bank PLC and general public and take note. CHANGE OF NAME

This is to confirm that I Peke Peter Oluwatayo is the Same person as Oluwadare Oluwatayo as obtained in some documents bearing my names. All other documents remain valid. First Bank plc and general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Chukwudi Joseph John, now wish to be known and addressed as Chukwudi Chinweze John. All other documents remain valid. general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as Hari Yaro, now wish to be known and addressed as Abubakar Umaru. All other documents remain valid. general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Edoka Eugene Ezichukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Chukwuka Eugene Ezichukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Ibeh Chukwuma, now wish to be known and addressed as Ndubuisi Okodike. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME COLLINS: I, formerly known and addressed as COLLINS TUNDE MOGE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as COLLINS ROLAND OBAWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UKAONU: I, formerly known and addressed as UKAONU .U. CHARLES, now wish to be known, called and addressed as JOEL MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OKONKWO: I, formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO JUDE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NKEONYEASUA JUDE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Adeeko Oluwaseun Oluwayemisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Richard Oluwaseun Oluwayemisi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Gbebemi Oluwa Maria, now wish to be known and addressed as Gbubemi Nunu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME CHUKWU: I, formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU OBINNA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as NGWEE OGBONNAYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OLADEJI: I, formerly known and addressed as OLADEJI TOLU JULIET, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLADEJI TOLU JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UKOH: I formerly known as Miss UKOH JULIANA NGOZI now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs JULIANA EKEH. All formal documents remain valid. General public please take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Agency to train retiring civil servants in Katsina James Danjuma, KATSINA

ational Bio-resources Department Agency is set to train about-to-retire civil servants in Katsina State as a way of empowering them for life after service. The training, which is in collaboration with the state government, is in areas of agriculture, beekeeping, among other vocational skills. To this end, Governor Aminu Bello Masari has granted approval for the agency to conduct pilot research demonstration for modern bee-keeping to enhance the business in the state. Masari said the training would assist the workers acquire skills that would enable them become selfsustaining even after re-

North

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

tirement. The governor therefore, called on would-be beneficiaries to take advantage of the training. North West Director of the agency, Tanimu Abdullahi, said the world’s civilisation is currently propelled by modern biotechnology, which the state and country would do well to invest in. Abdullahi said the agency had trained directors of agriculture in all 34 council areas of the state in a train-the-trainer workshop on agricultural techniques. He said the training was aimed at popularising grassroots fish farming in the state. He however appealed to the state government to come to the agency’s assistance where possible, to enable it achieve set objectives.

Taraba women protest tribunal’s verdict …rejects ‘selective justice’

Justin Tyopuusu, JALINGO

omen under the aegis of ‘Taraba PDP Women’ yesterday protested the tribunal’s ruling that removed Darius Ishaku as governor of the state. The women in their hundreds marched through major streets of Jalingo, the state capital, singing ‘Darius mu ke so’ (i.e. Darius we want), before converging on the Women Development Centre, where they addressed a press conference. Addressing journalists, leader of the women and

former Special Adviser to the governor on Finance and Banking, Hajiya Fatima Hassan, said the tribunal left key issues before it and delved into pre-election matter. She said the judgment did not reflect the true position of things and was unacceptable to majority of people of the state and urged the Court of Appeal to look at the merit of the case and revert the ‘murder of justice’ done by the tribunal. “The tribunal cannot impose another governor on us. We voted twice for our governor and the tribunal is not disputing that

he won the election. The tribunal cannot go through the backdoor to snatch the mandate we gave our governor at the polls. “If he was not validly nominated, why did the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, present him to the electorate, printed ballot papers for his party in the election and declared him winner of the election?” she queried. The women said they were not hired like those in Abuja, but were stakeholders in Taraba, who voted for their governor and could be traced to their individual homes across the

16 local government areas of the state. Hajiya Taratu Waziri, a former women leader of PDP in the state, said she was a member of the special delegate congress that was moved to Abuja on security concerns which was keenly contested and won by Ishaku. She accused All Progress Congress, APC and the tribunal of conspiring to upturn the mandate freely given to the governor by people of the state and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure justice for all, not selective justice as being witnessed in the country so far.

Gombe begins payment of N66m scholarship Williams Attah, GOMBE

ombe State Ministry of Higher Education through its Scholarship Board will begin payment of N66.2m scholarship allowances to 5,992 Gombe students spread across 92 tertiary institutions in the country. Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Daniel Musa, who disclosed this yesterday in his office during an interview with journalists, said the payment will commence on Monday. According to Musa, all arrangements have already been made to commence payment of the scholarship allowances as the ministry workers have already been mobilised to the different tertiary institutions across the country. He said the payment

this time around will be direct because the use of debit card, known as Tolba Cards, will take some time before they are available to the students. Director of Scholarships, Alhaji Abdulkadir Usman, explained that indigenous students are being encouraged to pursue studies for specialised courses abroad as the state government is willing to sponsor such students. He said already, no fewer than 22 students were enjoying such programmes in Russia, Serbia, Cyprus, Hungary, Algeria, Morocco, China, Japan and in many other foreign countries. He advised interested students to take advantage of the opportunity and apply online as the government was willing to offer assistance to interested students from the state.

L-R: New commissioners, Messrs Abubakar Idrees; Kamaldeen Ajibade; Mahmud Ajeigbe and Musa Yeketi, being congratulated by Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed (right), during the ceremony at Government House Ilorin, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ahmed swears in 10 commissioners Wole Adedeji, ILORIN

en commissioners, who were recently screened and approved by Kwara State House of Assembly, were yesterday sworn in by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. Nine others, who were nominated and forward-

Omu-Aran holds festival of clubs

he 2015 Omu-Aran Festival of Clubs, aka Odun OmuAran, holds on Saturday, November 14 at the sports ground of Government Secondary School, OmuAran, Kwara State. A statement by chairman of the festival’s planning committee, Mr. Kayode Awotunde, said the club

carnival is designed to promote unity among the more than 100 clubs and age-groups in the ancient Igbomina community. It is also another avenue for raising funds for more projects in the town. According to him, a retired director in the federal civil service, Dr. Hezekiah Oyedepo, will be the chair-

man of the occasion, while Mrs. Foluke Oyinloye, the Yeye Aro of Iwoland, is the lady chairperson. Awotunde added that Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Worldwide will be Father of the Day, while the Olomu of OmuAran, Oba Oladele Ibitoye, is the royal father of the day.

ed by the governor to the House last week, are awaiting approval. Speaking at the swearing-in, which attracted large turnout of All Progressives Congress, APC, members, families and well-wishers of the new cabinet members, Ahmed charged them to know that their appointments were based on their “wealth of knowledge, professionalism, and experience,” which they should bring to bear in actualising the government’s aspirations for the state. The governor charged the new commissioners to know that their positions came with great responsibilities that required them to serve the best interests of Kwara people with diligence and integrity. On why the swearing in

is in batches, Ahmed said: “In view of the urgent need to get on with the business of governance, we have decided to swear-in the first set of commissioners today. The remaining nine commissioner-nominees would be sworn-in once they are confirmed by the Kwara State House of Assembly.” He said despite the financial constraint facing Nigeria, “We must not fail our people. They have played their part in the quest for change by voting for our party and its candidates. We must play ours by creating opportunities and conditions for our people to prosper and our state to develop. “Now is the time for us to perform our obligations to the people by providing social and economic

development that positively transforms our state and improves their lives. Without delay, therefore, I expect you to key into the Shared Prosperity Programme of this administration.” The new commissioners are Demola Banu Nurudeen (Finance); Bolakale Ayo Nuhu (Youth and Sports); Kamaldeen Ajibade Adeyemi (Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner); and Engr. Musa Ayinla Yeketi (Education). Others are Hajia Funmilayo Oniwa (Industry and Solid Minerals); Engr. Idris Garba (Energy); Abdulrasaq Akorede (Water); Mahmud Ajeigbe (Information); Aro Yahaya Jamiudeen (Works); and Otunba Taiwo Joseph (Environment).

National Mirror

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 www.nationalmirroronline.net

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Issa Abdulmumini Olatunji, now wish to be known an addressed as Issa Moshood Idowu. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MRS. GBADAMOSI OMOLABAKE AISHAT. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. BADMUS OMOLABAKE AISHAT. All other documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Abiodun Pamat Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Dauda Ramat Yetunde. All other documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADENUBI MOJISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGUNKOYA MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Okunade Kehinde Adenike, now wish to be known as Mrs Adetutu Kehinde Adenike Former Documents Remain Valid Oyo-Subeb And General Public Should Take Note. CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS TONIA GEORGE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ASADY NGOZI ANTHONIA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS VICTOR ONYINYECHI EVURULOBI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS CHINYERE ONYINYECHI NDUBUISI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME Kalu: I formerly known as David Kalu now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Kalu Agwu Okorie. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank and general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as GBADAMOSI ADESOLA RAMOTA, now wish to be known an addressed as AKINWALE ADESOLA RAMOTA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Ibrahim Monsurat Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs.Tijani Monsurat Oluwatoyin by virtue of marriage. All other documents remain valid. General public and First Bank PLC take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as BELLO OMONIYI, now wish to be known and addressed as BELLO-LAWAL OMONIYI OWOLABI. All other documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MASTER GBADAMOSI ABDULWARITH ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as MASTER BADMUS WARITH ABIODUN All other documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OCHOYO ADA, now wish to be known and addressed as GODDAY ADA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Ogundele Kemi Damilola Eunice, now wants to be addressed as Oloyede Kemi Damilola Eunice. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Okunade Taiwo Adedigba, now wish to be known as Mrs Akanbi Taiwo Adedigba Former Documents Remain Valid Oyo-Subeb And General Public Should Take Note. CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS JOSEPHINE NKECHI IKEJIUBA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS NKECHI EXALTED ANOSIKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT NDUBUISI PETER ANYAECHE AND NDUBUISI PETER UME REFER AS ONE PERSON NOW NDUBUISI PETER ANYAECHE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FIRST BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as MRS OLUTEMIRO BUNMI FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known as MISS COKER BUNMI FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

The General public is hereby notified that the original Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) in respect of Plot No 1427 measuring about 1000 Square meters (Sqm) in Cadastral Zone D09 of Kagini, belonging to Abdullahi Mohammed Alkali is missing. If found, please contact the Director Land FCTA. AGI

PUBLIC NOTICE HOPE RESTORATION GOSPEL ASSEMBLY 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 ARE: 1. Apostle Bolarinwa Afolayan. 2. Afolayan Oluwatosin Olabisi. 3.Oseloka Chinedu Paul. 4. Ekpo Victor Asukwo. 5. Ajuwomiwe Chike Moses 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 Registrarâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; 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

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as SANDRA NCHEDO OKWUMUO, now wish to be known and addressed as SANDRA NCHEDO LEVI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Abdulkadir Taofiq Adio, now wants to be addressed as Adewole Taofiq. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Miss Alalade Folasade Oluwabunmi, now wish to be known as Mrs Usman Folasade Oluwabunmi Basirat Former Documents Remain Valid And General Public Should Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EMENAYOM CHIGOZIE ANNA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OGAMBA CHIGOZIE ANNA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NWANKWO HOPE NWABUEZE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS EGEONU HOPE NWABUEZE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as ORMERLY BAKARE OLUWAKEMI ABIOLA, now wish to be known as MRS. OJO OLUWAKEMI ABIOLA. former document remain valid. General public note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as ADESEGUN TOYIN AYOOLA, now wish to be known as MRS. ONIFADE TOYIN AYOOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEYEYE ESTHER OLUWATOPE now wish to be known and address as MRS ADEWUNMI ESTHER OLUWATOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm to the general public that i Sunday John and Oduko Sunday Anijah belong to one and same person. All documents bearing these names shall remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OMOHOGBE JOSEPH OKOKPUJIE, now wish to be known and addressed as OMOHOGBE PETER UNOSOLASE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as PORI EMOR, now wish to be known and addressed as NEBRAGHO EMOLADE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank PLC and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as BALOGUN Kafayat Asake, now wish to be address as BALOGUN Kafayat Ashabi. All other documents remain valid. General public and First Bank PLC take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Abagana Yahaya, now wish to be known and addressed as Yaga Abana. All other documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as KAHAMUAMU JOHN. , now wish to be known and addressed as CLEMENT ONYEGBULA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly name known as Ogundele Kemi Damilola Eunice, now wants to addressed as Oloyede Kemi Damilola Eunice. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as Mr Alamu Olusanjo Ebenezer, Now wish to be known as Mr Oladokun Olusanjo Ebenezer All Former Documents Remain Valid Oyo State Tescom And General Public Should Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NWANGWA CHINENYE PRECIOUS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OGBONNA CHINENYE PRECIOUS. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT CHUKWUMA OLUCHUKWU UKOJI AND CHUKWUMA MOSES UKOJI REFER AS ONE PERSON NOW CHUKWUMA OLUCHUKWU UKOJI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as MICHAEL STELLA MAOMI, now wish to be known as MRS BABATUNDE-OSHO STELLA NAOMI. Former document remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OGBODO CYRIL CHIMOBI, now wish to be known and address as OGBONNA CYRIL CHIMOBI. All former documents remain valid and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS OJO OLUWASEUN OMOTAYO now wish to be known and address as MRS OLOFINSAO OLUFUNKE AGNES. Former documents remain valid. United Bank for Africa and general public should take.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYEKA NNAWUIHE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONYEKA ULIABUEZE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as KOREDEGHA PATRICK, now wish to be known and addressed as SUNNY AGHOGHORE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, ADENIYI SHEYI OLUWAFUNMI, is the same person as ADENIYI SHEYI OLUSHEYI as contained in my documents. That any documents bearing any of the names remains valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ELVIS UMUKORO, now wish to be known and addressed as GODDAY UMUKORO. All other documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Okoye Casandra Ogochukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Ozoume Ogochukwu Clara. All other documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MICHEAL EDET AKPAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MICHEAL EDET ETIM. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Fagbemi Kehinde Oluwaseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojo Kehinde Deborah . All documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UGOCHUKWU: I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINYERE UGOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHARITY CHINYERE OKPULOR. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS BLESSING IKERI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS JUSTINA NWOSU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as OKEREKE ROSEMARY NNEBUOGOR. now wish to be known and addressed as OKWUENU ROSEMARY NNEBUOGOR. All other documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Fadeyi Felicia Oyindamola, now wish to be known and addressed as Ayoade Oyindamola Felicia. All other documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME . Formerly known and addressed as OLAMIDE COMFORT OKEOWO, now wish to be known and addressed as OLAMIDE COMFORT OLUYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly Mr Muftau Rasaq Iyiola now wish to be known as Mr Muftau Rasaq Oyedola Former Documents Remain Valid And General Public Should Take Note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as GOLLY HENRY, now wish to be known and addressed as KEMBOR TONBRAPADE HARRISON. All former documents remain valid. General public especially to whom it may concern to please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CHIJIOKE BENEDITH OKEZIE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONOCHIE BENEDITH OKEZIE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT PETERS CHINALU LOVETH AND AYOKA CHINALU LOVETH REFER AS ONE PERSON NOW KNOWN AS AYOKA CHINALU LOVETH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

Formerly known and addressed as Richardson Edet Jackson, now wish to be known and addressed as Imoh Edet Jackson. All former documents remain valid. general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as MRS ROFIAT KEHINDE BAKARE, now wish to be known as MISS KEHINDE ROFIAT ELESIN. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

FORMERLY known as BAKARE KEHINDE HASSAN, now wish to be known as GEORGE KEHINDE HASSAN. All former document valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS MEDALE FEYISEKEMI FUNKE, Now wish to be known and address as MRS. OYEDOTUN FEYISEKEMI FUNKE. All Former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AKINYUWA OMONIYI OJO now wish to be known and address as AKINYUWA OLUWASEUN NIYI. Former documents remain valid.General public take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I MRS GLORIA OGEE DIBIO, I hereby inform the general public and confirm that my late husband MR DIBIO JOSEPH MADUAKONAM is the same person bearing the following names DIBIO JOSEPH CASSIDY, MR JOSEPH DIBIO, DIBIO JOSEPH MADUAKO,JOSEPH DIBIO MADUAKONAM,JOE DIBIO CASSIDY, DIBIO JOE,MADUAKO DIBIO JOSEPH,JOSEPH O. DIBIO, JOSEPH MADUAKONAM DIBIO, DIBIO JOSEPH,DIBIO JNR OBINNA JOSEPH, DIBIO JOE CASSIDY,DIBIO JOSEPH O., JOSEPH M. DIBIO, JOSEPH DIBIO AND DIBIO MR. JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as ABIOLA FELICIA ABOSEDE, now wish to be known as MOSES FELICIA ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and called ADEDEJI MADINAT AJOGBE, now wish to be called ADEDEJI MADINAT OLATILEWA. All former documents remain valid. General public note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Akinbinu Kehinde Bukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyekunle Kehinde Bukola. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as Miss. Amarachi Benefit Ukomadu, now want to be know and addressed as Mrs.Benefit Amarachi Ibekwe. All former documents remain valid. General Public to please note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as ADEESO KADIRI SIDIKAT IDOWU, now wish to be known as KADIRI SIDIKAT IDOWU. All Former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adaraloye Nafisat Olabamiji, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adekunbi Nafisat Olabamiji. All former documents remain valid. Nysc and General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as SAKA RISIKAT ALAKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ATUNRASE RISIKAT ALAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OSAKEWE PATIENCE JULIET, now wish to be known and addressed as IGBAH PATIENCE JULIET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Essien Daniel Pius, now wish to be known and addressed as Esopndem Daniel Sylvanus . All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known as ADESEGUN TOYIN AYOOLA, now wish to be known as MRS. ONIFADE TOYIN AYOOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MEXJED: Formerly known and addressed as ALISUNNA MEXJED now wish to be known and addressed as ALFA HASSAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL MONDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as UMAR ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that SEUN FOLARIN. is the same person as OMOLARA OYEKOLA ADENIKE that henceforth wished to be known and addressed as FOLARIN OMOLARA ADENIKE SEUN. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank Plc, UBA Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Aina Adeniwura Mary (nee Owolabi). Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. James Adeniwura Mary. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, National Youth Service Corps and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Ojo Esther Arinola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Durodola Esther Arinola all former documents remain valid Ogun state Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Sewoniku Olawunmi Adetutu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Sewoniku Olabisi Adetutu all former documents remain valid First bank, SOS, Children Village Nigeria and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Odebode Opeyemi is same person as Makanjuola Opeyemi Rebecca, Makanjuola Opeyemi Olubunmi henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Makanjuola Opeyemi Olubunmi all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ERONINI: I, formerly known and addressed as ERONINI JOYLILIAN ONYINYECHI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ERNEST JOYLILIAN ONYINYECHI OZUOMBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Anih Emeka Richard, now wish to be known and addressed as Andy Rowland Okwudili. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OKOLI CHUKWUMA, now wish to be known and addressed as NZEBE OGBONNA. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Alebiosu Olalekan Kayode, now wish to be known and addressed as Alebiosu Olalekan Lukman . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AYODELE: Formerly known and addressed as MISS SHAKIRAT BABATUNDE AYODELE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SHAKIRAT ABDULSALAM BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. FIRST BANK, ACCESS BANK and General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AHMED: Formerly known and addressed as MUHAMED AHMED now wish to be known and addressed as ISMA’ILA MOHD. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I ISIAQ ABDULRAFIU ABIODUN, I am one and same person as ISIAKA ABDULRAFIU ABIODUN as contained in some documents bearing my names. All former documents remain valid. FIRST BANK PLC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS ORESANYA BUKOLA ADEOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AYENI BUKOLA ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ISIAKA ADENIYI RASHEED, now wish to be known and addressed as ISIAKA ADENIYI OBALOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Olajide Kikelomo Grace. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aderibigbe Grace Kikelomo. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Sonaike Oluwakemi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Quadri Oluwakemi all former documents remain valid and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Johnson Omasere now wish to be known and addressed as Johnson Akokotuho Okezeh all former documents remain valid and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Abolaji Ahmed is one and same person as Abdul Rahman Ahmed. All documents bearing both names remain valid and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME NWAJURUONWU: I, formerly known and addressed as NWAJURUONWU NICHOLAS, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OKORO CHIKA NICHOLAS. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Halidu musa Suleiman, now wish to be known and addressed as Halidu Suleiman.All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS BAWA REBECCA now wishes to be known as MRS. REBECCA DANJUMA ASHEZI. All former documents remain valid.General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Abdullahi Bilikisu Ayoola, now wish to be known and addressed as Alake Ololade Sakirat . All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that I now wish to be know and addressed as ADEKUNLE ADEWALE ADEDAMOLA ADEJARE. All fomer documents remain valid. UNION BANK, U B A and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME PATRICIA : Formerly known and addressed as MISS UGONMA PATRICIA MMADUKAEJIAKA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGONMA PATRICIA EMEGWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME ONUOHA: Formerly known and addressed as ONUOHA CHIOMA MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as IWUNWA CHIOMA MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as GLORY MOSES, now wish to be known and addressed as IMA-OBONG OKOKON. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Ayanlowo Oluwatoyin Ayanjoke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayanlowo-Akinjise Oluwatoyin Ayanjoke all former documents remain valid University of Lagos, Ilorin, Nigeria Law School, British Embassy and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Hamzat Olayinka Rashidat is one and same person as ibidun Olowoporoku now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Momodu Olayinka Rashidat all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME . Formerly known and addressed as miss Temitope Afolake Adesina now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Temitope Afolake Kajero all former documents remain valid First bank PLC and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Mr Adesibikan Olumade jimi is the same person as mr Adesibikan Olumade Ademide all document bearing both names remain valid and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME OKORIE: I, formerly known and addressed as CLEMENT IFEANYICHUKWU OKORIE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as VINCENT IFEANYICHUKWU ANYAEHIE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Gbadesere Gbemisola Modinat, now wish to be known and addressed as Rahman Gbemisola Modinat. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formely know and addressed as SHERIF IDAYAT,now wish to be know and addressed as AKANDE DEBORAH MOTUNRAYO,all former document remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known, called and addressed as Uche Okere, now wish to be known , called and addressed as Uchechi Anthony Okere. All Former documents remain valid. General public to note.

CHANGE OF NAME ADEYEMO: Formerly known and addressed as AISHA LAMI ADEYEMO now wish to be known and addressed as AISHA YAKUBU BAKO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Uboh Margaret Kehinde is one and same person as. Ekuegbe Margaret Kehinde. All former documents remain valid, First bank plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME MOHD: Formerly known and addressed as RABIU MOHD now wish to be known and addressed as HALADU RABIU SARKI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS IKOGWU LOVETH NKEMDILIM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EJIKE LOVETH NKEMDILIM. All former documents remain valid. EKSUTH and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as ONOJA VERA UGBOJOIDE, now wish to be known and addressed as AGADA VERONICA AJUMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Uguru Felix Onwe now wish to be known and addressed as Felix Chukwuma Onwe all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME . Formerly known and addressed as miss Adesola Adetola now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olaniyi Adesola all former documents remain valid and general public take note . CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public I, ABEDNEGO BARITONYELO IKPE, is the same person as BARRY YEGHE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Akinuliola Mary Adebola, wish to be known and addressed henceforth as Mrs. AKINTOYE MARY ADEBOLA. General public and business associates, take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FAROYE: I, FORMERLLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS FAROYE FRANCIS KOLAWOLE, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JACOB KOLAWOLE FRANCIS. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Kaka Tamadi, now wish to be known and addressed as Tamadi Bukar. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME ANIFOWOSE: Formerly MISS ANIFOWOSE TAIWO VICTORIA, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS. ADEOTI TAIWO VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Civil Service Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY known as MRS ROFIAT KEHINDE BAKARE, NOW wish to be known and addressed as MISS KEHINDE ROFIAT ELESIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME BIJIMI: Formerly known and addressed as JENNIFER JEMIMAH BIJIMI now wish to be known and addressed as JENNIFER JEMIMAH DAVID. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME UDEH: Formerly known and addressed as MISS NGOZI ANTHONIA UDEH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NGOZI ANTHONIA NNAEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OMOMOWO: Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAYINKA OLUYEMISI OMOMOWO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLAYINKA OLUYEMISI OLONILEBI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as NWACHUKWU JOSEPH ONYE, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWU ONYE CHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. First bank and general public take note CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Oni Dupe Jonah. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olatunji Dupe Jonah. All former documents remain valid. General Hospital, Ode-Ekiti and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Balogun Victoria Bolakale now wish to be known and addressed as Akanle Victoria Bolakale all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Iperepolu Victor Yomi now wish to be known and addressed as Oladipupo Victor Yomi. All former documents remain valid First bank, Access bank and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

mr Rasheed Paloko Sonaike is one and same person as mr Rasheed Sonaike all document bearing both names remain valid and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME BASHORUN: I, formerly known and addressed as BASHORUN TEMITOPE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TEMITOPE OYESANYA. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME RASAK: I, formerly known and addressed as RASAK TAIWO BOLAJOKO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ONASEGUN TAIWO BOLAJOKO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MR ANDREW .E.ADOYI and now wishes to be known and addressed as MR ANDREW .IDOMA. All former documents remain valid.general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME AKINOLA: Formerly Mrs. AKINOLA OMOLAYO COMFORT, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. ADEKUNLE OMOLAYO COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Ekiti State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AYAKEME FRIDAY and AZAPERE FRIDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as AZAPERE AYAKEME FRIDAY. All former documents remain valid. United Bank Of African, Ecobank and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MONDAY: Formerly known and addressed as ARINZE JULIAN MONDAY now wish to be known and addressed as ARINZE JULIAN KENECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME MUFTAU: Formerly known and addressed as GRACE SA’AKA ALHERI MUFTAU now wish to be known and addressed as GRACE SANI ALHERI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ACHIMUGWU: Formerly known and addressed as MISS MARIAM ACHIMUGWU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MARIAM SALIHU. All documents, records and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS YETUNDE IGE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. YETUNDE FABUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Ajewole Funmilayo Deborah. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Deji-Kayode Funmilayo Deborah. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti and general public should please take note

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Awofala Elizabeth Adejoke Adetoun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluwadairo Elizabeth Adejoke Adetoun all former documents remain valid and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as miss Onasanya Lateefat Abiodun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Alausa Lateefat Abiodun all former documents remain valid and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

mr Piponsuhu James Suuru is the same person as mr Piponsuhu James Suuru Nutayi. All document bearing both names remain valid and general public take note . CHANGE OF NAME OFOEGBU: I, formerly known and addressed as OFOEGBU JASPER KELECHI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AGOMEZE JASPER HARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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

Wednesday, November 11, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oniyitan Moyosore Adeola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adelakun Moyosore Adeola. All former documents remain valid. General public to take. note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Sodipe Oluwafunmilola Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Folarin Abosede Funmilola.All former documents remain valid. Abeokuta South LGEA,SUBEB and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and called as Miss Fasheun Aduke Folasade now wish to be addressed and called as Mrs Adeoboyeje Folasade. All former documents remain valid, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME .Formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinyere Roseline Ndukwu Okorie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinyere Roseline Nwabenu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IDRIS: Formerly known And Addressed As IDRIS NUSA Now Wish To To known And Addressed As IDRIS MUSA . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADETUTU ADETAYO ABIMBOLA ADIMULA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ADETUTU ADETAYO ABIMBOLA ONIJAMAH. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AJIH: I, formerly known and addressed as AJIH TIMOTHY, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TIMOTHY AJIBADE ABDUL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME JEAN: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYEDIKA AKPAGU JEAN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONYEDIKA JOHN AKPAGU OKEKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME NWOHA: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OGOCHUKWU STELLA NWOHA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OGOCHUKWU STELLA EKWERIBE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME OFORJAMA: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. OFORJAMA BLESSING OKWUY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. PAUL BLESSING OKWUY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT ALOZIE HENRY IS THE SAME PERSON AS ALOZIE HENRY UGOCHUKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME OYELERE: Formerly known And Addressed As OYELERE OLUWABUNMI YETUNDE ESTHER Now Wish To To known And Addressed As ADEWUSI OLUWABUNMI YETUNDE ESTHER. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME OSABIYA: Formerly known And Addressed As OSABIYA RAFAT ABIOLA Now Wish To To known And Addressed As PELUOLA VICTORIA ABIOLA . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly Known and addressed as Mrs Bakare Busirat Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bakare Esther Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Oludare Kowiyat Olayemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Isaiah Janet Olayemi. All former documents remain valid.First Bank and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly addressed and known as Miss Joseph Julianah Oluwatoyin now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Esan Julianah Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Emmanuel Agunoweh Igbediowei, is the same person as Emmanuel Agunoweh or Emmanuel Igbediowei. That, any document bearing any of the names remains valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MONDAY ENAHORO OBEAHON, now wish to be known and addressed as MURPHY ENAHORO ISIWELE. All former documents remain valid. U.B.A bank and General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MMADUKA RICHARD UMEH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as UMEH RICHARD CHUKWUMA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME OBIAJURU: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IRE REGINALD OBIAJURU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IRE REGINALD OKORIE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME AGBO: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AGBO CHIDIEBERE CHIDES NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKOH SAMUEL CHIDIEBERE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME UZOEGBHELU: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UZOEGHELU AUGUSTINE CHUKWUMA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UZO AGUSTINE CHUKWUMA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as MISS TEMITOPE GRACE OGUNLALU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. TEMITOPE GRACE OSEMWEGIE, all former documents remain valid general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OLAJIMBITI: Formerly known And Addressed As OLAJIMBITI OLUWATOSIN Now Wish To To known And Addressed As BADEJOKO YETUNDE OLAYINKA . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME ONUMONU: Formerly known And Addressed As MISS IJEOMA ONUMONU Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As MRS IJEOMA ADESANYA..All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Ogunsola Olawale Zaccheaus, now wish to be known and addressed as Jesu Sola Olawale Zaccheaus. All former documents remain valid.General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Benjamin Queen C.is the same one person as Benjamin Queen Cynthia, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Benjamin Queen Cynthia. All former documents remain valid,Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Mr. Amazi Sambu, now wish to be addressed as Mr. Amauwhe Musa Arziki. All my former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and the public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that Oloruntobi Oluwatosin Olubunmi was mistakenly written as Oloruntobi Tosin in my Voters card instead of Oloruntobi Oluwatosin Olubunmi. Hence the correct spelling is Oloruntobi Oluwatosin Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as BORODE ADEMOLA SAMUEL now wish to be known and addressed as ABIMBOLA ADEMOLA SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid.General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OYEDEJI: I, formerly known and addressed as MRS. DORIS OYEDEJI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as DORIS OGBOMOEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AYEJUMO: I, formerly known and addressed as AYEJUMO TOPE EZEKIEL, now wish to be known, called and addressed as TEMITOPE BONUS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ILOEBO: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. ILOEBO CHINWE CORDELIA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. NWOLISA-IKEABUNZE CORDELIA CHINWE ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME OBIEME: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBIEME ANTHONY CHUKWUMA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CHIEDOZIE NWANKWO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME ODAHI: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODAHI SUNDAY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ODOH SUNDAY OGBUABOR. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Aliu Tawa Jumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Salman Tawakalt Aliu. All former documents remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ADETOKUNBO: Formerly known And Addressed As MISS ADETOKUNBO ROSELINE ADEKEMI Now Wish To To known And Addressed As MRS ADEKEMI ADENOWO ADETOKUNBO . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME AKINWUNMI: Formerly known And Addressed As MISS AKINWUNMI BOLA SEKINAT Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As MRS AWONONORIN BOLA SEKINAT .All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs Bakare Jumoke Omoyeni, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Bakare Jumoke Juliana.All former documents remain valid. First,Wema Bank and General public take Note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Feyisayo Tobi Abiodun is the same one person as Feyisayo Abiodun Tobi, that henceforth wish to be known and called as Feyisayo Abiodun Tobi. All former documents remain valid, Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public should please take note .

CHANGE OF NAME AKINBO: formerly known and addressed as IKUYINMINU AKINBO. Now wish to be known and addressed as IKUYINMINU ADEYEMI ONANAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Alhaji Mudasiru Lukuman Owodunni, now wish to be known and addressed as Alhaji Mudasiru Ishola Lukman. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS JOY OZUNLUONYE OKWUSIUNO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS JOY .O. AJOSE . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME OKEREKE: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKEREKE STELLA AMARACHI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. NWOKORO STELLA AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME COKER: I, formerly known and addressed as KUNLE COKER, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AJEWOLE BABATUNDE STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME NWOKEDI: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS CHIOMA ENDURANCE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. CHIOMA IGBO ENDURANCE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME DILIBE: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. DILIBE NKIRUKA UKAMAKA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. NWOSU NKIRUKA UKAMAKA ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME IKEBUILO:I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. OKWUCHUKWU CELINA IKEBUILO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OKWUCHUKWU CELINA OBIOKOYE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as MISS OLAWALE AMINAT ABIDEMI, now wish to be known as MRS. AYANGBOLA AMINAT ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

CHANGE OF NAME AGORO: Formerly known And Addressed As AGORO BUKOLA RISIKAT Now Wish To known And Addressed As OMOTAYO BUKOLA AGORO . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME TAIWO: Formerly known And Addressed As MISS TAIWO ADEBISI AUGUSTINA Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As MRS ADEYEMI ADEBISI AUGUSTINA. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note

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CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MR. ADAMSON MATHEW, now wish to be known and addressed as MR IGE AKOLAWOLE FOLORUNSHO. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that Abour Victory Ify is the same one person as Abour Victory Ifeanichukwu,that henceforth wish to be called and known as Abour Victory Ifeanichukwu. All former documents remain valid, Osun State Polytechnic Iree and general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME That I use FAVOUR IKPURI to open and operate an account with Eco Bank Nigeria Plc,DSC branch and also uses EWEWE IRENE to open and operate an account with Skye Bank Nig plc, Enerhen Junction branch.That both names used aboved belong to one and the same person.All former Documents remains valid.Eco Bank,Skye Bank and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ADAMU: Formerly known And Addressed As ADAMU USMAN AND ADAMU SULIEMAN Now Wish To To known And Addressed As ADAMU SALMANU.All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as CHUKWUDI FELIX EZUKOBA,now wish to be known, called and addressed as CHUKWUDI FELIX EVERIST. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME ABDULLAHI: I, formerly known and addressed as ABDULLAHI SANI UTAZ, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALHAJI SANI YAHAYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME

EZE: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZE STANLEY IKECHUKWU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MAMA STANLEY IKECHUKWU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT EMMANUEL OKWUCHUKWU IBEASOR IS THE SAME PERSON AS SUNDAY OKWUCHUKWU IBEASOR NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED ASSUNDAY OKWUCHUKWU IBEASOR.

CHANGE OF NAME NNAMCHI: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. NNAMCHI JULIET OLUCHI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OBIEGUE JULIET OLUCHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS DAUDA MARIAM TEMILADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. IGE MARIAM TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid, general public please take. CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that Catherine Awoniyi is the same one person as Catherine Awoniyi Kehinde, that henceforth wish to be called and addressed as Catherine Awoniyi Kehinde. All former document remain valid, SEAP, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. GLADYS IMEH ISUEKPE, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. BRIDGET IMEH JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME USMAN: Formerly known And Addressed As USMAN UMAR Now Wish To To known And Addressed As USMAN GARBA . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as Onyebuchi Emmanuel Okonkwo, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Onyebuchi Emmanuel Udechukwu. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OGULEDO: I, formerly known and addressed as OGULEDO BONIFACE OGBONNA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ERENOBI LAZARUS NWABUEZE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that I, KABIRU SANI is one and the same person as DANJUMA ABUTUK as both names appears on my different documents respectively. All documents bearing the two names remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

EZEADU: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZEADU REMMYGIUS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EZEADU REMMYGIUS NNAMDI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME OZOANI:

ADDRESSED

FORMERLY AS

KNOWN

OZOANI

AND

BENEDETH

EBELECHUKWU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. BENEDETH EBELECHUKWU CHINWUBA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS

REMAIN

VALID

GENERAL

PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME IFEDINIRU: I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS. EKWUTOSI ANNA IFEDINIRU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. EKWUTOSI MARY ANN OKEKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

PUBLIC NOTICE GOODFRIENDS UNITED ODINOTU CLUB OF NIGERIA The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Mr. Amanze Nnamdi 2.Ndukwe George Boniface 3.Okoye Nnamdi Ifeanyi 4.Chinemerem Igboanusi 5.Ndubuisi Ikechwukwu A. 6.Peter Kenneth Oduru AIMS AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1.To come together and unite for the progress of community 2.To foster peace amongst members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication. SIGNED: MR. AMANZE NNAMDI

Wednesday November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

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

Enyimba hope on Sunshine slip for new record

–PSG defender, Thiago Silva

Coach Sunday Oliseh urging his players on

W/Cup qualifier

Siasia

Oliseh not 100% fit to face Swaziland H

Siasia picks 26 for Morocco camp

...Musa arrives, Martins expected Joel Ajayi ABUJA

uper Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh, yesterday said that he was not 100% fit to return to work, but for the crucial nature of the double header Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Swaziland on Friday and next Tuesday respectively. Oliseh suddenly took ill and was flown to Belgium hurriedly from Port Harcourt recently, on the eve of Nigeria’s CHAN match with Burkina Faso, after which doctors advised him to stay clear of football activities for two weeks Speaking after supervising the Eagles first training inside the Main bowl of Abuja National Stadium, yesterday, ahead the first leg in Swaziland on Friday, Oliseh, who looked pale, told news-

men that he was still not 100% fit. “I am still not 100% fit, but this is a crucial encounter for us and we shall try to give the best we can,” he said. He added, “Swaziland are difficult team and it’s not going to be easy playing them on artificial turf at their home. We know what is waiting for us. We had our wake-up call against Tanzania, so the boys are in good spirit.” He, however, said he would do everything within his possible best to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup in Russia, in 2018 Asked if he has any fear against Swaziland, Oliseh replied, “We always have every reason to entertain fear against opponents because if we don’t respect them we will get kicked out and this is a World Cup. We have to respect them and take them very worthy opponents.”

Meanwhile, goalkeepers’ trainer, Alloy Agu, expressed delight at the arrival of his boss and exuded confidence that the team is back to business. Agu saluted the home-based players for reporting to camp immediately after their league matches last Sunday and disclosed team returnee Obafemi Martins was expected to arrive in camp last night. The team had its first training session on Monday evening with just three goalkeepers available, but 21 players out of the 24 invited, trained last night. Martins, Ogenyi Onazi and Shehu Abudullahi are expected to be available today. Eagles will storm Swaziland tomorrow in a chattered aircraft and will fly back to Port-Harcourt immediately after the game for the second leg.

ead Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has picked 26 home- based players for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations training camp in Morocco. The 26 players were picked from the 35 earlier invited to camp. The list is dominated by the All Africa Games bronze medal winning group, including goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, defender Segun Oduduwa and mid fielders Oghenekaro Etebo, Kingsley Sokari and Daniel Etor, while old reliables like Christian Pyagbara, Mustapha Abdullahi and Austine Oladapo failed to make the cut. Siasia also picked new faces including Anaezemba Nzube, Prince Aggrey, Stanley Dimgba, Kufre Ebong and Bature Yaro. The selected players and coaching crew are expected to depart for Morocco where they will be joined by some overseas- based professionals. Siasia’s team will play Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations taking place in Senegal from November 28 to December 12.

Sports

Wednesday November 11, 2015

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Victor Osimhen (l) and skipper Kelechi Nwakali displaying their awards

Sports editors task NFF, NSC on sustaining gains

Chile 2015 U-17 World Cup win:

Golden Eaglets return, get presidential reception tonight Joel Ajayi ABUJA

he victorious and record-setting Golden Eaglets of Nigeria may be received at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa later this evening by a joyous President Muhammadu Buhari on return from Chile.

National Mirror learnt from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday that the team which won the 16th FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile last Sunday and thereby earned Nigeria fifth time winner of the trophy, would have a stopover in the United Arab Emirate before connecting another Emiirates flight

and land in Abuja at about 3pm. The delegation led by the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, is expected to be received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by top officials of the NFF, National Sports Commission (NSC) and State House before being driven to the Villa for a

grand reception. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, was yesterday summoned to the Presidential Villa to prepare grounds for the team. An elated Sanusi told journalists before rushing out to the Villa to meet the President that he was not sure the form the reception would be.

APC hails team, praises can-do spirit of Nigerians Ayo Esan

he ruling All Progressives Congress (APC )has said that the superlative performance of the Golden Eaglets that saw them winning the justconcluded 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile epitomises the cando spirit of Nigerians. In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai

Mohammed, the party also said the harvest of honours by the team is a reflection of the nation’s ongoing rebirth under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who incidentally was also the leader of the country when it won the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Championship in China in 1985. It said in addition to winning the overall trophy for a record fifth time, Nigeria also set a new U-17 World Cup goal-scoring re-

cord, with 10 goals, while two of the country’s players, Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Nwakali, emerged the top goal scorer and the best player at the tournament, respectively. ‘’As President Buhari has always said, Nigeria has what it takes to surmount any obstacle and to excel in all areas of human endeavour. There is no better affirmation of that statement than the fact that our young footballers have achieved a feat that

no other nation has achieved winning the U-17 World Cup five times and in grand style. “We hail the determination, doggedness, discipline and patriotism of the Golden Eaglets and their officials, and we have no doubt that the team’s success will reverberate not only in the sports sector, but in all other areas, as the APC-led Federal Government kick-starts a national rejuvenation process,’’ APC said.

Victory against Buhari’s negative speeches –PDP

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has saluted the Golden Eaglets for their last Sunday World Cup victory, describing it as a bold statement by the Nigerian youth against series of uninspiring and negative utterances and actions of President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government that has been demarketing the nation

in the international arena. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Monday said the victory is a clear demonstration that Nigeria, as a country is endowed with enormous talent and potentials waiting to be exhibited to the entire world. The party said the victory further expresses the resilient spirit

of Nigerians despite a discouraging government that has not only shown an obvious inability to chart a clear course of governance and the future of the youth, but also refused to acknowledge the potentials in its citizens. “The time has come for us to dwell less on our negatives but to showcase the positives, the talents and indeed the natural re-

sources waiting to be harnessed and exhibited for foreign investments and participation in our economy. “Finally, the PDP states that this victory should be a wake-up call on President Muhammadu Buhari to recognise the hardworking spirit of Nigerians, our overflowing talents and well-developed natural endowments.”

igerian Sports Editors Guild, the umbrella body of the managers of sports of the country’s media outfits, has congratulated the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) over Golden Eaglets’ victory at the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Guild, which described the victory as a ‘testament of the enormous talents available in the country, as well as the tenacity of the Nigerian spirit,’ urged both bodies to see the triumph as the beginning of the revival of the nation’s football. According to a statement signed by the Guild’s President, Mr. Tony Ubani, “The Golden Eaglets’ success will become meaningless if those saddled with the responsibility of growing Nigerian sports did not leverage on the talents that won the cup in Chile to build a strong senior national team. “We have seen instances where previous triumphs were mismanaged such that the senior national team did not benefit from the talent pool thrown up by the U-17 World Cup. “We are of no doubt that the current leadership of the NFF and the NSC would build on this success and others of the recent past to give Nigerians the national team of their dream. The recent developments in the NFF and the NSC point to a new direction for the nation’s football and we pledge our willingness to help in actualising the Nigerian dream.” The Guild also urged the NFF and the NSC to ensure the members of the team were not lured by unscrupulous agents into signing bad contracts with clubs in obscure leagues, adding that “the career moves they make now would determine their football future and their usefulness to the country.”

Coach Amuneke

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Enyimba hope on Sunshine slip for new record

nyimba striker, Chimezie Amanfor, has said the People’s Elephant would be targeting all three points when they face Sunshine Stars in their final fixture of the season to set a new record. “We understand that no team has won the league title on 70 points, so we want to set a new record in that aspect when we confront Sunshine Stars in the last day match in Lagos”, he began. Amanfor and his team mates won the league title on Sunday, despite being held to a goalless at home by Warri Wolves, although they remain one point off their 70-point target for the campaign. Enyimba need only one point from their clash with Sunshine Stars to reach that tally.

Sports

Wednesday November 11, 2015

“Our target prior to the clash against Warri Wolves was to hit the 70 points mark as well as claim our seventh Nigerian title,” Amanfor continued. “Ordinarily, the match would have been a jamboree of some sort for us but with the new target we are going to Lagos to fight for the whole three points at stake or pick a point which will secure us the 70 points. “After the barren draw against Warri Wolves on Sunday celebration has been endless in and around the city of Aba. “We have become celebrity overnight as everybody stops on the road or street to greet and hail us so we are enamoured to go for the last onslaught which is the 70-point mark, “ Amanfor concluded.

Justin Tenger

Midweek League with PAUL EREWUBA 08032138738

Table

Chimezie

Rescheduled match: Lobi storm Abuja, exude confidence obi Stars head coach Justin Tenger has said there is no cause for alarm over their rescheduled match against Sunshine Stars of Akure scheduled at the Abuja National Stadium today. It would be recalled that the encounter at the Akure Stadium was suspended with the Makurdi side up by one goal before unruly home fans disrupted the match. The League Management Company (LMC)

ruled that the 13 minutes left on the clock be completed in Abuja behind closed doors. Reacting to today’s game, Tenger said his side were determined to finish the good work they started before the match was called off. “We are going for victory because we understand what is at stake. “The players know the importance of three points to our final placing on the table. “They have vowed to beat Sunshine Stars even

Teams

Enyimba

Wolves

Giwa

Nasarawa

Wikki

Sunshine

Kano

Heartland

3SC

IfeanyiUbah

Abia

Lobi

Rangers

El-Kanemi

Sharks

Dolphins

Akwa

Kwara

if the 19 Taraba 37 37 encoun20 Bayelsa 37 34 ter is to be p l aye d tion Cup semi finals in for the Katsina. whole 90 minutes. “We will be alert and “So there is no cause for alarm. We will win focused for the durato prove a point that we tion of the 13 minutes or are capable of winning more in the concluding matches anywhere any match,” said the former Akwa United. place. Lobi Stars are 13th on “We proved that against Enugu Rangers table with 46 points from whom we defeated 2-0 in 36 matches with the last match day 37 encounter match on Sunday at felin Makurdi to prevent low Federation Cup finalthem from the Federa- ists Akwa United.

Nasarawa ambush Giwa for continental ticket N asarawa United head coach, Kabiru Suleiman Dogo believes they have the right ‘arsenal’ to defeat Giwa FC when both sides meet on Sunday in their Week 38 tie to guarantee them continental ticket next year. The Solid Miners as Nasarawa United are fondly called by fans and admieres alike, were very close to grabbing a CAF Confederation Cup

ticket last season where they were in the same circumstance as this season against Warri Wolves but they burgled it after the Wolves held them to a 2-2 draw. Incidentally, Dogo was then the Assistant Coach to Mohammed Babaganaru and he has revealed that they are working hard to ensure that this doesn’t repeat itself this season. The former ABS head coach further disclosed

that with their performance in the league, both home and away, getting a continent ticket would be the adequate compensation for their hard work especially during the second stanza where they won four away games and drew two. Nasarawa United are presently fourth on the table with 60 points from 37 matches and are three points adrift of Giwa FC. But Dogo has assured

their fans that with the support of everyone they will get the three points on Sunday. “We are very happy with the points we secured in Nnewi and we are very optimistic that what happened last season has only gone down in the history books and would never repeat itself. “Giwa are a very good side but we will do everything possible to win the game,” Dogo stated.

SuleimanDogo

WORLD RECORD

First use of marine mammals in defence Vol. 05 No. 1241

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

N150

The earliest use of marine mammals in active military defence was during the Vietnam War between 1970–71, by US Navy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops tr uncatus)

Driving national development using telecoms

he private sector is regarded as the engine of growth especially in the so-called free market economies. This orientation subsists on the parallel principle that government has no business in business. In developed and developing economies, therefore, it is presumed that government’s major preoccupation should be to provide the enabling environment for private sector operators. The policy of economic deregulation and liberalization pursued by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration helped to pen-up new windows of opportunities to foreign investors who had the financial and technical capability to venture into Nigeria’s often exceedingly risky terrain. This drastic step freed up the telecoms sector from the hitherto state-run monopoly of NITEL for capable private entrepreneurs. The overriding aim of diversifying an economy which had overbearingly become dependent

Guest Columnist on oil revenues and which was being undone by public sector corruption and associated vices also influenced the FG’s reform initiatives. In spite of its oil wealth, Nigeria’s huge population has remained significantly poor, with high unemployment levels, low public sector productivity and decayed social and physical infrastructures. Underperforming public sector companies and institutions were liabilities, adding little value, yet constituting the burden of cost on the financial resources of the nation. Since 2001, the telecoms sector has become the largest generator of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) after the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. It has effectively displaced agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals and textiles in terms of revenue and prospects. In a bid to provide an enabling environment for the inflow of FDI, the Federal Government has had to grant incentives and give priority to a sector which has brought so much technology, knowledge and other social benefits to the country. Consequent upon the follow up economic liberalisation and reforms and the subsequent build-up, FDI in the telecommunications industry came to about $32 billion as at February 2015, with the sector contributing about nine percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Statistics as at August 2015 showed an active voice subscriber base of about 151 million; tele-density of about 108 percent; and 93 million internet subscribers (as at July 2015). The adoption of the public and private partnership (PPP) model in the management of the telecoms sector can be described as highly successful. Indeed it has long become a reference

I’ll flourish under Klopp –Ibe

iverpool’s teenage winger, Jordan Ibe, believes he can flourish and become a worldclass performer under the guidance of new manager, Juergen Klopp. Ibe scored his first goal

Chukwuka Onyekwere

for the Premier League club in last week’s 1-0 Europa League win over Rubin Kazan and is encouraged by Klopp’s track record of nurturing young talent. Klopp, who twice led Borussia Dortmund to the

WITH ICT, AND THE APPROPRIATE POLITICAL

LEADERSHIP,

NIGERIA

SHOULD SOON LEAD

AFRICA FROM THE FRONT

point as to how a mutual collaboration of the government and private entrepreneurs could yield success and benefits. The mutual cooperation of a public regulator and private investors has been the principal factor behind the uncommon success of the mobile telecommunications sector. The synergistic combination of resources, both human and material, now signposts telecoms as a management model worthy of application to many other sectors of the economy that have failed or are failing. Enacting enabling legislation, the FG set up the NCC with the necessary administrative and oversight competence to manage a coterie of private investors, who have the technical and financial competence to drive the envisaged development outcomes for the sector. Essentially, the model gave rise to public and private sector engagement to deliver policies, services and infrastructure. It has fitted closely with Nigeria’s “mixed economy” model. The public-private sector driven economy is a hybrid that serves to take the best of two management paradigms, and with respect to tele-

coms, it has helped to reduce poverty, enabled wealth creation, increased employment levels, both directly and indirectly, and decreased dependence on oil revenue. This is in spite of the deficiency in core infrastructure such as electricity, which poses a challenge to the developmental aspiration of the government and the citizenry. In addition, it has galvanized Nigeria’s status as an emerging economy to the level of a knowledge economy, where transactions, operations and data management are fast migrating to the digital board. It is lowering the cost of doing business through simplifying communications and logistic processes as well as cutting down budgets on overheads. In the era of broadband ICT services, more far reaching investments are expected to take progress in the ICT sector to the next level. There is great potential for private sector development in Nigeria, but the environment needs to be improved especially with respect to security and infrastructure. Funding commitments as well as enhanced capacity for regulatory oversight are necessary towards the attainment of national development priorities. In view of the ability of an ICT enabled, globally competitive private sector to access new markets, attract investments, generate employment and economic opportunities, reduce poverty, create wealth for sustainable economic growth and enable the development of an information and knowledge based economy, there is need for continued collaboration and partnership between the government and industry players. Such a partnership has proved so far to be in the best interest of the nation and its people. As Africa’s largest economy by GDP, it is amazing that Nigeria does not even rank among the top 10 performing economies, which include Mauritius, South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, Cote D’Ivoire, Zambia, Seychelles, Kenya and Gabon in respective order. According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, these nations, unlike Nigeria, depend on agriculture, mining, tourism and technology to drive their prosperity. With ICT, and the appropriate political leadership, Nigeria should soon lead Africa from the front. Onyekwere, an investment analyst, wrote from Lagos.

Sport Extra Bundesliga title and also to the final of the Champions League, honed the talents of players such as Robert Lewandowski, Mario Goetze and Marco Reus. “He obviously did a great job at Borussia Dort-

mund. The fact that the young players he brought in were a big part of the success is very encouraging for guys like me,” Ibe told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.com). “Of course, those young-

sters at Dortmund didn’t just become a little bit better either -- some of them, like Robert Lewandowski, have become players who are operating at the highest level in the Champions League.”

Ibe

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